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It’s Friday night again, and it’s time for a heaping helping of Dan’s Website Whispers all about Gang Green. Today we have notes on Antonio Allen, Robert Mathis, Matt Slauson and more. Let’s go . . .
The Jets promotion of safety Antonio Allen could help the Jets.
He was elevated from the practice squad today due to Eric Smith’s knee injury.
He’s a terrific run support safety, and makes a lot of tackles close to the line. He did it this summer, and at South Carolina.
Considering the state of the Jets’ run defense, sounds like a guy who they could use now . . .
The Colts travel to MetLife Stadium with some major injuries that should have an impact on the game.
I know many of you see the injury report, but I want to provide some clarity on who these people are
*Starting right defensive end Fili Moala is out with a knee injury.
*Starting strong side linebacker Robert Mathis is out with a knee injury.
Starting inside linebacker Pat Angerer is out with a foot injury.
Starting left cornerback Vontae Davis is doubtful with an ankle injury. Doubtful players almost never play.
Starting tailback Donald Browns is out with a knee injury.
Starting left guard Joe Reitz is out with a knee injury.
Six starters out (assuming Davis doesn’t play) on a team that isn’t that deep. They are in a transition year, making waiver claims left and right.
If the Jets lose this game, they are probably finished, and should be ripped like crazy, and rightfully so.
The Colts are a beat-up football team, due for a letdown after their emotional win last week at home.
No excuses for Gang Green in this one.
If they lose this game, the sky will be falling . . .
I spoke to a former long-time NFL offensive lineman today.
And he went out of his way to tell me what a bad idea it is to rotate guards.
The Jets are rotating Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse at left guard.
The former lineman thinks one of the Jets problems on the offensive line is this rotation.
He said it’s hard to get in sync as a line with this setup.
“You would think Tony (Sparano) would know this being a former offensive line coach,” said the lineman.
Maybe this is out of Tony’s hands.
Both Jets starting guards, Brandon Moore and Slauson, are free agents after this year, and the team’s brass clearly wants to see what they have in Ducasse. They also want him to be ready, with plenty of game experience, so they aren’t throwing him in cold next year.
But they might be hurting the present, planning for the future . . .
Expect the Jets to pick on Indianapolis Colts starting strong safety Tom Zbikowski.
I’m sure you all know him. He’s the former boxer out of Notre Dame who used to play for the Baltimore Ravens.
He’s a hard-hitter, but he has stiff hips and struggles in space. He’s best suited to be a backup safety, but he’s starting because the Colts are so thin, and he also knows their defense well. It’s the Baltimore defense, the Rex Ryan defense.
Dustin Keller and Jeff Cumberland can really make hay against a guy like this.
Keller is excited to get back.
“I hope I can make a big difference, whether it’s catching passes or taking defenders out for the other guys to catch passes, whatever it is,” Keller said. “I’m ready to go out there and play.” . . .
I think the only way the Jets have a shot at getting Sione Pouha close to feeling good with this bad back, is to hold him out past the upcoming bye-week. Take advantage of the two week break during the bye . . .
It was very surprising that people were holding at hope for WR Edmund “Clyde” Gates to play this week. He’s been walking around in a sling this week, and had his shoulder popped back into place on Monday. Gates playing this week was never going to happen . . .
There is such a buzz around the Jets about Jeremy Kerley. People feel this guy can be special.
“Kerley is getting better and better,” said Tony Sparano . . .
October 12, 2012
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