Of all the encouraging signs in the Jets' regular-season opener last Sunday, albeit in a loss, few were more positive than the strong play all along the offensive line.
From left to right -- second-year Olu Fashanu to rookie Armand Membou -- to the three veterans at the core -- John Simpson, Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann -- the O-line protected QB Justin Fields and led a rushing attack that amassed 182 yards. It was a strong performance the Green & White will need to duplicate in Week 2 against the visiting Buffalo Bills.
"It's cool, but [now] we got to rush for more," Simpson said with a laugh on Wednesday. "Man, stacking off those things that we did last week and trying to get better one day at a time."
Membou, the Jets' top selection (No. 7 overall) in this year's NFL Draft, in his first game in the NFL faced a daunting challenge in trying to handle the Steelers' T.J. Watt and others. And Membou excelled, earning a grade of 89.0 from Pro Football Focus, ranking the rookie first among OTs leaguewide in Week 1. He did not allow a pressure and his run block grade (90.3) was second among all tackles.
"I told him right before we walked out, I was like 'bro, you are a dog,' " Simpson said, speaking about Membou. "You are here for a reason."
Membou and Fashanu, the tackle tasked with protecting Fields' blindside and opening holes that last week contributed to the Jets' 182 yards on the ground, could provide the organization with bookend tackles for years to come. Fashanu, in his sophomore season in the NFL after playing in college at Penn State, plays next to Simpson.
"Same, same expectation," Simpson said. "Those dudes are hungry. They've got this willingness to work. And even when they're challenged, they just keep going and going. And that's really all you can ask. He's got that mentality, I feel, but even more now, since he's solidified in here, he wants to win. I can see that. It's like that we all got the same mindset. And I just, I love it."