Klubnik Impressive in Debut Despite Jets 24-16 Loss

With Geno Smith on the sidelines nursing a sore ankle, rookie QB Cade Klubnik made is preseason NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and looked impressive in doing so.

Klubnik would lead the Jets on a pair of scoring drives, going up 3-0 before Braelon Allen picked up a 31-yard TD run to put the Jets up 10-0.  Klubnic would finish up 5-7 for 56 yards.  Perhaps playing with a little bit of extra juice, Klubnik did have a couple of passes that were up and a bit off target but all things considered, it was a good day.

Some other noteworthy performances:

– Rookie cornerback Mory Bamba stole the show, picking up four PBU’s by our count, along with a big stop as a gunner on special teams.  He would leave the game for a short time to be checked for a concussion but cleared protocol and returned.

– Nathan Voorhis flashed against the run and again with a pair of pressures that got the QB off his spot on a couple of incomplete passes.

– It was a disastrous night for Bailey Zappe who threw a pick six on his first drive.  Not idea for a guy who wants to take the QB2 job.

– There was a second Zappe interception on the next drive but that one was on wide receiver Arian Smith who had the ball slip right through his hands and into the hands of a defender.

– Marcelino McCrary Ball was probably the best linebacker on the field.  He was all over the place early on and finished with a team high six tackles.