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I personally don’t think the Jets quarterback or wide receiver situation is their biggest concern. I really don’t.
I think it’s their secondary.
I know I’ve written this before, but I’m bringing it up again because the situation is a head-scratcher.
I think Josh McCown will surprise people with how effective he can be as the Jets’ quarterback, which he will likely be, at least early in the season.
I also think the Jets’ decision to move Kenbrell Thompkins way up the depth chart, as reported here yesterday, was a great decision, and I think the trio of Thompkins, Charone Peake and Robby Anderson is underrated. Anderson and Peake both had great practices today, and both seem to be in a very good place right now. Wide receiver Marquess Wilson returned from a hip today. He’s a good football player.
And the Jets will get Austin Seferian-Jenkins back after two guys to further buttress their passing attack.
But this situation in the secondary needs close scrutiny.
The Jets starting secondary played lousy against the Detroit Lions first team offense led by Matthew Stafford. Was anybody covering Marvin Jones?
In very limited action, Stafford was 8-10 for 84 yards and a touchdown. Jones had four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown.
There were several blown coverages leaving guys wide open.
I asked Todd Bowles about these issues against the Lions starting offense, and he dismissed my question.
I think the rookie safeties both have the potential to be starters, but early in the season, there could be growing pains.
But to me, the bigger question mark for the Jets is at cornerback.
Their #1 CB Mo Claiborne is hurt again, and their #2 and #3 corners had shaky summers.
Today, Justin Burris was beat deep down the left sideline for a long touchdown by Anderson. This has happened several times this summer (Anderson beating Burris for long touchdown catches).
Even with his strong camp and preseason, Dexter McDougle doesn’t seem to be getting a chance at spots 2-4.
Marcus Williams has had a good camp, but doesn’t seem getting a lot of run at those spots either.
Xavier Coleman continues to have a good camp.
I’m making a simple point, and I’m not putting these “second-tier” Jets cornerbacks in Canton, but with all this talk about “competition” it’s baffling why there isn’t a wide-open competition for all the spots after Claiborne, who is clearly going to be the #1 cornerback.
They seem to be anointing Burris and Buster Skrine, and it’s not warranted. There seems to be a blindspot with some decision-makers.
This should be wide open.
And if the Jets make some bad calls at cornerback, I’m telling you, it’s going to cost them games.
Which certainly was the case last year . . .
Here we go again with supposed Jets leaks.
“Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that there were some in the organization who wanted General Manager Mike Maccagnan to make “an aggressive play” for (University of Tennessee) RB (Alvin) Kamara before the deal that landed him in New Orleans,” wrote Pro Football Talk. “Those people are reportedly ‘still miffed’ that the Jets didn’t make a move to add a playmaker to an offense devoid of them.”
Do the Jets have leaks?
I don’t think so.
To me, this is agent-drive, like most of these kind of stories – the agent talks about how the Jets were very interested in Kamara and looking to trade up on draft weekend.
And the agent can also throw out there willy-nilly that some people are “still miffed.” What the hell. Just throw it out there.
But I don’t think this came from a source in the building.
I think it came from an agent.
I just can’t see anybody from Mike Maccagnan’s personnel staff or Todd Bowles coaching staff, leaking anything to the Daily News. Just can’t see it. That would be flat-out shocking . . .
Sheldon Richardson finally spoke to the media today after being kept away following his rip-job on Brandon Marshall on the Jets’ flagship radio station.
To start the presser, people seemed shy about asking questions, and Richardson said, “Nervous?”
After a few questions it was over, and he said sarcastically, “Nice interview guys.”
August 22, 2017
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