WR dept. - Robby Anderson ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Grading the Jets 2018 wide receivers         (via @JustinTFried)             https://thejetpress.com/2019/01/14/new-york-jets-year-review-grading-2018-wide-receivers/ 

[kelly]

History indicates Adam Gase will have positive impact on Jets' wide receivers               https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/21/history-indicates-adam-gase-positive-impact-jets-wide-receivers/ via @thejetswire 

[kelly]

3  things to know about new Jets WR coach Shawn Jefferson                https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/25/things-to-know-jets-wr-coach-shawn-jefferson/ via @thejetswire 

[kelly]

Jets Draft 2019 : Top wide receivers to consider  (via @thestevenblush)   https://thejetpress.com/2019/02/06/new-york-jets-nfl-draft-2019-analysis-wr/ 

[Gibby]

Just now, kelly said:

Jets Draft 2019 : Top wide receivers to consider  (via @thestevenblush)   https://thejetpress.com/2019/02/06/new-york-jets-nfl-draft-2019-analysis-wr/ 

I remember thinking Kevin White was going to be an absolute beast when I saw him at the combine. Sometimes guys like this can be a head scratcher. He totally passes the eye test- then nothing. Then again........ Steven Hill looked awesome in his uniform.?

[playtowinthegame]

~~~ FAB 5 RECEIVERS ~~~

Antonio Brown ~~~

Robby Anderson ~~~

Quincy Enunwa ~~~

DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf ~~~

Le'Veon Bell ~~~

 

~~~ Thoughts? ?

 

[kelly]

Landing Antonio Brown would be great acquisition    (via @TheSportszTalk)        https://thejetpress.com/2019/02/12/new-york-jets-landing-antonio-brown-great-acquisition/ 

[kelly]

Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

As expected, the Jets are planning to give WR Robby Anderson (a restricted free agent) the second-round tender, a source confirmed. His salary will be $3.1 million on a one-year contract. Anderson is a promising player, but his off-the-field issues should give the team pause before thinking about a long-term contract. He also could be trade fodder.

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

[kelly]

jets make it difficult for anyone to pry Robby Anderson away

> https://nypost.com/2019/03/07/jets-make-it-difficult-for-anyone-to-pry-robby-anderson-away/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site buttons&utm_campaign=site buttons via @nypostsports 

[kelly]

Jamison Crowder’s Fearlessness, Explosiveness Is ‘Unique’         https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jamison-crowder-s-fearlessness-explosiveness-is-unique 

[kelly]

Jamison Crowder’s Fearlessness, Explosiveness Is ‘Unique’...  https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jamison-crowder-s-fearlessness-explosiveness-is-unique 

[kelly]

Rich Cimini   ESPN Staff Writer 

Strong stuff from WR Robby Anderson, who expects a big year in Adam Gase's offense. Anderson said he's good enough to warrant 10 targets per game, adding, "Now I have a coach that's going to utilize me as a player and not just make me run straight down the field ... I was kind of put in a box. I know this year it's going to be lights out." Anderson, who has avoided off-the-field trouble this offseason, said "my eyes are on the prize more than ever... There's no negativity surrounding me." Yes, this is a contract year for Anderson.

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

[kelly]

People around the New York Jets say the frustration was palpable in the wide receiver room last season. Robby Anderson was unhappy because he wanted more targets. Quincy Enunwa was chafed because he felt stereotyped as Mr. Bubble Screen. Jermaine Kearse was befuddled by his lack of involvement, convinced offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates had it in for him. Not surprisingly, all three players had a down season.

Instead of starting over at the position, which they could have easily done, the Jets swapped out Kearse for free-agent addition Jamison Crowder and changed the high command on offense. Out went Bates, whose locker-room popularity rivaled that of a wet towel, and in came coach Adam Gase. Part of his job is to make the receivers happy and productive. The organization believes the talent is there, and that all it needs is to be coached up -- a view shared by a former great."I didn't understand why they didn't get Robby the ball more -- and it's not up to [Sam] Darnold," said ex-receiver Wesley Walker, who is a member of the Jets' Ring of Honor. "They have to have the offense, the coaching, the coordinator. No matter what the talent level is, you have to be able to develop that talent within your offense and figure it out. They haven't been able to do that, so that's going to be interesting this year. I think they do have the talent."

Yes, they have talent, but they're still one move away from being an exceptional group. Critics will say the Jets still lack a No. 1 receiver, but that's a vague term. What they really need, to go along with Anderson's deep speed and the inside prowess of Enunwa and Crowder, is another outside receiver who can win consistently in the short and intermediate zones. Darnold ranked 28th in completion percentage outside the numbers, while throwing seven interceptions on those attempts (second most in the NFL), according to ESPN Stats & Information.The Jets didn't draft a receiver with any of their six selections, the free-agent class (not great to begin with) is pretty much wiped out and the team doesn't have a pipeline of young players because of poor drafting in recent years. (ArDarius Stewart, anyone?) The good news is the 2020 draft is supposedly loaded with receiving talent, but that won't do them any good this season. It's Anderson, Crowder and Enunwa ... and pray for no injuries.

Gase, who cut his teeth in the league as a receivers' coach, sees potential in this group. He believes Anderson can be more than a deep threat. (Anderson agrees.) He believes Enunwa can excel outside the slot and be more than a short-area target. (Enunwa agrees.) Gase hasn't coached them yet in a real practice, so we're talking some projection here. They're relying on Gase's offensive acumen to scheme up ways to overcome the deficiencies."It's early, but we're seeing what guys are capable of in just a few [non-contact) practices," Enunwa said. "As camp comes, that's where I really think it's going to show. That's when guys will open up and see how they do within the offense, and how we do against a defense."

Enunwa, Anderson and Crowder have played a total of 10 seasons. If you take their career highs to comprise a "best" stat line, kind of like an SAT super score, it would read like this: 67 receptions (Crowder), 941 yards (Anderson) and seven touchdowns (Anderson and Crowder, tie). Those aren't awe-inspiring numbers. In fact, the Jets are one of only seven teams without a 1,000-yard wide receiver.Still, Crowder landed a three-year, $28.5 million contract in free agency, making him one of the highest-paid slot receivers. Enunwa re-upped for a nice sum -- four years, $33.4 million -- even though injuries have limited him to only one full season. Anderson will make $3.1 million in his final year before unrestricted free agency (assuming he gets around to signing his restricted tender; he belongs to a small minority of RFAs who haven't.)"It's really up to me," said Enunwa, discussing his ceiling. "Last year, I could be as frustrated as I want to be about what happened, but injuries slowed me down -- injuries in camp, injuries during the season and recovering from [my 2017] injury (neck surgery that wiped out his entire season)."

With a pass-catching tight end in Chris Herndon and a running back in Le'Veon Bell who can split out as a receiver, Gase will have different ways to scheme up a passing attack. He could bunch the wideouts on one side and line up Bell or Herndon on the opposite side, creating a favorable matchup. One thing seems certain: With Herndon, Crowder and Enunwa, there will be no shortage of targets who can work the middle. Outside might be an issue, though.

The wide receiver position is among the remaining post-draft questions for the Jets. The other :

• Is the starting center on the roster? After striking out in free agency and failing to draft one, the Jets are going with Jonotthan Harrison. So they say. Gase said he would be comfortable with Harrison (28 career starts at center) because his athleticism makes him a fit in the Jets' zone-blocking scheme. While that might be true, it won't stop them from looking at other options.

• Do they have enough at cornerback? The answer is no, and it wouldn't be a surprise if they re-sign Morris Claiborne. His market could heat up now that May 7 has passed, the deadline in which free agents no longer count toward the compensation-pick formula. The Jets have three seasoned corners -- Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts and Brian Poole, an Atlanta Falcons castoff. They need another.

• Did they adequately address the edge-rushing issue? Probably not, but that could change if rookie Jachai Polite (third-round pick) can contribute in some fashion. He recorded 11 sacks for Florida last season as an undersized defensive end (about 230 pounds), but he will have to add weight in the NFL. That could be tricky. He added weight for the NFL scouting combine (258) and ran poorly, complaining of a hamstring issue.

• Who will replace Andre Roberts as the return specialist? Not re-signing Roberts, who made All-Pro, could come back to bite the Jets. Right now, the top candidates are Trenton Cannon, who battled the dropsies, and New York Giants castoff Quadree Henderson. Diminutive rookie Greg Dortch (5-foot-7), a prolific returner at Wake Forest, could get a shot.

• >   http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/79862/jets-qb-sam-darnold-has-weapons-but-needs-another-outside-receiver

[kelly]

The Jets and interim general manager Adam Gase were back at it again on Tuesday morning, signing veteran wide receiver Deonte Thompson.Since entering the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Florida, where he won a BCS National Championship, Thompson has bounced around. He began his career with the Baltimore Ravens and remained with the team until December 2014.

After being released by the Ravens, Thompson caught on with the Buffalo Bills. He spent the last month of the 2014 season with the Bills, but did not stick around much longer, as he was waived-injured in September 2015. Later that month, Thompson signed with the Chicago Bears and played there until his release in October 2017. In 2015, Thompson played under Gase, who was the Bears’ offensive coordinator at the time.Six days after being let go by Chicago, Thompson returned to Buffalo for his second stint with the Bills. In 2017, Thompson recorded career highs in receptions and receiving yards with Buffalo and helped the Bills get back to the playoffs.

At season’s end, Thompson departed in free agency and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. However, he did not last long in Dallas and failed to make the team out of training camp. He was re-signed two days after being cut in September after an injury freed up a roster spot, but was again released in November. Thompson then returned to Buffalo for his third spell with the Bills.Thompson is known for his speed at wide receiver, but has also handled kick and punt return duties in his career as well. With the Jets looking to replace All-Pro return man Andre Roberts, Thompson will have a chance to win the job in training camp.

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/21/new-york-jets-sign-veteran-wr-deonte-thompson/

[kelly]

The New York Jets have a budding star in wide receiver Robby Anderson, and he should be fully unleashed in 2019.

It’s not often that undrafted free agents become No. 1 receivers in the NFL, but that’s exactly what the Jets have in Anderson, who joined the team after the 2016 NFL draft after a pair of productive seasons at Temple.Despite not being drafted, Anderson took full advantage of the Jets’ skinny depth chart at wide receiver, making an immediate impact in his rookie season. He started eight games, catching 42 passes for 587 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

A full-time starter in 2017, Anderson posted career-highs with 63 receptions for 941 yards and seven touchdowns. His overall numbers dipped a bit in 2018 (50 receptions, 752 yards, six touchdowns), but he still averaged a career-best 15 yards per catch.Those are all impressive numbers for a player who was a mere afterthought on draft weekend, but Anderson’s best football is still ahead of him. After signing his restricted free agent tender with the Jets this offseason, Anderson is primed for his best season yet under new head coach Adam Gase.

Wesley Walker, one of the best pass-catchers in Jets history and a member of the team’s Ring of Honor, has high expectations for Anderson in his fourth season, thanks in large part to how Gase’s offense will deploy him :

As a receiver, one of the most frustrating things is when you know you have the talent to do things and sometimes coaches don’t see what you can do. As a coach, you have to figure out what those guys can do and fit it into your offense, but more importantly, you have to know what they can do in order to bring that out. That’s the big question. And one of the biggest factors is health, staying healthy during the regular season.

I believe Robby Anderson has the ability [to be successful], I love Quincy (Enunwa) and with the addition of Coach Gase, it should be awesome. But again, it’s coaching and whether they can get them to where they need to be and I hope that’s going to happen this year.

With a young quarterback in Sam Darnold who now has a year of NFL starting experience under his belt, and dynamic additions to the offense like running back Le’Veon Bell and slot receiver Jamison Crowder, all signs are pointing to Anderson breaking 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

>   https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/22/jets-wr-robby-anderson-primed-breakout-season/

[jeTMAC]

On 12/10/2018 at 11:59 AM, joewilly12 said:

We lack a true #1 WR and a #2 WR.   Robbie and Quincy #3 WR's at best.  We need a decent slot WR and a burner who isn't afraid to go over the middle. 

Number three wide receivers at best!!! You're not a real Jets fan you know I don't know what you're watching. Enunwa is as tough as they come over the middle of the field and he's fast. Watch the games this year and you'll see how good Anderson and Quincy are

[joewilly12]

2 minutes ago, jeTMAC said:

Number three wide receivers at best!!! You're not a real Jets fan you know I don't know what you're watching. Enunwa is as tough as they come over the middle of the field and he's fast. Watch the games this year and you'll see how good Anderson and Quincy are

Has nothing to do with fan rating. 

Yes Q is when healthy.  Robbie Anderson has made major improvements and both will benefit from our franchise QB. 

[kelly]

One of the New York Jets’ biggest offseason additions, slot receiver Jamison Crowder is working hard to build chemistry with his new quarterback, Sam Darnold.

While the Jets already had one of the league’s more underrated receiver tandems in Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, finding a blue-chip slot target was clearly a priority heading into this offseason.They found exactly that in Crowder, a free agent who spent his first few seasons making big plays for the Washington Redskins.

Now that Crowder has a new team and a new offensive scheme to digest, he’s focused on building an important connection with Darnold (via team reporter Olivia Landis) :

At the end of the day, a lot of times it’s just going out there — even though for me it’s a new system and for him [Sam Darnold] it’s a new system — and playing football. We play ball, college and pro, whatever it may be we play a lot of ball. So just going out there and playing and trying to get that chemistry and kind of getting a feel for what he likes and telling him what I like, I think that’s the thing as far as building chemistry. But still, once you get the play and stuff down and go out there, it’s still just playing football at the end of the day.

Crowder established himself as one of the league’s most reliable slot targets over his four years in Washington, racking up 221 receptions for 2,628 yards and 14 touchdowns. A fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft out of Duke, Crowder signed a three-year, $28.5 million deal with the Jets back in March.

With Darnold expected to take a big step forward in his development this season, adding a smooth, explosive pass-catcher like Crowder to an already talented wide receiver corps should only accelerate his progress.

>     https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/28/jamison-crowder-working-build-vital-chemistry-sam-darnold/

[kelly]

For Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder, chemistry is key.

After leaving Washington and signing with New York in free agency, Crowder has spent his offseason getting to know his new teammates and learning Adam Gase’s offensive scheme.Not only is Crowder adjusting to new surroundings, but he is also getting used to catching passes from Sam Darnold. For the third time in as many years, Crowder is working with a new quarterback. In 2017, Crowder was on the receiving end of passes from Kirk Cousins. When Cousins left the Redskins in free agency, Crowder spent 2018 working with Alex Smith and the handful of signal callers that followed after Smith’s season-ending leg injury.

Now, Crowder is focused on developing a strong bond with Darnold. With New York’s offense primed to take the next step in 2019, his relationship with the second year signal caller will be a crucial aspect of the Jets’ success on that side of the ball.“At the end of the day, a lot of times it’s just going out there — even though for me it’s a new system and for him [Sam Darnold] it’s a new system — and playing football,” Crowder said. “We play ball, college and pro, whatever it may be we play a lot of ball. So just going out there and playing and trying to get that chemistry and kind of getting a feel for what he likes and telling him what I like, I think that’s the thing as far as building chemistry. But still, once you get the play and stuff down and go out there, it’s still just playing football at the end of the day.”

Early on, Crowder has been impressed with what he sees out of Darnold. Throughout offseason workouts, the USC product has opened Crowder’s eyes with his accuracy as the two work to develop a solid rapport.“I think that he’s very good. He’s still a young quarterback trying to learn in this league, which I’m trying to learn as well,” Crowder said. “He has a lot of potential. He can really throw the football with accuracy. I think at this point right now, I’m just trying to get that chemistry and that bond between me and him. I think he’s really good.”

It’s encouraging that Darnold and his newest weapon have gotten off on the right foot. With Crowder in the slot, Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa out wide, Chris Herndon at tight end and Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, New York’s offense has the potential to be a dynamic one if everything comes together.

In order for that to happen, the group’s chemistry will have to be firing on all cylinders. So far, so good in that regard for Crowder and Darnold.

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/29/new-york-jets-offense-chemistry-sam-darnold-jamison-crowder/

[kelly]

The New York Jets have a budding star in wide receiver Robby Anderson, and with a new offense in place, he should have his best season yet in 2019 for the New York Jets.

Coming off of a disappointing 2018 campaign with a 4-12 record, the 2018 Jets fell significantly short of expectations.  Todd Bowles was fired directly after the season and in a head scratcher for a litany of reasons, Acting Owner Christopher Johnson fired former General Manager Mike Maccagnan last month.

Many fans and pundits alike question the firing of Maccagnan after the team allowed him to spend roughly $100 million in free agency and draft the teams 2019 NFL Draft class.  One would have thought it would have been logical that he would have went out the door with Todd Bowles at seasons end.

Although there were many reports showing new head coach Adam Gase’s displeasure at some of Maccagnan’s acquisitions, he won’t have any issue this year with Anderson.One of the bright spots of the Jets 2019 offense, he showed good chemistry with rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.  In fact, according to Pro Football Focus “Anderson earned an 86.9 overall grade and 87.9 receiving grade, ranking second in both respects among the 42 wide receivers with 200-plus offensive snaps in that span.”

After struggling in the beginning of the season Pro Football Focus additionally insinuates that had Darnold played a little better earlier in the season, that his “right-hand man” Anderson would have been a beneficiary of that as well.In spite of reports that Adam Gase was not satisfied with Le’Veon Bell’s signing, Bell will undoubtedly be a reason why Robby Anderson will flourish in 2019.  In fact, he is drawing comparisons to DeSean Jackson this offseason.With Sam Darnold building off of his rookie year, the acquisition of Le’Veon Bell taking away some of the focus, and players like tight end Chris Herndon also looking to step up, it is entirely plausible that Robby can surpass the 1,000-yard threshold.

This is also the final season of Anderson’s contract.  If he can put his well documented off the field issues behind him, he is in line for a huge pay day.  Whether one believes the Jets should be the ones to pony up the money for him in 2020 is debatable, but they will reap the benefits of this motivation in the short term.  At the age of 26, Anderson is certainly slated to get a large check from someone next offseason.

>    https://thejetpress.com/2019/06/02/wide-receiver-robby-anderson-will-break-out-for-jets-in-2019/

[kelly]

On the cusp of a major payday, Jets WR Robby Anderson wants to show the NFL what he is capable of.

The UDFA out of Temple University burst on the scene during his sophomore season, grabbing 63 passes for 941 yards and seven touchdowns. With a new offense and new quarterback, however, Anderson fizzled out to begin his junior campaign. Once Sam Darnold and Anderson developed a rapport, there were more glimpses of the wideout’s star potential. Anderson finished 2018 with 50 catches for 752 yards and six touchdowns after a slow start.

Now, Anderson seems poised to put himself on the map as one of the elite playmakers at the wide receiver position. That would certainly behoove him, as this is a contract year for him.“I would say I am working harder, understanding things and trying to find ways to get better and pushing myself to new limits,” Anderson told reporters during the Jets’ three-day mandatory minicamp. “Things that I thought was good, like the first couple of years, I used to think 100 yards was good. For what I want to be, elite, top five wide receiver, that’s not really good.”

The Jets signed Anderson to a second-round tender back in February. He signed the tender without complaint in mid-May and now seems excited for a new role in Adam Gase’s offense.Anderson has been labeled a deep threat and rightfully so. He is one of the best wideouts in the NFL when it comes to the go-route, but from Anderson’s standpoint, he wants to show what else he is capable of. The plan is for him to have more freedom in Gase’s offense.“He’ll let me be an all-around receiver and give me those targets and let me play the game I could play,” Anderson said of Gase. “Everybody knows what I’m capable of, I’ve done what I can do. But I feel like he’s going to let me do it on a consistent basis and give me the workload that I’m working for and the workload that I deserve and I’m capable of.”

Over the past three seasons, Gase saw what Anderson was capable of, scoring three touchdowns against his Miami Dolphins in six games. Like Anderson, he feels the Jets will be better off letting their fourth-year WR play a variety of roles on offense, rather than boxing him up.“We want to think of ways to get him the ball, ways to create variety in his routes,” Gase told reporters at the NFL Combine. “Instead of just doing one or two things, maybe we can open that up to five, six, seven things to where he’s a threat on multiple levels, whether it be underneath, intermediate or down the field.”

>     https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/06/robby-anderson-new-york-jets-top-5-wr-nfl/

[Apache 51]

Ochocinco wanted to be the greatest too, how did that work out. Just do it.

[kelly]

With the offseason now in full swing for the New York Jets, it’s becoming clear that signing Jamison Crowder may have been the perfect move for the green and white.

Following the end of another disappointing season for the New York Jets, it was obvious that changes needed to be made in Florham Park. It was also obvious that the team would be spending big in free agency given that the organization had over $100 million at its disposal.With that money, the Jets certainly made some big moves, coming to terms on lucrative deals with star running back Le’Veon Bell and highly touted linebacker C.J. Mosley. The team also, however, signed Jamison Crowder to a three-year $28.5 million contract and it’s become clear that the 25-year-old may just be the perfect fit to fill the Jets’ need at wide receiver.

Heading into the offseason, the goal for the Jets was clear: surround quarterback Sam Darnold with as much talent as possible. Achieving that goal included signing a dynamic playmaker like Bell and bolstering the offensive line a bit with the addition of Kelechi Osemele, but improving the wide receiving corps was also a focus.In regards to the weapons Darnold had at his disposal during his rookie season, receivers Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson along with promising tight end Chris Herndon stand out. The Jets do, however, lack a true a No. 1 receiver. With Crowder, the Jets won’t get that but the former Washington Redskin should fit perfectly into the Jets’ current group and give Darnold a wide variety of options.

After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Crowder has dealt with some injuries but when healthy, he’s proven to a dangerous asset playing in the slot. In 2015, for example, he totaled 59 receptions for 604 yards and two touchdowns.He continued that success over the next two years, bringing in 67 receptions for 847 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016 and finishing with 66 receptions for 847 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2017. Last season, however, was a bit of a down year for Crowder as totaled just 29 receptions, 388 yards, and two touchdowns due to missing time with an ankle injury.

Given his injury-riddled season last year, there may be a bit of concern regarding Crowder but if he is healthy – and all signs indeed point to him being healthy – he has the ability to elevate the Jets offense.A strong route runner with excellent quickness,  Crowder excels in open space and is incredibly reliable when it comes to picking up yards after the catch as evidenced by the fact that he’s averaged above 10.0 yards per catch in each of his four NFL seasons to date.

Aside from his skill set, however, Crowder should fit nicely into the Jets offensive scheme. Given that he plays primarily in the slot, having Crowder on the field will give new head coach Adam Gase the ability to be creative and versatile with Anderson and Enunwa, something that didn’t happen last year.Ultimately, the Jets are still in search of a legitimate, elite-level No. 1 receiver, but acquiring one didn’t seem to be an option this offseason. By signing Crowder, however, the Jets effectively improved their offense by giving both Gase and Darnold more options to work with.

Simply put, the versatile Crowder seems to be the perfect fit for the new look Jets.

>    https://thejetpress.com/2019/06/13/why-jamison-crowder-is-the-perfect-fit-for-jets-need-at-wr/

[kelly]

Before becoming Jets general manager, Joe Douglas watched some film so that he could familiarize himself with the roster he could possibly inherit. When he did, one player surprisingly stood out.

Douglas was taken aback by Robby Anderson’s tape. The game that shined brightest for Douglas was the one against the Denver Broncos back in October. Anderson had three receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns that day, including a 76-yard score.“He’s a tough weapon for defenses to match up with, he can get behind you and he can challenge the defense vertically,” Douglas told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “That was a very pleasant surprise.”Douglas saw firsthand why Anderson’s breakaway speed proves that he can be the Jets No. 1 target. It also goes to show why the Eagles, Douglas’ former team, were interested in bringing Anderson to Philadelphia before settling on Golden Tate. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Jets resisted trade proposals from the Eagles to acquire Anderson before the 2018 trade deadline.

Anderson was not quite as dynamic of a player last year as he was in 2017, but he had to deal with the growing pains of a rookie quarterback and a new offense. Once Sam Darnold returned from injury, the two gained some rapport and Anderson finished off his third season on a high note.While Douglas settles into the role of being the fourth Jets general manager in a decade, he has some roster evaluating to do. Philadelphia has had a tendency to extend its younger players; perhaps Douglas will bring that approach to New York and Anderson, who will be a free agent after this season.

>  https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/18/new-york-jets-joe-douglas-robby-anderson-pleasant-surprise/

[kelly]

The Jets made the decision to give wide receiver Quincy Enunwa a four-year contract extension last December despite the fact that he missed five games last year and the entire 2017 season because of injuries.The team has since changed head coaches and General Managers, so the new regime may have come to a different conclusion when it came to a deal with Enunwa. They have him on hand for now, though, and head coach Adam Gase said that he wants the wideout to take some precautions that will help him remain on the field.

“It’s a fine line with him,” Gase said, via the New York Daily News. “He is a physical player. He’s a big man. When he gets to the secondary, he’s a tough guy to bring down. We were on opposite teams last year and he carried about 12 guys on his back for about 10 yards. At some point, you’d like him to go down. When you know it’s getting too many, just going down and saving yourself for the next play because we’re going to need him.”

Enunwa averaged 7.5 yards after the catch last season, so that change would affect a productive part of his game but he said he could “see plays where a lot of times it’s a lot smarter to get down” when watching film. The team has also talked about expanding Enunwa’s route tree from what he ran last season, so there may be more than one way to keep him on the field in 2019.

>      https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/06/27/adam-gase-wants-quincy-enunwa-saving-himself-for-the-next-play/

[kelly]

Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets WR Jamison Crowder, who left practice yesterday with a foot injury, has been medically cleared and will practice tomorrow, the team announced.

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

[kelly]

Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

WR Jamison Crowder, who looked fine Wednesday after leaving Monday's practice with a foot issue, will have a vital role in the offense because of Adam Gase's reliance on the slot receiver. During Gase's three seasons in Miami, his wide receivers caught 276 passes out of the slot, second only to the Packers (293), per ESPN Stats & Info. He had Jarvis Landry for two of those years, which helped a lot. Said Crowder: "I just want to be a weapon."

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

[kelly]

Between his speed, his hands and his route running, Jamison Crowder has already proven to the Jets how important he can be in Adam Gase’s offense. 

The slot wide receiver continues to impress in practice just two days after what initially looked like a scary foot injury on Monday. During Wednesday’s practice, Crowder stood out among the Jets receivers with a couple of strong catches. Most importantly, though, he was heavily targeted by Sam Darnold out of the slot. Crowder knows he can build a nice niche for the Jets in that part of the field and feels he can become a reliable playmaker for Darnold this season.

“I just want to be a weapon,” Crowder said. “I just want to gain that trust with him that when he wants to go my way that he has that trust and that confidence that I’m going to make the play.”Slot wide receivers have become increasingly important in NFL offenses, especially with Jets coach Adam Gase. Receivers caught 276 passes out of the slot during Gase’s three seasons in Miami, which was second in the NFL over that span behind only the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Browns wideout Jarvis Landry had his best seasons under Gase in the slot, leading the league in receptions in 2017 with 112.

Crowder saw what Gase can do with players who have his same skillset. It’s one of the reasons why he signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the Jets this offseason.“In this offense, you look at it and slot guys have had success,” Crowder said. “That was one of the things that really caught my attention. I just felt like this was the right place for me at the time.”

Crowder has ample experience playing that role in an offense. Before his injury-plagued 2018 season in Washington, Crowder played 89 percent of his snaps in the slot in 2017 and ranked eighth among similar receivers, according to Football Outsiders. With Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa playing on the outside, Crowder is more than capable of taking on this specific role in the offense.Darnold sees the advantage of having a guy like Crowder to throw to during games. His lateral quickness will give the offense an edge it hasn’t seen in years, one Darnold will use more often than not. 

“He’s so quick. Everyone knows how quick he is, but he’s fast too,” Darnold said of Crowder on Monday. “I think he can hit another gear, too. Jamison is just a really good player. He’s a good tool to have.”

>    https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/01/why-jamison-crowder-is-going-to-thrive-with-adam-gase-sam-darnold/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero

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Former NFL wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Steve Smith Sr. isn’t exactly buying into the Jets’ preseason hype.

Smith has never been shy about sharing his opinions and he clearly doesn’t view wide receiver as the strength for the team. After viewing Sunday’s practice, Smith said that the position is a “question mark” for Gang Green.“You know what is a question mark for me – wide receivers,” Smith said. “I don’t see anybody on that roster and watched, that has a Ph.D. in route-running. Not one. And until they get a guy that can step up and be reliable, consistently for 16 weeks – 1,000 yards – somebody that strikes fear into opposing defensive coordinators and DBs – this team isn’t dethroning anybody.”

Smith doesn’t view Robby Anderson or Quincy Enunwa as No. 1 threats, even if Adam Gase has big plans for the duo. Even with the addition of Jamison Crowder, who has been impressive thus far, Smith is not keen on how the Jets look outside the numbers.“Jamison Crowder is an outstanding slot receiver, but for you to eat in the slot, you got to have somebody outside threatening them,” Smith said.

While Smith’s criticism may be fair, it’s still too early to tell if the combination of Sam Darnold and Gase can elevate the Jets’ current receiver corps to the next level.Anderson is currently soaking up knowledge from a former Super Bowl MVP in Hines Ward. In camp, Anderson has presented himself as a more mature, focused version of himself who is bent on becoming one of the best wide receivers in football.In 2017, Anderson came just 59 yards short of 1,000 yards. The following season, he struggled to get to that 1,000-yard mark, but he and Darnold finally got on the same page toward the end of the season.

“He is a burner, he’s not a route-technician,” Smith said of Anderson.

If Enunwa can stay healthy, however, there is no question he is one of the best route runners at his position, as well as a dynamic threat after the catch. Then there’s Crowder, who will bring a new dynamic to Gang Green’s offense.While the Jets receivers have been one of the league’s quieter units the past three seasons, there is some optimism they’ll be able to get the job done in 2019, regardless of Smith’s concerns.

>      https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/01/steve-smith-new-york-jets-wide-receivers/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero

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The recent injury to New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa reveals a concerning depth issue that could cost the team later.

Another injury that is worth monitoring on 1 Jets Drive is New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.

On Tuesday afternoon Enunwa went down with an injury that was later confirmed a groin injury.While head coach Adam Gase doesn’t seem overly concerned, it is still something worth monitoring. Enunwa will have tests on his groin as a precautionary measure.For what it’s worth Quincy did try to sneak back out onto the practice field, but the Jets brass wanted to play it smart.Ultimately whether the injury is serious or not, the point remains: the New York Jets lack serious depth at the wide receiver position.The top three receivers are very good: Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, and the aforementioned Enunwa. This is a good enough trio for Sam Darnold to work with, although if any of these guys get hurt, the team is in serious trouble.

The Jets have 12 receivers listed on their roster (including Ty Montgomery who can play both receiver and running back):

• Josh Bellamy
• Deontay Burnett
• Greg Dortch
• J.J. Jones
• Charone Peake
• Jeff Smith
• Deonte Thompson
• Tim White

There are some young players that have flashed throughout training camp, (Greg Dortch and Tim White), but the squad lacks proven options beyond their top three starters.While the rest of the receivers are an island of misfit toys that include special teamers, role players, and an overall lack of NFL experience.

This could be an area that New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas looks to address. Early on in his tenure as the GM, he has shown a propensity to be aggressive with perceived weaknesses on the roster:

• Whether that be on the offensive line:
  • Jets convinced former All-Pro center Ryan Kalil out of retirement.
  • The green and white also traded for former Baltimore Ravens starting offensive lineman Alex Lewis.
• Or even at the cornerback position:
  • Another under the radar move was the use of the waiver wire to claim cornerback, Alex Brown.

While wide receiver depth may not be the No. 1 need for the Jets, it’s important to continue to add competition to the mix for as many positions as possible. Expect the Jets to work the waiver wire, the trade market, and possibly even explore a veteran free agent wide receiver on the market to fill any holes at the position.

>    https://thejetpress.com/2019/08/07/new-york-jets-quincy-enunwa-injury-reveals-glaring-depth-issue-wr/

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-- Greg Dortch wears a pair of gray rubber bracelets on his right wrist. They remind him of what it took to make it this far -- a spot on the New York Jets' training camp roster -- and they inspire him to keep beating the odds.

Dortch is a 5-foot-7 wide receiver who survived a life-threatening football injury and went on to score 19 touchdowns in 20 games at Wake Forest. That alone explains a lot about Dortch's toughness, determination and skill. The seven-word story on his wrist says the rest.

On one bracelet reads: "PROVE THEM WRONG."

And the other: "I CAN. I WILL."

"It reminds me to keep a chip on my shoulder," the rookie said, staring at his bracelets after practice on Tuesday. "Undersized kid. Not heavily recruited coming out of high school. Didn't get drafted. So big chip on my shoulder. I'm ready to shock the world and to prove to everybody what I've got."Dortch's first shot happens Thursday at MetLife Stadium, where the Jets open the preseason against the New York Giants (7 p.m. ET, NFL Network). He figures to get a long look at receiver with the backups, but his best chance of making the 53-man roster will be as the punt returner. Right now, he's No. 1 on the depth chart.

"The biggest opportunity of my life," he called it.

Dortch's history suggests he won't melt under the spotlight.

Two years ago -- Oct. 28, 2017 -- he punctured his small intestine in a game against Louisville. He scored a touchdown and landed on the foam pylon in the end zone. He got up slowly, with everybody thinking it was a routine case of a player getting the wind knocked out of him. He finished the game and scored two more touchdowns -- a four-TD day in a 42-32 victory over the Lamar Jackson-led Cardinals.

It was the best day of his football life.

And the worst day of his life.

"As soon as the game was over, my adrenaline stopped and I felt everything," Dortch said. "I told the doctors I need to go to the hospital. They gave me X-rays, MRIs and everything. That's when they found out I had punctured my small intestine. I had to get surgery that night."Dortch told the Wake Forest medical staff there was a "hollow" feeling in his stomach, and that prompted the red flags. His parents already had gathered at a restaurant near the Wake Forest campus, and they were waiting for Greg to arrive for their traditional postgame dinner. This was going to be the best one of them all. After all, how many times does your son score four touchdowns in a game?When he didn't show up on time, they figured he was delayed by autograph seekers outside the stadium. Then came the call from the school, saying he was being rushed to the hospital.

"It was beyond scary," his mother, Loretta Dortch, said in a phone interview. "This is your child. It was a touch-and-go situation, a really serious injury. Had he not told the trainers ..."

Her voice trailed off. She didn't want to contemplate what might have happened if the injury had gone untreated. Looking back, Dortch said the worst part wasn't the actual injury, but being told he was out for the season. He was off to a fantastic start as a redshirt freshman -- nine touchdown catches and three 100-yard receiving games, including a 167-yard receiving day against Louisville.

Now he was done.

Talk about hollow.

For the first time in his life, Dortch didn't have football. He was obsessed with the game as a youngster, watching old football movies and joining a pee wee league when he was 6. When he was 7, he played quarterback and audibled out of a play at the line of scrimmage, impressing his coach. He was so good that he sparked a fuss in his local league in Richmond, Virginia, with some coaches arguing that he had to be bumped up a level ... even though he was the smallest kid on the field.

"From the time he came out of my belly," Loretta said, "he's had a football in his hands. It's his life."

Dortch returned to Wake Forest last season and performed so well (89 catches, 1,078 yards and two punt-return touchdowns) that he decided to enter the NFL draft. He was invited to the NFL scouting combine, but didn't get drafted because of his size. If he makes the Jets' roster, he will be one of the shortest players in team history. Look around the league, though, and you will find a handful of diminutive standouts.

Tarik Cohen and Darren Sproles are 5-foot-6. Dion Lewis is 5-foot-7.

"I don't feel like I play to my size," Dortch said. "I play bigger than what I am. I've heard a lot of people say that. There are a lot of big guys out there. You have to show up every day and show them you belong. You have to be tough. You have to play with a chip on your shoulder and play with that grit on every play."Dortch received several free-agent offers, but he picked the Jets because he knew there would be an opportunity as a punt returner. They let Andre Roberts, their All-Pro return specialist, walk away as a free agent, leaving a gaping hole. Dortch considers himself "a natural" because of his ball-catching skills -- he attributes that to his days as an outfielder and shortstop -- and insane quickness.

In college, his family liked to say he "Dortched" would-be tacklers. In fact, his mother made up T-shirts that said: "You Got Dortched!"

"I'm not one to brag on myself," Greg said, "but if you watch the film, you'll see."

The Jets like what they see, especially on punts.

"He looks like a center fielder, getting under that thing," coach Adam Gase said. "He catches it smooth. He's fearless. Just watching his college tape, he's a guy that we watched and when he didn't get drafted it was ideal for us. He kind of fits into what we do, and his return ability is something we were interested in. Just watching him play in college as a wide receiver, he's not afraid to go over the middle. He took a lot of shots in college and that doesn't bother him."Dortch's toughness is well-documented. Now his job is to show his explosiveness to the Jets' decision-makers and the cynics who question whether a 5-foot-7, 173-pound player can survive in a land of giants. He has a chance to prove them wrong.

He can. He will not flinch.

>    https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/80539/ultimate-gut-check-jets-rookie-beats-scary-injury-plans-to-shock-the-world

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-- New York Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder did his homework on Adam Gase during the offseason. He studied the coach's history with slot receivers, going through tapes of Wes Welker and Jarvis Landry with the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, respectively. He imagined himself in that offense -- in that role -- and his excitement level went up a few notches.

Then came last Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

On a first down from the New York Giants' 39-yard line, Crowder lined up in the left slot and ran a "jerk" route -- a stutter step and a shallow cross. Somehow, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, his vision partially obscured by the pass rush, found Crowder in stride with a perfectly lofted pass over the big fellas. He was only 1 yard beyond the line of scrimmage when he made the catch, but he scooted another 27 to set up a touchdown. See the play, as provided by NFL Next Gen Stats:

"That's one of the plays I think we'll do really well when the regular season comes," Crowder said.

Mark this down: The smallest man on the Jets' offense will make a big impact.

He's only 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, but Crowder is perfect for Darnold because, unlike fellow receivers Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, he can separate quickly from defenders. This will help Darnold improve his efficiency on short passes -- a trouble spot last season.On throws in the range of 1 to 10 air yards, Darnold completed a league-low 62.9%, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Drew Brees was the best in the NFL, at 79.8%. Darnold might not get to Brees territory, but his accuracy should get a bump with Crowder and running back Le'Veon Bell as short-area targets.

"He's so quick," Darnold said of Crowder. "Everyone knows how quick he is, but he's fast, too. I think he can hit another gear, too."

Slot receivers are growing in importance, and Crowder is part of the league-wide trend. In free agency, Adam Humphries (Tennessee Titans) received $19 million in guarantees, Cole Beasley (Buffalo Bills) $14.4 million and Crowder $17 million. The AFC East is loaded at the position, lest we forget about New England Patriots star Julian Edelman, the Super Bowl LIII MVP."It's the evolution of the receiver position," Crowder said. "Now a lot of plays are made inside, from the inside guy, whether it's a slot receiver or a tight end. I think the main thing is, slot receivers are really called upon on third down. Third down is vital in this league."

An effective slot receiver needs to be quick enough to beat man-to-man coverage, but he also needs spatial awareness -- the ability to read soft spots in zone defenses. Crowder has those traits. Over the past three seasons, he produced 12 touchdowns out of the slot (tied for fifth) and 109 receptions (15th), per ESPN Stats & Information research.Historically, Gase's offense is a slot machine. From 2016 to 2018, the Dolphins ranked first in receiving yards (3,472) from slot receivers and second in catches (276). That he had Landry for two of those seasons was a big factor.

"Two different guys, different skill sets," Gase said of Landry and Crowder. "Jarvis had a different body type to where, when he went inside, he was playing physicality games with the linebackers. That's why he caught 112 balls. He could handle it, his body could handle it. With Jamison, I don't think we can do as much of the inside stuff that shallow. We were doing some stuff where Jarvis would do a lot of the dirty work. It wasn't always fun for him, but he loved catching footballs, so he was all right with it."Listed at 20 pounds lighter than Landry, Crowder isn't built for that kind of pounding, but he's more elusive than mercury on ice. He's an upgrade from Jermaine Kearse, last season's slot receiver, and he complements Anderson and Enunwa.

"I think we all bring a unique characteristic to the game, to the offense," Crowder said. "Robby is the speed guy. Quincy is speed, but he's more physical. I try to be the short-area-quickness guy. It's kind of tough for defenders to defend when you have three different body types and playing styles to guard. I think we complement each other really well."Gase doesn't want his skill position players to have the same body types. As he said, "We want five different guys. We want a basketball team."

Crowder is part of that team. Short player, big job.

>    https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/80580/how-jamison-crowder-can-be-jets-slot-machine-help-sam-darnold

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Robby Anderson has been a one-trick pony for the Jets at wide receiver throughout the past three seasons. If the first two weeks of the preseason are any indication of what’s to come, that will no longer be the case in 2019.

Anderson didn’t catch any passes against the Giants in Week 1 of the preseason, but was used differently than he has been since he joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 2016. Under head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinators Chan Gailey, John Morton and Jeremy Bates, Anderson ran almost exclusively vertical routes. He was seldom given the opportunity to run underneath routes. As a result, his route tree never developed.In Adam Gase’s first game as Jets head coach, he unleashed Anderson in a manner he has never experienced as an NFL player. He was still used on vertical routes, but also ran short and intermediate routes in his lone drive of action against the Giants. In Week 2 of the preseason, Anderson’s underneath route running turned into production and provided a glimpse of what he is capable of playing in Gase’s offense.

Anderson wasted no time against the Falcons showing off his refined route-running skills. On New York’s first offensive series, Anderson caught two passes, including an impressive back-shoulder reception for 21 yards. In years past, the thought of Anderson running a timing route like that was inconceivable. Now, it’s expected.Later in the drive, Sam Darnold connected with Anderson on a slant on third down near the goal line. Not only did Anderson catch the pass, pick up the first down and absorb a hard hit, but he ran the route like he’s been doing it for years. In reality, a slant has been foreign to Anderson throughout his time with the Jets.

Not only has Gase been aiding Anderson’s development, but the 26-year-old has been helping himself plenty. With his willingness to learn, Anderson has been receptive to coaching and has been diligent working on his underneath route-running skills.“He’s really willing to try to keep the door wide open on everything we’re doing,” Gase said of Anderson. “He has not come to me and said, ‘I really don’t like doing this’ or ‘I don’t want to do this.’ He wants to do the whole thing. We can appreciate that as coaches. He wants to keep getting better. We’re just going to keep trying to help him.”

Anderson’s goal is to become the best receiver in the NFL. With a complete route tree in his repertoire, he’ll have every chance to become one of the better players at the position as long as he keeps working and developing a connection with Darnold. Anderson has already showcased game-breaking speed, athleticism and ball skills throughout his first three years in the NFL. In 2019, he’ll have the chance to show off the complete package.

If everything comes together for Anderson this upcoming season, the Jets will have a dangerous weapon at wide receiver. Either way, there’s no doubt his progression is trending in the right direction. The first two weeks of the preseason have put that on full display.

>  https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/18/new-york-jets-wr-wide-receiver-robby-anderson-adam-gase-sam-darnold/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-latest-news

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The Jets have added some depth at wide receiver.The team announced Thursday night that it has signed former Ravens wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo and waived fellow wide receiver J.J. Jones.

Adeboyejo played his college ball at Ole Miss and had 106 catches for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons. He went undrafted in 2017 before being signed by the Ravens. Adeboyejo has spent the majority of his career on the Ravens practice squad, but did appear in one regular season game in 2017. The Ravens waived him this past July.

As for Jones, the Jets signed him to their practice squad last October. He played in the final regular season game against the Patriots and made one catch for three yards. In the preseason, Jones has played 31 offensive snaps but didn’t record any official stats.

>      https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/23/jets-sign-former-ravens-wr-quincy-adeboyejo-waive-j-j-jones/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero

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Rich Cimini    ESPN Staff Writer 

Jamison Crowder made 14 receptions, tying a franchise record for most catches in a game by a wide receiver. Al Toon had 14 against the Dolphins in 1988. Incredibly, Crowder had only 99 yards.

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