The Jets came up short against the Giants in their preseason debut on Thursday night by a final score of 31-22, but plenty of noteworthy activity took place on the field for Adam Gase and his coaching staff to evaluate moving forward.
Production and execution, not wins and losses, are paramount in the preseason. For players fighting for a roster spot, going out and getting the job done becomes even more vital. New York’s loss to the Giants featured some good, but also some bad that must be addressed in practice and throughout the final three weeks of the preseason.
With that being said, here are four takeaways from Gang Green’s preseason opener.
Darnold Unleashed
Mercifully, the days of Sam Darnold throwing bubble screens and designed checkdowns on every other play are over.
Darnold played only one series against the Giants but was let loose by Adam Gase in his brief time on the field. The end result? A 75-yard scoring drive in which Darnold went 4-5 for 68 yards and a touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder.
It’s a small sample size to evaluate, but Darnold looked good being able to scan the field and roll out of the pocket to make plays. If Thursday night is a sign of things to come, he could be in for a big second season in the Big Apple.
Jamison Crowder adds a new element
Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa are solid downfield threats in the passing game, but they cannot replicate what Jamison Crowder brings to the table.
The Jets have lacked a crisp underneath route runner for years. Against the Giants, Crowder provided a glimpse of what he brings to New York’s offense, catching two passes out of the slot. His first reception of the night was caught underneath, but Crowder made a play in space and turned a short reception into a 28-yard gain. A couple of plays later, Crowder got open once again on a short route and caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold.
Crowder allows Anderson and Enunwa more freedom on the outside. He also gives Darnod a reliable safety blanket for intermediate passing scenarios. Crowder wasn’t a blockbuster signing in free agency, but one that was vital to the success of the offense moving forward.
Secondary depth needs work
As soon as the starters left the game, New York’s secondary crumbled.
Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones entered the game and went a perfect 5-5 for 67 yards and a touchdown that was placed precisely between Kyron Brown and Santos Ramirez in the corner of the end zone. Parry Nickerson whiffed on a deflection attempt that resulted in a 51-yard Russel Shepard touchdown. Shepard also smoked Derrick Jones, who struggled throughout the game, downfield for a catch in the second quarter.
To say the Jets’ secondary depth was disappointing against the Giants would be an understatement. New York’s backups need to get it together in a hurry, or the Jets will be left with some major holes in the secondary behind their starting unit.
Chandler Catanzaro is in trouble
The Jets only have one kicker in camp right now, but that should change with the way Chandler Catanzaro performed in New York’s preseason opener.
Catanzaro, who Mike Maccagnan decided to bring back to the Jets instead of re-signing Pro Bowler Jason Myers, missed two PATs in the first half. He rebounded to hit a 34-yard field goal in the closing minutes of the second quarter, but the lack of consistency Catanzaro has displayed in practice and now the preseason is alarming.
Catanzaro is skating on thin ice after his porous showing on Thursday night. If he wants to remain with the Jets, he’ll have to get his act together in a hurry.
