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East Rutherford – We have a bunch of different notes for you from Metlife Stadium, including items of Epps, Landry, Hartsock, Bush and more . . .
Dedrick Epps hurt his neck late in the game when his head was pushed up by a Carolina blocker.
That catch he made, at the end, between safeties Reggie Smith and Kion Lewis, was a beautiful grab, and might have helped him earn a roster spot, with the Josh Baker knee injury.
Epps was mostly used as a blocker this summer, but this play showed he has skills as a receiver. And remember, he knows Tony’s system better than most, since he was with the Dolphins for a full season on their practice squad, under Sparano.
Tony trusts the University of Miami-product.
Epps has pretty good wheels. Not only did he haul in this aforementioned pass from Tebow, the two just missed on a deep out late in the game. He ran a 4.64 forty at his Miami Pro Day in 2010 . . .
Austin Howard held up well tonight against a pretty good pass rusher, Charles Johnson, the highest paid player on the Panthers . . .
Wayne Hunter has been very supportive of Austin Howard. In the locker room they had a nice chat after the game. Hunter, might be an inconsistent OT, but he’s a terrific person . . .
Jeff Cumberland told me he passed the baseline concussion test, and should be ready to play to this week. But you have to wonder if the Jets will play him in Philly, considering how thin they are at the position. They might not want to take any chances . . .
I asked a couple of Carolina writers if Ben Hartsock is going to make the Panthers, and they both said he would.
The reason I asked was because the Jets might need to sign a tight end, and they are comfortable with him.
One guy suggested Jeremy Shockey, who played for Carolina, and according to the writer, still wants to play . . .
The Jets second-string offensive line is light years better than last year.
Vlad Ducasse is really taking to the guard spot.
On an eight-yard run (on the first play of Tebow’s first possession) by Bilal Powell, he pancaked DT Sione Fua, paving the way for this run on the right side . . .
I understand that there are injuries at safety (Eric Smith and Yeremiah Bell), but Josh Bush isn’t ready to be starting, but he had to do so this evening.
And he blew the coverage on the lone touchdown of the evening, a three-yard pass from Cam Newton to Louis Murphy . . .
LaRon Landry had a tremendous game.
Early in the third quarter, he stopped RB Armond Smith for a loss of one, and picked off Derek Anderson to wrap up this drive.
He also showed great range on a pass to WR Seyi Ajirotutu down the deep left side, coming over to help Cro break it up. He went a long way on this play.
The Landry you saw tonight looked like the Landry over the first half of the 2010 season before the Achilles injury . . .
Kenrick Ellis played his best game as a Jet tonight . . .
August 26, 2012
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