Should the New York Jets Find More Work for Joe McKnight?

by John B on Dec 8, 2010 7:45 PM EST

You might have not been watching by the point he did his thing, but Joe McKnight showed some encouraging things Monday in garbage time. He ran a punt back 18 yards and then carried 3 times for 19 yards as the game was ending. Yes, the game was over by that point. There wasn't much intensity left in the stadium. McKnight still looked quick and explosive with the ball in his hand. This begs the question as to whether the Jets should get him a few touches against the Miami Dolphins.

I say yes for the following reasons:

He has worked his way out of the doghouse he put himself into. Despite being inactive a lot early in the season, he continued to work hard in practice. When the team needed gunner help in punt coverage, McKnight took the job and has played well. He took reps at cornerback, a position he had never played before, when injuries left the team thin there. It would demonstrate how the team values such hard work.
The Jets want him to eventually take over for LaDainian Tomlinson as a speedy compliment to Shonn Greene. Getting Joe game experience will help that transition.
He's really athletic and dangerous with the ball in his hands.
He would be another weapon defenses would have to dedicate time to prepare against.

I know the Jets have to find touches for a lot of other talented players. I'm not suggesting that he jumps Greene or Tomlinson on the depth chart. I would just like to see 3 to 5 touches to see whether he can add something extra to the table.

Poll

Should the Jets give Joe McKnight a few offensive touches Sunday?

Yes

301 votes

No

45 votes

346 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Voted no but I'm flexible

I want him on ST, no doubt. He’s past the fumbling issues IMO and deserves another shot on the field.

But I don’t know if I can reconcile myself with him taking snaps from SG and LT, just yet.

GGN Moderator, House pessimist, veteran arm chair coach.
www.GangGreenNation.com

by Bro Namath on Dec 8, 2010 7:50 PM EST reply actions

Overreaction to his performance. All of the Jets backs were finding holes in this game.. but we were down by so much that we couldn’t take advantage. This is a key game coming up, if we get the kid in and god forbid something goes wrong that costs us points or even the game… that could be something he may never come back from.

And with the Bears/Steelers coming up, its something the team may never come back from either. Get him reps against the Bills in Week 17 when everythings hopefully locked up.

by Marandopsu on Dec 8, 2010 7:59 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Too much still on the table to be “fumbled away” for the Jets! Wait until playoff seeding is clinched.

by SanDiegoJet on Dec 8, 2010 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

Let him return punts.

I wouldn’t mind giving him a few carries either.

Darrelle Revis once won a game of Connect Four in three moves.

by bm01bath on Dec 8, 2010 8:01 PM EST reply actions

Maybe he can get more touches in the last game or two of the year, assuming the playoff seeding is all locked up.

by SioneBAAOOOHA on Dec 8, 2010 8:21 PM EST reply actions

Hell yes!!!

What kills me is that a lot of the people that moan and groan about Woodhead are the same ones that don’t want to see the kid succeed. He had a couple of fumbles… IN PRESEASON!!!

Its obvious the kid has some pop. Get him the rock in some space and let’s see him do his thing.
Its the same silly fear that keeps this team from going to Greene for games at a time. Its hard to win by playing not to lose. Put the kid in a position to succeed and he will. We could use the boost right now.

by Crackback on Dec 8, 2010 8:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

+1

metsjetsknicksrangers.............can it get any worse?

by dabu7 on Dec 8, 2010 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

wake up!!!

its a lot more than a few fumbles that make people groan every time they see mcknight. check the letdown of his entire collegiate career. The guy is a dime a dozen as far as no brain/no heart, if you cant see it, you’re missing one of the aforementioned as well.

by Ozone on Dec 9, 2010 6:57 AM EST up reply actions

Definitlely

+Over 9000

To be Frank, we need a playmaker, one that will make plays unlike Braylon, Keller, LT, Or Greene (Was about to say Holmes but then remember what he’s done) Or a new OC…I like both options

by JetsFanMurphy on Dec 9, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Last year before Leon’s injury, they were giving Shonn a couple of touches here and there. They seem to be taking a different approach with McKnight this year. As for the fumbles, I remember last year after Greene fumbled and Jason Taylor scored on it, the first play right after was another Greene run. This year, they decide to take the football away from Joe instead of giving him a chance to redeem himself.

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
If you can touch it, you can catch it.

by dvdvil on Dec 8, 2010 8:52 PM EST reply actions

Exactly. And the while his carries consisted of ramming it up the middle with him trying to learn to read the new zone blocking scheme.

Let’s also not forget that they punished Greene this year too. Gotta give these guys a chance to make plays. And u can’t make them affraid to try.

by Crackback on Dec 8, 2010 9:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think the change in approach really stems from him coming to camp and throwing up. The team didn’t want to be further embarrased that they traded Leon and got him. If not for that, I think they would have kept feeding him the ball until he learns to protect it.

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
If you can touch it, you can catch it.

by dvdvil on Dec 8, 2010 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

yeah and they also worked out greene at s

wake up. mcknight is talent and nothing else. hold your breath waiting for him to “develop”

by Ozone on Dec 9, 2010 6:58 AM EST up reply actions

I think he should be the primary punt returner with the Leonhard injury. If he protects the ball start giving him more and more carries. Maybe he can break out in the playoffs like Greene did.

by Bob_The_Friendly_Baker on Dec 8, 2010 9:14 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't mind seeing him get LT's touches once the playoffs are locked up.

Save LT for the playoffs when we’ll need him most.

by bobdolethesnapplelady on Dec 8, 2010 9:53 PM EST reply actions

Glad to see the majority of voters want to see him play

I really believe a lot of fans are mad the Jets let the little white guy go and kept the black running back. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but it explains how a fan base can hate a guy who has not had a chance to play.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Dec 8, 2010 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Not this fan!!!

Only color I see is GREEN!!! I feel confident that I am not alone on this one!!!

by SanDiegoJet on Dec 8, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

I really don’t think it’s about that at all. I think most are still thinking about Leon’s 2 return TDs for Seattle this year, while McKnight started the season inactive.

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
If you can touch it, you can catch it.

by dvdvil on Dec 8, 2010 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

yeah i watch nfl football because i hate black people.

by Ozone on Dec 9, 2010 7:02 AM EST up reply actions

it doesn't matter

the true focus is how they SHOULD be getting the ball into the hands of their established playmakers Holmes, Edwards, Keller, LDT and Greene. What’s the point of introducing another player when the OC already can’t utilize all the talent he already has?

by PowerBar on Dec 8, 2010 10:29 PM EST reply actions

mcknight is garbage

a waste of a pick in so many ways. this team needed players more capable of making an immediate impact. If schmoe is anything its a project. The same with Ducasse was obvious and Wilson played against questionable comp his whole career. Scrap mcknight asap.

by Ozone on Dec 9, 2010 7:01 AM EST reply actions