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New Jersey – Time for some Monday Premium Notes from the heart of Jets Country. There is one clear advantage the Jets have entering this game which has nothing to do with personnel or strategy . . .
The Jets have a huge physical advantage entering their game against the Washington Redskins.
The Jets are coming off a bye week, and the Redskins played on Sunday. Not only did they play, they played on the road and went to overtime. So not only did they play, they played extra football.
The Jets should be a lot fresher. This factor can’t be minimized . . .
The Jets worked on punt coverage drills for the first half hour of their practice trying to fix perhaps the weakest part of their team.
I hate to be a cynic, but I’m not sure how much these drills are going to help. Let me explain.
First of all, they were not in pads and there was no tackling.
“Good job in no pads,” yelled Jets special teams coach Bobby April during one of these drills.
The Jets are having tackling issues on punt coverage, so it’s how much is this drill, minus tackling, going to help?
I’m not blaming them for not having tackling. There are big limits on that in the CBA signed in 2011.
And on top of that of the lacking tackling, I didn’t see personnel changes.
Anybody who has read my stuff over the last few months knows that I’m very high on Erin Henderson as an inside linebacker. If the Jets had an injury at inside linebacker, like now with David Harris (no information yet if he’s going to miss any time), he’s a heck of an insurance policy. But Henderson is not good on punt coverage. He’s a tall linebacker and doesn’t break down in space very well. Also, honestly, at the age of 29, after being a starter in Minnesota, do you really think he’s into it? Look, I’m not saying he’s dogging it. Not at all, but there is a difference in a long-shot linebacker, like Chad Cascadden, running down like he’s hair is on fire, trying to hang on in the league another week, as opposed to a veteran linebacker, and former starter, like Henderson, doing it.
Actually, I think rookie LB/FB Julian Howsare would be excellent. He looked good in the drills, but he’s on the practice squad.
In a drill today, Buster Skrine ran back a punt, and scooted right by Henderson.
I think Tommy Bohanon is a very solid fullback, but he has stiff hips and short arms. He’s not built to tackle in the open field.
Another tall linebacker like Henderson, Lorenzo Mauldin, is also not good in punt coverage. He doesn’t change directions well in space.
And the Redskins have a jitterbug punt returner, Jamison Crowder, who could be a big problem for a team struggling in punt coverage. He’s quick as a cat and has great vision.
They can do drill after drill, but unless they change up the personnel grouping a little, I don’t see the problem going away . . .
October 12, 2015
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