The Jets received some good news this week as 6th round draft Blessuan Austin was able to practice for the first time. He was a risky draft pick from Rutgers because of his injury history. Adam Gase was impressed with what he saw from Austin in practice. What a shot in the arm it would be if he catches on in second half of season. He has potential, but has a hard time staying on the field.
Didn't understand the pick at the time, even as a risk because he legit only played a handful of games in years at Rutgers.
I was certain the Pats were going to take him at the end of last year's draft. Perhaps they planned on him being available as an undrafted FA. I'm still not convinced he doesn't end up on that team eventually. Of the RU players the Pats have had in their secondary over the years, Blessuan is at the top talent-wise. The New England/ Rutgers connection is odd when you consider how unsuccessful a program RU football is. I think the key is that Belichick believes in their character, and finds them to be very "coachable" and perhaps starved for some success. Hate to say it but it's the Pats coaching that turns them into top caliber NFL material.
Not sure about that. We’re hurting at corner and if he’s anything decent, he will be on this team for awhile. I think the Pats-Rutgers connection started with Belichicks relationship with Greg Schiano. It was the first I’ve heard of it at least, but perhaps it goes further back to Belichicks days as an assistant on the Giants.
It wasn’t a great pick, not because he isn’t a good cornerback but because we needed cornerback help that could play right away and Austin was hurt when we drafted him. Mac passed on cornerbacks round after round and then took a guy who couldn’t play. I mean it is was it is, but hopefully he can contribute in the future.
One of Belichicks sons attended RU when Schiano was HC. So, Schiano's program got Belichick's attention.
As if we were passing on CB's in the 6th round who could play right away... Hey, I could be wrong, but I thought it was a good move to make at that point of the draft. But I'm an RU follower, so I was biased. As of today, Blessuan has missed two more games than Sam Darnold this year, and played the same amount as Chris Herndon. As of TODAY it was an excellent pick. We will see what the future holds.
We really need a good draft class to kick this thing going in the right direction. Q, cashman, edoga, blessu thank you, all need to be starters or major contributors in 2020 if we are going to be competitive long term
Austin gonna be a good one IMO, If the knee is 100% we got ourselves a good one. He's a confident kid too, I hope in 2-3 weeks he will get in the corner rotation.
Like I wrote earlier - it’s a position of need let’s see what he brings to the table. If you guys are right he is added to the rotation with a possible starting job next year? How much of a blessing would that be?
Belichick's son also went to Rutgers starting in '07, which is when Schiano had the team at its peak, so I'm sure Belichick had a good connection with Schiano to get more in depth information on his defensive players.
https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/10/jet...ster-than-2-acl-surgeries-ago-at-rutgers.html Good article on Blessuan Austin
Kyle Phillips looking good as an UDFA also. So was Dortch, not sure why we let him walk for Berrios. If Austin becomes even a role player, it's a great bargain. I look at the 6th and 7th rounds the same as UDFA's. Long shots.
