Content available exclusively for subscribers
Cortland – Dan checks in from SUNY with a boatload of Jets Whispers, with stuff on the OL, Smith, Milliner, Griffin, Trufant and more . . .
The Jets backup quarterbacks are in luck for the upcoming preseason games.
Unlike the last few years, it looks like the Jets backup offensive line is much more solid this year.
Right now the #2 line looks like this – LT Oday Aboushi, LG Dennis Landolt, C Dalton Freeman, RG Vlad Ducasse and RT J.B. Shugarts.
So perhaps this summer, Greg McElroy, Matt Simms, and maybe Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith at times, won’t have to worry for their safety as much as Jets reserve quarterbacks did the last few preseasons . . .
Based on the backup line I just told you about, this is bad news for third-year guard/center Caleb Schlauderaff, who is now third string, and a longshot to make the team.
The Jets love undrafted free agent Freeman. As far as rookie free agents go, this guy is a steal of biblical proportions.
And there is a good shot he lands the swing backup job. He was getting work at guard with the third-string unit to get him up to speed with that position after playing center at Clemson.
This kid is good football player. He’s very advanced technically for a rookie . . .
For a big chunk of practice today, Dee Milliner was attached at the hip with Antonio Cromartie, standing near him, watching, listening and observing, attempting to get up to speed after his holdout . . .
John Griffin has looked very good on screen passes. The UMass runner has very quick feet . . .
Greg McElroy was given a possession as the team’s quarterback, and he led the team right down the field – boom, boom, boom, 4-4 passing.
He’s a very good fit for Marty Mornhinweg’s West Coast offense, and for him to not even be in the quarterback competition is a joke and pure politics . . .
Geno Smith has made a number of really nice throws in camp, and his enormous potential is clear, but every practice I watch him, the same red flag keeps waiving in my head – HE HAS TO GET RID OF THE BALL FASTER.
There are too many plays where he hold the ball too long. He can get away with this in the touch football (there is no tackling or sacks in practice) of training camp, but when the real bullets are flying, in real tackle football, against real opponents, he has to speed up his internal clock . . .
Isaiah Trufant is such a valuable player for the Jets.
We all know what an outstanding player he is on kick and punt returns; usually the first guy down the field to disrupt the returner.
He’s also the Jets’ dime back (fourth corner), and today he showed another valuable part of his game – he’s a terrific blitzer. On a play today, he looked like he was shot out of a cannon, coming off the corner, and getting in Mark Sanchez’s face, forcing him to throw the ball away.
Mike Westhoff was at practice today, and pictured above is “Westy” with Trufant, one of his favorite players . . .
I was critical of Sanchez yesterday for locking onto to his primary receiver too much, so it’s only fair to give him credit for getting away from that today on a couple of plays.
The play that stood out to me in this regard was when Sanchez looked for Clyde Gates on a go-route down the left sideline, decided not to go there, and turned his head all the way to the right, and threw to Ben Obamanu on the right sideline. It was a terrific throw, but was ruled incomplete because Ben had one foot out of bounds. But that is irrelevant to the point I’m making. If Mark can do this more, he has a chance to turn around his career. I think his biggest problem that last few years is locking on his first read . . .
Mo Wilkerson continued his domination of Brian Winters today. The Jets can only hope these continual matchups between Wilkerson and Winters, will expedite the learning curve for the rookie guard. Right now, it’s a mismatch.
On one play, Wilkerson beat Winters for a sack, and the defensive end held on the play to boot . . .
It looks like Oday Aboushi is going to be part of the kick-off return wedge . . .
There were three CFL scouts at Jets practice today. They were looking hard at bubble players they might be able to sign up north. I think the Jets roster is underrated, and a number of good players will be let go . .
August 1, 2013
Premium will return by 7 pm on Friday.
