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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Dave Kluge, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 1
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
The Jets are counting on Geno Smith looking more like the 2022-23 version of himself than the quarterback who finished 27th in QBR and led the NFL with 17 interceptions for the Raiders last year. Perhaps those around the team remain shell-shocked from years of covering Justin Fields and Zach Wilson, but by all accounts, Smith has looked mostly sharp to open camp. HC Aaron Glenn believes Smith's live arm and deep-passing accuracy will lead to more big plays for the offense. "We're searching for explosive plays, but we're also going to celebrate the intermediate game, too," Glenn said. "But that's what he [Smith] does. Guys have confidence that when the routes are stretched down the field, that he's going to let it rip." Following Friday's practice, OC Frank Reich praised Smith's upper-body throwing mechanics. "There's only a couple guys in the league that I would say are pure. Geno's one of them," Reich said, adding that Smith, 35, from a physical standpoint, looks like a 28-year-old. Fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik has received the lion's share of the second-team reps and had some bright spots, most notably a beautiful back-shoulder touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods on Tuesday. However, according to Underdog Jets Podcast host Robby Sabo, Klubnik "hasn't separated himself from Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook in the least."
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Breece Hall's three-year, $43.5M contract extension suddenly looks like a bargain after Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Jahmyr Gibbs reset the top of the running back market last week. When asked about his offense's progress on Friday, Reich's excitement was focused on Hall. "What a phenomenal player," Reich said. "Just getting a chance to see him now that we got pads on, it's different. Like, he's different. So versatile and so smart." Hall took the initiative to get a jump on learning Reich's offense, reaching out to Taylor to find out what it's like playing for him. SNY's Connor Hughes suggests Hall will be featured more prominently this season, but Glenn said as recently as June that he still views Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis as a "three-headed monster." Allen has worked his way back from season-ending knee surgery and scored three touchdowns in red zone drills Thursday, drawing praise from Glenn for his speed and versatility. "He's everything I imagined from a running back of that size," Glenn said of Allen with the pads on. "Two-hundred-forty pounds, has good speed, thing is he can catch the ball out of the backfield." Allen is seeing extra work with Davis sidelined with a knee injury that will keep him out "a few weeks," according to Glenn.
