After nearly a week off after notching their first victory of the season at Cincinnati in Week 8, the players were back at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center for practice and a team-wide meeting with HC Aaron Glenn.
"One of the big things he said was being able to play complementary football and be able to support each other through all three phases," RG Joe Tippmann said on Monday. "And one thing he also said is 'put the ball down.' I like that, no matter what the situation, put the ball down."
Put the ball down?
"Whatever is going on, no matter what's going on in the game, just put the ball down and let's line up and run another play," Tippmann said. "So just always kind of looking forward, keeping your eyes on what we got that week and kind of being able to see where your feet are."
Tippmann, now in his third season, is well on his way to putting together another complete 17-game run. After the season-ending injury sustained by guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tippmann seamlessly moved from center (as Josh Myers took over) to right guard, next to rookie Armand Membou. Membou, the Jets' top pick, leads an impressive group of seven, which includes TE Mason Taylor, CB Azareye'h Thomas, WR Arian Smith, S Malachi Moore and LB Kiko Mauigoa (D-lineman Tyler Baron has appeared in only four games).
"It's been awesome, you know?" Tippmann said. "I can, I always go back to how well Membou is doing as a rookie right tackle, just being able to kind of go out there and get his job done the way he has. I've been very impressed just the way he's handled himself through camp, OTAs and then in the season.
"So I've just been impressed with the whole class. They're doing an awesome job being able to kind of hop in there and start contributing. I'm excited for these young guys on this team."
TE Jeremy Ruckert: 'We're Building Something'
In the Week 8 win at Cincinnati, TE Jeremy Ruckert made a single catch ... but it was a big one. Trailing by 38-24 facing a fourth-and-1 play from their own 49-yard line with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter, QB Justin Fields found Ruckert for 24 yards to the Bengals' 27-yard line. On the next play, RB Breece Hall sped along the home sideline into the end zone for his second TD of the game.
And with Fields back as the starting QB, Ruckert said that the team responded to his "work ethic" and "his energy in the building."
"I think the whole team did a great job of having his back," Ruckert said. "And I don't think there was ever a question of that. I think we got a tight locker room. A lot of people outside looking in say whatever they want, but inside this locker room, I think we got a great group that loves each other, loves to play for each other.
"And like everybody's saying, we're building something, and it's exciting to be around these guys."
With the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, the Jets may or may not be active. The team has already made one move -- obtaining WR John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
"Personally, I don't really pay too much attention to it, obviously it's the nature of the league, the nature of the business," Ruckert, now in his fourth NFL season, said. "Just in order to have a successful organization, team, locker room, you can't really worry about things you can't control. The minute you start thinking about that, you start forgetting the main thing, and that's becoming better every day."
He added: "When you start thinking about what people are saying, or stuff like the trade deadline and where you might go, you're not really worried about where your feet are right now."
AG on Going for a Pair of 2-Point Conversions
Trailing by 9 points, 31-22, early in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati in the 39-38 Jets' victory, HC Aaron Glenn opted for a 2-point try, which QB Justin Fields converted on his own. Then, down by 8 points, 38-30, with 7:52 left in the fourth quarter the Jets went for 2 points again and again converted -- this time when Fields connected with RB Isaiah Davis (the successful try was confirmed after video review). The two seeming gambles cut the deficit to 6 points.
"It really comes down to one thing, trying to win the game," Glenn said on Monday.
He added: "I want the players to know that I have an aggressive mentality, I have a ton of trust in them and I have a ton of trust in the execution for us to do that.
"I just know who I am, I know who the players are, I have a lot of trust in the guys that we have and listen, I'm going to continue to evolve when it comes to making decisions like that. And listen, I know I still have a ways to go just like most coaches will tell you, so I'm still growing in that aspect too. And I look forward to my growth when it comes to making those decisions."
