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A few random thoughts on the Jets’ early cuts . . .
Most teams preach open competition, but it’s really not in most places with a lot of self-fulfilling prophecies manifesting themselves. Most roster spots are decided before camp starts.
RB George Atkinson performed well, but was a victim of politics. Todd Bowles and some Jets coaches are obsessed with Trenton Cannon. They used him this summer like he was Todd Gurley, a 230-pound workhorse back. He’s Bruce Harper – a 185-pound third-down back and kick returner. To pound him between the tackles, which we saw a great deal this summer, is not only illogical, but dangerous. They are lucky he didn’t get hurt. He doesn’t have the body armor to be used as a workhorse between the tackles.
And because the Jets were playing draft pick favorites with Cannon, every-down backs like Atkinson and Thomas Rawls hardly got the ball.
Look, I like Cannon as a third-down back and kick return prospect, but don’t pound him between the tackles. That is foolish.
Atkinson can play in this league, but the Jets coaches either don’t realize their draft pick biases sometimes or they are trying to appease the personnel department . . .
LB Kevin Minter is a excellent in the box against the run, but struggles in space against the pass, due to limited speed and some hip stiffness, but I think he will get another job. Teams know he’s smart, can get up to speed fast, and is a pro’s pro. And if the Jets suffer an injury at inside linebacker, he will be on their short list.
Gino Gradkowski isn’t a bad center, but the Jets already have three centers – Spencer Long
Jonotthan Harrison and Travis Swanson. I’m not 100 percent sure why they signed him. They signed him after offensive tackle Ben Ijalana got hurt. Why not sign a tackle at that point? It will be interesting to see what the Jets do with Swanson at the final cut down. The former Lions starting center is a trade-able commodity.
For some strange reason, the league has not ruled on Dylan Donahue’s likely suspension. Most thought he would be suspended now after two DUI arrests. The cases have been adjudicated, so what is the holdout? I don’t want this to sound flippant, but the Jets could use a suspension here; it would almost serve as a roster exemption.
Donahue has not turned into the pass rusher the Jets envisioned. I will describe his game in a nutshell – he has trouble shedding blocks due to his short arms and elbow injury, but he has a great motor, so when the play breaks down, and he can get into run-and-chase mode, he makes tackles. But he rarely makes tackles or gets to the quarterback based on beating offensive tackles off the ball. He would be great on special teams on kick and punt coverage because he runs down field like his hair is on fire.
If he is on the opening day roster, it’s likely due to draft pick politics. I would put him on the practice squad, but why no suspension at this point, is a mystery . . .
Safety Kacy Rodgers II is good enough to play in the NF, but I won’t use the “politics” card here. His father is the Jets’ defensive coordinator and he got released on the first cut down, so clearly there were zero politics in this decision. In this case, I can understand the release for a couple of reasons. First off, he had trouble staying healthy this summer, so that certainly hurt his ability to show his wares. Secondly, the Jets are loaded at safety with Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Terrence Brooks and Doug Middleton. They also have J.J. Wilcox and Rontez Miles (who is injured). So this is a crowded room. I could see Rodgers coming back to the Jets practice squad.
August 31, 2018
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