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Florham Park – Time for a heaping helping of Jets training camp Whispers . . .
Interesting development at the outside linebacker position.
After getting tons of reps the first week of camp, even some with the starters, the Jets have pulled way back on Dylan Donahue’s reps this week.
He hardly got on the field today during the team part of practice. What “team” means in practice is the 11-on-11 drills, full offense vs. full defense.
The guy who seems to be rising at the outside linebacker position is Freddie Bishop, and he got a lot of starting reps the last few days. Lorenzo Mauldin is obviously a candidate to start but has been out with a minor injury this week.
The Jets were probably getting a little ahead of themselves with Donahue early in camp. The leap from Division II to the NFL is enormous, and the offensive tackles he’s facing now are another stratosphere form his collegiate days. Over the first week of camp, he just couldn’t get off blocks. Aside from his big jump in competition, another challenge is related to his arm length. He has very short arms which can create a big challenge for pass rushers. He was consistently getting engulfed by tackle Brent Qvale over the first week of camp.
To me, this guy is a practice squad candidate. He has a lot of work to do . . .
“Backup” center Jonotthan Harrison is having a very camp, and is actually challenging Wesley Johnson for the starting job.
Harrison, who started 23 games in Indianapolis over the first three years of his career, has very good technique. Watching him closely out here, he’s been very impressive.
Aside from his good technique, he’s very strong and is extremely bright. On a running play today, he pancaked powerful nose tackle Deon Simon.
I really didn’t think this would be much of a competition, but with the way Harrison is performing, the center job is truly up for grabs now . . .
There hasn’t been much said about the knee injury to Jets rookie cornerback Xavier Coleman, suffered in the scrimmage on Saturday night at Metlife Stadium. The way he was helped off, it looked like he might be done for the year. But he wasn’t put on IR, and watching him today in the rehab area, it doesn’t look as bad as first thought. He’s got a medical sleeve on his left leg, but no brace, and he was walking without a limp.
The reason I’m writing about this is because I think he can play in the NFL. I think he has good instincts. I think he was doing some very good things in Jets camp before the injury.
I’m going to be honest with y’all, I don’t think the Jets cornerback situation is great. Morris Claiborne is their top cornerback. He’s a good player. If he gets hurt, the Jets are in a lot of trouble. Obviously, that could be a big problem, because he gets hurt all the time.
I don’t think Buster Skrine and Justin Burris, who the Jets have big plans for, are having good camps. They both give up too many plays and commit too many penalties. But expect them to play a lot due to the anointing factor.
Another guy being talked up is Daryl Roberts, but he’s a little inconsistent.
Marcus Williams is having a good camp, making a lot of plays on the ball, but his lack of ideal speed gets him into trouble if he has to hold up too long on the outside, so I think he’s best served playing in the Jets’ nickel package.
So that is why I bring up Coleman. They need another cornerback to emerge in that room, and it could be Coleman, so that is why I felt compelled to update you on his injury . . .
Some people wonder why I don’t write more about the Jets QB competition. Why? Because I don’t view it as a competition.
It would be an upset of biblical proportions if Josh McCown isn’t the Week One starter.
August 8, 2017
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