Training camp signs Jets could have their best offense in years

The Jets have their first day off in training camp Tuesday after five straight days of practice. Here are some thoughts and observations one week into Jets camp:

1. This is my ninth training camp covering the Jets. There has been one constant through all of them – the defense has always been better than the offense. It has been a combination of defensive coaches, high draft picks on defense and sloppy offense that has led to it. I always think back to 2012 when Rex Ryan introduced a system where whichever unit won the day wore black jerseys at the next practice. He scrapped it after a few days because the defense dominated.

This year feels a little different, though. The offense is holding its own early in training camp. I would even say the offense “won” two days and played the defense evenly on another.

Will this translate in the regular season? I don’t know. But here are a few factors on offense that should make Jets fans excited:

• A quarterback on the rise. Sam Darnold has looked good early in camp. He looks way more comfortable and assertive than he did last year. Some of his throws are hard to believe.
• A coach who cares about offense. It almost feels like an overcorrection, but Adam Gase is solely focused on the offense and leaves the defense to Gregg Williams. For too long, the offense has felt like an afterthought with the Jets as Ryan or Todd Bowles focused on the defense. The Jets offense will get better coaching than it has in a long time.
• Players who create mismatches. Le’Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder, Chris Herndon and Ty Montgomery are like chess pieces for Gase. He can move them around and force the defense to cover some of them with linebackers that will lead to mismatches. If the defense floods the field with defensive backs, they run the ball with Bell. This offense has more options than it has in a few years.

2. Some rookies stand out immediately when you see them play. Quinnen Williams fits in that category. The No. 3 overall pick has special qualities. He reminds me of Sheldon Richardson as a rookie. Richardson had an immediate impact and went on to win Rookie of the Year. I am curious to see how Williams performs in the preseason games, but so far he looks like he is ready for the NFL. During pass-rushing drills on Monday, he manhandled some linemen.

3. There has been a heavy emphasis on turnovers early in training camp. There are drills for the offense to prevent fumbles and the defense to create them. Gregg Williams also has his players scoop up any football that hits the ground, even if it is an incomplete pass.

4. The arrival of Joe Douglas as GM makes predicting this year’s roster very difficult. He has no allegiance to any of these players. That leaves some Mike Maccagnan draft picks squarely on the roster bubble. Some recent picks I think could be in danger – Elijah McGuire, Nathan Shepherd, Parry Nickerson, Folorunso Fatukasi and Jeremy Clark.

5. Darryl Roberts has been viewed as a potential weakness at cornerback, but he put together back-to-back good days on Sunday and Monday. Roberts has shown he can play with backup duty in the last few years. The question is can he maintain a high level of play for an entire season. A coach once told me there are some players you love at 300 snaps in a season but you don’t want to see at 1,000 snaps. Roberts has to show he can play well consistently.

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