Game overview:
Wow...this is part of my job, to watch games like this. Some days are more fun than others...
I got to watch the big matchup of Jack Plummer v. Andrew Peasley here. So...it was no surprise that this was an offensive struggle. The only TD scored happened as time expired and as the Jets didn’t care/had the win sewed up.
The Panthers actually showed a little fire in this game, but the Jets have much more talent down the line...so, the Jets snuck out with the win.
There’s nothing to glean from this game, from an overall team perspective...because the Panthers are so bad, it’s hard to judge performances against them. BUT we do have some individual players to report out on...
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Jets RB report...
Very odd...very odd...very odd...
Rookie Isaiah Davis (4-14-0, 1-0-0/1) started this game for NYJ, which would make sense if Braelon Allen (8-27-0, 2-12-0/4) was gonna be held out...but like the 3rd-series in, suddenly there’s Allen. What? Why that rotation? Usually coaches send messages with rotations/orders of things...at RB especially. Is this a message?
I think this was more a nod at how good Isaiah Davis has looked/worked as well this preseason. Allen played more snaps. All the talk is about Allen, rightfully so. Still, it is odd...but I’m not really reading anything into it.
After Davis-Allen worked, then Israel Abanikanda (6-29-0) came in...and we/me forget that he’s a pretty solid RB prospect in his own right. He’ll either be the #4 RB here, which carrying four RBs doesn’t make a lot of sense here, given the talent at 1-2-3...or Abanikanda could be traded to Dallas or Carolina or ___?
Abanikanda to Dallas? Everyone would FF-flip the heck out... Just sayin’.
-- Jets receiver report...
Another solid but non-exciting game from Malachi Corley (2-10-0/2)...he’s been fine, but I haven’t seen this ‘YAC King’ yet. Xavier Gibson is gonna start over Corley out of the chute.
Zack Kuntz (0-0-0/2), the athletic/Combine-great TE 7th-round pick in 2023 was sighted here, and...it was not good. Too clunky, too not-graceful. I am taking that Men In Black thingy and having them erase my memories of him...him and Jelani Woods.
-- Panthers receiver report...
The Panthers are trying to make Jon Mingo (1-0-0, 1-4-0/1) a thing...played about a series or so, but they purposefully threw to him right away and then gave him a jet sweep. He’s likely starting Week 1.
Terrace Marshall (2-14-0/3) still looks legit, but he’ll probably be a backup again. I wish some team in need would trade for him. It wouldn’t take much.
Ja’Tavion Sanders (2-22-0/2) looked pretty solid here. Hands of gold. Just not a TE height/size and then lower speed for a ‘move’ TE, but still – those hands. He’ll likely be a #3 TE to start the season.
-- Panthers RB report...
Dillon Johnson (18-83-1, 2-0-0/2) did his best in this game and scored a useless TD at the buzzer...but it wasn’t enough...he got cut the next day. He’s just not good enough for the NFL.
Jon Brooks looks likely to be out 4-8 games and then how is it/what is it he will come back/debut into? What state will this team be in at that point? Chuba Hubbard is back practicing...he’s going to be the heavy lead back for 4-8 weeks. Brooks will return to a...what? (1-7) team...(1-4) team? Are they really going to bring him back and shove him a bunch of touches coming off the rehab? Likely not. This is getting to be dead money for FF 2024.
-- IDP Report...
CAR rookie LB Trevin Wallace (5 tackles) just does nothing for me...but so many people swear by him. Didn’t get it at the Senior Bowl, and don’t get it in the preseason.
1st-round pick DE Will McDonald (1 tackles, 1 sack) had a nice spin move sack in this game, after which I found out something (from the local TV analyst for the Jets) I didn’t know prior – that McDonald is demanding a trade. The Jets ruined themselves chasing pass rushers the past couple of years...and when I said it was a major mistake for the Jets to burn a 1st-round pick on McDonald – I was on the money.
This eternal quest for pass rushers...especially by Robert Saleh – it’s the death of teams.
