FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The first day of Jets training camp felt different than in recent years — or at least, it looked different. Gone are the large stands for fans. Those areas are empty, part of them blocked off as the Jets construct a new weight-room facility. There’s a large, tented-off area where the weight room will stand.
Last year, Aaron Glenn got emotional during one practice when fans started to chant his name — the first “pinch me” moment in his return to the team that drafted him. There won’t be as many of those moments this year because the general public will only attend one practice, while five others are earmarked for season-ticket holders.
If you ask wide receiver Garrett Wilson, something else feels different about this iteration of the Jets.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be a special year,” Wilson said.
Hasn’t he felt that way in the past? Perhaps when Aaron Rodgers was around, and the hype around this team was deafening?
“It feels different this year, it does,” Wilson said. “Not that any other year didn’t have it, meaning a good feeling.”
Wilson called out the infusion of veterans and leaders like Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and Tim Patrick, and the changes on the coaching staff — particularly Glenn’s move to call plays on defense coupled with the addition of Frank Reich on offense.
New York Jets channeled Mario Kart this offseason
Robert Mays
This year’s team is still young, with only five players 31 or older (one of them is a long snapper and the other four were added this offseason). Still, last year’s team was even younger, and there was an obvious leadership void as Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey looked to gut the previous roster in favor of a youth movement. Most of the young players considered leaders before last year’s training camp — Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, Jermaine Johnson and Quincy Williams — are gone.
“There’s certain guys that just don’t have any past association with the blunders of the (recent) past,” Wilson said. “Because of that, they’re bringing a winning mindset, a winning energy that young guys can latch onto and get a better idea of what it takes to win at that level.”
It’s too early to figure out if the changes made this offseason will work. It’s only Day 1, after all.
Below are some observations from the first day of camp:
Quote of the day
As Glenn was talking about how much different this feels for him going into his second year compared to last year, he brought up the “blind spots” all first-year coaches encounter. Pressed on what those might be, he responded: “I’m not trying to be a butthole when I give you this answer, but a lot of that I want to keep to myself.”
Charting the QBs
QB training camp stats are back, baby!
As always, a disclaimer that you shouldn’t overanalyze these numbers, especially this early in camp when the practices are lighter. There is, however, always something to be learned from what happens in 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven drills. Alarm bells rang in past years as we suffered through practices led by Zach Wilson and Justin Fields. Aaron Rodgers was highly entertaining in this setting. It’s also a way to help establish which pass-catchers are building chemistry with the quarterbacks.
OK, enough set-up. Let’s get into it. First, Smith.
The first 11-on-11 session was mostly running and short passing plays, but Smith did complete both attempts to Isaiah Davis and Mason Taylor. In seven-on-seven, he completed short passes to Wilson, Omar Cooper, Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith — though a deep-ball attempt for Adonai Mitchell hung in the air a little too long, allowing cornerback Brandon Stephens to break it up.
Smith’s last run of 11-on-11 toward the end of practice was less successful. Rookie edge David Bailey pressured Smith into one incompletion, Williams dropped another pass and Smith threw one behind Wilson, which was nearly intercepted. He did have one completion (I couldn’t see who he connected with).
Overall, I had Smith completing 3 of 5 passes in 11-on-11, and 4 of 5 in seven-on-seven.
In the Klub?
Rookie Cade Klubnik was up next in team drills, and he completed his first two passes to undrafted rookie tight end Chase Curtis and Davis. During seven-on-seven, he completed passes to Jamaal Pritchett, Curtis, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and fullback Andrew Beck. His one incompletion could’ve been special: wide receiver Arian Smith was streaking wide open on a post route, Klubnik fired it to him in rhythm in a perfect spot, and… Smith dropped it. Smith also dropped a pass in drills earlier in the day, repeating a problem he’s had since his college days.
In Klubnik’s final run, he threw a pass behind Williams and had another lightly tipped at the line of scrimmage; Sadiq attempted a sliding catch, but it bounced off him and into the arms of linebacker Mykal Walker for a pick.
All told, Klubnik went 2 of 4 in 11-on-11 with an interception and 3 of 4 in seven-on-seven.
As for questions about what the Jets will do at QB2: As of today, I’d be surprised if Bailey Zappe (who nearly threw a pick on a pass for Sadiq) or Brady Cook wins that job. It’s Klubnik’s to lose for now, though it can’t be ruled out that they add someone else.
Mougey said this after practice about the No. 2 QB spot: “I won’t get into the hypotheticals. I’m just excited to see Cade get his reps during training camp and watch the whole group — Bailey and Brady and Geno — get their reps and develop and continue to improve while they’re here and we’ll keep an eye on the landscape … that’s no different for any position.”
Injury report
Sadiq returned after missing all of the spring following a minor hernia procedure; same for Klubnik, who missed time with a back issue.
Rookie cornerback D’Angelo Ponds left practice with a calf strain, though Glenn didn’t sound concerned about the severity. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith also left practice with a hamstring injury.
The Jets placed outside linebacker Joseph Ossai on the PUP list ahead of camp earlier this week. Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (hamstring) is on the Non-Football Injury list; he suffered the injury while working out this offseason. The Jets will take their time working him back into the mix, but neither Glenn nor Mougey sound concerned about the injury.
Looking at the defense
The defense looked pretty solid all-around in team drills. There was a fairly consistent pass rush up front, good coverage on the backend and a few opportunities to force turnovers.
It was Glenn’s first Jets practice as the defensive play caller, and it wasn’t hard to tell that it has energized him. The thing Glenn is enjoying the most: “When there’s an issue on defense, I can quickly fix it because I know the defense like the back of my hand,” he said. “That feels really, really good. To be able to coach everybody from D-Line to linebackers to DBs, to be specific in this is what I’m looking for and this is how I want it to go and the players respond to that. I’ve missed doing that.”
Some notable defensive standouts or moments:
• Bailey still had a hard time getting around right tackle Armand Membou, who blocked him into the ground at one point, but he seemed to win more battles than he did in OTAs. As mentioned, he did get a pressure on Smith to force an incompletion. “He’s going to be phenomenal,” said edge Kingsley Enagbare. “He’s going to have a long career; the sky’s the limit for that dude. He can do it all.”
• Fitzpatrick nearly had an interception on a Smith pass thrown behind Wilson. He tried one-handing it and couldn’t haul it in. Fitzpatrick was all over the field (including the backfield) Wednesday.
• Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs also had a pressure during team drills.
Miscellaneous observations
• Smith addressed being in the offseason headlines for the wrong reasons — an investigation into battery allegations against him in Florida was recently declared “inactive.” “I hate the fact that something I was a part of could have been a distraction for this team,” he said. Additionally, Smith spoke with Glenn and teammates and the message he delivered is that they are moving forward. “He hated that he was a part of that,” Glenn said. “But the thing about that is it’s behind him. He talked to me, he talked to his teammates and we’re behind him 100 percent.”
• The Jets are easing Sadiq back in after he missed the spring. He’s a unique-looking player, not especially tall compared to other tight ends (6-foot-3) but he’s jacked, strong and extremely fast. He had a nice block on Will McDonald during team drills and it will be fun to watch him get more reps as camp progresses. “I’m looking forward to how we’re going to utilize him,” Glenn said.
• Mougey was asked if the Jets intend to sign any other players to extensions after big deals for Hall and Joe Tippmann. Doesn’t sound like it: “I think we’re in a good spot right now.”
