Content available exclusively for subscribers
Buffalo – Checking in from Buffalo . . .
Another strong game by inside linebacker James Burgess, who was a Godsend for the Jets late in the season. He led the Jets with nine tackles and added an interception. He is a very instinctive player who doesn’t take a lot of false steps. What also helps him is having a father who played linebacker in the NFL with Kansas City, Dallas and San Diego in 1997-98 and then in the CFL.
As I was interviewing Burgess after the game, he pointed to his phone and said he had a bunch of text’s from his father critiquing his play from today’s game . . .
Henry Anderson is clearly not healthy.
Saw him with a full compression sleeve on his left leg leaving the locker room.
He really didn’t play a lot today. Don’t know if it’s injury related, or based on the game plan.
He finished with no numbers on the stat sheet.
Been a rough year for Anderson. Aside from have a couple of injuries this season (shoulder and knee), he was often miscast as a 4-3 end, which doesn’t fit his skill set. The Indianapolis Colts traded Anderson to the Jets in the spring of 2018 because they were moving to a 4-3, and he didn’t fit. The Jets re-signed him to play 3-4 end in the spring, but then Mike Maccagnan was fired, who loved the 3-4, and they almost never play it now.
Perhaps the Jets should consider trading him this off-season to a 3-4 team . . .
The Jets offense was a little underwhelming today scoring just 13 points against a defense playing a lot of backups. I asked Gase if he was a little disappointed in not scoring more against a team playing a lot of backup defenders, and he brought up the weather conditions being a factor.
But you know what, while perhaps you would not expect to light up the scoreboard, managing just one touchdown against a defense loaded with reserves is far from ideal.
Some people might say the Jets were playing backups at both guard spots, including their third string left guard, and that impacted their offense. However, those two backup linemen faired pretty well today – Connor McDermott and Brent Qvale.
The bottom line is the Jets obviously did enough to get by the Bills, but their offense has some work to do in the off-season and moving forward.
Darnold sailed a lot of passes today, like on a second quarter pick on a pass to Jamison Crowder that sailed over the receivers head and was picked by safety Jaquan Johnson. The pick was overturned due to a penalty which had nothing to do with the interception.
He also forced another pass to Crowder, and the receiver was so tightly covered, the pass bounced of the defenders helmet (CB Taron Johnson) and was picked by CB Levi Wallace. This was in the first quarter.
The weather had something to do with the Jets’ passing game struggles, but weather is a big part of the NFL, a league that plays games in the fall and winter.
Darnold had his moments this year, but he has some work to do. This will be a big off-season for him working with Gase and QB coach Dowell Loggains as the signal-caller attempts to take a big step entering Year Three. He certainly has the tools to do just that . . .
You know is getting tedious? Some people in the media always harping on Le’Veon Bell’s workload and when he’s out of the game for stretches. Last time I checked Bilal Powell is a terrific running back. Stop making such a big deal about Bell’s carries. Who cares? Are you trying to create trouble? Bell finished the game today with 16 carries for 41 yards and a 2.6 average against a defense playing a lot of backups. You take out his long carry which was 12 yards, and he was 15-29.
Memo to reporters obsessed with his work load. Take a chill pill. Nothing wrong with Powell getting his fair share. Last time I checked, he’s pretty good, and does a nice job hitting holes quickly.
December 29, 2019
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday