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Clifton – Here are some of my thoughts and Whispers from the Jacksonville Jaguars- New York Jets game at MetLife Stadium . . .
As you know by now, Willie Colon missed today’s game.
Todd Bowles said he’s “hopeful” that Colon will play on Thursday.
I asked him the question, and watching him give the answer – the body language, the way he delivered the answer, I think Willie is playing. Todd sounded very positive.
This is important.
I think biggest problem for the Jets putrid running game today was missing two starters most of the game, both good run blockers – Nick Mangold (exited in the second quarter) and Colon.
I think the Jets can survive with one of these two youngsters (Brian Winters and Wes Johnson), but two was too much today.
Mangold is probably a long-shot to play on Thursday since he had a setback with his neck, but if they get Willie back, they can get by with Johnson at center . . .
On the Jaguars’ first kickoff return, Dexter McDougle missed the tackle.
Why?
He’s playing with one hand. His left hand is messed up, and so he’s trying to tackle with one arm.
Last week he had issues as the gunner on kickoffs because he was trying to get off blocks with one hand . . .
Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson gave the Jets corners problems today, each going for over 120 yards.
On the last play of the first quarter, Robinson beat Darrelle Revis on a deep out on the left sideline for a gain of 33.
Late in the first half, Hurns beat Antonio Cromartie for a gain of 20 down the left side, and then on a 30-yard touchdown pass on the right side.
We have talked about how Revis and Cromartie don’t run as well as they used to and struggle with speed receivers.
But that shouldn’t apply here. Neither Robinson or Hurns are blazing receivers.
Robinson ran a 4.6 forty coming out of Penn State and Hurns a 4.55 out of Miami of Florida.
They aren’t speed merchants.
So this makes their domination down field even more disconcerting for the Jets’ coach.
After Cromartie hurt his hamstring in the second half, Marcus Williams came in the game and did a terrific job, including a pick late. He also had a pick early in the game.
It’s never easy to replace a veteran in the starting lineup. It can be humiliating.
This hamstring injury gives the Jets a chance to do this a little easier.
Sit Cromartie on Thursday, and go with Williams. The injury makes it less of a story . . .
Ryan Fitzpatrick left the stadium with his left hand heavily wrapped.
But when before he left, with all his actions in the locker room, he was able to use the left hand better than last week.
But it sounds like there is a good chance he’s going to have surgery on the thumb on the Friday after the Buffalo game.
If he does that, he should be okay to play in the Houston game with the extra time to heal . . .
The Jets, desperate to generate some pass rush from their outside linebacker positions, tried Erin Henderson there today. The effort was there, but didn’t get much done. It’s a new position for him. But while the Jets were looking to see if Henderson could help, they got a pleasant surprise on the other side – Lorenzo Mauldin had two sacks. The lightbulb is starting to come on for Mauldin, who also generated pressure last week in Oakland.
November 8, 2015
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