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The Jets linebackers had a pretty good game at Miami. Bart Scott is still a really good down hill player, and he had a few nice plays in Sun Life Stadium . . .
On the Miami Dolphins first series of the game, QB Matt Moore hit Daniel Thomas in the left flat, and tailback broke a tackle attempt by Calvin Pace, and gained eight yards.
Also on the first series, Moore hit Marshall over the short middle for a gain of 13, and the pass was lofted of Jamal Westerman, and in front of Eric Smith.
Late in that first series, Bart Scott stopped Steve Slaton for a loss of one on a pass. Westerman had a QB pressure on this play, and it forced Moore to throw the pass sooner then he wanted, and this helped Scott smother the receiver in the left flat. This first drive resulted in a Dolphins field goal.
The Dolphins second series ended with David Harris doing a nice job covering Anthony Fasano, and limited the tight end to a gain of one, on a third-and-five.
At the start of the third quarter, on the Dolphins first play, Scott stopped Slaton, on a run after the middle, after just a gain of one. This possession ended when David Harris stopping Brandon Marshall for no gain on a pass up the middle.
Late in the third quarter, Aaron Maybin stopped a Thomas run to the right side after just a gain of one.
On the next play, Josh Mauga did a nice job of covering Lex Hilliard, on the short left side, and stopped the fullback after just a gain of one.
But this drive ended on a bad note for Mauga, when he was beat for a touchdown on a square out on the left side by H-Back Charles Clay, for a one-yard touchdown.
Mauga has potential as a coverage linebacker, but this season, he was too late to react on some pass plays, and had to play catch-up. He needs to work on his recognition skills this off-season.
Early in the fourth quarter, Scott had a big-time hit on WR Davone Bess, on a pass to the short right game, after just a gain of two. Scott’s hit knocked Bess out of the game.
The people saying the Jets should get rid of Scott are clueless.
There is too much focus on a few plays where he struggled in space.
True, he’s not great in space, but a lot of inside linebackers in this league struggle in space and in coverage.
But when Scott is asked to play downhill, against the run in the box, and as a blitzer, he’s still a terrific player, and he hits like a ton of bricks.
Why wouldn’t you want him as a platoon player at inside linebacker?
Plus, he’s guaranteed $4 million in 2012, whether he stays or goes, so why not keep him?
Who cares if he’s pissed off now?
He’s under contract – keep him around. He’ll probably get over it once he cools down over the next few months.
Plus, he has a huge house that he’s fixing up 10 minutes from Jets camp that he loves.
Do you really think he wants to move? He loves the area.
Premium will return at 5 pm on Friday with a look at the defensive backs.
