One of many first issues All-Professional Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner mentioned together with his coaches after final season was his want to “journey” extra with the opposition’s No. 1 receivers. It feels like he’s going to get his want.
Coach Robert Saleh mentioned this week that the Jets can be “considered” when deciding to have Gardner journey but it surely might occur extra this season.
“I’m all the time trying ahead to the problem,” Gardner mentioned. “I want to name myself among the finest within the sport, if not the most effective. I’m all the time open to competing. I need to problem myself, problem different individuals, however finally I simply need to do no matter it takes for the group to win. That’s what it’s all about, successful video games.”
Gardner has been a star since he arrived with the Jets as a first-round choose in 2022. He has been named first-team All-Professional in every of his first two seasons.
The Jets have deployed Gardner at instances on a particular receiver, however extra typically they’ve him play one aspect and D.J. Reed play one other or transfer them round in particular conditions like third down or within the crimson zone.
“He did [travel] final 12 months, and we’ll be considered like we usually are,” Saleh mentioned. “He’s a weapon we will use from the defensive standpoint, however to say it’ll be unique, I’m not going to say that, however he did final 12 months, to say he may do some bit extra, that’s a risk, however I feel it’s going to be extra game-to-game.”
Jets followers keep in mind Darrelle Revis in his prime as somebody who shut down the opposite group’s prime possibility and freed up then-coach Rex Ryan to do different issues together with his protection.
It feels like Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich are cooking up new methods to make use of Gardner.
“When you might have a man like him, you simply bought to attempt to discover methods to be inventive with him, however it’s important to evolve within the league, I feel,” Saleh mentioned. “Clearly, yearly you’re going to strive new issues. Some issues stick, some issues don’t, however that is the time of 12 months to strive all that stuff.”
For Gardner, he’s making the transition from one of many youngest gamers on the group to transferring towards being a veteran in his third 12 months.
He mentioned he has observed that he and Garrett Wilson, who was drafted in the identical 12 months, are actually seen in a different way.
“We grown up,” Gardner mentioned. “I’m occurring Yr 3. It simply feels form of completely different, everyone simply taking a look at me, and I’m serving to everyone else out. It looks like yesterday I used to be the one asking D.J., asking everyone for recommendation.”
At Tuesday’s OTA follow, rookie cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers requested Gardner for some recommendations on enjoying zone protection.
“I noticed I’m getting a bit of bit older, however I’m not outdated in any respect,” Gardner joked. “I’m on Yr 3. Now, it’s to the purpose the place each time I’m not in, I’m simply watching. I’m watching and I can see they’re taking a look at me a bit of bit, too. That’s only a nice feeling. I can simply be like, ‘I see you probably did this. You possibly can most likely do it like this and also you’ll have the ability to come out of your breaks sooner.’ Simply little issues like that.”
Gardner is a key piece within the Jets’ hopes of being a playoff group and successful the Tremendous Bowl.
He has established himself as among the finest cornerbacks in soccer, and he’s assured the Jets can obtain their targets this 12 months.
“[It’s] the identical as I felt final 12 months,” Gardner mentioned. “I really feel like we will win a championship, a Tremendous Bowl. We’ve bought the fellows. We’ve bought the coaches. We’ve bought the whole lot we’d like. The coaching workers, the whole lot that it takes for us to have the ability to get to the place we need to get to.”
