New York Jets and NFL Week Nine Musings

Nov 3, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike James (25) during the 2nd half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Tampa Bay 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Miami have given the state of Florida a combined record of 4-20 so far this season. I think Florida was always a college sports state anyway.

Mike James out of the University of Miami, the 5’10 225 pound, do-it-all running back, who I mock drafted the Jets to take in the 6th round went undrafted. He is filling in and starting for an injured Doug Martin in Tampa Bay and had 158 yards rushing on 28 carries. The Bucs still lost.

Darelle Revis who I think could be one of the most selfish players in NFL history (but I still can’t dislike the guy) is on a Tampa Bay team that is 0-8. His former team, the Jets are 5-4 and a 6th seed in the playoffs if they started today. At least he got his money.

Sheldon Richardson, the first of two draft picks Revis was traded for has 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a batted pass, and a forced fumble, not to mention countless quarterback pressures that have cemented the Jets D-line as the strength of the team.

Nick Foles throws seven touchdown passes in an absolute monster game against the Raiders. I watched the highlights and he had four TD’s by halftime. Monday he is being crowned as the franchise quarterback, which only means that next game he will go 7-22 and get an ankle, knee, or wrist injury forcing Michael Vick or Matt Barkley back into the mix.

The Jets have won and lost alternately every single game this season. Another thing they have done is started a different lineup offensively almost every game this season. If Jeremy Kerley’s injury is serious, which to me it looked like, the next game could feature Santonio Holmes, David Nelson, and Stephen Hill. That’s only if Holmes decides that he is ready to resume being a football player this season. He may just wait to see the odds he can play in only the playoffs before he returns so who knows?

Just a thought, but will Stephen Hill even be with the Jets next year? I assume he will, but 2nd round draft picks get cut all the time as evidenced by Jaiquawn Jarrett in the secondary, and Ras Dowling on the practice squad. Hill doesn’t seem like he has confidence, doesn’t run routes well, and seems to be a non-factor most games. Something you wouldn’t expect from a 6’4 target with 4.3 speed. He got one target in the Saints game and no catches, he was also shut out two weeks ago. If he catches only 10-15 more passes the rest of the year, I think he might not return next year.

Lastly, I am ready to admit that Geno Smith is an upgrade over Mark Sanchez. I will admit this after I watched him scramble, drop Cameron Jordan to his knees and jog into the end zone untouched on Sunday. Sanchez on his best day could not do that. If Smith can just read the field a little better and stop throwing interceptions for touchdowns the Jets could be in business.