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Time for heaping helping of Jets Whispers from Black Monday. A few things to get into. Let’s get started . . .
But I want to chime in on the slow start in Buffalo.
Today, first off, Todd Bowles was asked about the slow start in Buffalo, and here is what he had to say.
“We weren’t flat,” Bowles said. “We weren’t clicking. It was a play here and play there. There were a bunch of almosts, but almost doesn’t count and we just didn’t make enough plays.”
To me, I have a concrete answer for this. I was in the stadium. The wind was horrid in the first half.
And what was often happening were passes, to usually sure-handed players like Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, moved through the air like a knuckle-ball often dipping right before they arrived.
Look, I’m not making excuses. I’m just a realist. The Jets passing offense was red-hot entering this game, and with Bills injuries in the secondary, they could have continued to streak into the first half, but the wind was crazy – 22 MPH and constantly changing directions. Lake effect.
When the wind calmed down in the second half, the Jets passing attack was better.
I’m not Jets apologist, but I think the NFL scheduling chief Howard Katz was being too cute – Jets vs. Rex, blah, blah, blah. Why put this game in Buffalo in Week 17. The weather is never good then, and it lived up to it’s reputation.
But to me, the reason for the Jets’ slow start offensively in this game was the terrible weather.
As for the defense, the biggest problem was Darrelle Revis playing too far off Sammy Watkins, but we already addressed that . . .
Todd Bowles was asked today if the Jets need to add a speed rusher in the off-season.
“That’s part of getting faster all around and that’s included in it,” Bowles said.
The Jets need for a speed rushing outside linebacker was never more apparent than on Sunday in Buffalo.
Aside from the secondary issues, another big problem was the lack of a pass rush.
The Bills’ offensive line did a nice job on the Jets’ three man line.
With all that attention given to the Jets talented defensive line, it would have been great situation for outside linebackers to make hay.
Calvin Pace was very quiet.
Lorenzo Mauldin is a nice prospect, but he’s best suited to be the #2 outside linebacker opposite a star speed rusher – a complimentary player.
The Jets desperately need a star speed rusher, and that would have been my second round pick in 2015, like the kid the Arizona Cardinals picked in the second round – Marcus Golden.
And I know the Jets like to stick to their board, but they need to think long-and-hard about a speed rusher in the first round in 2016.
Another issue with the lack of speed on the edge was on display in Buffalo, when Tyrod Taylor and running backs were able to turn the corner on Mauldin and Pace.
So clearly this is a huge need for the Jets.
And it’s time for them to address it high in the draft.
No more procrastination.
January 4, 2015
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