Here are burning questions entering the game for the Jets:
1) How will Sam Darnold perform under the bright lights?
Darnold will have the same preseason opportunity that Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty got last year to prove that he should be the starter. Only this time, I?m told that team decision makers are confident that the rookie quarterback will seize the moment and earn their trust before ultimately earning the Week 1 starting job. Nothing is guaranteed, but folks on One Jets Drive believe that Darnold won?t disappoint given everything they?ve seen from him since he first walked into the building a few months ago.
2) Is Teddy Bridgewater back?
It?s been 711 days since Bridgewater suffered a grievous knee injury that pushed him to the margins for two seasons. The former Vikings starter has shown encouraging signs with his movement skills this summer, but the next true hurdle will be his biggest: How does his surgically repaired knee respond to contact ... during and after the game?
Bridgewater, who played nine token snaps last season, will get his first extended work since the third week of the 2015 preseason. At 25, he rightfully believes that he?ll be an NFL starter again.
There are too many variables to definitively know Bridgewater?s immediate future, but the spectrum includes everything from Jets Week 1 starter to member of another team.
My understanding is that the Jets are amenable to trading Bridgewater if/when a market develops before the regular season. If the Jets are fully confident that Darnold can handle the load, then Bridgewater, who signed a 1-year, $6 million deal this offseason, could be flipped for an asset (draft pick or player).
3) Is there an edge pass rusher in the house?
There?s a glaring hole at edge pass rusher that needs to be filled by somebody, right? Keep a close eye on journeyman Brandon Copeland and undrafted rookie Frankie Luvu, who have impressed coaches this summer. LT isn?t walking through that door, so it?ll be incumbent upon Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers to look under every rock to unearth anyone who can help out. Former third-round pick Lorenzo Mauldin, dealing with leg tightness, is on the roster bubble. Unless he shows something in the next few weeks, he?ll be a goner.
4) Will anyone seize control of the punt returner job?
Rookie sixth-rounder Trenton Cannon has flashed his speed in camp as a runner and receiver, but he has looked shaky, to say the least, fielding punts. He muffed a punt in the final practice before the preseason opener, which won?t instill confidence in special teams coordinator Brant Boyer or Bowles.
Cannon?s ability to get to the edge in the blink of an eye and pass-catching prowess make him an intriguing option for the offense, but the Jets really need to find a solution to their punt-returning woes.
Veteran Andre Roberts might wind up being the most steady and reliable option. Lucky Whitehead is in the mix too. Eli McGuire was expected to compete for the gig too before breaking his foot. There are no elixirs out there, but Bowles & Co. will feel better about this seemingly dire circumstance if somebody comes out of the chute with a good performance on Friday.
5) How will the rushing attack look?
The Jets aren?t going to morph into Rex Ryan?s Ground and Pound days, but Gang Green will be more committed to the run than they were last season (19th in rushing offense and yards per carry).
Expect to see plenty of outside-zone runs (aka ? stretch plays) in new offensive line/run-game coordinator Rick Dennison?s scheme. Isaiah Crowell is well suited for this system. Both Bilal Powell and Crowell should get a fair share of touches while they?re in there on Friday.
6) Which receivers will stand out?
Jeremy Bates might not have a bona fide star receiver at his disposal, but the cupboard isn?t bare. Monitor Terrelle Pryor, who has started to show some promising signs as he recovers from an ankle injury that sidelined him for much of the offseason. Second-year wideout Chad Hansen has been quiet in camp after an impressive spring. Will he reemerge in the preseason?
The dark horse among the group: Tre McBride.
1) How will Sam Darnold perform under the bright lights?
Darnold will have the same preseason opportunity that Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty got last year to prove that he should be the starter. Only this time, I?m told that team decision makers are confident that the rookie quarterback will seize the moment and earn their trust before ultimately earning the Week 1 starting job. Nothing is guaranteed, but folks on One Jets Drive believe that Darnold won?t disappoint given everything they?ve seen from him since he first walked into the building a few months ago.
2) Is Teddy Bridgewater back?
It?s been 711 days since Bridgewater suffered a grievous knee injury that pushed him to the margins for two seasons. The former Vikings starter has shown encouraging signs with his movement skills this summer, but the next true hurdle will be his biggest: How does his surgically repaired knee respond to contact ... during and after the game?
Bridgewater, who played nine token snaps last season, will get his first extended work since the third week of the 2015 preseason. At 25, he rightfully believes that he?ll be an NFL starter again.
There are too many variables to definitively know Bridgewater?s immediate future, but the spectrum includes everything from Jets Week 1 starter to member of another team.
My understanding is that the Jets are amenable to trading Bridgewater if/when a market develops before the regular season. If the Jets are fully confident that Darnold can handle the load, then Bridgewater, who signed a 1-year, $6 million deal this offseason, could be flipped for an asset (draft pick or player).
3) Is there an edge pass rusher in the house?
There?s a glaring hole at edge pass rusher that needs to be filled by somebody, right? Keep a close eye on journeyman Brandon Copeland and undrafted rookie Frankie Luvu, who have impressed coaches this summer. LT isn?t walking through that door, so it?ll be incumbent upon Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers to look under every rock to unearth anyone who can help out. Former third-round pick Lorenzo Mauldin, dealing with leg tightness, is on the roster bubble. Unless he shows something in the next few weeks, he?ll be a goner.
4) Will anyone seize control of the punt returner job?
Rookie sixth-rounder Trenton Cannon has flashed his speed in camp as a runner and receiver, but he has looked shaky, to say the least, fielding punts. He muffed a punt in the final practice before the preseason opener, which won?t instill confidence in special teams coordinator Brant Boyer or Bowles.
Cannon?s ability to get to the edge in the blink of an eye and pass-catching prowess make him an intriguing option for the offense, but the Jets really need to find a solution to their punt-returning woes.
Veteran Andre Roberts might wind up being the most steady and reliable option. Lucky Whitehead is in the mix too. Eli McGuire was expected to compete for the gig too before breaking his foot. There are no elixirs out there, but Bowles & Co. will feel better about this seemingly dire circumstance if somebody comes out of the chute with a good performance on Friday.
5) How will the rushing attack look?
The Jets aren?t going to morph into Rex Ryan?s Ground and Pound days, but Gang Green will be more committed to the run than they were last season (19th in rushing offense and yards per carry).
Expect to see plenty of outside-zone runs (aka ? stretch plays) in new offensive line/run-game coordinator Rick Dennison?s scheme. Isaiah Crowell is well suited for this system. Both Bilal Powell and Crowell should get a fair share of touches while they?re in there on Friday.
6) Which receivers will stand out?
Jeremy Bates might not have a bona fide star receiver at his disposal, but the cupboard isn?t bare. Monitor Terrelle Pryor, who has started to show some promising signs as he recovers from an ankle injury that sidelined him for much of the offseason. Second-year wideout Chad Hansen has been quiet in camp after an impressive spring. Will he reemerge in the preseason?
The dark horse among the group: Tre McBride.
