Practice Report: Defense Takes 1st Round
Posted 2 hours ago
Turning the Temperature Up: On an extremely sticky day, the Jets started camp outside before lightning forced a move inside to the fieldhouse. Todd Bowles wants his players to get acclimated to playing in the heat and he has scheduled mostly mid-late afternoon practices for the duration of camp. Bowles calls it “heat shape” and the Jets will be in the middle of a scorcher here this weekend.
Leo Runs with 1st Team: Rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was taken No. 6 overall by the Jets in the 2015 NFL Draft, received first team reps as camp got underway.
“The biggest challenge is just getting adjusted to the speed, learning the communication and just bonding with my teammates,” he said. “Not that I’m out there with the ones, I just have to communicate with everybody.”
2015 Jets Training Camp Kicks Off
Play of the Day: Cornerback Dexter McDougle, who tore his ACL during a training camp practice last year, got his second pro season off on the right foot. Playing man coverage on rookie WR Jonathon Rumph, McDougle attacked a Bryce Petty pass in the air. Hauling it in as he fell to the ground, the Maryland product got up and sprinted the other way.
“I had one in the spring and the guys were all over me about it because I didn’t take it back,” he told me. “I just thought I got to get up and get the pick-six.”
3rd Down Battle: Although the Jets defensive finished No. 6 overall last season, they struggled getting off the field on third down. For a number of reasons – including Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine & Marcus Gilchrist – that number should improve in 2015. In today’s first training camp competitive period, the defense won the battle of the sticks against the offense while claiming victory on four on third down. So at the end of practice – the offense did push-ups. The aforementioned Gilcrhist, who was limited this spring with a shoulder injury, was full-go in team today.
Colon/Ridley Updates: Guard Willie Colon (knee), RB Stevan Ridley (knee) and DL Keith Vickerson opened camp on the PUP list. Colon, who is battling soreness, could be the first one eligible to practice. He wants to see how he’ll respond tomorrow.
Right Guard Rotation Continues: Both Brian Winters and Brent Qvale received first team reps with the first-team offense at right guard. According to Bowles, there will be different players working with the first team on different days and they will battle that spot out. The Jets don the pads on Saturday.
Highlights: Ryan Fitzpatrick had a pair of downfield strikes – first hooking up with Shaq Evans in 7-on-7 and then lofting a pretty ball to speedy T.J. Graham in team… Bowles said Geno Smith looked “sharp” and one of the starter’s favorite targets was Eric Decker…Antonio Cromartie was active in his 2015 training camp debut with a pair of PDs. Zac Stacy, a powerful downhill runner, showed some good explosion through the hole.