Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022 marked the second day the New York Jets opened up 1 Jets Drive for fans during training camp. A hot one out, peaking at 86° degrees, fans stuck it out for a highlight-filled morning in Florham Park, New Jersey. That being said, here is the day two notes and analysis from 2022 Jets training camp amongst the fans…
2022 New York Jets Training Camp Amongst the Fans: Day 2
Wide Receivers Continue to Shine
Were the Jets wide receivers supposed to shine during training camp today? Nope. The team just had its first practice with pads Monday, and it became clear early during live 11-on-11 sessions that offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur wanted to run the football, considering it was the second-day linemen could actually hit and running backs could adapt to contact. Yet, the pass catchers managed to steal the show.
Ohio State product Garrett Wilson has been everything the Jets could have hoped for so far in camp. The rookie wideout has proven his catch radius and separation ability are going to make him a problem no matter where he aligns. At the same time, it is hard to ignore how he has cruised over the middle of the field, often times flashing his yards-after-catch ability. In other words, look out for his connection to quarterback Zach Wilson to grow stronger over the next month.
Entering his third year, Denzel Mims needed a strong training camp badly. And Tuesday, he once again showed out. The 2020 second-round pick hauled in multiple passes, both over the middle and on the outside. So far at camp, he has seen his usage increase steadily, pointing to him earning trust from the coaching staff again. Who knows, maybe he does wind up on the team and producing in 2022. After all, with Mims now participating in special teams drills, they could use him as a lower depth wideout and special teams player.
Lastly, another depth receiver has emerged as a second-year receiver, Tarik Black. An undrafted free agent in 2021, Black spent last season with New York, even appearing in one game. Though he has not seen much regular season action, Black has caught almost any pass thrown to him during camp, displaying a fantastic catch radius, strong hands, and body control. The Jets have a lot of depth at receiver, and Black is the latest sleeper worth noting.
Breece Hall Has a Day
Jets second-round pick Breece Hall is already coming into the NFL with a lot of hype. He was arguably college football’s best running back in recent years and was beloved at Iowa State. Now in New York, he is quickly becoming a fan favorite. Practically anytime he touches the ball or even walks down the bleacher sideline, fans cheer “Breeeece”. So, naturally, when it was Hall’s turn for the rookie tradition of pumping up the crowd as practice began, he delivered.
ROOKIE HYPE MACHINE: BREEEEEEECE@BreeceH pic.twitter.com/d3KWB9Mwuh
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 2, 2022
Except the excitement Hall brought did not just end there. With Michael Carter being held out early with a minor ankle injury, Hall saw more opportunities with the first-team offense. Led by a revamped offensive line, Hall hit the ground running through holes and showed off his athleticism after contact. Surely, the combination of Carter and Hall is one of the many things Jets fans are looking forward to in 2022.
#TakeFlight First teams back on field. Breece Hall hits hole with fury, all defenders missing only taken down by safety 25 yard later after starting in his own end zone
— Mason H. Smoller (@Smollerreport) August 2, 2022
Front Seven Update
As pads are finally on, the defensive line can finally go after blockers and running backs. The sweet sound of pads clanking is back, and so maybe the Jets pass rush. One of the biggest takeaways early is the Jets have many threats to rotate off the edge. Carl Lawson, who is finally healthy after missing all of 2021, remains an absolute monster. His explosion off of the line and ability to shed blocks will make his large contract worth it. Additionally, Bryce Huff and Jacob Martin shine as situational rushers who have consistently made noise in the backfield throughout training camp.
Along the interior defensive line, there are major concerns about the run defense. After Quinnen Williams, the Jets defensive tackle depth chart is a large rotation featuring Sheldon Rankins, Solomon Thomas, and more. But it is Nathan Shepherd, a former Mike Maccgnan third-round pick, who is often out there to start with the first team defense. Shepherd, who signed a one-year deal to return to the Jets, has never been more than a versatile depth piece along the front. It will be interesting to see how things shake out along the interior.
Notable Performers of the Day
Offense: Wide Receiver Elijah Moore
Again, today at practice the Jets wanted to establish the run. Nevertheless, it is practice, so Elijah Moore as per usual needed to have another breathtaking catch. After a beautiful downfield catch-and-run from Zach Wilson on Monday, Moore followed it up with a one-handed snag from Joe Flacco.
Another day, another @e_moore03 highlight.
Only one hand needed 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3lsOVxltvJ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 2, 2022
The second-year receiver has seen multiple catches in live scrimmages at training camp. After an impressive showing as a rookie, a fully-healthy Moore has wide receiver one upside in a deep Jets receiving corps. It may only be a week in, but it is impossible to ignore the impression he has left amongst teammates, coaches, and the fans. Elijah Moore is ready to dominate.
Defense: Cornerback Sauce Gardner
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the football, the matchup between receiver Corey Davis and cornerback Sauce Gardner remains one of the best battles during training camp. Both stand at 6’3″ and around 200-pounds, leaving little up as an advantage. For most of camp, Davis has made noise on the boundary with some spectacular catches of his own. But on Tuesday, Gardner spent his morning aggravating the veteran Davis. The two were even getting physical on a run blocking try by Davis, though, the high-five afterward made it clear it’s all fun and games. The bottom line – Gardner fully flashed his potential of being a shutdown cornerback out of the gate. Oh, and the cherry on top, Gardner also almost had a sack for a safety on a blitz too.
Other Notes and Analysis
For those who may think Joe Flacco is out of gas, that is far from true. The 37-year-old has not been afraid to sling it during training camp and has had an excellent touch on his passes. Being with the second team, Jets fans see a lot of Flacco throwing the ball. Similarly, Zach Wilson had a solid day with good accuracy and maturity to his game in the sense of knowing when to tuck and run or just throw it away vs a dangerous throw.
#TakeFlight Zach Wilson with a good 15 yard scramble, no second guessing once pressure poked through for the second year QB
— Mason H. Smoller (@Smollerreport) August 2, 2022
The tight ends also made a handful of catches, as C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, and receiver-turned-tight end Lawrence Cager saw multiple receptions. In the secondary, Michael Carter II made a couple of deflections in coverage, one nearly picked by Bryce Hall. All as Elijah Riley had a rough outing, being burned on a handful of routes.
Final Takeaways from Day 2 Amongst the Fans
2022 New York Jets Training Camp Amongst the Fans: Day 1
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
