AFC Notes: Jets, Patriots, Ravens

Jets

New Jets’ HC Robert Saleh spoke about how the identity of the Jets will develop under his coaching as the team goes forward as a group into the 2021 season.

“The identity of the team is going to happen organically. If you try to force-feed an identity to what you want it to be as an individual, I think sometimes you counteract what you want to get done. And that’s an organic identity that will flow a heck of a lot more than something that’s force-fed.” Saleh said, via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv. “Our identity is not going to reveal itself until we see adversity. Everyone loves being a part of winning and everyone loves being a part of good things. But what’s going to happen when you hit adversity and things are not going your way? We’re going to have a lot of ebbs and flows. There are going to be a lot of great moments. There are going to be a lot of hair-pulling moments. But at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to shape this football team.”

Saleh says that the Jets have had a strong offseason, but are only scratching the surface of their potential. 

“It’s been a great offseason. The guys have been incredibly receptive,” Saleh said. “But when we get those adversity moments — the dog days of summer, the preseason games, or we might have an injury and some guys might have to take extra reps — they’re the moments that are going to define this team, shape the leadership of this team, shape the identity of this team, and propel us into the season. How we handle those moments is what’s going to build us for not only this year but for years to come. So it’s cool that there’s a positive outlook. But we haven’t even scratched the surface yet in terms of what the overall outlook of this organization is going to be.”

Saleh also knows that even as a first-year coach, he can’t be afraid to rely on his young players.

“Pete Carroll once said ‘You can’t be afraid to play young guys. They’re hell on wheels, but they’re fun to watch,’” Saleh said. “There are going to be ups and downs. If you coach and you invest (in those players) and as a player, you invest back, that’s when you become an explosive team in a hurry. But to get to that point takes some trials and tribulations, some bumps in the road, and some headaches. But you can’t be afraid to go through those bumps because there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It might be a freight train or it might be an actual light, but it doesn’t matter. We’re going through that tunnel.”

Patriots

Patriots QB Cam Newton posted a video where he described that he hasn’t been fully healthy since 2016 when he suffered an AC joint injury when attempting a tackle after throwing an interception. 

“Last time I’ve been healthy? Honest, 2016. I threw an interception,” Newton said, via his official Youtube. “I tried to go make the tackle, and I tried to push him out, and I extended my arm, and I messed up my AC joint. And ever since then, there’s just been a part of me that’s just been a wounded dog. Like a wounded lion almost. Just, ‘I’m not right.’ I feel good at times, but when I’m running I still feel it. So instead of running them over, I’m going to turn this shoulder and just go down.”

Ravens

Ravens CB Tavon Young is once again working his way back from injury this offseason. John Harbaugh mentioned that Young has “looked good” and “moved well” in practice. 

“[It was] great to see him out there. I just felt so happy for him and for us. He looked good. [He] moved well, and that’s a great first step for him today,” Harbaugh said recently, via RavensWire.com.