Content available exclusively for subscribers
East Rutherford – Checking in from MetLife Stadium where the Jets beat the Eagles 6-0 . . .
Quarterback Luke Falk was clearly hurting after the game – hobbling in the locker room. He seemed to get nicked after a second-half sack where he limped off the field. Not sure exactly what is wrong, but he clearly wasn’t right…
Jets cornerback Mark Myers suffered a concussion after he leveled an Eagles running back for a loss in the second half. It was a big-time hit, and showed a lot of courage, but Myers isn’t a big guy (185 pounds) and he paid a price. He looked out of it in the locker room . . .
Nathan Shepherd is probably on the roster bubble. Foley Fatukasi had a better summer, and undrafted rookie free agent Kyle Phillips has probably moved ahead of him as well.
Shepherd had a rough first series. He got locked up by guard Sua Opeta on a Wendell Smallwood gain of six up the middle. Then two plays later he was called for illegal use of the hands.
Shepherd is a great guy, and gives you everything he’s got, but still struggles too much shedding blocks and lacks quick twitch. Mike Maccagnan might have over-drafted him last year in the third round . . .
Blake Cashman and Kyle Phillips were the two biggest standouts on defense for the Jets. They both had five tackles. Cashman also had an impressive special team’s tackle. Cashman’s instincts are too notch, has a great feel for the game, and is a big-time hitter. He looks like a fifth-round steal. Phillips, who had two sacks this summer, clearly should have been drafted. Watching him this summer, he looks like a second or third-round defensive lineman – he plays with a great motor, has good technique and is more athletic than expected. The Jets switch to the 4-3 defense certainly helped him because his best position is 4-3 end . . .
The Jets have a very tough decision to make at tight end. Clearly Ryan Griffin will be the #1 tight end during Chris Herndon’s four-game suspension. Griffin wasn’t in uniform tonight to protect him, so clearly he’s the guy. Daniel Brown had four catches tonight, so he helped his cause, as did Eric Tomlinson who had five catches. 2019 fourth-round pick Trevon Wesco had a nondescript night, and honestly, kind of a nondescript summer. I’m not writing him off. He has a lot of potential, but Griffin, Brown and Tomlinson are all further along right now.
It might be risky, but I would consider waiving Wesco and trying to move him to the practice squad. Keep in mind, Jets GM Joe Douglas has no allegiance to the team’s 2019 draft class, because he took the job two months after the draft. And Adam Gase wasn’t even in the war room for a lot of the draft as his relationship with Maccagnan was falling apart at the time, so it’s hard to tell how Gase feels about ANY of the team’s picks, quite honestly, and that includes Quinnen Williams. Who knows? . . .
Greg Dortch muffed a punt today, but was able to recover. It made me wonder if the Jets might resort to using Jamison Crowder as their punt returner. He has done it in the league. I asked Adam Gase, and he doesn’t want to do that because Crowder is too valuable in the slot, but said Crowder would be their emergency punt returner.
August 29, 2019
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.