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New Jersey – Dan checks in from Jets camp with a bunch of nuggets as the Jets prepare for their huge game on Sunday against the New England Patriots . . .
One thing is pretty apparent – Zach Sudfeld has moved ahead of Konrad Reuland into the #2 tight end spot.
Let me just say this.
I understand that Sudfeld is faster than Reuland, but Reuland is the better blocker, and a team’s #2 tight end better be a stout blocker.
You would hope that the Jets aren’t blaming Reuland for those two disconnects on Sunday between the tight end and Geno Smith.
Neither was Reuland’s fault.
On the Ryan Clark pick down the right sideline, it was thrown into triple coverage. Smith claimed he was throwing it away. I’ve watched the play over and over – it’s hard to see that.
On the deep crossing route, the pass was behind Reuland.
The Jets brass seems to be in a mode where they feel they need to do everything they can to prop up Geno Smith.
So you have to figure there will be some strawmen along with the way, like Ryan Spadola who is gone after one drop, in the first New England game.
“That’s the only drop I had in about six weeks or so,” Spadola told the Palm Beach Post. “If they want to blame my downfall on that, so be it. I’m human.” . . .
There has been so much talk about the Clyde Gates season-ending shoulder injury, Santonio Holmes lingering hamstring,, David Nelson’s hamstring (limited in practice) and Greg Salas (signed with a knee injury), that another Jets wide receiver injury isn’t getting as much attention.
Stephen Hill isn’t healthy.
He clearly has a left knee issue.
Early in practice, I saw a trainer rubbing the knee, likely with some kind of analgesic.
And then, when practice started, he was wearing a medical sleeve on his left knee, and was limping during his routes.
This guy clearly isn’t 100 percent.
And let’s be honest, he’s taken a terrible beating this year – from the Antonio Cromartie hit in training camp, the Michael Griffin hit in Tennessee and then the Troy Polamalu hit against Pittsburgh – how much more can this guy take? He’s a somewhat skinny guy . . .
Defensive end/outside linebacker Chandler Jones, perhaps the Patriots’ best pass rusher, was played by Ricky Sapp on the scout team.
The role of outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich was played by practice squad defensive end Tevita Finau . . .
Rex was asked today, by Chris LoPresti of WFAN, about Geno’s inconsistency stating he’s had a pattern – “a good game, a bad game, a good game, a bad game.”
I’m sure a lot of you can guess what Rex’s answer was.
“WE certainly need to be ready for a bounce back performance as a team, more than anything. Just go out and play the position, but it’s about the team.” – Ryan said.
We all know that Rex likes to turn questions about individuals into an answer about the team. He does it all the time, especially when asked about his quarterback.
But here is the problem.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league.
There is no way around it.
You can’t act like the quarterback is just another player.
It doesn’t work that way.
Just look at the team the Jets are playing on Sunday.
Tom Brady has been the driving force behind that team’s success since 2001.
I’m not saying Smith needs to put the Jets on his back, like Brady often does, and carry the team on his back.
But Rex shouldn’t act like this is just another position.
You can’t hide your quarterback.
Smith needs to cut down on turnovers, and improve his accuracy.
This is a quarterback driven league.
October 18, 2013
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