The Jets’ defense performed better than the offense did during their two joint practices with the Giants. Here are three takeaways:
1. Justin Fields’ errant throws
Fields continues to be inconsistent. The Jets’ starting quarterback made some good throws in both practices but also made several that were high and wide.
Fields’ two best plays in Wednesday’s practice might have been his two long runs. The first was a big gain after faking the handoff on a run-pass option. On the second, Fields took off with rookie Abdul Carter closing in and could have gone for a touchdown.
The final drive of Wednesday’s practice was a rough one overall for Fields and the offense, though. He completed 3 of 6 passes in the two-minute drill. A penalty negated another completion.
The three incompletions were throws that Fields probably would like to have back, including the final play with six seconds to go.
Garrett Wilson ran a sideline route that would have set up a field goal if he had made the catch. Wilson had a step on his defender, but the ball was too far to the outside and he couldn’t get his hands on it. That’s how practice ended.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn, who thought the offense made strides from the previous day, was not happy with that.
“We didn’t get a chance to do what we wanted to do in that situation,” he said. “That was probably the only situation that I wasn’t very pleased with.”
Fields ended Tuesday’s practice with a nice sidearm throw to Jeremy Ruckert for a touchdown in a red-zone drill.
2. Successful coach’s challenge
Glenn thought so, at least. He “challenged” his players during a team meeting after Tuesday’s joint practice when the Giants’ defensive line dominated the Jets’ front.
Glenn felt his players responded, but it didn’t seem that much different on Wednesday.
– Fields made some throws under pressure and unofficially was sacked four times. There were times both days that he should have gotten the ball out a little sooner. Fields did make those two plays with his legs, something the Jets are banking on this season.
Breece Hall and Braelon Allen had some big gains on the ground, too. Allen had a long would-be touchdown run. So the offensive line was moving people and creating holes in the running game.
“I’m so happy with how the offense came back and responded from some of the things I thought we weren’t as good at [Tuesday],” Glenn said. “I could just tell during the warmup that they were ready to go.
“That’s what I expect out of our team when they’re challenged. When things don’t go right, when they don’t go the way they are expected to go, for them to come back and perform the way they did. I thought that was growth on a number of levels for us.”
Glenn must have seen something we didn’t, or perhaps he wanted to ease up a little and not pile on his players. Either way, this was a run-heavy practice. The Jets look as if they’re going to be a run-heavy team. The passing game definitely needs to improve.
3. Defense up and down
Interestingly, Glenn spent most of his time during the joint practices watching and coaching the offense. The defense clearly is further along, and it showed.
The Jets started fast Tuesday with linemen Jay Tufele, Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald dominating from the start. The secondary also stood out against the Malik Nabers-less Giants.
The ending wasn’t as good. Russell Wilson completed all three pass attempts for touchdowns in the red-zone period.
The Giants’ offense — still missing Nabers — had the better day Wednesday against the Jets without Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens was solid both days, playing tight coverage and breaking up passes. Rookie safety Malachi Moore had a nice pass breakup and rookie defensive end Tyler Baron stuffed a run on fourth-and-goal from the 1 on Wednesday.
“Our main goal is to stop the run, and I feel like we did a good job of that today,” linebacker Jamien Sherwood said.
The Jets’ defense tightened up in the final two-minute drill and forced the Giants to attempt a 61-yard field goal that missed. There’s still work to do on both sides of the ball — more so on offense.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.