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This guy could be a problem for the Jets.
I’m talking about Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Nyhiem Hines, who is a heck of a receiver out of the backfield.
The N.C. State product was perhaps the best receiving back in the 2018 draft.
And we know the Jets have struggled covering the running backs out of the backfield, with big plays from Miami’s Frank Gore and Jacksonville’s T.J. Yeldon coming to mind.
Hines, who has 4.38 speed in the forty, is a guy who could give the Jets fits if they aren’t careful.
“Versatile threat offering creative offensive coordinators a toy to tinker with,” said NFL.com draft guru Lance Zierlein. “Flashed his homerun potential with touchdown runs of 83, 54, 50, and 48 this season.” . . .
The Indianapolis Colts play a defense similar to the Tampa Two, so don’t expect Sam Darnold to be able to toss the ball down field for three long plays like he did last week. The system generally uses two deep safeties.
This system generally calls for rushing four, and dropping seven into a zone. This can be tricky for a rookie to diagnose.
Darnold knows darn well that throwing deep will be a lot tougher this week than last week against Denver, who played a lot of press-man.
“They don’t really allow the deep ball,” Darnold said of Indianapolis. “We’ll take our shots when they’re there, but really got to stay patient.”
This defense calls for the defenders to keep everything in front of them, rally to the football, and hit defenders really hard, possibly forcing turnovers.
So expect a lot of dinking and dunking this week . . .
Speaking of coverage, the Jets get Rashard Robinson back this week from his four-game suspension for getting caught by the police in East Hanover with Peanut Budda Buddah, a pot-infused candy.
He’s a very talented cat with nice combination of length, speed and leaping ability. He’s not the kind of guy I would play in a lot of zone. I’d just ask him to play “man” and have him follow somebody around.
The Jets could use the help at corner since they have some injuries there, but these aren’t injuries they can’t overcome, because the two guys who are hurt weren’t play that well.
As for Robinson, he did a lot of interviews today, long one-on-one interviews with reporters. If I’m the Jets, I’m keeping my fingers crossed on how these turned out. Some reporters probably sensed a chance for a guy to say something controversial. We will see. I’d have him just do a quick interview with the group, but that’s just me.
One reporter, who likes to do long interviews with players looking for that money quote was one of the interviewers.
We will see how this turns out . . .
Jets kick/punt returner Andre Roberts was held out of practice today with an elbow injury. And guess who was fielding punt – Trenton Cannon. He consistently has issues with punt catching. He never did it in college. He’s need to be put on ice as a punt returner for 2018, but Todd Bowles is very loyal. Right now Cannon should be viewed as a running back/kick returner/special team’s cover guy, not a punt returner.
October 10, 2018
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