{"id":48045,"date":"2023-09-22T06:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T10:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=48045"},"modified":"2023-09-21T21:13:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T01:13:29","slug":"morse-preview-of-game-3-patriots-at-new-york-jets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2023\/09\/22\/morse-preview-of-game-3-patriots-at-new-york-jets\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: Preview of Game 3 – Patriots at New York Jets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Jets were the Off-season favorites to challenge the Buffalo Bills for the Eastern Division Championship in 2023.\u00a0 When they acquired QB Aaron Rodgers they immediately became media darlings.\u00a0 They were featured on HBO\u2019s hard Knocks a look inside an NFL Training Camp.\u00a0 It was nothing but an Aaron Rodgers love fest.\u00a0 That love fest ended 4 plays into the 2023 season when Rodgers blew out his Achilles and is out for the season.\u00a0 Zach Wilson is back in charge of the Jets.\u00a0 The Patriots beat Wilson and the Jets twice last season and have won 14 straight games against them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nOffense<\/strong><\/td>\n3WR 1TE<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSTARTER<\/strong><\/td>\n2ND<\/strong><\/td>\n3RD<\/strong><\/td>\n4TH<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
QB<\/td>\nZach Wilson<\/td>\nTim Boyle<\/td>\nAaron Rodgers IR<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RB<\/td>\nBreece Hall Q<\/td>\nDalvin Cook<\/td>\nMichael Carter<\/td>\nIsrael Abanikanda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WR<\/td>\nGarrett Wilson<\/td>\nMecole Hardman<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WR<\/td>\nAllen Lazard<\/td>\nXavier Gipson<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WR<\/td>\nRandall Cobb<\/td>\nJason Brownlee<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TE<\/td>\nTyler Conklin<\/td>\nC.J. Uzomah<\/td>\nJeremy Ruckert<\/td>\nKenny Yeboah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FB<\/td>\nNick Bawden<\/td>\n<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LT<\/td>\nDuane\u00a0Brown<\/td>\nBilly\u00a0Turner<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LG<\/td>\nLaken\u00a0Tomlinson<\/td>\nWes Schweitzer<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C<\/td>\nConnor McGovern<\/td>\nJoe Tippmann<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RG<\/td>\nAlijah Vera-Tucker<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RT<\/td>\nMekhi Becton\u00a0Q<\/td>\nMax Mitchell<\/td>\nCarter Warren IR<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wilson has been a game manager and won\u2019t win the 1-1 Jets any games himself.\u00a0 The Jets have a terrific defense (top 10 in 7 of last 10 games), but a very bad offense when they have a mediocre quarterback.\u00a0 Rather than go with Wilson, the Jets should go out and sign Tom Brady or Matt Ryan.\u00a0 \u00a0Wilson in two games was 26 of 48 (54.2%) for 310 yards. 2 TDs and 4 INTs.\u00a0 Wilson ranked 34th<\/sup> in the league in completion percentage.\u00a0 Tim Boyle is the backup.\u00a0 The former UConn QB has a career completion percentage of 62.3% but had thrown for only 2 TDs but has 8 INTs in his 5-year career!<\/p>\n

The Jets Offensive line is not very good.\u00a0 Last season they had a 35.9% Pressure rate.\u00a0 It has already cost them their top QB.\u00a0 Mekhi Becton is fighting injuries already and their best lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker missed more games than he played last year.\u00a0 Through two games Vera-Tucker is rated at 72.5 by PFF and is number 10 overall in the league.\u00a0 \u00a0Laken Tomlinson is only slightly better than Cole Strange and you know how bad Strange played last week. \u00a0Duane Brown is 38 and a 15-year veteran, but it appears he has nothing left in the tank and is a shell of the former 3 x All-Pro and 5 x Pro-Bowl player he was.\u00a0 His rating by PFF is 56th<\/sup> in the league.\u00a0 Mekhi Becton is even worse at 69th<\/sup> according to PFF. \u00a0Center Connor McGovern isn\u2019t much better and is ranked 32nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Runningback has been strengthened by the signing of Dalvin Cook.\u00a0 But Cook has only 40 yards rushing so far.\u00a0 Breece Hall leads the team with 136 yards rushing and a 9.7 yards per carry.\u00a0 Neither has a rushing TD.\u00a0 Zach Wilson has more yards rushing than Cook with 42.\u00a0\u00a0 If the Offensive line can\u2019t block then the Jets will go nowhere.\u00a0 This sounds familiar.<\/p>\n

I feel very bad for Garrett Wilson, last season\u2019s Rookie Offensive Player of the Year.\u00a0 He was looking forward to having a legitimate star QB tossing him the ball, now he has noodle armed Zach Wilson once again.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The Jets went out and got Aaron Rodgers former targets in Allan Lazard and Randall Cobb.\u00a0 I understand that, but Wilson is now the QB and he has no familiarity with these receivers.\u00a0 \u00a0Garrett Wilson has both the teams receiving TDs. Tyler Conklin is the TE but he is not much of a threat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nDefense<\/strong><\/td>\nBase 4-3 D<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSTARTER<\/strong><\/td>\n2ND<\/strong><\/td>\n3RD<\/strong><\/td>\n4TH<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LDE<\/td>\nJohn\u00a0Franklin-Myers Q<\/td>\nBryce Huff<\/td>\nIfeadi Odenigbo\u00a0IR<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LDT<\/td>\nQuinton\u00a0Jefferson<\/td>\nSolomon\u00a0Thomas<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RDT<\/td>\nQuinnen\u00a0Williams<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RDE<\/td>\nJermaine\u00a0Johnson<\/td>\nCarl Lawson<\/td>\nWill\u00a0McDonald<\/td>\nBradlee Anae\u00a0IR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WLB<\/td>\nJamien Sherwood<\/td>\nZaire Barnes<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MLB<\/td>\nC.J. Mosley<\/td>\nChazz\u00a0Surratt<\/td>\nHamsah Nasirildeen\u00a0IR<\/td>\nMaalik\u00a0Hall IR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SLB<\/td>\nQuincy\u00a0Williams Q<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LCB<\/td>\nSauce Gardner<\/td>\nMichael Carter Q<\/td>\nJustin Hardee<\/td>\nJarrick\u00a0Bernard-Converse O<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SS<\/td>\nJordan Whitehead<\/td>\nAshtyn\u00a0Davis<\/td>\nChuck Clark\u00a0IR<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FS<\/td>\nTony\u00a0Adams Q<\/td>\nAdrian Amos<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RCB<\/td>\nD.J. Reed<\/td>\nBrandin Echols<\/td>\nBryce\u00a0Hall<\/td>\nJavelin Guidry\u00a0IR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Jets Defense is legitimate.\u00a0 As stated earlier, they have been top 10 in 7 of last 10 years.\u00a0 They won the 1st<\/sup> game of the year, a 20-16 OT upset of the Buffalo Bills with their Defense.\u00a0 Safety Jordan Whitehead had 3 Interceptions (meeting his season incentive bonus) in the game.\u00a0 They sacked Josh Allen 5 times and had 8 Tackles For Loss (TFL).\u00a0 Last week they gave up 30 points to the Dallas Cowboys (who just might be the best team in the NFC) and had no interception of Dak Prescott.\u00a0 Coach Robert Saleh said the Cowboys just wore them out.\u00a0 They also recorded just one sack against a top O-line.\u00a0 A big difference playing on the road versus playing at home.<\/p>\n

Quinnen Williams is a force out there in the pits.\u00a0 The 2019 1st<\/sup> round pick was the number 3 overall selection from Alabama.\u00a0 \u00a0The DT made the All-Pro and Pro Bowl team\u2019s last season.\u00a0 In the two games he has 11 tackles and 3 Tackles for Loss (TFL).\u00a0 His brother LB Quincy Willaims leads the team in tackles with 17, 16 of those were solo.\u00a0 He also had 2 Pass Deflections and a TFL.\u00a0 Quentin Jefferson the other DT is no slouch.\u00a0 He has 2 sacks.\u00a0 LB Jermaine Johnson and DE John Franklin-Myers are formidable.\u00a0 Both put pressure on the QB.\u00a0 The Patriots Offensive Line is in for a big test.\u00a0 The Jets front four are better than Philadelphia\u2019s.\u00a0 The pats O-line made Andrew Van Ginkel look like an All-Pro last week.\u00a0 These guys are better than Miami\u2019s front.<\/p>\n

CJ Mosely is one of the best Inside Linebackers in the league.\u00a0 He is tied for 2nd<\/sup> with 16 tackles, 10 of which are solo.\u00a0 This is what Bill Belichick had to say about Moseley, \u201cI think Mosley is really a guy who is really the key guy for them on the defense,\u201d Belichick said. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the best, most instinctive players in the league. Always a problem. Really hard guy to fool or to get on anything. He makes tackles on the line of scrimmage, and he breaks up passes 15-20 yards downfield. Really, really good player. One of the best we\u2019ll see all year, one of the best in the league for sure.\u201d \u00a0Jamien Sherwood is an up-and-coming player.\u00a0 The 2021 5th<\/sup> round selection blew out his Achilles in 2021 and was put on IR.\u00a0 He started at Weak Side Linebacker in week 1 and has performed well so far.\u00a0 They have tremendous depth on Defense too with, DE Bryce Hall, DE Carl Lawson and DT Solomon Torres.<\/p>\n

The DB\u2019s are led by Sauce Gardner.\u00a0 The 2021 1st<\/sup> round pick, #4 overall does not lack confidence.\u00a0 He was Defensive Rookie of the Year, All-Pro and Pro-Bowl selection last season.\u00a0 The other cornerback is tied with CJ Moseley with 16 tackles on the season.\u00a0 DJ Reed is a very good DB and complimentary back to Gardner.\u00a0 Michael Carter is a trusted backup \/ third down nickel back.\u00a0 Jordan Whitehead is off to a fast start with the 3 INTs vs Buffalo.\u00a0 Tony Adams is the other Safety and he was an Undrafted Free Agent signed last year. \u00a0\u00a0The Illinois product has 10 tackles in the two games this season.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSpecial Teams<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSTARTER<\/strong><\/td>\n2ND<\/strong><\/td>\n3RD<\/strong><\/td>\n4TH<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PK<\/td>\nGreg Zuerlein Q<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P<\/td>\nThomas Morstead<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
H<\/td>\nThomas\u00a0Morstead<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PR<\/td>\nXavier Gipson<\/td>\nMecole Hardman<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KR<\/td>\nXavier Gipson<\/td>\nMecole Hardman<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LS<\/td>\nThomas Hennessy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Xavier Gipson is ranked 13th<\/sup> after two games in Punt Returns.\u00a0 Mecole Hardman is a dangerous return man as well.\u00a0 Kicker Greg Zurlein has a reputation for having a big kicking leg and kicked the game winning Field Goal against the Bills.\u00a0 He is listed as Questionable with a groin injury this week. \u00a0\u00a0Thomas Morestead is ranked 11th<\/sup> so far this season. \u00a0Patriots\u2019 punter Bryce Baringer ranks 9th<\/sup> but had 6 kicks inside the 20, the most of any punter in the league.\u00a0 That is 66% of his kicks inside the 20.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Injury Status <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tony Adams and Duane Brown were as Did Not Practice the last two days. \u00a0\u00a0John Franklin-Meyers, Mekhi Becton, Greg Zurlein, Michael Carter, and Quincy Williams were Limited.\u00a0 This should be monitored as things get closer to game day.<\/p>\n