Listen: Inside the Jets with Bless Austin (12/16)

Handerson Business. Last week, you guys held it down. I saw the show. Yeah, okay, then you were down in Texas, but now you're back in Florham Park. The Jets are five and nine with two games remaining the two thousand nineteen season. If you're a veteran in that locker room, what goes through your mind entering this final stretch. You're not making the playoffs, seating is not on the line or anything like that. What are you playing for these

final two games? Well, I mean you have two opportunities to get better. If you're a veteran, uh, you know, to two more games too. That's two opportunities to show the world to show this organization that you should be here, you should be a part of their future plans. Uh. You know this this organization is moving in the right direction. And if you want to be a part of that, I mean, put it out there on the film, you know, go out there and finish the season strong and uh

and put some great tape out there. Inside the Jets is presented by e Y Building a Better Working World, Eric Ellen alongside Eric Coleman. You watched the game Thursday night in Baltimore, the Jets go down to one. Is Baltimore the best team in the National Football League right now? I mean right now? They are? Uh, they played great defense. Uh, they run the ball well. They have a special player

at quarterback. With that being said, they're they're very beautiful, you know, just like any other team in the league. You know, I think watching that game, you know, yes, it was a big difference in score, but there were a couple of plays there, a couple of opportunities, opportunities that the Jets had to keep it a close game. And if you know, you make a play here, you don't give uple to play there. You know, who knows

what the outcome of the game is. So the Jets had only seven points at halftime despite reaching the Baltimore thirty one miss field goal. They got a touchdown on their second drive down there, got to the Baltimore seven, turn it over on downs, and then finally the Baltimore twenty five yard line and interception by Sam Donald, So there were opportunities there. In fact, the Green and White outgained the Ravens in the first half. They had nearly

two hundred yards of offense. Well, I mean that's something that you when you look back at it. Yes, you're gonna be frustrated that you had some missed opportunities, but at the same time, you were in position to make plays. You were in position to be a part of this game, to to be competitive in this game, and those opportunities were missed. The good teams take advantage of those opportunities. The teams that have something to improve on leave it out there. So, you know, I think that this is

a coaching point for the Jets. I think it's something that's gonna help them grow and as these young players continue to mature, it's just only gonna get better. Okay, So what do you make of Baltimore getting two eighteen yards on the ground against the defense that has been so stout against the run. Is it just a blip on the radar because they are so unique? You are never going to see a team like that over the final two weeks of the season, of course. I mean

I shouldn't say never. I mean, you only got two games left. Yeah, Well, no one, no one else in the league has Lamar Jackson, and no one else has an offense created around such a special player. I mean I was watching the film. They were running Vier you know Vier power option, and it was like that I ran in high school, you know, when I was like the star player on the team and there was nothing else. You know, they were running plays that were old school.

They were doing it well extra running back school. I know, we don't have the chalkboard in front of us, the white board, but break that down for people listening to this ESP in New York right, Well, well, the VIR play is something that like Vince Lombardi ran. You know, it's back like you know Army days, Army Navy runs the veer offense, and it's when Lamar Jackson has the ball, he puts the ball into the to the belly of

the running back running into that B gap. If the defensive end or that outside linebacker collapses on the run, the quarterbacks gonna pull it and run around the corner. If the defensive end stays outside, he's gonna hand it off to the running back and he's gonna have a wide open lane to run the football. It's kind of like, uh, you know, pick your poison type offense. But the Baltimore Ravens have created this offense where they have the great

offensive line, they have great perimeter blockers. Uh you know, they were they make the looks kind of crazy to where guys, is hard to prepare for that when you're playing it once a year. How hard is it to prepare for that when you had two days a prep Monday and Tuesday, and the Jets didn't even have a full practice. They went through a pair of walk throughs

before departing via train down to Baltimore. Yeah, it's impossible, you know, to ask uh, you know, the guys to go out there and execute that game plan and to be that discipline to be able to stop that option that they've never seen me since their college days, and uh, you know, it's it's a big order to to to ask and when you when you add into that when Lamar Jackson, you know, there were a lot of times where the initial routes were covered when he dropped back

the past. They did a great job on the initial route. But now you have a special player back there who can pull the ball down and he's a difference maker when he's in the open field. What do you make on the other side of the ball. The Jets quarterbacks Sam Donald, I'm sitting there watching the game in the first half, thinking, Wow, this is one of his better performances. I know he turned it over two times. And that's the thing with Sam right now, he said, I can't

have those one or two mistakes the game. They're gonna come back to haunt me. But overall, that's a very good Baltimore Ravens defense. He was down without the Marius Thomas and his tight on Ryan Griffin was just placed on injury reserve, so again, a lot of moving parts. Offensively, I thought Donald acquitted himself quite well. I did too. I thought he managed the game well. He made some good decisions. Yes, he had the mistake at the end of the half where you know he maybe it was

a miscommunication between he and a wide receiver. Tell you on Daniel danil Brown. Yeah, but but at the same time, you know you can't you can't have those miscommunications in the red zone specifically. Um. You know, I thought he's progressing as a quarterback. I think he's getting better with each game. And you know, the sky's a limit for what he can do as a quarterback. And you know, and you imagine this, Imagine the offensive line being healthy,

imagine him having all his weapons. You know, there's there's a lot of possibilities that can happen with the healthy team. Adam Gates was adamant about it after the game with the Ravens that he's improving week by week. I see little things in terms of details, maybe that you all don't see. But he's gonna become a really good player in the National Football League. Your thought, I agree with it. I agree with that. I mean, you've seen him grow,

You've seen the growth. He's not making the dumb mistakes where he's instead of throwing the ball away, he'll try to throw in the track. He's throwing those balls away. Y. Yes, he may take a sack here there where he's not supposed to, but overall as a quarterback, as a leader of this team. His confidence is growing, his decision making is improving, and you know he's starting to throw the ball more accurately as well. So you know, I think

Sam is taking some strides. It's all about getting guys healthy, keeping his weapons around him, and continuing to learn with each mistake. I thought the Jets really got going offensively. First play the second quarter of forty one yard hook up with Jamison Crowder, where Sam stepped up in the pocket again, moved to his right, then displayed the accuracy on the move, and then later on that drive he

goes back to Crowder. Crowder dropped a layout. I told him after the game, you have that pass in your hands a hundred times from here now on, you're gonna catch that ball a hundred times. But Donald goes back to him the very next play and somehow completed and absolutely ridiculous. Kind Yeah, that was awesome that he had the opportunity to redeem himself. But I mean, again, Donald, everyone knows he's accurate on the run. That's that's his strength.

He's a great mobile quarterback. He can throw in the run. But now you know, as you go into the off season. As you go into the later part of the season, let's start working on the pocket presents. Let's start working on other aspects of your game to make you a complete quarterback. That's when you start to have a playoff contender. That's when you start to have an elite quarterback. And I think Sam is making those strong. The bottom line here is Sam Donald missed three games earlier this season

with Mono. We know that he's also worked with an offensive line that's had two starters at each position from left to right, from left tackle to right tackle. I just mentioned Ryan Griffin gone to into reserve. Ryan Griffin tight a number one for the Jets. But let's think about Chris Hernon the connection Sam Donald and Chris Herndon had in year one. Herndon basically a lost season for him as well. Quincy and noon Wa was figuring into the plans here way back in training camp. Unfortunately he

went down as well. Demarrius Thomas gets incorporated into the offense. He wasn't in the game. So you're seeing guys like Vincent Smith out there on the field, um in key situations for this team. Well, you know, I saw a stat that showed that the Jets have played over seventy players this season, and I mean, and that's if that isn't a credit to the coaching staff of getting these young players prepared to step into roles that they weren't expected to play in. You know, then I don't know

what is. You know, I think that the young players have done a great job preparing themselves. I think the veterans have done a great job of showing leadership and and bringing them along. And the coaches have done an excellent job of coaching and preparing these young players. I mean, you know, we look at our guest Bless Austin and you talk about that secondary how many injuries they've had

back there. I mean, Steve Jackson and Dennar Wilson, Uh, they deserve a Christmas bonus of some sort for the job they've done with these young players, preparing them for these game time situations. And they've done one heck of a job. And that'd be a silver lining for the New York just in two thousand nineteen, considering Joe Douglas. Joe Douglas was hired as general manager in June, and now he's seeing all some of these young guys play uh.

Brandon Copeland talked about it on a conference call today. He said, you can look at each level the defense. Kyle Philips, undrafted free agent on the Tennessee fuller Runzo Faticasi, who was on the show a couple of weeks ago, has become one of the better run stuffers in the National Football League. Those defensive alignment at the inside linebacker position. Who would ever thought that, James Burgess and Double Hewitt, we're starting for you and playing well inside linebacker position.

And then Cope did talk about our guest tonight as well, and that is blessed Austin. Yeah, I mean they they've done a tremendous job of preparing and having that next man up mentality, and it's just it's just adding depth to the off season, is adding depth to the future. Getting these young guys rips when you're not making it to the playoffs, that's what you do. You get rid of guys who are gonna be a part of your future.

You give younger guys the opportunity. Well, because of injuries, these young guys have had a whole season of experience and it's gonna make things tough. Decision making is gonna be tough in the off season. They're gonna have to get rid of some guys who are making a ton of money because the younger guys can play as well. So you know it's gonna put you in a tough position, but I think it's gonna help and strengthen your team

because of all this experience are gaining. All right, So the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and we're gonna get into that matchup. The Jets will conclude the two thousand nineteen season up in Buffalo against the playoff bound Bills. But we got a loaded show here tonight on Inside the Jets. We're gonna come right back and be joined by the A four mentioned Bless Austin. You are listening to Inside the Jets on ESPN New York.

Darnald under some pressure looks right thros right handed his cart down. Inside the five tiptoeing inside the pomeline is Cropper. That's a Jet touchdown. Jets Rewards members, don't foreget to enter the code December in your Jets Rewards portal during the show to earn a hundred points. You're listening to Inside the Jets Eric Allen alongside Eric Coleman. We are broadcasting live at Manabro Sports and Spirits inside the Windham

Hamilton Park Hotel. Our player guest segment is presented by I'm in t Bank, the official community bank of your New York Jets. Now, let's welcome in a man who was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens bless Austin, Hey, blessed, Thanks, thanks so much for joining us. How was the weekend off? I mean, you're getting into a groove of things in the National Football League, playing a lot and then a Thursday night game and then getting extended break. I mean

it was pretty cool. You know, it's pretty refreshing, you know, to have after you know, playing in Life File six consecutive games, so you know, just get a step back from everything and review the pass a little bit. You know, it was pretty cool to have. And you talked about playing in five or six consecutive games. What has it been like to be back in the swing of things, be a part of the game, and uh, you know, you know, you were hurt before for the last two years,

but now you're a part of the mix. You're you're part of the what goes on in the game. What has that been like for you? I mean, it's been exciting. Man. It's been interesting too because I remember early on when I started playing, I had to kind of relearn how to study, you know, how to study for the game playing, you know, which things was more important to know than others. I had to kind of decipher that, like throughout the weeks. So it was pretty interesting to realize, all, this is

my best way to study. This is how you know, comprehend the most out of the game playing like, so going through that, it's pretty interesting to learn, you know, how I was doing things for the past. Well, let's get into your backstory, because I don't know if everybody is aware of what happened you at Rutgers very productive player that two thousand seventeen comes You're living in the four games, right, yeah, A cl injury rehab, Get all the way back two thousand and eighteen season opener, same

a CEL correct and your college career. What was that like and how were you able to overcome that verse game? I mean the first time, I mean it was devastating without it, doubt because I've never been through anything like that. I never got surgery playing football as long as I did, you know, So I wasn't sure I was gonna bounce back the first time it happened to me. So, you know, when it happened, you know, I was actually thinking about

declaring that. Yeah. Remember you know, always joking to my coaches, Hey, you know, this my last year playing around. So when it happened, to be honest, the first thing that popped into my mind is, uh, I gotta come back, num yea. That was the first thing that crossed my mind. So, I mean the first time, you know, I went through it,

you know, it was hard and got over it. The second time it happened, I wasn't really you know, sweating it as much because I was pretty much like I went through it, It's gonna be a breeze, you know. The second time, I just gotta you know, be consistent with my rehab. So I wasn't really sweating at the second time as much. But what is the rehab like

after an NCL. I mean you kind of relearned how to do everything again, as far as walking, you know, and when you start learning how to walk, you got to get to let you to walk in you know, a lot of mileage, and it's the jogging phase, getting back in shape, getting the leg back. You know. You so you add you feel a little bit in the leg. You know, you lose a lot of weight, you know, I remember being you know, it was one man. I

dropped to about one six eight after surgery. While so yeah, so it's just a whole bunch of stuff that comes with weight loss, you know, your confidence, you know, getting confidence back in the leg, explosion power, It's a whole bunch of stuff that goes into it. But you just gotta have patience. And so can you talk about what it was like getting back into football, because when you're injured, people don't know this. When you're injured, yes you're a

part of the team. Yeah you go to practice and meetings, but you're not really a part of the team because you're not practicing. You don't have those stories to tell. What was that like getting back into the swinging things and what was it like being out with that injury. I mean, it was pretty cool, man, because when I remember when I first started practice and I felt comfortable being around everybody again, you know, in a comfortable man, because now I can look at everybody in the face

like I'm sweating, I'm getting in with y'all now. So I was pretty happy about that. You know, when you're not practicing with the guys, you could feel like you secluded a little bit, and not that they made you feel like that, but you know, you naturally feel like that because you're not out there physically funding the work with them. And what was it that got you through those times? You know, I know it was tough, you know, going to rehab, you know, not going to meetings and

not being a part of it. What got you through those phases are being injured. I mean that had a strong support system back home, you know, and I got a mentor as well, you know, coach Corey Robinson. He always, you know, pretty much you know, preached to me back my senim in college about you know, you can't you gotta control the controllable, you know, you can't try to control things you can't control. So I just took it to day at the time, and I didn't try to

look too far. What was draft? We kind of like though, because you got taken in the sixth round. I'm sure after the multiple injuries, maybe there was some uncertainty. But the one thing that always has stood out to me about you here earlier in your career is that you are a confident guy and no matter what was gonna happen, nothing was gonna stop you from break and down that

door in the National Football League. Yeah, I mean, I always knew I played in a big time for a couple of years, so I knew I had the talent I able to take to play at the next level. And I knew that the type of talent I had, and where everybody you know, said what I looked like. The coaches even told me, you know, straight up, hey, you like this type of dude, Like that type of dude some of the some of the best I played

at where they was at. So, you know, with them telling me that I had the confidence that I was good enough to play, it was just a mad of getting there staying healthy. So now that I'm healthy and I can play, now, now I'm just happy I can put the talent on display. So let's go to the scout team I got. I gotta ask these stories about because you're notorious for getting out there. Adam Gates said, listen,

this guy Bless Austin gave us fits. Then we had somebody here a couple of weeks ago actually on inside the Jets and said, yeah, bless you started mixing it up with Prian winners, Brian winners, pretty big dude and offensive linemen. So when you started practicing in mid October and you had been cleared, what's the mentality when you're going out there on the sculpting. Man, I'm just I got so much fire built up in me from from draft, from the draft process, you know, being out for so long.

You know, my passion, my passion that is for the game is that it's highest level. I think it's as high as it could be, you know, So every time I'm out there, I want to impose my will at all. Of course, you know it's a bigger corner. You know, I probed myself up be in physical health here. You know, I feel like it's not enough big corners that's embracing that physical role. So that's something that I want to

embrace as a bigger dude playing the position. So you know out there, I mean you said it, man, I just I just want to oppose my will whatever it is. You know, if if it's a matchup that I like, I'm gonna take that matchup, but you know, Brian Winners, that's not a matchup my life. It wasn't a match about life. So I didn't I couldn't take that one.

So can you give us an inside look at your meeting room as a defensive back because you know, listen, there's been injuries throughout the whole secondary, but at the same time, guys are stepping up and they're playing and they're confident. What kind of chemistry, kind of bond do you have with your coaches and the players that are in that room. Um, we have a great bond. And you know one of the things that helped out is the fact that you know, ho, I know my role

as a rookie. You know, I don't try to overstep my boundaries. You know, I try to be seen instead of herd. So I just know my role. You know. I asked questions and then I lean on the guys and I'm not afraid to show the guys like, hey, I'm depending on you to to help me out with this. And then the third I don't try to, you know, come come across as a guy that know it all as a rookie. So I think the coaches and and my team may see that, so you know, that's why

they embrace me. You. I don't know who you're you got, I don't know what your mentor is, but he's uh, you know, giving you some great knowledge. Because there's a lot of young players that come into this league and they think that they haven't figured out. They think that because of the prior success they had, because of the popularity they may have, that they have all the answers. But you seem like a guy who's humble, who's willing to take coaching, willing to take advice from other people.

And I commend you for that. Keep up with You are a big cornerback, and I don't think people can truly appreciate that. I'm not just talking about size, uh uh, only in terms of your heights, because pregame Baltimore, he's out there, it's twenty degrees, he's got the cut off his shirt. You're broad, man, So how does that help you in terms of playing physical with receivers because you're not just a lanky guy. Because I think sometimes people

are like, oh, yeah, bless Austin tall cornerback. No, you you're pretty built up. Yeah, I mean they're in college man. One of the knocks on me was I was a skinny dude. I had a skinny, lanky frame. So you know, I gotta remember, I've been hurt for two years and you know, right a CF, So you know I had two years upper body, a lot of upper body, so pretty much, yeah, I pretty much packed some weight on up top and then got the legs to catch up. So you know, I got to I got a little

size to me. Now, I got a little bit more power to me now, So now I could really like impose my will when I'm hitting dudes. So I mean, I just I just weren't told to sleep, put the weight on, put the work in, and now I'm able to take the punishment too that comes with being physical.

So so when you go back and watch the game film, you know, the last five six games that you played, what are some things that you think that you need to work on as a corner, you know, is it the press, is it off coverage, is it coming off blocks? What are some things that you see from your game? Um, I think I think some of the things I need to do better on probably anticipating more, probably anticipating plays better, you know, being in the spot faster, you know, and

that's things that just comes with experience. That comes, Yeah, it just comes with experience. You know. My coaches always made me aware of that because some of the some of the times that what can happen is that I'll go out there and trying to anticipate things so much that you start playing out of the scheme. So that's that's not my playing style. That's not my game at all. I always trying to play within the scheme. And you know, I just trust that the coaches they said to come

with experience. So it's more as much of these games I keep getting in, I'll trust that the players be come eventually. It's not the Jets Sport of U MT Bank Deficial Community Bank of York, New York Jets. You're listening that, it's like the Jets on ESPN New York and ark on alongside Eric Coleman were with Blessed Austin. The Steelers played Sunday night football. Now, I know you're gonna get separate cut ups and you're gonna be studying on your own also with the full defense and in

the defensive bats. With that being said, did you take a look at the game? I took a look at I took a look at a little bit of the game, not too much of it. You know, it's pretty uh knocked out toping to day years. So I kind of took it down early. And what do you think about

the challenge ahead moving on from Baltimore? Because I know you guys didn't play overall to your standards, and this is a completely different offense than the offense you just faced in Baltimore, of course, but um, the thing that's gonna help us out is, you know, Baltimore had a pretty different you know scheme when it comes as far as far as offense. You know, a lot of r p O S read ops and that's not something you

see from every team in the league. So now it's pretty much back to you know, the prototypical you know, uh drop back past the game when the sender running the football, you know, sneelers football. So you know it's it is it not easier to scout up for it, but it's a little bit more to what you used to doing, you know what I mean. And so what was that like last week? You have a couple of days to prepare for Baltimore. You know, an offense is different than any other offense in the league. What was

it like preparing for that? Did you have receivers or running backs pointing quarterback during the scout team and you know, like like what can you pick up in that in those two days before the game? I mean it depends when your preparation on your preparation. I mean I felt like we we had we had enough time to prepare, you know, as good as as anyone. So I mean this is just a matter that the only difference is you know, y'alls, y'alls, is that more important than the game?

Like that? Because you know you're running a lot of a lot of options. You know, y'all's gonna be in the right place and your feet gotta be in the right place as well. You know, just like that, you know a big play could happened. We got a guy like Lama Jackson, a qub. What do you think the preparation this week's gonna be like for the Steelers because you're gonna be facing the rookie quarterback. You neither Devlin Duck Hodges or maybe they go back to Mason Rudolf.

We do know at this point, I mean, every quarterback in this league is respected you know, every everybody's a professionals league. So we're gonna go about practice the same way we always do. We're gonna go work hard, you know, make sure I was in the right place, you know, be consistent. Yeah, do you consider this when you look at the final two games? People on the outside, are you gonna live today? The Jets are out of it?

These games don't matter? Tell us how much these two games matter for a guy like yourself, first year in the National Football League. Get this feat wet cashing in the opportunity right now, playing well, and now you have two final chances here in two thousand nineteen. I mean, these last two games don't don't mean a lot to me because of that, Like individually, honestly, it means a lot to me because you know, these is Buffalo is a team that just clinched the playoffs, so that's a

playoff contending team. And then with the Stealers they also a playoff contender as well. So you know, to get these last two wins, it will meet a lot, you know, because those are two teams that's playing great football right now. And to get a winning on those two teams that that would be thirty seconds here. What is it meant to you to play for New York team considering where you were raised? I mean, it means the world to me to be able to represent represent my home state.

Doesn't get any better than this. I mean this picture perfect. I mean, the words can't even explain it for you know, I'm trying to explain it, but I'm just getting soaked up because you know how so real it is. That's awesome you're doing. You're doing the state. Proud man, You're doing a great job. The work. Bless Austin. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, and now he's making in roads and floora Park, New Jersey for the New York Jets. Check

him out Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're gonna come right back here on inside the Jets. You're listening to ESPN New York has the punk plots, but Jets get the blocking on me recovery. That's batch them blocks it farms pump j Bellow. He runs down inside the Jets ESPN Radio. We're broadcasting live and real sports and spirits inside the Windham Hamilton Perclo Teller Eric on the one side, Eric Coleman, Since we just heard from the great Bob Shoes,

and I got lost in my thoughts. Listen, that was one of the positive things you could take out of that Baltimore game. I thought special teams was awfully good. Yeah they were. They did a great job in the return game. Uh we just heard them blocking a punt and there's nothing that changed the momentum of a game. And then then blocking a punt, you know, that takes all the wind out of the opposing team, gives you a you know, the crowd gets him into the game.

I blocked a couple of punts. H excuse me in college. That never in the NFL. But it's a it's a great feeling, better than a touchdown. Obviously, the Jets lost the Pro Bowl return man, and uh Andre Roberts, who's now taking care of those duties for the Buffalo Bills. We'll see him in the season finale up there in Western New York. But listen, I thought the return game was at its best in two thousand nine team both Time Montgomery and Vincent Smith. We're getting it gone. Yeah,

they've done a great job this season. Uh, you know, continuing that momentum from last year with Andre Roberts, you know, Pro Bowl return man. Now you have two guys in in Vincent Smith and uh time Montgomery who have done a great job in the return game. And that's just the credit to the special team's unit. They've they've been excellent. You know, that's a selfless job. It's one of the tougher jobs on the field is blocking in the kickoff

return game. Now, you'd like to have that missfield goal back. You you know obviously had a block in there as well, but Lockland Edwards goes under the radar as well. The partner, uh and perhaps his finest game in the two thousand nineteen season. Yeah, I mean having a partner that that can flip the field, that can uh, you know, give you those extra yards on defense is a huge bonus, uh, you know for that field position game is a game

that we sell them talk about. You know, you know what part of the field did they start to drive with? And then when you have a defense like the Jets defense, you need every everything that you can get, you know, to give them an opportunity to get it three and out, get the ball back to your offense with great field position. The Jet Steelers Sunday and MetLife Stadium. Levian Bell will

be the headliner here. Uh what do you make of his first season in Greenham White two four carries, six hundred seventy six yards rushing about three point three yards of pop, three touchdowns on the ground. He's also pitched in in the receiving game fifty seven catches, four hundred four yards receiving for Levyan Bell and one touchdown. Well, I mean, when you look at the stats that they're underwhelming, you know, it's something that you expect a lot more

from Levyan Bell. But when you go back and watch the film and you watch the effort that he's putting in, you know, he's fighting for every yard. You know, and this guy has not given up on the season. He hasn't given up on his team. And it's you know, he's a great leader, and I think he's a great asset to this team, and I think that he will

only help them moving forward. What was different about the run game against the Baltimore Ravens because that was his season high for Leon Boll with eighty seven yards on the ground. Well, you know, they were committed to the run. I thought the offensive line did a great job of getting to the second level. Uh. You know, obviously Sam Donald throwing the ball efficiently helps things as well. But

you know, Leban was running tough. You know, you obviously wish he can get more opportunities, but you know, running the football takes you know, you have to have a lead. You know you can't be you know, four team, you know, twenty one points below and running the football continuously. So you know, if you you can find a way to get convert those drives into touchdowns, I think Lebyan Bell

becomes more of a part of the officer. What do you think it's gonna mean for Bell this week to face his former club, the team that drafted him in the stealings, It's gonna be h It's gonna be an emotional game for him. You know, I remember my first time playing against the Jets, you know, a team that I loved, you know, a team that I came into the league playing for, you know, playing against him for the first time, you know, you want to do all you can to show them what they're missing. You know,

you want to give your best effort. You wanna you know you're gonna You're gonna have those relationships before the game. Of course, guys are gonna come up and give you hugs, but when the game starts, they're your mortal enemy. And you want to back the team that you're playing for. You want to show them why they missed out on

having you a part of their team. How about the attention he's gonna get this week because he's a star in the National Football League, And you know what it's like when there's media availability on Wednesday and Thursday or whenever he decides to talk, You're gonna have people from Pittsburgh up here asking him some questions. Yeah, it's gonna

it's gonna be tough. You know, he's gonna have to, you know, revisit a lot of relationships, answer a lot of old questions that I'm sure you know he doesn't want to talk about right now because it has nothing to do with the Jets moving forward in their position. But it's something that you have to do with a pro. You know, they were in the New York media. We're gonna have a lot more media attention than than another small market team would. And he's a professional. He does

right with the media. He's an entertainer. He understands that they have to do their job what do you think of the way Bell has navigated all this stuff that comes with playing in New York and playing for the Jets. You know, obviously in Pittsburgh that's a national brand as well. But when you come to a new team, all eyes

upon you. And even though I know he hasn't got the numbers he would have wanted, and I know on the other side of the spector, Mandam Gates is probably frustrated that the Jets haven't been able to get him to the second level as much as he's wanted. With that being said, guy has been super positive all year. I love how you know his attitude. Uh, you know, he is sticking to his personality. You know, whether the Jets are are playing bad, whether you know they're winning,

whether they're losing. Uh, he still is the same person, you know, and he believes in the self people leaving this team. You know, even when he goes through some it's facing some awkward questions and and facing some controversy, he's still let me on and he still gives that personality. And I give him a lot of credit for his attitude this year. He's been nothing but, uh, an example of how to carry yourself as a player, and I think it also proves that you can love football but

also have other interests as well. I think sometimes we want you guys, a former player, to be a robot. That these guys gotta go home twenty four hours a day, study the film, never go out, never play put puck golf or whatever, never taking a concert. You know. Yeah, why I brought up put puck golf is because it's just he went bowl another night. I know much was made of that, and you can have your own opinion

on net. But the thing about Levan is anything that he does, he puts himself a hundred percent into And you can have other interests in football, and you should. You know that that's healthy to have other interests. You know, I'm sure that you know. Listen, if you're an attorney, if you're you know, whatever your your occupation is, you want something to get away from the game. You know, when I was when I was playing, all my friends that I hung out with, we're not football players, they're

police officers. They did something else where I could get away from the game and have a chance to separate from from the from the sport. And I think it's important for guys to have hobbies, guys to have other interests outside of the game. Yes, you take your job serious. Yes, you study your film, you take care of your body, you do all the things that are required if you as a player, and then some. But you have to have an outlet as well. We've talked about this before.

I thought Belle, for whatever reason, it was an easy narrative to say he's the same kind of guy as Antonio Brown. I don't know Antonio Brown, but these guys have totally different personnel. Yeah, yeah, they're they're they're in different classes. You know. I think Levian is a is a very much a professional. He had to make a business decision last year which he thought was best for

himself and his family, his future in this game. And I don't think you should demonize him for that, you know, I think that he made the right decision for him. He's come back, he's been a professional, He's trained hard, he came back in shape. You know, he was motivated.

You know, you you can't knock him. You can't. If you're a Pittsburgh fan, Yes, you're gonna be frustrated because he's one of the better players in the league and you missed out on a season with him, but at the same time you have to respect his professional opinion

and what he did. What do you think at the end of the day, after these two games are on, Lavan will take from this year because obviously would have wanted the team to win more and he would have wanted to help more, meaning not in a selfish way. But Lady is the kind of guy's like, hey, just give me the ball because I want to help you

guys as much as I can. After sitting out a year and then signing here, what do you think he's gonna be like when he gets a chance to reflect the two thousand nineteen You know, I think that he's going to be extra motivated, you know, to come back in two thousand twenty and have an even better year. You know, he's gonna be a better leader for it, you know, helping his offensive line get better. You know

he understands. I think this season more than any helps you understand that this is the team sport and that everyone has to be clicking on all cylinders for your team to be effective, to be to be a winner, especially in this division that's so competitive. So I think he's gonna be a great teammate. He's gonna push guys in the off season and he's gonna be better for it. And I don't care how good of a back you are, if you're dealing with the problems the Jets had up

front this season, you're likely to struggle. I don't care who you are. Yeah, challenge any running back you know, to any player you know, to step into a position where you know, you go into the season with these high expectations with all these great players, all these key players, um, you know, role players and and star players, and then everyone gets hurt and then expect the same result. You know, I think you know from what this team has done.

You know, the injury they sustained. I thought they fought back very tough. They never quit on on games. They always fought hard. They got better every game. And you know, you have to give credit to these players, the veterans on the team, the young players, and the coaching style.

I would imagine both the Steelers fans and the Jets fans were at MetLife Stadium this weekend, are gonna give a tremendous supplause to Bell because if you're a Steelers fan, that guy left it out there on the field for you, and you experienced a lot of success because of two sins. Yeah, I mean you should, you know, give him his credit. Uh, pray him here with respect because he gave everything to that organization and to the to the point where, listen, he's going out there on a on a on a

franchise tag. He understands that he has a future in this game. He knows how he approaches the game. He wants the ball every time. If he's not getting it handed off, he wants to catch it. That's the kind of way he attacks the game. And he understands that if he's gonna go out there and give it his all, he's gonna leave his self exposed. And I think it's way too early to write this guy off because I think the easy thing to do is look at his numbers for two thousand and nineteen and say he can't

do it anymore. I don't say, I don't see that. Yeah, that you'd be making a mistake if you thought that he can't get back to plus yards as you know, total offers two thousand yards rushing in and receiving. This guy still has all the juice left that he had before. Yeah, the man nicknamed juice. I believe still has plenty of juice left. And let's see what happens Sunday, because that's a tough Ravens defense and he eighty seven yards on

the ground against them. I actually think, after watching Pittsburgh and you look at their numbers, and we're gonna dive into the match up here in our final segment, Steelers defense might actually be better than the Races. Yeah, you know there's something special over there. You know, the way they turn the ball over, They've forced a ton of turnovers, they have great pass rush. You know, they really can

reach you at every level. So it's gonna be a tough, tall order for the Jets this week and and a good test of where they are. Yep uh. And we are going to dive into the matchup in our final segment and we'll be right back with that. You're listening inside the Jets in esp in New York. Sam Donald in a shotgun, I don't roll out to his wife, steps up in the pocket, tucks it under fires up the right scene and he's got prouder at the thirty yard line, running left, put the high steps and it's funny.

Gets to the fifteen by the pounds of the ten. Remember Jets fans, You can stream us at the Jets Live through the Jets app presented by M and T Bank. Go to the app store or a Google Play Now and search Official New York Jets. Eric Ellen and Eric Coleman Here Advantables, ben, Real Sports and spirits inside the Windham Hamilton Park Hotel will be here next Monday night. I want to thank Kyrie is doing an awesome job producing back in New York City. And of course Justin

who is here as well in Flora Park. Well, bless Austin. We had on earlier in the show. Um, you said during a break e that he's already one of your favorite players. Why. I love his mentality, man, he has a he has a great outlook on life. Uh and those injuries, fighting, battling through tough circumstances kind of help

you get a better perspective on it. And you know the attitude that he takes in, you know, coming in here as a rookie, understanding he has a role to play, Understanding that you know there's a certain way to go about preparing for a game and preparing your body. Um, I love his attitude. You know, I think he's grateful for this opportunity and I really do think he going to develop into uh one of those players that's here for very long. And Eric, you played safety in the NFL.

But I like the physical presidency brings at the cornerback position. He's feisty, he's big. Like he talked about overcoming those two A c. L tears, he said he was living in the weight room while you can tell his upper body is he's a jacked up kid and he's ready to go out there with bad intentions every week. Yeah, he can move, he's physical. I mean that really helps you. You know. I look at it as you know, as

a safety. When I'm playing a Cover two, you want a big corner that's going to make that receiver declare, am I blocking this guy? Or am I running a route? Because the first thing I do is playing cover two is I look out at my corner. What's going on? Is he is a receiver running a route or is he being blocked? If he's being blocked, I can I can close the space. You know, you're coming from twenty yards deep, So the closer you can get the better when it's a run. So having a physical presence like

that at that cornerback position really does help you. And and and it's nice to see a cornerback who will throw it up in and be physical. We broke down the Baltimore game. We're looking ahead two Jets Steelers Sunday. With that Baltimore game, I was disappointed Jamal Adams didn't have the opportunity to go out there because Greg Williams would have certainly had a very big plan for this guy against Lamar Jackson, and he could have been a difference.

I'm not saying the Jets would have won that ball game, but that defense would have played a lot better had he been on the field, especially against that offense. You know, when I was watching the game at home, they were talking about how the Jets, it's one thing to have a spy for Lamar Jackson, but Lamar Jackson is more athletic than your spy is, so it doesn't really matter. And I just kept thinking to myself, imagine if that

spot was Jamal Adams. You know, yes, Lamar Jackson probably would have made him miss one or two times, but Jamal Adams would have got him down. He would have made him pay a few times and made him think about leaving that pocket. Well, but that's the other point when Lamar jet excellent And we're not gonna sit here and talk about Lamar for a long time. But he's a great player. That's what a lot of people in the NFL are wondering is not can he keep this up over a short period of time? Is how many

hits is he going to sustain? And is his style play sustainable? And I'm not taking a shot at anything he's doing on the field because he is a brilliant football player and if you vote him m v P, you're not getting any disagreement disagreement for me. But it does have to concern you a little bit when your quarterback, he is your star. Yeah, anytime you have the you know, the star of your team, the identity of your team out there taking shots, out there taking risks, it's gonna

make you take a deep breath. You're gonna be concerned about it. But you know, I think he does a good job of getting down. He did take a couple of shots last week. Now how they do it, oh my god. But you know, most for the most part, you know, he's not really taking those shots. He's getting out of bounds, he's getting down and so I mean, but at the same time, whenever your quarterback leaves a pocket, you're gonna be concerned. Yeah. So it's gonna be interesting

what happens in the postseason. Here. The Jets could finish up with three consecutive playoff teams because Baltimore is already clinched the FC North, Pittsburgh is right in the mix for a wild card, and the Buffalo Bills have already submitted their spot in the postseason. Yeah. I mean, this is that this is gonna be a true test of the the Jets team. You know, they're playing his three playoff teams. Um, you know you talk about the Ravens. Uh,

the Steelers are gonna be ready to go. You know, Mike Tomlin, he's up for Coach of the Year this year. In my opinion, he's done one heck of a job coach on this team. He's on his third quarterback. You lose possible future Hall of Famer and Ben Roethlisberger, you lose Juju Smith Schuster, and you're still in the playoff hunt. It's an amazing job of coaching that Mike Tomlin has done. He and his staff so It's gonna be a big test this week and coming up next week, going up

to Buffalo. It is amazing what Mike Tomlin has done in Pittsburgh. He was fired his head coach when he was thirty four years old. Thirteen seasons later, the Pittsburgh Steelers have never finished under five undertime. Unbelievable and people

take that for granted. And you know, whenever I've ever heard his name on the hot seat has made me angry because what coach do you know that has gone that long without having a losing season, done the job that he's done, been consistent every single year and creating winners. You know, he has a great culture that he's that he's had over there. Uh, you know, it's just too bad they're gonna have to come to New York and take a hell this weekend. What do you make of

the predicament they're in without Roethlisberger. They've had some struggles to the quarterback position, Mason Rudolph, then they go to Devlin Duck Hodges. Dad hod just put the ball up a lot against the Buffalo Bills kind of played into their hands because the Bills have arguably the best secondary in the national Football League, they come away with four in receptions, four sacks. I ken can't imagine going to stick to that game plan no matter who's lining it

up at quarterback. I would imagine Pittsburgh to come out and try to run the football. Yeah, James Conner, Well, I mean, they're definitely gonna have to run the football. But I think without having been Roethlisberger for a year, it gives you a preview with lifelike after men. You know, he's been threatening retirement for the last couple of years. You know, he's getting older, and he got drafted with me in two thousand four, with Eli Manning and Philip Rivers,

Eli Manning. You know, these are all guys who are on their way out of the league. So at some point in time Roethlisberg is gonna take that next step. But let's go to the defensive side of the ball. How about the matchup for Sam and Donald and company. These guys get after the quarterback, but dupre he's got nine and a half sacks, but he's not the headliner. How about t J. Watt thirteen and a half sacks? And then Mica Fitzpatrick came over from the Miami Dolphins,

rookie season, he's got five picks. Yeah, I mean you have twenty seconds after the quarterback Minca Fitzpatrick into it over. I had done a great job, but it's gonna be another task for for Sam Donald to see how he can elevate his game. Yeah, it certainly is. I'm looking forward to this one because, as Brandon Copland said today, listen, these guys are playing for their livelihoods right now. Two

games remaining for the New York Jets. We'll be back right here next week Inside the Jets on ESPN New York, though Larry Hardisty is up next.