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I just don’t know what to say anymore . . .
Todd Bowles said at the NFL Owner’s Meeting, “We have three good corners.”
The starting combination of Trumaine Johnson and Morris Claiborne should be very good, and one of the Jets’ better combos in recent years. As Sean McVay said to me in Orlando, “Trumaine Johnson is a true #1 corner in this league.”
Claiborne had been a #1 corner, but he’s probably better suited for the #2 spot.
But who is the third good corner?
Clearly he’s talking Buster Skrine, who Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan clearly have a blind spot about.
I really tired of belaboring this point. And as I always point out when I’m about to talk about this player, Buster is a great guy, but his play has hurt the Jets over the last three years.
In an October loss to the Dolphins, Skrine had a hand in four touchdowns by Miami. That is staggering. How is that not a benchable offense?
Last season, he committed 13 penalties which was a most by an AFC defensive back.
But when it comes to this player, Bowles and Maccagnan see or hear no evil.
Some People say Skrine played better down the stretch last year. Perhaps, but there has been so many bad plays and penalties given up over three years, the Jets are probably falling into a trap buying into this.
But I think Skrine is such a good guy that it clouds the judgement of the Jets decision-makers and some in the media.
Skrine is very cooperative and friendly to reporters, so some in the media are hesitant to call him out when he struggles. There is no doubt in my mind that this dynamic exists.
Another reason I think some Jets decision-makers look at Skrine’s coverage issue with rose-colored glasses is he’s so tough. There are very few corners who will hit you like Skrine. He’s a tough SOB.
But the bottom line is his coverage instincts are suspect which so often leads to him playing catch-up with receiver’s he covers, and often when playing catch-up, he crashes into or grabs the receiver, leading to a flag. He’s had penalty issues his entire career.
Look, I’m tired of writing about this, but my job is to cover and analyze the
Jets, and this player has hurt them in games. What am I supposed to do? Ignore this?
When I tweeted Todd’s quote today – “We have three good corners,” some fans weren’t on board with his take.
One fan who goes by the name “Lindar,” responded, “Except they don’t – 1 good, one average and then falls precipitously after that.”
Another fan named Charles Domino responded, “They do?”
Why Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan are so supportive of a player who they paid good money, and has been wildly inconsistent for three straight years, is a head-scratcher.
Maybe it’s because the player is such a good guy that they don’t have the heart to move on.
At the very least, they should have a wide-open competition for every CB spot after Johnson and Claiborne.
March 29, 2018
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