New York Jets film session: Brandon Stephens’ impressive PBU

Perhaps this is the defensive coaching mind taking over my soul, but there’s nothing more beautiful than pass coverage coming together perfectly.

Exhibit A is the Brandon Stephens pass breakup in Week 2 of the preseason.

Although the New York Jets dropped the MetLife Bowl to the New York Giants, Stephens put one of the prettiest pass breakups on tape, which deserves a deep film session dive:

Stephens, 27, signed a three-year, $36 million ($23 million guaranteed) deal this past free agency period with the Jets. While the former Baltimore Ravens boundary corner possesses legitimate talent, he has never quite reached the ceiling many thought he was capable of when entering the league.

Fortunately, Stephens has turned many heads this summer at Aaron Glenn’s first training camp. Whether or not he fulfills those lofty CB2 shoes this season remains to be seen, but this pass breakup against Russell Wilson is undoubtedly a tremendous sign.

Working in a Cover 6 as the boundary-side quarter, Stephens placed himself in an interesting position. Instead of gaining more depth while keeping his eyes on the traffic, he turned his hips early to run.

Stephens’s leverage gave Wilson the idea that he had enough room to hit the out route near the sideline, which would have converted the third-and-6 situation.

However, as seen in the film session above, Stephens speed-turned out of trouble. He jumped on the correct read and did not give up when the ball arrived well before he could make contact at the catch point.

His inside hand did the rest, forcing the incompletion and picking up the impressive pass breakup.

Brandon Stephens is set to enter the 2025 season as the New York Jets’ No. 2 cornerback, working in tandem as the boundary corner opposite CB1 Sauce Gardner.