Jets Camp: What We Learned From Watching Every Practice

The final practice is over, so Jets camp is officially in the books, and after watching this team throughout the summer, there are a few things that stand out. Some are encouraging, some are still concerns, and a few questions aren’t going to be answered until the regular season starts. JetNation was at every practice, here are a few things we observed.

Aaron Glenn Is Doing Things His Way

Aaron Glenn is doing just about everything differently, which is interesting considering the position he is in. NFL coaches don’t typically get a long leash, and after last season, Glenn probably used up about 99 percent of his. Despite that, he isn’t coaching like someone who is afraid to make a mistake or worried about doing things the conventional way.

The practice schedule is different. The way he manages players is different. The amount of work they do on certain days is calculated, and Glenn clearly has a plan for what he wants this team to look like when Week 1 arrives. He really does seem different this year, and the overall feel around the team has changed. Ultimately, none of that will matter if the wins aren’t there. That’s the reality of the NFL, and Glenn knows it better than anyone.

Frank Reich’s Offense

The offense has been one of the more encouraging parts of camp. Frank Reich has this group playing efficiently, and there seems to be a purpose behind what they’re doing. Geno Smith has looked comfortable, the ball is coming out quickly, and Reich has shown plenty of different looks with the running backs and tight ends.

Nobody needs to start making playoff reservations based on training camp practices, but the offense looks organized, and Geno seems comfortable running it. We will learn a lot more when teams start game planning specifically for the Jets, but so far Reich’s offense has been a positive.

Can the Jets Run the Football?

The running game is still a concern for me. Getting Breece Hall back will obviously help, and Isaiah Davis returning gives them another option in the backfield. Braelon Allen is going to get his opportunities as well. The bigger question isn’t necessarily who is carrying the football. It is whether this offensive line can consistently create room for them.

The tackles give the Jets some pieces to feel good about, but there are still questions on the interior, particularly with Dylan Parham and Josh Myers. Training camp isn’t always the easiest place to evaluate the running game, but there have been enough stretches where the defensive front has controlled things to make this worth watching. If the Jets want to run the football consistently, the interior of the line is going to have to prove it can move people.

Frank Reich discussed how he wasn’t happy with the run game in his press conference on Tuesday. They made it a focus and Braelon had a strong practice as they closed out camp.

The Defensive Line Rotation

This could get very interesting. If you look at the Jets official depth chart right now, Will McDonald is listed as a starter and Joseph Ossai is much further down. That depth chart hasn’t really caught up with what has happened since Ossai returned to practice. What we can tell you from watching practice is that Ossai is going to play. The Jets didn’t give him a contract worth more than $30 million to sit on the sideline, and since returning, he has looked fast and disruptive. His effort has stood out as well, particularly when chasing plays from behind.

That means Will McDonald has his work cut out for him when it comes to earning reps. David Bailey has also had an impressive camp, and T’Vondre Sweat is back in the middle. Aaron Glenn has plenty of options up front. How those snaps are divided between Ossai, McDonald, Bailey and the rest of the defensive line will be one of the more interesting things to watch once the regular season begins.

The Jets Are All In on Injury Prevention

One thing that has become very clear during camp is how seriously the Jets are taking analytics and sports science when it comes to injuries and recovery. The lighter practices, veteran days, pitch counts and individual management plans aren’t random. There is science behind the schedule and behind how many reps Glenn wants each player taking at different points in camp.

Glenn has talked about gradually building players up so their bodies are ready for a full NFL game while still giving them enough recovery time along the way. We have seen starters sit out portions of practice even when they aren’t injured, and we’ve seen players returning from injuries kept on very specific rep counts.

Will it translate to the field? That’s the question. If the Jets get to Week 1 healthy and they’re still playing fast late in games, this approach will look pretty smart. If the team looks under prepared or isn’t physically ready, people will question it.

There definitely seems to be a method behind what Aaron Glenn has done this summer. Training camp is over, the preseason finale against the Giants is next, and after that we won’t have to speculate much longer. The regular season is almost here, and that is when we find out if any of this actually works.

Thank you for reading our Jets Training Camp reports, and stay tuned; JetNation is expanding and has even more coverage coming soon.