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New Jersey – Dan’s Website Whispers takes a look a few different items leading into the Jets’ important game against the New York Giants . . .
The game is important because both teams are fighting for playoff spots. The cross-town rivalry stuff is for the media and fans.
Both these teams desperately need a win for the playoff hopes.
Everything else is secondary . . .
Speaking of secondary, Todd Bowles was asked by a reporter who would cover Odell Beckham if Darrelle Revis (concussion) can’t play.
“I’m not giving away our game plan,” Bowles said.
You have to respect the answer.
As an NFL head coach, there is no way you should divulge how you will match-up with an opponent.
But the mere question points out a disconnect between perception and reality.
Even if Revis plays, which he likely won’t, he shouldn’t cover Beckham one-on-one.
Should Revis have covered Oakland’s Amari Cooper, Buffalo’s Sammy Watkins and Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins one-on-one?
Probably not.
At times, but not full-time.
As we have mentioned ad infinitum, Revis lacks the ideal foot quickness to match-up full-time with these kind of elite, young, quick receivers. it doesn’t matter how much he makes. These receivers can use their quick twitch to pull away from him on quick cuts. We have seen this over and over.
Beckham is one of those guys who can change gears quickly, and pull away from cornerbacks, especially older ones.
You really have to be disconnected from reality, or not watching the Jets’ game tape, to think you just put Revis on an island against players like Beckham.
If you do put him on Beckham-types, you better give safety help.
Best thing to do is to have him line-up on #2 receivers. That is what New England often did last year.
Actually, the best way to go is to move him to safety, but I doubt that is going to happen this year.
But like I said, he’s a long-shot to play this week.
And while nobody wants a concussion, and we wish him well on a human level, he probably wasn’t looking forward to this game, especially the way things are going.
Do you think he wants to possibly get humiliated in a cross-town rivalry? That could really hurt his reputation.
Everyone, whether it’s the media or Todd Bowles, better start dealing with reality on this one.
Stop the stupid narrative that Revis should automatically line up on the other team’s #1 every week. That is fool’s gold . ..
For the second straight week the Jets will likely be facing a backup center.
Last week, Mike Pouncey got hurt early in the game, and the Miami Dolphins were forced to play Jamil Douglas at center.
Dolphins football chief Mike Tannenbaum made a big mistake going with Douglas as the backup center. He had no experience at the position, and Douglas awful shotgun snapping threw a monkey wrench into the Dolphins’ attack. To me, it was the top reasons the Dolphins lost. It was that bad. All the low snaps made Ryan Tannehill’s job much tougher and put him behind the eight ball on many plays.
Giants center Weston Richburg has a high ankle sprain and is iffy for the game.
If he can’t go, Dallas Reynolds would start.
Reynolds would be a little better than Douglas was for the Dolphins. Reynolds has 12 career starts at center.
But the Jets’ interior line is the strength of their team with Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Leo Williams and Damon Harrison (whose had a resurgence in recent weeks), and they will take turns exploiting Reynolds, who is a backup for a reason . . .
December 2, 2015
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