After each game, we typically highlight three defensive and three offensive players and look in detail at their performance. We’ll start today with the defense:
Page against the Machine
With Jay Tufele now on injured reserve, this was the first opportunity for undrafted rookie defensive tackle Payton Page to get some extended playing time after having played just five defensive snaps in his first two games.
While Sunday’s team performance was frustrating and embarrassing, it’s unfair to say that nobody played hard. Page made the most of his 29 snaps and held up well in the trenches, displaying good strength as he recorded five tackles including one for a loss. He also had one pressure.
If you’re looking for effort and hustle, look no further than this play where he hustled back to make a tackle 25 yards downfield, potentially preventing an even bigger play with blockers out in front.
This play is also impressive, as he showcases initial power to move the left guard off his spot and then some agility to work laterally to the outside and fill the cutback lane.
On this one he stands up the left tackle to avoid being reached and sealed, and has the inside leverage to shed and stuff the run.
In these meaningless games, a youngster showing that they could be a useful contributor is about all you can ask for. Lost in the bad team performance, Page did a decent job of that on Sunday.
A fish Watts from the head
Another player getting a chance due to someone heading onto injured reserve is Eric Watts, who played 33 snaps that were available because Will McDonald headed to injured reserve during the week. Micheal Clemons moved up into the starting line-up – and did well – but Watts had his moments off the bench.
Of course, all that will be remembered from Watts in this game is that he found himself isolated in a coverage assignment that led to an easy 22-yard Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown catch.
McDonald might be athletic enough to stand a chance in that matchup but Watts was exposed easily. Of course, he’s not the same kind of player as McDonald, being much bigger and more of a run stopper.
When in that run stopping role, Watts was legitimately good although he didn’t square up Stevenson on a run up the middle and got dragged for an 11-yard gain. His only other tackle was a good play as he shoved the tight end aside to stop a run on the edge.
Although he only had those two tackles, Watts had three more plays where he helped bottle up a run near the line of scrimmage and also got up after a cut block to flush Maye from the pocket so he did make a handful of contributions in his time on the field.
Watts perhaps doesn’t have the same ceiling as Page, but he’s shown he can be a competent role-playing run defender if used in that fashion and has a good chance to stick around, perhaps on the practice squad again initially, next year.
Jord-dropping
Jordan Clark, another undrafted rookie, and another player who spent most of the year on the practice squad, is also getting a shot due to injury. He’s been basically the starting nickelback for the past three weeks.
The former safety is obviously a player the Jets are very high on and seems to have a lot of confidence, but he’s been a little disappointing so far.
On Sunday, he gave up three catches, including a 30-yard gain and a touchdown to fellow undrafted rookie Efton Chism III, as he was in close proximity each time but undone by a perfect throw.
Clark had three tackles, including one underneath on 3rd down to force a rare punt, but it was a moment that didn’t actually count on which he showed some true promise.
This is excellent coverage to stay with Stefon Diggs on the over route from the slot, eluding the potential rub route and extending to break up the pass. Unfortunately, he didn’t get credit for the play as there was a roughing the passer penalty called.
While this play was impressive and encouraging, what happened afterwards can only charitably be called as a learning experience. Clark was called for taunting, which although it didn’t ultimately matter because the Jets were penalized anyway, was embarrassing and selfish with the Jets down 25 at the time.
Still, Clark hasn’t looked totally out of his depth in the nickel role and that one play is the first real sign of the potential the Jets see in him. He should get a chance to compete for a roster spot next season but it would be good to see him finish the year with a disciplined mistake-free performance.
Three-on-O will follow tomorrow.