The New York Jets revamped much of their offense during the offseason. Tight end room included.
After the team had already signed CJ Uzomah they doubled down with Tyler Conklin. He signed on the dotted line in free agency as well.
During the offseason, Conklin has been putting in the work in order to get on the same page as Uzomah and the rest of the Jets offense. Further helping him get there was an extracurricular activity at “Tight End University.”
Last offseason, NFL All-Pro tight ends George Kittle and Travis Kelce joined with the retired Greg Olsen to create the concept. It’s a spinoff of something the Buffalo Bills’ Von Miller created for pass rushers years ago, his “Pass Rush Summit.”
Kittle is where Conklin got the extra insight from.
New York offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur followed head coach Robert Saleh to the Jets in 2020 via San Francisco. Because of that, Kittle, the 49ers’ tight end, knows LaFleur’s system well and he gave Conklin some intel to know.
“I got to talk to George a little bit and what makes him successful in the run game in this system along with the pass game,” Conklin said via video conference from training camp. “That was one of the things I was most excited about going down there, talking to him, getting insight, with the staff coming from San Francisco.”
“It was a cool experience,” he added.
Thanks to that and the plans he’s gotten from the coaching staff in New York, Conklin said he’s confident things will go well. Conklin referenced that him and Uzomah are going to mesh, too.
“I think we’re all going to complement each other really well at all position groups. Whether it’s–we have really talented receivers, obviously talented tight end room, the running backs, the offensive line. I just think the pieces we have on offense are going to complement each other really well,” Conklin said. “CJ and I have talked a lot and we’re really excited.”
Earlier this offseason, Saleh already had echoed a similar sentiment.
“C.J., obviously a big, wide tight end. Really good in the flats, running high crosses. Getting him on the move, right? ” Saleh said in April. “And then Conklin, who’s also a very good run blocker, may not be as big but has all the grit and nastiness that you’d want out of a tight end. At the same time, his ability to win those one-on-ones, to work in man coverage and shake and create separation. He’s able to do that.”
