We’re going to try something new here. Plenty of people hand out game balls after the game. That’s easy. Watch the game, see who does well, give them the game ball. Let’s do something a little more difficult. Let’s hand out a pre-game ball. Before we watch the game, let’s settle on one player we think might be a decisive advantage for the Jets in the upcoming game. Occasionally we might hand out a pre-blame ball. If we think the Jets are going to get slaughtered, we’ll try to identify a prime culprit.
One caveat: the quarterback is off limits. Nothing personal against quarterbacks, but they are obviously the most important players on the field. We could give out a pre-game or pre-blame ball to the quarterback virtually every week, but that would be boring, so we’re not going to do it. We’ll try to identify somebody besides the quarterback for the glory or the ignominy.
This approach comes with the obvious drawback that predictions are difficult, especially about the future. We’ll probably get most of these wildly wrong. No matter. We’ll have some laughs along the way. So without further ado, let’s get to it.
The inaugural Jets pre-game ball for the Jets game against the Green Bay Packers goes to (drum roll please) – Kenyon Sadiq.
This game might be a bit early for a Sadiq breakout. He missed virtually the entire offseason for the Jets and is still getting integrated into the offense. No matter. Go big or go home, right? Since I’m already home, I’m going big.
The Green Bay Packers have struggled recently defending against tight ends. Last week T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver combined for 6 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. Last year, in 18 games including the playoffs, the Packers gave up 105 receptions for 902 yards and six touchdowns to tight ends.
Against teams that featured better, more athletic tight ends, in nine games the Packers gave up a combined 57 receptions for 552 yards and four touchdowns. Those came against a combination of Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Harold Fannin, Jake Ferguson, Tre McBride, Dallas Goedert, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Colston Loveland. Kenyon Sadiq has obviously not yet earned a place among the NFL’s best tight ends yet, but he is more athletic than any of those guys, and has the potential to swiftly rise up the ranks. Why not start the rising right now?
The Jets are down to just four wide receivers today. Two of the four, Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith, have yet to make an impact as NFL receivers. The Jets will likely respond to the lack of established targets at wide receiver with a bunch of heavy, multiple tight end sets. They showed last week they wanted to get Sadiq involved in a variety of ways early, despite his lack of practice reps. Why not make this Sadiq’s coming out party?
This is probably way too early for the rookie, but what the heck? Let’s have some fun. Kenyon Sadiq, come on down! Let’s see you light up the Packers on a dreary, rainy Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford. You get our first ever pre-game ball. Try not to drop it.
What about you? Who would you give the pre-game ball to? Let us know in the comments.
