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Gang Green Nation Highlight Reel (Best of the Holidays)

New York Jets v Cincinnati Bengals Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Our readers’ and writers’ contributions to this site are a major reason why Gang Green Nation is the best Jets blog in the history of Jets blogs. No contribution, big or small, should go unnoticed. That’s why we’ll highlight some of the best comments and FanPosts on a weekly basis.

Without further ado, I bring to you, Gang Green Nation’s Highlight Reel for the past week:

Top Fanposts:

A Common Mistake about QB Draft Prospects

riverside the great talks about scouting QBs

2020 NFL Draft Prospects-Finding Hidden Gems

victormonfrey talks about his favorite underrated prospects in the 2020 draft.

Top Comments:

On Adam Gase:

Couple thoughts --

The Jets at the beginning of the season were a replacement level team. They had a revolving door at the OL, lost their QB, and were starting a practice squad QB for several games. Couple this with the installation of a wholly new offensive system, and it’s natural that these factors were simply not conducive to success. By transitive property, Gase deserves credit for the offensive turnaround as he does blame for the anemic offense of earlier in the season. Neither of which were fully to his ledger. The reality is that most coaches are only as good as the roster they have. There are some extraordinary coaches that transcend time, but there’s a reason for that. But there’s no indication to me that Gase can’t be a coach of a postseason Jets team. Now it’s up to the Jets to materially improve this roster

-ArmOfPennington

On offensive vs defensive head coaches:

No.

It’s a terrible idea to hire a defensive HC in today’s NFL. Everybody wants an offensive head coach, hardly anyone wants a defensive head coach. Williams, no matter how good he is, is going to get very few, if any, head coaching interest because of his baggage and insanity. From a team perspective, that’s WONDERFUL. Meanwhile, what happens if you make Williams a head coach? Well, he’ll have to hire an offensive coordinator. There are two possible outcomes: 1. The offensive coordinator does a bad job, gets fired (bad outcome) 2. The offensive coordinator goes a good job, gets hired to be a headcoach someplace else (bad outcome). No defensive head coaches.

-panhandle chris

On the offensive line performance:

The issue with the o-line was the following:

1) Fail to block for running backs and Darnold.
2) Block us from winning in about every way.

-riverside the great

On Sam Darnold’s technique:

Unbalanced Take (Pun Intended)

While I generally agree that Sam’s mechanics can be cleaned up, there is a fine line between natural and unnatural traits. Sam is clearly a very unorthodox thrower of the ball. Philip Rivers is another one. Very few people can replicate their traits and succeed at an NFL level. Hopefully to your point, they focus on the egregiously wrong without impeding the naturally good (no matter how unorthodox it looks).

-flysofree_shaw

I luv ya, superhuman, you’re one of my favorite people around here

But IMO Sam’s only problem is that his O-line stinks, as in one of the worst I have ever seen, if not the worst. Yes Sam is elusive, but he’s not Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson elusive nor does he have their sprinter speed. In fact, I don’t even think he matches the kid from Buffalo in that regard. Sam has the kind of elusiveness that can make him a dual threat force if he had a strong O-line, but not enough to overcome a pathetic O-line. So IMO if Joe Douglas fixes this O-line, it will maximize Sam’s talent and we’ll have a FQB on our hands week after week. However if JD fails to build a real wall of granite in front of Sam, his potential will never be maximized.

-Whiskey Slick

Really appreciate the time and analysis put into this piece

I actually have very few concerns when it comes to Sam. I think (as stated in the article) that he is a superior athlete and has above average feel and vision. His technique is not perfect, and I am not sure it will ever be – though I agree that he needs to continue to work on it. What makes Sam truly special is how accurate he is when off balance and throwing off different platforms. This makes him very difficult to cover and gives extra separation to his receivers. That clip of his pass to Robby is an interesting one. Yes, it was a poor decision. Yes, I think the right play there is to just take the yards you have in front of you and get the first down. However, there really is no denying that the throw was absolutely perfect (and it needed to be). That is the type of talent this kid has. I believe he has gotten so used to having to rely on his superior talent due to his less than ideal surrounding circumstances, that he doesnt really have the proper feel when things actually go right – and he doesnt have to force it. Hopefully, with improved weapons, an improved offensive line, and more experience, he will get that corrected. It is so easy to jump on the quarterback when throws are missed. However, I watch a lot of football, and I consistently see receivers making their quarterback look good. Whether that’s turning on the jets to catch up to a ball that may be slightly overthrown, high pointing balls and making contested catches, or coming back to underthrown balls and either making a play or getting a DPI. That doesn’t happen for Sam. When plays are made by our offense, it is typically because Sam is perfect. I look forward to this improving as the talent around him improves. All hail Sam and Joe Douglas.

-LawyerUp21$

On Sam Darnold:

Thing that’s easy to forget about Darnold is that he should be a senior at USC this year. He’s keeping his head above water in an offense with close to nothing. I’m still pretty hopeful.

-John B

On the new Patriots video taping scandal:

You know it’s bad when you have to cheat to beat the Bengals… At least we lose to them with honor!

-Tamarack

On Le’Veon Bell going bowling:

Is it true Bell bowled a 251?

If so, I’m glad he went bowling. Better than anything he’s done on the field thus far

-Dr Football

On the state of the Jets:

Quick Hits

Bell – Hate Bell’s contract all you want, Gase is not using Bell properly. I can’t understand how hard that is to understand. Our O-Line is…well, fill in Your own adjective. Continuing to primarily choose to plow Bell between the tackles, as opposed to using him more out wide, in the slot, and screens, is mind numbing. If Gregg Williams can recognize what his side of the ball can and can’t do, why the hell can’t Gase? Total waste of a valuable weapon for Sam. Will Bell ever be the Bell of Pittsburgh? I doubt it. But Gase’s scheming for Bell is ridiculous. Robby – 100% a complimentary WR. I wouldn’t pay him $10M. Hell I wouldn’t pay him $8M. But as JB noted, the FA WR’s are not enticing at all. Thus I think the Jets will easily step to $8M, perhaps (gulp) $10M. I think Robby will get $12M. I hope it’s not from us. Gase & Sam – I’ve watched a handful of the Film Breakdown segments Gase has done with Eric Allen. And He’s really good at that. Yet for whatever the reason, Gase can’t translate this to the Field. He’s a geeked out “Playstation/Madden” OC, AT BEST. And even calling him and OC is a stretch, because Gase needs a QB like Peyton Manning to look at the encyclopedia plays, pick the best one, OR audible out of that. Sam isn’t even close to that level right now. Who knows if He will ever be. To me Sam is one of those guys who NEEDS a Good Coach in his ear helping him, be it OC or QB or HC. But Gase sure as hell isn’t helping. I feel like the Jets are wasting an opportunity to see if they have a Franchise QB. As JB noted, Gase needs to be the HC. That’s it. Get a real OC or promote Cooter. Get a QB Coach. Yet I don’t see either happening. So glad CJ gave Gase 2020 Draft – Simple. It’s the same mantra I’ve been saying for years: If at all possible TRADE DOWN and TRADE DOWN OFTEN. We need as many lottery tickets as possible.

-yowizeguy

So there you have it, Gang Green Nation’s Highlight Reel. Want to be featured next week? Just keep doing what you do, and more importantly, keep being who you are—after all, YOU’RE what makes Gang Green Nation so great!

Poll

Should the NFL penalize the Patriots for the new taping scandal?

This poll is closed

  • 77%
    Yes
    (35 votes)
  • 4%
    No
    (2 votes)
  • 17%
    Meh
    (8 votes)
45 votes total Vote Now