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Clifton – Here are some thoughts and Whispers from Sunday’s New York Jets blowout win over the Cleveland Browns today at MetLife Stadium . . .
Late in the first quarter, running back Chris Ivory had a gain of 11 off right tackle.
On the play, Kellen Davis had the key block, sealing the corner, and Ivory ran around him.
This is why he’s the #2 tight end. The guy is a heck of a blocker, and this is the most important characteristic of a #2 tight end . . .
One of the only positives for the Cleveland Browns happened in the second quarter. On a fourth-and-one, fullback Tommy Bohanon was stopped for no gain by nose tackle Danny Shelton. He was drafted to help improve the Browns awful run defense, and he certainly paid early dividends.
If the Jets didn’t land Leonard Williams, this is the guy I would have picked. Can you imagine him platooning with Damon Harrison at nose tackle? . . .
Speaking of Williams, it didn’t take him long to make his presence felt. On the Browns’ second play from scrimmage, he made an awfully impressive play. He got twisted by the blocker, and basically tackled running back Isaiah Crowell with one arm, sideways. Then a few plays later, he pushed back powerful guard Joel Bitinio, blowing up a run, allowing Calvin Pace to make an easy tackle.
Best player in the draft . . .
I’m not totally comfortable talking about this now, and I certainly hope for his sake, when the severity of his injury is leaked to one of the national NFL insiders by an agent, it’s not as bad as most think, but if the Jets lose Antonio Cromartie for a while, or the season, they can weather the storm.
I don’t want to kick him when he’s down, and hopefully for his sake he’s not down long, but as I pointed out many times on the website, he had lost a step. That was clear in training camp. He’s not the 4.4 guy he used to be. You saw that on Travis Benjamin’s 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams can fill his shoes adequately . . .
This Jets defensive line is clearly an excellent unit. All three starters had five tackles each, and the two reserves ends. Stephen Bowen and Leger Douzable, looked terrific.
They are really good now. Can you imagine how good they are going to be when Sheldon Richardson gets back? . . .
Johnny Manziel is clearly allergic to the pocket. He was in college, and it’s still a problem. He’s not going to survive with his run around style, especially at his size.
But I will say this in his defense and the Browns defense – they didn’t game plan for him. He is such a unique player, you really need to draw up a game plan that specifically focuses on his usual skillset. The Browns game plan today was for Josh McCown, an entirely different player.
It will be interesting to see what Manziel can do next week with a game plan designed just for him . . .
September 13, 2015
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