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New Jersey – It’s time for a truckload of Website Whispers from One Jets Drive, with notes on Harris, Epps, Pollard, McElroy, Dowtin and more . . .
Huge game for tight end Dedrick Epps – with Josh Baker out for the year, there could be a spot for him.
He hurt his neck late in the Carolina game, but the X-Rays were negative, and he’s feeling a lot better.
He will play a ton at Philly, and needs a big game to convince the Jets to keep him.
Epps had a nice deep grab from Tim Tebow late in the Carolina game. Some said he had a drop in the first half, but I thought the pass from Mark Sanchez was behind him . . .
Also a big game for WR Royce Pollard – I had a chance to talk to him for the first time today. He’s a very nice young man. While his name might not sound like it, he’s Hawaiian through and through. Most of his family is in Okino, Hawaii.
He’s been one of the pleasant surprises of camp, and likely headed for the practice squad. He not the biggest or fastest receiver around, he just makes plays . . .
And a guy who will be throwing the ball to Pollard in this first half in Philadelphia is Greg McElroy.
He had a nice camp this summer, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with extended playing time.
Unlike last summer, when he played behind a weak backup offensive line, this year, that group is playing a lot better, so McElroy should be able to show a little more.
Not only is the reserve line better, but the backup receivers he’ll be throwing to are pretty solid with Pollard, Eron Riley, and a sleeper out of Weber State (in Utah), Joe Collins. Also, Patrick Turner and Jeremy Kerley should see action in the first half.
This is a big game for McElroy to show his stuff, not only for the Jets, but other teams around the league.
He looks like the kind of backup who could potentially get a nice draft pick in a trade in a couple of years, if he doesn’t stay put in New York . . .
Another player I’m interested in seeing on Thursday is linebacker Marcus Dowtin.
Clearly Mike Westhoff has taken a liking to him. Against Carolina, he was with the first group on the kickoff team.
When you see #44 on the field, you will say to yourself, “that guy looks like a linebacker.” He has a thick, muscular build from neck to toes. He’s built to tackle people . . .
If you have a chance to see Rex Ryan’s press conference today, or a transcript of it, he had a lot of really short answers.
One veteran writer commented to me today, “He’s really pulled back this year.”
In his pressers this summer, Rex has been a lot more reserved.
He seems more focused on football, and less on things that don’t matter as much, like press conferences.
Rex has been extremely hands on with the defense. I think the owner wants this. When you hire a defensive genius, well, you want him to do his thing as a defensive genius, not take a backseat on that side of the ball . . .
At first, it sounded like David Harris’ ankle injury was serious.
But now it’s clear, it’s not.
“It’s alright,” Harris said. “It’s healing up pretty fast. I will be ready for the opener.”
Harris was walking normally without a limp.
August 28, 2012
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