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Some important stuff to get into today . . .
Who is that man on the cover of Jets Confidential with owner Christopher Johnson (pictured above)?
It’s Ira Axselrad, perhaps the most powerful man on the Jets’ scene.
He is Christopher Johnson’s right hand man and money manager.
Any big decision this organization makes, he’s involved in.
So with some big changes on the horizon, he will be involved every step of the way . . .
One of the situations that perhaps hurt Todd Bowles’ job security this year was keeping center Spencer Long in the lineup into the fourth quarter at Miami, when he had issues snapping the ball due to a messed up finger on his right hand.
This surprised a lot of people. Why didn’t the coach pull the plug sooner, especially since it was impacting the performance of the team’s prized rookie QB? Even the announcers of the game were wondering this.
From what I hear, Long opened up to the AP today about the whole experience and the mental toll it took on him.
Long has settled in nicely at left guard, and the Jets’ offensive line has played fairly well the last two weeks. They shut down a very good front seven in Buffalo, and then against Houston, did a decent job. Yes, J.J. Watt made a few big plays, but he does that ever week, but overall, the Jets line played okay.
Long is in a much better place mentally, not having to worry about snapping.
I have said this before about Coach Bowles, and I will say it again, if he gets fired by the Jets, I’d hire him as a defensive coordinator, as long as he has no control over who plays.
He has an eclectic view of players personnel that I don’t get.
Whether it’s sticking with Buster Skrine, Nathan Shepherd, Darron Lee WAY too long, or not getting Long out of there a lot sooner, his player personnel worldview is something that often leaves me perplexed.
One longtime New York sportswriter who was here today said to me, “He’s too close to the players.”
Benching players can really hurt them. Maybe he’s such a good guy, he doesn’t want to hurt people.
So if he goes to a place, where the head coach and GM totally control who plays on defense, who gets benched, and so forth, I think he can do a solid job as a DC . . .
With this being said, with Darryl Roberts likely out this week with a toe injury, Rontez Miles could get the start at safety.
Miles is a heck of a special teams player and box safety, and a great person, but due to stiff hips and limited speed struggles in coverage.
If Bowles starts him at safety this week, instead of Terrence Brooks who has great range, look for Aaron Rodgers to target Miles.
People get put in boxes around here, and I sense that Brooks is considered by the coach to be a special team’s player.
Miles is a heck of a guy, but it’s hard to start him at safety – he just doesn’t have enough range.
But I’d want that guy on my team for a long time as a fourth or fifth safety and core special teams player . . .
A writer said to me today, “I think the Jet are going to win on Sunday.”
I said I couldn’t make that pick based on how their corners played last week against Houston – Trumaine Johnson, Mo Clairborne and nickel Skrine all struggled. So if they struggle against Deshaun Watson, what are they going to do again Rodgers?
I don’t have a strong feel for this game right now, but I certainly have a hard time picking the Jets with the way their corners played last week, and the possibility of a box safety starting in center field.
People were very critical of Claiborne last week, but Johnson was sometimes too far off receivers, giving up big gains in front of him. That isn’t the type of coverage you expect from a cornerback making $14.5 million-a-year.
December 21, 2018
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