The Indianapolis Homecomings And Other Issues Surrounding The New York Jets

Believe it or not, there are storylines on the Jets besides Adam Gase and Sam Darnold. Here are some of them heading into today’s game at Indianapolis (1-1), where the Jets will try to avoid a second consecutive 0-3 start. 

It’s the Rex Bowl. No, not that Rex. Instead, this game will be a homecoming for assistant general manager Rex Hogan, one of general manager Joe Douglas’ trusted lieutenants. Hogan is in his second tour of duty in the Jets’ front office after a two-year sojourn in Indianapolis as vice president of player personnel and he certainly has Douglas’ ear. That is obvious because of the number of ex-Colts on the roster, particularly in the cornerbacks’ room. 

Four Jets’ corners spent time with Indianapolis while Hogan was there, including Pierre Desir, who began the season as the starter but was benched in the second quarter of the opener against Buffalo by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams because he wasn’t playing his receiver close enough in coverage, and giving him too much space. He didn’t enter Game 2 against San Francisco until Quincy Wilson, yet another ex-Colt, exited with a concussion. (He has been ruled out for this game.) Desir made an interception in that game, although it was of the look-what-I-found variety off a deflection.

It will be interesting to see if Desir, who was signed to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million in fully guaranteed money per overthecap.com after being released by Indy, will regain his starting job against his old team. 

The most likely other option would be—you guessed it—another ex-Indianapolis cornerback, Nate Hairston. He relieved Desir on opening day but was himself inactive against the 49ers. Desir, despite his opening-day deficiencies, still is a better player than Hairston, and Williams is asking for trouble if he goes with Hairston today. in any event, the Colts certainly should have a solid scouting scouting report on both players.

(For the record, Arthur Maulet, currently on injured reserve with a groin issue, is the other ex-Indy cornerback with New York.) 

Is it Perine time? The embattled Gase indicated during the week he might give rookie fourth-round draft pick La’Mical Perine (Florida) more time at running back this week. It’s a good idea, considering current No. 1 back Frank Gore is 37 and injured Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) is on IR and not eligible to return until the game against Arizona on Oct. 11. 

Let’s face it. Unless things change drastically, it’s doubtful that Bell will factor into the Jets’ plans next year, when they can cut him and save $9.5 million in salary-cap space. Thus, it makes sense to begin finding him exactly what they have in Perine, who showed flashes of explosiveness during training camp. Their offense certainly could use a spark. 

Getting defensive. Williams had an interesting answer when asked Friday about Raheem Mostert’s 80-yard scoring run on the first play from scrimmage. He indicated that he fully expected that to be San Francisco’s first play of the play of the game, and had practiced defending it at least “five or six times” during the week. 

If so, then why did he use a nickel package with three safeties and only three linemen? Granted, the Jets did have eight defenders in the box against the 49ers’ retro look that included a fullback, but why not have more heft up front if you are expecting a run? The Jets dressed seven defensive linemen for the game. 

Instead, much like Gase, Williams blamed player execution rather than his play call or personnel utilization. 

“We’ve got to set the force faster,” he said. “We’ve got to cap it faster. We’ve got to run and hit.” 

He also noted New York had “three new guys at the point of attack.” 

Well, again, that is at least partially on Williams, because one of those new guys, veteran inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, was thrust into the starting lineup despite having been signed only 10 days earlier. Ogletree, who had played in Williams’ system before with the Rams, was very late in recognizing and pursuing the play. Why not start Harvey Langi? Langi, normally an outside linebacker, had played well on the inside against Buffalo in emergency duty the week before after starter Blake Cashman had been injured in the first quarter.   

Maye day? Speaking of Williams’ personnel utilization, one of the positives on opening day was safety Marcus Maye, who moved into the role of the traded Jamal Adams and got two sacks as a blitzer. But playing near the line of scrimmage more often might not be Maye’s forte. Although their vital statistics are similar—Adams is 6-1, 214 pounds, Maye is listed as 6 feet, 207—Adams seems to be of a bit thicker build, and might be better able to take the punishment. 

Note that Maye never saw Jerick McKinnon’s 55-yard cutback jaunt on third-and-31 in the third quarter. He was pancaked by fullback Kyle Juszczyk at the point of attack. Maye is good in coverage, although he was culpable on two touchdown catches by tight end Jordan Reed in that game. To be fair, he had tight coverage on one of them, but was the victim of a perfect throw by QB Jimmy Garoppolo. 

Hope for the future. Lest you think it’s all bad, there are bright spots thus far. Defensive end Quinnen Williams, the 2019 first-round pick who came on in the second half of last season, had two sacks and two other tackles for loss last week. His four total TFLs is the most in one game for the team, according to the Jets’ research, since John Abraham had 4.5 against Buffalo in 2004. 

And this year’s first-round pick, massive left tackle Mekhi Becton (Louisville), has been drawing rave reviews through two games. Not only has Becton impressed in pass protection, but his run blocking has drawn much praise, prompting many observers to say Gase should start revising his gameplans to run behind Becton more often. 

Becton has adjusted to the pro game more quickly than I expected, especially without the benefit of spring practice or preseason contests. And it’s understandable that Jets’ fans need some hope at this point. But it might be wise to paraphrase the legendary former coach Bill Parcells and say, let’s not put him in Canton yet, folks. Becton, no doubt, looks like he could be that shutdown left tackle, and road grader in the running game that teams covet. But there figure to be hiccups and opposing defenders will begin adjusting to him, forcing him to make counter-adjustments.  

Still, he is off to a good start. Much better than the team surrounding him.

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