LISTEN | Jets Free Agency Update - Ep. 5 (3/20)

day for Joe Douglas and company. E A. First things first, I don't think we've talked about this on the podcast. Oh, real quick. Olivia Landis will be joined by Anthony Becks talking Jets and talking Tom Brady, considering Anthony beck knows a thing or two about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers living in that area. Real quick, though, before we talk about football, I don't think I've told you this. I'm thinking about growing a quarantine beard and seeing what I can get.

What do you think about that? Uh? You man, you can support a beard. You don't have bad facial hair, so go for it. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. So let's I tend to keep the bear. You want to dive in. No, I tend to keep the beard, and you're around myself. It depends how I know how long it's gonna be. I have a friend, we have a mutual friend across the street here in Green's in Floria Park, Paul Marsh, who's been working. Uh, it's been a colleague of mine for close to twenty years, been

a colleague yours for more than four years. He he looks like a character straight out of Duck Dynasty. Yes he does. Uh, you know, you used to do the beard only from what Thanksgiving to Easter? Thanksgiving to Easter. But uh yeah, but you listen. You gotta pay attention to your loved ones. And if your loved ones tell you what to do with something, you follow. That understood. So let's let's dive into some Jets football here. Let's start with the cornerbacks because it's rather timely with Arthur

Milette reportedly resigning. First is what's your overall take on the move? That was his best professional season last year with the New York Jets getting some starting experience. I know one of those games he came out of there with double digit tackles. What I like about Milette greens and you can add to this just thinking about him is he's a deaf guy. He can give it value on special teams. He can play outside the numbers, and he can play inside. Yeah, he started six games last

year for the Jets, appeared in twelve. He had, I mean all career numbers for him, thirty eight total tables, two past defenses. He got an interception in the season finale up at New Era Field in Buffalo, and I think I think Arthur Milette really grew as the year went on, and I think this is a good move for the Jets. And obviously we talked about just how thin the position is from a numbers perspective. I mean, the Jets corners under the roster, under contractor bless Austin,

Kyran Brown, Nate Hairston and Darryl Roberts. That's four defensive backs, four cornerbacks. And Arthur Miletts definitely earned his spot, I think back on the Jets, and it will have an opportunity depending on who the Jets signed and bringing in the draft to start. And the other thing I really like about Arthur Millett is his willingness to tackle and set the edge, and that's something that you and I have talked to him about throughout the course of last season.

And he's a very physical corner and he's familiar with Greg Williams, so the familiarity and the continuity can only bode well for him. So I think it was a good move by Joe Douglas. Yeah, that is very important. And there's multiple ways of free agency and Uhmlett, like we talked about here, here's a guy who's really takes a hard nosed approach. He plays iron on the field.

I think he's a Greg Williams type player. Um, and you need death and this is a guy who showed last year when called upon is that he can go out there and he can contribute for you, not only

on teams Greeds, more importantly the festival. Yeah. Absolutely. And you know Arthur Mallett has a real interesting story and we had him on the podcast once before Juco and then goes and plays for the Saints, the Colts a little bit, then joins the Jets and he actually started like an all seafood diet became a pesketian at some point last year and was very much enjoying that when

we spoke to him. But when you look at the status so the rest of this Jet secondary one, I'm sure Joe Douglas is going to add more players at corner in particular, because you think about one, the numbers like we talked about, and two you think about or I think about at least what Joe Douglas said at the combine when he said, we, yes, we need explosive playmakers on offense, but on defense you need to add edge ushers and corners because that's the best way to

affect the past. And we'll see what happens, of course with the draft. And when you look at the Jets safeties when you go back there, obviously you think about Jamal Adams and Marcus May, but then really question marks behind those two guys. Yeah, I don't just want to get back to the cornerback position just for a second here, early in free agency, a couple of veterans out there

on the market that aren't traguing Greens. He's Jimmy Smith. Uh, Joe Douglas, a former Baltimore scout when the Ravens made him a first round pickback in two thousand eleven. I know he's a veteran thirty two years of age, but he still can play, and somebody is going to sign him oop, I would imagine relatively soon. Another guy played cross town for the New York Giants, Prince and Mukamara, Right, so he's out there as well. Uh, and he's an

older guy, thirty one years old. But uh, those are two guys who can come in and play roles for whoever picks them up, no doubt about it. But at a safety position. Listen, man, you gotta be really excited if you're Jets fitting you got a two time defunding team. I'm VP. And Jamal Adams, who is also a two time Pro bowler who also first team All Pro All Pro for the first time in his career last year, all over the place, six and a half sacks might have set the NFL defensive backs sack record had not

he had suffered that ankle injury in December. But still a fabulous season all over the place. He can kind of do it all. Greg Williams, I think um was a perfect match for him. Greens And how about Marcus May only guy in the defensive backfield to start all sixteen games? Range E and he is central command. He's a guy making sure everybody is lining up in the

right position. And when you think about the Jets last year, what impressed me most about may perhaps was the guys all pointed to him and said, especially the guys on the outside, those cornerbacks we mentioned the guy like Arthur Roulette, is that he was the guy making sure everybody disguised late. There were a lot of times last season when the Jets based a veteran quarterback he didn't know what was coming.

I think about that Oakland Raiders game and Derek Carr listen, give the guy's credit up front, But what the Jets were doing in the defensive backfield and how Greg Williams was disguising, I thought really had him baffled. And we saw that on occasion, no matter who was playing on the outside. So Marcus may not only talk about what he brings athletically, We got to talk about what he brings from the mental standpoint, all right, Well, before we

dive into the linebackers and defensive line. Here's Olivia Land. That's his interview with Anthony Beck. To you living in Tampa Bay as well as was being involved in the football world, everybody on God's Green Earth knows that Tom Brady, the former Patriot, New England Patriot, he was there for twenty years, officially committed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So he's actually um on your side of town now, which is kind of great. Think it's unbelievable. Uh, you know,

twenty years ago the two thousand draft. We both came out of that draft. Of course, myself, Chad Sewan, Elis Abraham, we were all part of that same draft. He he obviously went later in the sixth round, and just an unbelievable run for him and the fact that he is arguably this is probably the largest free agency signing. Some people say since Peton Manny. I would say ever, you know, since Tregy White, because this guy is arguably the best

quarterback to ever play the game. I don't think many people right at this point, with all his rings and everything he's done, would say differently. So, uh, just a long string of events, Olivia that kind of went on from start to finish finish when you talk about him becoming a Buccaneer, and I don't think a lot of people really believed it was gonna happen. You know, if you look at the past for the Buccaneers, a lot of kind of hand up in your face kind of situations.

Going back to Bill Parcels, who was supposed to coach here, I thought that was a done deal. He goes when Chip Kelly was hot, he was a big name, he was supposed to sign here. He goes somewhere else. And then of course Brett Barr, who ended up going to the Jets and played for the Vikings, didn't uh, didn't uh, you know, come to Tampa Bay where it was a potential option for him. So this is kind of a

surreal moment for the fans down here. I don't think a lot of people really believed in the fact that it was gonna happen. It was a lot of talk, a lot of people kind of talking about interest. But within the organization and the people that I know from Tampa Bay, you know, this thing has been going on since early February. You know, the talks, the push when a lot of people weren't thinking that Tom Brady was ever gonna leave. They kind of pushed the envelope a

little bit. And you know, Bruce Arians, the head coach down here in Tampa Bay, kind of pushed the envelope got Tom Brady kind of talking to the right people, and those people were Peyton Manning, you know, players that played under Bruce Arians and kind of get to know what he it in that transition when they were with the Colts and of course when he went to Denver, when he left Indianapolis. No whatever thought that Peyton would

do that. So this is the first time deal for Tom Brady, first time free agency, just not really getting you know, the kind of ups and downs, the ins and outs of the situation. A lot of information was being gathered, and the Buccaneers continue to push, continue to push, and and of course you see now the pieces, the rosters, the coaching staff, former head coach of the New York Jets is down here as the defensive coordinator, Todd Bowls.

All those things I think come together, uh, in a in a in a in a high you know, weathered area where you love the play and the sun's out every single day. And an older player, I remember that for myself, going somewhere and playing somewhere with the weather is great and it just feels good. So his body is gonna be great. So coming down to Tampa Bay, as many who thought it wasn't gonna be or it wasn't a great idea, turns out to be his best choice.

And it's definitely a surreal moment for the fans down here with Brady leaving the a f C East. Sam Donald now because the longest tenord quarterback in the a f C East, which is kind of crazy to think about. But when you look at Sam Donald because he was drafted in the same draft class as Josh Allen, but he has more starting experience. How is he going to

build off of that in year three? Yeah? I think the one thing we can all agree upon with Sam and he's determined to be great and he's determined to get better. Uh, you know, he's a team guy. You know, he's not necessarily worried about statistics. The only statistic he has and thinks about his winning football games. And it was a disaster last year when he missed several games because of getting mono nucleosis. So I'm excited for him. He has to be pumped up. I mean, it's a

huge off season for him. You know, him, his his skilled position players, these guys working together training, I mean, you know right now, they're not together during this time, which it wouldn't be anyway, but you know, getting the juices flowing and wanting to come back, get stronger, get faster. You know, you're more intelligent with the system now. All these things put together with another year under your belt,

just makes everybody better. So you know, the organization from the top with Joe Douglas and his staff, Rex and all those guys are gonna put together the best team possible. Gaze and his staff, you know, make sure everybody is complimentary and what they're trying to propose as far as plays and enhancing from last year in the system and what worked and what didn't. And then of course all the players coming back healthy. You know that that's gonna

be uplifting. I think it's exciting. Every team gets excited. But you know, as I look at what the Jets did and you start early in the season, you know that first game, you know what they look like when they came out the gates, and then how the kind of team dissipated because of injuries, missing Moseley and all these kind of players not being at full task. Uh that that that'll be a difference this year and that'll

be huge. So I'm looking forward to it, and I think Sam most importantly have any player on the football team can grow and become even better than he was last season. That's what you want. You want to be peeking at year three. That's kind of how the evolution of a player is in the NFL, the great ones, the high draft picks. When you play your first your second years, you get thrown into the are Now it's like, okay,

you gotta be peaking. So he's kind of, you know, he's got out of that youth um process and now he's stepping into that bed room world where he can become even more of a leader on that end to which would be great for him. I think this goes without saying as well, but I'm going to say it anyways.

If there's any person to listen to when it comes to some of the college prospects coming out into the draft, it's definitely going to be you because you are watching these players every single week when you're doing the college you know, being a college football analyst. So I think that, um, I'm just gonna go ahead and listen to what you have to say. I'm listening on some of these guys.

But yeah, that's great. I think Joe Douglas very vocally addressed the fact that the offensive line was going to be a number one priority coming into this offseason, and so far he has lived up to his words. So it's really good to see that they are getting some things done along the offensive line. Now, before I let you go, I want to get some final thoughts. We're going to circle back to the Tom Brady and the

jem It's in the a f C s this whole talk. Obviously, you do a lot of work for both the Jets and some team coverage for the Bucks as well, since you live down there in Tampa when you are you know, you're an insider, but also from an outsider looking in when you look at this entire situation, is there anything else that really stands out to you about this Tom Brady being in Tampa Bay and how can how this

really affects the Jets in the a f C East. Well, you know, I think it's a you know, it's a tremendous springboard for this team to take advantage of a situation. I mean, you know, there's gonna be some some struggles here for the Patriots, and and that's one team in the division and I think last year not a lot of buzz was put around the Buffalo Bills. But I think right now, you look at the Bills where they're at,

that's your main kind of you know, competition. It's Jets and of course, um, you know, Miami trying to figure out, you know, what their quarterback situation is. They've gotta they bought a ton of players, but I don't know how good of a team will be, so um, it'll be interesting. You know. Look at this is uh, this is a great time to be to be a Jet fan. I

think they're positioned properly, like we talked about in the draft. Um, and look, Tom Brady is not in not only in the division, but in the conference, and that that sets that sets a huge bar. I mean, honestly, those are two games that the majority of the com of the division we're not winning. I mean, it's just bottom line, regardless it may have been close, but Tom just been a thorn and everybody's everybody's back for the last twenty years.

And you know, now you've gotta you know, I would expect the Patriots to lose games within the division, and the pain and the and the Jets have to be those trend setters early to take advantage of that, and ultimately that will give him the confidence. And that's that's what's gonna be good and and look good teams. You know, winning one game two games in a row are great. That the really good teams that come out each year

can win three or four games in a row. That those are the kind of trends you want to look for when you're looking for teams that are good. You know, when you start losing two or three and then you gotta bounce back when one you'll lose one, that's not really a good sign. So early on that will be That's what I'll be looking for out the Jets, and I think they're fully capable of that along with some of the weapons. Again, it's early on here in March.

They're going to continue to add to this football team and and and hopefully, you know, uh, live up to the expectation that I think they should have moving into next season. Anthony, I can't thank you enough for your time coming on the podcast, give me yes your thoughts not only on Tom Brady but the Jets as well, So thank you so much. We really appreciate it. Listen, enjoy,

Tom Brady down there in your sunny Florida. Okay, I'm very happy he's gone exactly a f C, which is great for us because you know that that's exactly what we want. And of course I'm happy because Tampa. It's been a struggle down here to the teams I cover, just trying to get over the hump, and I can't wait to see how both teams react to both of the of those leaving and coming. It's gonna be an

interesting year. Always great to hear from Anthony back to of course, was one of the four players drafted in two thousand by the Green and White. And as he and I spoke with Anthony back at the combine, he still extremely proud of his combine numbers, and you know what, like good for him because I didn't even know that he had those kind of numbers in Indianapolis, and he

really tore it up. And if he were, I mean, he talked about this, if he were a current day prospect, he would be a big time riser after the combine. Anthony Beck played at two or seventy pounds, known for his blocking prowess, but yeah, what he did at the combine, I would consider him somewhat of a freak athlete bottom line, pulling off those numbers and some of those cone drills,

some of those shuttle drills. Uh yeah. And it was hard to fit his head into the convention center because he was feeling quite good about himself talking to the college kids and remembering what he had posted twenty years prior. Yeah, no doubt. And I know we got off in a little bit of tangent talking about some offense on the Defense podcast here. So let's go back to another reported signing,

Neville Hewitt. So we're supposedly rejoined the Jets, and he he had a roller coaster year in the sense of he was the backup will linebacker, then he becomes a starter when Avery Williamson goes down. Then C. J. Mosley gets hurt in week one, so a week two he's the mic linebacker. After two weeks before he was a reserve player. And he played very well for the Jets.

And you asked me the other night about Burgess because he was an exclusive rights free agent as well, and he's a restrictive free agent, and we're covering all these guys, and I forgot to even mention Neville because the first guy on my mind was C. J. Mosley, and then I thought about Avery, and then I thought about Blake Cashman. But how can you not remember nevill Hewitt. He was terrific last year, seventy eight tackles. He had three sacks,

seven quarterback hurries, a couple interception, six past defenses. And here is a guy that you out in your system again Frank Bush, inside linebackers coach, and also defensive coordinator Greg Williams. You have to credit those guys for his development because uh douvill Hewitt largely thought of as a

debt player, a reserve. I'll tell you what you look like, a front ride starter towards the end of the season, no doubt about debt and when he's not, And the only thing or the other thing about nevil Hewitt that I like is when he's not starting at either the mic or the will. He's a very solid special teams contributor. I believe the year before he was one of the core members of Special Teams and he did a great

job for Brand Warrior's unit as well. So he's another one of those guys that brings intensity and he might not be the most outgoing off the field. But on the field, he runs with his hair on fire. He hits hard. He had a great game against Dallas before he went down with a stinger for a couple of weeks. And I really like where the linebackers right now. It's a linebacker as an embarrassment or Richard if you really think about it. Now, if those guys stay, if they

all come back, and that is the big caveat. But C. J. Mosley, I mean, I don't know if all Jets fans remember just how good of a player this guy is. We saw glimpses of it against the Buffalo Bills when he was the best player on the field of Week one. To get him back, and he's also one of the most cerebral players in the league. He's gonna be a perfect fit with Greg Williams, got Avery Williamson still on the roster. He led the team in tackles in two

thousand eighteen. Blake Cashman, I thought you showed a lot of things in coverage last year before going down. So I just think the biggest thing for the inside linebackers breeds his health and then check the box because just like the tight ends are set on the offensive side

of the ball. You gotta like where you're at an inside linebacker, Yeah, and I even think the same could be said for defensive line And we'll touch on them right after we talk about the outside linebackers, because right now, I mean the big the big guy that you don't think about in terms of or that you do think about potentially not returning is Jordan Jenkins because he's not under contract. He's currently a free agent. And then you think about Terrell pass Um who came on late at

the end of the year. He had his first career interception against the Steelers that was impressive. Then Frankie lu Wu's an exclusive right free agent, so I don't know what's gonna happen there. Harvey Longy is another one of the guys that plays all over the place, and the Jets right now they're gonna need some guys on the outside at the linebackers. Its gonna step up. And you mentioned Joe Douglas is saying the point in emphasis talking about edge guys and cornerbacks. So Bashroom is a guy

who you mentioned that interception interception. I believe that was a zone drop. I thought Jamal Adams was coming on a blitz and they're Bash display his athleticism and a lot of the big guys they might drop a ball like that, but he showed his hands off. I like his speed off the edge. He's a big guy. The versatility to Greens is that he could put his hand in the dirt and he also can stand up. Of course, so Bash intrigues me because I look at him as

another developing player on this team. Jordan Jenkins, Yeah, the watches on because the fifteen sacks the last two seasons. He led the Green of White and sacks last year. The thing about Jordan's that he's gonna have to weigh in his representation and things like that is what is the best system fit for me? Where am I comfortable? Uh, let's see how that plays out. Valuable piece. But if the Jets don't go in that direction, of course they might be looking to add at edge, regardless whether you

bring George Jenkins back or not. Right, Yeah, I would definitely think so, and was one of the positions. Like I said earlier that Joe Douglas talked about being imperative on any good defense and real quick, let's just wrap things up on the defensive line, and you talked about an embarrassment of riches before. Well, this defensive line just when you thought it couldn't get you know, on paper, it was good entering last season. Then you get contributions

from Tolronzo Farukasi, Nathan Shepard had a good year. You knew what you were gonna get out of Steve McClendon. And then, really, what's the biggest surprise I think if you look back at last year was the production by an undrafted free agent rookie and Kyle Phillips. Yeah, it's something else. Before I dive in to the defensive line real quick because I don't even know how much time we've got to spend on those guys because they are set up front. A couple of guys on the market,

interesting names. Let me throw this at you. Vinny Curry played the Eagles. Of course it's gonna be thirty two. But if I say X last year Green, so let's see how the market develops for him, i'mout. Marcus Golden uh played last season with the Giants. This shocked me. Greens he had ten sex last season. So there are a couple of guys out there, I know every we're talking about your Damon Clowney. Okay, Um, we'll have to

see how that all uh continues to progress. But I think Clowney is a guy who's gonna want to break the bank. I don't know what the market will be ultimately for him. Right now, he's sitting it out. Now, let's go to the defensive line. You mentioned all those guys. Steve mclennen, Jim's always open uh. He's stout as ever, a great leader inside the locker room. Credit him for

a lot of the development for full of runs of Fatasi. Listen, when guys started talking about Fatacasi last year, they weren't saying that he's one of the better run stuffers on the Jets. They were staying he's one of the better runt stuffers in the National Football League. Do you think about what the Jets did last Steer in terms of either stops at the line of scrimmage or stops in the backfield, stops for a loss. It was really something else.

Quinn and Williams, is there two greens? We got to mention him number three overall selection in the two thousand eighteen thraft. Um. So I still have high hopes for him. I know sometimes you're gonna see the biggest leap from a lot of these young guys. You know this Greens is from is not the rookie seasons. From year one to year two, you got Henry Anderson still on the roster, big rangy guy um who can be used in different situations. So depth, talent, hard working guys, uh pluggers. You got

everything up there. Yeah. I just want to say one thing about Quinny Williams. You mentioned the the you mentioned the leap that a lot of players take from year one to year two, and you just for me, I look at Floronzo Pardokazi and Nathan Shepard, two defensive linemen who had quiet rookie years, and Florenzo I don't think he was active for a single game before becoming one of the better, if not one of the best, run

stuffers in the NFL. I mean, he had a great year last year for the Jets in his second season. So to your point, I do have high hopes for Quentin Williams entering his second season. And I think Quentin Williams has high hopes for himself, and I think he knows it because he's somebody that was very well regarded at Alabama that just doesn't go away. So I'm pretty sure like if you asked me today who might breakout player next year would be, I would be saying Quentin Williams.

Obviously I'm not gonna don't hold me to that, but that's what I'm going with right now. On March twenty at fourty seven pm. Now is the Official Jet Podcast, powered by Amazon Web Services. Many thanks to Olivia and Anthony fact e A. Keep holding down the Fort and Florham Park and we'll talk to you soon, okay, brother and join the weekend back Monday