Which New York Jet Has Been the Most Pleasant Surprise?
by John B on Oct 20, 2010 8:05 PM EDT
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There are a lot of players on this team exceeding expectations right now. A few guys like Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller have had relatively disappointing careers and finally are making good on their vast physical ability. Antonio Cromartie entered the year with high expections, lowered them to the floor after Week 1, and has come on strong over the past three weeks. Aside from a Week 1 sack, nobody has really noticed that Alan Faneca was replaced by Matt Slauson. Mike Devito is playing extremely well pressed into a starting role by Kris Jenkins' injury. Mark Sanchez has improved a lot and might have the makings of a top signal caller.
My pick, though, is Nick Folk. A lot of Jets fans were worried when the team let Jay Feely go to Arizona. How could anybody not love Jay? He is accurate. He is not afraid to mix it up and tackle on kick returns. He is articulate. He can take criticism. He engages his fans on his Twitter account. Even though the Jets used his slot to sign Jason Taylor under the final eight rules, people had legitimate concerns.
The replacement, Nick Folk was only 18 for 28 last year, lost his job on kickoff duties, and was eventually cut. I had cautious optimism. Folk was a former Pro Bowler and never was right after hip surgery a year ago. With adequate rest, it seemed possible he could return to his old form. It was not a guarantee, though.
What has Folk done? While he is far from an elite kickoff man, he hasn't killed the team. Mike Westhoff has a history working around kickers with a limited leg on kickoffs (Mike Nugent). Folk has been a machine on field goals. He is 13 for 15 and 13 for 14 inside 60 yards. He has a pair of 50+ yarders to his name.
A kicker's job is to make field goals. Kickoffs impact field position. Field goals impact points. The Jets have gotten excellent work from Folk.
I think he is the most pleasant surprise to this point.
What do you think?
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seriously
He is the obvious choice. He was expected to suck and he’s been a top 5 RB.
Jets - Knicks - Mets
not every Jet fan expected LDT to suck.
A lot of us welcome the move.
by BIG OH!!!!! on Oct 21, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Cromartie
As good as Folk has been, if we didn’t have Cromartie to replace Revis these first games, we would have been screwed, especially with the way Wilson was playing. Folk may be nice, but Cro is clutch.
by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 20, 2010 8:21 PM EDT reply actions
Folk was a nice surprise, Cro was a pleasant surprise
I am thrilled with the way Folk is playing he is definitely a surprise and a welcomed one… I was just so worried about how Cro was going to be especially his tackling and I’d have to say he is pleasantly surprising me….. but bob the friendly baker has a point, everyone said he was washed up,(LT) hes pleasantly surprising everyone
by nysackexchange on Oct 21, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow,surprised this is a 3 way race.
I’d have to go with a tie between Folk/Cromartie. Both of them coming off what could be considered weak seasons, both have been way beyond expectations. Folk because he’s almost never missed, and Cromartie because he’s stepped in so well for Revis.
After the 2nd Period of Opening Night "Best Period of the year" DevonPSU
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
LT by far has been the biggest surprise.
the even bigger surprise was that he was left out of this poll.
"Focus; Finish. Work on winning each play."
-- NY Jets 2010 philosophy --
Who I came in to post.
How the heck did he not make the list!
I know he's maybe not the biggest
but Steve Weatherford has been nothing short of brilliant
Sanchez.
Nobody saw 9 TDs and only 2 picks thru the first 6 games coming. NOBODY. And if he’s not playing as well as he’s been, we’re a lot worse off that 5-1.
DeVito is a close second, to me. He’s playing at a much higher level than i thought he would.
The other guys are more living up to their expectations, so i can’t really say theyre suprises. But LD should definitely be on that list. Not even those who thought he’d be good (which i admit i didnt), i don’t think even they thought he would be playing as well as he is.
Hands down LT
There is no way he should have been left off this poll…he is arguably our MVP through the first 6 weeks, and people saw him as washed up and solid backup to Greene at best.
Could Not Agree More
LT has been the man for gang green so far, if you look at his numbers from last year not many people expected him to be having the year he is so far. He is my chioce, folk has been awsome as well & Cro but LT wins this… If he were not forgotten about by the writer. A close 56th place goes to the Cracken he continues to disapoint.
by Vegas Jets Fan on Oct 21, 2010 4:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LT Coleman Thomas Lowery
Off of the list I picked Nick Folk just because everyone else on the list had shown enormous talent in the past and Folks stint in Dallas had me scared. To say he’s been doing well and is a pleasant surprise is a massive understatement.
GGN House pessimist, veteran arm chair coach.
www.GangGreenNation.com
cro the man
i pick cro because he looks the most confidant in his own ability when everyone else put him down , he is the player with the most baggage and yet it hasn’t affected him on the field . replacing revis as the no 1 corner shouldn’t be easy but cro has taken it in his stride. its just as well all the guys listed are playing well above themselves as our draft picks haven’t done anything as yet ( except connor ) . we seem to be the only team in the nfl not getting a decent return on our top 3 picks ,
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