Throughout the preseason, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Randy Lange, Susanna Weir and Jack Bell will give their responses to a series of questions regarding the Jets.
Today's question: What do you expect to see from the Jets Saturday night against the Packers?
EA: Honestly, I don't remember the last time I was this excited for a preseason game. The more I'm around this Aaron Glenn-led outfit, the more I believe this club is going to parallel a boxer that nobody wants to get in the ring with. The Jets are going to take on the personality of their head coach and he is determined, relentless, resourceful and tough as hell. The playstyle is the emphasis Saturday, and we won't really get a glimpse too much into the playbook until Week 1 vs. the Steelers. We already know the Jets have a talented offensive backfield and the makings of an elite secondary. Justin Fieldsand Garrett Wilson have rekindled their chemistry, and it will be fun to watch this young offensive line (which includes a center competition with Joe Tippmann and former Packers OL Josh Myers) finally take aim at another opponent. This will be a nice appetizer for next week's practices against the Giants stout D-line. Speaking of D-lines, which Jets DTs will step up with Quinnen Williams (calf) and Byron Cowart (sprained ankle) out of the lineup? This is an extremely young team and the 2025 draft class (minus TE Mason Taylor and CB Azareye'h Thomas, who are injured) will get its feet wet. It would be nice to get Fields, who was excellent during Thursday's practice, a crisp drive or two before turning the reins over to Adrian Martinez and/or impressive rookie Brady Cook.
RL: I'm on board with Aaron Glenn about what to expect out of the game in Green Bay: some mistakes, some unmistakable signs of progress, and "for the things we're trying to create to show up every play that we're out there." So I would think we'll see the Jets lay their pads on the Pack, after getting reacclimated to contact with their 1-on-1 tackling drills the past week of camp. Since Glenn has noted that his "ones" will be starting in this game, the Justin Fields-led offense producing a TD in the opening quarter would be a good omen for the developing O. For the defense, while one game with a positive TO margin won't guarantee a thing come September, I'd like the unit to start executing the plan to get its hands on some takeaways. As Sauce Gardner said: "When we see that ball, we need it, because that's what feeds our families." The Jets' penalty problems showed up more in the 2024 regular season than they had in recent preseasons, but I would like to see the head coach's "emotional maturity" message lead to no UR/UC-type penalties on opening night. It's all not too much to ask for in the preseason debut of the AG Jets, is it?
JB: If there's a truism to the early weeks of training camp and the preseason, it's that the defense generally has the edge over the offense. After all, it's usually easier to destroy than to create, particularly when 11 human beings of diverse size and skill are involved. For the Jets against the Packers on Saturday night in Green Bay, it's not so much what I expect. It's more like what I would like to see. And that's the Green & White offense beginning to show more continuity and purpose than it's shown in some recent days under the watchful eyes of HC Aaron Glenn and OC Tanner Engstrand during sessions at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. On Friday, AG said that the offense had a good day and that his starters will play. For how long is up in the air, but any time at all will give us a first look at QB Justin Fields in action for his new team. The skill guys -- RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson -- will do what they do. Who gets to start as WR2? Tyler Johnson, Josh Reynolds or Allen Lazard? Rookie TE Mason Taylor has been injured the past couple of days and his status remains iffy. For me, the biggest takeaway will come from the play of the offensive line. In the last two drafts, the Jets have used their top picks for offensive tackles -- Olu Fashanu and this year Armand Membou -- who could be bookends for years to come. Rookies at tackle, and two vets -- John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker -- at guard. There's competition at center between Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers (who's returning to Lambeau Field after four seasons with the Packers). Sure, it's early, but as this O-line goes so will go the Jets' offense.
SW: I expect to get our first glimpse of the ins and outs of an Aaron Glenn operation. While Glenn said he always wants to win, he also made a point to mention that he wants to win in ways that go beyond the final score -- and instead, showcase the team and culture he is trying to create. I'll be on the lookout for how some of the fundamentals he has preached about materialize on the field -- how does the discipline look when it comes to penalties? How does the team respond when something doesn't go to plan? I expect to see the starters come out ready to compete and respond, but I'm also eager to see young players that have flashed potential in camp get their first live reps against another team. On offense, I'll be keeping an eye on rookie receivers Arian Smith and Jamaal Pritchett, who have each made big plays in camp. On defense, I'm eager to see the landscape up front in the absence of DL Quinnen Williams and DL Byron Cowart, who are nursing injuries. Saturday could be a good opportunity to get a feel for the depth in that room, and I'd like to see a player like rookie DL Payton Page -- who has flashed at camp -- make an impact.
