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Thursday Stuff . . .
The Jets did a truly poor job setting the edge last week against the run in Cleveland.
So many runs went outside.
The idea is to set the edge, so you funnel runners inside, where you have plenty of help to make the tackle from defensive tackles and others.
Bill Belichick is a stickler for setting the edge, and if you don’t do it, your butt often ends up on the bench or the waiver wire.
If some guys struggle with it, perhaps try some others.
Maybe it’s time to see what Bryce Huff can do. He was inactive the first two weeks. Look, some rookies are ready to play, but not all . . .
Remember all the talk after the draft about whether Sauce Gardner was an ideal fit for the Jets because he was man-to-man corner in college and the Jets play a lot of zone?
It was still a smart decision to pick him. He’s a rare talent, However, you saw last week in Cleveland he’s still getting comfortable with zone concepts. So he’s a work-in-progress with some of the zone stuff, which is understandable . . .
The rookie defensive end Jermaine Johnson wearing a full compression sleeve on his left leg and has been for several weeks. Clearly he’s dealing with something . . .
People expect Jets pass rush to explode this week since the Bengals have had some protection issues the last couple of weeks.
But keep a couple of things in mind.
First of all, the Bengals have a talented line, it’s just a matter of the new pieces coming together. They brought in a new center, guard and right tackle in free agency. They have a very good offensive line coach in Frank Pollack, Expect this to improve as they move forward. It’s not a lack of talent.
Also keep in mind, the Jets were facing a third-string left tackle against Baltimore in Week One for the last 2.5 quarters, and got no sacks on him.
So with the Jets’ pass rush, we will need to see if first, before we claim they are going to dominate anybody.
Perhaps this is the week it starts . . .
You watch Jeremy Ruckert up close he still seems to have a little bit of a limp in his gait. Not sure the foot he hurt at the Senior Bowl is 100 percent, Not saying they are putting him in harm’s way. He can play with it, but he still seems to be working through it to a degree . . .
Not sure exactly what type of injury he has.
Talking about Duane Brown’s shoulder injury. Nobody has asked the coach.
I’m not going to ask the player because you aren’t supposed to talk to players on injured reserve.
But he’s not wearing any kind of harness, or any kind of tape, on it.
Not minimizing the injury. This is a tough guy who has a history of playing hurt. Just making an observation of nothing being on his shoulders (at least when he’s out in the open with the media around).
I’ve seen so many guys over the years with their shoulders strapped in via a harness, special tape jobs and often massive bags of ice taped to the shoulders in the locker room.
He also is able to put a shirt on without much of a struggle. Now that might seem like a weird observation, but anybody who has had a serious shoulder injury, we all know darn well putting on, or taking off, a shirt, is a chore.
All I’m trying to point out here is that whatever it is, seems like something he will come back from this season.
And the way NFL seasons go, especially with 17 games, even if they stay with Mitchell, they will probably need Brown at some point. Let’s not forget, George Fant is battling a knee injury.
September 22, 2022
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