As the sun peeked through the clouds on Friday and temperatures approached 90 degrees, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said his team was doing something meaningful. It gave me time to think about the game I played. Cold.
Those thoughts turned to using his running backs such as Brice Hall, Michael Carter and Tevin Coleman to move the chain and wear down defenses.
"We need to be able to play football, especially when it gets cold in this area," Saleh said. “When you're trying to play playoff football and you're trying to take the next step, you have to be able to break it. You have to be able to run football even if the league turns to pass."
Averaged 5.2 yards per carry over the last eight games of last season. The Jets made their backfield even more productive by signing free agent Laken Tomlinson and drafting an "all-around back" hole in the second round. They look for a good run block his receiver as a tight offensive is needed within his formation.
"I think the run game last year was pretty good, especially in the closing stages," Saleh said. He feels he has a chance to get better again. ''
The speedster has shelved Ty Johnson and even undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight is staking a claim, making Friday practice a long run for the third-team offense. Finished with a touchdown run. Surrey sees the running back room as complementary, including picks in three straight drafts with Hall, 2021 fourth-round Carter, and 2020 fourth-round Lamical Perrine.
"Michael is versatile, Brees is his 3-down player and Tevin has an explosive running style," Saleh said. “Thai has the three-down ability, then add Zonoban…and Perrine’s big body and ability to break through tackles and push piles.A really cool group of players to grow in the coming weeks.”
Forget The man who was beaten.
"He understands the playbook much more and does a better job in [pass] protection, which was a big part of [a reduced role] last year." Surrey said. "That group is in a very, very competitive place in that they all bring something to the table."
Defensive lineman Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers wreak havoc on the offensive line on Friday, it was easy to imagine a situation where the Jets didn't have to blitz to put the quarterback under pressure. Surrey's heart went back to the Giants' victory in Super Bowl XLII in February 2008. At the time, he was his NFL assistant, young for the Texans, still "trying to figure out how to tie his shoes."
"The best way to play defense is to use the four pass his rush," he said Saleh. "Giants vs. (Tom) Brady proved it. If you can drop seven guys in coverage and have four guys feel the pressure all the time, that's the most consistent way to play defense.
"Every game is independent and will decide accordingly depending on how the D line is played and how much pressure it takes."
NFL Network stopped by the Jets practice to interview rookie pass rusher Jermaine Johnson about his matchup with RT Mekhi Becton.
"He's big, like two refrigerators, so we have to find a way to work around that," Johnson said. "It is his superpower and he does many great things with it."
