The Pup is Getting More on His PlateIn his second game back from an ankle injury, Darron Lee tied for a team-high with 11 tackles and played every defensive snap in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Patriots. In some sub packages, Lee was the only linebacker on the field and was therefore given the responsibility of calling the plays, a duty that typically belongs to 10-year vet David Harris.
"A couple times on third down I was a dime linebacker, so I had to make the call," he said. "I was the only linebacker there. So it was making calls and whatever adjustments to the formation that we were getting. But playing every down, I was fine. I didn't feel like that was too much. I did that type of stuff when I was in college. I can go all day, I'll be out there whenever they need me."
The 6'1", 232-pounder found himself at the center of attention late in the game as Lee was in coverage on Patriots RB James White's fourth-down conversion, which later led to WR Malcolm Mitchell's go-ahead score. Lee said that after watching the film, he wished he took two steps to his left prior to the snap.
"I was giving a show up towards the end in B-gap," he said. "Just bluffing for a blitz, but we were in man-to-man. Given the splits of the running back, I should've been a little wider instead of stunting and showing like I was going to blitz. For me, all I had to do was take two steps wider and I would've beat him to the point and he probably wouldn't have gotten those four yards."
Age Is Just a NumberThis may be WR Brandon Marshall's 11th year in the league, but he is still consistently producing at a high level. In Sunday's game, he moved into 25th place all-time in receiving yards, surpassing Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. He also extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 155, the second-longest active streak in the NFL (Larry Fitzgerald) while finishing the day with six receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown.
"I feel great. My body feels better than it did any other time in the last four years," he said. "Obviously every year you get banged up. And the guys who are able to consistently at a high level through pain and some of those bumps and bruises, you're never 100%. So I feel great when I look at the circumstances and physically I feel like I can play well into my mid-30s. No plans on retiring, no plans on switching teams. I'd love to stay here and retire as a Jet. I have to continue to focus on what I can control what I can on and off the field."
Uncle BrandonIt's no secret that receiving counterpart Quincy Enunwa has burst onto the NFL radar this season. Marshall, someone that embraces the role of helping hand, has played a big role in Enunwa's development. In the latest chapter, Enunwa hauled in an acrobatic 22-yard catch in the back of the end zone, high-pointing the ball over CB Malcolm Butler and landing in bounds thanks to his backside. The second-year player also recorded a 40-yarder en route to his first 100-yard game as a pro.
"Man, I just feel like I proud uncle," Marshall said. "Obviously he puts in the work, it's him. He's a freak, he's gifted. But to see how far he's come from last year to this year, talking about the little things. I remember when he first got here, he used to run his routes so hard and so aggressive, I felt like he was going to break his legs on every single route. For us to talk about being smoother in and out of his breaks. Last year, he would run right through a zone and we would sit there and talk about it. We'd pull up film the different things he could get across the middle. He's done an excellent job of taking what we're talking about on the practice field, in the meeting rooms and executing on Sundays. It's awesome to see a guy that you know has potential and really work at it and take it to the next level."
Status Quo at QBHead coach Todd Bowles declared QB Ryan Fitzpatrick remains starter for Monday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Fitzpatrick had his best game of the season against New England, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns while completing 68.8% of his passes for a rating of 115.2.
"We're all fighters. We're all trying to win every game whether we're trying to get to 8-8 or 16-0," Bowles said. "We're trying to win ball games, it's not about Bryce or Fitz, it's about our team trying to win ball games. Right now Fitz is our starter, he gives us a good chance to win."
Heart in ColumbusA Columbus native and former Buckeye, Lee was asked how the news was broken to him regarding the active shooter on Ohio State's campus Monday morning.
"Obviously, for those who are affected: my thoughts and prayers are with them and their families," he said. "One casualty, you don't want to see that. But I had found out through my friends and I still get the alerts from when I was still there. Obviously it's a tragedy, it's terrible."
InjuriesS Calvin Pryor sustained a concussion in Sunday's game and DL Steve McLendon has a tight hamstring.
