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New Jersey – Time for a Monday Jets Notebook coming out of their big win in London over the Miami Football Dolphins. Let’s look into a couple of things . . .
Some times you can’t see the forest for the trees.
Thinks about this Brandon Marshall trade for second.
It’s early, and I know a lot can change, especially with his mercurial nature, but this Brandon Marshall trade is something to behold.
Let me put this in simple terms – the Jets acquired one of the top three wide receivers in football for a fifth round pick (and got a seventh round pick in return with Marshall).
A acquire a fifth round pick for a player of this magnitude is insane. He’s the best player on their team, and it’s unlikely they are 3-1 without him.
I just wanted everyone to sit back and think about this for a minute – a Hall-of-Fame level talent, in his prime, for a fifth round pick …
The Jets punt coverage was horrendous again yesterday.
Don’t know what Mike Maccagnan is going to do about this, but he better do something.
I honestly don’t think Maccagnan and special team’s coach Bobby April are on the same page.
Obviously Maccagnan has done a terrific job so far led by the Marshall and Ryan Fitzpatrick trades and the selection of Leonard Williams in the first round. That troika has contributed a great deal to the Jets resurgence.
Today, the Jets released Walter Powell from the practice squad to add former New England Patriots wide receiver Kembrell Thompkins.
April loved Powell who had a good summer as a returner and receiver.
“I’m glad he’s still here,” April told me a few weeks ago.
Now he’s gone.
The Jets essentially had no kick returner the last two games. Powell could have helped them, but they never called him up.
He’s also a better receiver than Devin Smith right now.
The Smith selection, which was unnecessary (Jets should have tried to get a 3-4 OLB edge rusher in the second round – still a big need), had a trickle-down effect that impacted the Jets punt coverage.
Because with Smith added, and guaranteed a roster spot, this contributed to T.J. Graham, Saalim Hakim and Shaq Evans all being shown the door.
I’m not putting any of these players in Canton, but they were all good kick-punt cover guys.
You need reserve receivers to help in this area. Think of a guy like Steve Tasker. Speaking of Buffalo, they have a backup receiver now named Marcus Easley who is tremendous on kick-punt coverage, one of the best in the league.
Think of the Jets reserve receivers. Devin Smith isn’t built for this – you saw that on the Darrin Sproles return – he’s too skinny and needs an off-season NFL strength program. Jeremy Kerley doesn’t cover kicks. Perhaps Chris Owusu can help when he returns, but he’s coming off a concussion and knee surgery, so you don’t want to overdue it with him.
The Jets punt coverage stinks. There is no way around it.
And during his press conference last week, April was rambling in his answers about the punt coverage, and clearly frustrated. The man is a good coach who has been dealt a bad hand.
Now only did Sproles have the 89-yard return for a TD last week, Jarvis Landry gashed them over-and-over in London.
Surely, this will be a big focus during the bye-week.
Some changes need to be made. Status quo isn’t going to cut it . . .
It’s interesting that Joe Philbin’s time with the Dolphins ended during a trip to London.
The man who was involved with firing Philbin, Dolphins EVP Mike Tannenbaum, had a clandestine meeting with Miami officials in London last year, during a Dolphin trip there, to help plot his coup to take over the football operation. From what I understand, he did it over there, so he would be less apt to be spotted by the media.
Phibin is now out of work, failing to get off to a strong start with the amazing roster that was put together down there . . .
October 5, 2015
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