FLORHAM PARK — When the New York Jets drafted Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the belief was that the Pitt product would have to wait a while for his number to be called on a contending team.
Well…what now?
After falling to 4-8 last week in a 13-8 contest with the Atlanta Falcons, it was another game that saw the rocket rookie runner fail to get into the game for a touch or offensive snap. In fact, since being called up to the active roster in Week 12, Abanikanda has failed to get on the field in every game except one – his first against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the frustration that could come from not seeing the field for a team failing to run basic concepts on offense, Abanikanda told AMNew York this week that he was more focused on just learning the game in his first year.
“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating,” Abanikanda explained. “I’m just happy to be in the position I am. I’m still learning and taking everything as a learning experience.”
So why isn’t a young rookie like the Pittsburgh University product getting playtime in a lost season?
To the coaches, there’s a lot in his game that needs to be taught and improved on first.
“He’s worked really hard,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett stated Thursday. “When he’s out there, all the different things we see, the different pressures, the different fronts, especially on third down, that it’s not easy. It’s not an easy task. As some might think, you just got one guy, and it changes quite a bit. Those guys are twisting and running all over the place. All those guys are doing a good job picking up that slack and Izzy’s one that he knows that he’s got a long way to go there.”
Pass blocking for running backs is an extremely complex part of the position. When a back misses a protection assignment in the passing game, the results are usually disastrous for the entire play.
That’s something Abanikanda was more than willing to…
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