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In light of three injuries at cornerback over the weekend, the Jets gave safety Antonio Allen some reps at corner today.
The Jets start practice with Ellis Lankster and Antonio Allen at CB spots and Dawan Landry and Jaiquawn Jarrett at safety spots.
— Darryl Slater (@DarrylSlater) August 11, 2014
Allen apparently played well.
Antonio Allen picks off Geno. #nyj
— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) August 11, 2014
CB Antonio Allen now picks off Vick. Second of the day. #nyj
— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) August 11, 2014
I have three thoughts on this.
Thought #1: Call me crazy, but I'm a bit intrigued by this idea. You've got a big guy in Allen who is going to have a chance to get physical in press coverage. I'm interested to see how this works out. Could the Jets have found a hidden use of his talents?
Thought #2: That being said, this doesn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence in the way the Jets have built their cornerback position this year. I know football is a physical game and injuries happen. At the same time, it didn't exactly take a rocket scientist to see the top two guys on the roster were susceptible to getting hurt. Dee Milliner had five surgeries before he even entered the league. Dimitri Patterson has been in the NFL since 2005 and played sixteen games in a season exactly once. This was the backup plan? Trying out somebody who had never played the position before and seeing what happens? It reeks of a desperation move. I mean a torn ACL is a freak injury, but was the team counting on Dex McDougle coming in as a third round pick after missing a year and playing well? It feels like the Jets are just throwing stuff against the wall and hoping something sticks. How do you get caught so off guard when something so predictable happens?
Thought #3: I can't help but think back to the 2002 Yankees when Joe Torre wasn't happy with his situation in right field, and sent Enrique Wilson to play the position as though he was sending a message to the front office that an upgrade was necessary. The coaching staff didn't really sound sold that Allen is a genuine answer.
McDonald on Antonio Allen practicing at CB: It's not something that's permanent, but it's something we're taking a look at. ...he's talented
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) August 11, 2014
Rex really talking up Antonio Allen: "The young man has come a million miles." ...so would AA at CB be permanent? "We'll see," says Rex.
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) August 11, 2014
Feel free to discuss below.