Tuesday’s practice was the longest of the Jets’ training camp, lasting intentionally two hours and 25 minutes.
Coach Robert Saleh felt it was important to push his players at this point in the summer. Practices featured a lot of 11-on-11 team drills.
“It was a good decision,” he said. “I think we’ve written almost three-quarters of the football script for the first and second teams. It’s good that we haven’t been shrinking. So we’re in pretty good shape.”
As the Jets prepare for their season opener on Sept. 9 in San Francisco, Saleh plans to return to long practices soon.
It’s a different philosophy from how Saleh has run his training camps in recent years.
“Everything is ongoing, so we’ve been trying to step it up and add all the mindfulness from Week 1 and continue to put pressure on the players to be able to play a full game,” Saleh said. “So now we’ve repeated what we’ve done for three quarters, but we’re confident we can play a full game, but it’s going to be another long game.”
The absence of newly acquired Hasson Redick and the departure of Bryce Huff have raised questions about the defense.
That means more responsibility for third-year pro Jermaine Johnson, who had a strong season last year with 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
“Honestly, I look at myself as someone who can make every play. It’s not a cliché,” Johnson said. “I think I can do it. If it comes to me, I think I can do it. [the play]. No one can put more pressure on me than I put on myself.
“I just have a lot of confidence. I’ve been here, I’ve done it. Now I just want to take my game to the next level.”
The player who took the biggest hit in practice was the striker.
Running back Breece Hall beat linebacker Quincy Williams after a short catch during team practice.
It got a huge response from the crowd.
