2022 Jets Roster Breakdown with Assistant GM Rex Hogan (9/1)

because you're getting another opportunity the waiver wire. They're gonna they flood it with you know, several hundred thousand players and names that are out there, and and our our pro staff does a tremendous job, starting with Chat Alexander and Greg Nasuma and the rest of our pro scouts getting things organized and evaluating and putting it all together for us to be able to to condense the list downs and work through it. So last night not a

lot of sleep, and uh, you know, it's tough. You're going through making the cutdowns and it's really tough and challenging, especially the way that the roster has grown. And we've grown the roster and developed the players. So it's been wild. So what are those meetings like? And Joe Douglas just talked about it with you downstairs addressing the media here

at one Jets Drive. Where is you got position coaches talking about they can't have enough players, right You got brand Boyer, who is looking from a special team's perspective, Rightley, So you got you guys who've either had a hand and bringing these guys in or help scout early on. And obviously the coaching staff Robert sala Uh, juts, GM, Joe Douglas, everybody's got to say, what are those meanings? Like? Yeah,

there's really a running dialogue. After each one of the preseason games, we get together with the player personnel staff and the coaching staff and we go through their rankings of the players, how we see the players on the practice few how they see it, and then leading up

to the game, how they performed in the game. So each week of the three preseason games, we they kind of build this, you know, vision in our mind of of who's progressing, who needs to make some improvements, And by the time you get to the those final meetings, it's not just a total download of information. We we've worked up to it and and have kind of in our minds which direction we're gonna go do you guys as a staff early on know that, hey, we do

have really good depth here. This roster has been transformed and in a few weeks this is gonna this is gonna be tough. Yeah, we felt really good about the competition we created each level of the team and so and in each one of the positions as well. So we knew, you know, we we could feel it, we could see it that, you know, the roster is getting better, the tough and as the roster gets better, the decisions

and the cuts get harder. And this was you know, by far, the toughest we've had since we've been here in the twenty nineteen season, since the twenty nineteen season. So, you know, kudos to our our player personnel department overall for identifying the players um our coaches have given us great profiles. We're all on the same page of what they want in each position, and our coaches have done a great job of developing the players and making them

candidates to have options after here. And you know, we, like we've talked about, we had, you know, seven guys claimed today. There were four other guys claimed in the past couple of weeks when we released and in addition to Eddie Piniero signed with Carolina. So that's twelve guys off of our training camp roster who are now with other teams, which is, you know, it's cool and it, but it's tough for us at the same time because we've you know, we've selected him, we brought him in,

developed him, but wish him the best. How many years in the National Football League? Is this for you right now? This is your twenty twentie season coming up? Okay, so this is your twenty experience with this? Yeah? Yeah, Ever having experience where you start training camp and you put a number of guys on waiver, is where at the end of trainee camp twelve with those guys another town we've it's the most I've had, and especially at the cutdown, that's it's the most that I've had in in one

given moment. It's something else and I'm not gonna ask you what was the conversation that had longest on. Let's start with a couple of guys who actually made the teams undrafted free agents, Zonovan bam Knight and Tony Adams. Let's start with t A first, because I think bam Knight he gets the ball in his hands, so people are a little bit familiar with him. What stood out to you about Adams throughout camp? But also take me

back to why you signed him following the draft. Yeah, but our guys didn't in terms of draft did a great job of identifying him and for draft consideration. Ultimately, ultimately, uh, you know, we ran out of picks, but through the trade ups, but we always had had identified Tony is a guy that we wanted on our roster, whether or not was through the draft or signing and free agency. And we're fortunate enough for him to slide through and

get him and recruit him to come here. And our coaching staff as well as the player personnel staff did a great job of recruiting him after the draft. But once once Tony got here, he you know, he he had background as being a corner and a safety at Illinois, and so when we got here, our numbers were a little bit down at corner with some injuries. He hopped right in and o t a s at corner and was ultimate team guy because he was he was brought

here to play safety. But I think it really helped him just in terms of his development be able to see start out half the field and then when he made the transition to safety for training camp, ultimately that's where we saw him going once we solidified the corner position and it really helped him in terms of stages. And you know, both Tony Ow did and Marquand did an awesome job with getting him up to speed and

quickly making the transition from corner to safety. Here. So with that position, flex would he be kind of like an emergency maybe nickel guy, more inside guy or the outside and you know, potentially, you know, we like guys who have that have that value, have that asset, or have those traits, and so we see it as an asset with him and having that value. I remember the Green and White scrimmage. Every time there was a play out there and he was on the field, twenty two

was thumping. Do you like his activity level? Love he's got you know, he's active, he's energetic, he's always got a smile on his face, and he came in with this mindset of I'm gonna take a job and it comes out in his emotions how he plays, and just like you're saying, is his activity and energy and he plays with urgency, intensity, exactly the way we want him to. Yeah,

the safety position. Joe just talked about it. He thought at the end of this process that you guys had six players that you can make the argument that they should be on a fifty three man roster somewhere. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know, we're lucky enough to get Will Park's back on the practice squad. But really felt like, you know, the way Will performed during training camp and in the preseason games that he too was a definite fifty three

man consideration. So we're fortunate to get him back. Okay, so let's talk about Bam Knight, a guy who went undrafted. When you start making those calls because you guys were done in the fourth round, you were done early this year. But when you start making those calls during the draft and say, hey, hey, Bam, if it doesn't happen for you in the draft, we're gonna come calling. Yeah, you know, after the draft, we were really focused on on him

and the value he brought. Jonathan Stiegel did a great job of of recruiting and post draft, and and then it came a you know, became a collaboration with all of us. In addition to Taylor Embury. Uh, it's because we go back and forth as a group, and you know, we do it together, and you know, Bam saw the vision that we had for him, and you know, we talked about his his path and his ability to earn his way to the fifty three and he bought into that and came in and performed. So it was really cool.

What can you say about his return ability? Obviously can carry the football and he had a nice score and run against the Eagles when he wasn't going to be denied. But does that put a guy like that over the top. Yeah, you know, coming out of out of college at NC State, he led the country as in kick return yards and we saw that on tape and you know, Brandt was

excited about it and we were excited about it. You know, it's kind of icing on the cake for what else he did in terms of as a runner and receiver. And you know, when you have a guy who can do that and not only provide core value on special teams, it really helps project him how he's gonna make our roster. And then the kick return he had and against Philly set us up for the game short, short field and game winning drive by streff. Let's talk about the Lawrence

Cager project. Uh, what went into the position switch for him? And then how is he a different player than maybe the the guy you got your hands on a free years ago. Yeah, so a couple of years ago, you know, he goes undrafted and has an injury where he breaks his leg and his grad transfer a year from Miami to to Georgia. Um, you know, unfortunate for him in that regard. If not, he's probably a draft pick. And we saw him as a draft pick. We saw him

as a big bodied outside receiver. But we always saw that frame and he's he's got long arms, he's brought shoulder, he's well built, and you know, he could bounce anywhere from two seventeen to two thirty. And you saw the growth potential in him. And we had talked to him about it last year and about going into O T A S and making the transition and his return to to hey, you know you might be able to make this,

make this jump. You you got to buy in, and he really he bought into the offseason training, his body continued to grow. He's he's around two forty, if not north at two forty now and he's maintain his speed and he's maintained his receiving value and it probably improved it because of the f tight end value. And he's really improved as a blocker. And it's a testament to what Ron Middleton has done with him and the coaching staff's done. Yeah, what does that say about him as

a guy? That he probably looked at himself and rightfully so listen, I would be as successful a wide receiver. I'm on playing this for a long time. But that he bought in and now he's gotten to this point where he's on the fifty three man roster. Yeah, I'm sure he had a moment of you know, some adversity like we all do, and he looked himself in the mirror and said, what else can I do different? How

can I change my path and change my future? Because he bounces from our practice squad to a couple other practice squads as a receiver, and you know, it's a humbling experience when you get cut and then have to realize, man, I've got to I got to find a different way. So really proud of of Cage accepting that and then you know, having the self awareness that I'm gonna be able to do this. He's in a pretty cool room now.

But what do you think about the transformation that you guys have done at tight end because Cajar joins a group that includes obviously c J, Usama, Tyler Cochland. I had one of the best camps out there bar none. I think here this summer at one Jets Drive and then of course you guys draft Jeremy Rutgers as well. Yeah, it's it's a really cool room and we feel like it it had a lot of similarities to that safety room.

You know, um made a tough decision on West Go love love what west Code brings in terms of his toughness and his blocking and soft hands. And again that's that's another room where we felt like they're those are six NFL fifty three caliber tight ends. And uh, you know, we were fortunate to get Kenny a Boa back on our practice squad and we'll see Kenny continue to develop

and contribute like he did last year. And so in the addition of you know, Rutgert and c J and Conk, we feel like we've got all those guys who are different and all going to contribute in their own way. You guys study seven every day out of the year. But Robert Sala called Conkling a pleasant surprise. Well, you expecting again, games are on Sundays, We're gonna have to see what the production is. But when you watched him day after day, was there something that came to mind,

maybe that you didn't see on film. No. I think what we saw was a guy who was a little bit under the radar because he he produced in his role in Minnesota. He produced with targets, and he's got unbelievable hands. He's a he's a former Division three basketball player,

so you see his body control. You see the way he can tempo routes and change speeds, and there's a lot of cuts that look like he's making when he's on the basketball court, and how he how he sets up those routes and changes the speeds and uses you know, burst or gear down, and and then he's got the

body control when he leaves the ground. So you know, he was a little under the radar in terms of free agency across the board, but man, we felt like adding him with c J, that those two guys would really complement each other and and be a great addition to the tight end, room, burst gear, body control. When you start describing the cockling a little bit, I start thinking about Garrett Wilson. Uh so, uh, what do you think about his transition to date um Because he's made

a lot of plays on the practice field. Nothing seems too big for him. And he also seems like a guy who's fitting in well with his teammates that he's continuing to absorb things. Yeah, the you know, like you said, he's got an infectious personality. You know, guys are naturally drawn to him, and he invests in people in relationships and you can see it and how the camaraderie of

that room first and foremost has grown. But the similarities of him being a bas having a basketball background and former D one offers and how he was if you want to turn on his highlight tape from from high school, it's pretty impressive. But you can see when he leaves the ground his ability to adjust, uh he's doing He's catching oops and punching on people in the lane, and you see his ability to elevate in his body control and catch the passes and the way he changes speeds

with his routes too. So it's really cool when you can see those guys in terms of the movement they have on the basket ball court and how transitions to football. The last few years here, Jameson Crowter was the leading receiver for this team. Can you speak to what you have in the middle now because you resigned Burials, Garrett Wilson, Scott Um experience of both outside inside, Elijah More can play inside as well, and Jeff Smith probably can play

inside for you too, he has in the past. And you know, I think all those guys, the way Mike la Fleur moves guys around within this offense and the value of them having versatility to play X two, play Z, to play F and each one of those guys has a unique skill set that they can play inside, they can play outside and set up mismatches. How about the speed at the skill positions. I mean, we can talk about on the defensive side of ball, but let's focus on the offensive side of the ball. How much of

of that was an emphasis and offseason? How much is that coming to light now? The possible explosive options that you guys have head tight end in the backfield. I mean, anybody talk about Bruce Hall and company. Obviously Michael Carter leading away there and at the wide receiver position. Yeah, it's it's been cool and and it was an emphasis for us. And you talk about just on the offensive

side of the ball. What we added with with Garrett in the first round with his speed and and Breece with his speed and being a sub four or four guy at his size. Is how unique that is. You know, when you look at what he did at the combine and how he tested, He's up there with what say Kwon Barkley, what did what Jonathan Taylor did at that size and speed, which those are three pretty unique guys.

And so adding them those two guys, and then you know add Ruckert who has some sneaky speed too and shows up on GPS and in the way he was able to stretch the field Ohio State. And he's still you know, working his way back to full after his injury, but would really really been, you know, pleased with his progress. Let's flip, let's flip into the cornerback position. You draft on my gardener number four overall wasn't target at all in the preseason. That that's pretty rare for a rookie.

I mean, people are gonna they'll take he's gonna be seeing a few passes I would imagine a regular season play. But um, just what did you think of his camp? I think he's been had a great camp so far. He's been everything we thought he would be. Uh. You see that the height, the length, the athleticism, But what people don't see is the absolute love of the game. How he's the first one on the field, how he's constantly asking teammates on the defensive side of the ball,

teammates on the offensive side of the ball. When we had the joint practices, he's talking to the guys who we went against and just looking for tips. And he's an absolute sponge to take in everything and learn and he wants to grow and he carries it over to the field. It's been awesome to watch. Do you like that dynamic at quarter cornerback? You got the big, long, lanky guy and then d J. Reid who doesn't have the height, but he plays like he's a football I

like to say. And then yeah, Brandon Uncles got that starting experience last year Bryce Hall of course. And then at the nickel position. I think Michael Carter reminded people in that last preseason game that Hey I'm here. I'm pretty good too, and I can man that nickel spot for you exactly of a pick. It was awesome play, you know, coming off his guy and Tyrod trying to hit the corner route behind him, so Or got out of the pocket and tried to hit somebody on the sideline.

But it was cool, and it's been cool to see MC to continue to progress after a strong rookie year. But you know that the dynamics of that room is different with the two guys who have legit height and size in both Bryce and Sauce. And then even though the other two guys are a little bit shorter in stature, you know they've they've done a great job in the weight room. Our player performance staff has done a great job of of improving eccl's body and building him up

and continue to improve his speed. So it's a good room overall. How tough is it gonna be for teams and you guys in third and long situations. So we saw a taste of it against the Giants. That was like the first time we saw the starters out there for extended time. But we're gonna see that against Baltimore and everybody, And I know you can say that with everybody in the NFL, you don't want to be in

third and long. But just looking at the pass rushers, especially the depth and the numbers you have at the defensive end position and what you guys did in the off season there, yeah, it starts to to get them to third and long. We have to play well on on rundowns or early downs, and Brick talks about that, and Robert talks about that, and you know, winning in the early downs and being able to put and put us in a situation where we can be successful on

third and long. But you know, Aaron why Cotton has done a tremendous job with that defensive line and the way it's built to come in waves. And we've got ten guys on on that group right now who we feel good about. Who are who are going to come in waves. Obviously they're not all gonna be active on game day, but but they're all gonna be fighting to be active throughout the week. And it's a good problem to half. I know everybody's looking forward to see Carl

Lawson in game action, no doubt about that. He hasn't played a regular season game yet for the Jets. What about somebody you talk about flying onto the radar. Obviously we talk a lot about the draft picks, and rightfully so Jermaine and Michael Clemens, who has just been all out effort since the day walked in the building. But how about Jacob Martin. Yeah, Jacob was a great addition for us. You know, we're excited about him. He he's he's played right in, he's played left in. He's played

in in defenses where they have him standing up. But we saw him down in Houston last year against US, and as a guy as a as a right in who can really get off the ball when you need to put him on left, he can do that. He's he's got length, he has speed, he's got a motor. You know, he brings a new approach as a little bit more fastball approach, uh than than Carl or jfm

on as those guys. And so when you go bring him in as the third, brings a different look and a different body type, kind of a change up, if you will, for the for the tackle he's going against. So what are your thoughts now a week out from the beginning of two thousand twenty two season, You're feeling pretty good about the roster, but just like your emotions to see it all come together and finally in action, excited.

There's no other, no other way to put it for me other than excited what we can what we can do coming up this season and with the competition we've created throughout the roster and how it's been finalized, and to watch this group jel over the next week ten days as they come together and practice in preparation for Baltimore. This nothing more I can say than they excited about. You talked just before about the relationship of Joe Douglas

and Robert Sala being a lock step. Robert says something earlier today that struck me and it speaks to what you guys are trying to do here. I want to get your thoughts on it. He said, This roster is pretty cool. It's being built, not bought. So it's a great way to describe it because we've gone out and obtained guys in so many different fashions with it, whether

it's through the draft, undrafted, uh, free agency trades. Claims like these guys have have come from you know, different different obviously different teams and different backgrounds, but have been acquired through different venues, and these guys have jelled together because we're looking for the guys with the same common common goal of being teammates, putting the team first, but playing with the effort, intensity, violence, and technique at the

coaching staff wants. And we found a group that really want to do that well. And here I know no timeline on zech Wilson's return, and we'll get the word from either Robert Sala or Joe Douglas. But with that being said, I don't want to say a luxury, but how nice is it just to have a guy like Flackle if you have to give them the ball here to start the season for a game, two games, whatever

it may be. Yeah, it's very comforting because of the success Joe's had throughout his career um, but not only as a starter, but seeing how he's developed this relationship and connection with Zack and Mike White and Strev and how strong of a bond that room has and how they get along even though you know, Joe jokes that he's he's the dad and catches the dad jokes of the group being fourteen years or fifteen years older, whatever

the exact number is. But it's really comforting to know that this guy has has seen pretty much every rush that's been brought anywhere, every blitz or every coverage, and he's got this just certain calmness and demeanor that hey, guys, it's it's gonna be all right. Everything's gonna be okay. And he can still throw the ball like he did fifteen years ago or fourteen years ago when he came in the league. Yeah, I think FLA was gonna be able to throw up when he's the guy you want

on your team. And then everybody we joke about it looks like every ball that comes out of his hand looks like a shot out of a jugs machine, no doubt about it. Hey, listen, hopefully you get some rest this week. It would be nice get back after enjoyed it as always appreciated m