Jets send clear message to Armand Membou amidst preseason struggles

The New York Jets knew that Armand Membou was a bit of a work in progress when they selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. It's not exactly uncommon for rookie offensive tackles to endure some first-year growing pains, and that's been the case for Membou this summer.

The Missouri product has flashed his athletic upside in camp this summer and has had more than his share of highlights, but we've also seen a few lowlights mixed in as well.

Membou’s preseason outing against a stout Giants defensive line left plenty to be desired, and his performance in Friday’s finale against the Eagles was also marred by a handful of rookie mistakes.

The Jets recognize this, and the team subtly sent a very clear message to their rookie tackle in Friday's game. Aaron Glenn and his staff know that Membou still needs reps.

The Jets know Armand Membou is a work in progress

Membou was the only starter on either side of the ball to play in the team's preseason finale against the Eagles on Friday night. The rookie seventh overall pick played the first two series before being replaced by third-stringer Carter Warren.

The decision likely wasn’t an indictment of Membou’s standing on the depth chart, but rather an opportunity for the coaching staff to get him a few extra live reps before Week 1.

As a rookie being asked to start immediately, every snap is valuable, and the Jets probably just wanted to give their first-round investment one last tune-up against real competition before the games begin to count.

It is notable, however, that fellow projected rookie starter Mason Taylor didn’t suit up alongside Membou. Taylor had been nursing an ankle injury, but he returned to practice over a week ago, suggesting his absence wasn’t solely injury-related.

That indicates the Jets felt Membou needed the extra work, while Taylor did not. This isn’t necessarily a knock on Membou, as the transition to the NFL at offensive tackle is notoriously difficult. But it does show that the Jets want to accelerate his learning curve and make sure he’s as ready as possible for Week 1.

Given his continued struggles on Friday night, that's probably for the best. Membou nullified a Kene Nwangwu first-down run with a holding penalty and was later flagged for a false start, although it seemed as though right guard Kohl Levao jumped first.

Membou earned a brutal 29.9 Pro Football Focus grade against the Giants last week, and his preliminary grade for Friday’s game came in at just 45.5. That leaves the rookie with an overall preseason grade of a lowly 35.2.

Now, PFF grades aren't everything, but it's fair to say that Membou has encountered his share of rookie growing pains this summer. The fact that the Jets decided to play him on Friday essentially confirms that.

Membou will be the Jets’ Week 1 starting right tackle, and it’s important not to overreact to preseason struggles. But the early signs serve as a reminder that the Jets may need to live with some growing pains before their top pick finds his footing.

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