The Rookie’s First Opponent
For the first time, David Bailey wasn’t hitting someone in green. He’s looked good against his teammates, but the rookie took another meaningful stride in training camp going against the Buccaneers.

“He did what he did in college because that’s what he was asked to do,” defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said about how Bailey’s looked against the run in training camp. “We’re asking him to do a little bit more, so I think it’s been very helpful, just using his hands, being able to attack blocks and it’s been fun watching him grow.”

Bailey had several pressures on Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield who was 9 of 15 in team periods outside of the red zone. Bailey’s fist-step quickness was on display in 1-on-1s and he and Tampa T Luke Goedeke got into it after a rep. On Mayfield’s first team rep of the morning, Bailey rushed at him quickly, and he threw it into the dirt without a receiver in the area.

In the second team period, Mayfield faked the handoff to RB Kenny Gainwell and Bailey easily got by the Buccaneers’ LT Ben Chukwuma for the would-be sack. However, the play continued as Mayfield hauled it down field, looking for a target deep, but Demario Davis deflected the ball out of bounds.

“We all know that he’s a damn good pass rusher,” Glenn said. “But I’m anxious to really watch the tap and I’m anxious to see the plays that he didn’t do well, to see exactly why and how he’s going to learn from that.

“I’m more excited to watch that to be able to coach him and be able to say ‘Ok this is what we got to do in these situations.”

Dane Belton continued to swarm in the Jets secondary, and Glenn rightfully called him a “ball magnet.”

Bailey applied more pressure on Mayfield, when he looked to find WR Ted Hurst III down the left sideline. CB Brandon Stephens tracked Hurst through the play, but Belton came running in the middle to defend the pass.

“It’s up to him to decide his playing time,” Glenn said, acknowledging the safety battle is on-going. “I think that’s across the league with any player, you decide that. And listen, I think all of our guys know it’s a competition, so I like what he brings to the table and listen, the arrow’s up on that player.”

Following the play, Goedeke and Jets edge Kingsley Enagbare were engaged in some hostilities. Cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers got involved and Goedeke ripped his helmet off and threw it down the field.