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Tim McDonald and Dennis Thurman have some work do with the Jets’ deep patrol. One respected analyst said the Jets secondary is a “a weak link” of the team right now . . .
The Jets can’t start Dee Milliner this week.
They can’t. That is, if they are totally honest with themselves.
If they do start him, it’s pure politics.
I just reviewed the first half of the Jets-Pats game again, and Milliner was a major liability.
It didn’t seem as bad as it was because the Jets were only down 13-3 at the half, but it should have been 20-3. WR Kembrell Thompkins beat him down the left side for an apparent TD, but it was overturned because the ball hit the ground.
And then later in the first half, WR Aaron Dobson seemed to beat Milliner, but the wide receiver and Tom Brady weren’t on the same page, and the pass went awry. Brady felt the wide receiver was open.
Early in the second quarter, Dobson beat Milliner on back-to-back plays, one an out, and one a deep pass, and couldn’t hold on to either pass.
And remember, Dobson is a rookie, so it’s not like a savvy veteran was exploiting a raw rookie. Not at all.
Ryan did the right thing by pulling Milliner in the second half for Darrin Walls. Milliner had an awful first half.
But will Ryan have the gumption to go with Walls against Buffalo. He should, but will he.
Ryan can’t worry about the media chirping about him benching a first round pick. He needs to just do the right thing.
From what I hear, at Monday’s practice, at least on some plays, Milliner wasn’t starting. However, it wasn’t Walls in there for Milliner, it was Kyle Wilson. This is another loyalty mistake by Rex, if this is the path he chooses. Walls is better than Wilson.
Let’s see how this develops as the week goes on, but it’s clearly time for the Jets to take a step back with Milliner, who was rushed into the starting lineup too fast. Let him play in nickel and dime – bring him along slower.
Milliner’s play early this season, might be one reason why Mike Mayock said, “The Jets defensive backfield, that is a weak link.”
But it’s not just Milliner right now. Antonio Cromartie needs to step up as well.
He got called for a pass interference in the first quarter, when he grabbed Thompkins jersey on a double-move, which often cause problems for the long-legged Cromartie.
Thompkins pretended he was cutting inside, and “Cro” went with him, but then the rookie cut to the left sideline, and Cro grabbed his jersey so he wouldn’t be left in the dust.
Cromartie also had another shaky play in the first half. Thompkins caught a deep ball down the left side. On this play, Cromartie bit on a something underneath, and let the wide receiver blow by him down field.
If the Patriots’ wideouts didn’t leave so many plays on the field, this could have been a blowout.
Jets need to get their collective acts together in the secondary.
September 17, 2013
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