The New York Jets’ second-round pick continues showing flashes of his talent
Prior to taking his first preseason snap, Joe Tippmann was the subject of increasing scrutiny in the land of New York Jets fandom. Some fans started growing concerned with Tippmann’s third-string placement on the depth chart and apparently slow progress in training camp.
Now with two preseason games under his belt, Tippmann is quelling any concerns about his development. Tippmann looked great against the Cleveland Browns and backed it up with another flash-filled outing against the Carolina Panthers.
The Jets are making it a point to give Tippmann plenty of preseason work. After leading the Jets with 43 offensive snaps (91.5%) against Cleveland, Tippmann again led the team with 51 offensive snaps (75.0%) against Carolina.
Coming in as the second-string center behind Connor McGovern, Tippmann amassed plenty of eye-popping reps during his three quarters of action. He continues to show glimpses of the tantalizing potential that made him the first center drafted in 2023.
A few things stand out from this reel.
The most glamorous takeaway is probably Tippmann’s work on screens. There are two excellent screen blocks in the reel, featuring Tippmann getting out in space and throwing the first key block to facilitate a successful screen play. Tippmann is a smooth mover in space and shows the ability to accurately frame blockers in the open field. On each block, Tippmann does a good job of anticipating the spot he must target to meet the defender and then timing his arrival with precision.
Aaron Rodgers has thrown a lot of screens in recent years. Having athletic blockers who can get out in space will be key for this Jets offense, and so far, Tippmann looks capable of doing it.
Another key for the linemen in front of Rodgers will be the ability to hold up one-on-one for long durations of time so Rodgers can have the time to launch deep throws. In Carolina, Tippmann had some impressive one-on-one reps in pass protection where he stood his ground on an island and did not let his man get anywhere near the quarterback.
Tippmann also showed some good recognition skills in pass protection, providing timely help to his teammates when needed and picking up stunts nicely.
In the run game, I have been impressed with the lateral movement Tippmann creates on zone plays. To boot, he shows flashes of being able to climb straight to the second level and take accurate angles on linebackers.
My primary concern with Tippmann is his snap accuracy. He had some shaky deliveries in Canton and followed it up with a few more in Charlotte. High snaps are too common. This is something he should prioritize working on.
Overall, though, for a rookie in his second NFL game, Tippmann is in a good spot.
It remains to be seen whether the Jets plan to give Tippmann any chance of starting in Week 1, but we do know this: Tippmann has been handling his business under the preseason spotlight so far. His opportunity will come at some point in the future, and if his preseason film to this point is any indication, he will be ready.
