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Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp, which begins July 29:

Position: Linebacker

Projected starters: Darron Lee and Demario Davis at inside linebacker; Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Mauldin at outside linebacker.

Projected reserves: Josh Martin, Dylan Donahue, Bruce Carter, and Julian Stanford.

Notables on the bubble: Spencer Paysinger, Freddie Bishop and Corey Lemonier.

Top storyline: This is one of the youngest linebacking corps in the league, as the average age of the projected starters is 24.3. For the first time since 2006, they won't have David Harris in the middle, meaning there's no proven leader. The position probably falls to Davis, who played the "Mike" role last season in the Cleveland Browns' 3-4 base. He was a weak-inside 'backer in his first incarnation with the Jets. "You can't replace him," Davis said of Harris. "I believe that certain individuals can't be replaced." This could be an every-down gig for Davis, who believes he improved his speed in the offseason. Another plus is familiarity with Todd Bowles' defense. The question is, can he run it the way Harris did? This regime has questions about Davis; remember, they let him walk after the 2015 season.

Player to watch: The honeymoon is over for Lee, last year's first-round pick. After an underwhelming rookie year (616 defensive snaps, 70 tackles, one sack), he should take a significant step in 2017. The athletic ability is there; he was one of the fastest linebackers to come out in recent years. Teammates say he's more comfortable within the system and sees plays develop quicker than last year. Now all he has to do is put it all together.

Wild card: This is a huge season for Mauldin, who flashed pass-rushing potential as a rookie but regressed last season. He could benefit the most from the arrival of outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene, who teaches a power-oriented technique over finesse. Mauldin admittedly relied too heavily on finesse moves in his first two seasons (6.5 sacks). The Jets desperately need to develop a competent edge rush to complement their powerful interior people. Don't sleep on Martin, who got first-team reps in Jenkins' spot in the spring.

Training camp will be a success if ...: The Jets are no longer getting ripped for cutting Harris. At the behest of owner Woody Johnson, they dumped Harris to save money ($6.5 million), showing no regard for his value as a leader. It's not like they did it to create an opportunity for a young middle linebacker in the pipeline; it was a pure money dump. It could come back to haunt them.

By the numbers: The linebackers have taken a lot of grief over the years for their struggles in pass coverage. Statistically, it wasn't horrible last season, based on the receiving numbers for opposing running backs -- 72 catches (tied-11th fewest) for 533 yards (sixth), per ESPN Stats & Information. The problem was in scoring territory, as they allowed five touchdown catches. Only two teams yielded more than five to running backs.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/69449/jets-new-linebacking-corps-the-young-and-the-rudderless

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As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 12: Jordan Jenkins

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (rookie)

Position: Outside linebacker

Age: 23

How acquired: Selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft

Years left on contract: 3

2017 Salary Cap figure: $740,980

Looking back at 2016: A calf injury kept Jenkins out of the first two games of the season and slowed his progress early in the year. But Jenkins got better as the year wore on and played his best football in December and January. His 2 ½ sacks came during that time. He looked more confident and comfortable.Pro Football Focus ranked Jenkins 54th out of the 109 edge defenders graded. He finished the year with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go along with the 2 ½ sacks.Jenkins showed he can set the edge and was strong against the run. He struggled in coverage at times, giving up a touchdown against the Dolphins in the first meeting of the year with Miami.The coaches’ confidence in Jenkins grew as the year went on. He played a season-high 64 snaps in Week 16 against the Patriots.

Outlook for 2017: Jenkins will begin camp as one of the starting outside linebackers. He spent this offseason working with pass-rushing guru Chuck Smith in hopes of adding some pass-rushing moves to his repertoire and becoming more of a disruptive force. The Jets have been searching for a pass rusher for more than a decade, and will be thrilled if Jenkins can give them an outside rush.Jenkins should benefit from the addition of outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene. The Hall of Famer brought significant energy to the spring practices and was an expert pass rusher as a player.Jenkins may never be a flashy player, but his rookie year indicated he can be a solid, reliable piece of the Jets defense for years to come. He now must build on that in Year 2.

>     http://nypost.com/2017/07/13/jets-have-everything-in-place-for-linebacker-of-future-to-prove-it/

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Darron Lee was the second linebacker drafted in the 2016 draft, but he was No. 1 in a specific category.According to Pro Football Focus, Lee had the highest tackling efficiency of any rookie linebacker last season.

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Darron Lee was your top-tackling rookie linebacker a season ago

The 22-year-old out of Ohio State finished his rookie season with 73 tackles, good for third most among rookie linebackers. The Jet appeared in only 13 games, starting nine of them. He missed some time due to an ankle injury and certainly had his ups and downs along the way.With the Jets cutting ties with veteran linebacker David Harris, Lee will take over as the team’s top linebacker this season.That said, he still has a lot to work on this season. Lee struggled both against the run and in coverage as an NFL newbie.

Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say about Lee’s coverage ability :

Lee struggled in coverage in 2016 as he allowed one reception for every 7.2 snaps in coverage, which was the fourth-worst rate among 57 qualified ILBs. He also allowed 1.24 yards per coverage snap, which ranked as the eighth-worst rate among those ILBs.

Another area Lee will need to improve on is his run stopping ability. The rookie finished 2016 with a 5.7 run-stop percentage according, to PFF. That ranked him last among the eight rookies that qualified.Lee has a long way to go as a player, but if he can stay healthy — and out of trouble off the field — there is a good chance he will improve in 2017.

>    http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/14/pff-jets-darron-lee-led-rookie-linebackers-in-tackling-efficiency-in-2016/

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As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 11: Kelvin Beachum

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)

Position: Left tackle

Age: 28

How acquired: Signed a three-year, $24 million contract on March 10

Years left on contract: 3

2017 Salary Cap figure: $5 million

Looking back at 2016 : Beachum joined the Jaguars last year after playing the first four years of his career with the Steelers.

His lone season with Jacksonville was a disappointment, and the team declined to pick up the four-year option on his contract this offseason.Pro Football Focus ranked Beachum 63rd out of 78 tackles they graded. He gave up 49 quarterback pressures and was ranked 75th in run blocking.Beachum started 15 games for the Jaguars, missing one with a concussion. But Beachum had lingering pain in his left knee from a torn ACL he suffered in 2015. That pain could have been the reason for his play slipping.

Outlook for 2017: The Jets have had their eyes on Beachum for a while. They had him in for a visit in 2015 before D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired. He went to the Jaguars at that time, but when Jacksonville cut him loose this offseason, the Jets pounced.After years of Ferguson manning left tackle, the position was a weak spot in 2016. Ryan Clady began the year as the starter, but did not play well and then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Ben Ijalana replaced him and had his own struggles.The Jets are hoping Beachum can return to his form from 2014, when he thrived for the Steelers. That year, PFF had him ranked as the fifth-best left tackle in football.

The big question: How is Beachum’s knee? Doctors usually say players need to be two years removed from ACL surgery before they feel 100 percent again. The knee could explain why Beachum did not play well last year. Maybe he returns to his old form this year. The Jets were cautious with him in the spring. He did not participate in several OTAs open to the media, but Beachum and the team have said his knee is fine.Left tackle is an important position. It will take on even greater importance if the Jets put Christian Hackenberg in at quarterback. Young quarterbacks always hold onto the ball too long. It will be up to Beachum to protect him.

>     http://nypost.com/2017/07/14/the-qb-timeline-that-makes-jets-left-tackle-bet-extra-risky/

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Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp, which begins July 29 :

Position: Offensive line

Projected starters: LT Kelvin Beachum, LG James Carpenter, C Wesley Johnson, RG Brian Winters, RT Brandon Shell.

Projected reserves: Ben Ijalana, Dakota Dozier, Brent Qvale, Jonotthan Harrison.

Notables on the bubble: Jeff Adams, Craig Watts.

Top storyline: Welcome to the post-Mangold era. For the first time since 2005, the offensive line won't have Nick Mangold at center, directing traffic. He was a stabilizing force, helping the offense as it went from Chad Pennington to Brett Favre to Mark Sanchez to Geno Smith to Ryan Fitzpatrick. But nothing lasts forever in the NFL, and it was time to move on. As one opposing scout said, "Mangold looked like he was done." The post-Mangold line will have at least two new starters, Johnson and Beachum. It'll be three if Shell beats out Qvale and Ijalana, who is making starter's money ($5.5 million) and is one of the best five. We gave Shell a slight edge because the organization likes his upside. This could be a solid line if everything breaks right.

Player to watch: Johnson did a serviceable job as Mangold's fill-in last season, starting eight games and playing 588 snaps in the pivot, but the degree of difficulty goes up when you're The Guy. He's never been an opening-day starter, so the Jets are taking a calculated gamble. Johnson is very smart, so mastering the new offense shouldn't be a problem. He's not overpowering at the point of attack, so he'd probably be more efficient in zone-blocking scheme.

Wild card: Beachum was the Jets' lone splurge in free agency -- a $12 million guarantee. The question is, will they get the 2015 Beachum or the 2016 version? He was a player on the rise with the Pittsburgh Steelers before knee surgery in October 2015. He went to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he failed to regain his pre-injury form. Sometimes it takes a full season after surgery before a player feels right; the Jets are betting on that. At his best, Beachum -- only 6-foot-3 -- is a surprisingly agile pass protector.

Training camp will be a success if ...: Everyone is healthy and gets substantial practice time. That may sound obvious, but consider the circumstances: Winters didn't practice in the spring because of rotator-cuff surgery; Ijalana missed some time due to a knee scope; and Beachum was limited due to knee soreness. Get the picture?

By the numbers: This might surprise you, but the Jets were among the top teams last season in short-yardage situations. They converted 19 of 24 third-and-1 plays when running the ball, the fourth-best percentage (79.2) in the league, per ESPN Stats & Information. They weren't as effective on fourth-and-1, as they converted only three of six chances. This year's line needs to establish a smash-mouth mentality because, let's face it, they won't be throwing their way to many wins.

>    http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/69519/jets-guards-remain-the-same-but-theres-a-changing-of-the-guard

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What is the organizational level of confidence in the offensive line ?

 

HUGHES: They're high on the potential of the group, and I don't blame them. This isn't the Cowboys' front, but if things break the Jets way, there's no reason the five can't be above average. James Carpenter is among the better guards in the league, Brian Winters up-and-coming, both Brandon Shell and Wesley Johnson showed promise last year, and Kelvin Beachum (when healthy) is more than competent. 

The key is having things break the Jets' way. Outside of Carpenter, the other four have legitimate concerns and uncertainties surrounding their play. 

I will say this: The offensive line, to me, is the key to the Jets winning five or six games, compared to one or two. If the front falters, the Jets don't stand a chance. 

rest of above article : 

>     http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/07/should_jets_consider_johnny_manziel_when_will_they.html#incart_river_index

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The New York Jets might be adding another big body to the fold.Former San Diego Chargers guard Orlando Franklin visited with the Jets on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Former Chargers' G Orlando Franklin visited the Jets today, per source.

Franklin was a second round pick of the Denver Broncos back in 2011 and spent three years in Denver before signing a five-year deal with the Chargers in 2015.However, things didn’t go according to plan for Franklin in San Diego and he was cut two years into the deal.Franklin is only 29 and has started every game he has played in the NFL, so it is somewhat surprising that he is still on the open market.

The addition of Franklin would make sense for the Jets,but Brian Wintersand James Carpenter being locked in as the starters at the two guard positions complicates that a bit.There is a chance that the Jets could be bringing in Franklin, who has played right tackle in his career, to compete for the starting position there.

>   http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/26/former-san-diego-chargers-g-orlando-franklin-visits-jets/

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Was wondering why the Jets would have worked out Franklin.  G is one of their few strong positions.  If they are considering him as a T that is not good news for Shell, and the rest of the hopeful RT's.  Position chance at 29 is seldom a good thing.  

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13 minutes ago, flgreen said:

Was wondering why the Jets would have worked out Franklin.  G is one of their few strong positions.  If they are considering him as a T that is not good news for Shell, and the rest of the hopeful RT's.  Position chance at 29 is seldom a good thing.  

Eh.  He has been on the street.  Assuming they aren't paying him much what is the big deal?  Who is their top reserve at G?  Dozier?  I am not sold on Shell yet, but even if I were, Ijalana, Beachum and Qvale?  There is plenty of room for a decent lineman on this team, especially at reserve guard and center.  FWIW, Rotoworld speculated that it may mean they want to take it slow with Winters shoulder.

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Rich Cimin ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets OT Ben Ijalana said the plan is for him to start out at left tackle, where he will share reps with Kelvin Beachum. Looks like Brandon Shell and Brent Qvale will compete at right tackle. Hard to imagine Beachum on the bench, considering he received a $12 million guarantee.

>       http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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The Jets are hoping second-year linebacker Darron Lee has a big mouth.And naturally, an improved second season.

Defensive leaders David Harris and Darrelle Revis are gone, whacked during an offseason purge. So Lee, the first-round pick, 20th overall, in 2016, is viewed as a guy to bring some vocal leadership as well as making overall improvements on an uneven rookie season.“Absolutely,” Lee said Monday about supplying vocal leadership after the Jets’ third practice of training camp and first day in full pads at Florham Park, N.J. “Know the playbook pretty much backwards and forwards now. Really comfortable. I feel way comfortable. Unlike last year. Felt lost on some stuff. Now I know it backwards and forwards. Perfectly comfortable now.”

Last year, Lee was less than overwhelming as a rookie but much of that was due to an ankle injury that struck in Week 6. Lee missed three games and the injury lingered. He showed athleticism but was not the impact player the team needed from a first-round selection. His pass coverage was lacking and he routinely was abused by opposing tight ends.Pro Football Focus, using advanced statistical data, graded him as the worst linebacker in the class of 2016 and 84th out of 87 selected linebackers. But stuff like that happens when you feel lost, uncomfortable and the playbook appears to be written in Sanskrit.

Jets coach Todd Bowles isn’t worried about the physical attributes of Lee.

“He’s got the tools to be a good linebacker,” he said of the 6-foot-1, 232-pounder. Bowles sees Lee’s need for improvement in the mental arena. And it all works hand-in-hand. Grow mentally, improve physically.“It’s mentally for him. Down there, you see a lot of things between run and passing, a lot of blocks and a lot of reads and a lot of tips. So it’s mentally for him. But he’s been more vocal the last three days and all spring and it’s slowing down for him that way so hopefully the mental stuff makes his physical part a little easier.”

“Just going to take it day by day. As long as he gets better every day, I think he’ll become a good football player.”

Lee began his rookie season out of Ohio State as a backup but eventually started nine games at inside linebacker. The ankle injury hit against the Cardinals and affected him the rest of the way. So there are high expectations for the 22-year-old who is viewed as a key component to the Jets’ young core. Perhaps no one’s expectations are higher than his own.“Definitely,” Lee said. “Just improve from last year for sure. But definitely do a better job of putting my team in the best position to win and that’s really all I’m focused on.”

That and being a chatterbox leader.

>      http://nypost.com/2017/07/31/jets-defense-needs-leadership-and-already-has-man-for-the-job/

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-- From 2006-15, the Jets' left tackle position was never a question mark. D'Brickashaw Ferguson started every game from the time the Jets drafted him in 2006 until he retired after the 2015 season. He never missed a snap due to injury. 

It was unreasonable to expect his successor to compile a remarkable stretch of durability like that. But in Year 2 after Ferguson's retirement, here in 2017, the Jets are already on their second successor -- Kelvin Beachum, who they signed this offseason.Will he be more effective this season than Ryan Clady was last year? Clady was limited to eight starts by a shoulder injury. The Jets decided to cut ties with him earlier this offseason.The answer to that question about Beachum depends largely on his left knee. Midway through the 2015 season, with the Steelers, he tore his ACL and MCL. The injury's impact lingered as he struggled last year in Jacksonville. He is still just 28 years old, in his sixth NFL season, but you have to wonder what kind of production the Jets will get from him this year. 

Beachum's goal for 2017: "Getting back to the form that I know I can play at," he told NJ Advance Media this week at training camp, as he wore a brace on his left knee.

He probably will wear that brace all season, but said his knee is "feeling a ton better." He expects to be "pretty close" to 100 percent by Week 1, but he's not there right now."My standard is so high that for me, it's not 100 percent yet," he said. "But I'm just a stickler. I want to freaking run like a deer and do cartwheels and front flips. I can't do those things yet, but it's very, very close. It's a lot closer than it was last year in Jacksonville and it's a lot closer than it was when I stepped in the building here."His lone season with the Jaguars, in 2016, didn't go as he hoped. Pro Football Focus rated him 63rd among offensive tackles. He missed most of training camp. While he started all but one game (due to a concussion), he allowed five sacks, according to The Florida Times-Union's count. The Jaguars didn't pick up his contract option for 2017. 

Beachum indicated this week that his knee hindered him last season, as he struggled. 

"Look at the film and see whether it did that," he said. "I don't make excuses. I don't have time to look back and regret. Whether I came back too early, that's for God to know and for me to know. The question is: What am I going to do right now? I've got to find a way to start the whole year, be healthy the whole year. I kind of took it for granted, like, 'Oh, I blew my knee out. I'll be back real soon.' But it's a lot of rehab." 

With the Jets, as his knee feels better, Beachum has found renewed zest. 

"You love football again," he said. "It's not that you don't love football [while returning from an injury], but it's a point where it's a grind because I'd never had an injury before in my life, never missed a game in my life. I learned a lot about myself, found a way to start every single game that I was allowed to start in. You're not supposed to be coming off an ACL and MCL [tear] and total knee reconstruction in nine to 10 months. I found a way to get it done."Beachum has a three-year contract with the Jets that essentially ties him to the organization through at least 2018, because of the deal's structure. So he likely won't be a one-and-done left tackle like Clady, though that doesn't preclude the Jets from drafting a tackle high next year, especially if they don't need to draft a quarterback.This season, Beachum is intent on showing he can still be a reliable player -- and that he doesn't need to be replaced by a younger guy just yet. He views this as a prove-it year.  

"For me, it's just extended motivation, not so much for somebody else, but for me, to show myself," he said. "This is just an evolution process in my journey and my story."That evolution continued early in camp. On Day 1, Saturday, "I felt like I was in cement," he said. By the next day, he moved around much better. As Beachum progresses, he likes new offensive coordinator John Morton's scheme because its gap-oriented blocking principles are similar to what the Steelers used when he played for them from 2012-15. 

"This feels like home," Beachum said. 

>      http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/08/jets_kelvin_beachum_jaguars_knee.html#incart_river_index

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For the past 11 years, as the Jets’ revolving door at starting quarterback whirled around and around with each passing season, fans could rely on the man snapping the ball, No. 74, center Nick Mangold.

Mangold was the offense’s anchor and a football savant with the kind of expansive and detailed knowledge that left younger offensive lineman in disbelief. A first-round pick in 2006, Mangold missed just four starts out of 160 in his first 10 seasons in the NFL. He was the model of consistency at one of the most important yet underrated positions in the league.But Mangold is gone now, one of the many veterans whose Jets careers ended this past offseason as general manager Mike Maccagnan began a full-fledged rebuild for a franchise still seeking its first Lombardi Trophy since the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. And the player tasked with supplanting Mangold in the middle of the O-line - fourth-year lineman Wesley Johnson - is fully aware of the enormous hole he must fill.

“He’s a guy that you don’t replace,” Johnson told the Daily News last week at Jets training camp in Florham Park.And yet there’s reason for optimism. Mangold was meticulous at helping and aiding younger players, and he was instrumental in Johnson’s development in 2016.

“He was like my big brother,” Johnson said.

Last season, as Mangold battled multiple injuries and was placed on injured reserve for the first time in his career, Johnson started eight games and played significant time in three other contests after Mangold went down, first with a tweaked knee and then with a sprained ankle that eventually ended his season.Even after landing on IR Dec. 8, though, Mangold was often at Jets practice, pacing the sideline in a walking boot.

“He always looked after the young guys. It was tough love. He was hard to deal with sometimes. But he always looked out for us,” Johnson said of Mangold. “He got put on IR at the end of the year. When most guys get put on IR, they check out: ‘I’m going to go spend time with my family.’ He didn’t. He was in my back pocket every practice, every game, and that meant the world to me because I have (offensive line coach Steve) Marshall and I have (assistant offensive line coach David Diaz-Infante), but I (also) have a guy who I think is a Hall of Famer telling my what I did wrong and what I did right every play.”

Johnson opted not to share any of the “tough love” moments.

“I want to keep his memory shining,” the former fifth-pick of the Steelers said with a chuckle.

Nonetheless, it’s clear the two linemen developed a strong bond off the field. In the locker room last season, Mangold and Johnson would walk around with Nerf guns, looking for opportunities to pester each other or their teammates.

“He’s a big Star Wars guy,” Johnson said. “I’m more of a Game of Thrones guy. But I like Star Wars.”

Most importantly, Johnson was able to pick Mangold’s brain and gain an understanding of the type of studying and expertise necessary to be a successful NFL center. Johnson is currently slated as the Jets’ starting center, according to Todd Bowles. But as is the case with virtually every position on the Jets roster, Johnson will have to continue earning his job for the remainder of training camp.“The thing that I was most immediately impressed about Nick was his knowledge of the game and how smart he was,” Johnson said. “He knew the whole offense and then he knew stuff that offensive linemen have absolutely no business knowing, and he was able to correlate it all and make the right calls, be consistent every single play. He was incredibly consistent, and I think that’s the goal for offensive linemen.”

Initially, Johnson said Mangold’s football IQ was daunting.“He says all this stuff, and you’re like, ‘Man, I don’t know what that means,’” Johnson said. “But you sit down and you piece it up, you learn it, and you see how he gets it. You see why he was in the league for 11 years, how he got such great experience and you begin to see the pictures the way he sees it.”On the field last season, Johnson impressed the Jets coaching staff with his play.“Wes is a very good NFL player,” Steve Marshall said. “I saw a lot of good things from him. He’s a natural leader. He’s very athletic, he’s smart, and he’s kind of got all the attributes you want in an NFL player.”Johnson’s biggest takeaway from his extended action in 2016 was learning to control his emotions.

“When you go out there your first few games, you’re just chomping at the bit. You’re snarling, you’re snorting and you just want to go after it, show that you can play,” he said. “You got to be calm. You got to make the calls. You got to be in control, and you got to really take charge of what everybody’s doing.”

Mangold was in control for over a decade. Now Johnson is striving to do the same.  

>         http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/wesley-johnson-ready-charge-jets-cut-nick-mangold-article-1.3387326

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-- Kelvin Beachum has a bachelor's degree in economics and a masters in organizational dynamics. He also has a keen appreciation for history.

Football history.

After signing with the New York Jets in March, Beachum reached out to former left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who held down the position from 2006 to '15. Beachum, stepping into that job, arranged a get-acquainted dinner with Ferguson. They met at a New Jersey restaurant and talked shop.Beachum did the same thing when he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012. He met with former tackles Marvel Smith, Tunch Ilkin and Kendall Simmons.When he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, he huddled with Tony Boselli, one of the best left tackles of his generation.

Many players in the transient world of the NFL go from team to team, oblivious to tradition and the men who came before them. Beachum is different that way. For someone who makes his living on the blind side, he sees everything."I want to understand the lineage of what goes along with playing left tackle, what people did before me," he said. "You stand on the shoulders of those historians and those greats.

"[Ferguson] is on this wall here," Beachum added, referring to a renovated wall in the facility that includes pictures of former Jets greats. "He's on the wall for a reason, so why wouldn't I want to talk to him and learn from him and see what he has to offer? He can help me come into this situation and perform at a high level."The Jets have a star-crossed history when it comes to team success, but they've had some strong positions -- and offensive tackle is one of them. The most decorated tackle in team history is the late Winston Hill, who made eight Pro Bowls from 1964 to 1976. Marvin Powell came along in 1977, making All-Pro three times in nine years.

"I've heard about Marvin Powell," Beachum said. "Someone told me he showed up every day with a briefcase. He was a true man's professional."

He'd like to hook up with Powell, who lives in Florida, but that might be tough. For reasons unknown, Powell is disconnected from the team. He doesn't show up for alumni events, and that's too bad because he's worthy of Ring of Honor consideration.Ferguson will be in the Ring someday. He was an absolute rock from 2006-15, never missing a game or practice. It's hard to replace a guy like that. The Jets traded for fading star Ryan Clady, who got hurt and missed half the season. The next man up is Beachum, 28, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract after his option wasn't exercised by the Jaguars.

Beachum embraces the challenge.

"I love playing left tackle," he said. "I love the pressure that is part of left tackle. I love the responsibility and the obligation that comes along with it. I relish it."

Beachum was an ascending player for the Steelers in 2015, but he wrecked a knee and wasn't the same in Jacksonville. The Jets, who limited his reps in the spring, are keeping their fingers crossed. Beachum doesn't lack confidence."I know what I'm capable of," he said. "I know what I've done before. I have an opportunity with the Jets for the next three years. If I perform, I might be here a little longer."

>       http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/70124/kelvin-beachum-wants-to-be-a-brick-in-the-jets-front-wall

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— Darron Lee took the field at times last season and all kinds of thoughts would rush through his head.

The New York Jets linebacker was thinking too much as a rookie, and it was affecting his natural playmaking abilities. Entering his second NFL season, Lee already can feel the difference.

"My mind's not racing like it was last year," he said. "At all."

Big things were expected last year from Lee, the No. 20 overall pick in the draft out of Ohio State. He started in nine of the 13 games he played and finished fourth on the team with 76 total tackles. His 64 solo takedowns were second only to David Harris' 82.But there were also moments when Lee would overrun plays or miss coverage assignments, appearing overwhelmed mentally at times — not uncommon for a rookie."It was more of the fact of knowing where I've got to be on the call and then reacting to what the offense is giving you," Lee said. "I was always thinking, 'All right, I've got to be here, and then I can play this now.' Now, I already know where I've got to go, so I don't need to take time to think about it. So, now I just look and see what the offense gives me and know what to expect."

That's a huge step for Lee, who's slated to start again at inside linebacker with veteran Demario Davis."I'm way more comfortable," Lee said. "I mean, I know what I'm doing. I have a routine, I know the playbook inside and out. Last year, you guys could ask me a call and I probably couldn't tell you about it. But now, I know what to expect, at least on the field, and definitely know what to do, even making checks and alignments for other guys. I just know all of that now.

"It's just like second nature."

It hasn't been all positive for Lee, who was involved in an incident during a music festival in New York in June. In a moment caught on video and splashed all over social media, Leonard Williams stepped in front of Lee, who was having an argument with a girlfriend, and then briefly lifted and forcibly removed his teammate from a possible altercation.

According to an NFL spokesperson, that incident is still being reviewed by the league. Lee was not arrested or charged with anything resulting from the situation, and he wasn't disciplined by the Jets.Lee's athleticism and playmaking ability at Ohio State made him a top target last year for coach Todd Bowles entering the draft.The big defensive line with Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson has gotten lots of attention during the offseason and training camp, along with the rookie safety tandem of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. But the development of Lee could be a major factor this season."Down there (at inside linebacker), you see a lot of things between running, passing, a lot of blocks and a lot reads and a lot of tips," Bowles said. "So, it's mentally for him, but he's been more vocal, and it's slowing down for him that way so hopefully the mental stuff makes his physical part a little easier."

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Lee spent a good part of the offseason improving his nutrition and stepping up his strength training while running hills to help with conditioning. He showed up to camp a bit more chiseled than a year ago."I don't know if y'all can tell, but I look a little hefty right now," Lee said with a grin. "Nah, I'm kidding."Lee also has reached out to Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly the past two offseasons, sharing tips on how to improve on and off the field. Harris was also someone Lee would routinely look to for advice.Harris was cut in June, five days after the Jets reacquired Davis from Cleveland in exchange for safety Calvin Pryor. In the time since, Lee and Davis have worked on developing a rapport on the field.

"He's smart and he's athletic, and that's what you want to have as an inside linebacker," Davis said. "I can understand why he was drafted in the first round. If he can continue to get better day in and day out, sky's the limit for him."

NOTES : A day after Richardson's latest criticism of former teammate Brandon Marshall, Bowles was clearly bothered by reporters' questions about it. "I really don't have time for a bunch of B.S." he said. "It happened a year ago. We had six months to talk about it." During a radio interview Monday, Richardson said Marshall was "drama queen-ish" last season and accused him of quitting on the team. When pressed, Bowles grew angry and used an expletive, and also threatened to cut short his daily news conference if there were further questions about it. "We've moved on from that," he said. ... LB Lorenzo Mauldin (back) and RBs Matt Forte (hamstring) and Bilal Powell (neck) sat out practice.

>     https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/08/08/jets-lee-more-confident-thinking-less-entering-2nd-season/104421478/

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Center Who Grew Up in Nashville & Jets Mates Take On the Tennessee Titans in Preseason Opener

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You might think an NFL player who was born and raised in Nashville and played his college ball at Vanderbilt might be fired up, just a little, that his first preseason game this year comes against the team from his hometown.But Wes Johnson calls Florham Park and East Rutherford his hometowns now."Those guys," the Jets center said with a smile about the Tennessee Titans, the Jets' Saturday opponents, as he sampled one of the training staff's orange cream protein shakes after today's practice. "Yeah, it's cool. But no, it doesn't really mean anything extra to me. I'm a Jet, proud to be a Jet."

Besides, Johnson is more focused on his tasks at hand, which are competing for the center job this year with Jonotthan Harrisonicon-article-link.gif and helping the Green & White be the best they can be once they head to Buffalo for the opener that counts on Sept. 10."It's going well," Johnson said. "The competition's tight, but we're all out there battling."Johnson did well starting eight of the last nine games for the injured Nick Mangold last season. This offseason the Jets brought in Harrison, who played in 44 of the Colts' past 48 regular-season games, starting 23 — 19 starts coming at center in 2014-15, four at LG last season.

 


As head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday about the center spot, "It's up for grabs."Johnson got ready for the battle before reporting for training camp by working on his size and speed."I put a little more focus on football technique work, and I got bigger and faster," he said. "Yeah, I am bigger, about 310 right now, which is a bit heftier than I've been in the past."

Johnson likes being a member of this transitional offensive line, which parted ways with Mangold and Breno Giacomini but added veterans Kelvin Beachumicon-article-link.gif and Harrison."I think we're great," he said of his unit. "I love it. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. The group works very well together, and we all play hard."As for those three quarterbacks lining up behind him, who does he like there? Well, Johnson, being a fourth-year veteran from Vandy, knows not to go around publicly picking his favorite QB candidate. But he did have positive takes on Josh McCownicon-article-link.gif, Christian Hackenbergicon-article-link.gif and Bryce Pettyicon-article-link.gif after the Jets had their last big practice before the opener.

"They've all done a great job. I've been really proud of all of 'em," he said. "Josh brings the juice every single day. And Hack and Bryce aren't walking on eggshells. They're very comfortable in the offense, in the system, and they're not afraid to make mistakes. I've been really proud of those two for that."

>      http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Wes-Johnson-Gears-Up-for-His-Hometown-Team/da0e5427-3fc0-456f-b9dc-9b9319bf721f

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One of the only bright spots of the Jets’ last few games in 2016 was the performance of rookie right tackle Brandon Shell.

New York’s fifth round pick in 2016, Shell was on the bench for the majority of the season until injuries wrecked havoc upon the Jets offensive line. In his first start against the Miami Dolphins, who have one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL, Shell was excellent and allowed zero pressures on 55 pass blocking attempts late last year.Shell carried his strong performance into the first preseason game on Saturday, impressing Pro Football Focus. He received the second best grade for AFC East offensive tackles.

 
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Brandon Shell finished the 2016 season strong, and looked good in the preseason opener

 
Shell is currently battling veteran Brent Qvale for the starting right tackle position, but there’s a possibility that neither is named the full time starter and they spend the majority of the time rotating. That’s how Todd Bowles handled the position last season.

If Shell can keep this up, however, he’ll earn himself a starting job on the Jets offensive line this season.

>      http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2017/08/17/pff-brandon-shell-shined-in-jets-preseason-opener/

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Last year at Jets training camp, Sheldon Richardson called then-rookie inside linebacker Darron Lee “little dog” because of his smaller physique.But Lee doesn’t think that nickname applies anymore.

“That was fair last year,” Lee said Wednesday after practice. “This year, nah.”

Lee, who battled a sprained ankle for most of last season, left Jets minicamp in June weighing 227 pounds, five pounds less than he weighed at the 2016 NFL Combine. When he returned about six weeks later for training camp, though, he’d gained nine pounds and weighed in at 236.

Teammates noticed.

“On my conditioning test, everybody was like, ‘You look noticeably bigger,’” Lee said. “Hey, I put in that work.”

Lee said he was able to commit more time to his workout regimen this offseason without the distraction of the NFL Draft and all its obligations. The Jets took Lee with the No. 20 overall pick in 2016.

Lee recovered from his ankle injury and was healthy for spring practices. Then over the brief spring and summer break, the strategy was simple: “Just eat, hydrate, that’s about it,” he said.

rest of above article : 

>    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-darron-lee-play-physicality-gained-9-lbs-article-1.3417958

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sheldon Richardson traded: How much 2018 salary cap space could Jets have now ?

The Jets made their latest big offseason move -- a trade this time -- on Friday, when they sent defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to Seattle. 

In return, the Jets got wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a 2018 second-round draft pick. The teams also swapped 2018 seventh-round picks. Richardson was due to make $8.069 million from the Jets this season -- his fifth-year option figure. Trading him clears all of that, with no dead money attached. Kearse has a $2.2 million salary this season. So that's a net creation of $5.869 million in cap space for the Jets this year. At this point, after the trade, they have $26.385 million in cap space entering 2017, fifth-most in the NFL, according to overthecap.com

The Jets, of course, are prioritizing building for the future, with younger players, over winning in 2017. So having a lot of cap space entering this year is fine -- at least in general manager Mike Maccagnan's eyes, as he carries out this rebuilding process.Teams can carry over unused cap space from one year to the next. So how much cap space could the Jets have entering free agency in 2018? 

Well, based on a projected $178 million salary cap for 2018, the Jets could have $83.617 million in cap space entering next offseason, if they carry over all of their current cap space.That number surely will change, based on moves the Jets make this season and cuts they make next offseason. Plus, the NFL's cap figure might not be $178 million next year.But based on overthecap.com's 2018 projection, that's how things look right now for the Jets, who are currently projected (without any carryover cap space) to have $57.232 million in cap room entering 2018 -- second-most in the NFL. 

Add that figure to their current $26.385 million number, and that's how you get $83.617 million. However you slice it, the Jets will have lots of cap space next offseason. Let's see what Maccagnan does with it, presume he's still around.It's also worth remembering the Jets are now scheduled to have nine draft picks next year, because they'll have two in Round 2 and two in Round 5. They got that extra fifth-round pick from Dallas during this year's draft. 

>     http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/09/sheldon_richardson_traded_how_much_2018_salary_cap.html#incart_river_index

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  • 2 weeks later...

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets' pass protection seemed solid yesterday, but the stats suggest otherwise. The Raiders defense pressured Josh McCown on 16 of his 32 dropbacks (50%), tied for their highest pressure percentage since 2009. Still, I thought RT Brandon Shell did a decent job against Khalil Mack. LG James Carpenter allowed no QB pressures and LT Kelvin Beachum had one, per Pro Football Focus.

>    http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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