Jets impressed with undrafted rookie safety Tony Adams
Jets safety Tony Adams at training camp in Florham Park, N.J., on July 27. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Tony Adams had the Jets at hello.
Adams impressed the Jets in their Zoom interview during the pre-draft process and followed that up with a strong OTA and training camp. The safety from Illinois made the Jets' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent.
“When you’re having your interviews, Zoom interviews, you’re just trying to find out more about them,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “[Safeties coach] Marquand Manuel was talking to him and asking him questions about what he wants to get out of the NFL and point blank he looked right through that Zoom lens and you felt like he was in the room.
“He said, ‘I want to take someone’s job.’ Here he is.”
Adams was one of two undrafted rookie free agents to make the Jets. The other was running back Zonovan Knight.
The Jets kept four safeties: Jordan Whitehead, LaMarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis and Adams. They cut Jason Pinnock, who was claimed by the Giants, and Will Parks, who was brought back to the Jets’ practice squad. Saleh didn’t want to risk cutting Adams and him getting claimed.
“He’s communicating at a high level, he’s acing his assignments, he’s doing great in man coverage, he’s dominating special teams,” Saleh said. “So just his overall body of work from OTAs all the way to cut-down day he attacked the heck out of it. Really excited for him and what he’s been able to accomplish.”
On to Baltimore
Saleh said the Jets have been preparing for Week 1 opponent Baltimore since the schedule came out, sprinkling in some concepts that they know they will use. But now they will dive into it more.
“We are in the meat-and-potatoes of it and actually revealing the game plan to the guys and really focusing on that,” Saleh said. “We’re installing some of our stuff and then we’ll revisit over the weekend as coaches and finalize it on Monday and get rolling on Wednesday.”
On the line
The Jets’ starting offensive line did not play well or in sync in their first preseason game all together, but Saleh expects the chemistry to improve next week.
“We have time to get these game reps in,” Saleh said. “We’re still competing against one another. We got to get going. There’s an opportunity for us to catch up pretty quick.”
Kicker stability
The Jets haven’t had an every-game kicker since Jason Meyers’ All-Pro season in 2018. They’ve had seven kickers the past three seasons. Saleh hopes veteran Greg Zuerlein, who beat out Eddy Pineiro, will provide the stability the Jets need at that position.
“He’s kicked in this league for a long time. He’s been a reliable kicker in this league,” Saleh said. “We’re fortunate. Hopefully we’ve put to bed all the kicker issues this organization has had in the past.”
Defensive moves
The Jets placed defensive end Vinny Curry on IR and signed linebacker Marcel Harris. Curry will be out at least the first four games. The Jets also signed cornerback Craig James and linebacker Chazz Surratt to the practice squad.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
