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Philadelphia – Dan checks in from Lincoln Financial Field with the good stuff from the Jets-Eagles preseason game. A lot of interesting things going on . . .
One big advantage for the Eagles tonight was that Lane Johnson played the entire game at right tackle.
He was the Eagles first round pick last year out of Oklahoma, and had a terrific rookie season.
The reason he played tonight is that he’s suspended for the first four games of the season due to a PED violation.
So the Eagles felt he needed the work.
He dominated Jets backup D-Linemen, and the Eagles ran behind him a lot. He was on a different level . . .
I think Matt Simms is a heck of a guy, and a very hard-worker, but I think the hype got way out of control the last couple of weeks.
He played an entire half against the Eagles’ backups, and the Jets didn’t score a point. His accuracy was poor tonight.
I think they should move him to the practice squad.
They are going to need the spot for another position.
A perfect example is at tight end. Chris Pantale is a terrific football player, and if the Jets put him on the practice squad, I think he will be stolen. That is what almost happened last year, and that is why the Jets elevated him to the regular roster late in the season.
Pantale was one of the Jets’ few bright spots tonight with three catches for 74 yards, including at 50-yarder.
I’ve been watching this kid for a year now in practices and games, and the word that pops into my head to describe him is “consistent.” He’s the same guy every day – he catches what you throw to him, and he gets after it as a blocker.
With Jace Amaro, Jeff Cumberland and Zach Sudfeld locks, I think the Jets need to go with four tight ends. Pantale is worth it . . .
Ellis Lankster had a rough game, and is not a starting cornerback. He’s best served being a role player. He had problems covering Quron Pratt, a rookie free agent of Rutgers. He was beat twice by Pratt, and almost gave up another, a potential long gain, but was it was slightly overthrown, and Lankers was called for holding on the play.
LeQuan Lewis also struggled following his pick in the end zone. He gave up a long touchdown to Arrelious Benn down the right sideline. In the second quarter, he gave up a 32-yard back shoulder throw to Jeff Maehl. Late in the first half, Maehl beat him on an in-cut from the sideline for 23 yards. Lewis still needs work on his route recognition.
When you consider how much Lankster and Lewis struggled tonight, it makes it even tougher to cut Dimitri Patterson.
Some people think Patterson is goner after his additional comments today to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. He claimed he didn’t go AWOL, and that is agent called the Jets last Friday.
I personally think Drew Rosenhaus is at the center of the storm here. I don’t think Patterson is a priority client for him, and I don’t think he handled this well. But maybe that is just me . . .
It looks like ILB A.J. Edds locked up a roster spot tonight. Nice spring signing by the Jets; good football player; instinctive and rangy . . .
Speaking of linebackers, I think one problem for Trevor Reilly is that he lacks “mass in the ass,” as scouts like to say.
I saw him get pancaked twice in the first half.
Maybe a year on the practice squad to get bigger and stronger would help . . .
After a quiet summer, Jeremiah George had a coming out party tonight, with seven tackles. He’s a tough SOB, who arrives on the scene with an attitude. He had several big hits tonight . . .
Reserve defensive end T.J. Barnes played the whole game, and flashed some early, but seemed to run out of gas in the second half . . .
When the Jets released Jacoby Ford, Rex Ryan said they have a better option at kick returner.
Salim Hakim seemed lost back there tonight.
He was indecisive on whether to come out of the end zone, and when he did run the kicks out, he ran with his world class speed, but didn’t follow his blockers.
I don’t know about this plan . . .
The Stephen Hill feeding-frenzy continued tonight (photo above). The media is obsessed with him. The Jets have bigger issues.
August 28, 2014
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