Content available exclusively for subscribers
East Rutherford, New Jersey – The Jets first preseason game of 2017 was a yawner, but there were some things you can glean from it . . .
What you saw on the Jets’ first drive, a long TD-drive led by Josh McCown, was what I’ve been seeing (with my tin-foil hat) all summer. McCown can get the job done for this team. He’s smart, he’s still got a good arm (which you saw on the long throw to Robby Anderson), he’s a great leader. I’m not putting him in Canton, but he can manage the game for this team. He took the Jets 73 yards on eight plays on a drive that lasted a little under four minutes, capped off by a four-yard TD pass to Charone Peake.
Christian Hackenberg did okay when he came in, though I thought he checked down a little too much, but he’s definitely made progress.
The Jets plan is likely what they did last year – the veteran QB, McCown, plays at the beginning of the year, and if/when they fall out of wildcard contention, they go to Hackenberg, like last year with Ryan Fitzptarick-Bryce Petty . . .
The Jets starting right tackle was Brent Qvale in this game. I think he’s close to locking up that job over Brandon Schell . . .
The Jets best pass-rushing linebacker might be back inside linebacker Julian Stanford. He’s explosive and gets to the quarterback in a hurry. He had a sack in the first half that knocked Tennessee quarterback Alex Tanney out of the game (concussion protocol).
The Jets should use him more in pass-rushing situations . . .
While people consider Lucky Whitehead the odds-on favorite to the be the Jets’ returner, I wouldn’t be so quick to anoint him.
He was underwhelming tonight. Frankie Hammond looked better when he took over.
Whitehead has electrifying speed and quickness, but he’s so small he tends to go down too easy. He’s not going to break many tackles . . .
While the Jets had eight sacks tonight, and that is an impressive total, keep in mind the Titans’ starting offensive line didn’t play very long, and a lot of the sacks came against backups.
Leonard Williams had a quality sack against the Titans starting line, but most of the other sacks came against the backups.
Let’s see what the Jets’ edge rushers can do against a starting offensive line playing extensively in the third preseason game . . .
Cornerback Dexter McDougle helped his cause, leading the Jets with three defensed passes . . .
The Jets running game wasn’t very good tonight. There best run was a 10-yard scramble by quarterback Bryce Petty.
You saw the value of Bilal Powell and Matt Forte through their absence. Both sat out tonight’s game with injuries . . .
Anderson has the potential to be a legit #1 receiver. Keep in mind, on his 53-yard reception on the Jets’ first quarter scoring drive, he beat cornerback Logan Ryan, the former New England Patriots starter, who got big money to sign with the Titans this off-season.
August 12, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.