Tag: Darryl Roberts

Jets secondary vulnerable against Dolphins with key pieces missing

The Jets secondary will be vulnerable to the Dolphins this Sunday as they’re missing a ton of key pieces.

The Jets secondary is as depleted as it has ever been this season.

New York will likely be without its star safety Jamal Adams due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, both Brian Poole (concussion) and Arthur Maulet (calf) are trending towards being out as well. That means the Jets will have only two members of their secondary playing in Sunday’s game that started in Week 1 in Marcus Maye and Darryl Roberts.

In other words, the unit is looking extremely vulnerable heading into Week 14.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has already coached up this defense to be respectable, but this might be his biggest challenge yet.

“He’ll have to get creative this week, which I’m sure he doesn’t mind,”Adam Gase said of Williams.

We could be seeing multiple players playing in different positions on Sunday. With Adams out, Roberts could see some time at safety as he played at that position for five games last season. As for the slot, Nate Hairston will have to play on the inside. To replace Maulet, the Jets will have to slide Maurice Canady to the outside. It’s not an ideal situation, but there’s not much else they can do to fix this.

“You have to have the contingency plans of what if somebody goes out, how are we shuffling things around,” Gase said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are going to be responsible for playing a few different positions.”

The last time the Dolphins faced the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns in a win. That was when New York’s secondary was considered healthy. Since that game, Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 300 yards twice and wide receiver DeVante Parker has had over 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games. If Fitzpatrick and the rest of the Dolphins continue to play the way they have lately, the Jets’ defense will be in deep trouble.

“They’re throwing the ball, which I’m sure [Fitzpatrick] loves,” Gase said. “He had a good game last week. The last time we played him, we struggled to get him to turn the ball over and create enough pressure to make him uncomfortable. That’s the number one thing when you’re playing Fitzy is you’ve got to try to get to him, you’ve got to try to get him to make some mistakes and put pressure on him and make some of those throws tough.”

Jets vs. Bengals inactives: Darryl Roberts returns, Chuma Edoga sits out

Jets vs. Bengals inactives report for Week 13.

The Jets welcome back some depth at cornerback on Sunday, as Darryl Roberts is returning to the field following a three-game absence due to a calf injury.

While Roberts was injured, Arthur Maulet and Bless Austin stepped up as a solid cornerback duo, meaning Roberts is unlikely to assume a starting spot upon his return. Regardless, the veteran will have the chance to make some plays whenever defensive coordinator Gregg Williams deems it necessary to put him on the field.

As one injured Jet returns, another is forced to sit out. Chuma Edoga will miss Sunday’s game due to a knee injury suffered against the Raiders last weekend.

Prior to the injury, Edoga had turned the corner at right tackle after a rough start to his career. Brandon Shell will assume his spot in the starting lineup until he can return.

As for the Bengals, they’re still without star wideout A.J. Green. Quarterback Ryan Finley is active despite his benching and will serve as Andy Dalton’s backup in Week 13.

Jets vs. Bengals: A chance at 4 straight, Darryl Roberts’ return among pregame storylines

Jets Wire breaks down Gang Green’s Week 13 matchup with the Bengals by taking a look at four pregame storylines to keep an eye on.

It’s hard to believe the Jets will have a chance at their fourth win in a row against the Bengals on Sunday considering where the team was less than a month ago.

With three consecutive wins in its back pocket, New York has climbed out of the conference basement to nearly return to respectability. A win over Cincinnati in Week 13 would give the Jets a 5-7 record — a far cry from the 1-7 mark the team possessed four weeks ago.

What should Jets fans be aware of before Gang Green takes the field this weekend? Let’s take a look at some pregame storylines to keep an eye on.

Can the Jets make it 4 in a row?

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

The Jets are finally playing the way everyone expected them to entering 2019.

Albeit against underwhelming competition, New York has put together three consecutive dominant performances. The Jets have outscored opponents 102-47 over that span and have left no doubt with each of their last three victories.

New York has a real chance to make it four in a row against a winless Bengals squad. It would be very Jets to lose this game, but odds are that isn’t going to happen.

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Jets-Bengals special teams battle among things to know in Week 13

Special teams and field position could play a huge role in the Jets’ Week 13 game against the Bengals.

The Jets and Bengals are heading in opposite directions. With every win, the Jets move closer to a record that takes them out of running for the best draft prospects but closer to competency in the AFC. The Bengals, though, look destined for the top pick in April and an unknown future in 2020.

The Week 13 matchup, then, is a crossroads for the two teams. The Jets can prove their win streak isn’t a fluke – despite it coming against the 0-11 Bengals – while the Bengals can prove how dedicated they are – or not, if they win – to tanking. Whichever outcome occurs won’t affect the AFC playoff picture in any real way, but it could play a huge role in the futures of the Jets and Bengals.

Here are four things to know for the Week 13 matchup.

(Emilee Chinn-Getty Images)

Battle of special teams

Special teams and field position can be critical components to a football game and Week 13 pits two teams with great units against each other. The Bengals rank first in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA, while the Jets rank third. 

Once again, Brant Boyer turned the Jets into one of the better special teams units in the league, and the Jets rank first in kick coverage DVOA. But the Bengals, meanwhile, are first in kick return DVOA and average 28.9 yards per kickoff return – second in the league. On punts, the Jets average the second-most yards per return (10.1) while the Bengals allow the fifth-fewest yards per return (5.3). Special teams may seem boring, but it could very easily swing this game one direction or another.

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Darryl Roberts shouldn’t sniff starting lineup in return against Bengals

Jets Wire breaks down why Darryl Roberts’ return to the field against the Bengals shouldn’t mean his return to the starting lineup.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That’s the approach defensive coordinator Gregg Williams should take when deciding Darryl Roberts’ role against the Bengals in Week 13.

Roberts is set to return to the field against Cincinnati after missing New York’s last three games with a calf injury. As Roberts sat out, rookie Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet stepped up and established themselves as a formidable cornerback duo, bringing stability to a unit that has struggled mightily in 2019.

Now, Williams has a decision to make. Does he insert Roberts back into the starting lineup? Or, does he ride the hot hand and leave both Austin and Maulet in prominent roles?

Frankly, this shouldn’t be too tough of a call for the veteran defensive coordinator. Austin and Maulet have been producing at prolific levels. Austin limited his assignment to only three catches for 32 yards against the Raiders last weekend. Maulet kept everything in front of him, allowing six receptions for a mere 32 yards. Granted, the competition hasn’t been great, but there’s no reason to shake things up and disrupt a duo that has been nothing but solid the past three weeks.

Making this an even easier decision for Williams is how poorly Roberts has played this season. The Jets gave the converted safety a three-year, $18 million contract this offseason to keep him in the Big Apple. All the 29-year-old has done in return is prove why he didn’t start his career as a cornerback, getting burned by opposing wideouts with regularity. His antics haven’t helped his standing with the fanbase, either.

Roberts is on his way to becoming a salary cap casualty in the offseason. Austin and Maulet are trending toward being key pieces in the secondary moving forward. Why would Williams not only go away from what’s working for his defense, but pull a player with the potential to be a contributor for the long run in favor of one who is likely to get cut in a couple of months?

Williams’ decision on Roberts shouldn’t focus on whether or not he should return to the starting lineup. It should focus on whether he deserves any sort of playing time at all. There’s really no sense in playing a cornerback who gets cooked more often than not, especially in favor of players who do their job and help New York’s defense thrive.

Jets vs. Raiders inactives: No surprises for New York in Week 12

Jets vs. Raiders inactives report for Week 12.

The Jets are relatively healthy heading into their Week 12 showdown with the Oakland Raiders.

No surprises popped up on New York’s inactives report on Sunday, as offensive linemen Chuma Edoga and Kelvin Beachum will suit up as expected despite being listed as questionable throughout the week. The same applies to Henry Anderson, Brandon Copeland, Neville Hewitt, Alex Lewis, Steve McLendon and Demaryius Thomas.

Darryl Roberts, Mathias Farley, Paul Worrilow and C.J. Mosley are all out as expected.

Sunday marks Roberts’ third consecutive missed game while, special teams ace Farley misses his first of the season and Worrilow remains on the sideline as he works his way back into shape.

As for the Raiders, they’ll be without starting cornerback/safety hybrid Lamarcus Joyner. Joyner made the trip to New York with the team, but will ultimately miss his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. Oakland is also without offensive lineman David Sharpe, who was ruled out early in the week with a calf injury.

Adam Gase unsure if C.J. Mosley will return

Jets head coach Adam Gase is not sure if C.J. Mosley will play again this season.

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Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley might not be back on the football field until 2020.

Adam Gase spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked what Mosley’s status is for the rest of the season. Gase said he doesn’t really have an answer to that and that Mosley is going through the process of his rehab. The initial diagnosis was that Mosley would be out at least six weeks, but groin injuries are tricky. He suffered this injury back in Week 1 and tried coming back in Week 7, but ultimately re-injured his groin.

In other injury news, both Chuma Edoga (ankle/knee) and Darryl Roberts (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. Kelvin Beachum (ankle) was limited.

Jets injury report: Le’Veon Bell returns on limited basis

Le’Veon Bell (ribs/knee) was back on a limited basis at practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s practice with an illness.

Le’Veon Bell sat out of Wednesday’s practice with an illness, but he was back on Thursday.

Adam Gase said that Bell, who has also been listed with rib and knee issues, is expected to take part in practice Thursday on a limited basis.

In his first season with the Jets, Bell has dealt with multiple aliments, rushing behind a makeshift offensive line in his first season back after sitting out the entire 2018 season. Bell has gone for multiple MRIs this season, one on his shoulder and the other on his knee.

Additionally, LB Brandon Copeland (hip), CB Darryl Roberts (calf) and Ryan Kalil (knee) did not practice on Thursday.

Neither Roberts nor Kalil played vs. the Giants, but the Jets are hoping to have Copeland on Sunday. The Jets have already lost five inside linebackers to injuries this season, so Paul Worrilow and B.J. Bello would be the next men up.

Jets should take a look at former Buccaneers CB Vernon Hargreaves

The Jets need cornerback help, and 2016 first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves could be the answer.

With the Jets woefully thin at cornerback, New York should take a look at the recently-released Vernon Hargreaves III to fill a position riddled by injury and poor play.

Hargreaves could be a low-risk, high-reward move by the Jets considering his youth and potential. The former 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft only recently turned 24 and was one of the top prospects coming out of Florida just three years ago. He opened his career with a stellar rookie season with the Buccaneers (76 tackles, nine passes defended and one interception), but injuries plagued Hargreaves the past two seasons and he was ultimately cut after a brutal beginning to 2019.

Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers were dismayed by Hargreaves’ lack of enthusiasm and effort this season, culminating in Arians benching Hargreaves after he didn’t hustle on a 55-yard pass play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10.

“He didn’t look like he was hustling to go in for a tackle,” Arians said of the play. “He was chasing somebody across the field, and he wasn’t running fast enough.”

Hargreaves, to his credit, didn’t back down from the criticism. He took full responsibility after the game for any perceived concerns about his effort.

“If that’s what coach saw that’s what he saw,” he said. “There’s no arguing with that – I need to hustle. Point blank. End of discussion.”

Hargreaves’ production has dropped off considerably since his rookie season and he has major injury issues – he missed all but one game in 2018 with a shoulder injury and seven games in 2017 with a hamstring injury. His 2019 hasn’t been much better, as he’s allowed a 111.9 passer rating when targeted (51st among cornerbacks), 12.3 yards per reception (37th), 5.7 receptions per game (77th), a catch rate of 63.8 percent (49th) and burned on 3.8 percent of his targets (71st), per PlayerProfiler.com. 

Those numbers are all terrible. Sadly, they’re also better than every other Jets cornerback other than Brian Poole, who plays 61 percent of his snaps in the slot.

The Jets need a player like Hargreaves to play on the outside, especially if Darryl Roberts can’t play. With Roberts hobbled by a calf injury and Trumaine Johnson on injured reserve, the only healthy cornerbacks the Jets have on the roster are Poole, Nate Hairston (who was benched in the second quarter of Sunday’s game), sixth-round rookie Bless Austin, and undrafted rookies Arthur Maulet and Kyron Brown. Austin played well for the Jets in his first game of the year, but he can’t be expected to fix a Jets secondary that’s been leaky all season.

Hargreaves won’t be a game-changer for the Jets, but he’ll be an infusion of young talent in a depleted secondary. He’ll also be looking to prove himself in search of another contract. The Buccaneers picked up Hargreaves’ $9.954 million fifth-year option this offseason, but it’s only guaranteed for injury. If the Jets claim him, they could easily try him out for a few games and see how he fares in the offseason before committing to that price tag for the 2020 season. 

Hargreaves also has a few former teammates on the Jets – Poole and safety Marcus Maye both played with Hargreaves in Gainesville in 2015. 

The Jets are grasping at straws in the secondary right now. Hargreaves isn’t the player many expected him to be after his rookie season, but he’s young and experienced and could be a short-term solution for the Jets defense heading into the back-half of its schedule.