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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Jets players can't stop throwing shade at the last coaching staff: 10 lessons from training camp
This is not uncommon when a new regime comes in after the previous one failed to win enough games. And it's no secret that the Jets had some longstanding culture issues, not all of them tied to the coaching staff. But it would be hard to take some of the words being spoken on the practice fields of Florham Park this summer as anything other than shots at the previous coaching staff — particularly, at Robert Saleh. Advertisement Seemingly at every turn, notable players — sometimes unprompted — have criticized Saleh's approach to training camp and coaching when asked about the way Aaron Glenn has conducted camp, including a physical practice on Monday that included actual tackling. As in, tackling to the ground, a rarity around here in recent years. Which brings us to the first of the 10 lessons I've learned about this team over the first week of practices: These Jets want to be challenged. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, not one to throw shade at anyone, said last week that Glenn 'praises physicality but even more: accountability. That's very important for a head coach to do. That's something I haven't seen much of in my career.' Wide receiver Garrett Wilson on Tuesday said Glenn has been coaching him in a way he hasn't felt since his Ohio State days, notable considering Saleh had been his only NFL head coach before this year. 'He'll get on my a– if I put a ball on the ground or don't run with details,' Wilson said. 'That's what I miss from college. Making sure you're hyper-focused yourself is fine, but when you got someone to push you on that a little more, not let you slip up, it's valuable.' Guard John Simpson said the vibe around the team feels 'more businesslike.' Running back Breece Hall's comments might've been the harshest: 'In the past there's been a lot of instability around the whole operation. I feel like this year, everybody is bought into this coaching staff. Everybody is bought into our GM. Everybody is bought into our owner. It feels a lot better coming in here every day.' Jets players were speaking ill of the Adam Gase era when Saleh started too — and the cycle will continue if the Jets don't find a way to actually win football games when they count. But for now, at least, the roster appears to be buying into what Glenn is selling. Advertisement Throughout the spring, Glenn and his coordinators weren't keen on defining what style of offense or defense the Jets will be running, but the players have had a harder time biting their tongues. On offense, this is going to be a run-first scheme — one built around a rushing attack with three talented options at running back (Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis), a running quarterback (Justin Fields) and an offensive line built for run-blocking. The unit has thrived in that area throughout camp so far. Last year, the Jets were last in the NFL in rushing attempts, something that irked many in their locker room on both sides of the ball. A lot of that was tied to the previous quarterback, who liked to check out of those running plays. That won't happen as much this season. 'I'm excited,' Simpson said, then leaned in closer to the mic. 'I'm really excited. I love running the ball, man. That's my strong suit. I'm excited for the opportunity to come out here and just run the ball. If we can run the ball we're gonna win a lot of games.' Added Hall: 'We're all really bought into this run scheme.' Wilson thinks a better rushing attack will open things up for him in the passing game too. 'It can be explosive,' Wilson said. 'The better we can run the ball — especially with the running backs we got and Justin's ability to run the ball — the more push we can get, the more we can run on second and short and convert, that's going to open up everything for us.' As for the defense: Expect an aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme with much more man-to-man coverage. At least once per practice, a defensive back and/or linebacker has made a play in the backfield during 11-on-11 drills. This new scheme feels like a particularly good fit for a Quincy Williams. And cornerback Sauce Gardner admitted he's ecstatic for the chance to finally travel with the league's best receivers. Advertisement This isn't so much a knock on Hall as it is praise for Allen: The Jets are going to have a hard time keeping Allen off the field in 2025. The second-year back looks bigger, faster and stronger. As a rookie, he stood out during training camp then fell by the wayside when the Jets got away from running the ball during the season. Allen has been one of the stars of camp so far, showing a level of explosiveness and downhill running ability the Jets have been lacking. He's a legit threat in the passing game too, which should allow offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to get creative — and Glenn has made it a point to say the Jets will use Hall much more as a receiver than they have in the past. Which means Allen and Hall could wind up on the field at the same time a decent amount. 'Braelon is a 240-pound man that's always falling forward,' Glenn said. 'That's where he's going to make his money … it's going to weigh on defensive players.' It looked like this in the spring, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to say that Josh Reynolds feels pretty locked in as the No. 2 wide receiver — and based on what we've seen in camp, I'm not exactly sure what Allen Lazard's role is in this offense. The Jets like his ability to block in the running game but he doesn't contribute on special teams and I'm fairly certain Fields has only targeted Lazard once in the passing game all of camp. Tyler Johnson has jumped out more in practice, making some plays after the catch and exhibiting some athleticism that Lazard simply doesn't bring to the table. Glenn raved about Johnson's ability to feel where defensive backs are and what they're going to do — and how adept he is at exploiting that despite not being the quickest or fastest receiver on the field. 'Once we got a chance to sign him, it was a no-brainer for us,' Glenn said. I'm not convinced Lazard is a lock to make the 53-man roster — and same for second-year receiver Malachi Corley, who has mostly repped with the second- and third-string quarterbacks. Advertisement As camp has progressed, Taylor has made strides, building chemistry with Fields and making plays when he's called upon. He had one drop on Tuesday on a pass that he should've caught from Fields — but bounced back with an impressive 15-yard touchdown catch at the end of a successful move-the-ball period for the offense. He's already a head above Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt and looks ready to step in as a starter in Week 1. 'He's got great hands, he finds a way to be open when he needs to be,' Wilson said. 'The ball finds him and he makes a play, which for a position like that he's as good as I've seen at making a play, finishing a play, being open. I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. He's really going to help us this year — he came in ready.' The Jets appear settled at punter with Austin McNamara, recently cutting Kai Kroeger. The kicking competition just added an interesting wrinkle, a folk hero if you will: Former Jet Nick Folk signed on Tuesday, and the team released Caden Davis. Folk will compete with Harrison Mevis for the job — and I'd bet on Folk winning it. The Jets have been seeking consistency at kicker since letting Folk walk in 2017, and he's been consistent around the league ever since, most recently converting a league-best 96.2 percent of his field goals the last two years with the Titans. He's 40 and still has something left in the tank. Another rookie who looks ready-made for game action: Fourth-round safety Malachi Moore. It's no coincidence that Moore really came into his own once the pads came on and the defense was allowed to actually hit the offense. In back-to-back practices, he made plays at or behind the line of scrimmage on the running back, broke up a pass, and earned raves from Glenn. They're making him earn the starting job next to Andre Cisco, but Moore looks the part already. It feels like a lifetime ago that the public was killing the Jets for missing out on tackle Broderick Jones in the 2023 draft and instead selecting a defensive end (McDonald) when that wasn't a need. McDonald broke out last year with 10.5 sacks, and this offseason he put on 15 pounds of muscle — a necessity for a player who was undersized and winning almost entirely with speed and agility. Advertisement In camp, he's incorporated power into his game, even running through right tackle Armand Membou at one point to get a sack. The Jets are severely lacking for depth at defensive end so they'll need McDonald to be more than just a pass rusher this year — early returns are promising. Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers are embroiled in a real competition to start at center — something that Myers said was promised to him when he signed a free agent this offseason. From what I understand, Myers expected to have a bigger market, which is why he was still sitting there to sign with the Jets for cheap (one year, $3.5 million) after the initial wave of free agency. Both centers have acquitted themselves well. Tippmann still feels like the favorite, but it's far from a lock. • S Jarius Monroe: A favorite of the previous staff, Monroe was shouted out by Glenn on Monday and has stood out in drills. He could be a top backup at safety. • LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball: He's a hard-hitting linebacker who's made more plays than his competition, like Jamin Davis, Zaire Barnes and Francisco Mauigoa. • WR Jamaal Pritchett: The undrafted rookie receiver has made some impressive downfield catches in team drills and is pushing Xavier Gipson at punt returner. • WR Brandon Smith: He's a big-bodied receiver who has played well since the spring — and has made more plays than Lazard. • DT Payton Page: The undrafted rookie defensive tackle is making a push for a depth spot on the line. He has out-played Leonard Taylor, Fatorma Mulbah and Phidarian Mathis from what I can tell.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
One 49ers defensive-line rookie stands out as pads go on at NFL training camp
One 49ers defensive-line rookie stands out as pads go on at NFL training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SANTA CLARA — On Monday as the pads went on at training camp, the 49ers saw their first glimpse of what the team's defensive-line rookies might have to offer. Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and C.J. West all took part in 1-on-1s and faced off with various offensive linemen. It was clear very early on what drew the scouting department and coaching staff to the three rookies. Williams visibly looks twitchier than most, quicker off the line and, at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, obviously looks the part of an NFL player. Even 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is impressed. 'Just look at him, right?' Saleh said Monday. 'He's very powerful. He's got great hands. He's got great leverage. He has great flexibility to go inside and out. He's unique in that regard, which we knew and which is why we were so excited to go get him. Every day he's just going to get better and prove that he belongs.' Williams didn't win all of his 1-on-1 reps, but it seems it only will be a matter of time before he's more comfortable coming from the outside. In team drills, when lined up on the inside, the first-round 2025 NFL Draft pick often got into the backfield towards whomever was under center, and he took several reps with the 'first-team' defense. Collins is even more noticeable on the field than Williams, with the same height and 65 additional pounds on his frame. With his size, the second-round pick will need to learn to maintain a lower center of gravity to create leverage against offensive linemen, but Collins' bull-rush still still apparent in 1-on-1s. West was the rookie who stood out the most in 1-on-1s Not only did he win all of his reps, but he seemed to lift 6-foot-5, 313-pound Dominick Puni off the ground at the point of contact. At 6-foot-1 and 316 pounds, West is solid and already knows how to use leverage to give himself an advantage. 'He's like a little fire hydrant, right?' Saleh said. 'But, he's powerful. He's got heavy hands. He's going to be fine. He's like a lot of rookies — there are so many things that they're learning, especially on the interior of the D-line where it's a game within a game.' While West was exemplary facing one lineman at a time, he did not generate as much push during team drills, but that will come with the assistance of defensive line coach Kris Kocurek as well as Saleh. There also are several examples for the young players to follow in Nick Bosa and newcomer Bryce Huff, who both stood out in team drills and got into the back field several times. The 49ers will reconvene on the field Tuesday for another practice before their day off on Wednesday.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
49ers training camp competitions: Ten position battles to watch as the pads go on
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Training camp officially begins today for the San Francisco 49ers. At least, according to tight end George Kittle. 'For me, football doesn't really start until we put pads on,' he said last week. 'I miss it all the time. I get to hit someone again.' Being in full pads for the first time this season also ought to ratchet up the camp competitions that got underway last week. The linemen and running backs will come into sharper focus. The rookies, some of whom are vying for starting roles, will get their best tastes yet of what Sundays will be like. Advertisement The following are the top 10 battles of training camp. Positions that have multiple players gunning for a job, that are particularly important spots or where the competition is especially tight and difficult to call are listed first: 'It is a wide-open competition at safety,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said last week. Then for emphasis, he added: 'At both spots.' With Malik Mustapha coming back from an ACL injury, the player who seems most likely to start in Seattle on Sept. 7 is newcomer Jason Pinnock. He spent two training camps under Saleh with the New York Jets — one at cornerback, the other at safety — and knows the scheme. Pinnock is the only safety who's routinely worked with the first-stringers since the spring. The other spot? It's a competition between another newcomer, Richie Grant, and Ji'Ayir Brown. Though Brown was a relatively high 49ers draft pick (third round in 2023), he wasn't drafted by Saleh, and being an incumbent safety won't win him many points. The dark horse in the mix: Marques Sigle. The fifth-round rookie sat out the spring but has been playing with the second-team group this summer. Sigle might be the most gifted athlete of the group, having recorded a 4.37-second 40 and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump at the combine. Prediction: Pinnock and Grant Among those under the microscope during the padded sessions is third-round rookie Upton Stout. He's looked the part of the lively, feisty — and chatty — nickelback so far. But he's also the team's smallest defender (listed at 5 foot 9 and 181 pounds), and coaches want to make sure his aggressiveness holds up in the meat-grinder areas where nickelbacks roam. So far, Stout has lined up mostly with the No. 2 defense while veteran Tre Brown, coming off a strong spring, has been the nickel with the starters. Teams usually like having a veteran in that position because they make fewer mistakes and communicate better. Stout's quickness, however, jumps out, and he'll be hard to hold off. Stout and first-round defensive end Mykel Williams are the favorites to have the most snaps by a 49ers rookie this season. Advertisement Prediction: Stout Ben Bartch seemed to have the edge at this spot when the offseason began, but a quadriceps injury allowed Nick Zakelj to take the starting snaps over the first four days of training camp. Both had short but promising stints at the position last season. The loser of this battle will likely be the game-day backup at both guard spots. Seventh-round rookie Connor Colby has been the backup left guard so far in training camp. Prediction: Bartch If everyone were healthy, the pecking order at receiver would be clear-cut, with Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing in the first five spots and everyone else clawing to be No. 6. But Aiyuk's ACL injury, Robinson's likely suspension, hamstring injuries to Pearsall and Cowing and, most recently, a calf injury to Jennings, have made the lineup harder to predict. Assuming Jennings and Pearsall are the top two receivers in Week 1, No. 3 could go to fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins, a speedster who also returns punts. Though Watson looked sharp in the spring, he hasn't been nearly as consistent against more aggressive coverage this summer. Other candidates include Cowing, undrafted rookie Isaiah Neyor, who's the most physically gifted of any of the wideouts on the roster, and veteran Russell Gage, who had a pair of 750-plus receiving yard seasons for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020-21. He joined the 49ers' practice squad last season and has been consistent, though not flashy, so far. Prediction: Cowing. Or Watkins. Neyoooor in the aiiiiir ✈️ — San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 24, 2025 This seemed like it might be the best battle of the summer after the 49ers used an early third-round pick on Nick Martin. The move, however, served as a wake-up call for Dee Winters, who was perhaps the best player on the field in the spring and who took that momentum into training camp. The padded practices will provide another test. Is the oft-injured Winters rugged enough for an every-down role? He's been strong as a pass defender. Can he be equally stout against the run? Advertisement Prediction: Winters This one could be the easiest to call when the summer session ends. Special teams coach Brant Boyer said he's looking for consistency — both on field goals and kickoffs — from Jake Moody and Greg Joseph. Everything from trajectories to hang times has and will be charted. Or the competition might simply come down to who's more accurate in preseason games. Keep an eye on the Aug. 16 outing in Las Vegas. Moody missed two field goals there two years ago and had a mixed outing on the same field in the Super Bowl. Prediction: Moody Kevin Givens has been the team's top three-technique — the spot Javon Hargrave played in previous seasons — so far in camp. The challenger is second-round rookie Alfred Collins, who has an entirely different profile. While Givens is a shade over 6-1 and weighs under 300 pounds, Collins is the biggest player on defense, measuring 6-6 and 332 pounds. Despite that mass, his explosiveness has been evident in the non-padded practices, and the 49ers see him as their three-technique of the future. The question is whether Collins, who played in a different scheme in college, can master the footwork in time for the opener against the Seahawks. Prediction: Givens As any 49ers fan can tell you, the team's third running back at the end of training camp can quickly turn into the starter. Right now, Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo are in the top two spots with veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookies Jordan James (fifth round) and Corey Kiner (undrafted) vying for No. 3. (The team cut Israel Abanikanda on Thursday.) Three years ago, Jordan Mason won a battle for the No. 3 spot in part because he dedicated himself to special teams, which seems like a wise plan for Taylor, James and Kiner. Prediction: James Advertisement This position seems earmarked for free-agent addition Andre Dillard, who's played 1,289 snaps over his career. The problem is that Dillard (ankle) has yet to practice with the team. So far, Spencer Burford has been the backup left tackle while Austen Pleasants has been the No. 2 right tackle. Prediction: Dillard Ross Dwelley, Mason Pline, Jake Tonges and Brayden Willis are competing for the third spot behind George Kittle and Luke Farrell. Pline has the best size, and Willis is nimble in space, while Dwelley and Tonges are good all-around. Like the No. 3 running back, this might boil down to who is best on special teams. Prediction: Willis (Photos of Jason Pinnock, left, and Upton Stout: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press, Matthew Huang / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Early surprise emerges at a key position battle in training camp for the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers may quickly wrap up one of their key defensive position battles. Third-year linebacker Dee Winters appears to be the frontrunner for the starting Will LB job through the first couple days of training camp. The WLB plays all three downs alongside Fred Warner, and the absence of a high-level playmaker at the position played a major role in San Francisco's defensive struggles a season ago. Finding a player to adequately replace Dre Greenlaw after Greenlaw left to join the Denver Broncos in free agency is key for the 49ers re-opening a Super Bowl window. Through two training camp practices signs point toward Winters getting the nod over 2025 third-round pick Nick Martin. Winters has gotten the first-team WLB reps to open camp, and Warner has noticed an improvement in the 24-year-old. "I've seen a lot of growth, honestly,' Warner told reporters on Wednesday. 'I've seen a guy who's ready to take that next step. You know, Dee has flashed in a big way through his first two seasons. And I think Year 3 is that year where it's like, 'Man, I know the system. I know what I needed to do in the offseason. And now it's time for me to take control and really put it on tape.' I'm excited for Dee, really.' Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh hasn't been with the 49ers while Winters has been with the club, but he noted Thursday in a press conference that injuries and the roster have never allowed Winters to take any substantial leap. "And so again just like any young guy, the only way they're going to get better is with reps," Saleh said. "And so young guys like Dee, their growth can get stunted when they're sitting on the bench just watching. There's nothing like doing. And so he had an opportunity the last half of last year to get some reps in and it just feels like every day he's learning something again, just through repetition. So, knock on wood, hopefully he can continue to stay healthy and absorb every single one of these reps and learn all the nuance that's required to play linebacker. I think if he does, he's going to be a fun player to watch.' It's a bit of a surprise that Winters burst on the scene this way. Last season was a mixed bag in his 398 defensive snaps. The 49ers went so far as to select Martin in the third round of this year's draft. That choice was a clear indication that San Francisco felt the need to draft a potential starter at WLB. Our assumption entering camp was that Martin would have the inside track to one of the most important open starting jobs on the 49ers' roster. Early indications are that that assumption was incorrect. If Winters plays well enough to earn the nod over the rookie third-round pick, it would be a great sign for San Francisco's defense as it tries to bounce back from its dreary 2024 article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers depth chart: LB Dee Winters could render position battle moot
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Nick Bosa has always set an example, but now he's letting 49ers' young DL hear it as well
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Bosa seems like the kind of guy who thinks over things, maybe even has an inner debate with himself, before speaking up. It's worked for the 49ers defensive end, who is now entering Year 7 as a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and one of the trusted playmakers and leaders on a team looking to bounce back from a 6-11 season. Advertisement But Bosa has told himself that he needs to make a change. 'I definitely need to take a leadership role, for sure,' he said. 'It's one thing to come in and work on my job and get better, which is all I've ever really worried about. And then it's another thing to try and bring everybody along with you. 'So it's definitely something that I'm thinking about and something I want to do.' One can see Bosa at training camp practices this past week, talking to younger players between snaps. First-round pick Mykel Williams not only gets to watch and follow Bosa in drills, but also gets feedback when he is done. 'I mean it's just friendly banter, but some of it is constructive criticism,' Bosa said. 'Obviously, it's fun to watch a young guy just go through the growing pains that I went through — and anything that I see I'm going to help them with.' Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Bosa's leading by example already speaks volumes. 'He doesn't really need to talk,' Saleh said. 'If I'm a young rookie walking into a building and I want to know what it's supposed to look like day in and day out to prepare myself, to prepare my mind, my body to be one of the best players in football, I just go watch him. Watch how he prepares, watch how he takes care of his body, watch how he works out, rehabs, whatever he's doing. 'It is pedal to the metal and he's rolling. He doesn't have to say a word.' But Saleh said that Bosa is speaking up more this camp, and teammates are appreciating the extra tip here and there. Coach Kyle Shanahan agreed that Bosa is stepping out of his comfort zone a little more. 'He doesn't vary out of his personality very much,' Shanahan said. 'But I do think he talks to those guys more, and he knows he can help guys and when he sees spots that he can help guys with, he doesn't hesitate.' Advertisement Bosa has been impressed with Williams, who can set the edge or rush the passer from the outside, and also bounce inside. 'Mykel's looked really good,' Bosa said. 'He is very physical and he has a big reach, so he just needs to hone in obviously on his aiming points and trusting the system.' 49ers left tackle Trent Williams thinks the rookie has great resources in defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and Bosa. 'I think he has a chance to be dominant,' Trent Williams said. 'He has the best coach in the league coaching him. Gets to learn from some of the best, from obviously Nick. I'm happy to see how he turns out. I think he has all the tools to be an All-Pro. 'Obviously, going against Nick, we feed off each other so much. And he makes me better. I like to feel like I make him better. He keeps me engaged. He keeps me working on myself, because nobody likes to get embarrassed — and not in a mean way, but yeah, he would embarrass me if I let him.' Williams just turned 37 and is thankful that he keeps putting off retirement talk as long as he holds up against Bosa in practice. 'It's always good going against Nick, one of my better friends on the team, but (also) one of the best players in the league, and being able to size yourself up against him,' Williams said. 'Especially me going into (Year) 16 and not knowing where that cliff is. When I get to go against Nick, it kind gives me a good measuring stick.' Bosa is looking forward to the pads going on for the first time Monday, and helping some of the young defensive linemen make a name for themselves. 'I think we have a lot of talent,' he said. 'I think when you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Obviously, we're young, but I think, I mean, just because nobody knows them now, they play a good couple games, then the whole world knows them, so it'll be exciting.' Advertisement Bosa, Trent Williams and RB Christian McCaffrey were given veteran rest days on Sunday. That was the plan with tight end George Kittle as well, but he opted to partake as a helmeted cheerleader/assistant coach/choreographer. Later on Sunday, third-year DL Tarron Jackson was carted off the practice field on a stretcher. Shanahan said after practice that Jackson was conscious and communicating and had feeling in his extremities. He was sent to Stanford Hospital to get further testing. … Shanahan said WR Jauan Jennings left practice early with a calf issue. … Cornerback Renardo Green and WR Jacob Cowing will be out 2-3 weeks with hamstring injuries, Shanahan said. … The 49ers activated WR Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) off the PUP list and he returned to practice atop the team's depth chart, along with Jennings. 'I think he got like eight reps today, but we'll see how he did with recovery and stuff,' Shanahan said. 'But I didn't hear any complaints and it was a good first day back.' … This kicker battle between Jake Moody and Greg Joseph is legit but I'm still not charting kicks in July. Moody did miss one from 50-plus yards out, while Joseph nailed his from that distance. (Photo of Bosa and Mykel Williams: D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images)
