In the eyes of head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets’ first joint practice against the Panthers ended with the thought — however far-fetched, given preseason expectations for his club — that maybe they haven’t been able to “change the stink” just yet.
The flashiness of Aaron Rodgers wore off at Wofford College.
Carolina rushers started weaving around the Jets’ offensive line, forcing the veteran quarterback to scramble while passes fell incomplete.
It ate at Saleh while he was walking off the field, too.
After Saleh was seen earlier during Episode 2 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” telling Panthers coach Frank Reich that the Jets will go as far as their defensive line takes them, later on the show, he echoed a similar phrase about their other line — just with a different connotation.
“You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback,” Saleh was seen telling the Jets in a meeting. “You can have two $10 million-plus receivers. You can have a reigning offensive rookie of the year. You can have all kinds of skill in the running back room. None of it f–king matters until the big boys up front change who the f–k we are.”
The dichotomy between the Jets’ two lines became obvious in the episode’s segments concerning their joint practice last week against the Panthers.
Saleh was seen calling the defensive line the Jets’ “baby.”
Quinnen Williams took a bow after one snap and called himself a “f–king beast” after another.
Before checking if Rodgers was wearing a microphone, Williams claimed he’d already produced 10 sacks that day — prompting the quarterback to hold up 10 fingers for the camera.
When Williams plunged through the line and reached quarterback Bryce Young again (sacking the Panthers rookie carried over into the preseason game for others on the defensive line, because Williams didn’t play), Rodgers adjusted.
He held up one finger on his left hand and another finger on his right hand.
“Eleven sacks,” Rodgers said.
After compiling 12 sacks last year and making the Pro Bowl for the first time, Williams signed a four-year, $96 million contract in July, solidifying his position as a key part of a defensive unit that emerged as one of the league’s best in 2022.
And during the first two episodes of “Hard Knocks,” Williams has become one of the underrated stars, alongside Rodgers and Saleh — even at one time jokingly drawing the ire of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who game the defensive player the middle finger.
When scuffles and fights broke out at a training camp session before the Jets traveled to Spartanburg, S.C., Williams said that he always enjoys when the tight ends confront the defensive linemen because “some days you need a slap in the mouth.”
He gave Rodgers a shout-out in the first episode, and that extended to his wife, his daughter, his agent and others in the second episode.
“95’s leading the charge here,” Jets owner Woody Johnson was shown saying of Williams.
“Joe [Douglas, the general manager] and I would not have advocated to pay him if he wasn’t the type of person he is,” Saleh, standing next to Johnson, replied.
“It’s a lot of money,” Johnson continued.
But if Williams’ performance against the Panthers in practice translates into the regular season, the price will be worth it.
The Jets still have some work to do with their offensive line, though.
Even with Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, even with all of the talent scattered throughout their positional rooms.
It appeared that their 27-0 preseason victory over the Panthers might have been a positive development, given their success running the ball with Israel Abanikanda (12 carries, 59 yards).
Rodgers was seen speaking with offensive tackle Mekhi Becton on the sideline, too, and suggested the pair meet for lunch — or something else — during the upcoming week.
The defensive line has emerged as the Jets’ overarching strength.
But the offensive line could mess everything up.
Saleh didn’t hesitate to inform the Jets about that looming threat, either.
“Because we will go as you go,” Saleh continued in his speech to the Jets. “We proved last year that we’re a 7-10 football team with a really f–-king good defense and a mediocre offense.
“That’s about what we proved. Flip that f–-king s–-t. We don’t get any more second chances.”
More magic tricks
One of the clips released from the second episode before its release centered around a magic trick that Oz Pearlman, a mentalist the Jets brought into camp, played on Rodgers — where he correctly guessed a card Rodgers selected while transforming the deck into a goldfish.
But before that trick, Pearlman also correctly guessed the jersey number (No. 10) that running back Michael Carter would change his number to, and also constructed a puzzle that was only missing the piece that wideout Mecole Hardman had selected.
Pearlman predicted Hardman’s Super Bowl guess — with the Jets one of the teams — before the trick was over, too: They’ll play the 49ers and win, 31-21.
Rodgers’ obsession with grass
Rodgers’ habit of picking grass in between plays has started to attract attention from teammates.
It’s a habit that dates back to his tenure with the Packers, he said, and helps him get a better grip on the ball while sensing the wind’s direction — since that could alter the play, or where he needs to throw the ball.
Receiver Allen Lazard, Rodgers’ teammate in Green Bay, joked that he’d buy grass for Rodgers to pick if that’s what the quarterback needs to keep throwing like he has throughout his career.
Rodgers’ relationship with James Campen
Campen, who worked with Rodgers in Green Bay through the 2018 season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, among other positions, joined the Panthers as their offensive line coach, and Rodgers made sure to catch up — and have some fun — with his old coach during the joint practice.
“You look fat as s–t,” Rodgers said, referencing an apparent agreement where Campen would have his weight at 260 pounds.
Campen then denied that was the number they’d agreed upon, though.
“You guys don’t f–king watch this guy?” Rodgers asked a group of Panthers players, while continuing to joke with Campen.
The rookie show … failed
During the Jets’ trip for the joint practice and preseason game, the rookies put on a show for the veterans, but it ended with items getting thrown at the players as they were booed off the stage.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley demanded that the rookies try again in a week, too.
Their show appeared to include introductions that involved a dance, as well as a guessing game where teammates could submit their answers and they’d appear on a screen.
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