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New Jersey – A bunch of things to get into today on the eve of cut down day. The Jets have some very difficult decisions to make . . .
In the second quarter, safety Durrell Eskridge had a big-time hit on wide receiver Jeff Maehl breaking up a pass over the middle.
While this was a very nice play, it was illustrative of a problem for Eskridge. He needs work on his tackling technique. He leads with his helmet too much, which he did on this play. That is why he’s had concussion issues at Syracuse and this medical concerns led to him being undrafted. Watching him this summer, he was definitely draftable from a talent standpoint.
He’s already had a concussion with the Jets.
The kid is a very good prospect. He had a terrific camp, but if he keeps leading with this head, you just wonder how long he can last . . .
Walter Powell isn’t that fast. He’s a 4.6 guy. His game is about quickness, not speed. These are the same, though they are often confused. He’s got amazingly quick feet and loose hips, and this allows to avoid people in space, and cut away people, whether it’s running routes or returning kicks.
And he’s not going to get off the jam with power, so he does it a different way. He gets off the jam with fancy footwork.
On the Jets’ second possession, Powell beat cornerback Eric Rowe for a gain of 28. Rowe is a big corner at 6-1, 205. Powell isn’t going to beat him off the line with strength. Rowe didn’t get a mitt on him. Powell executed an effective hop step, and Rowe fell trying to deal with it.
Powell is a unique talent.
You get the sense that maybe the Jets were looking for an excuse to move on from him, with their overstocked wide receiver position.
They could have go with Jeremy Kerley as the punt returner and Chris Owusu as their kick returner, and moved on from Powell. But he’s been so impressive in both those roles, he’s made himself very hard to cut.
If they got rid of Powell now, they would be nuts. He’s clearly a gifted returner with great moves and vision.
They might try to trade Kerley . . .
The Jets worked out wide receiver Alan Bonner.
This certainly makes sense.
Mike Maccagnan and the Texans picked him in the 2013 draft out of Jacksonville State, but he’s had injury issues, and ended up on IR the last two seasons.
People make too much of these workouts. The Jets worked out a few other receivers with Bonner. That is what teams due. They constantly work out players, so in case they need somebody, they have a better feel for these guys, have a short list. These workouts aren’t a reflection of how the Jets feel about their current receivers. It’s just a matter of them doing their due diligence. Heck, they are having a hard time figuring out who to keep with their current crop, so these workouts have nothing to do with their feelings about the guys in the building . . .
If the Jets can’t stash Geno Smith on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, I’d consider putting him in injured reserve.
Hey, folks, I’m just keeping it real.
Is he irreplaceable at this point?
Why not go with a QB depth chart of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Flynn and Bryce Petty?
That is fine.
I personally don’t think putting Geno on IR (if don’t get league approval for NFI), isn’t the end of the world.
Sure the Daily News and others will make a huge deal about it, but who cares?
I’m not saying they will do this. It’s a long-shot. I’m just saying what I would do.
Why aren’t talking about a transcendent talent.
September 4, 2015
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