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A few different things to get into . . .
As Jermaine Kearse mentioned, the tempo of the Jets’ offense was quicker this week with veteran QB under center.
Some people consider this a shot at Sam Darnold. That’s foolish. This is just common sense, and even Todd Bowles, who usually shoots down narratives in questions, agreed with this premise.
“Obviously Josh knows more, because he has been in the league a lot longer,” Bowles said. “You would expect that coming from a veteran player. That’s the part of it that younger players have to learn, but you have to get to be a veteran player, not just a rookie. So, [McCown] brings that intangible to it. ”
People get offended so easily these days. A lot of fans were offended by Kearse saying that. But Bowles agreed with the premise.
And I’m sure Sam would agree to.
One thing I noticed this week at practice was how much teaching McCown did, telling guys the depth to run routes, getting guys lined up perfectly – he was like a traffic cop out there.
It might be good for all the offensive players to go with the veteran QB for a week just to help get the players on this struggling offense all rowing in the same direction. There has been a lot of dysfunction in the last three games.
And it was good for Darnold to watch his mentor in action this week on the practice field leading the offense, and also for all the offensive players, to get this offense to a better place than we have seen for the last three games. It will be good for the confidence of the entire offensive unit.
And a time-out for one week for Darnold is a good thing – healthy or unhealthy . . .
I saw Spencer Long, not in uniform, practicing some shotgun snapping on a distant field, with an equipment guy. It was just for a few minutes.
Not a big deal, but maybe just give the finger a full two-three weeks of rest, with the center not playing this week, and the bye-week coming up.
I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill. He was only doing this for a few minutes.
But one other thing to add here, and I haven’t said this before, but I noticed in the summer there were some snapping issues in practice from Long to Darnold from time to time.
So the snapping issue here might be more than the current finger injury.
One long-time Jets observer said to me this week that some of this, “Might be in his head.”
Kind of like the yips that makes putting difficult for some golfers . . .
It’s unclear who the Bills will start at QB, but none of the options are great. Even if Josh Allen is able to return from an elbow injury, the rookie is a major project who still isn’t ready for prime-time with shaky pocket presence and poor accuracy; Matt Barkley has only been there two weeks and Derek Anderson still hasn’t been cleared from a concussion.
What about Nathan Peterman?
I asked a long-time Bills observer this question – “Aside from the Pick Six against the Chicago Bears, how did he play?”
“He checked down a lot – he’s afraid to throw interceptions,” said the observer.
In other words, with his history of picks, Peterman is afraid to pull the trigger on many throws that he feels are risky, so he is going with a lot of underneath throws the defense gives him.
This game has Jets win written all over it.
Their defense, which has played fairly well the last couple of weeks, should dominate a messed up offensive team, and with McCown under center, the offense should function on a higher level.
Even though they are 3-6, this is a close-knit team, with no tangible locker room issues, and this group is chomping at the bit for a win. They had a very spirited week of practices.
I would be shocked if the Jets lose this game.
November 9, 2018
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