BENNY & THE JETS
Early turbulence for new Giants coach as Gang tries to fine-tune in MetLife showdown
There are different levels of preseason hysteria.
Neither the Jets nor Giants have particularly impressed this preseason, but that could mean nothing or everything depending on the team, says SiriusXM analyst and former NFL safety Solomon Wilcots.
The Jets are coming off a 10-6 season and the offseason contract squabbles with Muhammad Wilkerson and Ryan Fitzpatrick are now behind them. While the Giants are trying to jell on the fly after rebuilding their team and coaching staff this offseason. Being outscored 48-10 combined by the Dolphins and Bills in their first two games may not be cause for alarm, but it’s not calming anyone’s nerves, either. “The one thing you had with Tom Coughlin was that he was the guy in control,” Wilcots said. “When they got off to a bad starts, losing games in undisciplined ways, you knew Tom Coughlin was going to get it fixed. That wasn’t a question, the only question was at whose expense would it be fixed. “But now Ben McAdoo is in position where he has to solidify his personality and mindset and fuse it with the team. In what way will he put his stamp on this football team? … Ben McAdoo has some big shoes to fill and the same people who wanted Tom Coughlin out will start missing him if things aren’t dealt with correctly — and people will start to long for the days of Tom Coughlin.”
McAdoo will get his first taste of the Giants-Jets rivalry (are we still calling it the Snoopy Bowl?) Saturday when the locals have their annual preseason showdown. Todd Bowles, now in his second year as Jets coach, could be more interested in doing some fine-tuning. After an offseason filled with Fitzpatrick stories, now the question is who will back him up after Bryce Petty’s impressive start to the preseason.
Despite Geno Smith’s up-anddown play, he will be the second quarterback used on Saturday night with a chance to nail down the role and possibly put Petty’s roster spot in peril.
“The only question that matters: Do you feel more comfortable with Petty in there or Geno [Smith]?” Wilcots said. “I know many aren’t high on Geno, but I am not handing this team over to Bryce Petty.
“If he throws a one-hopper, Brandon Marshall is going to let him know about it. I’d rather have — and I know it ain’t much — Geno. Knowing the offense Bryce had in Baylor, I am not sure he conquered all of that in one season.”
One player Wilcots is not worried about adjusting to the NFL is rookie linebacker Darron Lee. The speedy former Ohio State star has impressed in training camp and preseason.
“Speed is the name of the game and this kid has plenty of it, and lots of playmaking ability,” Wilcots said. “He’s an asset that any defense would love to have. He is the kind of player that can run, cover, hit in the open field, who can play like a defensive back, be physical enough at 230 pounds to play like a linebacker. He was a luxury pick that gives this defense much greater versatility.”