We can say that Alijah Vera-Tucker looks great in a Jets jersey, but without pads we can discern very little of his impact on the team.
I myself wasn’t at any of the practices, but I was able to read a wide variety of reports and watch as much film that was made available to me.
The media gets more views in video and print from Jets fans when the news seems positive.
The Jets brought in on the defense Carl Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, Vinny Curry, Jarrad Davis, Lamarcus Joyner along with Corey Davis, Keelan Cole, Dan Feeney, Kenny Yeboah, Tyler Kroft and Tevin Coleman on offense.
Fant is a mediocre talent but has the ability to play on either side of the line which is not an easy trait to find.
I’m pretty sure the Jets will ask him to take a pay cut to do so; it seems like that is Joe Douglas’s modus operandi.
He is though an above average swing tackle in that he can play both tackle positions and protect the edge against swift edge rushers.
If he were to be cut he would not be without suitors for his services, but at this point in the offseason there are few if any teams that would offer him any serious money.
The cap hit this year is $4 million which only saves $450,000, but it gets the Jets out from under an unwieldy $18,550,000 salary the next two years and supplies the Jets with a viable swing tackle who would also has solid character on he roster.
Fant would be gambling on the Jets keeping him, but he would also not have to worry about the wear and tear on his body as a starting player.
The Jets’ new intensity is a positive step as it creates or forms a new culture for players to buy into now and in the future.
“As far as the identity goes, touched on it a couple of times, our identity is not going to reveal itself until we see adversity.
I even read that some fans were calling Wilson the next Johnny Manziel which I knew was a ludicrous assumption given all the facts I read about him.
He has very much impressed his offensive coordinator Mike La Fleur and passing game specialist coach Greg Knapp.
Wilson himself understands that learning the offense is going to take some time and mistakes will happen He said, “Out here, you’re always just a step slow at first, It’s just how fast can I get through my progressions to where I don’t even have to think about it.
We’ve done so many ‘call-it periods’ where he doesn’t have the script and he just has to hear me through that walkie talkie and make sure not only is he calling it correctly, but getting everyone else aligned.
He is adept at throwing the ball accurately on the move which is a key for success in the NFL.
In fact I have read that Wilson has been very efficient when throwing to all three of his slot type receivers in camp including what little time he had with Crowder.
Most teams only have a single slot corner of any repute so the player being covered by a 2nd team type talent has a very good chance of beating his man.
Another player who has worked well with Wilson is Michael Carter the rookie out of North Carolina who also has turned heads in OTA and minicamp on a team that was loaded at receiver and while he shared the backfield with Javonte Williams who will probably be the lead back in Denver this year.
Carter can get a feel of how the ball will come to him and read the arc on the ball which should be the same once the pads go on.
It may be that the two had a chance to work so much together as rookies the last few weeks, but it appears to me that Wilson really likes throwing to Carter and trusts him which is a major thing between players.
White was a safety in college and at 6’ 1 3/8” 215 lbs is the type of WILL LB the Jets have been looking for.
With the running back position up for grabs Carter could be the lead back for the Jets if he continues to impress.
Wilson is looking to get his receivers together for some informal throwing sessions before camp.
When the Jets drafted Elijah Moore I jumped out of my seat with joy because I thought Moore was a singular talent who could be not only a leader on the field but a shining example of dedication to the craft for other players.
“Miles Austin’s done an awesome job putting him at ‘X,’ putting him at ‘Z,’ putting him at ‘F,’ which when I was a receivers coach, I was almost a little bit nervous to do that.
Zach Wilson is as upbeat a player there is, but even he was amazed to hear Carter talk to him after a tough day at practice.
Carter was one player the Jets thought they had lost the opportunity to draft when they traded away the two third round picks they had for the chance to draft Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Carter is climbing the ladder on the depth chart and is on his way to the top in the opinions of many of the writers at the Jet practices.
With the upbeat vibe coming from the OTAs and minicamp it is hard to judge who has not been there so far as it comes to players under performing.
This is a more vital position to the La Fleur offense than most systems. So it is a little more than concerning that no player has stepped up to claim the position.
That in and of itself is not a deal breaker, but he is coming off two lost years and is coming into the final year of his contract.
Yeboah is a little old for a rookie, but if he can produce like he did against Alabama where he had 7 receptions for 181 yards and 2 TDs he would be special.
The Jets need a player at tight end, and most of the guys the Jets have at that position are not really good athletes.
Some have floated the idea around about the Jets acquiring Zack Ertz.
For some reason the Eagles are set on getting rid of Ertz even though if they trade him they will eat $7,769,500 in dead cap space over the next 3 years.
When healthy Ertz could help the Jets, but if he is released I don’t know how much salary Joe would give him or whether he would want to come to a rebuilding affair like the Jets.
So far everything he has done seems to be spot on, but the season hasn’t started yet so it remains to be seen how things work out.