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Florham Park – Jets Confidential publisher Dan Leberfeld checks in from One Jets Drive with a heaping helping of Jets Whispers . . .
CB Phillip Adams (pictured above) is going to be a huge help to the Jets this week.
Not only did he just play the Oakland Raiders last Thursday as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, but he played two entire seasons for the Raiders in 2012-2013.
He knows a ton about that operation, offensively and defensively.
“I know a lot of things they are doing,” Adams said today in Florham Park.
He’s already been helpful to his fellow Jets cornerbacks, with his insight on the Raiders receivers.
While James Jones is new to the Raiders scene, coming over from Green Bay this off-season, three other key Raiders receivers, Rod Streater, Andre Holmes and Denarius Moore were all there for the 2012-2103 seasons, and Adams faced them a ton in practice.
Speaking of Moore, what happened on that 37-yard touchdown Adams gave up last Thursday, where he stopped running for a second, and the Raider receiver blew by him down the right sideline?
“I got caught up in the backfield,” said Adams.
In other words, he thought Derek Carr was going to take off running, so he was thinking about heading up field to deal with it, and this got him in trouble . . .
So often when a player was released, but is likely coming back, their locker stays intact, with their name plate is still hanging overhead (like Jeremiah George), and their stuff is still in the locker.
That isn’t the case with Lankster’s long-time locker. The name plate is gone, and A.J. Edds was using it.
It looks like Lankster is done here . . .
One thing is pretty clear – Jets waiver claim Walt Powell is in dire need of an NFL strength program.
He’s just 5-11, 189 with a thin build.
Not only is he a rookie, but from a small program – Murray State. Big programs (Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State and so forth) generally have much better weight programs than the Murray State’s of the world.
But seeing him field a few punts today, it’s pretty clear why the Jets claimed him – he’s a talented kick and punt returner, and both returner job right now are manned by players with a lot of potential, but who are question marks . . .
With Josh Bush sidelined with a leg injury, Calvin Pryor would likely be the personal punt protector. Remember, Nick Bellore, who also is iffy with a leg injury, also knows that job, so the Jets might actually be down to their third player there . . .
I like David Nelson and Eric Decker as players, but when you see them lineup as the starters, which was the case a lot this summer, there isn’t a lot of speed out there. They are both run around 4.6. That isn’t going to scare a lot of secondaries.
One thing that helps both of them is that they both terrific route runner . . .
One big concern for the Jets this game has to be the Raiders’ secondary, filled with savvy veterans, against Geno Smith who tends to stare down his primary target.
With guys like Carlos Rogers, Charles Woodson, Tyvon Branch and Usama Young back there, they could make Geno pay. That is a good group at reading the quarterback’s eyes . . .
I watched the Raiders a lot this preseason, and I don’t think Derek Carr is ready. This move has Mark Davis (owner) written all over it. Carr has a lot of potential, but he’s not ready. Rex has such a great history against rookie quarterbacks, and I think that will continue against Carr.
Carr faces a tall task in the opener as Jets coach Rex Ryan’s defenses have been tough on rookie quarterbacks. Russell Wilson is the only rookie in eight tries to beat Ryan’s Jets in his first start against them, with the eight quarterbacks combining to complete just 48.3 percent of their passes and posting a 61.1 passer rating.
This isn’t the Mountain West Conference where Carr had so much success. He also has small hands, so the possibility for sacks/fumbles is definitely there. Rex is coming after him.
Also, historically, rookie quarterbacks don’t do well on the road.
September 2, 2014
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