Jets rookie Garrett Wilson flashes ‘that Justin Jefferson vibe’ – New York Jets Blog

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A take a look at what’s occurring across the New York Jets:

1. Catch a rising star: As an underclassmen at Ohio State, Garrett Wilson watched from afar as two rookie large receivers turned instantaneous NFL stars — the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson (2020) and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase (2021). Wilson wished to be them.

“That was my goal,” he mentioned. “That’s what I planned on doing.”

Wilson nonetheless has an extended technique to go, which he acknowledges, however he is off to such begin that he is drawing comparisons to Jefferson. Cornerback D.J. Reed mentioned Wilson has “that Justin Jefferson vibe,” and tight finish Tyler Conklin took it additional. His phrases carry some weight as a result of he was Jefferson’s teammate for 2 years in Minnesota.

“They move similar, the way they have those lanky strides, just slippery, kind of like euro stepping down the field,” Conklin mentioned. “I see a lot of similarities there: His ability to go up and get the ball … after the catch … he’s just so dang slippery. I think it was only a matter of time before he broke out like he did [last Sunday].”

Wilson (eight catches for 102 yards) turned the primary rookie in franchise historical past to have 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a recreation. The Jets have a awful monitor report on the subject of drafting receivers, evidenced by this eye-opening factoid:

He’s solely the ninth Jets rookie because the merger (1970) to report a 100-yard receiving day. Elijah Moore did it as soon as final 12 months, however there was a 20-12 months hole earlier than that. Laveranues Coles did it in 2000. The solely participant to do it twice was Al Toon (1985).

Wilson, drafted tenth total, referred to as the Jefferson comparability “a huge compliment. I want to be great. I’m nowhere near that.”

At 6-foot, 183 kilos, he is smaller than Jefferson (6-foot-1, 195), however a bit of sooner (4.38 to 4.43 seconds within the 40). Like Jefferson, he has the power to play inside and outdoors. He ran most of his routes from the slot final week after enjoying predominantly on the surface in Week 1. In phrases of total manufacturing, he has seven catches outdoors (together with two touchdowns) and 5 from the slot.

He will likely be a marked man after final week’s breakout. Let’s see how he responds.

2. Hungry for sacks: The Jets’ underperforming cross rush smells a possibility Sunday towards Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who has been sacked 13 occasions — tied with three different quarterbacks for essentially the most via two video games over the previous 20 seasons.

Excited?

“On the surface, absolutely,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins told ESPN. “Obviously, they’re having some issues protecting — not necessarily all on the O-line, but at the end of the day, any time a team is giving up sacks at that rate, obviously you’re going to be licking your chops to add to that number. It’s on us to win those rushes and win those reps and make that number climb higher.”

The Bengals have proficient linemen, in keeping with Rankins, however they’re struggling for a wide range of causes. So are the Jets, who’ve solely three sacks and rank thirtieth in stress proportion. It’s too early to panic, but it surely’s price noting as a result of they’ve a lot invested of their line of defense. Even coach Robert Saleh, who hardly ever criticizes, mentioned of the cross rush, “It has to be better.”

The gamers realize it.

“We hold ourselves in high esteem and truly expect ourselves to dominate each and every time we put our hand in the dirt,” Rankins said. “Obviously, we haven’t put that all together quite yet. There have been flashes of guys winning rushes, but collectively we haven’t put our pure dominance on tape yet.”

3. Early yips: Some of the Jets’ high free-agent acquisitions are off to gradual begins, most notably Conklin, LG Laken Tomlinson and S Jordan Whitehead. Let’s give attention to Conklin for a second.

After a terrific coaching camp, Conklin already has two drops and two fumbles. He had solely six drops and two fumbles in his first 4 seasons mixed.

“I’m usually pretty damn good at [ball security],” he mentioned. “I’ll get that s— straightened out.”

4. Go north, younger man: The coaches wish to see rookie RB Breece Hall flip upfield faster on outdoors zone performs. In different phrases, they need extra north-south working and fewer east-west. At Iowa State, he was recognized for his affected person working type, so that is an adjustment for him.

Hall mentioned he appears like a freshman once more, getting comfy with the scheme and figuring out when to step on the accelerator. At the identical time, he would not need to overthink it, lest he compromise his pure capacity.

Statistically, Hall’s common time from handoff to line of scrimmage is 2.92 seconds, solely fractionally greater than the NFL common, in keeping with NFL Next Gen Stats.

5. No cube for Bryce: Cornerback Bryce Hall’s slide down the depth chart is quite gorgeous. In 2021, he performed extra defensive snaps (1,126) than all however three gamers within the league. Last Sunday, he was a wholesome scratch. They dressed solely 4 corners, and Hall was the odd-man out. In Week 1, he performed solely 5 defensive snaps.

Hall misplaced his beginning job when Sauce Gardner was drafted fourth total (despite the fact that the workforce performed a charade competitors in coaching camp), however he is additionally behind Brandin Echols. Hall would not play particular groups, hurting his recreation-day worth. He’s beneath contract via 2023, so there is no urgency to commerce him.

6. Good firm: Jets quarterbacks with 300 yards, 4 landing passes and no interceptions in a recreation: Joe Namath (1967), Ken O’Brien (1986) and Joe Flacco (final week).

7. Did you recognize? Braden Mann mentioned final week’s 17-yard completion on a faux punt was his first cross try — ever. He by no means threw the ball as a university punter. Before working on the sphere, he acquired some sage recommendation from particular groups coach Brant Boyer:

“Step into it.”

Prior to Sunday, the final time the Jets tried a faux punt was 2018.

8a. Nick’s time: Former heart Nick Mangold will likely be inducted into the workforce’s Ring of Honor at halftime. A few ideas:

With the twenty ninth decide in 2006, common supervisor Mike Tannenbaum, working his first draft, narrowed the alternatives to Mangold and working again Joseph Addai. There was some sentiment within the draft room for Addai, who wound up going subsequent to the Indianapolis Colts. Addai ended up having a strong profession, however he wasn’t in Mangold’s league. We at all times criticize GMs for blowing picks; this is one which labored out properly.

From 1998 to 2016, the Jets had arguably one of the best facilities within the NFL. It began with Kevin Mawae (Pro Football Hall of Famer), who handed the baton to Mangold. They have not been in a position to preserve that normal on the place, one of many many causes for the workforce’s downturn.

8b. Eye-catching factoid: Mangold is just 38, just one 12 months older than Flacco and injured left sort out Duane Brown.

9. Seize the snap: Safety Ashtyn Davis has been criticized for not residing as much as expectations, however he deserves credit score for his recreation-clinching interception — his first and solely defensive snap of the season. Those sort of performs are uncommon. The final time a Jets participant made an interception within the remaining 30 seconds to safe a win in a one-rating recreation was 2015. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if the coaches reward him by discovering a technique to get him on the sphere in a sub bundle.

10. The final phrase: “[Assistant] Ricky Manning, Jr. does the ball [drill] on Thursday. He has all these quotes. One of them is, ‘Good things come to those who run.'” — Saleh on sort out Max Mitchell, who made a terrific hustle play final week to get well a fumble