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New Jersey – While the Jets-Miami game is one the Jets’ players, coaches and fans would love to forget, today we look at a couple of guys who did a nice job in this game . . .
Isaiah Trufant has supplanted Ellis Lankster at the Jets nickel back.
And he could be replacing starting cornerback Kyle Wilson soon.
Don’t be shocked if Trufant takes over for Wilson in Seattle, or at the very least they platoon.
This would be huge for Trufant, not just because it’s a big deal to become an NFL starter, but because it would happen in his home area.
Trufant is from Tacoma, WA, right next to Seattle. The two cities share an airport. It’s called SEA-TAC Airport.
What a moment it would be for the Trufant to be introduced as a NFL starter, for the first time, in his hometown.
You have to have so much respect for this guy. He’s overcome so much to make it to this point.
As an undersized player at 5-7, 170 pounds, he was overlooked coming out of high school, and went to 1-AA Eastern Washington.
He went undrafted out of college, and began his long circuitous to the NFL.
He spent four years in the Arena League, with the Spokane Shock, Kansas City Brigade and the Arizona Rattlers (two seasons).
Then he spent two years in the UFL with the Las Vegas Locomotives playing under Jim Fassel. His second year, he was the UFL Defensive Player of the Year. He joined the Jets late in the 2010 season, but was waived before during the playoffs to make room for Martin Tevaseu.
The Eagles claimed him, but he was cut after the end of their training camp in 2011, and the Jets brought him back, and he was with them all of last year, and did a great job on special teams.
With the Revis’ injury, and everyone moving up the depth chart at corner, Trufant finally got his chance to play more at corner this year, and has done a terrific job. In Foxboro, he did one of the best jobs anybody has ever done on Wes Welker.
Then he continued his solid play against Miami. In the second quarter, Trufant had a QB pressure on a blitz up the middle. Then, two plays later, he had a PD in the back of the end zone on Davone Bess. Late in the third quarter, Trufant blanketed WR Jabar Gaffney on a deep pass down the left side. He was in his hip pocket. Gaffney complained to the official, and wanted a flag. It was no penalty. It was tremendous coverage.
This guy has very unique cover skills – he’s so quick and fast, and changes directions so effortlessly, he so good at staying in a receiver’s hip pocket, much like Ray Mickens did.
And he’s got a really good feel for the game.
“He has great instincts,” said former Locomotives defensive coordinator Larry MacDuff.
“It was a great move by the New York Jets to pick him up,” said former Locomotives head coach Jim Fassell.
Like Lex Hilliard, this is one of Tannenbaum’s better under-the-radar moves.
And it’s time for the guy to get what he deserves – a starting role . . .
Dustin Keller is making himself a lot of money. The last two games, he’s been prolific, with seven catches in each game.
It looked like he was goner after this year, but now it looks like he isn’t going anywhere.
Sanchez and Keller have a great chemistry.
Keller is everything you want in a player – he has talent, character, and is a very hard worker.
Now, it looks like he’s going to be a Jet for a long time . . .
October 19, 2012
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