After Jets quarterback Geno Smith went a perfect 15-15 against his own defense in the team’s previous session, things didn’t go nearly as well on the first day of padded practices at 1 Jets Drive. According to those in attendance, Smith was sloppy from the outset and never really settling in.
-Smith would go 1-4 in 11-on-11’s and 2-4 during the 7-on-7 period. According to Nick Faria of si.com the, there were at least eight dropped passes on the day.
-Rookie Cade Klubnik went 4-6 in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11. As our own Shane Sullivan (@sullyjn_) reported that Klubnik protected the football and checked down often due to the wet conditions.
-Several onlookers had high praise for Gang Green’s defensive front against the run. Darrell Jackson and David Onyemata were singled out while the group as a whole gave Jets running backs no room to work with up the middle.
-Jets fans will be happy to hear that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had an early interception as Geno Smith sailed a pass to Mason Taylor that sailed high into Fitzpatrick’s waiting arms.
-Brandon Stephens and much of the secondary did a nice job in coverage all day which was what forced the check downs from the QBs. As we said a week or so ago, this Jets cornerback group can be sneaky good.
-Tight end Jelani Woods also had himself a solid day, pulling in multiple receptions as he took advantage of rookie Kenyon Sadiq getting a rest day. The Jets may have three tight ends locked in to make the roster in Mason Taylor, Sadiq and Jeremy Ruckert, but don’t write Woods off just yet.
-After a dominant practice two sessions ago, David Bailey hasn’t been quite as disruptive as both Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu have picked up their play and clamped down on the edge rushers for the most part.
