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A few things to look at in our Monday Night Quarterback edition of Jets Whispers. We have a few different items to get into today. Let’s go . . .
Observing Nick Mangold in the locker room after the game, he seemed a million times better than what you saw on the field after he got hit on the side of the neck and was face down for a few minutes.
He was walking around fine and observing him do his thing, you would think nothing was wrong.
His MRI was negative. My gut is he plays in Oakland.
We all know how tough he is, and it seems like the injury isn’t as bad as the original scare would indicate.
To me, Calvin Pryor is probably more of a long-shot.
He was limping real bad after the game, and it looks like he has a high ankle sprain. Those are hard to return from the week after you suffer the injury.
The Jets are now very thin at safety with Jaiquawn Jarret going to IR, and the Pryor injury.
They will likely promote either Ronald Martin or Rontez Miles from the practice squad.
Also moving Darrin Walls to safety is something under consideration . . .
Todd Bowles said after the game, “They played better situation football,”
“It’s a game of where the ball is at,” said Eric Decker. “I think we gave them a short field to work with. We had to go 80 yards every time and it gets tougher. They are a good football team and they came up with some plays in situations.”
In other words, the punting was average.
Look, I understand that Steve Weatherford was called in the 11th hour to replace Ryan Quigley who had a leg infection.
But Weatherford was in camp with the Giants this summer, and was on short lists for teams looking for punters.
He’s in great shape and still in punting mode.
So I don’t totally buy this narrative that he was pulled out of a radio studio to punt.
Yes, theoretically that is true. He was doing a radio show at ESPN New York when he got the call.
However, let’s not act like the Jets signed Michael Kay to punt for them.
The radio angle is funny, but it’s not an excuse for a 30 yard net average in this game.
This guy is still an NFL punter.
He hasn’t been out of the loop long.
He didn’t punt very well, and it had an impact on the Jets field position issues on Sunday . . .
Buster Skrine is a good player, but honestly, he gives up too many receptions.
Obviously cornerbacks are going to give up plays. It’s the nature of the position. But Skrine is giving up too many.
A perfect example was on the drive when that led to a touchdown that gave the Patriots a 30-20 lead.
He gave up two key receptions to Danny Amendola, a 13-yard reception on the left side, and then an 11-yard quick slant at the two-minute warning.
Skrine is really fast, really tough and can change directions on dime. No question he’s made plays for the Jets.
But at times he’s seems a tick late reacting to guys cutting away from him.
He needs to cut down on the number of receptions he’s giving up.
October 26, 2015
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