The GoPro is not new to the culture but it is new to the nascent culture at 1 Jets Drive and to one of the new leaders of that culture, quarterback Justin Fields.
"It's my first time ever doing it. It's definitely cool,," Fields said Wednesday after wearing a helmet-cam for the second morning practice of the team's full-squad minicamp and the action-camera package helping OC Tanner Engstrand install and run the Jets' new system more efficiently. "You're just hearing the play call again and going through, making sure you're doing everything within the process of the play, so yeah, I like the GoPro a lot."
Engstrand said he went eye-tech with the GoPro at Detroit and QBs coach Charles London has worked with it as well.
"We said let's give it a shot in rookie minicamp and see what it looks like," Engstrand said earlier in the day. "And then we loved it and we just said let's do it. And it's been phenomenal for those guys. It gives direct feedback. Shoot, the O-line coach is there watching the tape with his O-line, you know what I mean? Because you can hear everything, you can hear the calls. It's been really beneficial for us."
As instrumental as the technology may be in helping the Jets get up to speed this season, there's another form of GoPro, not patented yet, in Fields' head. It's the young QB's leadership module that's been getting updated from his time at Ohio State through his Chicago years and then through last year in Pittsburgh.
"I think I've grown a lot," Fields said of updating his mental leadership software from his quieter 1.0 version with the Bears to the more voluble 5.0. "I I think I've always been a natural leader but now I'm just really trying to vocalize it more. Earlier in my career, I was less of a vocal guy. I'd lead by actions, then go up to guys individually, stuff like that. But over time, you get more and more vocal and comfortable being a vocal leader."
That's a positive development for the new program being instituted by head coach Aaron Glenn. As Fields said: "I kind of had the feeling when I got here that guys were looking for a leader to step up on offense. I was glad to receive that role."
Developing that role in the NFL version of follow the leader is "not necessarily hard," he said. "I think it comes with time. You just have to be your natural self. You can't try to force anything. Guys can pick up if you're being real or not or putting on an act inside the building. ... It definitely takes time, for sure."
Fields' de fact leadership seminar has been receiving good reviews.
"He's real cool, calm and collected," RB Breece Hall said. "He brings another sense of calmness to the offense. You see how diligent he is, how he cares, how he goes about his business."
Engstrand said: There's kind of a quiet confidence about him, a little lead-by-example. But if you could be in the huddle, there's some command there, and when he's talking, the guys listen. And I think that's the best part about it is he doesn't have to be overly vocal or outlandish and over the top with his communication with guys. ... When something needs to be said, he'll say it and they'll listen."
How much difference all the practice point-of-view audio/video and all the talk among teammates will make in the 2025 season has yet to be downloaded to the entire team and Jets fans. But all other signs have been good as well. Engstrand said Fields "is just a workaholic. He comes in early, he's here late, and he's trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way."
Fields, reunited with WR Garrett Wilson after the two played pitch-and-catch on the Buckeyes of 2019-20, said, "Basically I don't really think we missed a beat," but he extended that observation to his offense. 'Really, all the receivers, tight ends and running backs have been great."
And just as he said he's tries to "keep a neutral component" about the way he gets his points across on the field, he's doing the same with the patience he's taking to help build the Jets offense.
"The biggest thing for us is just taking it day by day," he said. "Definitely this last week, week and a half, the guys have really grasped onto the playbook and I think we've really been improving."
"It's been good so far," Hall said of the experience this offseason, not with the GoPro but with the QB wearing the magical gadgetry on his helmet. "Good dude."
