Jets football is finally on the horizon.
The team opens up its preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, putting nearly three weeks of training camp to the test against a team that has made the playoffs three times in four seasons.
Head coach Aaron Glenn had his team scrimmage on Saturday, which ended with an up-and-down result. The offense, which had been clicking at times in its first two weeks, struggled, but it’s a new week and a time to turn the page.
After a few days off, Week 3 of Jets camp opened up with a joint practice with the Bucs. The teams were able to do team drills against each other prior to their game on Friday.
So how’d it go? Well, for starters, chippy.
There were multiple scuffles on Tuesday, one of which followed a Jets interception of quarterback Baker Mayfield. The first was prompted by David Bailey and Bucs tackle Luke Goedeke after the second overall pick tapped his helmet with the whistle. Both had bench-clearing brawls, and it was the first thing that Glenn spoke about.
“Listen, these things always happen,” Glenn said. “The thing is, when they do happen, is it continuous and is it the same players. When it comes to the same players, then you kick the players out because it becomes more than just practice…For the most part, I think the guys did well in that situation.”
The bright side for Bailey was that his name was called on constantly and for good reason. The former Texas Tech edge rusher was in the backfield nearly every chance he got. He spent the day getting past Goedeke and ended the day with multiple sacks.
One that wasn’t, but very much would have been, was on a play that Mayfield rolled on out. If the play had been during a game, it would have been a sack, but since quarterbacks are not allowed to be hit, the pass was let off and batted away by linebacker Demario Davis. Not only was Davis able to get the swat, but he has also been impressed by Bailey’s play.
“I’ve been around a ton of rookies,” Davis said. “Some that were projected high, some projected low…he looks like a number two pick. He looks like everything that’s been advertised or more about him…I think he already has a lot of elements as a pro.”
Glenn followed up on that sentiment but is also drawn to what he has to do to help coach Bailey up to reach his potential.
“He not looking at where’s he’s at right now,” Glenn said.“He’s looking at where he’s going to be two years from now. He wants to get there right now. That’s how competitive he is. That’s what we’re working on. How do we get him to that next level?”
On the other side of the ball, the offense struggled. Quarterback Geno Smith began the day behind the eight ball. In the first two team drills, he had just two completions; the same number of picks he had as well.
He managed to throw a touchdown—but the issue was that it was Bucs cornerback Damarion Williams on the first play of practice, who took it back to the endzone.
Smith finished the day with 10 completions and three interceptions. Todd Bowles defense made the Jets’ offense look out of sync. The silver lining was that he ended the day on a high note. Smith found wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who hauled in a ball that was tipped at the line and juked out multiple defenders to scamper into the end zone.
“I just laugh because he’s so good,” running back Breece Hall said.
The Jets also saw solid play from their tight end room, specifically Mason Taylor, who hauled in a touchdown from Smith during practice. Jeremy Ruckert also had a solid day, which helps in the absence of rookie Kenyon Sadiq, who is out with an injury. Both tight ends were listed as the starters in the Jets’ unofficial depth chart yesterday.
Regardless of where they are on the depth chart, Glenn kept it short and sweet about whether he would rest starters or play everyone in New York’s game on Friday.
“Everyone is playing,” Glenn said.
