Just had to add on this NE comparison that just because Sudfield was cut by them does not mean that was the right move. Reports out of Jet camp are that Sudfield has been playing very well. The Jets are likely to keep three TE;s, and Sudfield is likely to be one of them. in fact word of Amaro struggling might mean Sudfield gets significant playing time. He's a big guy who seems athletic from what i recall last year. And of course as a Jet fan I would particularly like him to succeed with the team after NE cut him. We all would. Makes it that much sweeter.
Yeah, if Sudfield keeps this up it will allow Amaro to learn at his own pace and not get thrown into the fire too quickly. If could be better for him and team in the long run. I know a lot of people want Amaro to make an immediate impact, especially because he was a 2nd round pick, but It doesn't look Amaro will be Gronk anytime soon.
As a mid season NE cut, Sudfield did not get a camp and preseason with the Jets, ended up playing with an awful Qb, had to learn a new system that was also new to the rest of the O, but in mid season. Yet he made a contribution, and it sounds like he is one player who has really stepped it up so far. since Cumberland is unfortunately not the player we'd hoped for, Sudfield as you say could take pressure of Amaro.
He was obviously a UDFA last year but Sudfield was a monster in TC for us too, easily the offseason/TC star of the roster. Then the regular season came, 0 catches, and he was responsible for I believe 4 turnovers in 3 or 4 games before he was cut. Pace yourselves on his expectations, NE heard all of the same reports about the kid in TC.
Sudfeld was raved about all last year to with the Patriots, I think they cut him when Gronk came back because they didnt have room on the roster.
I think the guy has upside and is worth keeping. He looks athletic enough as he's more of a pass-catching type. Obviously, if he can't block that sucks and means he's limited. But with the other weapons out there now, I can see this dude making some plays.
I don't know how much stock to put into last years games. The Patriots got hit pretty hard by the injury bug last year. Their entire run defense with on IR basically, and I think it was Gronk's first time back on the field. Who knows what their WRs are going to produce this year but with Revis and Browner and all of their injured players returning to their front 7 that were missing last year, I imagine their defense is going to be pretty damn good. With that defense and our QB not showing a whole lot of ability for reading defenses, I can see the potential for both games going bad. The Jets are on the upswing but with all the question marks surrounding some positions and players, the strength of schedule, Gronk back, NE's new secondary, I just don't think 2014 is really going to reflect the strides that have been made
^^True, that the Patriots Defense should be much improved. But can't you say the same for both our Offense and Defense?
Hard to tell yet. I know our defensive line is probably the best in the AFC, and the defensive unit over all looks promising, but I still think we have a huge question mark at the QB position. Geno showed some moments, and maybe this year he'll become a play maker. On the other hand, a knock on him is his ability to read defenses, and if that's the case, Revis + Belichick schemes + 2014 Pat defense might be a major problem. I'm still pissed off we didn't get Revis back. I was against letting him go to begin with, and I'm still dumb founded that he's now a Patriot. I know a lot of bandwagon types are on the Sherman hype right now, and Sherman is really good, but I don't believe there's a better Corner in the league than Revis, and I was reading he's been owning Brady all training camp, so he seems to be back to 100%. If the Jets are going to beat the Patriots it's going to be running the ball, clock management, and staying the hell away from Revis Island. Wow is it like a punch in the gut to say that.
Sudfeld is a decent asset to have right now. He's hungry. He obviously has some talent. He presents a matchup problem for some of the people who will have to cover him. I don't really know what is going to happen with Amaro at this point. He played in a spread in college and he ran a few routes very effectively out of that spread. If you gave him to Brady he'd be a nightmare to cover. I don't think it's coincidental or random that he's having trouble picking up the Jets WCO. I think it is possible that they're going to wind up using him as a slot receiver instead of a TE and only in spread packages. Whether he can be an NFL TE in the traditional sense is an open question at this point. Hopefully he'll answer the question in the affirmative.
Given all that, and Cumberland being underwhelming, you have to wonder if even 3 TE's will be enough to cary on the roster. I know it's a numbers game, but... Hopefully Sudfield can do better with his blocking, and that would really take some pressure off the O
We played them within 3 points both games when I thought we would surely get blown out with a second start rookie. I say we got better and should fare just as well....but they did get Revis?
