Jets Training Camp Awards

Best Entrance: Ryan Fitzpatrick. Before the Jets held their first meeting of training camp, Ryan Fitzpatrick entered the auditorium. After the veteran quarterback, who had just re-signed, had apologized to head coach Todd Bowles for being late, the Jets’ boss told him that would be a $12 million dollar fine. Lion Is Loose Award:* Leonard Williams is on the move and the Big Cat is hungry.* Williams has consistently gotten good push up the field during camp, he’s using his hands well and he’s racked up a sack in each of the Jets’ first two preseason contests. After leading the team with 32 QB hurries last season, Williams wants more sacks. He has also embraced playing NT at times. Jackson Browne might sing Leo is running like the lion, released from the cages. Offensive Play of Camp:* QB Ryan** Fitzpatrick to WR Eric Decker 55-Yard TD, August 13. Sure, Chan Gailey likes to get the ball out of his quarterbacks’ hands quickly and over to his playmakers. But the Jets are going to take their shots and Fitzpatrick displayed his arm strength on a 60-yard strike to Deck in the blazing sun.Defensive Play of Camp: S Calvin Pryor INT of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, August 5. We saw Pryor emerge last season, a hard-hitting thumper who thrived in a new defensive system while paired with Marcus Gilchrist. If he can continue to make strides in coverage and route recognition, there’s no telling how good he can become. On this play, Pryor read a Fitzpatrick sideline pass and undercut TE Jace Amaro before getting his feet in bounds for the pick Charlie Hustle Award: Buster Skrine. Easygoing off the field, Skrine knows only one speed between the lines. The 5’9”, 185-pounder, who pound-for-pound is probably the strongest Jet, brings it every single rep. Skrine is tenacious and he plays a physical brand of football, using his hands to press and then using his feet to get down the field. He is always around the football as he had a number of PDs and INTS at camp. And if you beat Skrine, he’s going to make sure you earn it because he’s always there to deliver a pop. Best Present Under the Tree: Matt Forte*. The Jets have a lot of talent at the skill positions and they haven’t even unleashed Forté yet. *“Chan’s going to have his hands full in being able to think of ways late at night to get those guys the ball and spread them out and put them in different situations,” said QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. “It’s a good problem because we’ve got some guys that are Matt especially, that are just so talented in a lot of different ways.”Matchup We’ll Miss Most: Brandon Marshall-Darrelle Revis. Yes, tempers boiled over on one feisty Friday, but these two made each other better this summer. Marshall and Revis are two future Hall of Famers who take their craft very seriously and their competitiveness is something that should be lauded. Just watching them at the line of scrimmage was impressive as Marshall worked on his release moves while Revis, who is returning from offseason wrist surgery, attempted to get a good jam and knock No. 15 off his spot. The slimmed-down Marshall is an excellent route runner who fights to come back for the ball and the stout Revis is as savvy as they come in terms of understanding route concepts. Short-Lived Position Battle: Lachlan Edwards-Tom Hackett. The Australian punter duel never materialized. After the Jets re-signed Fitzpatrick, they needed an open space and got one with the waving of undrafted free agent Tom Hackett. Seventh-round pick Edwards, a Sam Houston State product, has delivered excellent hang-time on his punts and his 43.8-yard net average through two games ranks 8th in the NFL. Ongoing Position Battle: Ben Ijalana-Ben Qvale. Veteran RT Breno Giacomini missed all of camp with a back ailment and he remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list. While the Jets remain hopeful Giacomini will be ready for the start of the season, both Ijalana and Qvale continue to alternate up front in his place. Ijlalana got the start in Week 1 vs. the Jaguars, Qvale got the call against the Redskins in Week 2. It will be interesting to see who is in the lineup early against the Giants and if they interchange because this will be the final dress rehearsal for most of the starters.Growing Up Fast Award: It is way too early to grade a draft class, but the Jets’ 2016 Class has shown a lot of potential early. Darron Lee, a first-round pick from Ohio State, flashed against the Jaguars, has received first-team reps with Erin Henderson down and had a two-interception day during the last practice of camp. Christian Hackenberg has latched onto Ryan Fitzpatrick and is trying to absorb as much as he can. Jordan Jenkins, who suffered a calf injury Monday, got good pressure against the Redskins and the Georgia product has been with the first unit for the majority of camp. Juston Burris has made plenty of plays during camp and he’s been victimized on multiple occasions, but the NC State product has a lot of talent and he seemingly gets better every time he’s on the field. Brandon Shell, a fifth-rounder from South Carolina, is learning, he’s physical and he has good feet. And Edwards could become a weapon for a team that should field one of the better defensive units in football. Mr. Consistency Award: David Harris. Not the boastful type in a look at me society, there is a reason why Harris is one of the top linebackers in franchise history. “It’s ridiculous,” said assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell of Harris’ consistency. “I always say, ‘Dave is Dave.’ Dave is going to go out there, he’s going to work hard and he doesn’t take anything for granted. He has a standard that he wants to play at, and he goes out there every day and he works to meet that standard. What you see Dave do, you see it over and over and over. Consistency should be his middle name.” Best First Impression*: Brant Boyer. He wanted his special teams units to play anywhere between 100 MPH and 500 MPH, and the players have responded to their new coordinator. Jeremy Ross and Jalin Marshall had long returns against the Jaguars and the punt coverage has been outstanding. Keep an eye out for Rontez Miles because he could become an elite teams performer under Boyer.

Jets Training Camp Awards

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