Targeting Dee Milliner
September 6th, 2013
The Jets are expecting the Bucs to come after their prized rookie
The Jets may or may not test Darrelle Revis, but the Bucs surely will be coming after the guy who replaced him on the Jets.
In some ways, the Jets traded Revis to the Bucs for rookie cornerback Dee Milliner out of Alabama and a third-round pick.
Milliner is who the Jets snagged in the draft with their 2013 first-round pick after sending Revis to Tampa Bay and before they grabbed DT Sheldon Richardson with the 13th overall pick they got from the Bucs. The Jets replaced one stud corner for a guy they think can be another — and he earns about $13 million less per year than Revis.
Milliner, of course, has loads to prove. The Jets, via The Star Ledger, were open yesterday about expecting Josh Freeman to target Milliner all day long on Sunday.
Despite a long recovery from a torn knee ligament, Revis commands immense respect. The Jets feel Milliner, the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, can one day be viewed with such esteem. For now, though, there is a different expectation.
“Are we expecting them to throw balls his way? We sure are.” Dennis Thurman, the Jets defensive coordinator said. “We’re expecting him to make his share of plays as well.”
Expectations in the NFL, Thurman said, provide a scale by which players can be judged, and inform game plans, as well.
“If you’re not successful, they’re going to come back at you until you are successful,” Thurman said. “That’s the nature of the beast in this league. We’ll see if he’s up for the task. If he is, he’ll go out there and perform. That’s what we expect him to do.”
Despite missing the Jets’ final two preseason games with an Achilles injury, Milliner will start Sunday. He has practiced fully this week.
So Milliner’s coming off an injury and will be flanking experienced, athletic Mike Williams. That’s a mismatch in the Bucs’ favor, as Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie matches up with Vincent Jackson.
Josh Freeman’s familiarity with the Bucs’ offense and nearly 200 career connections with Williams should translate into some huge chunks of yardage.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:22 am
Should, could, would. It’s all theory until we find out where they really stand on Sunday. I could easily see the Jets defense dominate our offense as much as I can see the opposite happening. We simply don’t know yet. Looking forward to seeing the real Bucs on Sunday, for good or bad.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Should being the key word. If we do everything as we should. This should be a 35-3 game. After last nights game I’m pumped to see what the Bucs are about!
September 6th, 2013 at 10:47 am
I wouldn’t compare anything from yesterday’s came to our game in Sunday that’s for sure. I wish Freeman would not be so laid back, and that a fire would light so I could get pumped up. That’s prob why he wasn’t voted captain he isn’t very motivating
September 6th, 2013 at 11:01 am
I would love to see the Bucs come out with a completely different game plan rather than the 40 yard bombs and occasional dump offs. They should come out with a short to intermediate passing game using our plethora of backs, and TE screens. When we lure them in close to the line of scrimmage we take our shots downfield. That would baffle the Jets, since you know they wouldn’t expect it. They have studied last years offense and have it game planned. Just like the end of last year teams figured out how to slow us down and we were to slow to counter and make changes. Milliner’s a rookie and if we can get him thinking to much it could be to our advantage.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:42 am
I didnt compare anything. I said im pumped to see what we can do after watching that one… Not sure where a comparison is coming from.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:54 am
There are so many dicks on this website. Every time someone gets the least bit excited about anything, there’s sure to be c0ck jockey waiting to piss on their parade. Makes me think there’s a lot of bitter, old, cat ladies reading this blog.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:24 pm
@Chef, your so right.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
@CocoaBchBuc
I think what your failing to realize is that of course people are entitled to their own opinions. It’s also my opinion that 50% of the Buc fan base are morons. Fans nonetheless though right? They are entitled to their opinions for sure though right?
If people like richbucsfan want to find no good in the team and say stuff about every position in a negative light and find no good in the team even before they have played 1 game yet it’s fine by me. If the same people want to continually post nothing but negative about the QB, DE, LB, FS, SS, DB, and this coach and that coach. Than it must suck for them to be a Bucs fan. Never finding anything positive in the team they say they are fan of, and only looking at the bad things. How depressing it must be to be a fan of team if you find no good in them what-so-ever. I’m so glad I don’t think like that, because that would be the true definition of the word suck.
@Joe I’m sorry I had to post this on this thread, because for some reason it would not post on th thread I intended it to be on in the 1st place. So maybe I will add something so it’s fits the thread. I can’t wait to see Freeman torch the Jets.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Chef Paul …I’ve stated in the past that I have so much enthusiasm for this season. If I want that enthusiasm to be smashed with a sledgehammer all I have to do is click the comments link on JBF.
How depressing it must be to be a fan of team if you find no good in them what-so-ever. I’m so glad I don’t think like that, because that would be the true definition of the word suck.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Chef Paul, just take a look at the article with Wilenson “mocking” Freeman. Most fan basis rise to the defense of their team, not this one…this one agree with the other team. It is very odd, but it has always been that way, with the exceptions of the mid 90’s to the year 2002. However, you still hear fans here bash Dungy (the man that taught Tampa how to win) and Gruden (tha man that brought a trophy home). Even in the glory days we had doubters, but we had a bunch more bandwagon fans too. I am ready for those bandwagon fans to return.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
@Couch…Ihear ya! As I watched that game I was thinking “man, I cannot wait for Sunday to watch by Bucs play”. I also thought “who needs Champ Bailey and Von Miller when you can score 49 points”. Damn Manning is good. GO BUCS!
September 6th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
McBuc…that’s because 50% of the Bucs fan base are morons. Negative and simple minded.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
@McBuc
Exactly what I was thinking. A big game would at the least make us forget about the pre-season. Can’t wait!
September 6th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I compared what Couch said regarding Thursdays game to ours in Sunday. I’m excited to see what we do for sure. Out offense has never looked that good that’s all I’m saying. I
Hope we start out faster and when I referenced Josh having a fire I meant being positive about what he plans to do instead of monotone Josh. I wants to hear that VJax or Goldson Hype about him and its just not how he operates no biggie.
September 6th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Eric Davis AGAIN this morning on NFL AM said we CAN (not will) win this division. That’s twice in one week he said that. So by my count, that’s Eric Davis and Shaun O’Hara that have belief in this team. And 6,589 turds that don’t.
September 6th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Chef Paul …that’s something positive Joe could not find to post an article about. Why don’t you find him something negative to post? How dare you? Don’t forget Gruden too. He also said it as well. Joe did post that article. Which I was smh when I actually saw it on jbf.
September 6th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
1987, to be fair, they both said it rather quickly. There really wasn’t much for Joe to write. It would have probably been little more than what I wrote
September 6th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
chef paul …and also to be fair we all know Joe hates NFL AM.