Sauce looking forward to ‘challenge’ of smothering Vegas’ Adams
Sauce Gardner says he “most definitely” embraces the chance to lock up an opponent’s best receiver, and he puts this week’s primary challenge — Davante Adams of the Raiders — at or near the top of that list.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory. He’s got great hands, there’s a lot of great things he does,” the Jets’ All-Pro cornerback said after practice on Friday. “I’m not going to sit here and write out a list. But he’s one of, if not the best, receivers in the league, so he presents a huge challenge.”
Adams, who played eight seasons alongside injured Jets quarterback Aaron
Rodgers with the Packers, is a six-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 106 receptions, 1,365 yards and 12 touchdowns over the previous five seasons.
He had a quiet game in last week’s win over the Giants (four catches, 34 yards) — started by rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell — but Adams has 51 catches for 573 yards in nine games this season for the Raiders.
It’s no wonder the Jets attempted to acquire Adams before the Oct. 31 trade deadline, and they could do so again in the offseason.
“He’s an elite talent, obviously. Probably going to be in the Hall of Fame one day and he’s got a tremendous mindset,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “Everything I’ve heard about him, just obviously being connected to all those guys in Green Bay and with Coach [Matt] LaFleur and all that.
“But he’s elite. Elite in every aspect of football and an elite football player aside from just his athleticism. He understands the game, he can feel space, he can feel his releases, just all of it. He’s somebody we obviously have to pay attention to.”
Gardner, bookend cornerback D.J. Reed and the rest of the Jets’ secondary will attempt to lock down a Raiders receiving corps that also features veterans Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow after O’Connell completed
16 of 25 passes for 206 yards with no interceptions or sacks in last week’s win over the Giants.
“He did a good job, he’s very poised,” Saleh said of O’Connell, a rookie out of Purdue. “A lot of times you see rookies looking at the rush and being nervous . ... So, they’re missing reads, you might miss a guy that’s open, but you can see him keeping his eyes downfield and having subtle movements in the pocket.
“He does a really nice job. He plays smart. He’s got a really good running game to lean on. He’s got a darn good receiving corps to throw to. I thought they did a really nice job last week.”