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Florham Park – Luke Falk is the quarterback this week, but it as hard to tell . . .
The Jets need to chill out on the Sam Darnold talk this week. There was a lot of talk in today’s Adam Gase press conference and then Darnold surprisingly had a press conference today. In fact, Gase was not asked ONE question about Luke Falk today. Not one, but was asked eight Sam Darnold questions.
Darnold’s not playing this week. Luke Falk is. The focus needs to be on Falk, not Darnold.
Look, I understand that Darnold is a very important part of the Jets, but focus is huge in sports, and focusing on a guy who isn’t playing this week doesn’t help the football culture. You know how they say you shouldn’t look past an opponent. This is kind of like that. So much focus on Darnold possible coming back for the Philly game, and not enough focus on playing perhaps the best team in football on Sunday is bad culturally.
Look, I understand Adam Gase can’t do anything about being asked question about Darnold today in his press conference, but Gase and Douglas should have kept him away from the press this week. No press conference for a player not playing!
Let him address the media when he is cleared to come back.
Good football cultures focus on who’s playing, not who isn’t.
Culture, culture, culture . . .
Interesting article on the WEEI (Boston) Radio website from the 2018 scouting combine on Falk’s obsession with Tom Brady while growing up and also at Washington State.
He was often see wearing a TB12 hate around the Washington State campus. He even got Brady’s books on working out/nutrition and followed his program.
“Oh my gosh, don’t get me started with that,” former Washington State offensive lineman Cole Madison told WEEI. “Everything Tom Brady. ‘Tom Brady this, Tom Brady that. Tom Brady does this, so this is what we should do.’ He is [live] or die Tom Brady, for sure.”
Falk’s also a preparation freak like Brady.
“That kid with film, that is his middle name,” Madison said. “Some coaches have told him to tone it down with the film, that’s how much film he watches.
“Everything Tom Brady he models his game after.”
And on Sunday, Falk will get to face off against his idol . . .
Quinnen Williams had a wrap on his left ankle today and was walking with a slight limp. The ankle is clearly still bothering him. The Jets should probably push his recovery into the bye-week and have him healthy for the Philly game . . .
Kelvin Beachum, coming off a rough game against Cleveland and Myles Garrett, should bounce back this week. Garrett is a transcendent talent, and the Patriots don’t have anybody near that level as a pass rusher. Garrett is just a terrible match-up for Beachum from a speed and length standpoint. Beachum is only 6-2, so he’s on the shorter side for a tackle, and Garrett has arms like vines (35 1/4” arm length). Long arms can be a great weapon for a passer rusher, where leverage is key. Garrett has a 6′11″ wingspan. If you want to read more about Beachum, I’d check out the Daily News the next few days. Manish Mehta did a really long unencumbered interview with him in the locker room today . . .
Breaking down some of the protection issues the Jets had against the Browns. Aside from Cleveland having a great defensive line, the Jets did a poor job on overload blitzes, where one side was overloaded with pass rushers. They didn’t seem to adjust well to these situations, perhaps due to communication issues related to having a new center . . .
The most head-scratching blocking issue involving Garrett was on his first sack, where nobody blocked him. Nobody. How is there ever a scheme where nobody is accounting for one of the best ends in the league.
September 18, 2019
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