Jets News 8/13

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Quincy Enunwa is the Jets' Dennis Rodman, sans green fingernails

10:00 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Coach Todd Bowles recently compared wide receiver Quincy Enunwa to Dennis Rodman because of his blue-collar mindset, meaning his affinity for blocking, running clear-out routes for his high-profile teammates and serving as a bodyguard when necessary. You might recall he recently helped diffuse the Brandon Marshall-Darrelle Revis skirmish by picking up Marshall (literally) and carrying him away.

Enunwa was just starting school when Rodman was winning NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, but he appreciated the compliment from his coach. A confidence-booster, he called it.


"I do want to do the dirty work," Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa said of his on-field approach. Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
"Sometimes you're not going to be able to do all the pretty work, but I do want to do the dirty work," Enunwa said after the New York Jets' 17-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. "I'm not always going to be able to make the plays, but I'm going to do my best."

Enunwa did some pretty work in the preseason opener, making 26- and 43-yard receptions on back-to-back plays with the starting offense. He was wide open both times, finding space behind the linebackers on deep "over" routes.

It was an early message to the rest of the league: If you focus too much on Marshall and Eric Decker, we have a third guy who can make plays.

"It's been very evident to me through the beginning of training camp that he's going to be a big part of what we do and has really improved as a receiver," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "He's so versatile and we saw that last year with everything we asked him to do. He can really develop into a big-time weapon for us."

Enunwa was a sixth-round pick in 2014, a member of the Idzik 12. He started to emerge last season, catching 22 passes for 315 yards in 12 games. He's a hybrid -- part wide receiver, part tight end. In fact, he caught 14 passes when lined up as a receiver, eight as a tight end, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The passing attack runs through Marshall and Decker, but the Jets need a reliable No. 3 option to create balance. We know it probably won't be a tight end, so Enunwa is the most likely candidate, especially with Devin Smith (knee surgery) sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Enunwa is a tough cover because opponents don't know whether to treat him as a wide receiver or a tight end. On Bilal Powell's touchdown run Thursday, he lined up as a flexed tight end and made a block on the play.

"I can help, but we have so much talent out there," Enunwa said, downplaying a potential role as the No. 3 option. "Any way I can come in and make plays, I'd love to do. To be a 3, I'm not going to say. I'm just going to be a guy out there who's going help our team be great."

Enunwa didn't get a chance to speak with Rodman during the NBA Hall of Famer's recent visit to training camp. Always a zany character, Rodman showed up wearing green fingernails, proclaiming himself a Jets fan.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet him," Enunwa said, "but it was still really cool to see him."
 
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Jenkins Look Like He Belongs as a Rookie?

By John B Aug 13, 2016, 9:00a


Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
As we approach the 2016 season, we are going to profile the players on the roster. Today we look at Jordan Jenkins

Name: Jordan Jenkins

Number: 48

Year With Jets: 1st

Projected Role: Competing for starting outside linebacker job

His 2015: Jenkins battled through groin and hip injuries to register 9.5 tackles for a loss in his final college season at Georgia. The Jets selected him with a third round pick.

2016 will be a success if: Jenkins doesn't look like he's in over his head in the NFL. The team's lack of depth at outside linebacker might push Jenkins into a starting role. This season isn't a failure if he doesn't take a starting job, though. For a third round rookie, goals should be more modest. The Jets should be hoping for adequacy that will grow into quality in future years, although they certainly would take a great rookie season.

Odds of making the roster: Lock (>99%)
 
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Jets Roster Countdown: Is There Room for Taiwan Jones?
By John B Aug 13, 2016, 7:51a



Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
As we approach the 2016 season, we are going to profile the players on the roster. Today we look at Taiwan Jones.

Name: Taiwan Jones

Number: 49

Year With Jets: 2nd

Projected Role: Competing for backup inside linebacker sport

His 2015: An undrafted free agent out of Michigan State, Jones did not make the roster out of training camp. He did earn a practice squad spot and impressed the coaches enough to earn a call up to the active roster in December.

2016 will be a success if: Jones continues to develop in practice and impress the coaches. This might be as a member of the practice squad. His chances of making the team took a hit as the team signed Erin Henderson and Bruce Carter and drafted Darron Lee.There has been some buzz that the Jets like Jones' potential, though, so he might be given a chance to show he has the stuff to be a long-term player.

Odds of making the roster: Unlikely (25-50%)
 
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Jets QB Bryce Petty feels ‘comfortable’ in 2nd-half action

Updated August 12, 2016 6:41 PM
By Kimberley A. Martin kimberley.martin@newsday.com



Bryce Petty’s goal is simple: Make the choice as difficult as possible.
In a crowded quarterback room, surrounded by Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and newcomer Christian Hackenberg, Petty has often wondered whether he’ll eventually be the odd man out. But Thursday night, he took the first steps toward ridding himself of anxiety and worry.

“I’m in a quarterback competition with myself every time I go out there,” Petty said, after going 7-for-14 for 93 yards in the Jets’ 17-13 preseason win over the Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. “And to put that simpler, I want to be the best quarterback I can be every day. Whether that’s at practice, watching film, that’s in a game, whatever that is, it’s kind of a competition with myself.”

And in the process, he gave the Jets a glimpse into what he’s capable of on the field: a strong arm and plenty of poise.
Of course, the Jets’ third-stringer had the benefit of playing against fellow backups by the time he entered the game in the third quarter. But there was a major key in his performance.
“One word: comfortable,” Petty said, when asked how he felt in his first game action since last year’s preseason.


So when did things start clicking for him?

“As reluctant as I am to say it, it’s probably because I stopped worrying about things and just let things happen,” the second-year quarterback said. “I think I was kind of going out there and I was trying so hard to be perfect, that it was actually kind of hindering my decision-making and how fast I was doing it. So one day, I came in there and I said I wasn’t going to worry about that anymore, just kind of started slinging it around and having fun with it, kind of going back to the reason why I play it, which is not to worry about tomorrow and play for today.”


There were a few errant and wobbly throws, but there also were bullet passes thrown with precision. Petty played the most of any Jets quarterback — 21 snaps compared with Smith’s 20 and Fitzpatrick’s 10 (rookie Hackenberg did not play). Petty’s longest throws (21, 20 and 19 yards to three different targets) were the longest completions behind Fitzpatrick’s 26- and 43-yarders to Quincy Enunwa.
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“Every play call, I just knew what was going on and knew what was expected of me, so I just felt good about everything,” said Petty, the Jets’ fourth-round pick last year.

His performance was definitely a step in the right direction. But he’s under no illusions about his uncertain future with the franchise. Though the Jets see potential, they selected him knowing that he would be a project. Complicating matters for the Baylor product is that the team took Hackenberg in the second round of this year’s draft. And now there are three backup quarterbacks vying for practice reps behind Fitzpatrick and a shot to one day be the face of the franchise.

Asked if it’s counterproductive to think about his roster status, Petty said: “I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t [think about his roster spot]. But at the same time, it’s counterproductive. My goal every day coming in is to be positive and to try to be the best teammate I can be and if I’m worrying about myself and roster numbers, then I don’t know if that is happening.

“At the end of the day, whatever happens is supposed to happen and I know that I’ve become a better quarterback because of it. I’m comfortable with that.”

http://www.newsday.com/sports/footb...els-comfortable-in-2nd-half-action-1.12169931
 
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Geno Smith bails on reporters following Jets preseason winConnor Hughes, Jets Wire

By: Gary Phillips | August 12, 2016 7:00 am ET

One preseason game into the year and Geno Smith is already drawing attention to himself.

That would be off the field, of course.

The Jets backup quarterback reportedly did not make himself available to the media. This was following a 17-13 Gang Green win over the Jaguars.

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Geno Smith left the locker room without speaking to reporters because, well, I don't know. He was salty I guess #Jets
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While smith did not talk with reporters, he did end up doing a radio interview with ESPN following the game.


Smith heard a chorus of boos during the contest, but he played alright. He finished the game with 79 yards and a touchdown on 8-14 passing.

http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/12/geno-smith-bails-on-the-media-following-jets-preseason-win/
 
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Jets' Darron Lee getting acclimated to speed of the NFLJets linebacker Darron Lee speaks to the media after being selected in the first round of the draft [Connor Hughes, Jets Wire]

By: Gary Phillips | 2 hours ago
It can be tough for rookies to adjust at the next level, but it looks like Darron Lee is getting there.

The Jets’ first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Lee was one of many positives in Gang Green’s 17-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.

He said it was nice to be playing at full game speed for the first time in his professional career.

“Things actually started to slow down, but that’s because we’ve been speeding it up in practice,” Lee told the Jets’ website. “The coaches challenge us to make those calls faster and more efficient.”


Lee certainly played like things were moving in slow motion for him.

The OSU product had four tackles – two for a loss – and one sack in the contest. He also spent some time on special teams.
 
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Where does Geno Smith rank among backup quarterbacks?



By: Gary Phillips | 3 hours ago

The position of backup quarterback is perceived to be one of the easiest jobs in all of sports.

In theory, a backup never has to play. They never risk injury. They just hold a clipboard. It’s easy money.


Of course, that’s not the reality. Starters get hurt and that is when a capable backup can make or break a team’s season.

RELATED:

Jets' Geno Smith 'pissed off' until he gets his job back
So where does Geno Smith, the Jets’ second-stringer, rank among backups? That would be third, according to Newsday.

Ahead of Smith on the list are Cleveland’s Josh McCown and San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick, though it remains unclear if the latter will be a backup.

Smith should be considered a decent backup. With three years under his belt – including two as a starter – Smith has the experience sought after in a reserve.

http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/13/where-does-geno-smith-rank-among-backup-quarterbacks/
 
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Three takeaways from the Jets' preseason win over Jacksonville

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By: Gary Phillips | 3 hours ago
Football season is officially underway – if you count the preseason.

The Jets played their first exhibition game of the year on Thursday, a 17-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. While one never wants to take a preseason game too seriously, there were a couple points of notice in the affair.

1) It’s Slow and Steady with Christian Hackenberg


Hackenberg, the Jets supposed quarterback of the future, was the only signal caller on the roster who did not see the field on Thursday night. Apparently, it was all part of the plan.

“To play Hackenberg with minimal reps in practice would be doing him a disservice to play him with minimal reps in a game,” Todd Bowles said, according to Newsday.

Bowles went on to say he was not sure when, if at all, Hackenberg would play in a preseason game. Considered a long term project, it is no surprise the Jets are taking it easy with the QB.


2) Jalin Marshall is Explosive

Marshall has been the recipient of rave reviews all summer long. Jets fans saw why on Thursday night.

An undrafted wide receiver out of Ohio State, Marshall’s special teams play was the highlight of the night. With the clock winding down in the second quarter, Marshall showed off his wheels with an 84-yard return.

Special teams have been a problem for the Jets in past years, so it was refreshing to see a burst of speed out of the unit. Expect Marshall to stick around for the long haul and add to the receiving core as well.


3) Dee Milliner Had a Rough Night

One of the more obvious negatives from Thursday night was the play of Milliner.

The cornerback was an early target of Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles. Matched up with Allen Robinson, Milliner first let up a 16-yard pass before the two Jags connected for a 45-yard pass.

Two plays later Milliner found himself on Allen Hurns, only to get blown up on a block. Hurns would take a 13-yard catch to the Jet’s 1-yard line.

It was a rough stretch for Milliner, who is fighting for playing in his fourth year. The DB has struggled with injuries throughout his young NFL career, but he is healthy now.

The question is, can he play?
 
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Bob Glauber's NFL backup quarterback rankings for 2016

Updated August 12, 2016 2:04 PM
By BOB GLAUBER bob.glauber@newsday.com

Jimmy Garoppolo replaces Tom Brady the first month of the season. The Cowboys continue to look for an insurance policy in case Tony Romo is hurt again, especially after backup Kellen Moore suffered a broken leg. Andy Reid looked to a familiar face to make sure Alex Smith’s understudy was ready for the season. And Geno Smith insists he’ll be ready in case Ryan Fitzpatrick can’t play for the Jets.

Backup quarterback in the NFL is usually a forgotten position, and plenty of fans couldn’t even name most teams’ second-stringers. Go ahead. Who’s the backup to Drew Brees? And Aaron Rodgers? And Philip Rivers?
Given the lack of quarterback depth in today’s game, an even greater premium is placed on No. 2. Just ask the Cowboys, whose 2015 season effectively ended when Romo suffered a fractured collarbone in Week 2.
Here’s a look at how we rank the backups for 2016:

1. Josh McCown, Browns


McCown was signed last year as the starter, but a concussion and Johnny Manziel’s presence limited his play time. RGIII is the man this year, but McCown’s experience serves him and the Browns well.

2. Colin Kaepernick, 49ers


It has been a steady descent for Kaepernick, who played in the Super Bowl only 2 1/2 years ago and nearly won it in the fourth quarter. Chip Kelly appears to be leaning toward Blaine Gabbert as his starter, although Kaepernick should figure into the mix at some point.

3. Geno Smith, Jets

A year after he was literally punched out of the lineup by linebacker IK Enemkpali in a locker room incident, Smith goes into his fourth – and potentially final – season with the Jets as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s backup. But with two years as a starter, he’s ahead of most NFL backups in terms of experience. He has a terrific arm, although decision-making still a concern.
 
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Christian Hackenberg knows his time will come with Jets, rookie QB just needs to keep working and stay patient

Christian Hackenberg says he'll be ready to take advantage of his opportunity when it comes.


MANISH MEHTA

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, August 12, 2016, 12:27 PM

It’s time to invoke respected philosopher Aaron Rodgers’ help to restore calm amid those wondering why the next great Jets quarterback didn’t take a snap in their preseason opener Thursday night: R-E-L-A-X.

The education of Christian Hackenberg means waiting your turn. The second-round pick isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He’ll be a de facto red shirt, an intriguing player at the game’s most coveted and maddening position.

Hackenberg watched the Jets’ 17-13 win over the Jaguars from the sideline, because time, believe it or not, isn’t a consideration. He has plenty of it on his side.

Todd Bowles insisted that he would be doing the rookie a “disservice” by throwing him to the wolves (behind a porous third-string offensive line comprised of future 9-to-5ers) after limited practice reps through the first few weeks of training camp. Nobody is putting pressure on Hackenberg ... except Hackenberg.


“Every day, there is pressure that I put on myself to continue to get better,” Hackenberg told the Daily News in a candid moment in the run-up to the preseason opener. “That’s really how I look at it…. I just want to continue to grow as a player. And when the opportunity presents itself, take full advantage of it.”

That opportunity appears on hold for at least this season. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the entrenched starter. Geno Smith offers the most experience as a backup. The Jets have discussed the possibility of keeping four quarterbacks if Bryce Petty, who impressed on Thursday, shows enough progress over the next month.

Hackenberg’s roster spot isn’t in question even if he’s technically the low man on the four-man totem pole. So, he’s slowly navigating through the first few months of his professional career, fitting in by doing what comes naturally, undaunted by the prospect of climbing the ladder.

“I just don’t think you have to force anything,” Hackenberg said. “You kind of just come in and be you and eventually everything will work out.”

Jets do just enough to edge Jaguars in preseason opener
He learns each day, soliciting advice from veteran teammates. There are no stupid questions. He’s a willing student, not a nuisance.

“I’m going to come up and talk to them,” Hackenberg said. “I just have great intentions whenever I come up and talk. That’s my goal. Just try to pull everything I can from them. They’ve found a way to stay in this league for a period of time.”

“I think it’d just be a travesty if I didn’t try to learn something from everyone, because everyone has a unique way that they did it,” he continued. “Even if it’s not at the quarterback position. Brandon Marshall’s story, for example. It’s so cool to see where he is now. I grew up watching him. So I think it’s really cool to be able to get that perspective. Some way, something he tells me, I’m going to need down the road. That’s how I approach it with everyone.”

He’s not resigned to the notion that 2016 will be a redshirt season, but he’s smart enough to know what probably lies ahead. He hasn’t mastered the art of patience, but he’s had plenty of practice being the oldest of four boys.

He wants to learn something new every day.


“Every time he gets in the room, he gets on the bed, opens his playbook and gets to work,” rookie wide receiver – and roommate -- Charone Peake said. “You got to love that in a quarterback. He’s eager to learn…. I’m glad to be around him. Hopefully, I’m here long enough to be around him for the next couple years to see the player he becomes.”

Hackenberg has tantalizing physical gifts. He teased everyone with a standout freshman year at Penn State before developing bad habits behind a patchwork offensive line under a different offensive system. The Jets need to re-build him in myriad ways. Instant change isn’t realistic.

“We suggest things here and there, but it’s hard to change guys completely mechanically in a preseason situation like this,” offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. “You let him do what got him here, and then you take a full offseason if you think there needs to be some changes. That’s where you implement real changes if you think it’s necessary.”

“If you’re going to change a habit, you need thousands of offseason reps,” Gailey added. “You don’t need a few hundred throws a week. That’s a big difference.”

Hackenberg comes to work with a different plan each day. In one practice last week, his goal was clear: See the defense better. He wanted to get a clean pre-snap read and quickly process any post-snap changes to understand where he should be throw the ball. If he made the correct read, but threw an errant pass?

“I wouldn’t give myself a gold star, but I think that’s progress,” Hackenberg said. “Nothing’s going to happen overnight in this league, especially being the young guy coming in. So it’s a process and I have to continue to learn and understand that.”

He won’t be standing on the sideline forever.
 
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After long, strange offseason, Ryan Fitzpatrick looks good in preseason debut with Jets


NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, August 12, 2016, 2:04 AM
There are few things worse than overreacting to preseason football, but it’s too tempting to resist. I can’t help myself.

Sure, the Jets first-team offense participated in a grand total of nine plays in a 17-13 win over the Jaguars Thursday night.

There were more people at the bar I frequented last weekend than at MetLife Stadium for the preseason opener, but the seeds have been planted for something special in 2016.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has resembled everyone from the Geico Caveman to Plato to the Notre Dame Fighting Irishman in recent weeks, finally shaved down that hideous beard. He looked lighter and leaner after ditching the excessive facial hair.

Here's how Ryan Fitzpatrick responds to ESPN's annual QB rankings
Fitzpatrick’s self-proclaimed Summer of George evidently rejuvenated him. He looked fresh. He looked spry. He looked a heck of a lot better than the 25th best quarterback in the NFL.

Yes, Fitzpatrick and his good-time buddies were out there for only two drives – and first one wasn’t a Picasso – but let’s focus on the bright side. I’m nothing if not eternally optimistic.

Fitzpatrick, coming off the oddest of offseasons, looked a heck of lot sharper than when we last saw him in Buffalo. He went 3-for-4 for 72 yards, orchestrating a 75-yard scoring drive capped by Bilal Powell’s 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.

“He was efficient,” Todd Bowles said of his quarterback.

Is Ryan Fitzpatrick an elite QB and does it even matter for Jets?
Three weeks after we wondered whether the veteran would ever reunite with the Jets, Fitzpatrick looked right at home. Although the Jets opening drive stalled in Jaguars territory after Fitzpatrick was sacked, Chan Gailey’s offense was in mid-season on the next series after picking up the pace.

The Jets carved up Jacksonville’s first-team defense with their no-huddle, two-minute drill. Fitzpatrick hooked up with receiver Quincy Enunwa on back-to-back big gains to set up their first score of the night. Fitzpatrick found a wide-open Enunwa for 20 yards to cross midfield. Enunwa was wide open again for a 43-yard pickup on the next play that set up Powell’s score.

It was a promising sign for an offense begging for a third pass-catching option behind Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Enunwa could be precisely what Gailey needs to diversify his offense.


Fitzpatrick and Jaguars starter Blake Bortles talk after the game. (KATHY WILLENS/AP)
“It’s been very evident to me from the beginning of training camp that he’s going to be a big part of what we do and had really improved as a receiver,” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s so versatile. We saw that last year with everything we asked him to do. He can really develop into a big-time weapon for us… That’s the kind of stuff that we expect out of him now.”


“We have a lot of play makers,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s a great job and a tough job of being able to spread it out.”

Although Fitzpatrick racked up 3,905 yards and a franchise-record 31 touchdown passes last year, questions remain. Can he do it again or was 2015 one magnificent mirage?

Fitzpatrick’s evolution – yes, 33-year-old quarterbacks can still evolve – will determine whether the offense will improve enough to give Bowles a legitimate chance to reach the playoffs. Gailey spent extra time with Fitzpatrick upon his return a few weeks ago, but the quarterback is up to speed now. So, he must produce.



“The preseason’s a necessary evil,” Fitzpatrick said. “You’ve got to get out there and get in some of those game-like situations…. It was good to get a couple series… and just get into a little bit of a rhythm with the guys.”

He had an uneven first two weeks of camp, ridding himself of the rust that comes with hanging out all spring with his five kids instead of professional athletes.

On the one-year anniversary of Geno Smith’s locker room fight that thrust Fitzpatrick into the spotlight, the guy who was supposed to be nothing more than veteran insurance looked like he was ready to lead the Jets again.

And that’s definitely not an overreaction.
 
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New York Jets still have four quarterbacks - and should keep them all

Tara Sullivan, The Record 10:01 a.m. EDT August 12, 2016
08-12-16-geno-smith


Keep four quarterbacks.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s return to his rightful place in the pocket went just fine Thursday night, his back-to-back wide-open connections with receiver Quincy Enunwa more than enough to affirm he is the Jets leader on offense.

But Fitzpatrick isn’t the quarterback Jets management really needed to see in the preseason opener against the Jaguars. Any drama about his role ended the minute he signed a one-year contract to come back as the starter. The question going forward is whether the Jets can find a way (or have the desire) to keep three more quarterbacks behind him and have Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg on their final roster.

Having four quarterbacks is rare in the NFL because there are so many holes in other areas, from depth at skill positions to special team needs. More and more often, you see teams with a reliable backup keep only two on the final roster. But in the Jets case, with Fitzpatrick back on a one-year deal and Smith heading into the final year of his original contract, there is absolutely a case to keep both Petty, drafted last year, and Hackenberg, drafted this.




It is a complicated equation, one the team took its first shot at solving Thursday by giving Smith and Petty all of the backup snaps. Hackenberg, the second-rounder from Penn State, did not play.

“There wasn’t enough time,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “We wanted to take a look at Geno, we wanted o take a look at Bryce. If we played Hackenberg minimal reps in practice we’d be doing him a disservice with minimal reps in the game.”

Smith led one touchdown drive and Petty drove the team into two separate field goal attempts.

“They did some good things,” Bowles said. “They got pressured at times, but there were no turnovers from the quarterback position, which is always a plus. Both of them threw some good balls.”

There is no doubt the real intrigue lies with Smith, the former starter.

On the one-year anniversary of the locker room punch that forever altered the course of his Jets career, Smith was back on the field, taking over after Fitzpatrick’s two series with the starting offense. For the man who started 29 games between 2013-14 (going 11-18), who actually headed into last training camp as the incumbent under then first-year coach Bowles, this preseason serves as his best chance to make a case he can be an NFL starter again, the most playing time he is likely to see since getting his jaw broken by IK Enemkpali and losing his job to Fitzpatrick.

He got off to a shaky start, throwing one play-action ball at the feet of Brandon Marshall, throwing another into a traffic jam around Jace Amaro and Jeremy Ross, earning groans and then boos from the sparse home crowd.

He would rebound in impressive fashion, however, completing a beautiful touchdown pass to rookie Charone Peake with 27 seconds left in the first half. The 17-yard throw to the left corner of the end zone was beautifully placed over Peake’s shoulder, far enough away from cornerback Demetrius McCray to avoid an chance of being intercepted but close enough to Peake to be caught just inside the pylon.



Asked what he liked about Smith, Bowles said, “more or less his poise,” before going on to speak about him and Petty as a pair. With Smith completing 8-of-14 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown and Petty going 7-of-14 for 93 yards including two drives that ended in missed field goals, there were positives to be taken from both players.

“[Geno] and Bryce showed poise,” Bowles said. “Last year at this time they were both a little more erratic. This time they showed poise. Again, it’s only the first preseason game, they didn’t see blitzes or a ton of coverages, but they showed poise and commanded the unit well, so that was good.”

For Petty, there is no more important time than the preseason, his only chance to show he is absorbing the intricacies of an NFL offense, one that is so different from the high-scoring spread he ran at Baylor. For the Jets, there is no more important time than the preseason to see whether Petty is making enough progress to continue their investment in him. His best approach is to make it difficult for the Jets to let him go.

“I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t [think about roster numbers], but at the same time, it is counterproductive,” Petty said. “My goal every day coming in is to be positive, be the best teammate I can be and if I’m worrying about myself and roster numbers then I don’t think that’s happening. So every day I come in I try to be a good teammate and at end of day whatever happens is supposed to happen and I know I’ve become a better quarterback because of it.”

The Jets play again Friday night in Washington, and Bowles sounded like his quarterback plan will be the same going forward. If that means Hackenberg doesn’t play until the fourth and final preseason game, so be it.

“That remains to be seen,” he said. “Practice reps and schematically what we can do and still get a look at the other three guys getting their reps, we don’t want to take away their reps either. He’s still learning so he’s got time. It’s not like we’re forced to play him right now.”

For now, time is on the Jets side, but as cut day looms, there will be tough decisions to make.

Don’t be surprised if four quarterbacks get to stay – one backup with experience in Smith, and two potential starters for the future in Petty and Hackenberg.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jets/2016/08/12/new-york-jets-quarterbacks/88609674/
 
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Jets' Devin Smith on ACL recovery: 'I'm not ready to play football yet'


Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on August 13, 2016 at 6:15 AM





EAST RUTHERFORD — Jets receiver Devin Smith has the same routine each day.

He wakes up. He runs. He works out. He gets treatment. He eats. He sleeps.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

What Smith doesn't do is play football, or anything resembling it. Just eight months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL, Smith hasn't been medically cleared to return to the field.


Will Dee Milliner make the roster and who is the Jets best linebacker?
"My body feels good," Smith told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. "It's just I'm not ready to play football. I need to get my strength back. It's a long process and very frustrating."

The Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. To say the first 15 months of his career have been difficult is a vast understatement. The first week of training camp his rookie year, Smith fractured his ribs and punctured a lung. He missed the rest of camp. When he returned, it was evident the time spent recovering had harmed his development

Physically, Smith was ready to contribute. Mentally, he wasn't. There was little (if any) chemistry with Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. In Smith's first nine games, he caught just nine of the 28 passes thrown his way. In game No. 10, he ruptured his Achille's tendon. Smith has been rehabbing ever since.

Smith said he has yet to go full speed during his workouts with trainers. He can run in a straight line and do "a little" cutting, but he can not, and has not, run routes. That includes both by himself, and against a defender.

"I'm trying to get down to where I'm used to running again," Smith said. "I need to get my feet into the ground again and get used to that feeling. For me, it's about making progress each day."

According to Doctor Shelden Martin, a knee surgeon at Ortho Arizona, the recovery timetable for a torn ACL is six months or more. Smith had his surgery in December.

Jets' Milliner says he needs to "do better"
Jets' Milliner says he needs to "do better"
Milliner wasn't happy with his performance Thursday night


The Jets are going to have to make a decision regarding Smith in the coming weeks. Right now, he's on the physically unable to perform list. The Jets can keep Smith on the PUP list to start the regular season, which will sideline him a minimum of six weeks. They could also activate Smith, then place him on the short-term injured reserve. This move would sideline Smith eight weeks.

Yes, Smith would miss a large chunk of the 2016 season. But it would allow him to get healthy.

Smith said the Jets haven't talked to him about either potential transaction. He's still hoping to return to the field before Week 1. Whether that's realistic or not is another story.

"It would be frustrating. Incredibly frustrating," Smith said of being sidelined to start the season. "I haven't played football since December. I'm just trying to get better each day and focus on what I have to focus on. Then, when given the opportunity, I'll go play ball."

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
 
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Enunwa Emerges a Little More in Offense
Posted Aug 12, 2016

Randy Lange
Senior Reporter, newyorkjets.com
@rlangejets
Jets' 2nd-Year WR Erupted on Back-to-Back Plays vs. Jaguars, Giving a Hint at What May Lie Ahead


Quincy Enunwa is a thoughtful, careful guy. Ask him about being THE No. 3 wideout in the Jets' offensive arsenal and his typical answer is "I'm just going to be a guy that's going to help our team be great."

But the numerology of his performance Thursday night in his eight plays of offense during the start of the Jets' 17-13 preseason win over Jacksonville is too tempting to let "Q" off the hook.

Consider that his back-to-back receptions on the same "rail" route to end the first quarter combined for 69 yards. That's the same yardage he had in last year's Game 15 overtime win over New England, also on two catches. We're mixing apples and oranges here, but doesn't it say something about Enunwa's emergence that he has set and then tied his single-game yardage best, as modest as it is, in the last three games he's played as a Jet?

"Yeah, I think I'm definitely building confidence," he told me in the Jets' locker room. "But I think also the quarterbacks, Ryan, Geno, all of them are getting confidence in me, and that's huge, you know? Whenever you can have that, it's going to be great for the team, and I'm hoping I can continue to build confidence with them and we can do some magical things this year."




Certainly that's been on Ryan Fitzpatrick's mind. After the game the bearded one repeated his confident analysis of how this year's Enunwa is a new, improved version of last year's model.

"It's been very evident to me through the beginning of training camp that Quincy’s going to be a big part of what we do and has really improved as a receiver," Fitzpatrick said. "He’s so versatile and we saw that last year with everything we asked him to do. He can really develop into a big-time weapon for us."

Head coach Todd Bowles agreed about the versatility part when he compared Enunwa (in player skills, not body piercings, tats or nail polish color) to Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman earlier this year and then invited Rodman to a recent camp practice.

"Anytime you hear your head coach make comments like that about you, it definitely helps you on the field, so I appreciate him saying that, and I think it's cool that Dennis came out," Enunwa said, adding in his precise way that he's not perfect but he's striving to be.

"I'm going to go out there and scrap and make plays for the team. Sometimes you're not going to be able to do all the pretty work, but I want to go down there and do the dirty work. I'm not always going to be able to make those plays, but I'm going to do my best."

And when he does that, perhaps magical things will follow.
 
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Jets defense can be dominant for years

Jeffrey Stevens Aug 12, 2016, 11:13 AM

The New York Jets have a rookie middle linebacker turning heads and getting everyone’s attention. Before you rush off to the comment section to give your opinion on Darron Lee’s late signing, allow me to have your attention for a few more sentences.

Since the first day of camp, Jordan Jenkins has had the Gang Green coaching staff talking enough that he has already been written in as the week one starter at outside linebacker. While Lee is behind both Erin Henderson and David Harris at this point for the inside linebacker spot, 2014 seventh round pick, Trevor Reilly is the only man who has really given Jenkins any competition.

At 6’3” and 247 pounds, Jenkins was the third round pick out of the University of Georgia for the Jets. He brings both power and speed that are almost as valuable as his ability to both process and apply information on the field within a matter of seconds. The only thing that got in the way of his pass rushing abilities his senior year with the Bulldogs was his own versatility, which led to him being asked to handle all of the dirty work at defensive end, giving Leonard Floyd the opportunity to run free and chase down quarterbacks. The willingness to put the team first by Jenkins didn’t go unnoticed. Jenkins was named both defensive co-captain and defensive MVP his senior year.



Two of the biggest struggles the Jets defense had during the 2015 season were their abilities to cover running backs and tight ends when an opposing offense went to the air. With Jenkins playing at outside linebacker in New York’s 3-4 defense, these two areas of difficulty should no longer be a setback for the Jets. He will also finally be given the opportunity to show the damage he can create being able to play in space and rush the outside edge.

Second year man Lorenzo Mauldin is expected to be paired up with Jenkins, taking over the full time starter position at the opposite outside linebacker spot. The youth at the position brings concern to some of the New York faithful, but keep in mind that during his 224 plays as a situational pass rusher last season, Mauldin was able to rack up 17 tackles, four sacks, and create a forced fumble, as well as recovering another.

The defensive future could look brighter than ever with the two young men playing outside. While some are already thinking it will be either do or die, the defensive coaching staff is confident in the abilities of the duo. If for some reason that feeling begins to disappear in the early going, Calvin Pace has made it clear to coach Todd Bowles that he would like to come back and continue playing for New York.

The post Jets defense can be dominant for years appeared first on Cover32.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jets-defense-dominant-years-151334229.html?nhp=1
 
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Jets draft class trending upward with Darron Lee, Jordan Jenkins

Aug 12, 2016
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

A breakdown of the 2016 New York Jets draft class and its progress after two weeks of training camp.

Darron Lee, LB, first round: He "flashed quite a bit" in Thursday night's preseason opener, according to coach Todd Bowles. The undersized but speedy Lee (one sack, one tackle-for-loss) showed he can make plays in space, but he disappeared a few times in the land of the giants. He probably can help this year in a specific role, not as a traditional inside linebacker.

Christian Hackenberg, QB, second round: The Jets are taking a long-term approach with Hackenberg, who needs to recalibrate after a rough final season at Penn State. The physical tools are there, but he still needs to improve his accuracy, especially on short and intermediate throws. He didn't see any action on Thursday night.


Jordan Jenkins, OLB, third round: He was the only rookie to start the first game, which says something. Jenkins was relatively quiet (three tackles), but he has impressed throughout camp. The coaches like his ability to set the edge against the run and win one-on-one matchups as a pass-rusher. He could be an opening-day starter.

Juston Burris, CB, fourth round: He's a good fit in Bowles' press-man system because of his size (6-foot) and long arms. Burris has a knack for getting his hands on the ball (two pass breakups), a trait he has displayed on the practice field. The big question is whether he has catch-up speed. He'll make the 53-man roster and could contribute as the fourth or fifth corner.

Brandon Shell, OT, fifth round: This will be a redshirt year, so to speak. The Jets drafted him with the idea of developing him for 2017. He's playing left and right tackle in practice, which will help him in the future.

Lach Edwards, P, sixth round: He's the only punter on the roster, so he'd have to really mess up to blow his spot on the 53. Edwards was solid in his debut, averaging 41.5 yards (net) and putting two punts inside the 20. He's also the holder on field goals and PATs, an important job.

Charone Peake, WR, seventh round: The Jets may have found a late-round gem. Peake, a product of Wide Receiver U (Clemson), emerged last week in practice and took it to the game, finishing with a team-high four catches for 45 yards. He made a nice, toe-tapping touchdown grab on a 17-yard throw from Geno Smith. Peake has the size and athleticism, all he needs is technique refinement.
 
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New York Jets vs Jaguars: QB Report
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By Edward Gorelik. August 13, 2016


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The pre-season for the QBs is nearly cut and dry with Fitzpatrick being the expected starter and Geno being the backup. However, there’s still a potential for a battle between Petty and Geno for the second spot, as well as whether either player is on the roster at all come week 1. Throughout the pre-season, i’ll be looking at all four QBs to see where they’re all at.


Ryan Fitzpatrick

Signed late in the offseason, FItzpatrick started extremely conservative as he warmed up. An immediate checkdown was followed up with a missed crosser, ending with a sack that Fitzpatrick didn’t seem to care about. On the next drive, Fitzpatrick hit Enunwa twice in a row on the same route as Enunwa ran up and across the seam against shoddy zone coverage. Fitz did a move that had mixed success last year by glancing at the opposite side before turning and immediately throwing. It worked twice in a row against the Jaguars, leading to big gains from a wide open Quincy Enunwa and baiting the zone coverage defenders on Enunwa’s second reception. You can see all of his throws from last night below but overall there wasn’t much to read into.


Geno Smith

Geno’s night started off with some awful passes as he also played with an extreme conservatism. Jalin Marshall dropped his first target on a crosser, and then Geno had two of his worst passes of the night separated by one completion on a comeback. He had three passes that ranged anywhere from bad to awful against the Jagauars, all right at the start. Below you can see all three of his weak throws, two of them occurring in the bottom right area where I’ve seen him regularly struggle to hit in every one of his seasons, and the other while rushed through pressure. The worst of which was the second one, a near interception that looked like a late pass to a curl route, or maybe it was an off target throw to Amaro. It’s just a very bad, inaccurate pass.


With the bad behind him, Geno started attacking downfield and the yards became easy to get. The play below was the highlight for the QBs last night, as Geno hit Peake on a well placed backshoulder pass, turning a decent coverage by the corner into leverage for the receiver. Peake adjusted to the throw and managed to quickly pull the ball into his chest and secure the touchdown, a highlight of his own.


Geno had one more drive at the start of the 3rd quarter, and he looked sharp throughout until a bobbled snap occurred. Below is that whole drive, which included a very nice throw to Jeremy Ross over some defenders. Geno recognized a linebacker move to take on Ross as he went in motion, and took advantage of that mismatch by throwing over a sitting LB and into Ross’s hands. The LB was able to touch the ball slightly changing it’s trajectory, but Ross had no trouble corralling it anyway.


Bryce Petty

The real surprise of the night was Bryce Petty. Without much to see of Fitzpatrick, and Geno beating the 2nd stringers after a rough start, it was Petty’s night to show that he deserves a place on the Jets 2016 roster. He hasn’t quite hit that point yet, but he was looking like a player that had improved on the skills he already had from one preseason ago.

Petty’s first pass was on a post against a cover-3 defense that didn’t drop far enough (a theme) to take away the throw. Petty’s quickness on his first dropback was an immediate surprise with good timing and placement. His followup to that was a strong comeback route and then a screen pass that drove the Jets down the field quickly. The drive continued with a great jump ball opportunity for the WR against tight man coverage, as Petty hit Robby Anderson on the sideline but couldn’t be finished inbounds. Ultimately the drive ended with a field goal after an aggressive attempt at hitting Amaro in the endzone, a potentially drive killing play if caught. But concerns about Petty’s lack of development could be quieted immediately.

Petty’s next two drives still showed a work in progress and were reminders of his lack of refinement. Although able to hit targets with ease when given a direct line to throw to them, Petty showed struggles with placement when attempting to put touch on the ball further down the field. Another good throw happened before all that though, as he hit Chandler Worthy for 17 yards in the middle of the field while man coverage pulled a linebacker out of the throwing lane. Otherwise, the throws remained mostly easy, sticking to the underneath with some single side reading through rollouts. Although he did take two sacks on this drive, I wouldn’t feel comfortable blaming him for either.


A Jaguars rusher getting into the backfield freely forced Petty into his worst pass of the night. The pre-snap showed just one safety on the trips side of the field, who came down to man up while the box safety headed upfield with his back towards the solo receiver. Petty recognized the safety being out of position to play that man and with his quick release, he was able to get the ball out just as the free rusher came upon him. The throw managed to be just outside of the range of the WR but was nearly intercepted by the safety that couldn’t quite make a diving grab.


I’m unhappy that we didn’t get to see Christian Hackenberg last night but whether that’s because his roster spot is safe or because they just don’t want to put him out there, I don’t know. Regardless, Bryce Petty’s battle for a roster spot, Geno Smith’s attempt to comeback, and Ryan Fitzpatrick’s continuing saga are going to be a focus all pre-season long.

We’ll see how the QBs look again next week.

http://turnonthejets.com/2016/08/jets-vs-jaguars-qb-report-petty-smith-fitzpatrick/
 
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Monitoring key injuries on offense as the Jets return to practice
8:33 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Saturday's wake-up call, Day 17 of New York Jets training camp:

What's happening: With one preseason game in the books, the Jets (1-0) return to practice after a day off. The session is open to the public (with a ticket) and begins at 1:50 p.m. Check the weather forecast; there's a chance of rain. The team also has issued tips on how to deal with the extreme heat.

What's hot: The first practice after a preseason game always is interesting because you may notice subtle lineup changes. The coaches sometimes tweak the internal depth chart based on their evaluations from the game. Younger players who might get a longer look include defensive lineman Shelby Harris, linebacker Julian Stanford, safety Doug Middleton and wide receiver Charone Peake. As always, we'll be monitoring the quarterback reps. Will Todd Bowles give Bryce Petty any work as the No. 2? ... Injured running back Matt Forte (hamstring), yet to practice, will be under the spotlight. It's too soon to panic, but he probably won't play next week if he misses a few more practices -- and then it's time to worry. ... The Jets are beat up at running back. The latest injury: Dominique Williams, who has a concussion. That leaves only three healthy backs -- Bilal Powell, Romar Morris and Matthew Tucker. Khiry Robinson, recovered from a broken leg, could get his first full-time work after limited work last week. Veteran Bernard Pierce, who pulled a hamstring soon after signing at the start of camp, could be on shaky ground. ... Two injuries on the offensive line bear watching: James Carpenter (leg) and Breno Giacomini (back), who hasn't practiced. Right tackle is becoming an issue. Ben Ijalana started for Giacomini on Thursday night, but he has been a career backup.
 
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flgreen said:
Monitoring key injuries on offense as the Jets return to practice
8:33 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Saturday's wake-up call, Day 17 of New York Jets training camp:

What's happening: With one preseason game in the books, the Jets (1-0) return to practice after a day off. The session is open to the public (with a ticket) and begins at 1:50 p.m. Check the weather forecast; there's a chance of rain. The team also has issued tips on how to deal with the extreme heat.

What's hot: The first practice after a preseason game always is interesting because you may notice subtle lineup changes. The coaches sometimes tweak the internal depth chart based on their evaluations from the game. Younger players who might get a longer look include defensive lineman Shelby Harris, linebacker Julian Stanford, safety Doug Middleton and wide receiver Charone Peake. As always, we'll be monitoring the quarterback reps. Will Todd Bowles give Bryce Petty any work as the No. 2? ... Injured running back Matt Forte (hamstring), yet to practice, will be under the spotlight. It's too soon to panic, but he probably won't play next week if he misses a few more practices -- and then it's time to worry. ... The Jets are beat up at running back. The latest injury: Dominique Williams, who has a concussion. That leaves only three healthy backs -- Bilal Powell, Romar Morris and Matthew Tucker. Khiry Robinson, recovered from a broken leg, could get his first full-time work after limited work last week. Veteran Bernard Pierce, who pulled a hamstring soon after signing at the start of camp, could be on shaky ground. ... Two injuries on the offensive line bear watching: James Carpenter (leg) and Breno Giacomini (back), who hasn't practiced. Right tackle is becoming an issue. Ben Ijalana started for Giacomini on Thursday night, but he has been a career backup.
Click to expand...


Giving Petty reps with the 2's would bea very interesting development. Don't see it happening, but.......................

Wonder how smith would react to that?
 
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