The Jets enter the stretch run of their season with five rookie starters. So will their playoff push crash into the dreaded “rookie wall?”
We’re getting close to the point in an NFL season when rookies enter uncharted territory. Players are used to finishing their college seasons at the end of November and then preparing for bowl games. Now, they are staring at another two months to go. It sometimes causes rookies to get fatigued and their play drops off.
“I think everyone’s different,” quarterback Geno Smith said. “If I feel I’m going to hit a rookie wall, I’m the type of guy that’s going to wake myself up and snap right out of it. I don’t think that should be too much of a problem.”
Smith is the most prominent rookie on the Jets, but they also start Sheldon Richardson on the defensive line, Dee Milliner at cornerback, Brian Winters at left guard and Tommy Bohanon at fullback. That is a lot of youth to be counting on and if a few of them stumble in the final seven games, it could cost the Jets.
Richardson laughed off the rookie wall. He said all players are fighting through things at this time of the year, no matter their age. Richardson has had the best season of any of the Jets rookies and is a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“Am I thinking about Rookie of the Year? I’m thinking about something more than that,” Richardson said. “Super Bowl. I want a home game. I want to come in on the train, all that. One step at a time. One week at a time. If Rookie of the Year comes with it, I’ll have no complaints.”
Richardson, the 13th pick in April’s draft, has 55 tackles and 2 ½ sacks. He said this draft class is very close and are proud that so many of them are in the starting lineup already.
“We most definitely take pride in that,” Richardson said. “When Dee Milliner is doing something wrong or he’s messing up on the field or I’m doing something I need to be doing we’ll come to each other and say something for inspiration. It could be the smallest thing just, ‘get going’ or ‘whatever you’re thinking about, let it go and start balling.’ We all know we can play.”
Milliner, the team’s first selection, has struggled the most of the five rookie starters, but he played his best game in the Jets’ victory over the Saints two weeks ago.
With all this reliance on youth, Rex Ryan said he thinks the rookies just have to stay focused on each week’s game to avoid hitting any walls.
“I don’t sense it right now. Maybe it’s too early in the season,” Ryan said of the rookies getting fatigued. “But if you do get to it, there is no bowl preparation time, you’re right about it. Right here it’s man, this is it (pounding his fist into his hand). I think it’s part of just keeping your focus on a week-to-week basis and not trying to get to the finish line. This is the job at hand right now. It’s all about this. I think that helps that.”
Smith, who dealt with a sprained ankle in training camp, said he has been able to stay healthy this season and it has not worn on him.
“Physically, I feel great,” Smith said. “That’s always been my thing. I really don’t get sore after games. Knock on wood, I’ve never really been sore after games. I’ve been playing football my entire life. I just go out and practice hard, I play hard and I think that keeps me away from being injured.”