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A couple of observations from practice today . . .
For a Week Seven game, the Jets are unbelievably healthy, and that is pretty darn remarkable for a game in the middle of the season.
When I saw Bilal Powell run over from the trainer’s area to the kick return part of practice, he looked like a guy ready to roll.
He will play on Sunday.
They basically only have one injured player – Mo Wilkerson, who is dealing with toe and shoulder injuries.
But perhaps that isn’t a big deal because Todd Bowles said he’s doing everything they’re “asking [him] to do.”
One writer said sarcastically today to another writer, “Is he asking him not to make plays?”
Look, I respect Todd and Mo, and I know that Mo isn’t 100 percent, but what Bowles said yesterday is a slippery slope.
Accountability is so important in team sports. To say a guy is doing everything the team needs him to do, when that clearly isn’t the case, sends a bad message.
When you are highest-paid player is barely showing up on the stat sheet, and is part of one of the worst run defenses in football, it’s very dangerous for the coach to pretend he’s doing a good job.
Look, I totally get Bowles having his players’ backs and not wanting to throw guys under the bus to the media.
But when a player is struggling like Wilkerson, you need to temper your remarks for credibility reasons.
Say something like, “he’s had some good plays and some others he would want back. We all need to play better against the run, including Mo.”
The fans and media see what is going on. Quite honestly, Todd’s answer about Mo yesterday were a little insulting to our intelligence.
Bowles made himself look bad this off-season when he downplayed guys being late for meetings.
That quote really hurt him. You can’t say that.
Sometimes he has his players back to a fault.
This isn’t T-Ball, it’s the NFL.
Being late is never okay, and Wilkerson needs to play a lot better.
When I see a player of the magnitude getting pancaked by an undersized guard like Shaq Mason, that isn’t doing everything you are asking him to do.
End of story . . .
So impressed watching Jets secondary coach Dennard Wilson work in practice. What a great hire by Bowles.
The Jets’ secondary is much-improved this year, and this guy has been coaching the heck out of his charges.
Every single practice, while the special team’s drills are going on, he works on technique with Mo Claiborne and Buster Skrine, his starting corners.
Claiborne has had a very solid season. Yes, he gave up a deep ball to Brandon Cooks, but that was a heck of a pass by Tom Brady.
Skrine still has some hiccups here and there, but he’s improved from last year. There is no doubt about that.
And look at the word Wilson has done with the two rookie safeties, getting them ready to start from Week One.
Great hire by Bowles . . .
October 19, 2017
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