Okay Jet fans (old time) it’s trivia time. The Jets are playing the Detroit Lions Saturday night. One of the darkest days of my life happened in another Jets exhibition game vs. the Lions. Joe Namath got hurt. Who did he try to tackle after this player picked up a fumble and ran for a touchdown?
Look for Josh McCown to get a lot more reps than he did last Saturday. With Jets down receivers, I’d look for the tight end to get some activity. I’d like to see some production from TE rookie Jordan Leggett (#49). Tight End Austin Seferian-Jenkins is out for the first two games and we've been hearing that the Jets plan to use the tight end more this year. So this is an opportunity for Leggett.
Back-up center Jonotthan Harrison (#78) has opened eyes in training camp. This un-drafted player has started 23 NFL games since 2014 for the Indianapolis Colts. Right now Wesley Johnson is the starter but this competition has been very close according to my sources. Not sure how flexible Harrison is with other OL positions but he could be a good find!
Linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin is out with an injury. I’d like to see how LB Josh Martin (#95) plays after he was all over the field against the Titans. Also keep an eye on LB Dylan Donahue (#53). This division two player has looked good in practice. He is known to have a great motor and a nose for the sack.
Back To Hack:
Give first year offensive coordinator John Morton credit. He takes the job as the Jets offensive coordinator knowing they don’t have a franchise quarterback and are said to have the worst talent on offense in the league. He is given the task of trying to develop Christian Hackenberg. In the first game, Morton did a great job calling the plays and keeping the passes short with mostly 3 step drops. Hackenberg did well with the plays that were called. Morton will have to have Hack open it up a bit sometime during the pre-season. But for now the "baby steps" approach is working.
Learn From This:
Michael Nugent was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2005. Roberto Aguayo a kicker who played with Tampa Bay was cut this week. What do both kickers have in common? Both were drafted in the second round. In fact in the 2016 draft, Tampa Bay traded up to get Aguayo. Memo to GMs: DON’T PICK KICKERS IN THE FIRST FOUR ROUNDS OF THE DRAFT!
What the Jet scribes are saying:
Rich Cimini, ESPN
For the first time in a week, McCown tallied more reps than Hackenberg in a practice -- 37 to 28. This was another solid day for McCown (18-for-28), who engineered a 13-play drive -- a rarity in these parts. McCown culminated the long drive by hitting Robby Anderson on a short post route in the back of the end zone. This was a fantastic day for Anderson, who scored two touchdowns and made a highlight-film catch. He has raised his level of play since the season-ending injury to Quincy Enunwa. They need two or three others wide receivers to do the same.
Manish Mehta, NY Daily News
My understanding all along has been that the powers that be in the organization want to tread lightly with Hackenberg, who was put on ice as a rookie after a rollercoaster college career. The Jets don’t want to risk undoing all the gains that Morton and new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates have made this offseason by rushing the signal caller’s development.
The result, of course, is growth at glacier-like speed, a plan designed to methodically infuse Hackenberg with doses of confidence. The thinking: Stack small victories to repair a player, who showed so much promise as a true college freshman. They evidently don’t feel a sense of urgency.
Brian Costello, NY Post
Another part of Bowles’ messaging occurred just before training camp began. He gathered everyone who works for the Jets, from vice presidents on down, to watch a video that outlines his vision and says, “The team is the star.” He then spoke to them and handed out T-shirts that have J-E-T-S on the back with read-outs, “Joint Effort Through Sacrifice.”
The messages seem to be sinking in.
“It helps me along with the trophy and the guys on the wall, the guys before us,” McLendon said. “We understood who paved the way for us. All we have to do is stick together, play together, fight together and just continue to be brothers with that one team and one goal, and we’ll be fine.”
Trivia Answer:
It happened on August 7, 1971. Detroit defeated New York 28-24, but the game is best remembered for an injury to New York’s Joe Namath. Following a fumble by New York’s Lee White, Namath attempted to tackle the Detroit linebacker – Mike Lucci -- who made the recovery. While Lucci would go on to score a 29-yard touchdown, Namath tore ligaments in his left knee on the second quarter play, and the injury would keep him sidelined for all but four games in the 1971 season.
We now return control of your television set to you, until next week, at the same time when the Control Voice will take you to... The Outer Limits.
Let's have a little fun Jet Fans!
We now return control of your television set to you, until next week, at the same time when the Control Voice will take you to... The Outer Limits.
Let's have a little fun Jet Fans!
Check out my new blog: Schupak Sports
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