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Here are a couple of random notes and thoughts on the defense from Sunday’s Jets-Cincinnati Bengals game . . .
The Cincinnati Bengals offense is lost right now as they attempt to learn Jay Gruden’s offense after no off-season program, but the Jets defense played well nonetheless.
DE Ropati Pitoitua had a couple of nice run stops around the line – one on Ced Benson early, and then in the fourth on John Griffin. On the Benson stop, he threw the runner to the ground. Ropati isn’t just huge 6-8, 320, but he plays with an attitude. He’s a very intimidating cat . . .
DE Jarron Gilbert played well with a couple of tackles around the line. He’s on the bubble, but if he’s cut by the Jets, he’s going to play in the league this year. Athletic 6-5, 290-pound ends are hard to find. Remember last year, the former third round pick of the Chicago Bears, was on the Jets practice squad, and several teams tried to steal him last year.
Remember, he’s the dude who jumped out of the pool – you can check out the video on YouTube . . .
Jamaal Westerman was very active. He had two special team’s tackles in the first quarter, and also played well on defense. In the third quarter, he shed a blocking attempt by TE Chase Coffman, and stopped the runner, Cedric Peerman, for a loss of three. In the middle of the second quarter, he blew up a Brian Leonhard run in the backfield, and this allowed Bryan Thomas to stop the runner on the line. A few plays later, Westerman stopped Leonard on the line . . .
Late in the game, Aaron Maybin beat third string OT Matt O’Donnell for a sack and a forced fumble. O’Donnell is a rookie free agent out of Queen’s University in Ontario. With all due respect to the 6-9 O’Donnell, he’s not going to make the Bengals, and will likely be in the CFL shortly. So while Rex continues to rave about what Maybin did, consider the opponent.
Maybin also has been beating up on backup tackle Pete Clifford in practice.
If Maybin is ever going to be a factor in this league, he needs to prove he can beat first string tackles . . .
LB Brashton Satele had a near Pick Six in the game. He was pulled down on the four-yard line.
Rex really didn’t treat Satele fairly this summer, putting him behind rookie Nick Bellore at the outset of camp.
Satele was on the practice squad last year and Bellore was playing at Central Michigan. Satele came to camp knowing the defense, and Bellore didn’t.
This was a slap in the face to Satele and should not have happened.
You see Bellore was Rex’s top target in the undrafted free agent market, and called him personally to recruit him to the Jets. So he has a soft spot for him . . .
Kyle Wilson is still too inconsistent.
Late in the first quarter, Wilson was late coming over to slot receiver Jordan Shipley on an out to the left side that gained seven. He gave up two other completions to Shipley on this drive, including a 10-yard completion on third-and-seven. This drive ended in a Leonhard TD run.
Wilson was drafted to play the nickel role, and if this drive is any indication, it’s a little too early for Rex to praise his marked improvement.
What we saw on this drive was a player who was a second late reacting on three plays invovling a slot receiver.