Content available exclusively for subscribers
Madison – It’s time for a potpourri of Jets Notes from Dan’s Notebook, including items of Hill, Cumberland, Wilkerson and more . . .
One positive from the Jets-New England game – two throws to Stephen Hill and two catches. He bounced back mentally from some bad drops the last few games . . .
People talk about the Jets lack of weapons in the passing game hurting Sanchez. First of all, I think that is overblown.
Quarterbacks make receivers, receivers don’t make quarterbacks.
People need to get off the weapons thing. Remember when the Detroit Lions picked wide receivers in the first round three years in a row to “help” QB Joey Harrington. It didn’t work. If you struggle reading defenses, you could have three All-Pro receivers, it won’t make that big of a difference.
While on the topic of weapons, I think the Jets have a potential star in their passing game – one positive of the New England game (if that is possible) was the play of tight end Jeff Cumberland.
He finished with four catches for 58 yards, including a beautiful grab down the left seam to Donte Hightower for a gain of 39.
This play showed you two things about Cumberland – his great speed (sub 4.5) and the fact that linebackers can’t cover him.
This guy has a freakish speed for a guy his size (6-4, 260).
The Jets should start featuring this player like they did against New England.
He has the potential to be special . . .
Is the Jets’ offense becoming predictable? It certainly looked that way on their first offensive play.
The Jets called a bootleg right, and Hightower didn’t blink, not biting on the fake hand-off, sacking Sanchez for a loss of six in the right flat.
The Pats coaches clearly drilled into their defensive players minds that the Jets love running bootlegs to cut the field in half for Sanchez.
This was just an awful way for the Jets to start the game and set a terrible tone. This turned into a three-and-out . . .
Speaking of first drives, from the look of the Jets’ first defensive drive, it looked like they might be able to hang around in this game. The Pats also had a three-and-out, thanks to a great series from Mo Wilkerson.
On first down, he blew by left guard Donald Thomas to hit Tom Brady as he threw, drawing an intentional grounding call. Wilkerson did a great job of using his hands on this play, to shed Thomas’ block attempt.
On third down, Wilkerson stood up as a rusher, and got in Brady’s face quickly, forcing him to dump the ball to Julian Edelman way short of the first down.
Wilkerson looks like a budding star . . .
The Jets really missed Isaiah Trufant in this game with Wes Welker finishing with seven catches for 71 yards. Trufant did a great job on him in New England, but blew his knee out in Seattle.
Ellis Lankster’s instincts aren’t as good as Trufant, and you need great instincts to deal with Welker because he’s so unpredictable.
On Welker’s three-yard TD in the early second quarter, there some confusion between Kyle Wilson and Lankster on who should be covering him.
It was a terrible play by the Jets defense, and shortly thereafter the bottom fell out on the team . . .
One fact obscured by the final score was the Jets’ solid running game against New England. They finished with 119 yards on 29 carries.
On the second series, there was a running play that featured textbook blocking.
Brandon Moore and Nick Mangold double-teamed Vince Wilfork on the line, and then Konrad Reuland did a great job of locking up LB Jarod Mayo on the second level, and Shonn Greene ran through the big hole for a gain of 15.
Reuland has turned into a nice pickup for the Jets. On this play, he actually lined up at tight end, but flexed into the backfield to serve as a fullback . . .
The Jets get a break next Sunday. They play a team with more of a dysfunctional quarterback situation than they have.
November 25, 2012
Premium will return by 10 pm on Monday.