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The Jets’ running game
has been in a slump recently.
Why?
Well, one factor in the last two games has been the opponents loading up the box and challenging the Jets to pass, and they, for the most part, haven’t been able to take advantage of that challenge.
Another factor, is obviously the Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker injuries.
And speaking of health, I don’t think either veteran offensive tackle is healthy. It’s well-documented Duane Brown is playing with a shoulder he needs to strap in to play, and George Fant, has been dealing with a knee issue all year, which has landed him on IR early in the season, but he’s clearly still not 100 percent.
Not making excuses, but when you have two banged-up veteran offensive tackles, and you ask them to play on a short week, on Thursday Night Football, don’t expect their best football, and you clearly didn’t see their best against Jacksonville.
It’s incumbent upon the Jets to make a line-up change for their next game, and as we suggested yesterday, moving veteran guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif into the lineup is probably the way to go.
Seeing “LDT” walking around the locker room after the loss to Jacksonville, he had a miserable look on his face. I don’t know him that well to tell you exactly what he was thinking, but what I was thinking, he was thinking, when I walked by him was, “I put my career as a doctor on hold, and I can’t get on the field the way this offensive line is playing?” Once again, he didn’t say that, I’m just playing mind reader here for a second . . .
I’m realistic when it comes to player and coach quotes.
I don’t expect them to throw anybody under the bus.
But you should also try to answer in a way that doesn’t question the intelligence of the public.
Both Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur said over the last couple of days, following the Jets’ 19-3 loss to Jacksonville, that QB Zach Wilson has improved this year.
With all due respect to the coaches and the player, it’s nearly impossible to make that argument.
Once again, I don’t expect them to say negative stuff about Wilson, but you also have to temper what you say, so that quotes don’t appear tone-deaf.
You can say stuff like “he’s working his tail off to get better” and “it’s not all on him.” I have no issue with quotes like that, no matter how cliche they are.
But try to avoid telling us, that a QB, coming off a game where he was 9-18 passing for 92 yards and a 41.9 QB Rating, against a lousy pass defense, has improved. And obviously it wasn’t just this game – he was struggling all season, competing for just 54.9 percent of his passes in nine starts with just six touchdown passes . . .
Speaking of Wilson, can we stop this talk about how the Jets made a mistake not picking Justin Fields in the 2021 draft instead.
That is a dubious argument.
Fields is a running back playing QB, and is always getting hurt because he’s taking a beating. Like Wilson, he’s a one-read and run QB, but obviously runs more, and is a better runner.
But if you think Fields style is a recipe for long-term success, I don’t see it. First of all, how is he going to stay healthy playing that way, and secondly, how many run-happy quarterbacks take their team to the Super Bowl? . . .
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced the league has suspended Jets wide receiver coach Miles Austin for violating the league’s gambling policy. I don’t need to confirm this story because Pelissero works for the league, and the league is the one who suspended Austin.
“The NFL suspended Miles Austin for wagering from a legal mobile account on table games and non-NFL professional sports,” Austin’s agent Bill Deni said. “Miles did not wager on any NFL game in violation of the Gambling Policy for NFL Personnel. He has been fully cooperative with the NFL’s investigation. He is appealing his suspension.”
The NFL and the teams are raking in millions from sportsbooks from ads. As long as he didn’t bet on the NFL, I’m fine with Miles. The NFL can judge him. I’m not going to.
December 23, 2022
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