
Throughout the offseason, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange and Caroline Hendershot will give their responses to a series of questions regarding the Jets.
Today's question: What did you learn in Week 2 of Jets OTAs?
EA: The Jets are going to have a multi-dimensional offense. Last season, they had an NFL-low 363 rush attempts, which equates to 21 per game. They were T-30th with 8 rush TDs and T-28th with 6 runs of 20-plus yards. They also ranked 29th in first-down run percentage (26.4%) and 31st with 83 runs resulting in first downs. The Jets made significant moves in the offseason to fortify their front, featuring the drafting of RT Armand Membouin Round 1, plus the signing of a solid, experienced center in Josh Myers. The Jets are going to want to set the tone in the trenches, and they have three backs in Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis and Braelon Allen who all bring versatile skill sets to the table. And Justin Fields, who had a couple of blazing runs during Thursday's open workout, is one of the league's top dual threats at QB. The Jets have never had a guy like Fields play the position. It's going to be interesting to watch this all come together as OC Tanner Engstrand builds an attack that has some size and nastiness up front, a talented offensive backfield, a star wideout (Garrett Wilson), an intriguing rookie tight end (Mason Taylor) and a young QB who's got a big arm and dynamic feet.
EG: Not that this is a surprise, but the Jets' defense will continuously adapt this season. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, speaking to the media for the first time since he was hired in February, was complimentary of his players like DT Quinnen Williams, edge rusher Will McDonald IV and CB Sauce Gardner. Wilks said Gardner, despite not being asked to play a lot of man coverage since he was drafted No. 4 overall in 2022, is an extremely intelligent player and believes Gardner will excel in that scheme if asked. The staple of a Wilks defense is man coverage and blitzing, which I think the Jets will do to a degree this season. HC Aaron Glenn said the Jets' scheme will be dependent on the players' strengths and Wilks reaffirmed that.
Check out the top photos from the Jets second week of OTA practices.









































RL: Special teams appear to loom large in the Jets' operation this season. HC Aaron Glenn has emphasized his specialists, and so has new ST coordinator Chris Banjo, who said this week: "Sometimes I like to call it a lost art because not many organizations really emphasize it, but we're very fortunate to have a head coach who really believes in the approach to special teams." Of particular note is fourth-round rookie Arian Smith, the blazing fast WR who said after the Jets plucked him from Georgia: "I feel like I'm one of the best special-teams players in the country." However, he had no kick returns for the Bulldogs. But he's getting a look there now, Banjo noted: "He's back there before and after every practice trying to improve his ability as a potential punt returner." It's a great opportunity for Smith to show just how special a player he can be in his first season in the pros. And no doubt AS will get some hands-on coaching from AG, who led the nation with a 19.9-yard PR average at Texas A&M, then became a powerful KO returner his first 6 seasons as a Jet.
CH: In Week 2 of OTAs, we heard from all the Jets coordinators for the first time. My biggest takeaway after hearing OC Tanner Engstrand speak is this offense has a clear vision of its play style. Engstrand said: "We just want to play fast. We want to be physical, we want to be aggressive, we want to be explosive, we want to be detailed. We want that to show up on tape each and every week." Those qualities emphasize the standard that this coaching staff is holding the team to. While QB Justin Fields mentioned how HC Aaron Glenn didn't like the energy of practice on Wednesday and communicated that after practice, Engstrand repeated that messaging in his press conference.