Ted Johnson, Tom Curran and Michael Holley react to the Patriots’ first win of the season on Postgame Live. Ted weighs in on how often the Patriots blitzed QB Zach Wilson, and how the defense was able to hold them to only ten points.
What exactly was JuJu Smith-Schuster thinking when he launched himself into New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley on Sunday in what was a clearly illegal blindside block that cost the New England Patriots 10 yards?
Apparently he was inspired by a wide receiver notorious for making similar plays.
After the Patriots' 15-10 win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Smith-Schuster admitted to our Phil Perry that he watched blocking highlights of former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Hines Ward, which may have led to his over-aggressiveness on the illegal hit.
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"I was just trying to make a play to help my boys," Smith-Schuster told Perry. "I wasn't thinking. I keep forgetting there's a new rule.
"... It's funny, I was watching Hines Ward, his blocking videos, before the game today. I saw that, and I saw an opportunity, and I took advantage of it. Yeah, it wasn't smart by me to do that. Different era."
It's indeed a different era -- in part because of Ward. The four-time Pro Bowler developed a reputation as a big (and sometimes dirty) hitter in the blocking game, and his vicious crack-back block on Cincinnati's Keith Rivers in 2008 played a part in the NFL making such blocks illegal.
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"Former Steelers receiver Hines Ward, I'm sure (Smith-Schuster) has a lot of respect for him, great blocker at that position -- he's watching Hines Ward highlights before a game where he knows he's probably going to have to block a bunch," Perry told fellow Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran on the Patriots Talk Podcast on Sunday while discussing Smith-Schuster's comments. "The problem is, the rules have changed quite a bit since Hines Ward's been in the game."
"And the rules changed specifically because of Hines Ward!" Curran replied. "He broke Keith Rivers' jaw in 2008 on a crack-back block against the Cincinnati Bengals. Just almost sawed the man's head off! And that really was the impetus behind starting to erase those blocks."
Smith-Schuster's lapse in judgment was the start of an ill-fated Patriots drive in the third quarter that featured three penalties and a New England punt from its own 12-yard line. The 26-year-old also made essentially no impact in the passing game, catching just one pass for five yards on three targets.
Smith-Schuster is off to a slow start with the Patriots through three games, with 10 catches for 66 yards on 16 targets.
Also discussed in this episode:
- How relieved was the locker room after the win?
- Was Patriots-Jets closer than necessary?
- Dominant performance by the Patriots’ defense.
- Who should be the go-to guy on offense?
