Robert Saleh praised some of the younger contributors for the New York Jets.
During his postgame media availability, the Jets’ head coach praised the rookie skill-position trio of running back Braelon Allen, running back Isaiah Davis, and wide receiver Malachi Corley.
“I’ll speak for the entire team; we’re all excited to see him run,” Saleh said of Allen. “He and Isaiah [Davis], for that matter. Braelon didn’t disappoint. When he got to the second level, it’s painful to just touch the human. He’s a very heavy runner. It was really cool to see him out in the open field today.”
Saleh also discussed Corley’s various impacts on the game, whether as a receiver or on special teams.
“I thought he did a really nice job in the kick return game. In the punt return game, he had a chance to field that one. He has to be able to catch the one he let land. In the passing game, you can see that he’s a heavy, heavy runner when he had the ball. A very violent runner. Really excited to get him more opportunities moving forward. He’s definitely going to be a big part of the offense.”
In addition to the rookie weapons, Saleh spoke highly of second-year cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who had a standout performance. Saleh praised his ability to bounce back from giving up a big play early on in the game.
“That might be the coolest one from a defensive perspective because he did get hit on that go ball. It’s very easy to get into your own head and play scared. He still played chest-to-chest. He played tight coverage. He was still playing his press technique and made a lot of plays on the ball. I don’t think he gave up another one. Really proud of JBC and how he bounced back after that go ball.”
The head coach expressed more positive sentiments regarding defensive lineman Leonard Tayor III, who he mentioned has “come on strong” as of late.
“He’s going to have two more opportunities to put on some good tape, not just in the game, but his practice and his habits. All of it has been trending upward. The key for all of these young guys is to not get complacent with a little bit of success but to step on the gas and continue going.”
To varying degrees, each of these players has a chance to impact the Jets’ 2024 season. Allen and Corley will probably have the most significant impact, as Allen is the projected RB2, while the Jets want to get the ball in Corley’s hands consistently. Davis hopes to solidify himself as the Jets’ RB3, and he is also one of the top candidates to return kickoffs. Bernard-Converse is competing to be one of the top backups in the secondary, while Taylor III projects as a talented rotational piece if he makes the roster.
More importantly, they all can play a significant role in the team’s future. If they continue this trajectory for the remainder of the offseason, New York could have some impressive depth at multiple spots for years to come.
