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Madison, NJ – Interesting Jets practice today, and Dan checks in from “Behind the Jets,” with a heaping helping of Jets notes . . .
Vlad Ducasse was starting at left guard for the Jets today.
So what should we make of that?
Well first of all, I don’t think he’s going to start for the Jets at left guard.
I think it’s going to be Stephen Peterman until Brian Winters is ready and healthy (his knee still isn’t right).
A few things to consider.
First off, Peterman was getting work at center today, so that was one of the reasons he wasn’t working at left guard.
With Dalton Freeman (high ankle sprain) hurt, and Caleb Schlauderaff having snapping issues and on the bubble, the Jets need to have a plan for a backup center entering the season. So they want to get Peterman reps to see if he can handle the job.
Secondly, it’s possible the Jets will look to give Ducasse some prime-time reps in the next two preseason games to perhaps try to generate some trade interest . . .
Lex Hilliard is a very tough guy – Montana tough.
Today, he suffered a serious right shoulder injury blocking a defender in practice.
He went down, and it first, observers thought it was a leg injury, the way his lower body was flopping around like a fish on the deck of a boat.
But anybody who destroys his or her shoulder knows how painful that kind of injury can be.
A few minutes later, it looked like one of the Jets’ doctors was working on his arm – it looked like the doctor was attempting to pop the shoulder back into place.
This sport is brutal – the injury rate is 100 percent – everyone has an injury.
To watch Hilliard, a super nice guy, lying on the field, writing in pain, was tough to take, I have to admit.
I’m not sure how severe the injury is, but if he’s done for the year, this could be an underrated injury for the Jets.
I think Tommy Bohanon is terrific seventh round pick, but he needs work as a lead blocker. Hilliard is a better blocker than Bohanon right now . . .
Kyle Wilson’s a good guy, a hard-worker, but as a player, Rex is “loyal to the point of defiance.”
With Dee Milliner out – Wilson started today, and had an uneven practice, including getting beat deep by rookie WR Rahsaan Vaughn on a throw by Greg McElroy.
You have to be oblivious to watch Jets practice, and not see that Darrin Walls is better than Wilson.
But Rex can’t help himself.
He’s “loyal to the point of defiance” . . .
Marty Morhinweg was dialing up a lot of quick, efficient throws for Geno Smith to perhaps build up his confidence. A lot of his work came against the second-team defense.
Smith looked pretty good today, and wasn’t limping as bad as yesterday.
I heard some reporters today talking about a bad practice by McElroy who threw a number of picks. Somebody said it was four.
This is unfair.
McElroy was running the scout team when these picks took place.
When you are the quarterback on the scout team, you need to make some throws you might not make if you were running your own offense.
The defensive coaches want you to emulate the other team, not run your own offense.
They also don’t want you to waste plays by running or throwing the ball away. They want the defenders to get reps – so sometimes scout team quarterbacks make ill-advised throws to get the defense reps.
Look, I’m not here to be a McElroy apologist. You know, I’ve never interviewed him, at least I don’t recall every interviewing him. There is no relationship here.
My point is simple – for some reporters to say he had a bad practice because he threw some picks running the scout team is foolish, and displays a poor understanding of an NFL practice.
August 20, 2013
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