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It’s time for a helping of Jets Whispers with a few different items to get into today including coaching, a mismatch and a faux pas . . .
At one point this week, Todd Bowles had a quote that summed up the Jets loss to Philly succinctly and perfectly.
“They ran the ball, we didn’t. They got turnovers, we didn’t. That’s pretty cut and dry for us.”
Sums it up perfectly.
But I’d one other things. I think the Jets were out-strategized.
Chip Kelly and his Eagles staff had their backs against the wall at 0-2, and really put together a heck of a game plan.
I think the Jets have a very good coaching staff, I just think Kelly and company won the chess match last week. It happens. They get paid also.
A perfect example was how they totally shutdown the Jets’ screen game, a bread-and-butter aspect of their offense.
Yesterday I asked Chan Gailey what the issue was with the Jets’ screen game, and he said the Eagles had a guy assigned full-time to shutting down screens.
That player was Brandon Graham.
If you watch the film, Graham consistently dropped from his outside linebacker position into screen zones, messing up several plays.
Another example of the Eagles out-scheming the Jets was with their running game. Ryan Mathews ran all over the Jets. The run plays the Eagles ran consistently messed up the Jets’ run fits.
So while the Jets players need to play better than last week, their coaches need to coach better as well . . .
While people want to focus on antiques, I want to focus on a huge match-up that favors the Jets significantly in this game.
The Dolphins talented left tackle Brandon Albert isn’t going to play this week. Albert signed with the Dolphins last year for five-years and $47 million with $25 million guaranteed. Big-time money for a very talented player.
The former Chief is physically gifted lineman with great feet.
When you have a right-handed quarterback, and you lose your franchise left tackle, that is a HUGE deal in this league, especially when you face a team with a talented front.
Expect Mo Wilkerson and Leonard Williams to alternate lining up over backup left tackle Jason Fox.
This injury helps the Jets a great deal in this game . . .
I want to say something about this toilet paper scandal. What a huge mistake.
The Jets’ senior manager of team operations, Aaron Degerness, told the New York Times that the team brought toilet paper with them – 350 rolls.
“Some may say that’s a little over the top or whatnot, but it didn’t really cost that much, so why not?” Degerness said, via the NYT. “We’re basically trying to replicate everything that we’re doing here over there.”
What a huge mistake to share this? It’s insulting to England and causes terrible PR over there.
Here is the problem.
The Jets cater to the Times writer too much. They practically feed him grapes.
They are constantly setting up special interviews like this for him. He’s with the vaunted Times after all.
And the writer likes to do off-the-beaten path features often that have nothing to do with pure football.
Do you think the New England Patriots are going to let an operations guy talk to the media?
And honestly, I’m sure Aaron is a nice guy, but he doesn’t have a lot of experience with the press, and to share this toilet paper anecdote was a mistake, and turned into an international faux pas. Aaron should not be doing media interviews.
If I’m Roger Goodell, I’m beyond pissed over this.
The NFL wants to put a team in London eventually. Is a good idea to insult the hygiene of the people you are trying to curry favor with?
Memo to the Jets – stop bending over backwards to appease the Times.
Make them cover the team like everyone else.
Look what you special treatment led to.
October 2, 2015
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