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South Florida – On the eve of the Jets’ big tilt with the Miami Dolphins, Dan checks in from South Florida with a bunch of Website Whispers . . .
Bryan Thomas is gone.
It’s sad to see him go. He’s a real good guy.
It’s interesting. When he arrived, he was supposed to be a speed rusher. He ran a 4.5 forty coming out of UAB.
While he never turned into the dominant pass rusher they thought he would, he emerged as a fine all-around 3-4 OLB – played the run well, could drop into coverage, and occasional put pressure on the quarterback. He was just a reliable guy, and you knew what you were getting week-in, and week-out.
Obviously he could be back at some point. The Donnie Fletcher elevation could just be temporary until Ellis Lankster gets healthy.
But you have to wonder if, when Lankster does regain his health, perhaps the Jets will give Ricky Sapp a shot.
Sapp, now on the practice squad, might be the best pass rushing OLB in the building . . .
I interviewed Ben Volin today on Sirius. He covers the Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. Volin said the Dolphins are calling a lot of quick passes for rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. That could play right into the Jets’ hands.
Remember the Antonio Cromartie pick against Buffalo? The key to that play was a disguised coverage that preys on quarterbacks who get rid of the ball quickly. And Ryan Fitzpatrick is a veteran, and he fell for it.
I think Tannehill is in a lot of trouble on Sunday. The Jets do a great job of disguising blitzes, coverages and fronts. Tannehill is very raw. The Jets should feast on him . . .
Volin also said that he thinks that Santonio Holmes quote about the Dolphins secondary being vulnerable, was a little overstated.
The writer thinks that CB Richard Marshall isn’t a drop off from Vontae Davis (traded to Indianapolis a few weeks ago). He thinks CB Sean Smith is coming into his own as similar corner to Cromartie. Smith is 6-3 like Cro. And the safeties – Chris Clemons and Rashad Jones – are emerging.
This probably isn’t going to be the walk-on-the-beach that Holmes thinks it will be, and the fact that he gave them locker room fodder can’t be helpful either . . .
It’s very, very humid down here. Every time I go outside, my glasses fog up. This game is definitely going to test the Jets conditioning . . .
The right side of the Dolphins offense line isn’t great, so expect the Jets’ Front Seven to make some hay over there.
You have a rookie right tackle, Jonathan Martin, who played left tackle at Stanford. He’s learning on the job. He’s only 22. The right guard is Jonathan Jerry. Artis Hicks was supposed to start there, but he got hurt, so Jerry is the backup plan.
Expect the Jets to make some big plays on that side . . .
Getting back to Fletcher – he was a CB at Boston College, but he’s doesn’t have great speed, so he was spending a lot of time at safety this summer.
So it will be interesting to see where the Jets play him on Sunday – cornerback or safety. With Lankster out, it will likely be corner. Even though he was playing safety this summer, he is still more comfortable at cornerback.
September 22, 2012
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