Second to None

Training camp isn’t all about the marquee players and front-page storylines. 

For starters, training camp isn’t all about the starters. 

The Jets are as deep as Dikembe Mutombo’s voice in some positions, but as slim as the Giants’ playoff hopes in others. With backups being called to duty so often and so suddenly in the NFL, sometimes the battles behind the frontlines are just as intriguing as those on the frontlines. Training camp gives the fan daily snippets of these positional battles, which are sometimes forgotten amidst the juicier headlines. Here are a few “second-teamers” I’ll be eyeing as training camp goes on…

John Conner: So maybe two days of Rex Ryan’s hyperbolic praise is nothing to get excited about, but it was enough for me. The Kentucky Bulldozer wowed coaches by making a habit of knocking the wind out of some Jets linebackers, not to mention some exceptional blocking on the kick return team. I’m expecting big things from the rookie, even if it’s not this year. He’s got one of the best ahead of him in Tony Richardson, whose middle name might as well be “Underappreciated.” Seriously. This guy has worked his tail off with incredible results for the halfbacks behind him, and I would deem him one of the most underrated/underappreciated players in the league. Richardson was a huge piece of the Jets’ first-in-the-league rushing attack, but it was ironically the oft-underappreciated (but equally deserving) offensive line who stole the limelight. If Conner absorbs everything Richardson has to offer, the young man will be well on his way to fullback stardom, if such a thing exists.

    

Dwight Lowery: Revis Island on one side, AlCROtraz on the other, Leonhard and Pool holding down the last line of defense, and Wilson in on nickel packages- end of story, right? Not necessarily. Don’t be surprised if the talented Dwight Lowery makes more-than-occasional appearances on the Jets defensive ranks, especially with Rex Ryan’s myriad of defensive schemes and alignments. The San Jose State alum was by no means a no-name last year (21 tackles, 3 INTs, and 9 passes defended in the 13 games he played in, 5 of which he started), and just because the Jets have added three DBs in Antonio Cromartie, Brodney Pool, and the untested Kyle Wilson, don’t expect Lowery’s role to be drastically diminished. The guy is a playmaker (he also had 5 forced fumbles in 2008), and could very well see significant playing time if AlCROtraz starts letting prisoners escape or if Pool is plagued by more concussion woes. Lowery is a versatile player whose efforts may be somewhat underappreciated, but in Rex Ryan we trust- to plug in players where he knows they can make plays. Certainly, the Jets are anything but limited at the DB position, but with Lowery experienced both as a cornerback and safety, I’ll go out on a limb and say he has a few more game-breaking plays than he’s being written off for.  

The Defensive Line Back-Ups: That’s right, the whole bunch of ‘em. In a Jets season that promises to be one of two things – extremely fulfilling or extremely disappointing – the defensive pass rush will be key. Go ask any great defense how they did without a pass rush, and they’ll tell you that no one called them great in the first place. With a Jets front that promises to have multiple looks and will be constantly be under fire to get to the quarterback, the “second-teamers” will quite often be making trips to the frontlines. Regardless of the rotation, how players like Vernon Gholston, Sione Pouha, and Mike Devito team up with wily veterans Shaun Ellis and Kris Jenkins will be key.    

***

Folk seems to have overcome some OTA hiccups, going 7-for-8 yesterday and 5-for-5 this morning on field goals. Unfortunately, the hiccups aren’t a one-time deal, so it’ll be interesting to see if Folk can keep up the promising results.

***

Jets players and coaches got into a bit of a jawing match in this morning’s practice as tempers flared over a few Kenwin Cummings late hits. Whom all this made happier – Rex Ryan or Ross Greenburg – is still up for debate.

Stay tuned.