Joe McKnight Is Quietly Playing Very Well on Special Teams
by John B on Dec 20, 2010 8:38 PM EST
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We have talked quite a bit about some of the reasons the Jets did not make a bad move waiving Danny Woodhead despite Woodhead's success in New England. Let me give you a new one. If Woodhead was with the Jets, he would be third on the depth chart. He would not be getting many carries. The only role he would have would be playing special teams. The third back some say the team should have cut to keep Woodhead, Joe McKnight, has found a new role on special teams as a gunner.
Injuries forced him into the spot four games ago. In those four games, the Jets are allowed 3.28 yards per return, an eye popping number. Only seven of twenty-three punts have been returned. Part of that is due to the work McKnight is doing as a gunner. The punter, Steve Weatherford is doing a good job making his kicks difficult to return, and the other guys on coverage are doing good work as well. McKnight has made an impact in every game except New England. He made a tackle against the Bengals. He downed one punt a piece against Miami and Pittsburgh and forced multiple fair catches against the Dolphins. Even when he has not necessarily put up numbers, he has been in position frequently to down punts or redirect runners.
He has been a guy I have noticed winning assignments on almost every return. Woodhead has proven that he is a good player. However, he never made an impact on special teams the way McKnight has. Danny's most memorable play in a regular season game was losing contain on one of Ted Ginn's touchdown returns last year. I'm not sure he would be as effective as McKnight. Since he wouldn't be getting touches, I think the Jets have been justified for their move at least as far as this season goes.
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shotty has too much of a man crush on lt
to give mcknight some carries
McNight should get some touches
as a slot receiver, or put him in there on a reverse, a lot of linebackers and defenders have tired legs at the moment, I see him down there on those punts looking hungry to get some playing time. His body language looks totally different looks aggressive.
Is one of those backers
our mad backer? He looks super slow the last few games.
Woodhead has proven that he is a good player. However, he never made an impact on special teams the way McKnight has.
Woodhead’s been very useful in NE as a special teamer, particularly on the kick coverage unit. He has 12 tackles, 9 solo, including some memorably large hits (2 of which were Woodhead making big hits immediately after scoring TDs!).
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
He'll make a good elf in the Patriots Christmas Pageant too.
Looking forward to it.
by James Calvin on Dec 20, 2010 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
AGREE
If you want to compare Woodhead and McKnight’s contribution to their respective teams on st, Joe loses there as well. Sorry John. If you want to try and shine shit, go back to an article on Vernon Gholston’s emergence as a solid 3-4 de or hit us up with some of Vlad Ducasse’s beautification tips, those are both more believable.
they should save mcknight for the playoffs much like they did with shonn greene last year. a pair of fresh legs in the playoffs can do wonders. i wouldnt mind taking touches away from LT and giving them to Mcknight. he is much more dangerous in the open field than your typical btw the tackles RB.
by servantofchrist on Dec 20, 2010 10:32 PM EST reply actions
McKnight and Woodhead had very little to do with each other
Woodhead, could play a variety of roles and was ultimately cut in favor of Clowney. We should have never done that, but honestly it makes very little difference to us, Woodhead would have never seen the ball as much as he has in NE.
+1
Good point by Judgegavel. The NE offense is well appointed for DW, but the comparisons between him and McKnight are moot. I remember the runbacks by Ginn last season (although I can’t seem to remember my wedding anniversary) but NE seems to provide a niche that the Jets couldn’t. But I have to wonder why there wasn’t a place on a 53 man roster for a guy who would play his heart out as a multi-use back. I admore T-Rich, but can anyone point out his value to this year’s team? And please don’t say mentoring, because that’s why we have running back coaches. We got Brunnell for mentoring, and anyone feeling good is Sanchez is injured? We can say what we want about Bellichick, but the way he shuffles players in and out of a game is a testament to their versatility. The better teams have a DW-type on their roster, and remember that as players are injured during a grueling season, having a guy like DW is a real plus.
David Clowney? Reallyt?
Honestly, it isn’t like we never saw flashes of his explosiveness. If we had not gotten LT I would have preferred him over Thomas Jones, and if I knew then what I know now I’d have preferred him over LT too.
by SioneBAAOOOHA on Dec 21, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
Yea but he couldn't do that in our offense...
the pats system is giving him more success than he would have anywhere else. If the Pats had LT, or even McKnight they would put what Danny is doing to shame, and they could do BJGE job better as well.
lets get the kid incorporated into the offense as much as we can over the next couple games.
Let’s rest tomlinson and only give him a few touches. And let’s split the rest of his touches btw greene and mcknight. There’s no telling if/when an injury might happen, so let’s get the kid as ready as possible.
Let’s also design a play or two that utilizes his talent. I’m thinking reggie bush type plays where he starts in the backfield and motions into the slot. Even if its just for decoy purposes. If it does nothing else, it’ll at least make teams prepare for it and all its permutations. The more they’re prepping for that, the less they’re prepping for other stuff.
Same goes brad smith passes.
by Crackback on Dec 21, 2010 1:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I know. Its a shame too. All the kid needs to do is break one nice run out of a formation that we don’t do all that often and everybody would freak out trying to prepare for us in the playoffs. Motion him into the slot and throw him a bubble screen. If he makes a guy miss, opponents will shit themselves.
Now u gotta prep for bubble screens, reverses, and regular passing routes when he’s on the field. When they see him trot out, DCs have to figure out if they want to go base or nickel; who covers him; players have to know their assignments (outside contain, coverage, etc.). Its just another freakin headache to deal with aside from brad smith. And god forbid brad smith throws him a bubble screen. Then everything gets all crazy. Who covers who? Who’s got contain where? How do you play the safties? Do you play run, or read and react?
But nah. Schotty will go back to the well with the direct snap to a back (probably greene bc everybody will expect it from tomlinson), and the naked boots to the left for our right-handed qb.
by Crackback on Dec 22, 2010 12:34 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
You’re going to change the offense at this crucial point in the season for a rookie with ball security issues who hasnt been active most of the year? DCs arent losing sleep over the possibility of dealing with Joe McKnight, wake up.
Shotty’s job is practically on the line as well. If he gives it to McKnight in a big spot and he turns it over, the fingers are going to point at Brian a lot more than Joe. Shotty’s not going to take that risk and he’s all the wiser for it. Joe sabotaged his own rookies campaign, it’s not the coachs’ fault he hasnt contributed to the team’s efforts. Next season he’ll get an opportunity to prove he isnt a bust.
His impact on ST cannot be ignored
It’s simply a different unit since he started playing a strategic role.
I was really down on the kid when we picked him up, and we need to never let up in practice with things like ball security, BUT I think he’s physical and gifted enough to play iron man; or all sides of the football.
He’s already more than earned a spot with special teams. Arguably if we took him off now it would put as at a strategic disadvantage. Almost every game not against the Patriots was a very low scoring game that could have been changed by a touchdown or even less. Not giving up anything on special teams is crucial to keeping games in control, like we do with the game we ultimately win.
He’s clearly quick enough to play DB, and he obviously has no fear of contact, like some players avoid. Rex already appointed him an emergency DB. If he can be taught to effectively cover, and turn to find the ball, why not have a guy whose fast and will hit a guy hard in at nickel or dime coverage? If the kids any good or can be taught like on ST, it could really shore up our secondary.
He’s already proven he’s a capable runner, and will fight for yardage. If the staff can trust him to hold on to the ball I’d drop him into 3DRB situations, and any game that’s so far out of hand that one side cannot win, or has no impact on postseason berthing. Having a third effective back to charge into worn down lines and backers couldn’t hurt.
I’m not saying it’s necessary or even wise to use him in every unit. But I think he’s physically capable.
GGN Moderator, House pessimist, veteran arm chair coach.
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Joe’s been physically capable for a while now. I dont think any of his draft prognistications said “likely not physically able to perform in the nfl”. They questions had to do with his head and his heart. Putting him on both sides of the football? He hasn’t proven he can play on one side of it. He’s finally found a way to contribute on st. Take it one step at a time, I don’t think he’s ready for “ironman football” haha
Finally?
Not only is he a rookie but he’s had extremely limited regular season opportunities admittedly due to his own fumbling issues. Not even a year removed and his presence on ST is statistically significant in the short time he has been on the unit. Field position like that wins games. Looking at the games we’ve both won and lost this is undeniable. It’s even more crucial in low scoring or tight games. Finally contributing? The guy just started playing ST and his impact is beyond what we could have hoped for.
The kid, an offensive player, is designated a backup DB, also in his first year. Clearly he’s physically capable and ready to play iron man, otherwise the coaching staff wouldn’t put him in a situation where he could possibly have to play on all units, as unlikely as that may be.
He’s behind power back Greene and veteran Tomlinson on the depth chart, which is what most people would expect out of a 4th round rookie. You seem to have very unreasonable expectations of what to get out of a low pick in three quarters of a season where he’s not utilized fully due to the loaded roster; all the while denying the abilities coaching staff has already acknowledged.
We’re not even talking about major playing time here. We’re talking about limited situational use on all sides of the football, which the staff has ALREADY primed him to do. He’s on every unit on the depth chart. That’s iron man buddy, don’t know what to tell you. Haha yourself.
GGN Moderator, House pessimist, veteran arm chair coach.
www.GangGreenNation.com
GIVE ME A BREAK
Get some real perspective on things with McKnight. First, I will say he has finally found a way to get himself active on Sundays, but its as a gunner. Unfortunately, the team didnt spend a 4th round draft choice to draft him to play that position. The guy was supposed to come here and be able to contribute as a pr and as a 3rd down back. Since joining the team, coaches have seriously considered Joe making a position change from rb to cb. I doubt that’s because he’s such a stud cb prospect and more likely to do with his inability to handle the duties on a nfl running back. Also, most rookies find a place on special teams anyway. Joe FINALLY found a way contribute. I’m happy about it, but he’s a little late to the party.
If you think the Jets should start altering their offense to include plays for this “never will be”, you’re out of your mind. This team has had tremendous problems with continuity and rhythm on offense. Unless you just crawled out from under a rock you probably are aware of it. Adding plays to incorporate a player who has not contributed all season is far too risky when considering the struggles of the offense as a whole. Did I mention that McKnight has ball security issues? Do you really want the ball in his hands in a tie game with the Jets playoff birth on the line? If the Jets get him the ball and he fumbles, it will be viewed as one of the biggest boneheaded moves of the season and probably most will put the blame on Shotty for having him in there. Face it, the Jets drafted this guy in the 4th round, and he’s become much more of a project than they envisioned. Hopefully he can continue to contribute to the team as a gunner, and next season the team can get a better idea on if he can be a difference maker in the nfl (here’s a hint: he can’t). However, to put him on the field now at such an important time of the season is moronic, and shows no awareness of the team’s current circumstances or the circumstances that got McKnight to the spot he’s in now.
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