Plenty is up for grabs on the NY Jets’ depth chart as the preseason arrives
The New York Jets‘ Week 1 preseason matchup against the Giants will be the first game at MetLife Stadium with fans in attendance since December 29th, 2019.
Gang Green has embarked upon a massive overhaul in the nearly 600-day absence, and fans are eager for results from the revamped team.
On Monday, the Jets released their first unofficial depth chart, which provided some questions and some answers.
Perhaps the biggest question that arose was, “Who starts at right tackle?”
Despite George Fant‘s strong debut season in New York, the Jets signed veteran Morgan Moses in free agency to provide competition. Fant and Moses are listed as co-starters at right tackle, making it the only spot on the depth chart without a designated first-stringer. This battle is expected to linger throughout the preseason.
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The biggest surprise of the depth chart was unquestionably the order of the running back position.
Tevin Coleman was given the starting spot. He is seemingly back to full health following a down year.
Second-year back La’Mical Perine surprised many with his placement in the number two spot.
Shockingly, rookie Michael Carter placed fourth despite plenty of work with the first team in practice. Ty Johnson took the third spot.
The Jets have stressed a committee approach to their backfield all offseason. With so much talent in the room, the committee is looking like a stable.
Zach Wilson‘s debut is the storyline of the night. The rookie signal-caller will play through the first quarter, according to head coach Robert Saleh. Wilson’s career won’t be determined by one preseason game, but a strong showing will only build confidence.
On the other side of the ball, the Jets’ defensive line will finally be unleashed on an opponent.
Newly signed edge rusher Carl Lawson has been dominant in training camp, leading many to believe the Jets’ pass rush woes may be coming to an end.
Lawson has been hogging the headlines, but the rest of the line deserve their own time in the spotlight. John Franklin-Myers, Sheldon Rankins, and Bryce Huff have all stood out in practice and should perform well against the Giants’ offensive line.
No group on the Jets’ roster will be more heavily tested against the Giants than the cornerbacks.
The G-Men are not expected to give much playing time to their starters – a talented group that features Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, and Kadarius Toney – but nevertheless, the pressure will be on the young cornerbacks to perform as they battle for roster spots and/or starting spots.
The Oklahoma Drill Podcast kicks off the preseason with a breakdown of the unofficial depth chart, a review of the Green and White scrimmage, and a preview of Saturday’s game against the Giants.
Oklahoma Drill podcast episode
Hosts Andrew, Matt, and Vitor evaluate the position battles and give their outlook on the Jets’ first game action of 2021. Tune in to the full show for the complete analysis and subscribe to Jets-X-Factor for Jets film breakdowns from the crew throughout the season.
