Three Jets takeaways from their preseason game against the Giants
Jets quarterback Justin Fields is pressured by the Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux during a preseason game on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Errol Anderson
The Jets were sloppy on both sides of the football in Saturday’s 31-12 preseason loss to the Giants. Here are three takeaways:
1. No downfield throws
It’s not that surprising that Justin Fields didn’t push the ball down the field with his arm. He hasn’t done it much in practice, and it even struck Fields during the game.
“I was literally thinking that on the sideline,” he said.
The Jets’ passing offense needs serious work before their Week 1 game against Pittsburgh, Fields’ old team. They had seven pass plays of at least 16 yards, but all were by Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook.
Fields played 18 snaps. He dropped back six times, threw five passes and completed one — for 4 yards. He said one of the plays was supposed to be a “deep intermediate pass,” but the defense took that away.
“It’ll come. No need to force it,” he said. “When you try to force it, that’s when tipped balls, picks happen. So my mindset is always going to be take what the defense gives me.”
Watch, Fields will complete a pass for more than 40 yards in his first attempt in Week 1.
He’s also got to complete short throws, which he didn’t in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Giants or Saturday’s game.
The Giants have a good defensive front that applied pressure, but that’s no excuse.
Fields’ lone completion was to rookie tight end Mason Taylor on the first offensive play. On his next attempt, Fields, under pressure, threw high to Breece Hall. Then he short-armed a throw to Garrett Wilson after a high snap. He couldn’t connect with Wilson on his next two passes. One might have been pass interference. On the other, Wilson ran a slant and Fields delivered the ball a little late.
2. No catches for Wilson
It was only two series, but the instant Fields-Wilson connection that everyone expected because they played together at Ohio State hasn’t happened yet. There’s still plenty of time, though.
Wilson, who was targeted by Fields three times on Saturday, doesn’t have a catch on four targets this preseason. Fields’ completions have been two to fullback John Beck, one to Taylor and one to receiver Tyler Johnson.
“Teams know that we’re going to try to get [Wilson] the ball because he’s one of our top playmakers,” Fields said. “Once the season rolls around, once we really start game-planning, we’ll definitely feed him and get him the ball more, for sure.”
The Jets need to create balance and establish other players to open things for Wilson or he will be double-teamed often.
They have no clear-cut No. 2 receiver among the group of Johnson, Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard and rookie Arian Smith. The speedy Smith could be a deep threat, but he’s not a No. 2. It could end up being Hall out of the backfield or the impressive Taylor.
Wilson is confident that all of the offensive kinks will be worked out.
“We have some weeks to iron things out, and that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “You just want to get out there and get your feet wet. But it’s not real yet. By the time it’s real, we’re going to be ready to go.”
3. Too many big plays allowed
It wasn’t just the offense that disappointed. The Jets’ defense gave up far too many explosive plays.
All four Giants quarterbacks completed passes of at least 30 yards.
“On all levels, I thought we were sloppy,” coach Aaron Glenn said.
It started early. Russell Wilson completed an 80-yard pass to Beaux Collins on the Giants’ third offensive play against the Jets’ starting defense. It was busted coverage by safety Andre Cisco and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers.
You don’t want to make too much of it because the Jets were without four starters — Sauce Gardner (calf), Quinnen Williams (calf), Will McDonald (knee) and Jermaine Johnson (Achilles tendon) — but they need to make sure their backups are ready and can step in and play when needed.
Overall, the Giants had eight passes go for at least 20 yards. The Jets got very little pressure on the quarterback and Stiggers (interception) was the only potential rotation cornerback to register a pass defended. Performances like this make you wonder about the Jets’ depth in the secondary and on the defensive line.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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