The Jets have five key position battles other than signal caller that bears watching on Saturday.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled column about Jets quarterbacks to bring you this bit of breaking news: There are plenty of other positions on the team, including some competitive battles for starting jobs.
Although Christian Hackenberg’s every snap will be dissected in the preseason opener against the Titans on Saturday night, there are other important storylines for a rebuilding outfit searching for answers at several pivotal spots.
Remember Woody Johnson’s claim that he wants to see improvement from the young players in the organization?
The typical soundtrack of the first preseason game: Watch the first few series intently, take a nap, wake up midway through the fourth quarter, shut off the TV and go to bed.
The Jets’ first 11 practices through two weeks of training camp shouldn’t be dismissed, of course, but there’s no debate that preseason games carry more weight.
« Practice carries a lot because you see them every day, » Todd Bowles said. « You don’t want to see the same mistakes. You see common mistakes in practice and you see them, more so, because it’s every day. Then it’s who performs under the lights. It’s about a two-to-one grade for your final exam as opposed to turning in assignments every day. As the preseason goes, mistakes happen less and less. (You want players to) continue to improve as the preseason goes. Then we’ll have a decision. »
The Jets have five key position battles other than signal caller that bears watching on Saturday.
1) Is there an edge rusher in the house?
It’s no secret that Bowles needs better production at outside linebacker. An edge rusher or two would be helpful. Both the strong-side and weak-side spots are up for grabs. Incumbents Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Mauldin aren’t guaranteed anything. Josh Martin, Freddie Bishop, rookie Dylan Donahue and Frank Beltre (who’s dealing with a groin injury) have each had some encouraging moments in practice, but Bowles needs guys to start separating themselves from the pack sooner rather than later.
« We might have one day where one of us is ahead and one of us makes an exceptional play, » Jenkins said. « The next day, three other guys make exceptional plays. It’s literally day after day. Everybody’s flashing.… It’s going to a tough decision. »
2) Will Bowles get a secondary boost?
The rookie safety tandem of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye appears to be the real deal, but how about the cornerbacks? Veteran Morris Claiborne has been healthy and, thus, solid in camp. The real question centers on which guy will emerge as the second outside corner when Buster Skrine slides inside in nickel packages. It’s a two-man competition between Juston Burris and Darryl Roberts. Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers admitted in the spring that Burris was underused as a rookie. He’s a big, physical press-man corner tailor made for the Jets scheme, but Roberts has been competitive this summer. Don’t rule him out.
3) Is Brandon Shell ready for more prime time?
Shell had a solid final month as a rookie, but let’s not put him Canton just yet (like his great uncle Art) . The smart money is that Shell will be able to hold off Qvale, who started five games last season, but the preseason will matter. If Shell falters, veteran swing tackle Ben Ijalana could slide into the starting role. Qvale is no lock to make the roster.
4) Who’s the next Nick Mangold?
The short answer: Nobody on this roster. But Bowles & Co. can’t play tackle football without a center, so they’ll have to choose between Wesley Johnson, who started eight games last year, and discarded Colt Jonotthan Harrison, who has taken some reps with the starters in camp.
« It’s up for grabs, » Bowles said.
Good luck breaking down this job on TV.
5) Is there a new Folk Hero in the building?
Nick Folk and his relatively hefty salary are gone, so who will fill these important shoes? The kicking competition between veteran Chandler Catanzaro and 24-year-old Ross Martin has been a rout in camp. Catanzaro has been shanking kicks left and right, including four missed field goals at an indoor practice this week. Martin is the clear front-runner. (He’s cheaper too.) But kicking competitions don’t really start until the preseason. Martin had an inconsistent preseason last year, prompting the Jets to stick with ol’ reliable Folk. Martin spent six months as a sales trainee for IBM in New York, while kicking on the side after work and waiting for another chance. Now, he’s positioned to grab the job.
« You know they have been going at it since the spring, » Bowles said. « It’s give and take. We’ll see who shows up when the lights come on. It’s pretty close right now. »
Bowles & Co. have plenty of other decisions to sort through on Saturday.
« I tell the guys all the time if my decision is easy, then we aren’t competing hard enough or we don’t have good enough guys, » Bowles said of the position battles. « As you get the nucleus of your team together, the harder the competition, the harder my job is to make a decision, the better we will be. »
A good quarterback would help, too.
