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New Jersey – It’s time for more of “The Good Stuff” from Jets Confidential publisher Dan Leberfeld including notes on Arizona, Schilens and more . . .
The Arizona Cardinals offensive line has been a disaster all year, and the situation got worse today, with the announcement that center Lyle Sendlein blew his knee out yesterday (against St. Louis) and is out for the year.
So now the the Cardinals will be starting a backup center and two rookie offensive tackles, and not first rounders (like Matt Kalil) – left tackle Nate Potter (seventh round) and right tackle Bobbie Massie (fourth round).
Expect the Jets inconsistent pass rush to come to life on Sunday.
Look for Mo Wilkerson to dominate – he is looking like a major steal from the 2011 draft. He was picked 30th overall last year, but is now playing like a Top 10 defensive lineman.
The Jets first-year defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, has done a tremendous job with Wilkerson. His technique has taken a quantum leap this year . . .
I went over to Chaz Schillens today to get an update on his status on his health. He suffered a concussion against New England on Thursday night.
Jets publicist Nick Filis came over quickly to move me away from him.
“He can’t talk,” Filis said.
Players coming off a concussion aren’t allowed to speak to the media the week following the head injury.
I forgot, and I apologized to Schilens as he walked away.
But watching him today, I got the sense, whether it was in the locker room, or on the practice field, that he has a much better chance of playing than Clyde Gates, who also suffered a concussion . . .
Most players hate talking to the media.
They do it because they have to – media cooperation is part of the CBA.
Every once in a while you come across a player who seems to enjoy it like former Jets kicker Jay Feely, now with Arizona.
Today, for the first time I can remember, third-string quarterback Greg McElroy was surrounded by reporters at his locker in Florham Park, and he didn’t flinch.
Reading the tea leaves, he seemed to like it.
When you are really smart, the mental challenge of having to answer tough questions can be fun.
McElroy scored a 43 on the Wonderlic and graduated in three years from Alabama with a GPA of 3.85.
I have been covering the NFL for a long time, and I used to think you needed to be 6-4, 230 run 4.6 and have a rocket arm to be successful as an NFL quarterback.
But I’ve moved on from that.
You need to be a borderline genius.
Guys like Drew Brees, Aaron Rogers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are guys that would probably be successful CEO’s or Governors.
These are extremely bright guys.
The job is so difficult, such a mental challenge, you have to be so smart to be successful.
There are so many moving parts on your side of the ball and on defense.
I have no idea if McElroy will be successful if he gets his shot, but I think his intellect will be a huge help.
I see him as a player who might not have a howitzer arm, but he can read defenses and make good decisions, two very important parts of the job.
By the way, McElroy said all the right things today. He didn’t get himself in hot water with anything he said.
November 26, 2012
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