Jets fans will likely find plenty of columns in media outlets this week that hand out midterm report cards. Not here, because there are nothing but “Fs” across the board from me. At 0-8 after Sunday’s predictable 35-9 thrashing in Kansas City, New York isn’t just being left behind the rest of the NFL class, they’re not even showing up. If this were European soccer, they should be on the precipice of relegation to a lower league.
The focus going forward, then, is to figure out what they have, and who can possible contribute to a brighter future. General manager Joe Douglas turned over about half the roster in his initial offseason of a reported six-year contract, but he can’t, nor should he, toss this entire 53-man group overboard in three months.
This week, let’s look at the rookies in Douglas’ first class, since they theoretically have a leg up on other incumbents. Again, it’s nonsensical to award grades to the equivalent of kindergarteners who have had to learn about life in the show without the benefit of a normal preseason indoctrination due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, here is what I’ve liked and disliked about each member of the rookie class:
Mekhi Becton
Liked: A big mea culpa from one who questioned Douglas’ acumen when he selected the left tackle, and not a wide receiver, at No. 11 overall. Becton has played even larger than his imposing frame, routinely tossing defensive linemen out of the way in the run game and stopping pass rushers in their tracks while protecting quarterback Sam Darnold’s blind side. Chiefs edge rusher Frank Clark, who entered Sunday with 15 sacks in his last 18 games (including the postseason), was noticeably quiet when facing Becton, credited with just one QB hit.
Disliked: It hasn’t been a perfect first half for the Louisville product, some of which can be attributed to trying to play through a shoulder injury that cost him two games and limited his presence in two others (when the organization should have known better than to risk its prize asset). Prior to Sunday, he was ranked 58th among 68 tackles with at least 100 pass block snaps by ProFootballFocus.com in efficiency, allowing three sacks among nine pressures. His pre-snap mental error that warranted an illegal formation penalty negated a rare first down in the fourth quarter in last week’s loss to Buffalo, the only game this season where the Jets were within a one-score margin at the end. Still, the good has far outweighed the bad.
Denzel Mims
Liked: The Jets’ second-round pick seems advanced for a player who was injured throughout training camp and into the first six weeks of the season. After a four-catch debut versus Buffalo, Mims reeled in two more on Sunday for 42 yards, including a pretty 27-yard deep ball along the right sideline. He’s also impressed with his blocking, knocking Bills All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White well into the end zone on running back La’Mical Perine’s five-yard touchdown run last week.
Disliked: Aside from the concern that Mims hurt BOTH hamstrings in camp, there has to be an explanation as to his low number of targets. Some of it is on Darnold, who missed a wide-open Mims for a sure touchdown in last week’s game. Against the Chiefs, Darnold targeted Jeff Smith, who I believe would be on every other team’s practice squad, eight times to Mims’ three. Perhaps Mims had trouble getting off the line, as he did last week when White took over in the second half as the primary cover responsibility. It bears watching.
Ashtyn Davis
Liked: The Jets organization reportedly is extremely high on their third-round pick, an exceptionally fast safety. Subbing in for the injured Bradley McDougald last week, Davis performed adequately in his first start.
Disliked: If you wondered why defensive coordinator Gregg Williams stuck with ineffective veteran McDougald over Davis for so long, the Chiefs game provided evidence that the Cal product still has a lot to learn. From poor tackling angles to botched coverages, Davis was a weak link against the NFL’s most explosive offense. Hopefully he’ll earn another opportunity next Monday versus New England, and maybe even his first kick return since Week 2.
La’Mical Perine
Liked: The chorus from many in the media in favor of head coach Adam Gase giving Perine more reps over aging Frank Gore. Second half carries in Sunday’s lost cause: Gore 3, Perine 2. Mind-boggling! Perine has shown flashes, with four rushes over 10 yards and 12 that generated a first down in 41 carries; Gore has 17 and 8, respectively, in 96 rushing attempts.
Disliked: It’s not like the fourth-rounder out of Florida is the next Emmitt Smith. In fact, you can argue that Ty Johnson, claimed by the Jets off waivers from Detroit, would be just as effective in the role. Neither knows how to pick up a blitz, and the two are equally adept catching passes out of the backfield, but Johnson is several ticks faster – something you could glean watching Perine return two kicks for a total of 22 yards in the Week 5 loss to Arizona.
Braden Mann
Liked: The punter sporting the second-most special teams tackles on the team is quintessential 2020 New York Jets. Mann, a sixth-rounder and the first at his position to be drafted, saved a touchdown on Sunday when he slowed down Mecole Hardman just enough on his blocked field goal return at the end of the first half, maintaining a seemingly-manageable (for most teams) 21-9 deficit.
Disliked: Mann’s actual punting stats are rather meh, with below-average hang time a factor in his league-low net yards per boot. We’ll get a better idea about him when the weather turns over the last half of the season.
Bryce Huff
Liked: The undrafted free agent led all Jets edge rushers with a 6.9 pressure percentage, good for 31st among the 100 players at his position with at least 65 rushes going into Sunday, per PFF. Huff has also had a couple of impressive tackles in space with only one registered miss. His motor has obviously endeared him to Williams, who ratcheted up Huff’s snap count to a season-high 46 on Sunday.
Disliked: Not much, though you’d like to see better results than his one sack. Sunday’s workload produced just one tackle. I’d also prefer not to see him in coverage – ever – but that’s not his call.
Jabari Zuniga, James Morgan, Cameron Clark, and Bryce Hall
TBD: Zuniga’s inconsequential (one assisted tackle) nine-snap debut on Sunday wasn’t enough to move him out of this group of players who haven’t yet seen the field. Hall, who is practicing for the first time following a serious ankle injury while at Virginia, could be a player to watch down the stretch given the Jets’ dire situation at cornerback. As we’ve seen in this season’s dreadful first half, such players are few and far between.
For a FAN’s perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve Lichtenstein on Twitter: @SteveLichtenst1
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