New York Jets OTA recap: Ranking the top performers

New York Jets OTAs have concluded, and although minicamp is around the corner, a recap of the team's top OTA performers is in order. Practice. We're sitting here, talking about practice? Not a game. Practice? Those were the paraphrased words of Allen Iverson all those years ago when an innocent press conference turned legendary in a split second. Per the thoughts of the great Philadelphia 76ers point guard, "What the hell's all this rage over practice?" Don't let that killer crossover fool you. Don't allow that league to trick you. Practice in this sport, at this highest level of the National Football League, is critical. New York Jets voluntary OTAs have concluded, but not before a handful of players whipped up the fanbase into a salivating state. There was quarterback Zach Wilson, a kid who looked like a veteran at times. There was new guy Carl Lawson, whose arrival last week provided Jets fans with the hope that their edge-rushing hole has finally been filled. There was also new head coach Robert Saleh, a leader whose idea of a team is led by family values. No shortage of Jet excitement existed in Florham Park these past couple of weeks, and Jets X-Factor was there to experience it first-hand. So, let's rank the top performers, shall we? Notable disappointments Chris Herndon Mike White James Morgan Blessuan Austin Javelin Guidry Before we dive into the top performers, let's take a quick look at the notable disappointments. Yes, Chris Herndon deserves to be in the mix here. One particular play in team sessions saw the ball hit Herndon right in the hands in the middle of the field. Young safety J.T. Hassell picked up an easy interception thanks to the popped-up football. It could be argued that Wilson put a little too much steam on the ball, but Herndon didn't get his head around fast enough. Although that notable bad play and his number of reps weren't impressive, Herndon's overall OTA production can't be labeled as a complete disaster. Perhaps the most alarming Joe Douglas note of OTAs is that this team needs a veteran backup quarterback. Mike White is currently not matching his impressive training camp of last year, while James Morgan has played even worse. Blessuan Austin and Javelin Guidry's inclusion are for similar yet different reasons. In Austin's case, injury took him out. On the surface, he shouldn't get hammered for that fact. Then again, those who replaced him have turned some heads. A healthy Guidry also saw young kids behind him open some eyes---something that makes his inclusion necessary. https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1400120778704801794 Disclaimer: Considering the nature of OTAs (not live football), evaluating offensive linemen, defensive linemen and even linebackers is a tough chore. Therefore, the other positions enjoyed a leg-up on the competition. Notables Jason Pinnock Isaiah Dunn Elijah Campbell Bryce Hall J.T. Hassell Trevon Wesco Tyler Kroft Manasseh Bailey The best sign that things are heading in the right direction is that this list is littered with rookies. Rookie Jason Pinnock enjoyed plenty of first-team reps last week once Austin went down. He and fellow rookie Isaiah Dunn rotated at the right cornerback spot for most of the week. When OTAs first started, Elijah Campbell appeared to be the lead horse in the slot, which automatically places him on this list. The previously mentioned Hassell also enjoyed first-team reps opposite Lamarcus Joyner, while Marcus Maye and Ashtyn Davis were absent. https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1400122929120268291 Interestingly, while the defense didn't rotate as much, the offense did. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur made sure to rotate offensive weapons for Wilson. One guy whose role is cemented in an "old reliable" way is Trevon Wesco. Not only did he do his regular fullback thing, but he also caught a couple of passes as an inline tight end. Tyler Kroft is the tight end that may have received the most love. It's obvious that he's extremely versatile. The man can block, catch passes, and will be used in a variety of ways within this offense. https://twitter.com/jetsxfactor/status/1397946855653359620 Little known Manasseh Bailey is a slot guy who took advantage of LaFleur's rotation. He caught balls from White, Morgan and Wilson, helping everybody come to the realization that this offense is loaded with shifty slot weapons (speaking from an overall depth perspective). Now, to the top performers. 8. Michael Carter One cut and bang. The thing about the wide zone is that the running back needs to read things efficiently. Reading hats and deciding on a path is of the utmost importance, and rookie running back Michael Carter showcased it nicely in his first taste of big-boy football. https://twitter.com/jetsxfactor/status/1397948443415482368 One notable play featured Carter cutting quickly to the inside on a right-side outsize zone. He saw the defense's over-pursuit and made them pay. If not a 50-plus-yard score, Carter would have ripped off 20-plus on the rep. 7. Tevin Coleman No, Tevin Coleman is no rookie. He still showcased his versatility, though. https://twitter.com/jetsxfactor/status/1397951630654554114 Whether it was LaFleur's familiar zone-ground game or taking advantage of defenders in the flat off the boot, the former San Francisco 49ers back played well. He's an excellent route-runner for a running back and catches nearly everything thrown his way. 6. Michael Carter II There isn't much to knock here. The Duke product immediately pushed both Guidry and Campbell in the slot and quickly took control of the first-team reps (for the most part). One Micheal Carter II highlight featured him picking Wilson off in the red zone and taking it to the house. 5. C.J. Mosley Imagine playing quarterback in the NFL, as a rookie, and suddenly seeing No. 57 appear out of nowhere. That's what happened to Wilson on one particular rep. C.J. Mosley either started low and to the right or bluffed flat-curl responsibilities, only to drop to the middle of the field unexpectedly in the red zone. If not for a clear defensive drop, Mosley picks off Wilson in a big spot. There wasn't a lot that stood out from Mosley's OTA performance, but the fact that he didn't miss a rep after missing nearly two full seasons is an encouraging sight. 4. Keelan Cole Keelan Cole can play every receiver spot. He's not overly fast, quick or noticeably explosive. But Cole is noticeably workmanlike. Cole not only adds to the culture, but he's a steady hand who certainly has a role in this wide receiver room. The former Jacksonville Jaguars weapon saw plenty of action and ran a variety of routes. Perhaps Cole's highlight came on the left sideline where Wilson drilled him with an impressive toss that shredded a zone coverage with just the right amount of touch. 3. Zach Wilson The kid finishes third. Considering the circumstances---No. 2 overall pick coming from BYU in just his second month as a pro---he could have finished first. Wilson does everything quickly. His release is other-worldly, his feet are tremendous and his decision-making is exceptional. Instead of overthinking everything, Wilson's composure and natural traits ooze a reactive feel. https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1400119672507351043 https://twitter.com/jetsxfactor/status/1403019627874107398 He suffered through his fair share of mistakes, but those errors were impressively limited. Wilson featured competence with nearly every type of throw, including those that demanded he took something off the zip of the ball. https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1402312216196624386 2. Elijah Moore Elijah Moore might be the most talented player on the roster. It's only his rookie designation that keeps me from proclaiming that he'll finish as the Jets' most productive wideout in 2021. The kid's explosive yet smart. His short-radius burst is something this organization hasn't possessed in a long time. It's also something this new NFL demands of its offenses. Facing Bryce Hall in a one-on-one situation (single-high coverage), Moore stacked the cornerback down the right sideline where Wilson let it fly. Sure, it was a great throw, but Moore's intelligence helped him create separation at the last moment---something that made it impossible for even Darrelle Revis to cover. https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1402299725877944321 https://twitter.com/nyjets/status/1402378888966197248 1. Braxton Berrios If Moore was the most talented player at OTAs, Braxton Berrios was the most productive. Wilson's favorite target of camp was the gritty slot receiver. Berrios caught the most balls for the most yards. His route-running remains a plus. Better yet, Wilson trusts his route-running within this scheme. https://twitter.com/nyjets/status/1402346439670329344 But route-running has never been Berrios's problem. Those tough-catch opportunities are what Berrios will need to improve moving forward if he has any designs on squeezing into the top three. Nonetheless, Berrios gets the nod at No. 1 for just how productive he was over the last couple of weeks.

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