On Wednesday, NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah named Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner as the highest rookie within the 2022 class after 4 weeks.
Though Gardner has been praised for the way shortly he has carried out on the NFL degree, he’s about to obtain his greatest check of the season Sunday.
Not solely will Gardner and D.J. Reed should cope with Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, however the staff additionally has Jaylen Waddle and tight finish Mike Gesicki.
“It’s an enormous problem,” Gardner stated. “It’s an enormous alternative for the secondary to why we belong and why we're among the best within the NFL.
“I’m wanting ahead to it and I do know the remainder of my guys are.”
After being chosen No. 4 total in final April’s draft, Gardner has impressed the Jets workers and gamers.
Throughout his first 4 video games, Gardner has lined up reverse gamers like Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Browns receiver Amari Cooper, Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson and Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews. However enjoying in opposition to the velocity of the Dolphins’ receivers comes with completely different challenges.
Hill and Waddle have been the very best receiver tandem within the league in the course of the first quarter of the season. Hill leads the NFL in receiving yards with 477 yards, together with 31 catches and two touchdowns. Waddle is sixth in receiving yards as he has 21 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns whereas averaging 18.1 yards per catch.
Within the 24-20 victory over the Steelers final week, Gardner was focused seven occasions however solely allowed two catches for 9 yards and allowed a passer ranking of 39.6, in line with Professional Soccer Focus. Gardner additionally has an total grade of 71.1 as he’s allowed 9 catches on 19 targets for 101 yards and a landing.
Reed, who performs on the other facet of Gardner, and who was signed in free company, has a 75.4 PFF grade. By these metrics, Gardner and Reed are two of the very best cornerbacks within the league.
As a staff, the Jets recorded 4 interceptions in opposition to the Steelers, three in opposition to rookie Kenny Pickett and one in opposition to Mitch Trubisky. Even early in his profession, Gardner already seems like a prime cornerback as he's even conducting himself like one off the sector as properly.
After the sport ended in opposition to the Steelers, Gardner began watching movie of each Hill and Waddle to grasp every participant’s tendencies.
“A few of my particular person targets line up with me going up in opposition to guys which might be nice like Tyreek Hill and the opposite receivers that I’ve went in opposition to,” Gardner stated.
“We talked lots about it and we have been speaking about it proper after the Pittsburgh sport. We at all times discuss in regards to the quarterbacks we're going up in opposition to and the receiver and the way they could attempt to goal us.
“I really feel like that’s why we’ve been in a position to take action properly to this point.”
The Dolphins will probably be shorthanded this weekend as they are going to be with out beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In Miami’s 27-15 loss to the Bengals final week, Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and was dominated out this week by Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Monday.
Veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater will begin instead of Tagovailoa. Bridgwater accomplished 14 of 23 passes for 193 yards, a landing, and an interception in aid.
As a result of Bridgewater will probably be beneath heart, the Dolphins might rely extra on their dashing assault as an alternative of throwing the ball deep, which has what the staff has completed lots this season.
“The problem for him, once more, he’s doing a very nice job ensuring every part is contested,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated about Gardner.
“He’s tackling rather well. He’s absorbing loads of info. He’s studying on the fly. He’s within the movie room, him, D.J. [Reed], Bryce Corridor, [Brandin] Echols, they’re all doing a extremely good job assembly collectively, Michael Carter II.
“They’re doing an important job assembly collectively and getting with the safeties to verify we’re all seeing issues the identical means. His sky’s the restrict. He’s going to be a particular participant. Knock on wooden. So, because the season goes and he will get extra reps, he’s solely going to get higher.”
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