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New Jersey – It’s time for some Friday Night Whispers from the heart of Jets Country in “The Garden State.” Let’s take a look at some important angles for the Jets entering the Pats’ game.
Chris Owusu looked great running around the practice field today.
He looks ready to roll.
While people might wonder why I’m mentioning this guy so much. It’s because while he’s listed as a backup receiver, he has value to the Jets in several areas.
First of all, it’s well-documented, the Jets’ kick returning has been pedestrian with Zac Stacy the last few games. This isn’t a knock on Stacy, who is a very good tailback, and will come in handing spelling Chris Ivory this week with Bilal Powell out. However, Stacy isn’t a good kick returner. The Jets just needed him to hold the fort until Owusu came back. They didn’t want to burn a roster spot by adding a kick returner for three games.
Owusu was back returning kicks today in practice. He has world class speed and is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. But he’s not just a speed guy, he’s a powerfully built athlete who can break tackles as well.
Owusu will also help the kick and punt cover teams – he’s a good special team’s cover guy with his speed, strength and toughness.
And with the suspension of Quincy Enunwa, Owusu will come in handy at receiver for the Jets, filling the third and fourth wideout spot, depending on what alignment they use.
So while he’s not a big name, I think his return this week is significant for the Jets . . .
And as I’ve mentioned all week, Buster Skrine’s significance this week can’t be understated. It looks like he’s going to play (no red jersey today in practice). This is clearly a boon to the Jets.
Along with his rare speed, he has amazing change-of-direction skills, with much looser hips than Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, so he’s the perfect guy to deal with Julian Edelman, one of those human joystick kind of players.
Also, Skrine is the Jets’s best blitzer because of his amazing speed that allows him to get back there so, so fast.
If you are going to be successful blitzing Tom Brady, which is tough, you need to get back there in a hurry, because he makes such good split second decisions . . .
While the Patriots’ patchwork offensive line has done an impressive job thus far, this is the week they should be exposed.
Their starting left tackle, Nate Solder, is out for the year. His backup, Marcus Cannon, is also out. He has a toe injury. So the Patriots are down two athletic left tackles.
So they might move right tackle Sebastian Vollmer to left tackle.
But that weakens their right tackle position.
Also, starting guard Josh Kline is questionable with a shoulder injury.
I think this is the week the Patriots ability to mask their offensive line issues comes to a close.
I’m not saying the Patriots won’t move the ball and score points. Of course they will. But Mo Wilkerson. Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams are going to be a big problem for Brady this week, behind a line being held together by duct-tape and baling wire.
Brady desperately want to win another ring this year to show up his detractors after the Deflate-gate fiasco. And there are certain games, he knows the potential is there to get the crap beat out of him, and getting hurt can derail his long-term vision. He’s into winning, but also self-preservation. He’s not going to sit back there and let himself get hit over and over, so this could lead to a lot of premature passes that are far from ideal.
October 23, 2015
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