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I must be missing something . . .
I’m serious.
Maybe I’m getting this one wrong. I’m not going to sit here and act like I have all the answers. That would be arrogant.
From my perspective, Jets cornerback Buster Skrine, whose a good guy, was wildly inconsistent the last four years.
I have documented this over and over.
But you don’t read this many other places. ESPN’s Jets beat reporter, who does a lot of good work, wrote the following this week:
“Buster Skrine: Like Carpenter, Skrine belonged to Maccagnan’s first free-agent class and played out the length of his contract, making $25 million. Like Carpenter, Skrine will be 30 next season, so a multiyear contract seems unlikely from the Jets. He’s a competent No. 3 corner who played 694 snaps (62 percent), and he cut down his penalties.”
Competent #3 cornerback?
As far as I’m concerned, the Jets should have moved on in the 2017 or 2018 off-season.
Do you think the way this player, whose a terrific guy, played his first couple of years with the Jets, do you think he would have seen years three and four in New England?
I’m sorry to keep bringing up New England, but when it comes to player personnel, they run a meritocracy. If you aren’t getting the job done, you will be benched or possible released.
They are the gold standard when it comes to this. All teams should be this way.
How long would this player have lasted on New England?
I’m not trying to be flippant, just keeping it real.
Look, I have nothing against him. As Bill Parcells always would say, “I go by what I see.”
I’m not going to go over every game, like the 2017 game in Miami where he gave up three (maybe four) touchdowns.
Let’s just go back to the last game of the season.
*Early second quarter, Tom Brady hit Julian Edelman on a cross for a gain of 18 on Skrine.
*Late first half, Edelman over the middle for a gain of 17 with Buster Skrine trailing behind him.
*Early fourth – Chris Hogan caught passes of 17 and 20 with Skrine in coverage.
*Skrine seemed to stop following Edelman on a quick slant for a TD from five yards out.
*Skrine was called for holding on a late third quarter punt return by Andre Roberts.
People, what do you want me to say?
And this wild inconsistency in coverage and penalty issues have been going on four years, and they paid $25 million for this. $25 million!
And people are wondering if he might come back? What am I missing?
Look, the player is very tough, throwing his body around like a linebacker in run support. He’s also a good blitzer, very durable and does a ton of charity work.
But he struggles too much in coverage. He too often is a tick late reacting in coverage. He will freeze and get beat at times. And obviously, while he’s a great tackler and really tough, coverage is the most important part of playing corner.
I think one of the reasons why a lot of the Jets media ignores his struggles is due to how cooperative Skrine and his agents are with the press. If you don’t think that stuff is a factor, you are kidding yourself.
While Skrine is a heck of a guy, if Mike Maccagnan considers bringing him back, it will make wonder about him.
Unless I’m missing something.
February 7, 2019
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