The Jets are taking a web page out of the playbook that Sauce Gardner’s faculty staff used.
Requested for his impressions of the much-hyped rookie cornerback, reigning Jets defensive captain C.J. Mosley referred in his reply to Gardner by his given first identify “Ahmad” relatively than his most popular nickname. Why?
“He’s Ahmad till the season begins and he makes a play,” mentioned Mosley, including “just about” everybody within the locker room is taking part in alongside. “Ahmad it's.”
The type of rookie initiation needs to be acquainted to Gardner, whose faculty coaches and upper-class teammates pulled the identical stunt. Regardless of going by “Sauce” since he was 6 years previous, Gardner needed to earn the nickname at Cincinnati, which he did with a pick-six in an upset win towards Central Florida as a freshman.
“Ahmad has some sauce to him, that’s for certain,” Mosley mentioned. “On the sphere, he’s working on a regular basis. He’s on the sideline asking questions. Off the sphere, he’s very assured, as properly. He’s a really sensible participant, and also you respect that so much. He doesn’t attempt to act like he is aware of every part. He listens and tries to do the precise factor.”
Newly signed left deal with Duane Brown — a free agent from the Seahawks — joined the Jets on the sphere Monday for the primary time however ran via conditioning drills whereas his teammates practiced.
“He performed soccer final yr, and he regarded implausible doing it,” coach Robert Saleh mentioned. “It’s only a matter of clearing him of all of the medical hurdles, after which simply watching him immediately with the trainers, he’s fantastic.”
If Brown, 36, had not signed, the Jets would’ve turned to both Chuma Edoga or Max Mitchell as a beginning deal with instead of the injured Mekhi Becton. Any combined feelings about dropping an opportunity to compete for a beginning job?
“Completely not,” mentioned Mitchell, a rookie drafted within the fourth spherical. “Honest recreation. I’m excited to be taught from him greater than something. Fifteen years [in the NFL], that’s a testomony. I’ve received nothing to lose right here.”
Transformed cornerback Jason Pinnock is getting further reps at security the final two days due to the trickle impact of Lamarcus Joyner’s absence (sickness). He first made the swap late final season.
“I actually like the place he’s at,” Saleh mentioned. “He's a freak of nature by way of simply size, velocity, athleticism. Love his physicality. There are some issues that he has to really feel not essentially from an instinctive standpoint, however simply from a reactionary standpoint as a result of he’s used to taking part in a unique place. His communication is getting louder, in order that tells you that his confidence in what he’s being requested to do is getting higher.”
Watching Joe Flacco, 37, lead the beginning offense towards the beginning protection in coaching camp takes Mosley again to his rookie season with the Ravens in 2014. Flacco led the Ravens to a 10-6 mark that season, however he was 0-4 because the Jets’ fill-in starter final season.
“Actually, he appears the very same,” Mosley mentioned. “He nonetheless has that good arm, good launch, tall within the pocket. Nonetheless operating round, so that you don’t see that too many occasions from a 35-plus(-year-old) man. He’s regarded assured. He is aware of the offense. If his quantity is known as, everyone knows he’ll be prepared.”
Flacco is stepping in whereas Zach Wilson is sidelined with a torn meniscus. His availability for the Sept. 11 season opener is unsure.
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