25 Comments

hey David!

LaFleur's time in JetNation is steadily approaching Rich Kotex/Adam Gase levels of shortcoming.

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The more you look into player usage etc, the worse it gets. Conklin got more looks, but he still got heavily underutilised. I believe he had 5 targets with 3 catches...all touchdowns. Braxton Berrios got the same red-zone targets as Conklin and Uzomah combined.

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The Jets usage of Mims under Saleh and the departed LeFleur always seemed like a mystery to me.

Yes, he did drop some passes but under the “Brilliant” play calling of Adam Gase after recovering from an early season hamstring injury he averaged 15.5 yds a reception on 23 receptions, add in his two under utilized years with LeFleur he is lifetime 16.1 yards a reception. The analytics crowd should be screaming he should be a starter with that average.

Also, Mims has to be the most famous second round pick relegated to the bottom of the roster based on his special teams play.

I couldn’t name you any other NFL second rounder that has been handled this way because of special team ability.

Then they talked about his route tree under LeFleur’s system. The fact that LeFleur is longer here and he was partially hired because he is friends with Saleh has some play here.

I remember in a preseason game against the Giants, late in the game, 3rd and 17, Mims caught about a 10-12 yard pass, then preceded to carry 2-3 Giants for a 19 yard game, first down. You would figure that more impressive than his special team play.

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I really don’t think he was misused. I just don’t think he’s bright enough to grasp a complex NFL offense. That whole narrative about him learning all the positions was a polite way of saying he’s not smart enough. NFL receivers need to be able to recognize coverages, make sight adjustments, leverage and route concepts. I remember Sam Darnold being totally frustrated with Mims not being where he was supposed to be. Flacco too. Mims needs to be in a simple offense where he car just run go routes, stops and back shoulder fades.

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A guy who isn’t bright, has trouble learning routes and has had Darnold, Wilson, Flacco, White and Strevler throwing to him yet his career yards per catch is 16.1. I think he makes the perfect home run hitter to team with Rodgers.

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Spot on, Bobber!

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The Cameron Clark story could be a great story, go Jets. In the 2024 draft , the Jets most probably will be without a first round pick, but they do have an extra fourth round pick ( traded for the Jets fifth round pick) and for the first time in forever a couple ( maybe three) very late compensation picks. I guess the point here is that there is not a great need for mid and late round picks in 2024. The time clock for Bryce Hall & Uzoma is the trading deadline in late October, looking for a team that will overpay due to injury. Mims , however, is a September cut, he has his last opportunity with a new coaching staff , a new QB, but things are not looking good, summer is crucial for Denzel. Jets have brought in a few big WR’s and hybrid TE’s to possibly replace Mims and Corey Davis next year, the organization is making a concerted effort to get better in this area. This years replacement for Mims is Irvin Charles, a marginal WR at best, but will earn his spot because of his special Team contributions. Big Bryce Hall fan, on that bandwagon of BH to Free safety. Cornerback depth on this team is Echols who has been quietly good, backing up 3 CB positions. Bryce is important as a backup CB, but Ulbrich needs to find him a role. Trading BH could be a mistake, not many CB’s in the pipeline, next up would be Jimmy Moreland, a huge drop off.

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I agree on pretty much every point, but I'm not sure the Jets will see that drop-off as huge. They really didn't trust Hall last year and you can see that with the usage. I think we like and rate him more than the coaching staff does. So if they can get anything of value for him which may enable us to add draft capital for trades up next year, I think they'd explore it. We have Moreland, Hardee and James as fill-in corners, but I can also see the coaching staff loving Derrick Langford, the UDFA out of Washington State...he's more their kind of guy.

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Will be watching Langford

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I agree. I see no point in trading good depth in Hall, Uzomah and Mims for low mid-round picks. 4.39 speed doesn't grow on trees, and I see no point in keeping someone like Charles over Mims simply because he can play STs. Mims has made some big catches for us and does have a high ypc average. If he doesn't impress in TC and preseason, fine, trade or release him, but imo it would so SOJ to cut or trade him only to see him become a very good WR elsewhere. I value speed, talent, and blocking ability in this offense more than I do someone's ability to play STs. Let one of the young DBs who replaces Ashtyn Davis on the roster play the STs position that Charles would play.

I think for the Jets to even seriously enterain thoughts of trading Hall, that Langford and/or Bernard-Converse must impressing in TC and preseason and prove they are ready.

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If you’re referring to Mims 4.39 speed I think it’s really a waste. He doesn’t play special teams and he’s not a disciplined route runner. That’s not gonna fly with Aaron Rodgers at QB. Getting a 4th round pick for him would be great because I seriously doubt he has any future here. The Jets are loaded with big physical receivers that have similar physical traits to Mims. It’s gonna come down to versatility and the ability to play in the offense as designed.

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As I said, I could care less that Mims doesn't play STs. There are other players that can play STs. He has been working on his route running. That is something he never had to do in college.

I wouldn't say that the Jets are loaded with big physical receivers. Mims played against a higher level of competition in college and was much higher rated than any of them outside of maybe Wilson and Davis. None of them can come close to matching his speed or ypc average.

He may not be a fit for our offense and/or may not have a future here, but again, I think he should be given every chance to prove the naysayer wrong this summer in TC and in preseason. If he doesn't cut the mustard then, fine, cut bait, trade him or release him, but imo it would not be wise to just give up on him at this point before they see what he can do with Rodgers and Hackett in TC.

I'm not sure he could get a 4th round pick for him.

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Well my friend that’s fine you don’t care that Mims doesn’t play special teams but I have a feeling the coaching staff does. For the record I was not a happy camper when JD was moving around in that draft because Mims was available and I thought he would be a perfect fit. There were rumors about his lack of refinement as a route runner but I assumed ( obviously wrongly) that a NFL coaching staff could help him over come that lack of refinement. Now here’s a question for you; you’re obviously a Mims fan. That’s great. And you refer to his 4.39 speed. Super. Well tell me, how is it that a 6’3” 215 lb physical specimen that runs a sub 4.4 40 not play special teams? That a mystery bro a lot of Jet fans.

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Ron, you're right that the CS may care that Mims doesn't play STs. I can understand why they would want or perhaps need him to in order to save roster spots. IMO, however, if a WR is producing enough as a WR, then it doesn't matter if he plays STs because his primary reason for being on the team is his play and contributions as a WR. Playing STs requires a certain mindset, and I don't think that Mims ever played STs prior to coming to the Jets, so that's something additional that he has to learn, adapt to, and work on. He was a star WR in college. I think initially he didn't think he should have to play STs, but last year he said that he was willing to and tried, but again he was behind the 8 ball since he had no experience or knowledge how to play STs and was competing against players who have been playing STs for years, and some, like Hardee, that is their only way of staying in the NFL.

With regards to his route running, I must think he's better at it than you do. I know that in his little action, he gets open a lot. As to why he may not be great at it there could be several reasons. One, there's the obvious that perhaps he was never taught that in high school and college due to bad coaching. With his height and speed he was always open. There have been many players who have come into the NFL who had great success in high school and college because they were bigger, stronger, faster than the players they faced and competed agains, and they either were never taught the correct techniques/fundamentals or never worked to learn them because they were already stars and didn't think they needed to. Then they get to the NFL where everyone is as big and strong, even if they aren't as fast, and it makes it a lot harder to get open or have success. The lack of proper fundamentals is one of the reasons Zach is struggling. He was able to have success in high school and college in spite of his lack of sound fundamentals. NFL players who have the best and easiest success are those who were taught the proper fundamentals when growing up, so they have many years of experience using, working on, developing instincts, and improving in the use of those fundamentals. Those who come in who have gotten by on natural ability (size, speed, strength) have a much harder time. A prime example is Antonio Cromartie. He could be very good at times, but in spite of his amazing size, speed, and athleticism, he was never great, because he never had solid fundamentals/technique, and it always left flaws in his coverage. I think part of Cromartie's problem was that he was also "soft." He didn't like to tackle and he wasn't aggressive enough.

Another reason he might not be great at route running is that even though he has great speed, perhaps he doesn't have great lateral agility and has to slow down to make cuts. I don't remember what his scores were on shuttle and 3 cone drills, so that might not be a factor, but if he is limited physically, that would help explain his limitations as a route runner.

Another reason he might not be great at route running is that he's having to think too much. The WCO is notoriouly complex. We know that he has struggled in learning it. He may not be that bright, and it simply may be too complex of an offense for him. In having to think too much what his responsibilities are on any given play, it may cause him to not think about setting up the DB covering him and varying his speeds.

Still another reason could be that he is lazy and just doesn't want to put in the work it would take to catch up. That may have been part of the problem with him initially, or since he didn't seem to like or get along with MLF, perhaps he pouted and sulked rather than working hard to get better, but last season Saleh was praising him and how hard he was working. Young players can be immature. That is where it is up to the CS to be part psychiatrist so they can figure out what makes the player tick, how he learns the best, and how to reach him. Some coaches are lazy, narrow minded, and they only have one way of doing things. I think that's what MLF is and has been to date. I think that's why he's no longer the OC of the Jets. He failed with Mims, Moore and Zach, and with the offense in general.

All of those factors could be at play or just one or two or some combination. Obviously, if it's the last two reasons, then the Jets do need to move on.

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J.O, yeah, I recall Aaron Rodgers not being happy with the GB young receivers early last season. He was very frustrated with poor routes and drops. I have a feeling the Mims-Rodgers relationship will not go well. Mims is exactly the type of player Rodgers has no use for. He has never been a disciplined route runner and for him to have such a poor percentage on contested catches that’s just not gonna work for Aaron. Not to mention the drop rate. Ughhhh. That’s just not gonna work!

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Mims was never a disciplined route runner because that wasn't required or taught in the scheme at Baylor. He has worked hard to improve. I think his drop rate is a reflection of his confidence level and the way he has been mishandled/misused/underutilized. It's as Bobber said, what other 2nd round pick in the NFL has been mishandled and mistreated as badly as Mims? He may not be a scheme fit or may not be bright enough to handle a complex NFL scheme. If not, then fine, move on, but I think they need to give him every opportunity to succeed this summer. With good coaching from the new WR coach, Hackett and Rodgers, Mims could develop into the WR the Jets thought he would be when they drafted him in the 2nd round.

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I don't think Uzomah's going anywhere. Both he and Conklin were misused by MLF and could be real keys. I think Ruckert is really going to shine in TC and pre-season. Kuntz is raw and needs to gain some polish, but they have to figure out a way to keep him, because someone is going to snap him up.

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So poking around the net yesterday I come across an article from “Sportskeeda” claiming Zach Wilson was vacationing in Utah with his family and new girlfriend while his teammates were involved with the OTA’s? Turns out it was bull crap made up garbage. It’s amazing what some so called news sources will do to get clicks! 🤬😂😂 Moving along to todays article it’s nice to hear that Q’s deal appears close to fruition. Now my understanding is that Q is in fact already under contract for this season. Correct me if I’m wrong but the extension would be for years 2024-2027? So that would bring him to his age 30 season. I can see why JD wants that 5th year. I agree that it’s time to think about moving on from several players that appear to not be in the teams future plans. In addition to the names you mentioned I suspect LB Naz and S Ashton Davis might also be wise to not unpack their luggage. Neither has made any positive impact other than special teams and there are others on the roster that might bring more to the table.

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I agree on Naz and Davis. There are hungry young players looking for a real shot, and ST is the best place to start.

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Three players that could be traded for value: McGovern, Bryce Huff, & Jordan Whitehead

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Huff and Whitehead I can see, but they won't trade McGovern so quickly because they have to see if Tippman is ready to start right out of the gate and be consistent on a steady basis. He is a veteran presence that is needed and is familiar with the schemes. And AR will be a huge step up in calling protections.

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Would agree, but there could be an opportunity at the trading deadline in late October. McGovern is a solid Pro, on a dirt cheap contract, an excellent fit for a team that needs a Center, a team will over pay. In order for this to Happen , Tippman has to take the job coming out of camp, and the Jets would have to have to have a level of confidence in Colon as a backup Center. It would be a risk, Rodgers health is at stake.

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I'm more of a belt & suspenders kind of guy. If Joe Tippman turns out to be Joe Fields, I'm in with dealing McGovern. But if he looks the least bit shaky or tentative McGovern stays. Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't, i.e. Colon and Schweitzer. This entire season depends on AR's health, period, and he already pulled a calf muscle. I know it's minor, but it's a reality. Plus, McGovern was hamstrung by Tomlinson's poor play and the overall condition of the o-line. With Tomlinson hopefully getting back to his previous form, and AVT at right guard, the center of the line will be much improved. But it's all a crap shoot, as we don't know how the tackle situation is going to work out. I know they released Eric Smith and signed Cajuste, so JD & RS saw something they like. Who the hell knows about Becton and Brown is coming off an injury and is more than half my age (76). I feel that the Jets have to be conservative and plan like AR is going to get hurt fortify the line and not take a chance of a trade of McGovern backfire.

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JD will get calls on McGovern. Connor is 30, could have an additional 4 to 5 seasons in the NFL. His career is at a turning point. MCGovern with his back against the wall , will compete and win the job in Training camp. In 2024 after a Super Bowl Win, CMG will snag a three year contract for 30 million, for some team. Colon can be a decent backup Center.

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Yodny Cajuste over Eric Smith. Yodny has a lower floor, has a significant injury history, but a higher ceiling. YC can run block, good at getting to the second level, good fit for Hacketts Offense. PS young veteran Tackle

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