The J.J. McCarthy Question

Edition #772

☀️ Good morning! 🥂

First of all I want to wish every single TJW subscriber a very Happy New Year! Hopefully this year is filled with health, happiness and success for everyone including our New York Jets.

We can only live in perpetual hope that the Jets get the big decisions right. That’s no guarantee with Woody Johnson in charge but "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies".

Today, we talk J.J. McCarthy.

🟢 The Jets announced a number of roster moves last night. Newly signed Phidarian Mathis & LB Jamin Davis headed to the active roster, they signed OL David Sharpe to practice squad, K Greg Zuerlein & S Chuck Clark were placed on IR. They also released K Anders Carlson and signed K Greg Joseph to the active roster.

⚫ It’s been confirmed that former Panthers and Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera will interview with the Jets tomorrow, Thursday 2nd of January.

🟢 There was an interesting note from Dane Brugler on Penn State QB Drew Allar who already confirmed he was returning to college in 2025 - “I know Drew Allar "intends" to return to Penn St. in 2025. But... There are several NFL GMs who believe Allar could enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a strong playoff run. Teams are still heavily scouting him for the 2025 class.” - Just one to keep an eye on.

⚫ Jeff Ulbrich believes the Jets have a lot to play for in Sunday’s finale against Miami - "I think some guys really get motivated by all sorts of things," interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said. "Being the spoiler or whatever the case may be. I'm going to say this a million times before the week is over, but we still have a ton to play for, regardless of context, of the score, the record, any of that stuff. We still get to demonstrate exactly who we are. Not just to honor this team, this organization, these relationships that we've made here, but also to honor ourselves."

🟢 Here’s something Ulbrich said that I completely agree: "He is still absolutely affecting quarterbacks," IHC Jeff Ulbrich said. "I know the sack numbers haven't necessarily been what he's wanted, and that's not always indicative of a pass rusher you know. He has gotten the quarterback consistently off the spot, he's consistently going against the best tackle, the left tackle, on the offense, and he's consistently winning, and that's all a byproduct of this process that we spoke of before regarding him, especially this offseason, but throughout this season I've really found him find a real, defined process, which is always, that's a big transition from year one to two."

⚫ PFF released some season-long statistical and it won’t shock you to see the Jets were below average both offensively and defensively.

🟢 Some Jets fans online had an issue with D.J. Reed making the following comment and I don’t understand why - “I definitely want to go into free agency, and it’s not because I don’t want to be a New York Jet. I definitely want to be a New York Jet, but I feel like they had the whole offseason, and even throughout the season, to extend it, and they didn’t. I feel like for me, personally, it would be best to go into free agency and see what’s out there.” Why would you not want to test free agency? Especially after the team your playing for didn’t even extend you an offer. Reed has been one of our most consistent players for the last couple years, he’ll leave in March and I don’t blame him at all.

This weekend the playoff bound Minnesota Vikings will be heading to Detroit to face the Lions for the #1 seed in the NFC.