Tight end Keller arrives BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, November 9th 2008, 8:20 PM Sipkin/News Brett Favre says Dustin Keller has a bright future in the NFL. It took nine games, but rookie TE Dustin Keller finally displayed his big-play potential, recording his first 100-yard game in the Jets' 47-3 rout of the Rams yesterday at the Meadowlands. "I told him I wish I had him when I was younger," QB Brett Favre said of the first-round pick, who set career highs with catches (six) and yards (107) and scored his third TD. "He's going to have a lot of 100-yard days, a lot of big plays. He has no idea how good he can be." Keller's biggest play was a 54-yard reception on a terrific play-action fake by Favre. GET BRETT: Eric Mangini waited until the 11:09 mark in the fourth quarter, ahead 47-3, before pulling Favre. Why so late? "I had that experience against Arizona not too long ago," he said. "That's what we were going off of." In Week 4, the Jets led at halftime, 35-0, only to see the Cards close to within 13. FEELY GOOD: With injured PK Mike Nugent almost ready to return, Jay Feely responded with his best game of the season. Coincidence? He was 4-for-4, including a 55-yarder. That tied a team record, shared by Pat Leahy (1985) and John Hall (1997). "I'm not really worried about (the competition)," Feely said. SAFETY FIRST: S Kerry Rhodes recorded his first interception of the season, ending an 11-game drought. "Oh, man, it felt like I had a fat ape or gorilla on my back," he said. Rhodes set up Hank Poteat's interception, deflecting a pass in the end zone. NOT HALF BAD: The Jets led at the half 40-0, tied for the second-largest halftime lead in NFL history. The largest is 42, the Packers over the Bucs in 1983. STRIP SEARCH: For the second straight game, S Abram Elam, starting for the injured Eric Smith (multiple concussions), made one of the key plays. His strip sack on Marc Bulger resulted in Calvin Pace's 50-yard fumble return for a TD. Last week, Elam scored on a 92-yard interception return. "He generates points," Mangini said of Elam. It was the first sack of Elam's career, and Pace's first TD since high school. HANDYMAN: Second-year G Rob Turner wears many hats. For the third straight week, he played tight end. He also did mop-up duty at guard and played center for two plays when Nick Mangold sat out with a lower-back injury. Some teammates, in a joking fashion, were reluctant to talk about Turner, lest he get a big ego. "Next thing you know, he'll come in here wearing a Speedo," FB Tony Richardson said. OUCH: ILB David Bowens started for David Harris (groin surgery) for the second straight week. Cody Spencer started the second half. ... Rookie CB Dwight Lowery continued to struggle, with two penalties. ... TE Bubba Franks (hip), CB Justin Miller and WR David Clowney were among the inactives.
Lowery made up for one catch he gave up by stripping the ball during the tackle. Also Elam has played well with the opportunities he has been given. Cant complain about that.
Bullshit, Lowery struggled. Watch the game, dickhead. Lowery shut down Torry Holt, forced a fumble, played excellent run support including a real nasty TFL, and acted like a gentleman when he got raped by a flag in the end zone. Friggin' criteria the media uses to evaluate talent in secondaries is bogus. "No picks?! Two penalties?! Jeez, what a crappy cornerback!" Never mind the fact that he's got 41 solo tackles. Never mind the fact that he leads ALL DEFENSIVE BACKS IN THE NFL with 3 forced fumbles. "Picks and penalties, that's how we judge corners." I will take Dwight Lowery's quiet "struggles" over the success of a Deangelo Hall any day of the week.
On the Lowery penalty in the end zone, he didn't need to interfere. He'd have had the coverage anyway. I think Lowery will continue to struggle until he gets perfect technique, because he isn't a speed guy. He could use some mentoring from a guy like Ty law, who was never the fastest CB but became one of the best. Not that I want Law on this team again, but Lowery could see out the help on his own.
"OUCH: ILB David Bowens started for David Harris (groin surgery) for the second straight week. Cody Spencer started the second half. ... " What does that mean? Was Bowens hurt?
Keller should play and play alot going forward. T/E or slot receiver but this kid needs to be in the game. Period!
It was only a matter of time before he started to get rolling. I love the mismatches he creates. He is going to have to come up huge if we are going to have a chance against the Pats.
Loved the draft pick, love the idea of him on the Jets. Hopefully it all comes together, and for years on end.
Defense was ruthless and our offense line over powered the rams and we killed em. Now we gotta win a big one up in New England.
