GONNA BE AWESOME
Stewart works to make splash
ARDARIUS Stewart extended his right arm, juggled the ball on his fingertips after it sailed through a defender’s arms and safely secured it in full stride, prompting a roar from teammates during Jets OTAs last week. It also served as a reminder that Stewart does, in fact, still exist.
It was easy to forget the Jets’ 2017 thirdround pick after a quiet rookie season, but his confidence hasn’t waned. He’s the same guy who promised all of us a “load of… awesomeness” last offseason.
“I’ve just been learning,” Stewart recently told The News. “I hope I’ve been showing the coaches what they’ve been wanting to see this year in how I’ve been practicing and how I’ve been moving. So, we’re going to see.”
There’s no denying Stewart’s talent, but he’ll have to navigate a crowd- ed receiver room that includes Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jermaine Kearse, Terrelle Pryor and others. Chad Hansen, who was taken a round after Stewart, has opened eyes this spring too.
Although Stewart maintains that “there’s a lot of great comradery and a different kind of togetherness” in the receiver room, the second-year player realizes that they’re his direct competitors, too. So, Stewart has had tunnel vision this offseason, bent on learning from his underwhelming rookie campaign.
“There’s a lot of room to improve,” Stewart said. “A hell of a lot of room to improve actually. I’m just keeping my head down, keeping my nose in the (play)book. I’m just making sure I’ll produce when my team needs me.”
Stewart made his first NFL catch on the Jets’ third play from scrimmage in 2017 before receding into the background for the rest of year. He caught only five more passes all season, and never more than one in any game after Week 1 in Buffalo.
Stewart played only 22.3% of the offensive snaps en route to six receptions for 82 yards as a rookie. He added nine kick returns (19.2 yards per return).
In many ways, Stewart was reduced to a gadget guy in John Morton’s offense, running one Jet Sweep (end around) after another. He finished with seven rushes for 27 yards.
“I was red-shirted in college. That prepared me for it,” Stewart said of not being used much last season. “So, I just take it as a red-shirt year and a year to learn. I don’t take it as a negative thing. I was out on special teams and I got the speed of the game when I got in. It’s a blessing to be here. So, I’m just making the most of it.”
Stewart left Alabama with a reputation as a physical receiver with run-after-the-catch ability. Those qualities seemingly fit in new play caller Jeremy Bates’ version of the West Coast Offense. Stewart doesn’t anticipate a radical change in how he’ll be used, but he’s banking on subtle, important differences.
“It’ll probably be some of the same things,” Stewart said. “The Jet Sweep might be a little less often, but we might throw it in. JB’s trying not to change the playbook up so much so we can move as fast as possible. It’s some of the same things, it’s just in a different order.”
Stewart believes his sure hands are his most valuable asset.
“I pretty much catch everything in my range,” Stewart said. “I work on catching everything in my range. That’s something that I pride myself on, because your first job as a receiver is to catch the ball. So, I pride myself on trying to make every catch. If I don’t make it, I’m feeling crappy the next day.”
Stewart spent the spring running hills and catching tennis balls with his trainer in Birmingham, Ala. e also worked with former Alabama teammate and best friend Minkah Fitzpatrick’s father to improve his game.
It’s all designed to find his place with the team that believed in him a year ago. Stewart has the right mindset to contribute in 2018. “I don’t have a ceiling,” Stewart said. “I’m just trying to exceed… every expectation. And keep bettering myself. That’s pretty much my season: bettering myself and putting everything on the line for these guys.”
Sounds awesome.
H