News to Me

New Jersey – A couple of interesting items to delve into in the latest edition of “News to Me.” Let’s get into it . . .

Todd Bowles wouldn’t say who’s going to start at right tackle if Breno Giacomini (ankle) can’t play.

“We’re working a couple of guys there, so we have a couple different scenarios working if he doesn’t go,” Bowles said. “We’re not going to reveal that at this time in case he doesn’t play.”

This is interesting. Most people assumed that Brent Qvale would be a lock to take over for Giacomini. But that clearly isn’t the case. The other candidate is Ben Ijalana. He’s very underrated player who has improved a great deal over his two seasons with the Jets. Nice waiver claim by the previous regime.

He’s a former second round pick of the Indianapolis Colts from Villanova with very quick feet and long arms. The only reason he’s not in Indy (and they could have used him this year with all their offensive line issues) were injuries.

The Bills have some very athletic edge pass rushers like Jerry Hughes and Manny Lawson.

And that is why Ijalana is in play. While Qvale is a terrific prospect, Ijalana is more athletic than Brent, and has a quicker kick slide to deal with edge speed.

Ijalana has experience playing on both the left and right side.

Honestly, I think we give personnel departments around the league too much credit for being on top of talent on other rosters.

Let’s take the Denver Broncos. They lost two left tackles this year. If I’m them, I would have called the Jets about Ijalana before the trading deadline. In my opinion, he could have solved their left tackle problem.

Ijalana has the athleticism and skill-set to be a starting left tackle on the NFL level.

And because of that terrific athleticism, he’s in play for the starting right tackle job if Giacomini can’t go . . .

Speaking of backups, the situation with linebacker Josh Martin is a mystery.

The Jets signed the former Colt, Kansas City Chief and Tampa Bay Buccaneer on November 24. He’s been inactive for every game.

I thought one reasons he was signed was to help the Jets’ punt coverage, which was struggling. He was perhaps the Chiefs best special teams player last year.

I finally went over to him this week, and believe me, I wasn’t looking to stir anything up. This certainly isn’t the time for that with the Jets facing a huge game in Buffalo. And obviously the status of Martin is not of great import this week. I was just intrigued.

I think I was the first reporter to talk to him since he arrived. He’s exactly as you would expect as a Columbia graduate – extremely bright and speaks the King’s English.

I asked him about his status with the team, and he said all the right things, but I’m telling you, on a couple of occasions, his facial expression basically said, “I have no idea what I’m doing here.”

Once again, I want to make it clear, he wasn’t making any waves and he’s a class act, but you have to admit, the situation is a little odd.

So he has no idea what their plans are for him.

Here is my thinking – Calvin Pace likely isn’t going to be back next season, so Martin was signed as a potential replacement.

I’m just saying considering the special teams issues the Jets have had, and how good Martin was for the Chiefs last year on specials, I find it surprising he wasn’t active for a game or two.

December 31, 2015

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