In the past two weeks, the Jets’ defense limited Giants star Saquon Barkley to 1 yard rushing, then held Washington to three points through three quarters.
Not bad, right?
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reminded his unit all week, however, that he was unhappy with its sloppy coverage on the screen pass Redskins running back Derrius Guice broke for a 45-yard touchdown with 10 minutes remaining in the Jets’ 34-17 win last Sunday.
“We’ve repped a good bit of screen drills, which meant for us, a lot of running. So that kind of thing doesn’t happen again,” linebacker Jordan Jenkins said after Friday’s practice. “The screen, Gregg has taken care of that. Trust me.”
Said Williams: “Those are things we’ve got to eliminate to take the next step to be as suffocating as you want to be on defense. We didn’t play that screen very well. That’s not how we do things. We’ve got to change some behavior, change some habits at that time.”
Yo, Holmes, smell ya later.
The Jets released Australian rugby star Valentine Holmes, who was serving as the team’s “11th man” on the practice squad as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
The 24-year-old Holmes, who was listed as a running back and wide receiver, appeared in all four preseason games. He will be eyeing a return to the National Rugby League in Australia, the Jets said.
The only player on the injury report officially out Sunday’s game against Oakland remains LB C.J. Mosley (groin). Defensive backs Darryl Roberts (calf) and Matthias Farley (quad) and LB Paul Worrilow (quad) are doubtful. Defensive linemen Henry Anderson (shoulder) and Steve McClendon (neck), LBs Brandon Copeland (hip/thumb) and Neville Hewitt (neck/knee), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring) and OL Chuma Edoga (ankle), Kelvin Beachum (ankle) and Alex Lewis (elbow/soulder) have been listed as questionable.
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