Robert Saleh Speaks! Three Questions For New York Jets Coach at NFL Meetings

Ralph Ventre | Mar 25, 2024

New York Jets v Cleveland Browns / Gregory Shamus/GettyImages

Robert Saleh will finally break his silence this week.

The New York Jets' head coach, who has kept a low profile thus far this offseason, will publicly address reporters for the first time since locker cleanout day on January 8. After passing on an opportunity to speak during NFL Combine Week in Indianapolis, Saleh is scheduled to meet the media on Monday at the league meetings in Orlando.

Saleh eventually showed up at the Combine after a convincing conversation with general manager Joe Douglas, but he arrived later in the week after the media availabilities concluded.

Meanwhile, there's been a lot of action at 1 Jets Drive since Saleh last stepped to the podium. The team acquired three new starters for its offensive line and subsequently snagged former Los Angeles Chargers' receiver Mike Williams off the free agent market. In addition to hearing the head coach's thoughts on his new players, there are three questions we, at Sports Illustrated, would like Saleh to answer.

Houston Texans v New York Jets / Al Bello/GettyImages

How would you assess the current situation at safety? Are you comfortable with penciling in Tony Adams and Chuck Clark as starters and is there any interest in bringing back Ashtyn Davis?

Free safety Tony Adams proved reliable in his first season as a starter, but strong safety Jordan Whitehead returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through free agency. In the meantime, New York re-signed Chuck Clark, who missed the entire 2023 due to an ACL tear on the final day of OTAs.

With backup Ashtyn Davis still unsigned, Adams and Clark are the presumptive starters but the Jets will need to add at least one or two more bodies at the position. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, a 2023 sixth-rounder, is the only other safety currently under contract.

With two 33-year-olds expected to be your starting offensive tackles, what is the backup plan at that position? Are you confident in Carter Warren as a swing tackle/primary backup?

Left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses are upgrades, but it's unrealistic to expect that both men will be able to play 100 percent of snaps over a grueling 17-game regular season. Factoring in a higher-than-average injury rate at the position, an adequate second string is necessary.

Warren, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick, was one of five different starting right tackles deployed by New York last season. He seemed to keep his head above water while starting the season's final three games, but it's unclear how the Jets view his role moving forward.

In addition to potentially signing a veteran insurance policy, such as Aaron Rodgers's friend David Bakhtiari, New York could target a future franchise tackle with the No. 10 overall draft pick.

After Breece Hall, the running back room features fifth-round draft pick Israel Abanikanda, who played sparingly as a rookie, and two Practice Squad players. What is your plan at backup running back? Do you feel the need for a battering ram type of runner to spell Hall in short yardage situations?

A home runner hitter with speed, Abanikanda is not a prototypical between-the-tackles grinder and has drawn criticism for his inability to pass protect. He logged 77 offensive snaps over six appearances last season, rushing 20 times for 70 total yards. Reserve players Xazavian Valladay and Jacques Patrick have only three combined career appearances to their credit.

New York showed the desire for a proven RB2 last year when it signed former Minnesota Vikings' Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook. Although the move failed to pay dividends, the team could try to add a veteran free agent at some point this spring or use the draft to fill out the position group.

The Jets have drafted a running back in each of the past four years with Douglas at the helm.