New York Jets rookie tight end Jeremy Ruckert has a shot in 2022
Failing to truly address the tight end position heading into the 2021 NFL season was and still is one of my greatest criticisms of New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas.
Not only was tight end a bottom three group in the NFL for the Jets, but the position was also emphasized with a rookie at the quarterback position. Moreover, sprinkle in the idea that Mike LaFleur’s system is tight end heavy, and that gaping hole in the depth chart loomed larger.
Needless to say, tight end had to be addressed in a major way in the 2022 NFL offseason.
The full member-only Jeremy Ruckert film breakdown can be seen at the bottom of this article (if you're a subscriber and logged into the site).
Douglas responded in a major way in free agency, adding both Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah. Both tight ends may very well be the best the Jets have had in a decade-plus.
After free agency and entering the 2022 NFL draft, tight end was on the back of some fan’s minds, but it was definitely not at the forefront. But the New York Jets did, indeed, end up adding another body to the group in Ohio State Buckeye product Jeremy Ruckert (fourth round).
- Was it an unnecessary pick?
- How good is Ruckert?
- Why didn’t he produce big numbers at OSU?
- What role could he fill with the Jets?
- Could he be a long-term starter?
These questions and many more are discussed in this episode of Blewett’s Blitz. Strengths and weaknesses are listed below, as well as the full, member-only film breakdown that can be seen at the end of the article (close to two hours in length).
YouTube clip and podcast episode
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Catch radius
- Tenacity
- Build
- Size at 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds
- Solid top-end speed
- Effort
- Can stretch seam
- Good and slipping shoulders to avoid zone droppers
- Fluid
- Strength (with proper technique)
- Good feel of how to get open vs zone
- Shows flashes of using physicality in routes
- Could be a good blocker in space with tech clean up
- Gets out of breaks well
- Good feel for some v
- Ability to be a plus-contested catcher
- Played in many blocking situations
- Solid acceleration
- Gets over drive-step
- Shortens stride before breaks
- Aggressive blocker
- Flashes of good releases vs press
- Shock releases show up
- Hand usage as a route runner
- Route pacing
- Good split blocker
Weaknesses
- Overall blocking techniques
- Wasn’t asked much as a pass-catcher at OSU
- Average YAC ability
- Can play out if control as a blocker
- Pass blocking
- Needs to play with better balance as a blocker
- Can duck head into blocks
- Forward lean as a blocker
- Needs to work to 2nd level with a better base
- Inconsistent with stemming routes properly
- Hand placement as run blocker
- Needs to work on getting positional leverage on zone blocking
- Needs to roll his hips into blocks
- Saw some body-catching
- Needs to attack the ball more consistently
Full Jeremy Ruckert member film breakdown
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