NY Jets: Does Sauce Gardner still have room to improve?

The film reveals how Sauce Gardner can get even better

Sauce Gardner‘s rookie season was one for the ages. Not only did the New York Jets‘ fourth overall pick win Defensive Rookie of the Year, but many would argue he was already the best cornerback in the NFL. After all, Gardner was voted a first-team All-Pro and earned more first-place votes than any other cornerback.

Despite Gardner’s dominance as a rookie, the film shows a young player who can still improve.

And that’s no slight on Gardner, who is already one of the best cornerbacks in football without question. It’s more of a testament to his incredible potential, as he was able to take the league by storm at 22 years old even without perfect technique at times.

Gardner’s athleticism, instincts, and physicality jump off the screen when you watch him. His preparation via film study is also highly impressive. However, there are details in his technique that he must sharpen to make sure he remains consistent going forward.

Gardner did get lucky on a handful of potential big plays where he was beaten in 2022. Without improvements to his game, he might not get lucky on these plays again in 2023. But if he perfects his technique, Gardner can eliminate these plays altogether, allowing him to clearly establish himself as the undisputed No. 1 cornerback in the league.

On the newest edition of Blewett’s Blitz, we break down Sauce Gardner’s film from the first half of the 2022 season. This is part one of a two-part Gardner review; in a future part two, we will break down the second half of Gardner’s rookie year.

We’ll focus on all of the good and all of the bad, watching not only the plays that showcased Gardner’s early greatness but also the plays people overlooked that showcase minor holes in his game. It’s important to look at the entire picture.

All of this and more will be broken down in the latest Blewett’s Blitz film review!

• How Gardner breaks up 50-50 balls without being penalized
• Gardner’s sharpness at communicating and executing his role in coverage calls
• The unusual athletic traits that make Gardner special
• Areas where Gardner can still improve
• Poor reps where Gardner got lucky

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Full member-only Sauce Gardner film breakdown

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