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Florham Park – You know what, the Jets could really miss Brad Smith in the wildcat, Ropati steps up and much more in today’s edition of Dan’s TC Whispers . . .
Ropati Pitoitua is ready for some big things this year.
In the last practice of camp, he started for Mo Wilkerson (illness) and was very disruptive.
He had a sack towards the end of practice. Also, when the 6-8 Pitiotua puts his hands up, he makes it very tough on quarterbacks throwing to his side. Even when he doesn’t tip a pass (which he does often), he often makes the QB alter his throws . . .
Shonn Greene fumbled in this practice. This continues to be a concern . . .
Jeremy Kerley bobbled a snap in a wildcat scenario.
Kerley did do some wildcat work at TCU, but quite honestly, he might be too small for this role, at least with regularity, in the NFL. He’s 5-9, 188. Brad Smith is 6-1, 218. When Smith ran the wildcat, he broke many tackles because he’s a big, strong guy. Kerley isn’t that kind of player . . .
With Wilkerson out, the defensive line rotation changed a little with Ropati starting. It was interesting to note (to borrow a Vin Scully expression), that the first defensive end in, for Ropati, was Jarron Gilbert. Maybe he’s going to hang around after all. He has really stepped up over the last week, and made some plays in the Jets-Bengals game.
After practice, Gilbert was getting his neck worked on by a trainer . . .
Aaron Maybin just doesn’t get a lot of reps in practice.
It’s hard to figure out if he’s a lock to make it.
Rex Ryan said he’s not.
“I don’t believe him,” said one beat writer.
On a running play, Maybin was manhandled by TE Keith Zinger.
To me, it seems like Maybin is a one-trick pony. He tries to beat blockers with speed off the edge, but isn’t good at disengaging if he is blocked . . .
TE Josh Baker had another good practice.
He caught a touchdown in the back of end zone, on the right side, from Greg McElroy.
He also had two nice blocks on the goalline drill on running plays – first on Bryan Thomas and then on Brodney Pool.
Baker is a listed as a product of Northwest Missouri, but actually started his career at Delaware, where he was one of Joe Flacco’s favorite target. The Cheasapeake, Virginia-native got in some trouble off the field, and was forced to transfer.
If the Jets are smart, this guy isn’t going anywhere,
At 6-3, 244, he might have potential as fullback . . .
Kenrick Ellis (pictured above) was on the ground again, this time in the goalline drill.
It’s not football rocket science that defensive linemen need to stay off the ground.
As I’ve said many times, this guy has a tremendous amount of potential, but is raw, raw, raw . . .
S Byron Landor, who was a pleasant surprise early in camp, but then got a little dinged, seems to be back in groove now, and had a pick in practice. . .