Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Passing Game vs. New York Jets? Offensive Line Injuries, Keys to Victory

Starting point is 00:00:00 The New England Patriots passing game must come alive for them to gain victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night. Can they overcome a recent rash of injuries to do it? You're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome Jets fans and Patriots fans. I'm Jon Buchko, the host of Locked On Jets, along with Mike DeBate, the host of Locked On Patriots. It's crossover Thursday here on the Locked On Podcast Network.

Starting point is 00:00:36 And it's a game day as the Jets will face the New England Patriots tonight on Thursday Night Football. It is the Jets' home opener, a bit of an unusual home opener for it to be week three on Thursday Night Football. It is the Jets' home opener, a bit of an unusual home opener for it to be week three on Thursday Night Football. Of course, they're facing their bitter rival, the New England Patriots. And as I mentioned, I'm joined by my good friend Mike DeBate of Locked On Patriots. You should know that Crossover Thursday, like all Crossover Thursdays, is presented by PrizePix. Go to prizepix.com slash Locked NFL and use code all lowercase locked on NFL

Starting point is 00:01:05 to win $50 instantly when you play $5. Well, Mike, great to be with you as always. We do this twice a year. It's always one of my favorite shows to do, Jets and Patriots. Absolutely, John. It's always great sharing the microphone with you. Always an honor, my friend. And this is going to be a lot of fun.

Starting point is 00:01:21 This is a crossover I think we expected to have last year. The Jets coming in pretty much at full strength. The Patriots still trying to build, whatever that may be. This one's going to be a fun one, the green side of the Meadowlands on Thursday night. Errol, let's talk about that process for the Patriots. What's the biggest story for the New England Patriots on offense entering this Week 3 game? Well, conventional wisdom would tell you that it would be the passing game. It be the quarterbacks whether or not the rookie drake may is being held beyond his will and jacoby brissett is coming in and trying to take away reps from the patriots shiny

Starting point is 00:01:54 new toy but honestly john the biggest story on offense for the new england patriots right now is injuries and unfortunately the injury bug has hit the Patriots' artist in their weakest position, which is left tackle. Left tackle for Darian Lowe, the starter, will be out for Thursday night's game with a knee injury. That's one to monitor for the Patriots moving forward. Of course, Siddy So has an ankle injury. He's their starting left guard.

Starting point is 00:02:18 He's going to be out as well. So now you're looking at a starting left side for the New England Patriots of Michael Jordan, who was just signed to the Patriots 53-man roster. No relation to his earnest. And of course, someone that was on the practice squad to begin the season and rookie left tackle Caden Wallace from Penn State, who played primarily right tackle last year. So it's going to be interesting to see if the Patriots can battle through those injuries to make this one

Starting point is 00:02:45 a competitive game because they're having difficulty moving the ball especially in the game it's going to be a lot more difficult especially with that fearsome Jets defensive front if they can't provide Jacoby Brissett any protection. It's interesting you mentioned that because unfortunately for the Jets the fearsome defensive front became a little bit less fearsome last week as Jermaine Johnson suffered a season-ending injury. He ruptured his Achilles tendon, which unfortunately for the Jets is an injury they've come to know all too well the last two years. Obviously Aaron Rodgers was the biggest example of that last year,

Starting point is 00:03:17 but they also lost Elijah Vera Tucker to a torn Achilles. And even a rotational defensive tackle last year al woods suffered an achilles injury and as you as most people know right now the jet that's not the only defensive end the jets are down hassan reddick who was a big acquisition this offseason has yet to play and there's no sign that he'll be on the team anytime soon because he's holding out so this uh defensive end spot you know the top the guys who are supposed to be the top two guys they's holding out so this uh defensive end spot you know the top the guys who are supposed to be the top two guys they're both out of this game a lot of it i think is going to fall to will mcdonald uh second year a guy out of iowa state he was a first round pick

Starting point is 00:03:54 last year he registered three sacks against the tennessee titans but little context the first sack was a play where he was kind of a spy on a third down. The second was a play, if you didn't see it, I can only describe it as a play where Will Levis rolled the ball to the other team, rolled the ball to the Jets. And I still can't – you just have to watch this play. And McDonald was the closest player, so they gave him a sack. The third sack was he beat the tackle. So it was a good game for McDonald,

Starting point is 00:04:21 not quite as good as the stats she would indicate. But this Jets defensive end position is not what you're used to if you watch this team the last couple of years. Yeah, without any question. And I think that's going to be something that the Patriots are going to try to exploit, especially if they're trying to get their passing game going. The New England Patriots have run the ball very effectively throughout the first two games from Andre Stevenson, looking like their feature Stevenson looking like their feature back looking like a top back in this league maybe top 10 even uh with the job that he's done running the ball in the first two games Antonio Gibson the free agent acquisition

Starting point is 00:04:54 they got from the Washington Commanders in the offseason has come in and been a solid complimentary piece rushed for 96 yards in a loss against the Seattle Seahawks also showing that he can receive the ball out of the backfield. But the Patriots have yet to meld that running game into play-action success. This team has been very reticent to push that envelope and to utilize the run to force play-action and take some deep shots down the field. Now, there are some reasons for that. Obviously, Jacoby Brissett has been very reticent to push the ball

Starting point is 00:05:24 because he doesn't want to turn it over he wants to protect it turnovers for this team are going to be doubly costly especially with all of the injuries and the problems they have on the offensive line so they're trying to manage the game not to lose it at the same time if you become too conservative it does give you difficulty and it does give you pause so knowing that there may be some cracks some fissures in that Jets defensive front and that Jets defense Patriots may be wise to try to exploit that a little bit so it wouldn't surprise me to see them come out aggressive in this game something they have yet to do offensively in the first two games. All right Mike let's turn our attention to the other side of the ball what's the big story for the Patriots on defense heading into this one? Unfortunately it's also injury John, John, and it is the season-ending injury,

Starting point is 00:06:09 or at least what we believe to be the season-ending injury, to linebacker Juwan Bentley. Look, Juwan is not someone that's going to show up on the highlight reel. He's someone that simply does his job in the middle of that defense, anchors the front, anchors the back, and makes sure that everybody is where they need to be. He's the lead communicator. He wears the green dot. He's telling everybody where they need to be and calling the plays.

Starting point is 00:06:30 Juwan is also one of the most vocal and most respected leaders in that locker room. He suffered a torn pectoral and is going to be gone most likely for the remainder of the season. So not only are the Patriots missing a key part of their backbone, their heart and soul, but they're missing a guy that right now totaled 12 tackles in just a game and maybe a little bit under a quarter that he played last Sunday against the Seahawks when he suffered the injury. But they're also dealing with the loss of someone that really is a heart and soul member of that team. So right now, the New England Patriots are going to struggle to try to

Starting point is 00:07:05 make up for that. Raekwon McMillan is someone who played a good amount of snaps. I look for him to increase his total. Jelani Tavai, I think, is going to take a step up and play a little bit more off the ball. Kyle Duggar will most likely be the wearer of that green dot. He'll be the one calling the plays. He's done it before before Patriots prefer to use the linebacker in that situation but Kyle plays the game like one he's up at the line of scrimmage he'll do just fine in that regard but as I said yesterday on locked on Patriots it's going to take a team of players going to be able to replace what Juwan Bentley gave you in New England so that to me is the biggest storyline can the Patriots find a solid

Starting point is 00:07:45 compliment to Keon White at the pass rush and in pass defense, obviously in the secondary Christian Gonzalez, they need someone to step up and be that third guy that can be a reliable force. And I think, you know, something you mentioned that kind of jumped out to me is just having a guy who makes sure everybody's lined up correctly, because feels weird to say this but the jets actually do have a quarterback who now can figure out what's going on at the line of scrimmage and adjust the play accordingly in aaron rogers i think that one of the things that's um that kind of sets rogers apart is that you know and i'm comparing with zach wilson um but last year if zach wilson you know saw that the other team was playing a too high look and there was a pass play. He could check to a run.

Starting point is 00:08:27 Rodgers takes it to another level. Rodgers can just adjust a route. I mean, there was a play against the Tennessee Titans where it was a third down play and the Titans' coverage was very soft. He just threw Alan Lazard to the sticks. He saw that the coverage of the Titans just gave Lazard too much cushion. So he just signaled to Lazard, break off your route, just run to the sticks. I'll get it to you. So, again, it feels weird to say this about a Jets quarterback. It's been so long since the Jets had a quarterback who knew where the ball needed to go when he saw a breakdown on the defensive side of the ball.

Starting point is 00:08:58 But I think losing a guy who makes sure everybody's in the right spot, this is a Jets team that for once can actually take advantage of that. Absolutely. And again, the Patriots have to be very weary of that because when you're dealing with a Jets team now that has the ability to be able to push the ball, to be able to utilize the strength of the quarterback position to its full might, that's a very scary situation for New England right now

Starting point is 00:09:23 who is missing a huge part of what this team loves to do, not just in pass defense, but also in run defense. That's why the loss of someone like Juwan Bentley is so costly for the New England Patriots. That's definitely not the news Pats fans wanted heading into this short rest matchup with a team that's primed and looks to be ready for the challenge on both sides of the ball. All right. Well, that's the Patriots report ahead here on this crossover. Thursday edition of lockdown jets and lockdown Patriots. We're going to take a look at the team from New York and there's a

Starting point is 00:09:54 quarterback we just mentioned. Who's part of the top story for the jets on offense. We'll get to that continuing here on this crossover Thursday edition of lockdown jets and lockdown Patriots here on the lockdown podcast network. All right. And our episode today of Locked On Jets and Locked On Patriots is brought to you by Arena Club. For those who like collecting cards, the idea of spending two grand or more on a Mahomes card just isn't in the cards. You may like collecting, but that's some serious money to drop. Well, thanks to Slab Packs from arenaclub.com. Now it's possible to score gem mints for a fraction of their retail price. Every card was from last week's arena club slab pack drop. Arena club is the only repack that provides real value, a complete view of all possible cards and a clear hit rate for each one. Arena club slab packs are revolutionizing the repack game with transparency. After your polls are revealed, they'll immediately be placed in your showroom

Starting point is 00:10:45 for safekeeping, selling, trading, or auction. The Arena Club grading process is accurate, fast, and transparent with a full grade rationale provided and explanation of how your card was scored. Whether you're buying, selling, trading, or displaying, Arena Club is the card collecting platform you've got to check out. And right now you can get 10% off your first slab pack

Starting point is 00:11:02 or card purchase by going to arenaclub.com slash lockdown NFL and use code lockdown NFL. That's arenaclub.com slash lockdown NFL code lockdown NFL. It's one word, no space L O C K E D O N NFL for 10% off your first purchase. It's crossover Thursday here on the lockdown podcast network and it's game day. The Jets and Patriots will play tonight at MetLife Stadium. It's actually the Jets' home opener, a rare Thursday night, week three game, where a team opens its home schedule.

Starting point is 00:11:31 I'm Jon Butchko, along with Mike DeBate. I host Locked On Jets. Mike hosts Locked On Patriots. We've talked about the big stories surrounding the New England Patriots. Now let's talk about the big stories around the New York Jets. And Mike, on offense, I think the big story is more of a question. Did the Jets find a bit of an offensive identity week two against the Tennessee Titans? Week one, things did not go so well.

Starting point is 00:11:54 Week two, things were off to an awful start. First three drives, the Jets did nothing with the ball. Then they made an adjustment. They started spreading the field. They started going to a bunch of empty formations. And that kind of got things going for them. They ended up scoring three touchdowns in the final two and a half quarters of the game and it just felt like aaron rogers became more comfortable i mean you know the first

Starting point is 00:12:14 five five and a half quarters of the season jets were very run heavy lots of first down runs lots of second down runs they started spreading the field they started putting the ball in rogers's hands and this is i think this is kind of like a new normal for Aaron Rodgers. This is not the guy you saw in Green Bay. Let me give you a stat, Mike. Aaron Rodgers right now, when he releases the ball in less than two and a half seconds, has the fourth highest passer rating in the league. When he holds the ball for more than two and a half seconds, he has the fourth lowest passer rating in the league. And the only guys behind him are Bryce Young, who who was benched and then two rookies caleb williams and bo nicks um and i think that like the film kind of tells the story on this rogers is still as smart as ever he can

Starting point is 00:12:53 decipher what's wrong and if a defense has messed something up as we talked about he can he can figure out what they're doing he can adjust the play accordingly he can get the ball where it needs to go what he doesn't have is that ability to extend plays that made them so lethal in green bay that made him so you know when he was under pressure he could break right or break left 40 years old coming off an achilles injury he doesn't have that anymore you could tell that you like he's still trying to figure it out he's still trying to adjust because he can't run as well as he used to and he's looked very shaky when he's held the ball for longer for longer than two and a half seconds and his footwork kind of falls apart his throws are off target maybe that's something that gets better as he gets used to being confined to the pocket more frequently but you know another

Starting point is 00:13:33 stat for you is that only seven percent of his passes have gone have been for 20 20 travel 20 yards or more in the air usually if you look at his green bay numbers it's thrown deep around double that and even like a lot of the deep balls he threw there was a touchdown to breese hall in the third quarter of that game there was a clutch throw to mike williams on his second 16 in the fourth quarter that turned into the game-winning drive those were decisions he made early in the play where he liked the matchup and he went after them this is not a guy this is not the guy who you saw in green bay so kind of a new normal for rogers i think the question is the Jets maybe find something with like the quick strike offense with the spreading the field against Tennessee? Oh,

Starting point is 00:14:08 I absolutely believe they did. And I think Aaron Rodgers looked very comfortable in the spread offense and he started to utilize his pass catchers. And you mentioned Brees Hall. This is a guy that I think New England is going to very much zero in on, and they're going to have to be accounting for him on every snap, every every time that ball is touched you want to know what he's going to be able to do with it um hall sometimes gets matched up with a linebacker i think the patriots may actually put a coverage safety on him they've done that in the past that's a hallmark of a bill belichick type defense gerard mayo is a belichick disciple a lot of people say oh he's doing everything different he's doing everything new but there are a lot of Belichickian elements still remaining in this defense. And I

Starting point is 00:14:48 think that's exactly how the Patriots may try to counter it. But Rodgers loves to attack defenses, loves to throw vertical routes against single coverage when he likes that matchup. And if the Patriots give him those looks, he's going to be able to tee off on it because of the comfort now and the confidence with which he's playing. Once again, this to me is going to be able to tee off on it because of the comfort now and the confidence with which he's playing once again. This, to me, is going to be a very key matchup and a very key situation for both sides to watch. Who wins this battle? Whoever comes out on top of this particular chess match may have the upper hand in this matchup, John. And on the defensive side of the ball, it's about playing stout up front. I mean, I can't think of another way to put it.

Starting point is 00:15:26 The Jets in week one got run all over by the San Francisco 49ers. Week two, the Titans got off to a good start on the ground. The Jets actually played much stouter run defense as that game progressed. And you can look at the statistics. It looks like the Jets gave up a lot of rushing yards. It looks like the Titans had a good average per carry. But look at what the running backs did. A lot of that was kind of padded because will levis had some scrambles um i gotta tell you

Starting point is 00:15:50 mike from watching the film i did not think the jets defensive line played a great game against the run but i think the difference was quincy williams we like whenever somebody lost it lost their gap integrity on the defensive line quincy williams was there to cover he was a first team all pro last year had a bit of a rough week one. He had a huge week two, and I think that was one of the things that helped guide the Jets. Another guy who stepped up was another linebacker, Jamie Insherwood, a fourth-year guy out of Auburn who converted safety from college.

Starting point is 00:16:17 C.J. Mosley went down in that game with a toe injury. It's not clear whether Mosley's going to play. In fact, if you look at the injury report, he hasn't practiced yet this week. It might not be happening for C.J. Mosley's going to play. In fact, look at the injury report. He hasn't practiced yet this week. It might not be happening for C.J. Mosley. Jamie and Sherwood led the Jets with 12 tackles in Week 2 against Tennessee. He adds, as great as Mosley is,

Starting point is 00:16:36 Mosley's not the fastest guy in the world anymore at this point. I think Sherwood adds more speed and filling the gaps, playing more sideline to sideline. I think the Jets need to play stouter up front. I don't think they can get pushed around the way they have the first two weeks. But the difference in week two was the linebacker is covered for the defensive line,

Starting point is 00:16:53 and the Jets tackled a lot better than they did week one. There were a lot of missed tackles, which is not uncommon in the NFL to have a lot of missed tackles week one. Week two, the Jets tackled much better. We know this Patriots offense is you know very smash mouth they've looked that way through the first two weeks so it's you know i don't know you know like you can talk about scheme but on some level when you're playing against a team that likes to run the ball it's about you know who wins up front you know who controls the trenches

Starting point is 00:17:18 yeah absolutely and the patriots have had their difficulties and continue or will continue to have their difficulties playing against stack boxes, because, again, that will eventually slow the running game. And if you slow the running game on this New England Patriots team right now, they haven't really given you a whole lot of film or a whole lot of confidence. If you're a Patriots fan that they can get the job done in the passing game. They're only running play action 18 percent of the time when the running game facilitates it through outside zone. That's not going to get it done. You need to be able to increase that level. You need to be able to get your playmakers involved. Hunter Henry had a monster game against the Seattle Seahawks just a few days ago, 109 yards receiving. You know the Jets are going to be watching that,

Starting point is 00:18:00 and they're going to be looking for ways to be able to shut Hunter off, whether that's covering him with a safety or using a linebacker or a star-type player that's a hybrid that'll be able to shut him off and prevent him from being a weapon in the open field and in the red zone. That means Jacoby Brissett is going to have to start trusting his receivers. DeMario Douglas at three targets. You cannot do that to one of your best receivers and expect this passing game to have any traction.

Starting point is 00:18:26 Javon Baker, the rookie, they've been reticent to try him out because of difficulties with routes and drops. They may have no other choice but to go to him or someone like a Keishon Budde, who right now doesn't have a whole lot of experience on film, on tape, on the field. But he's someone that can make plays when given the opportunity to do so. And then when you start setting those guys up to kind of put the defense on its heels, that's when you can go to reliable pass catchers like KJ Osborne or Jalen Polk, and especially use them in the red zone. Patriots are going to have to get aggressive in this passing game, take some shots down the field, take some chances and try to keep the New York Jets defense off balance.

Starting point is 00:19:07 That's the only way I think they're going to be able to have success against this Jets team on Thursday, because when you look at the tail of the tape on paper, Jets just match up better in just all areas. All right. Well, now, you know, all about the Jets and the Patriots. What do these teams need to do to win the game though? We're going to head you on this crossover Thursday edition of Locked on Jets and Locked on Patriots. We're going to talk keys to victory.

Starting point is 00:19:31 This episode of Locked on Jets and Locked on Patriots is brought to you by FanDuel. You know, you've probably heard Mike and I talk a lot about FanDuel. It's America's number one sportsbook. Well, now we have something a little different for you. Now, through September 22nd, all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Then with a YouTube TV-based plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday out-of-market game. All you need is a Google account and a current form of payment, and you can cancel any time.

Starting point is 00:19:57 Of course, this game's on Thursday Night Football, which means your Sunday's free. If you're a Jets fan, you don't have to watch the Jets. The Jets will already be finished. Same thing with the Patriots. Do you really want to depend on Fox or cbs to show you what to show you the game they want watch the game you want on sunday with your three free week trial of nfl sunday ticket on youtube and youtube tv again it's just a five dollar bet on fan duel fit right now fan duel has the jets of six and a half point favorites in this game so if you're a jets fan you're probably

Starting point is 00:20:20 pretty confident your five dollars can help you can win if you're patri fan, maybe you think, hey, six and a half points, that's a pretty good spread for my team. $5 on FanDuel will get you a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Just visit FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. All right. Crossover Thursday here on the Locked On Podcast Network. I'm John from Locked On Jets, along with Mike from Locked On Jets along with Mike from Locked On Patriots.

Starting point is 00:20:47 Mike, Patriots are the road team. I'll let you go first. What are your keys to victory in this week three game? Well, first and foremost, if the New England Patriots are going to be successful, they have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. That's been a key in their first two weeks, and it's going to continue to be one here. Granted, this, I think, is going to be their toughest test in doing doing so in order to be able to try to win that battle the guards laden robinson and michael jordan need to do a very good job in being able to identify what quinn and

Starting point is 00:21:15 williams is going to do and try to marginally disrupt what he wants to do they're not going to be able to stop him that guy is way too good and way too much of a seasoned pro to be able to be confused. He's a nightmare for the Patriots' interior offensive line. If the Patriots are going to win this matchup, they have to try to marginally disrupt Quinn and Williams right at the point of attack. The second aspect of what New England needs to do on defense is they need to find a way to make sure that Christian Gonzalez is well-supported in the defensive secondary, whether that be with Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones playing in the slot, whether that be with Jabril Peppers and Kyle Duggars helping out in the safety position.

Starting point is 00:21:52 That secondary is going to have to be very, very good in order to be able to allow someone like a Keon White in the defensive front seven to be able to get after that Jets offensive line. That's going to be a tough thing for the Pats to do too, but it's going to be a tough thing for the Pats to do too, but it's going to be necessary if they want to win. And last and certainly not least is one that I'm actually going to pull from something you just said not too long ago. And this is about Aaron Rodgers right now under pressure and against the Blitz.

Starting point is 00:22:18 Yesterday on Locked On Patriots, Steve Balistrieri of Patsfans.com joined me and we talked about those double A-gap Blitzes that the Patriots used to like to throw at aggressive and very competent quarterbacks normally doing this against aaron rogers is the kiss of death because automatically what he's going to do he's going to look at the holes that are created in the coverage and he's going to be able to exploit them and pick them apart two things lead me to believe that the patriots could have some success here one aaron is still dealing with some uncertainty in his new teammates, and it does take synergy and time to be able to work that out. So if they can catch him off guard in one of those aspects, that could be a situation

Starting point is 00:22:54 where the Patriots could exploit this defensively. Secondly, he's not as mobile as he was prior to the Achilles injury that he suffered last year. So if the Patriots do have a prayer to do that, they're going to have to be aggressive in trying to get after Aaron, maybe put him a little bit on defense in order to be able to work their game. If they can do those three, I think they have a puncher's chance in this one. But if they don't, it's going to be a long night for the Patriots in East Rutherford. You know, Mike, so I'll give you my keys for the Jets. One is, it's something you touched on.

Starting point is 00:23:28 Quinton Williams needs to look like Quinton Williams. I love Quinton Williams. I think he's a fantastic player. First two weeks, he has not looked like himself. And I am fully expecting him to bounce back. I have very, there are some Jets players who are off to slow starts I'm worried about. Quinton Williams has such a track record,

Starting point is 00:23:44 I'm not worried about him. And I think, as you mentioned, some of the issues the Patriots may have, incorporating new guys into the offensive line. I mean, this has the makings of a get-right game for Quinton Williams. And as I mentioned in the last segment, I mean, Patriots are going to try and run the ball. And I think, you know, if you look at the talent they have on the offensive side of the ball, I think that this is a line where,

Starting point is 00:24:04 to this point of the year, the hole has been greater than the side of the ball. I think that this is a line where to this point of the year, the hole has been greater than the sum of the parts. I think they've gotten a lot of, I think they've gotten a lot from what I've seen out of the guys that they have to this point, but this is a matchup that should favor the jets right now, especially with some of the changes that they're going to have up front. This is a game.

Starting point is 00:24:18 It's going to be one in the, you know, jets need to win this in the trenches and Quinton Williams, especially with Jermaine Johnson, that jets lost their just lost their top run stopping defensive end that means quinn and williams at the defensive tackle spot has to play even bigger um the second thing i'll say just need to figure out a way to slow down hunter henry and you know i think there are different ways they can do it i don't know that they have you know i think they'll throw different looks at him you know they'll probably bracket him at some points that that's a guy that worries me that's a guy who um you know could

Starting point is 00:24:44 potentially you potentially take this game away from the Jets. And on the offensive side of the ball, I think they need to figure out creative ways to utilize their two young running backs, especially in the passing game. Talked about Brees Hall. Jets have a very talented fourth round pick who's a rookie, Braylon Allen out of Wisconsin. And the two of them, outside of Garrett Wilson, they were the second and third leading receivers on the team last weekend and this goes back to what we were talking about a little bit earlier with rogers it's an offense where you get the ball out quickly it's an offense based on you know making plays after the catch if you look at this jets receiver group

Starting point is 00:25:17 there aren't a lot of great yak guys um garrett wilson's a great great garrett wilson will create great quick separation but after him if mike Williams, who's a very talented receiver, a guy who's coming off an injury. So he's been on a pitch count the first couple of weeks, only has one catch the first two games. Now, that was a huge catch. It was a catch that moved the chains on a second and 16 on the game-winning drive for the Jets in the fourth quarter.

Starting point is 00:25:38 So it was a big catch. But the way this offense is built right now, I'm not sure it necessarily is in Williams' wheelhouse. After him, you have Alan Lazard, who, to be charitable, is a bit of a disappointment when we talk about free agent signings for the Jets and definitely not a yak guy. I mean, I don't know that Lazard – I'm trying to not be mean. If you're asking me what Lazard's strength is, I don't know. I don't know if I don't know i can have an

Starting point is 00:26:06 answer for you um the jets did draft to trade up for malachi corley in the third round he was known as the yak king in college but he's not really playing much because he's not running such a work in progress so if you're getting the ball out quick you're depending on yak yardage well what better place to go than two running backs who you know their job is to make plays with the ball in their hands and they both did a good job of they both have flashed real skill both had receiving touchdowns against the uh against the titans and they've had a couple packages where the two of them were on the field together in fact one of the braylon allen's touchdown catch was on a play where the jets faked the screen right to breeze hall and then threw it back to allen on the left side

Starting point is 00:26:40 um so you know these are guys who i think can make a difference maker i think these two running backs are gonna be really important for the jets this season so those are my keys to victory yeah i think you make very interesting points and uh if i seem to be uh chuckling a little bit as you were describing some of the difficulties with lazard i assure you i meant no disrespect to the jets the organization or alan himself but uh patriots have quite a few of those on the roster as well so i feel your pain in that regard. Sometimes it's very difficult to see the forest through the trees on free agent acquisitions or any acquisitions that just don't work out

Starting point is 00:27:11 the way you've hoped. And I think both of our organizations now can say that we've experienced those within the past few years. I promise you anything negative you say about Lazard, Jets fans have said 10 times over. So I think you're okay there. I'll leave it to them. I'm always respectful of my brethren in Jersey, so I definitely will leave it to

Starting point is 00:27:30 them to finish that thought. Mike, it's always a pleasure. I can't wait to do this again later this season when the Jets go to Foxborough. All right, well, Jets fans, Jets fans and Patriots fans, we hope you enjoy the game tonight, and tune in tomorrow. The Lockdown Jets and Lockdown Patriots will break down what happens

Starting point is 00:27:46 on the field at MetLife Stadium for this week three game between these two bitter AFC East rivals. Fortunately, Mike and I, I think we're very friendly rivals. So, Mike, we look forward to doing this again. And take care, Jets fans. Take care, Patriots fans. Tune in tomorrow. Locked On Jets, Locked On Patriots.

Starting point is 00:28:00 We'll recap what happened on Thursday Night Football.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Passing Game vs. New York Jets? Offensive Line Injuries, Keys to Victory

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.