Content available exclusively for subscribers
A matters to get into today . . .
Rishard Matthews was working today with the Jets’ special teams.
Since he’s new, the needed some help lining up on certain plays.
He’s a smart guy, but he just got the playbook.
It’s amazing what being out of work will do to your mindset.
Matthews wanted off the Tennessee Titans early this season because he wasn’t getting a lot of touches in the passing game.
Now he’s with the Jets he’s playing special teams.
I’m not saying he’s won’t play on offense, but you get the sense that he might realize he overplayed his hands a little in Tennessee . . .
Marcus Maye was out at practice today with special glove on his left hand – the hand he had a broken bone. He had no glove on his right hand. Today in the locker room he had a clear plastic bag over the hand, perhaps to protect in from getting wet in the shower.
I saw him yesterday with medical tape along the outside of the left thumb and down to the bottom of his hand.
While he was out on the the practice field today, he did see somewhat limited to me in terms of the amount of action he as getting.
If Maye can’t return this week, the Jets are set at the starting safety spots with Jamal Adams and Terrence Brooks, but after that it’s a little thin with Doug Middleton and Maye out, and Rontez Miles not ready to come back.
If Maye can’t play, they have two safeties on the practice squad and could promote one of them – Brandin Brooks and Jeremy Clark. Brooks would probably be the leading candidate since Clark was just moved to cornerback from safety this summer, so he’s still getting used to the position.
If Maye can’t play, Ibraheim Campbell could be the third safety, but since he just got into town, he would be limited to basic sets like Cover-Two . . .
Jamal Adams didn’t like my question after the game about the Jets’ run defense giving up too many big plays.
Jamal Adams didn’t like my question today on limiting free plays to the opponent, in other words, blown coverages.
Before I continue, I’m want to make it clear that I don’t consider him part of either problem. He’s a shining light on the Jets’ defense. He’s a really good player.
But I think he should tweak his approach with the media. Be like Josh McCown. You might not like the question, but don’t get defensive and bristle, just say calm and answer the question like an alpha dog.
He said to me, “We don’t go into games looking to blow coverages.”
Of course not. Who would accuse them of that?
The question is about the proliferation of blown coverages in games.
Did you guys see the Jacksonville and Indy games? And the Jets gave up 37 points to Denver.
I don’t wear a tin-foil hat. There are issues that need to be fixed.
I think Adams is at the point where he despises the media. Part of this is because took some heat for some things he said that he thinks were blown out of proportion. But also there was a reporter who wore him out last year, and the Jets should have ended some of these interviews sooner – protect him more.
The Jets have issues with their run defense up the middle, and with too many blown coverages.
And Adams isn’t part of the problem.
Jets need more guys like him.
But he needs to stop killing the messenger.
October 25, 2018
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday