To his left, rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu. To his right, second-year center Joe Tippmann. The man between them is right guard John Simpson, a 5-year veteran who signed a 2-year contract with the Green & White last March after a season with the Ravens.
For the past month or so, the Jets have trotted out the same five players on the offensive line -- with 25-year-old Alijah Vera-Tucker and the veteran warrior Morgan Moses on the right side. That sort of continuity helped to keep QB Aaron Rodgers upright and throwing darts in Sunday's win at Jacksonville. And Rodgers took note.
"I just want to say one more time ... the offensive line I thought played an outstanding game, and I had all day to throw," Rodgers said after the 32-25 victory at Jacksonville.
For Simpson, the strong and steady play of Fashanu and Tippmann augurs well for the future. On Sunday, Rodgers was sacked once (for 14 yards) and left the game largely unscathed.
"It's really important just having all the same guys out there at the same time as this," said Simpson, who has started and play all 14 games (94% of the snaps). "I think it's vital to our success."
Fashanu, who stepped in to replace the injured veteran Tyron Smith, has drawn raves for his quick study and strong play. Simpson is among his biggest fans. He has played 100% of the snaps on offense the past four games.
"He's a stud man," Simpson said of the Penn State product. "He's balling right now. They draft him in the first round [No. 11 overall] to do exactly what he's doing. He's balling. And he's a guy that came in from Day 1 and just put his head down and went to work, didn't really complain, never complaining. Just the guy that's willing to do whatever it takes to help the team, and that's all you can ask."
That "everything" is stepping in at right guard and right tackle for a spell earlier this season, positions that Fashanu had never played -- or even thought about playing.
"He's a genius," Simpson said. "Because this kid, I don't know what his GPA was in college, but he's smart. He's super smart. And you know, any questions that coach has to ask, he knows it and rips it off. So playing next to somebody like that just gives you confidence to be able to play at your absolute best. And that's all I can ask."
Jeff Ulbrich: In Praise of Aaron Rodgers
After completing 16-of-30 passes for 289 yards and 3 TDs -- plus leading the Jets in rushing with 45 yards -- on Sunday, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on Monday marveled at the recent play of Aaron Rodgers, his 41-year-old quarterback.
"He struggled with injury for a good part of the season, and as he started to get healthier, you're starting to see Aaron Rodgers, the real Rodgers," Ulbrich said on Monday. "It probably should be celebrated more than it is right now, but also I get it from the standpoint of our record and the lack of success from a team perspective. But in the last couple games it's been really cool for him to get back into form."
Without the benefit of a crystal ball, Ulbrich was asked if he foresees Rodgers playing beyond this season.
"I don't ask myself that question or think about that very often, just from the standpoint we're so in the moment and trying to get ready for opponents and to be at our best in that way," he said. "But I would say, after seeing him run around the last couple weeks and getting his mobility back and getting his health back, every part of me is like, this guy's got a couple more years, at the very least, left in him. So I think it's gonna be a conversation between him and him. And if he maintains good health, he's a guy that I would love to see play longer just because he is such a special player."
LB Jamien Sherwood Keeps His Head About Him
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood missed 11 of the defense's 84 total snaps while being evaluated for a concussion, but still led the team in tackles with 9.
Late in the second quarter of Sunday's victory at Jacksonville, officials suspected that Sherwood, who is among the top tacklers in the league this season (tied for third overall with 134 combined; fourth in solo tackles with 70) might have sustained a concussion. After a trip to the blue tent and a walk to the locker room for additional evaluation, Sherwood returned and finished the game.
"They [the officials] thought I had a concussion," he said. "I didn't know. I made a tackle. I got up. The referee asked me if I was OK. Then I stepped on one of my teammates' shoes, and I stumbled a little bit. So, he thought I was busy, and he just sent me to the sideline to get evaluated real quick. Went in the locker room, did the test, and then I came back in the second half ready to go."
Sherwood, who has been an able replacement for the injured captain C.J. Mosley, has been a tackling machine since becoming a starter. He logged 17 against Arizona on Nov. 10 and bested that with 18 against Miami on Dec. 5.
He said he was desperate to convince the medical staff that he was clear-headed.
"Once I went in the tent, I was telling him [the independent medical professional], 'I'm OK. I'm OK. There's nothing wrong with me.' They're checking my eyes and checking my head and making sure everything's OK. I'm telling them that I'm OK, because I just want to battle with my brothers. It was a close game at that point. So, I feel like whenever I have the opportunity to go out there and play alongside of one of these players on the team, I want to give them everything that I have in me. I love the game so much. I love the player next to me so much, I just want to go out there and play for them. So if I'm OK, I want to, I want to play."
