After two brutal practices, Justin Fields and the offense struck back at New York Jets training camp. Although Friday morning’s session felt sluggish in many ways, the Jets’ quarterback and rookie Arian Smith opened some eyes along the way.
Justin Fields rebounds
There’s no question that this practice took on a much lighter feel than usual. That’s not to say the Jets were lazy or lackadaisical; instead, head coach Aaron Glenn seemingly planned this one to bypass any live tackling or even physical thud opportunities in team sessions.
After the familiar opening practice walkthrough and team stretches, the Jets broke off into extended positionals. They worked on more of the position-to-position stuff (such as quarterbacks throwing to wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs).
Once team sessions began, the coaches ramped up the energy, and the quarterback did his thing, connecting first with WR1 Garrett Wilson.
Fields’s first splash play resulted in an off-schedule throw to tight end Jeremy Ruckert for a nice gain down the right sideline. Once Fields broke the pocket and flushed right, Ruckert did a nice job recognizing that he needed to get open to help his quarterback.
A little later, Fields put forth his best throw of the summer. He connected with Wilson on a dig (perhaps a Mills concept that featured a same-side post on top) that saw safety Andre Cisco dangerously close to the intended target.
Cisco, who was creeping up and in a lurk-type position-movement from the back side, found himself near Wilson, with a chance at the pass breakup, but he was sniffing a different route, perhaps the post.
SEE ALSO: Tanner Engstrand's offense lives by space and time (plus camp notes)Along with how Fields hummed the ball into Wilson with anticipation, out of the break, the idea that he completed it while reading Cisco’s leverage and eye placement is the real callout here.
Later in practice, Fields enjoyed more practice time in red zone drills. Early in the session, he found Mason Taylor on a bender to the middle of the field, resulting in a 30-40-ish yard touchdown.
It’s impossible to know without replay, but the coverage appeared to be some variation of Tampa 2, which meant Field and Taylor beat the linebackers in the middle of the field.
Perhaps Fields’s lone blemish this day was how it ended. Trying to punch one into the end zone, he unloaded one for Josh Reynolds in the end zone, moving east-west. The ball fell incomplete as Cisco was draped all over the intended target.
On the next play, which also resulted in the final play of practice, Fields bailed a little to his right and backward, in the face of pressure, heaving one to the back right corner of the end zone (Wilson).
Although it ultimately fell incomplete, Sauce Gardner almost came up with the interception on the dangerous pass attempt.
Arian Smith could not be contained
This day didn’t just feature young Arian Smith; it belonged to the rookie burner.
In red zone team sessions, Smith’s fluid release torched AZ Thomas off the snap (left side). This provided Tyrod Taylor with one of the easiest touchdowns of his life.
All Taylor had to do was unload the ball in time.
Earlier, he grabbed a reception from Tyrod that helped set up the touchdown. While working on a dig in the two-minute situation, Smith confidently caught the ball with two hands extended and got down to continue the offensive operation.
However, the moment that opened eyes happened earlier in the morning when Smith beat Sauce Gardner down the right sideline.
Firstly, the play would have resulted in a sack. Steve Wilks’s defense brought pressure, which hit home on Fields.
Beyond that, Fields extended the rep by leading Smith with a beauty down the right sideline. Despite the 50+ yard gain, Gardner’s coverage was not terrible.
In reality, Sauce’s coverage was fine, considering his task was to pressure the wideout 1v1 while complementing the heavier pass rush. Although he did that, Smith created just enough separation from the cover man and allowed just enough space against the sideline for Fields to hit him over the outside shoulder.
Additional callouts
Tyrod Taylor also had a nice day, which featured perhaps the best throw from any Jets quarterback this summer.
With incredible touch and anticipation, Taylor led UDFA Quentin Skinner with a moonshot that landed just inside the 5-yard line. All Skinner had to do was continue running under the ball to coast into the end zone (sneaking behind the over-the-top coverage).
Sophomore cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers picked up an interception in the end zone (Taylor pass in red zone sessions). While Stiggers deserves credit for the theft, the rep featured a veteran quarterback “extending” the play in practice.
The actual result of the play would have been a Marcelino McCrary-Ball sack. However, understanding this is practice, Taylor forced the ball into coverage.
News and notes
John Simpson missed practice with what Aaron Glenn labeled a back injury. He’ll be out for one or two weeks. Simpson’s absence left room for Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers to work together with the big boys rather than battling it out at the center position.
Quinnen Williams missed practice again (calf). Glenn told the media it’s being done out of “precaution.”
Lastly, on the injury front, rookie safety Malachi Moore is dealing with an oblique strain.
On the positive side of the coin, Braelon Allen returned to practice. Not only did he look fine, but he took a handful of rushes that seemingly clicked.
Next up for the New York Jets is their famed Green & White Scrimmage (or Green & White Practice, as it’s now known) on Saturday.
