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Q & A With Darryl Slater

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Can Teddy Bridgewater win Jets' starting job? How might Jeremy Bates change offense? | Mailbag

Posted June 02, 2018 at 05:00 AM | Updated June 02, 2018 at 05:01 AM
 
 
 
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By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Jets mailbag time, gang. So let's answer your questions about Sam Darnold, Teddy Bridgewater, and more, as the Jets continue with organized team activities and get ready for the start of training camp in late July. 

bridgewater copy.JPG
AP Photo
 

Among the topics this week — Bridgewater, who is contending for the Jets' starting quarterback job. 

 
 
 

Ira in Staten Island, via email: Besides a pass rusher, I think the Jets are with other spots. I like the potential of Jordan Leggett and Chris Herndon, but if a veteran tight end becomes available before the start of the year, I would entertain it. Thoughts? 

Let's see how Leggett and Herndon do this summer in training camp, coming off knee surgeries for both. I certainly think it's a possibility the Jets could get a tight end off waivers at the end of training camp, if it's a legit enough veteran and if neither Leggett nor Herndon looks impressive enough in camp. Leggett and Herndon just returned to full practice participation, so we need some time to evaluate them. 

 
 
 

Kearse seems like a solid veteran presence on offense, but a bit pricey for a WR#4. Any chance he would restructure for less money on a 1 yr guaranteed deal, or would he rather take his chances as a FA?

 
 
 
 

I think he would take his chances in free agency. And he might not be the Jets' fourth receiver, depending on what happens with Terrelle Pryor's ankle and how Quincy Enunwa returns from neck surgery. Ultimately, I think Kearse sticks with the Jets in 2018. It is the final year of his contract, and he has a $5.5 million salary cap figure, including a $5 million non-guaranteed salary. That's not crazy high. 

 
 

Impressions of Nathan Shephard so far? Will he be able to hang with the big boys from what you can tell?

 
 
 
 

He looks the part. And he hasn't appeared to be confused or overwhelmed so far in spring practices, based on the two organized team activities we've been allowed to see. But for any defensive or offensive lineman, it is really hard to make sweeping judgments until the pads go on. We'll have to get back to you in training camp on this one. He has been fine so far, but it's too early to rave about him. 

Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
 
 
 

OTA observations are always qualified with, "It's early but...." So can you definitively say about this team compared to last year's?

 
 
 
 

Great question. The Jets are definitely better at quarterback, with Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Darnold. They're definitely better at cornerback, with Trumaine Johnson now in the mix. I think they should be better on their offensive line, provided Spencer Long returns OK from quadriceps surgery. So there are three definitive statements. Jury is still out on the Jets' pass rush, so we'll go with the "it's still early" disclaimer there. 

 
 

How are Hansen and Stewart developing? Any chance either gets significant playing time this season?

 
 
 
 

Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart have looked fine through the two OTAs we've been allowed to watch. Way too early to say either is going to have a breakout season in 2018, after both underwhelmed as rookies last year. Yes, there is certainly a chance of them getting significant playing time. It's not a lock that Pryor will be OK and that Enunwa will return fine from his neck surgery. So there could be opportunities for both Hansen and Stewart, especially for Hansen as a deep threat receiver to complement Robby Anderson. 

 
 

Would you consider it a surprise if Pryor doesn't make the team this year? Coming off injury, WR corps looks somewhat deep with younger players, dead money doesn't look terrible, etc.

 
 
 
 

Yes, I would consider it a surprise. Now, his current ankle injury — if it continues to nag him — could be an issue. But barring that injury holding him back, I think he makes the team. He gives the Jets a big-bodied threat in the red zone. He could be an asset for them ... again, presuming he is able to play. The dead money actually isn't great — $2 million, compared to a $4.281 million salary cap hit if he sticks around. The Jets do not want to cut a guy whom they just gave $2 million guaranteed ($1 million signing bonus and $1 million of his $3 million salary). Expect him to stick around. 

 

Darryl, can you tell me with Darnold, was he given opportunities ot run plays where he could show ability to Progression Read, aka, did he throw quicky to 3rd receiver on route tree. As an aside he appeared to lead WRs/RBs well for YAC opportunities. True? #Jets

 
 
 
 

Darnold has been all right through the two OTAs practices we saw. Reporters have gotten to see just two of six so far. Given that, it's hard to make nuanced judgment calls about stuff like this. And it is still so early. Yes, he appears to lead his targets well. And yes, for the most part, he has been able to react under pressure while reading the field. But it's not like we've gotten a chance to break down NFL game film of this guy. And because any pass rush pressure in spring practices isn't real, that has to be a mitigating factor in any of these assessments. 

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
 
 
 

Have the Jets announced any plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Super Bowl III? Logically, they would schedule some type of ceremony when they play the Colts in October.

 
 
 
 

No announcement on that yet, but expect them to do something to honor the 1968 team. And that Oct. 14 home game against the Colts definitely would be a fitting time for it. 

 

Which offensive player is the best bet to break 1k rushing/recieving for the #Jets ?

 
 
 
 

Hmmm. Interesting question. Are you talking about total rushing and receiving yards? I don't think the Jets will have a 1,000-yard rusher. Robby Anderson could be a 1,000-yard receiver for them, coming off a 941-yard season. Bilal Powell or Isaiah Crowell could crack 1,000 total yards. Powell had 942 last year (772 rushing). Expect Powell and Crowell to be factors in the Jets' passing game. 

 
 

we haven’t heard much about him, but I like the dimitri flowers signing. He could deff add another dimension to the offense especially as an extra catcher... what do u think about it?

 
 
 
 

I don't know about as a pass catcher, but he as a chance to unseat Lawrence Thomas as the Jets' fullback, presuming they keep a fullback. And you're right that Flowers is more than just a bullish lead blocker. Last season at Oklahoma, he had 26 catches for 464 yards and five touchdowns. He could give the Jets some athleticism and pass-catching ability at fullback. But they have a lot of targets ahead of him in the receiving game. He could be wildcard pass catcher in short-yardage or goal-line situations, though, rolling out of the backfield. Keep an eye on that. 

 

How will the team utilize the TE position? Who will emerge as the top TE option? Herndon? Leggett? Walford? Tomlinson? Other?

 
 
 
 

Either Jordan Leggett or Chris Herndon will be the Jets' top tight end. That'll be a fascinating position battle to watch. Eric Tomlinson is a very good blocker and probably will stick as the third tight end. Neal Sterling is a roster long shot at this point, based on how he has looked in spring practices. Clive Walford could challenge Tomlinson for the No. 3 tight end job, but we like Tomlinson there. And I would be very surprised if Bucky Hodges made the roster. In terms of how the Jets will use Leggett and Herndon, they are both pass-catching tight ends, so the Jets have options there. But they'll need to block to get on the field. 

 
 
 
 

If Bridgewater continues to impress, will Bowles and Mac realistically give him a shot to be the franchise qb?

 
 
 
 

Yes, absolutely. Why not? A lot depends, though, on how Josh McCown and Sam Darnold perform. Teddy Bridgewater is going to have to not only continue thriving, but also perform better than those two guys. Not exactly an earth-shattering statement there. And we are still early in this process. Bridgewater has done some encouraging things so far, but he hasn't yet won the starting job for 2018. And I guess I was more so answering that question. Sure, the Jets will give him every chance to win this year's starting job. As for whether he can be the Jets' long-term quarterback answer, we are a long, long way from that. Let's see how he does this season ... if he in fact starts. 

 
 
 

Interesting questions. Leading up to the draft, I liked all three of the other quarterbacks — Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield — better than Josh Allen, who is such a wildcard and a raw player. So right now, without Darnold or Allen having played a game, I think Darnold will be the better player. But that really isn't based on any tangible evidence. So it's a shot in the dark. But there you have it. 

 
 

What are your impressions on Antonio Garcia? How is he looking compared to other linemen? What unit is he working with ?

 
 
 
 

He is working with the third-team offensive line and has looked fine so far, as he moves around in spring practices, coming off that scary issue last season (blood clots in his lungs). He faces an uphill battle to make the Jets' roster, but he has looked fine so far. Again, it's tough to make judgment calls about offensive or defensive linemen when pads aren't on. But that, at least, is where Garcia is working. 

 
 

It will be similar. Bates is not going to overhaul Morton's offense. It'll be a West Coast system with some Mike Shanahan-style twists. So you could see some more zone blocking and outside zone running plays. But it won't be a massive overhaul. Jets players have already said they see a lot of similarities to last season. 

Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
 
 
 
 
 

Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell for sure. Then what? The Jets surely want to keep Eli McGuire, in an ideal world. But what if Trenton Cannon wins the return job? And will the Jets keep a fullback? If they do, and if Cannon wins the return job, could the Jets be looking at five running backs on the roster? It is possible. A lot to sort out at this position. The Jets could always stash Cannon or Flowers on the practice squad. They might not want to run that risk with McGuire, since he would have to first pass through waivers. 

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