19 Comments

hey David!

boy, I don't know where you get this info, but thank you for the time you put into collecting it, analyzing it and putting out such great wrap-ups on your findings. Your efforts on we the fans behalf are simply Outstanding.

You're da Best!

24 September, 1:00 pm start, the hated ones from the North against our Green'n'White - Section 206, row 3 - two seats for my son & I... (cue Bart Scott...) " Can't WAIT!!!!"

CGVet58

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That's going to be an incredible game, really hope you enjoy it. Won't be making the trip over this year with a new little one and trying to start a freelance career, but hoping to make the trip over in 2025, and hoping to get a TJW get together sorted.

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One more thing. You are dead-on about the mental parts of ACL recovery. For my book, Emerson Boozer related the story of how Joe Namath all but forced him to trust recovery from his multiple knee (experimental, may I add) surgeries during the 1967 regular season. In week 8 of 1967, Boozer was on his way to breaking Gale Sayers' single season TD (rushing and receiving) record when he tore up his knee. Back to my Boozer-Namath story: In the first home game of '68 and the Jets trailing San Diego, on the final drive Joe had them inside the 5 and called a play requiring Boozer to make a sharp cut. Boozer (everyone called him that--not Emerson) told Joe to call another play in the huddle; Joe did, then went to the line and audibled the original play calling on Boozer. The Jets ran the play, Boozer took the handoff and vaulted over the line for the winning TD. Running off the field, Boozer asked Namath why he did that and Joe told him it was the proper call in that situation. Boozer's worries about his recovery significantly dropped, although it must be pointed out that he was never the tackle-breaking, elusive threat he had been before. Still, a great, all-purpose back--much better post-surgery than before (a particularly better run- and pass-blocker than before).

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That's such a great story and shows the leadership quality of Namath. It would have been easy to call a different play there but instead he forced Boozer to trust in his knee, he may not have been the same guy after that, but it sounds like this incident at least helped him clear one mental hurdle.

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I actually spoke to Emerson Boozer about that injury when I went to the grand opening of the Jets Shop at 34th Street all those years ago. I had watched the game against the Chiefs when he got hurt that year (you actually had to see him play pre-injury to get an idea of how good he really was, he would have broken Gale Sayers TD record for sure) and I asked him how he was able to bring himself back to being a quality running back in all phases of the game. He first said he very lucky to have Dr. Nicholas at Lenox Hill do his surgery, and then he said his teammates helped him greatly to keep positive and not lose his faith about playing again. He was a very humble and good man. I met so many great players that day, it was amazing.

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Great story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

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Thanks for the usual great job of analysis and information, David. You always come through for us. We'll see what things look like once training camp starts, but I think the jets will be cautious with Hall at the beginning just to be sure. It's better to be safe than stupid in a case like this.

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I agree probably easing him back in - may not see the hall we saw until late in the year. However, we a great RB room. No word on Q Williams ?

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Nothing on Q yet. I do wonder if they're trying to sort the Rodgers contract first, and when that one is re-negotiated, they can concentrate on Q and making sure all the pieces fit together

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Good morning Jet fans. This is an excellent look at a great topic for Jet fans. I’m seeing a lot of doom and gloom regarding the Breece Hall projections. I’m also reading reports that are saying that Breece is actually ahead of schedule and feeling great. Either way we look at it it’s just talk at this point. Easing him back makes sense to me. It’s a long season. The key for me is getting him through a full season and having him available for the playoffs!

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Not interested in focusing on 1,000 yards, looking to but Breece on a restrictive pitch count, at least for the first seven games, it’s a long season. Michael Carter will have a bounce back season and Bam Knight will get an opportunity. Second half of the season it will be Breece & Izzy, Jets will be a running team. Very curious why John Johnson a 8-10 million dollar Safety is still available, there are reasons. Johnson is a great fit For Saleh’s defense, an experienced, versatile Safety with good coverage skills and a very reliable tackler. Jets have CAP issues, as do most teams, the AR contract needs to get done. After Rogers, the Jets will still need to do additional housekeeping, but a deal for Johnson could be achieved by cutting Jordan Whitehead, which could be close to CAP neutral. I’m a big Tony Adams fan, but Tony hasn’t played many games, it’s early but durability could be an issue with Tony. Signing Johnson to a front loaded three year deal could be prudent.

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The biggest issue on returning from any injury is the mental issue. With ACLs planting the foot and turning or planting the foot waiting to get hit.

The fact Petersen was hurt in December and was ready to go in September is amazing. Hall was hurt October 23, so basically has a 1 1/2 month jump on Petersens schedule.

One stat barely used in regards to running backs is yards per game.

With a 14 game schedule a running back must reach 71.4 yards a game to attain 1,000 yard season

62.5 for a 16 game schedule and 58.8 with a 17 game schedule.

With Breece coming back healthy and a healthy AR, that goal is attainable.

Partly based on last year, the Jet roster breakdown should/ could be

Quarterback. 2

Running back. 4

Fullback. ?

Wide receiver. 6

Tight end. 4

Off. Line. 10

Special teams. 3

Offensively. 29 spots

Defensive line. 10

Leaving 14 for linebackers, safeties and corners. Versatility a big factor here.

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I agree regarding Peterson's return from injury and level of play.

I seriously doubt that the Jets will be able to keep either 10 OL or 10 DL. Last year they kept only 8 OL. At best, I think they'll only keep 9 OL because of the versatility that they now have. I think the same thing will happen with the DL. Saleh and Ulbrich will want to keep 10, but I don't see anyway that they can do that. The numbers are just going to be too tight, and that doesn't leave enough players (14) for the LBs, Ss, and CBs. I think the numbers will be more evenly balanced between offense and defense. I think it could very well be 25 and 25. I don't think we'll see a FB this season. They'll use one of the TEs or maybe even experiment with using Al Woods or another OL/DL as the FB in short yardage situations. I think it will be interesting to see whether the Jets will keep 3 QBs or just 2. I could see them going either way. I think they'll have a hard time keeping 4 TEs. They will wind up losing a defensive player they want if they do that.

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Mike, when I interviewed him, he was reticent to speak with me UNTIL I focused on that injury and the torture and hundreds of hours of work that it took to rehabilitate himself. Ironically, another Jets RB, Billy Joe, underwent the identical surgery with Dr. Nicholas in 1968, but his knee never fully recovered...so he went on to become the 2nd winningest HC in black college football (behind only Grambling's Eddie Robinson). Hey, everybody, if you are interested in what I shared here, I invite you to check out "Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football" It's actually about the 44 Jets SB players not-named-Namath, 6 coaches and ownership group. Guarantee you will love it (or I will refund your money)!

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Thanks, David. As always, great information in the "Quick Throws" section, and then on ACL injuries for RBs. It's this kind or reporting that made me subscribe.

I'm glad that JD realized that he made a mistake in the way he handled Zach. I hope that he also realized that he made a mistake in allowing Saleh to hire MLF (a rookie OC) along with a rookie QB Coach. Even though Greg Knapp was supposed to be there, I'm not sure that would have made the situation markedly better.

I didn't realize that OBJ was that close to becoming a Jets. I'm glad that things didn't work out. I never wanted him except when he was in the draft. Once I saw his me-first attitude and selfish play, I wanted no part of him.

Congrats to Todd Bowles. I'm happy for him.

I'm loathe to believe or accept anything that PFF says or recommends. I don't keep up with other teams or their players, but I googled him and he looks like a good player. As someone here said in their comment, there must be a reason he hasn't signed with anyone. Is he asking for too much money? Does he have legal/character issues? Is he injured? If not, and there's nothing else wrong,

I hope that Jets will sign him once they finalize Rodgers' contract.

Great info on the ACL injury for RBs. That must have taken a lot of research/work to find all of that. Thanks! Hopefully, the fact that Breece is only 21 will be in his favor in addition to the injury happening earlier in the season. For his sake, as well as the Jets (and ours!), I hope that he will bounce back like Peterson and Cook and suffer no long-lasting effects from the injury. Like others, I believe the Jets will ease him into action.

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Agreed, and it was for the good of the team!

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that would be great, meeting you and other TJW fans. I think one of the guys who posts here is close by to me; I'm in Connecticut.

CGVet58

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Thank you for this intensive examination of ACL recovery. It's why, I think, the Jets were reportedly eyeing the RB in the first round. I will be surprised if they don't acquire a somewhat elusive runner before or during training camp. Hope for the best for Breese, but expect something short of what we loved only one year ago.

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The Jets already added an elusive runner in the draft in Izzy Abanikanda. RB is the easiest position for a rookie to come in and play at a high level day 1. They don't have the draft capital to acquire a RB, and they will only be able to keep 4. I seriously doubt that they'd dump either Carter or Knight to add another RB. The only way I see them acquiring another RB is if Breece's recovery suffers a major setback or one of the other RBs get seriously injured. Even then, the Jets would probably have to trade a player or players at other positions unless another team had a glut of RBs and was looking to dump one. Then maybe they could trade a 4th or 5th for one.

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