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New Jersey – Dan checks in from Florham Park with notes from Jets Camp, as the team prepares for their big game with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday . . .
Kellen Winslow wouldn’t talk to the media after the game in Atlanta.
And he refused to talk again today.
Why?
He wouldn’t say.
Perhaps because he only had 19 snaps against the Atlanta Falcons.
If you are the Jets brass, you would hope that isn’t the reason.
The Jets won.
They upset the Falcons in the Georgia Dome, a very tough place to win on the road, especially with a rookie quarterback.
The man who took some of his snaps in Atlanta, Jeff Cumberland, had a terrific game, including a 47-yard reception and a 20-yard touchdown catch.
And Winslow has a chronic knee issue, so is it the worst idea in the world to keep his reps down?
So what is he upset about?
This doesn’t pass the smell test . . .
The Jets are 2.5 points favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Las Vegas, the home team gets three points, as part of the formula, for their home field advantage.
So this means the Steelers are actually favored by ½ a point.
Forget about the Steelers record (0-4), this is a very even game, especially with Pittsburgh coming off a bye-week, and getting two weeks to heal and strategize. If you look at the Steelers’ injury report – they are pretty healthy.
“We can’t worry about their record,” said Mo Wilkerson. “We have to be prepared knowing they’re just coming off a bye week, they’re ready for us.”
And the biggest concern for the Jets, entering this game, has to be Dick LeBeau vs. Geno Smith. The veteran defensive coordinator has a great record against rookie quarterbacks. And you give him two weeks to prepare, and he will have the mother of all game plans.
This game is going to be a major challenge for Smith, and that might be an understatement . . .
The Jets’ defensive line, which is one of the best in football, must be foaming at the mouth to face this Steelers’ offensive line.
First off all, the Steelers just benched their left tackle Mike Adams.
Not only did they bench him, but they demoted him to third string.
Either Kelvin Beachum or Levi Brown will start at left tackle. Beachum is a second year player out of SMU, and Brown is a player the Steelers just acquired from Arizona. The 6-3 Beachum is listed as a guard on the team’s website, yet is the starting left tackle on the same website.
At center, they are starting a guy who was on the street a month ago – Fernando Velasco. He was signed in September to replace Maurkice Pouncey, who was put on IR.
I think it goes without saying that Ben Roethlisberger is going to have his hands full this Sunday Against Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and company . . .
Expect a mixed din from the crowd at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The Steelers travel well, and also have a lot of fans in the Tri-State area. There will be a lot of people there cheering for the Steelers – there always are when they play the Jets in New Jersey . . .
Rex Ryan faced at all-out blitz today from the media about Mark Sanchez, who was put on IR yesterday.
Reporters wanted to know if Ryan wants Sanchez on the team next year, and he did some major tap dancing loaded with a lot of “ya knows.” It was a tough topic for Ryan, which is understandable.
And I’m sure it’s the last thing he wanted to deal with right now, with the Steelers coming to down on Sunday.
Whether Sanchez is on the Jets next year, really isn’t an important topic right now.
October 9, 2013
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