McKnight Not Sitting On His Hands, Could Be Active
by David_Wyatt on Oct 1, 2010 6:54 PM EDT
Email
Print
Joe McKnight has come under a lot of criticism since being drafted by the Jets in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL draft. Fumbling issues in pre-season led to the USC product not being active for the first three weeks of the season and that has brought on intense scrutiny from players and media alike, some of whom have already passed judgement and handed down the sentence of failure.
However behind the scenes Joe has quietly been impressing the coaching staff. He has not fumbled since the Philadelphia game and helped the team prepare for the wildcat last week against Miami. Rex spoke of Joe's improvement and the possibility that he could make his regular season debut this weekend against the Bills
"He's really coming," Ryan said today. "There's no doubt he's coming. He may be active this week."
"I think he's a talent," Ryan said. "I think he's got that kind of ability. Obviously I never trusted him to make him active initially because of the fumbling, but as far as talent, I think he's got more talent than a lot of guys we probably already talked about. It's just a matter of him doing it."
I think you all know how much faith I have in Joe McKnight. I'm glad we sat him for a few weeks, especially against the top opponents. With all due respect, if you want to bring on a rookie who has had a shaky start to his career, you'd rather it be against a team like Buffalo than a team like Baltimore or Miami.
He won't get a ton of touches, and might not even be active this week. Maybe he is active but just works on specials, however with the media so quick to point out, highlight and scream from the top of mountains about every single negative aspect to his time with the Jets so far, it's important to highlight some of the positives.
If we need him, I have confidence he'll do a job for us. He's coming along, we are in the privileged situation where we can afford to let him sit and learn, don't follow the masses, the beat and be quick to judge.
49 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm happy about this
I hate to see everyone calling for McKnight to be cut before he even really has a chance. Moreover I like to see the Jets making good draft choices (crazy-Gang Green drafting well?). Hopefully he can really get it together through the rest of the year.
Taiwan's Number 1 Wolverine fan.
mcknight has all of the talent in the world
people forget he was the top ranked rb/player going into college
Leon Washington
He scores 2 Touchdowns on Kickoff Returns and everyone mentions on how the Jets traded him for a 5th round pick and that McKnight was supposted to replace him. Now after three weeks, McKnight is all of a sudden ready to suit up and play some ball? Seems like perfect timing to me
Cheering for the "Wrong" New York Teams Since 1995
I dont see the big deal about Leon's KR...
would have been impressed if he ran for a 100+ yards, but KR are as much luck as skill. Hell we never even had him on KR. Good for Leon about the scores and helping his team, but the KR only showed me he can still contribute on ST, not that we lost something, or he is the same player as before the injury.
you must have missed one of Leon's 117kick returns for the Jets from 06-09 adn 4tds
they made a bad move when they let him go and drafted this bum. And to say kr’s are luck is like a saying long td runs are luck. give me a break.
Not sure they cut him cause of the injury
Sure he had a career threatening injury. But going into the season they were having a hard time negotiating with him for a long term deal – he was looking for starting RB money, not situational/Special Teams money cause he had good stats in those situations.
He got hurt, and I think the Jets used that as an excuse to move on, but if they couldn’t agree on a price before the injury they surely wouldn’t get there with metal rods in his legs.
http://www.charlottejetsfans.com
Big +1 for Ozone
We got the shit end of the stick on that deal. Let’s just admit it.
by nationalist88 on Oct 2, 2010 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Admit what
Leon hasn’t even gotten an offensive touch yet and McKnight is 3 games into his NFL career. You guys are so fickle it is amazing to me. Love David Clowney because of preseason even though he is a useless POS. Hate McKnight because he fumbled the ball in the preseason.
It’s so funny, two weeks ago probably 85 percent of this websites readers had thrown Sanchez under the bus, and more or less moved on from him and were ready to start Kellen Clemens. Now you guys can’t get enough of Sanchize. We are all over some 21 year old dude for not being Leon as a rookie when Leon wasn’t even Leon as a rookie.
I can’t possibly imagine a random player taking more heat then this guy as a 4th round draft pick with not many expectations. I mean again, this guy is a 4th round draft pick. He hasn’t even touched a ball in a meaningful football game and we are passing judgement!
by dookiehead on Oct 2, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i like to take this opportunity to remind this site that i was in that 15% that felt Sanchez will be a good QB
He needs to improve his deep throw and his screen passes, but I always had his back, hence my post about him before the Raven game. As for McKnight, I have not seen enough of him to past judgment; however, as I said before as a 4th round pick, the Jets are more likely to keep him over any FA player.
2 KR
yep and thats all he has done since being traded mcnight is the future for the jets washington gets one good shot in the ankles and his caree could be done it was a smart move on jets part not every back that comes into the nfl goes to the elite status there first year /wake up
Yeah! Leon is so LUCKY.
He’s Lucky like Hester is lucky. I mean he is so LUCKY he’s as lucky as McKnight is unlucky.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 1, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Bad point considering Hester went 132 Punt Returns without a TD Return until last week…
When will the hurting stop?
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Oct 2, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Comparing Leon in year 6….to McKnight in year 1 is ridiculous. It’s as simple as that, people need to realize that McKnight wasn’t a Leon Replacement in 2010. The sooner people realize that the sooner people can stop crying about Leon in Seattle;
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Jets/Knicks/Rangers/Marshall/ND
I think it’s an extremely unfair comparison, Dave. Primarily because McKnight won’t last anywhere close to 6 years in the NFL. But nevertheless, we dumped an impact player who happened to be an elusive undersized scatback, and drafted an identical type player in the exact same round. So the comparisons will always be there…
by nationalist88 on Oct 2, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
As far as I’m aware we offered Leon a decent contract for who he is and he turned it down. He then went on to break his leg, I hate this the “jets dumped him” or " Jets betrayed and back stabbed him". No Leon was a big question mark who wanted money so we drafted a guy with bags of natural ability. People are already writing him off based on three pre-season games, even though before he fumbled in that Eagles game he was making good 7-8 yard gains. Not to mention his punt return of 60 odd yards (which people criticized because he didn’t take it to the house) lol I just find some fans hatred of a player who’s not even made his NFL début yet laughable, but not surprising. Let him have a touch in the regular season before writing off his entire career.
If he does succeed, watching fans who have absolutely killed him all summer will be quite funny. If he does fail and is out the league, well at least the people who wanted to give him a chance can say they stuck with a Jet through early troubles.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Jets/Knicks/Rangers/Marshall/ND
Hey, I hope the guy makes me look like an idiot, believe me. No one as a fan of the team is rooting against him, just doubting that he will be productive at this level based on his performance and skillset. I’ll be the first to admit, I was dead wrong about LD, who at this point is running like he did 3 years ago. And about Sanchez, who had me itching for a QB replacement after what appeared to be a severe regression in that miserable effort at home against Baltimore. But I’m right sometime too; as supported by the evidence that we can win without Revis, and we should never have let Leon go unless we knew that magic in his legs wasn’t there anymore.
by nationalist88 on Oct 3, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
The point was right now Leon is much close to Hester than he is to McKnight, and to consider Leon as a player (whether it be kick returns, running or whatever) “lucky” is pretty silly. Clearly he is a player. Not even the guy who McKnight never could measure up to and crushed his college career really can say that, Bush.
I don’t know which guy I would take between Bush and Leon, honestly. But I do know which guy I would take between Leon and Mcknight. McKnight, though talented in a Madden sort of way, strikes me as not a football guy mentally.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Leon Washington isn't as good of a player as Reggie Bush.
Sure, Bush was drafted higher and he isn’t the feature back that people wanted him to be, but he still does the same things Leon does, better than Leon.
There is a MENTAL side of the game as well. Bush is a Ferrari, but lacks toughness. I honestly, if both are healthy, would prefer Leon.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
It's amazing
how you think you know everybody in the NFL’s mental toughness.
And how you have replied to every post I have made on GGN in the last month.
I think he’s referring to toughness as a runner, and if so, I agree. Leon runs harder than Bush.
by nationalist88 on Oct 3, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
If
the Jets are ahead by at least 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter, sure, bring him in. If not….
What in the world do we need him for????
Any carry he has is a carry that LT or Greene or Smith doesn’t have.
Any return he has is one that Smith or Wilson or Leonhard doesn’t have.
Sure he has break out potential, but he also has put the ball on the ground potential.
The chances he would impact the game with 3 carries are as good as they are bad.
We need to stabilize this offense, make it consistent, not soup it up.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
You know why
so many people were angry about the TJ/Ladanian mess? Cause TJ had far fewer carries over his career despite being the same (or nearly the same) age as LT.
So yes, any cary he has is a carry that LT or Green doesnt have sounds bad, but if you are trying to keep a team fresh for 19 games instead of 16, if you are trying to reduce injury when your team is up big, if you are trying to get a rookie some play time, if you are trying to extend the career of Greene, then sharing snaps is a good way to accomplish these goals.
If you are looking for 5 yards per carry, you probably wont get that from McKnight, but if you are looking for 3rd and short by rushing 3 or 4 yards on 1st or 2nd down, well, he is probably good for that.
Also, I think his NFL career will be short lived if he puts the ball on the ground in a game. They must be telling him “the ball is more important than the yards after first hit” and if he does cause a turnover, we can probably still salvage the game, but this guy would be done in NY as far as the fans and media will be concerned.
http://www.charlottejetsfans.com
Mess =
Mess being “why cut TJ who signed a 2 year deal for $5M when you go ahead and sign LT, who has more career carries (ie more worn down, I suppose) and was less productive than TJ in 2009 to a 2 year deal for the same amount of money?”
http://www.charlottejetsfans.com
So what are we talking about here????
3 carries? 5?
Give 2 to Greene and give 3 to Smith in the Wildcat.
The idea that we NEED McKnight to do something is foolish. Holmes is coming back, run
WR screens for him. McKnight is a luxury item, and when the team is RIDING HIGH, then use him and let him prove he won’t put the ball on the ground. Until then, he’s a china doll.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
The team is riding high,
and all we really want to use him for is punt returning, IMO. He is much better then Leonhard and Kyle Wilson hasn’t done much of anything in terms of returning punts, but he did (!!!!) fumble one time.
Kyle was a MUCH better PR in college as a junior (nearly the best in the nation). There is not reason to put weak-minded McKnight into a game we simply cannot lose. No reason at all.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d actually like to see him in the return game. He might be a better fit back there than Brad Smith. Plus, he’s a lot faster than Brad Smith though Brad Smith is a better overall player
by dj_agni on Oct 1, 2010 9:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Against a team the Jets should dominate, it doesn’t matter to me who they put in once the game is out of hand for Buffalo. Given That it is Buffalo, 10 points should be plenty.
When will the hurting stop?
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I truly believe that some people have a vendetta against McKnight. I hate to admit this about fans of the organization, but I do think some are hoping he fails so they can be proved right, and the beat reporters definitely are. They have been blasting him all season for being inactive and not contributing and then when he performs in training and is potentially going to play, they kill him and ridicule him (Cimini on twitter) expecting him to fail. He’s in a no win situation. Buffalo is a good opportunity to get that first game out of the way.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Jets/Knicks/Rangers/Marshall/ND
I couldn't agree more.
For some reason, people have hated McKnight since day one because of some misguided opinion about Leon Washington being wronged. It’s laughable. In my entire life of watching football, I have never even saw a second round pick hated on as much as this, let alone a 4th round pick who isn’t expected to do much of anything year one to begin with.
And some reason other people didn’t see a weak-minded, vomiting (poor guy), over-training (apparently), fumbling (nothing worse than a fumbler) wanna be superstar gone south. If you don’t expect much from him, let him get used to being on the bench until mid-season.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
and the funny thing is,
he will return a punt for a TD eventually (this year) and everybody will be slobbering all over his sack, you would think he was a fan favorite all along. Only thing I hate about rooting for sports teams in NY, more fairweather and bandwagon fans than anywhere else, even in terms of individual players. 2 Weeks ago 9 out of every 10 here were ready to give Clemens the job, now 9 out of every 10 swore they knew all along Sanchez was the real deal. That’s why I enjoy reading crackbacks post, he says it how he feels it and if he is wrong he mans up and admits it.
We all want the Jets to win there is no reason to root against our own players because you think somehow that shows your love for Leon or something (by the way, Leon doesn’t care about a single one of you, or the Jets, he wasn’t wronged by anybody). I would rather be wrong and have the Jets win anyday over being right and having them lose.
I will not be fair weather at all. If he returns it for a TD, Wilson could have done the same.
A few years from now, after he proves himself (which I doubt) it may be a different story, but I don’t see a need for him. Let him be a gunner on special teams for a bit.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
The more he sits the better. Until our backs start failing there’s no need for him. He can only hurt us.
I know
The team is just starting to get some rhythm. Greene hasn’t even gotten the carries he likely needs, and LT has shown ZERO sign of fatigue. And Smith in the Kitty-cat has been lethal. You have Leonhard for when you need a sure-handed PRer, and Wilson when you need a possible spark. Wilson already has been demoted from the starting corner, if anything it is him who needs the action on PR.
If you put him into the mix it is just to make things even more complicated, more variables. So he looks good in practice, great! Let him look good in practice for two more weeks. What is going to happen to him, he’s gunna get sad or something?
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Oct 2, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Gang Green Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
