The addition of center Ryan Kalil was supposed to solidify the Jets offensive line, but he has yet to live up to expectations.
Kalil was a late signing by the Jets in July after general manager Joe Douglas convinced him to come out of retirement. However, Adam Gase isn’t seeing what he’d like out of the former All-Pro center just yet.
“We’re probably a ways from where he’d like to be,” Gase said earlier this week.
The 34-year-old Kalil got a late start in training camp and didn’t play in the preseason, which probably has to do with the rust he’s shown through the first two games of the season. He spent a lot of training camp getting back in game shape and had limited reps in practice. Meanwhile, Kalil hasn’t had much time adjusting to a brand new playbook.
While Kalil has been underwhelming to this point, so has the entire offensive line. This unit didn’t play together during the preseason and are only playing its third game as a complete group on Sunday in New England. However, there have been times where pass rushers have a free shot at the quarterback. They have yet to give the quarterback time to throw the ball and haven’t provided many big holes in the running game.
Kalil is the veteran of the group, so it’s on him to correct all the communication mistakes. But his individual play needs to step it up if this offense wants to have any success this season.
