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Premium – Today we check in with notes on Saalim Hakim, Michael Vick, Antonio Allen and more. Let’s get this underway . . .
I like Saalim Hakim.
He’s a very nice young man, and has electrifying speed.
But he’s got to get this kick return thing going.
There is more to it than just running 4.2.
“Saalim is a heck of a player,” said Jets special teams coach Tom McGaughey.
That remains to be seen.
Look, I understand there have been plays where the blocking isn’t great, but it just seems like too often Hakim is running out the end zone with his hair on fire, without a plan, or hasn’t followed his block properly.
The Jets are infatuating with his potential to hit a home run at any time.
I understand that.
But a big part of kick returning his having a knack for it, instincts, vision, setting up blockers and so forth. The player the Jets cut this summer Jacoby Ford had those things.
If Hakim doesn’t get going, the Jets should try Walter Powell, who might run 4.6, but is a natural returner with a good feel for the position – very smooth . . .
I understand that it’s hard for Antonio Allen to bounce between safety and cornerback. That is quite a chore, especially for a young developing player. This isn’t like Charles Woodson doing it, who has seen it all.
But that first touchdown Allen gave up to Antonio Gates, was a bad play at any defensive back position.
Allen played the wrong leverage on this play. He shouldn’t have let Gates cut to the outside so easy. All Allen’s help was on the inside, but he let Gates run a square out way too easily.
I was sitting next to former Jets defensive back Earl Christy (from the Super Bowl Champion Jets), and he was pretty animated about how poorly Allen played his leverage on this play.
I don’t want to suggest anyone should be fired or replaced, but based on all the blown coverages and technique issues this year, it’s clear the Jets secondary needs to be coached better . . .
I have been very rough on Kyle Wilson the last few years, but I have to cut him slack on the 28-yard gain by Gates on a crossing route. At first, I thought Wilson did a terrible job on this play. But on further review, he was picked as he crossed the field by Chargers WR Seyi Ajirotutu . . .
Warren Sapp unfairly ripped Sheldon Richardson in the off-season for not being much of pass rusher.
Richardson certainly has been proving him wrong this year.
In this past game, Richardson dominated guard Johnny Troutman, beating him for a sack and several pressures.
John Idzik is getting crushed by a lot of fans and reporters, but he deserves kudos for this pick last year. He hit a home run.
New York Daily News Headline – “NY Jets backup QB Michael Vick admits he’s been dogging it with preparations.”
That is way over the top.
Vick has not been dogging it.
Not at all.
He’s working hard. He just needs to work harder.
“The whole thing was just me being very hard on myself,” Vick said.
Believe me, he’s not dogging it.
Clearly this was a cheap shot on two levels.
One, it made it look like Vick is phoning it in, which he’s not.
Secondly, it was obviously a reference to his dog-fighting past.
The Daily News has turned into perhaps Jets’ worst enemy.
October 9, 2014
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