Content available exclusively for subscribers
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee)
was back at practice today, at least on a limited basis. You know darn well he doesn’t want to miss this game, against his old team, the one that picked him in the first round of the 2016 draft, but didn’t re-sign him this past off-season.
Rankins was taking place individual drills today, like the work the defensive linemen did with tackling dummies, so it looks like he’s trending in the right direction.
They could use him. Their defensive line is coming off a rough game against Philadelphia, where they got dominated by the Eagles’ offensive line, with running back Myles Sanders rushing 24 times for 120 yards, and his backup Kenneth Gainwell, running 12 times for 54 yards.
Rankins could help against a Saints team that will look to run the ball a lot with Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara, and a QB who is an excellent runner in Taysom Hill.
Rankins was also a big help this week for the Jets coaches and teammates in preparing for the Saints’ offense, which he faced in practice from 2016-20, and is one of most sophisticated in football . . .
Where have you gone Mike White?
Still no sign of him since he went on the COVID-19 list on November 23.
Still not back at practice.
Keelan Cole went on the list on November 31, missed one game, and was back at practice today.
On October 31, 2021. White led the Jets to a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 37 of 45 passes for 405 yards, 3 touchdowns and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week . . .
If Cam Jordan doesn’t play after testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday, that will hurt the Saints a great deal, since he’s one of the NFL’s best defensive ends. Also remember, they lost a stud defensive end in free agency last off-season in Trey Hendrickson, who signed with Cincinnati, and has 11.5 sacks this year for the Bengals. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Jordan is asymptomatic, but nonetheless, needs two positive tests to play on Sunday. The Saints have two other defensive ends –Â Payton Turner and Tanoh Kpassagnon – currently on injured reserve, so they are very thin at the position . . .
I still think this whole C.J. Mosley “respect” thing is a circuitous way for him to express frustration with defensive teammates who are messing up left and right, but obviously, he’s not going to throw them under the bus by bringing that up.
Blown assignments are happening all around him, and there isn’t much he can do about it.
It’s up to the Jets’ brass after the season to add more talent to their defense, but not just talented players, but talented players with A+ instincts. To be blunt, there are too many good workout testers on this defense, who are see-and-go reactors (not ideal), and too often don’t anticipate well enough, and are late to the party.
But that the fixes the Jets need on defense, can’t be acquired now, because you can’t airlift top-shelf (instinctive) defensive talent to Florham Park in Week 14.
However, with two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a lot of cap space, they can fix this to a degree in the off-season, and surround Mosley with better talent.
Granted, he didn’t play that well against the Eagles, but most of the year he’s been pretty good, but you’d have to think having to cover for other players’ mistakes is really getting to him, wearing him out.
As you saw on that tantrum he threw late in the Eagles’ game, after nobody set the edge on Kenneth Gainwell’s 12-yard gain off left tackle. It was a truly awful defensive play . . .
December 9, 2021
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.
