NFL: Preaseason-New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles

New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (83) celebrates his 44-yard touchdown catch during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 1, 2016. (Eric Hartline | USA TODAY Sports)

FLORHAM PARK -- Every now and again, Robby Anderson will go off by himself and flip on old practice tape.

He'll review the film from the Jets' rookie camp, organized team activities, and minicamp this summer. He'll locate himself -- all 6-3 and 190 pounds -- then analyze his own game.

He has done this a handful of times, and each time, he comes away thinking the same:

Is that really me?

"I don't even understand how I used to look like that," Anderson told NJ Advance Media Thursday. "It's night and a day. A huge difference."

You'd be hard-pressed to find a player that has made more progress than Anderson since signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Temple this year. He arrived at One Jets Drive a skinny, tall, fast, athletic freak. He was not, by any stretch, a fine-tuned receiver.

Having played in just 24 collegiate games, Anderson was as raw as they come. He could catch, run and jump, sure. But the route tree? He couldn't differentiate it from an Oak or Pine.

"[Receivers coach Karl Dorrell] has really gotten me right since I got here," Anderson said. "I emphasized that a lot over the summer, and over the break. I worked on route running and my feet a ton. I think you can see it has improved a lot."

Anderson has lost count how many times he ran through a simple five-yard cone drill, which former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson first taught him.

He'd take the field, start in his usual stance, then burst forward to a cone five yards away. When he reached the cone, he'd turn his body around and start heading back. The key was to make the transition as smoothly as possible without slowing down and staying close to the cone.

It sounds easy. It isn't.

"I did it all summer. Every day," Anderson said. "I did it over, and over, and over again until it became muscle memory."

And it paid off.

Anderson out-performed veterans like Jeremy Ross and Kenbrell Thompkins over the summer, and jumped Charone Peake -- a player the Jets used a draft pick on this year -- on the depth chart. In the preseason, he led the team in catches (13), yards (264) and touchdowns (3). When Brandon Marshall missed the third preseason game with a hip injury, the coaches gave Anderson the start.

He has continually shown he belongs, and the coaches are beginning to give him more opportunities. Last week against the Chiefs, Anderson caught the first two passes of his career, including an impressive 26-yard grab up the sideline.

"He wouldn't be here if we didn't have confidence in the guy," offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. "He's here because we do. He has continually, throughout the whole preseason, made plays and played with more confidence each week."

Against the Seahawks this Sunday, Anderson could have much more than just a role on offense, but a prominent one.

Wideouts Eric Decker and Jalin Marshall are both dealing with shoulder injuries and have not practiced this week. It looks very much like both players will not play. That means Anderson will be the No. 3 receiver behind Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa.

Let that soak in for a minute. In the span of three months, Anderson will have gone from roster long shot, to preseason star, to critical piece on the Jets' starting offense.

And none of it has phased him in the slightest.

"It just feels natural being out there," Anderson said with a shrug. "I got my jitters out in the preseason. I don't hype this game up too much. It's football. It's fun. You don't want to put unnecessary pressure on it.

"You go out there and play the game. That's why I try to do each week. Don't make too much out of it."

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.