If one player’s stock rises, another player’s stock must fall.
Many New York Jets players impressed in the team’s preseason-opening win. At the same time, some lost ground in their respective roster battles.
These players need to rebound after Saturday night.
TE Jeremy Ruckert
With Mason Taylor sidelined, Jeremy Ruckert started at tight end. Ruckert was listed as New York’s No. 1 tight end on the unofficial depth chart, but Taylor is widely expected to be the Jets’ actual TE1. So, this was a golden opportunity for Ruckert to prove himself.
After a tumultuous start to training camp, Ruckert did not do anything to build his case for a roster spot, let alone a starting spot.
Across 22 offensive snaps, Ruckert was not targeted in the passing game and blocked poorly. Pro Football Focus rated Ruckert with a 45.9 pass-blocking grade and a 52.4 run-blocking grade. Overall, Ruckert’s 45.8 offensive grade ranked second-worst among the 38 offensive players who took the field for New York (ahead of Chukwuma Okorafor).
Andrew Beck saw an expanded role due to the absence of Taylor, and he took advantage. Beck was used in a multitude of ways and blocked well in each role (67.3 run-blocking grade). He also caught both of his targets for 36 yards.
Stone Smartt also stood out later in the game, breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown on a screen pass.
Ruckert continues to be unimpressive in every facet of the game. He wouldn’t make most NFL rosters, but since the Jets’ tight end unit is very thin, his roster spot is probably safe. Still, after Beck and Smartt’s performances, Ruckert may start tumbling down the depth chart if he doesn’t step it up soon.
C Josh Myers
Most of the Jets’ first-team offensive line performed very well. The only player who didn’t was Josh Myers, the substitute for the injured John Simpson.
With Simpson sidelined, the Jets started Joe Tippmann at left guard and Myers at center. It was a perfect chance for Myers to gain some ground on Tippmann in the center competition, but he flopped.
Myers was bulled into the backfield a few times in both phases, finishing the game with a 62.0 pass-blocking grade and a 46.4 run-blocking grade, per PFF. The latter mark was the worst of any offensive lineman on the team.
Tippmann played well, especially in pass protection, where he allowed zero pressures and earned a 79.2 pass-blocking grade. He also paved a giant lane for Braelon Allen on this run.
The Jets’ center competition is nearing a predictable conclusion.
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
For much of training camp, it was believed that Marcelino McCrary-Ball had the lead in the race for New York’s third linebacker spot behind Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood. It’s a role that would make him a starter in the Jets’ base defense. New York had him listed there on the unofficial depth chart.
Saturday’s performance may have creaked the door open like Jamin Davis, Zaire Barnes, and Francisco Mauigoa to push for McCrary-Ball’s spot. The 26-year-old had an awful penalty on a late hit of bounds, which drew a scolding from Aaron Glenn. He also missed a tackle on a run play.
Meanwhile, despite the unofficial depth chart having McCrary-Ball in the LB3 spot, it was Jamin Davis who started alongside Williams and Sherwood with the first-team defense. Davis played well, recording a sack and a run stuff for no gain on just 12 snaps.
Barnes finished with three tackles and zero missed tackles on 17 defensive snaps. Mauigoa played 32 snaps and struggled, making one tackle, missing one tackle, and allowing a 17-yard reception in coverage.
Davis may have taken the lead for New York’s LB3 role. The former first-round pick fizzled out in Washington, but he has a chance to get his career back on track under Aaron Glenn.