New York Jets: Neal Sterling was unsung performer of Falcons game
In the New York Jets opening preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, the unsung hero performance of the night was Neal Sterling.
It was a very solid 2018 debut for the New York Jets on Friday night in defeating the Atlanta Falcons. As we talked about earlier, there was solid play all over the football field. A great night was had by just about all.
But, there was a performance in particular to take note of. He showed some signs last season but he really started to come into his own on Friday night.
The player I am talking about is tight end Neal Sterling.
Don’t get me wrong. Sterling flashed ability in 2017. As his playing time increased he caught six out of ten targets for 82 yards, averaging 13.7 yards per catch. Sterling showed that he could get out into a route and make a catch.
On Friday night against the Falcons, the numbers weren’t flashy as he posted four receptions for 38 yards. But there were a couple of very solid receptions that made him the unsung hero of the night.
These were two plays that showed how Sterling could be a real threat when the regular season comes around.
The first came on the first play of the second quarter. The Jets were faced with a second and thirteen from their own 32 and Teddy Bridgewater was at quarterback.
Sterling came in motion to the right across the formation. At the snap, he started to run a route to the outside but then made a sharp cut up the seam. Bridgewater hit him in stride and the play went for 21 yards and a first down.
The second one came later in the game with Darnold at quarterback. Sterling this time makes the catch on a bubble screen in the left flat. He took the pass, made a couple of moves and had to use agility to make people miss and just make his way to past the marker.
These are just two plays but they are two that showed the potential of Neal Sterling.
Next. The Darnold observations. dark
Sterling is a better route runner than I personally believed. With Chris Herndon, Clive Walford , Eric Tomlinson and hopefully Jordan Leggett all competing for playing time, the tight end room is talented.
Being able to block and catch the football will make a player like Sterling all the more valuable. As we have said before, a solid tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend. Darnold could have more than one.
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