Robert Saleh is enforcing new accountability in training camp
Under Robert Saleh, the New York Jets have had issues with discipline. Pre-snap penalties, unnecessary roughness, and getting into it with an opposing player in the tunnel all demonstrate this issue. The most frustrating part of it has been Saleh’s seeming lack of response. Never has a player been benched or called out for anything.
The most alarming example was during the 2022 preseason when Quincy Williams hit Jalen Hurts out of bounds. Williams wasn’t even removed for one snap — in the preseason. Saleh did address it after the game, calling it “egregiously awful” and saying he spoke to Williams about it, but there didn’t seem to be any other repercussions.
Dirty hit on Jalen.
He was out of bounds pic.twitter.com/QbAdGunte0— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) August 12, 2022
It seems that Saleh is finally taking steps to rectify the situation, at least to a certain extent. Reports out of training camp indicate that any player called for a false start goes off the field for one play.
John Simpson was just called for a false start and was pulled off the field for Xavier Newman. #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) July 25, 2024
This kind of accountability is particularly rough considering Aaron Rodgers’ confusing cadences. It’s harder than ever for the offensive linemen not to jump too early. Still, Saleh has consistently enforced this rule, even as training camp progresses.
Asked about this new rule of removing players who false start, Saleh said, “It’s just a reminder, it’s not a punishment, to try to remind us all that it is [emphasis added] a big deal. Those five yards can cost us. They cost us a year ago. If we can just eliminate those self-inflicted wounds, the pre-snap penalties, we’d be significantly better.”
Saleh admitted that Rodgers’ cadences can be confusing, especially for the new players. “The cadence system is fascinating. It is complex,” he remarked. “The more they hear it, just like in walkthrough, we’re pushing it walkthrough also to make sure guys are hearing it, they’re understanding it. So throughout this entire training camp, we’ll get a hold of it.”
Multiple Jets players and coaches have discussed holding each other accountable. Saleh is finally taking at least one tangible step to make it happen.