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Premium – Time for helping of Whispers and nuggets heading into the Jets-Panthers game in Charlotte. Let’s get it started . . .
Geno Smith is going to have his work cut out for him dealing with Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Luke Kuechly.
He might be the most instinctive middle linebacker in football.
Jets reserve tight end Chris Pantale played with him at Boston College. Kuechly and Pantale are good friends.
We asked Pantale what makes Kuechly so good.
“He sees things before they happen,” said Pantale.
Pantale recalls Kuechly’s first game as a starter as a freshman.
Kuechly was forced into the lineup due to injuries.
Pantale can’t recall the opponent.
The tight end says that Kuechly diagnosed the play, weaving through a bunch of blockers, to stop the runner for a loss.
He’s a special player.
So Geno Smith better be really careful with the eyes.
The rookie quarterback needs to do a better job than in the past of manipulating coverages with his eyes, and not staring down targets.
Because this guy will make you pay . . .
The Panthers like to blitz safeties.
And you know darn well Mike Mitchell can’t why to get his numbered dialed up.
Mitchell is livid at Santonio Holmes for calling the Panthers secondary, “probably the weakest link of their defense.”
“The whole team should take it personal,” Mitchell said.
Underrated cornerback Captain Munnerlyn can’t wait for game time.
“If (Holmes) feels that way, there’s a game that’s going to be played at 4:05 on Sunday and we’ll see what’s going to happen then,” Munnerlyn said.
If there was any doubt that Holmes was a goner after the season, this comment probably sealed his fate.
It’s hard enough to win in this league. You don’t need to give the opponent extra fuel.
And believe me, this is extra fuel.
On top of this quote from Holmes ticking off the Panthers, it ticked off people at One Jets Drive.
And this kind of behavior is going to make it hard for him to get a job once his Jets playing days are over.
Some people think that Holmes’ issues are just with the media.
That is how some people like to paint it.
But that isn’t true.
As one former Jets employee put it, “He’s like Jeckyll and Hyde.”
It’s so true.
Day to day you don’t know which Holmes mood to expect.
And the Steelers just tired of it, regardless of his significant talent.
And were willing to dump him for just a fifth round pick in the conference.
Word has it, they were going to cut him if they didn’t get a draft pick.
Not to belabor the point, but what Holmes said about the Panthers was inexcusable, and it’s going to make the Jets job that much tougher in Carolina.
And it was going to be tough before this bulletin board fodder was provided . . .
When Antonio Cromartie wasn’t practicing this week, the Jets top three corners were Dee Milliner, Ellis Lankster and Kyle Wilson.
These are three guys who try hard, but all are inconsistent, with so-so coverage instincts.
If Cro can’t go, there Jets could have some issues.
From that group, who is going to cover Steve Smith?
December 14, 2013
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