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New Jersey – A lot going on around Jets camp, and Dan Leberfeld checks in with some Whispers from One Jets Drive . . .
David Garrard did a lot of running after practice today.
He’s close to being in the shape the Jets want him to be in.
He was overweight when he came back to the two a couple of weeks ago . . .
Geno Smith and Matt Simms stayed after practice today to get extra work in with tight end Zach Sudfeld, who will have an expanded roll this week with Jeff Cumberland (concussion) out . . .
A reporter asked Marty Mornhinweg if he’s concerned about the tight end position with Cumberland out because “neither one of those guys (Sudfeld and Konrad Reuland) is a big-time blocker.”
The premise of that question is accurate when it comes to Sudfeld, but I could not disagree more on Reuland.
Reuland is an excellent blocker, who has very good technique, and did a really nice job as the Jets #2 tight end last year in mainly a blocking role. He consistently did a terrific job sealing the edge on runs off tackle.
The Jets will have no drop-off from a blocking standpoint with Reuland.
Sudfeld is better as a move tight end, than in-line, so expect him to flex out as a receiver quite a bit . . .
I spoke to Greg Salas today, and he says he’s ready to go, if the coaches activate him on Sunday.
When the Jets signed Salas off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on October 15, he was nursing a knee injury suffered in practice.
He needed a few weeks to rehab it before he would be ready to play for the Jets. The Jets knew this when they signed him. It wasn’t a surprise. The entered this situation with eyes wide open.
Salas said he’s now healthy enough to play.
Though it is possible the Jets could wait until after the bye-week, to truly make sure he’s 100 percent by giving him an extra two weeks.
Remember, Salas, even though he’s only been with the Jets a couple of weeks, is very comfortable with Marty Morhinweg’s offense. He spent the last month of last season on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, where Mornhinweg was offensive coordinator . . .
I don’t know if it’s possible for Chris Ivory (pictured above) to run any harder than he has (ask Rey Malaluaga who he concussed in a collision), expect to see that extra gear this week against his former team, the New Orleans Saints. He is going to be very fired up this week . . .
I’m going so tired of this question being asked over and over to Jets players and coaches – “Why is the team so inconsistent – one win, one loss, one win, one loss?”
You hear all kind of cliché answers, but to me, the answer is pretty simple.
The team is starting a rookie quarterback, and not just a rookie, but a player who was inconsistent in college, and now in the NFL.
I’m not being a hater, just dealing with reality.
Smith needs to become a lot more consistent. That is no secret.
Remember this quote from an unnamed scout that I ran in JC Magazine before the draft?
“[Geno] can look like a first round pick on one play and a clueless novice on the next, not recognizing disguised coverages or feeling pressure with consistency,” said the scout.
I’m not blaming Smith for every ounce of the Jets inconsistency, but he’s a big part of it.
So let’s move on from this big mystery about the inconsistency.
This is a quarterback-driven league. Generally if the quarterback is inconsistent, the team is inconsistent.
October 31, 2103
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