Gas2No99 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer The Jets open their (voluntary) off-season program this morning. By rule, they're limited to strength and conditioning for the first two weeks. Top storylines: Injured players and quarterbacks. QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee), QB Josh McCown (hand) and WR Quincy Enunwa (neck) are key players returning from injuries. The current QB depth consists of four (Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are the others), and it will grow to five during the draft. They won't go to camp with five, so someone has to go, perhaps two. Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Leonard Williams, relaying coach Todd Bowles' message to the team on the first day of the Jets' offseason program, said: "We want to be champions and that starts today. We can't wait until fall camp. We can't wait until the preseason. We can't wait until the season. It starts now." Jermaine Kearse added, "We've got to turn it on right now because the great teams are going to do things right right now." It sounds as if there's a greater sense of urgency than last year — and there should be. Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Jets LB Dylan Donahue, who checked into a rehab facility after a February arrest for drunk driving, was spotted at the team's facility Monday for the start of the offseason program. Donahue had two DUI arrests in less than a year, both resulting in car accidents. Publicly, the club has said it will support Donahue through his treatment. Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Jets G Brian Winters, who underwent surgery near the end of the season to repair torn abdominal and abductor muscles, said he has been cleared to participate in spring drills. Now that he's healthy, Winters said, "I want to go out and be a force." He played in pain last season after suffering the injury in Week 2. "It was horrendous," he said. "I wouldn't give that pain to my worst enemy. It's something that was very tough and hurtful, from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed." A healthy Winters will be a boost to the offensive line, which returns four starters. ij Jets begin offseason workouts: Key storylines to watch, including Teddy Bridgewater Posted April 15, 2018 at 05:00 AM | Updated April 15, 2018 at 05:04 AM By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com As the Jets get ready for the 2018 NFL Draft (in which they could draft Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, or Josh Allen), they are also beginning their offseason workout program on Monday. Everything in the program is voluntary until minicamp. Let's take a look at the Jets' key storylines entering their offseason workouts. (From Monday until May 22, there won't be any on-field practices. Just working out.) Stacy Revere | Getty Images Here is the Jets' offseason workout schedule: Workouts begin: April 16 Organized team activities: May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7 Mandatory minicamp: June 12-14 AVERY WILLIAMSON'S LEARNING CURVE He replaces Demario Davis as the Jets' middle linebacker, so it is critical that Williamson learns not only Todd Bowles' defense, but also how to play alongside Darron Lee. As with all items on this list, Williamson's familiarity can't truly get sorted out until the Jets begin on-field practices when OTAs open on May 22. But as the Jets' defensive play caller, Williamson has a big task ahead of him, with learning this defense. TEDDY BRIDGEWATER'S KNEE Don't expect the quarterback to do much besides throw in the spring. A serious knee injury from 2016 training camp sidelined him for almost all of the past two seasons. The Jets are going to be cautious with him, as they should be. And if his knee doesn't cooperate, the Jets can cut him with minimal salary cap ramifications. The goal for Bridgewater is to get him ready to participate 100 percent by training camp. But his knee is worth monitoring in the spring nonetheless. AP Photo RUNNING BACK SITUATION Intriguing backfield situation for the Jets, as Isaiah Crowell joins Bilal Powell and Eli McGuire. How will new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates go about splitting the workload between this trio? Powell has performed well in recent seasons, but he isn't a star back. Not that Crowell is, either. Spring practices will give the Jets a chance to feel out the strengths and weaknesses of their running backs — particularly Crowell, the newcomer. LEADERS EMERGING Spring workouts are a chance for players to learn about each other and develop chemistry. The Jets re-signed their most prominent offensive leader, quarterback Josh McCown. But what about the defensive side of things? Can high-priced cornerback Trumaine Johnson become a leader in his first year with the organization? This is one of those nuanced things that is hard to measure coming out of spring practices. AP Photo TRUMAINE JOHNSON GELLING WITH SECONDARY On the field, Johnson will be the Jets' No. 1 corner. They re-signed Morris Claiborne and retained Buster Skrine. Put that trio with the promising safety duo of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, and the Jets could have themselves a pretty darn good secondary. It's up to Johnson to take on a prominent role in the defensive backs room. Shouldn't be a problem for him. SPENCER LONG'S RECOVERY He surely isn't going to do much of anything during spring practices, coming off quadriceps surgery. As with Bridgewater, the goal is to have him fully participating by the time training camp begins in late July. Since he is the Jets' new center, though, he'll need to spend a lot of time learning Bates' offense. Not being able to work full-time with the quarterbacks during spring practices is an obstacle Long will have to overcome. KICKING BATTLE Cairo Santos isn't a lock to win the job. The Jets surely are going to bring in somebody to compete with him. That process should start during spring practices, though it won't conclude until the end of training camp. There is always a possibility the Jets draft a kicker. THE ROOKIE QB After the Jets draft a quarterback, they're going to put him right out there during spring practices and see what he can do. This is the biggest storyline of the offseason for the Jets, and the biggest storyline for them in quite some time — which quarterback they draft, and whether the guy can actually play. The Jets, of course, won't be able to determine this just from spring practices. But that'll be a start to the process. After 'horrendous' injury, Jets' Brian Winters expects to be 'game changer' in 2018 Brian Winters is healthy again. (Winslow Townson | AP Images for Panini) Jets right guard Brian Winters still vividly remembers the moment he tore his abdomen and abductor muscles last season, in Week 2 at the Raiders. Winters tried to play through the pain in the following weeks, but it limited his performance. He wound up playing in (and starting) 13 total games before he landed on injured reserve in late December and underwent surgery. As the Jets began offseason workouts Monday, Winters said he is 100 percent, and will fully participate in spring practices, which begin May 22 with organized team activities. He expects his health to be a big difference maker for the Jets' revamped offensive line. "It was horrendous," Winters said of his injury in 2017. "I wouldn't give that to even my worst enemy. It was something that was very tough and hurtful, from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. Not only when I was doing stuff. Just walking in general was painful." During games, Winters said he was unable to "be myself." "I wasn't able to do anything," he said. "The year before, I was healthy, and I felt great. That's who I am. That's how I play. I wasn't able to do any of that. Going into a game, I felt like I was walking on eggshells, because I didn't want to do anything to take me out of the game. "So I was playing very conservative. I wasn't able to be the type of player that I am. It was a tough year. Anyone can judge on last year, but this is a whole new year." His goal for 2018? "To be a dominant offensive lineman," he said. "I was on the right track the year before, and then this injury happened. To me, [health] going to be a game changer. If you put an offensive guard out there with one leg, and try to do what he's supposed to do, it's kind of tough." Last offseason, Winters signed a four-year contract with the Jets that included $15 million guaranteed. But there is no guaranteed money in the deal past 2018. The Jets could cut him after this season and free up his entire 2019 salary cap figure ($6.5 million). But Winters believes his renewed health, a new center (Spencer Long replaces the struggling Wesley Johnson), and a new position coach (Rick Dennison replaces the fired Steve Marshall) will help him (and the Jets' offensive line) thrive in 2018. Last season, the Jets finished fifth in the NFL in highest sack percentage allowed. They gave up 47 sacks, seventh-most in the league. They ranked 20th in the league in yards per carry and 19th in rushing yards per game. But their center, Johnson, stunk in 2017. And Winters was significantly limited. With Long at center and Winters feeling good again, 2018 could bring different fortunes for the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Can you imagine taking on Suh with torn muscles in your core ? I called out sick with a stomach bug last month lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 5-11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pac Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 8 minutes ago, T0mShane said: 5-11 Wrong, he's 6' 5/8. Want to guess his hand size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 22 minutes ago, T0mShane said: 5-11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 44 minutes ago, Gas2No99 said: Jets LB Dylan Donahue, who checked into a rehab facility after a February arrest for drunk driving, was spotted at the team's facility Monday for the start of the offseason program. Donahue had two DUI arrests in less than a year, both resulting in car accidents. Publicly, the club has said it will support Donahue through his treatment. This is pretty gross, and the next time Todd or anyone else on the payroll says anything related to “accountability,” I hope one of these intrepid beat reporters throws Donahue back in their face. What a disgrace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 7 minutes ago, joewilly12 said: I don’t know who that is but they should be cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 20 minutes ago, Pac said: Wrong, he's 6' 5/8. Want to guess his hand size? Josh Allen is 6’5. 5-11 will be the stat line he puts up in the fourth preseason game that causes you to declare him the best quarterback in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lith Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 3 minutes ago, T0mShane said: I don’t know who that is but they should be cut I think it is Ardarius Stewart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 2 minutes ago, T0mShane said: I don’t know who that is but they should be cut You call yourself a Jets fan? Its ArDarius Stewart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsplayer21 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I just love how brady and gronk are giving bellidouch a big FU by saying they want be attending any of theirs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 5 minutes ago, Lith said: I think it is Ardarius Stewart. I should have known by the lack of lateral quickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 6 minutes ago, joewilly12 said: You call yourself a Jets fan? Its ArDarius Stewart. I am the number one jets fanatic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Gas2No99 said: It sounds as if there's a greater sense of urgency than last year — and there should be. why, exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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