SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Three weeks after their first training camp practice, the Jets’ struggles along the offensive line remain a major concern. Yes, this is a real issue with the start of the regular season a month away. Even coach Robert Saleh had to admit that Thursday before the Jets practiced.
“My optimistic side would say: we’ve got time,” Saleh said. “Duane [Brown]’s coming back, we’ve got some cards in our back pocket we can use, but as a coach you want it done yesterday. We want these guys rolling, we want confidence, we want to start humming. …
“[But] here’s a learning curve. That part of it I have empathy for and understanding that it is going to take some time. But yeah, I’m a coach, I wanted it yesterday.”
That’s an acknowledgment from Saleh that it’s definitely not where the Jets want it to be right now. Of course, Wednesday’s joint practice with the Panthers proved that to everyone, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was constantly under pressure and said after the practice that the interior blocking has not been the issue, but that the Jets need more consistency at both tackle positions.
The Jets are hoping to get Brown back soon — he’s still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, but the soon-to-be 38-year-old is expected to be ready for the start of the season. Billy Turner and Max Mitchell are battling it out — seemingly for the right tackle job — and both have had up-and-down camps.
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Saleh said some of the struggles are to be expected, given the Jets’ situation. They are running a new offense and brought in a new offensive line coach in Keith Carter.
“There’s a lot of new stuff that guys on the offensive line have never done before, Turner said. “But all in all we’re definitely making some strides.”
But Turner also admitted there have been growing pains. Saleh sees that and tries to remember that when the level of play isn’t where he wants it to be
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