Plaxico Burress looked good in his Jets debut. // Image courtesy of Icon Sports Media.
It’s that time of week again! The Jets looked much better in their game against Cincinnati than they did versus the Houston Texans. The offense looked crisp and the defense looked solid, albeit against the mediocre Andy Dalton. However, some players looked better than others. Let’s analyze them a bit further in this week’s Ten Up, Ten Down.
Ten Up
1. Plaxico Burress, WR – Burress looked like he had not missed a day in the NFL. He ran routes crisply and looked more explosive than I expected in his first legitimate game action as a Jet. He caught three passes for 66 yards, including a beautiful 26-yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez after a well-executed two-minute drill. If Burress can carry his momentum into next season, the Jets are going to be fine in terms of their passing game.
2. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE – Wilkerson played a lot better in Game 2 of his NFL career. He still was not much of a factor in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback, but he bullied his man in the run game on a consistent basis. Much of it can be attributed to his natural athleticism and the weakness of his opposite number rather than technique, but he did seem to play a bit lower throughout the game, which is indicative of some progress. I still think that Ellis is more pro-ready, but Wilkerson definitely redeemed himself from his performance against Houston.
3. Eric Smith, S – I have never been an Eric Smith fan, but he looked quite good in this game. The interception was a bit lucky, but he also showed good penetrating ability against the run. He did all that was asked of him. Smith seems to have overtaken Brodney Pool in the battle for starting safety opposite Jim Leonhard, and while I do not necessarily agree with this choice, it is hard to argue with Smith’s work-ethic and safe play this week compared to Pool’s lackluster performance. I will be interested to see how Smith deals with the talented Giants’ receivers.
4. David Harris, LB – Harris showed why he got paid in this game. He went above and beyond the call of duty with Bart Scott absent, racking up plays all over the field. He was stellar against both the run and the pass. Although he only made two tackles (and assisted on another) in the game, Harris made his impact felt in other ways. He looked really good rushing Andy Dalton as well: he got a key third down pressure, something the Jets will need in the regular season.
5. Ropati Pitoitua, DL – What else can be said about Ripo? He is simply the most dynamic player that the Jets currently have on the defensive line. His combination of length and burst is as good as any player’s on the team. Ripo should be a starter down the road for sure and, at the very least, a key rotational player this season. A future line of Ripo, Ellis and Wilkerson should have Jets fans drooling.
6. Dustin Keller, TE – Keller had an early drop, showing a few nerves in his first game back. However, he also had moments of inspiration, including a 43-yard catch and run toward the end of the first half. Keller is a sensational athlete, and Mark Sanchez knows to get him the ball in space. It was a great night for Keller.
7. Jeff Cumberland, TE – In my mind, Cumberland should make the roster over Matthew Mulligan. Once again, he showed an intriguing combination of size and pass-catching ability, including a 26-yard reception. Once Cumberland figures out some of the nuances of football, he could be a sensational complement to Keller.
8. Aaron Maybin, OLB – Hey, he got a sack! That’s something…right? All kidding aside. Maybin is the only Jet with a sack this preseason, so I suppose that it is worth mentioning. Who knows, maybe he finds his mojo in New York? He certainly looks like a better option than some other “pass-rushers.”
9. Chris Jennings, RB – Jennings will not make the team, but he did play well, so he can make my list.
10. Brashton Satele, LB – Samson’s little brother made a nice interception in the game.
Ten Down
1. Antonio Cromartie, CB – I just expect MORE from Cro, you know? It seemed like Jerome Simpson was getting separation from him most times down the field. Simpson is a physical specimen, but I did not see the physicality that so many coaches and broadcasters were raving about when it comes to Cromartie. “Physicality” does not equal “forgetting how to form tackle and hitting people hard with my shoulder after they make receptions I should have defended.” Cro will be fine in the long run, but I hope he does not forget his fundamentals in this quest to become more physical.
2. Vladimir Ducasse, OT – Oh, Ducasse. On the plus side, he was slightly better as a blocker than against the Texans. However, he was whistled for penalties and looked lost at points during this game. He is not ready for prime time, it is that simple.
3. Jamaal Westerman, OLB – Westerman actually looked good against the run in this game, but he was still a non-factor as a pass rusher. He got penetration once, but was blocked one-on-one more times than not. He is another guy I expect more from, and he has yet to deliver. The athleticism is certainly there though, so maybe he will step up against the Giants. The fact that Aaron Maybin has the Jets’ only sack this preseason, however, is disturbing to me.
4. Ladanian Tomlinson, RB – Meh, I just do not like Tomlinson. His hands were suspect and he did not show the type of burst that we are used to seeing from him. Tomlinson is certainly a future Hall of Famer, but am I the only person who would rather test the team’s luck with the young guns like Greene, McKnight and Powell?
5. Matt Slauson, OG – Slauson was covered up pretty well last season despite being a weak link on the Jets’ offensive line. However, in this game, he looked overmatched at times. He made a nice pull block on Sanchez’s first pass to Burress, but other than that, he was mediocre. Slauson has always been more about effort than talent, but this is the second straight game where the Jets’ interior running game was inconsistent. It bears watching.
6. John Conner, FB – Conner has looked much better in practice than in the games thus far. He still has trouble recognizing plays and has been less convincing as a lead blocker than I had originally expected. He should improve over the season, but Conner has been just mediocre thus far.
7. Jeremy Kerley, WR – I still like Kerley, but he is an unfinished product. His hands are suspect and he has been rounding off routes. He also looks lost at times in the punt return game. Kerley is another young player with huge upside, but he has not impressed me as much as I thought he would.
8. Nick Folk, K – Novak was better than Folk last night. You cannot miss 40-yard field goals when you are in a positional battle.
9. Brodney Pool, S – He gets this spot because, somehow, despite being the most athletic safety on the team, Eric Smith is currently beating him out for a starting job.
10. Matthew Mulligan, TE – Mulligan does not impress me at all. Even though he can line up at a variety of positions, Cumberland could fill his role with aplomb. Mulligan is an average all-around player who is on this roster because of his versatility. If Cumberland can flash more, I would not be surprised if Mulligan is cut.
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