Content available exclusively for subscribers
New Jersey – It’s time for a heaping helping of Website Whispers from Florham Park with notes on the Jets’ locker room, John Idzik, Darrin Walls and more . . .
John Idzik said on Monday, “I know our guys are unified.”
You know what, they really are.
This is a very close team. I see it in the locker room. I see it on the practice field.
There is no finger pointing.
This is a good clubhouse – no locker room lawyers (I’m not getting into Percy Harvin here – he just got into town – we will see how he behaves).
The guys really get a long, like each other, and fight for each other on the field.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more united, closer last place team.
The chemistry of the jets isn’t the problem.
The problem has been inconsistent quarterback and cornerback play. And as Rex said in Nick Dawidoff’s book, those are the two positions that can get you beat the fastest . . .
The Jet’s talented defensive line is primed for another big day.
The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t great at guard.
They lost starting guard Jeff Allen to a season-ending injury, so they have plugged in journeyman Mike McGlynn at left guard. They are also starting a rookie, sixth round Zach Fulton, at right guard.
Mo Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson should be able to make a lot of hay against these two.
Don’t expect Alex Smith to feel very comfortable in his pocket this week.
Expect him to get rid of the ball as fast as possible.
“I don’t think you want to make a living back there holding onto the football,” Smith said . . .
It’s amazing how this Jets cornerback situation has evolved. Now the Jets are on edge about whether Darrin Walls will play. He might be their best cornerback.
Walls has knee and calf issues.
He told me today he’s going to play on Sunday.
But you know what, players always say that. That is how they are wired. I can’t tell you how many times players have told me they were going to play, and then they didn’t. They aren’t lying. It’s just a mindset thing.
My gut is that he will play. The Jets certainly need him. We will see if Dr. Ken Montgomery (pictured above) will clear him on Sunday.
Every time I talk to Jets officials about their dire cornerback situation, they are quick to point out that three players who were a big part of their cornerback plan this year – Dee Milliner, Dexter McDougle and Dimitri Patterson are all out of the picture right now.
That is true, but honestly, they are all injury-prone, and they all got hurt. Remember, when Patterson had that bizarre AWOL scenario in the preseason, he was nursing two injuries.
But it’s true that all three players were going to a big part of what the Jets cornerback plan this year. In fact, they might have been their 1st, 2nd and 3rd cornerbacks.
So I guess you could say, in the Jets’ defense, what team wouldn’t take a huge hit losing their top three corners?
The Jets should get back Phillip Adams this week. Remember I wrote the other day about the strange decision to start Antonio Allen over Adams at corner last week. Well it turns out that a big part of the decision was Adams groin. He told me it wasn’t a factor, but it was (once again, a case-in-point as to what I’m talking about with players and injuries).
October 29, 2014
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.