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New Jersey – It’s time for a heaping helping of Friday Night Whispers – a few different things to get into with the Jets huge game against the Football Giants in the offing . . .
It’s quite possible that Bilal Powell will be returning kicks this week in Mr. Coffee’s ever-changing kick return spot.
Once again, not an ideal kick returner because he doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he’s an upgrade over Antonio Cromartie in one regard – he’s much better at changing directions.
As we have mentioned many times, Cromartie is a one-trick pony as a kick returner. If the Red Sea is divided, he can shoot the gap and get a nice gain. But if the initial hole is clogged up, he’s in trouble because he struggles changing directions.
Also, I think with Darrelle Revis and likely Marcus Williams out, the Jets don’t want to risk Cromartie on kick returners, already down two of their top corners . . .
While the Jets are practicing, like a lot of teams, they have music blaring thanks to a practice DJ. Usually it’s rap music.
Today, the first song was definitely unexpected, and a genre I’ve never heard before at practice – “Baby it’s cold outside,” by Michael Buble and Idina Menzel.
This was probably from Ryan Fitzpatrick who is a practical joker.
I’m sure this isn’t on a lot of the players’ play list.
After this song, it was back to rap music . . .
So Marcus Williams is a long-shot.
He claims there is a still a chance he plays, but players listed as “doubtful” rarely play with the Jets, and in the NFL in general.
The Jets can survive the absence of Revis and Williams. The Giants’ offensive line is a mess, so the Jets should be able to get constant pressure on Eli Manning, and pressure is always a defensive back’s best friend.
Also, the Jets might have the deepest cornerback position in the league.
Darrin Walls is a solid player. I know some have accused him of giving up two touchdowns last week, but I’m not entirely certain both were his fault. I think he was covering for somebody on one of the plays. With zone concepts, the fault on certain plays isn’t always what it seems.
But nonetheless, he also had several nice plays against Miami. I’m not putting him in Canton, but he’s a good backup, a good hold-the-fort guy. He’s smart, poised and it’s not too big for him.
Buster Skrine started last year in Cleveland, so he will likely move up into the starting lineup this week.
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Dexter McDougle was a player the old scouting department loved, and that is why they picked him in the third round last year. He’s smart and tough.
And let’s not forget Dee Milliner.
There has been a lot of nasty stuff written in recent weeks about how he’s buried on the depth chart.
I don’t know about all that. I actually think the Jets are doing the right thing taking it slow with him coming off yet another injury. Ease him back into things slowly. Nothing wrong with that.
Let’s not forget this player was the top corner in the 2013 draft coming out of Alabama.
Not a bad guy to be able to plug in when you have a rash of injuries.
His problem has been durability, not talent. The guy is a very talented player. He should be able to help the Jets this week.
So to me, with Cromartie, Skrine, Walls and McDougle, the Jets should be able to get buy this week.
Hey, it’s not like the Jets cornerback play set the bar particularly high over the first half of the season. Just think of the Oakland game, for instance.
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