Jets preaching togetherness encamped on the English countryside
Jets quarterback Justin Fields, center, works out during practice at The Grove in Watford, England, on Wednesday. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
HERTFORDSHIRE, England — The Jets are using this business trip to build stronger personal bonds with each other.
Aaron Glenn challenged his players to speak to and get to know some teammates that they don’t usually talk to because they’re on opposite sides of the ball. Glenn hopes that if the players grow closer and have better chemistry it will make them play more for each other and lead to wins.
The Jets, the NFL’s only winless team, take an 0-5 record into Sunday’s game against the Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I thought that this was going to be a really good trip for us,” Glenn said. "Our guys are buying into that. But the thing that we're not running from is the fact that we are what we are. We’re 0-and-5. There's a lot of work for us to get done. And this is a really good week to try to hone in on those things because there is a lot of distraction on the outside.”
The Jets are in a secluded environment, staying at a hotel in the English countryside more than an hour from downtown London. There was an open field on the property that has been transformed into a football field.
Other than some NFL-related events or team appearances, the players won’t leave the property much. It’s similar to having a brief camp at a remote location where the coaches and players can focus fully and totally on football.
“I feel like this was a great opportunity, and it happened at the right time,” linebacker Jamien Sherwood said. “With our record, most people would try to drift off from each other, most people would start pointing the finger at each other.
“Usually when we leave the facility, we all go our separate ways. Now we room right next to each other. We eat together, so this is a great time for us to bond together. This is a great time for us to get to know the man beside us and why we need to play harder.”
Sherwood said he sat with some offensive linemen and other offensive players. It sounds odd that the players don’t talk much, but their days at their practice facility are filled with positional meetings and unit meetings broken up by offense, defense and special teams. They have similar lifting periods with little crossover.
“This is our time to bond,” Sherwood said. “This is our time to get to understand each other and knowing the person's why. I play for my family. But if I never sit here and speak to somebody else on the other side of the ball they'll never know that.”
Quarterback Justin Fields said he tries to talk to all of his teammates anyway, but he’s embracing this experience.
“This is definitely an opportunity for us to get closer as a team,” Fields said. “Build that camaraderie and just get closer.”
The Jets seem very disjointed on the field, especially on defense. They’ve been out of position a lot and have had issues tackling. The Jets have allowed 26 plays of at least 20 yards. Glenn said the main issue is they’re not detailed enough in terms of understanding how to play together and off one another.
“That's why I like this situation that we're in right now,” Glenn said. “We're away from everything. We get a chance to get in the meeting room and look at everything.
“No hard feelings on anything that we say either. Everybody has to take it for what it is, the criticism I'm talking about, and do everything we can to try to fix these issues. And listen, we're doing everything we can to fix them.”
Johnson’s return close
Glenn said “there’s a really good chance” that edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who has missed three games with an ankle injury, will play Sunday. Johnson worked out on the side Wednesday and Glenn expects Johnson to practice Thursday.
“Tomorrow's going to be a big day as far as him being on the field and being able to get the reps he needs to go out there and play and play confident,” Glenn said. “I'm looking forward to seeing how he operates.”
Two-minute drill
Quinnen Williams was limited in practice with a groin issue . . . Allen Lazard (personal reasons) is not in London and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Michael Carter II (concussion) also remained home. He likely is out also.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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