Sauce Gardner, the newly crowned highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, is making headlines following a standout performance against star wide receiver DK Metcalf. Days before the opening of training camp, the New York Jets made a splash. They locked in Gardner’s art with a somewhat surprising four-year, $120.4 million extension. This investment shows just how much the team believes in his abilities, the same abilities he showcased loudly and proudly during the last matchup.
In his matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, Gardner covered Metcalf on 30 of 34 passing attempts. He held the formidable receiver to just one catch for a mere 11 yards, showcasing his exceptional coverage skills. The best Gardner performance was on display with two pass break-ups that proved his ability to interrupt the opponent’s offensive rhythm.
Jets’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Gardner was “fantastic” in his assignment against Metcalf, and called the rookie’s performance “outstanding.” Glenn made sure this kind of performance wouldn’t be a one-time thing.
“We’re going to ask him to do that on a number of occasions,” – Aaron Glenn
Glenn’s plan dials back the clock and takes notes from history. That’s because elite cornerbacks frequently shadowed opposing teams’ best receivers. He acknowledged that the assignment is largely based on matchups. That’s a shift towards a more versatile approach than the heavier zone-based system that the Jets’ previous head coach Robert Saleh employed in the past.
In fact, Gardner himself has already said he’d love to tackle challenges like these. He had talked before this game about looking forward to matching up against the opposition’s best wide out. This is a role he thrived in college and truly flourishes in the professional space.
“My job was to just eliminate No. 4 when I was on him,” – Sauce Gardner
Gardner has the same talent and passion for the game that Jets great Darrelle Revis possessed. While with the team, Revis was frequently asked to do the same. Both players seem to have a natural grip on what it means to close out the most dangerous foes to help their team’s gameplan thrive.
Gardner, though, is looking ahead to the new games. In those first eight weeks of the season, he’ll be lining up across from some pretty intimidating competition in Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, and Ja’Marr Chase. His confidence is certainly sky high as he welcomes these matchups moving forward.
“I feel like I strapped him. But we have to win,” – Sauce Gardner
And still, even though he enjoyed individual success against Metcalf, Gardner understands that nothing matters more than team victories. The defensive unit just needs to function as a harmonious on-field unit. They’ll face a different recipe of complex attacks in the weeks ahead.
Glenn, who brings a wealth of experience from his 15 years as a cornerback, leads a coaching staff that includes assistant secondary coach Dre’ Bly and passing-game coordinator Chris Harris. Together, they could maximize Gardner’s potential as a young leader while fortifying the Jets’ defense.
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