Sunday, December 19, 2010
Are we watching the Jets or Mets?
The Jets will not win in Pittsburgh today. But will need to beat Chicago and Buffalo to keep their chances alive. But I don't think that 10-6 gets them in and it will be a big disappointment for the organization, and fans.
Weeb's hope is wobbling!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Stretch Run...
Simple, if the Jets win they control their own fate toward February. If they lose tomorrow, they lose more than just the game. Right now they have a one game lead in the division and a division championship if they win out, would give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the #1 seed in the tourney. A position coach Ryan has coveted all year. He believes there is a home field advantage. If they lose, they could realistically be a three or four seed. Yes they would host a wild card game, but then they would have to go on the road again and possibly play the Pats again in Foxboro.
Now let's talk about the game. The Pats are strong where the Jets are weak. They have had trouble covering slot receivers and tight ends all season. There's a reason "The Genius" was easily willing to let Randy Moss go. Deon Branch is better suited to play within the way the Pats want to play. Brady has been more efficient when throwing between the numbers to Welker and his two large targets. And when you add Woodhead to the mix, he's another weapon that can hurt you coming out of the backfield on 3rd down. The Jets have to alter the way they play defense tomorrow night. They will have to blitz less and play more zone. The problem, if they sit back and play zone, Brady will pick them apart. The positive is that the Pats don't have much of a running game, so expect to see a lot of Trevor Pryce, Calvin Pace and Jason Taylor on the D-line. These are all big men that can get their arms up in Brady's sight-lines and try to take away the short passing lanes. They will also try to get Brady out of the comfort of the pocket, so expect the Jets to disguise and roll coverages, the last time these teams played the Jets played a lot of nickel. With Leonhard out, look to see the Jets play more dime and have them blitz DB's to disrupt Brady's rythmn.
When the Jets have the ball look for them to control the clock and try to run, run, run! LT had a great day in the first meeting. Look for the Jets to run until the Pats stop it. The Jets will also try to try to take advantage of a suspect Pats secondary.
Are you ready for Monday night football?!!!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Short Work Week...
Hope TO enjoys being shadowed by the 'average' Revis all night. Did he happen to see what #24 did against a better, younger and more physical reciever on Sunday. But to be successful Thursday night, the Jets D must get pressure on Carson Palmer with 4 and 5 man fronts and force him to make the same kind of mistakes that he made last week.
Leave room for some pumpkin pie!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Are the Jets due for a blow-out either way?
I have a feeling the Jets are in the same type of situation this week. The Texans are under-achieving, and coming off a tough loss to an inferior Jaguars team on an impossible desparation play. I'm sure they're agry that they left a victory on the field and have something to prove to themselves this week against a team they have never beaten, never beaten. How many franchises can say that about the Jets? (I think they are the only ones.) Beatig the Jets would be a huge confidence boost for them to fuel a push down the stretch.
I'm not a Gary Kubiak fan and believe if the Texans don't make the playoffs, he will be dismissed after the season. There is talent on that roster, and I'm not even including Arian Foster. I think this team is coming into NY with a chip on its shoulder, and watching the way the Jets have played the last month, and that they could be looking ahead toward thier PrimeTime game Thursday night against Cinncinnati, this could be a real stinker. Add to the mix, T.O. and Ochocinco wanting to make some noise against a defense that shut #85 down in last year's playoff game, the Bengals will be looking for revenge. I think the Jets lose tomorrow, as they are still have not masters of thier own house. So all you real fans in the upper deck, make some noise and get these guys into it from whistle to whistle.
Fleeting thoughts...
- The defense is playing well, but don't they look like they are getting pushed around a bit too much?
- Does it look like the league has figured out Rex Ryan's blitz schemes?
- When will Brad Smith throw a long pass out of the Wildcat?
- Will the season come down to the Jets v. Patriots? I think so.
- If we lose last week's game is Nick Folk still our kicker?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Add Eric Mangini to your holiday card list...
The Jets traded with the Browns to move up and land the "San-chise" and last year again the Jets listened when the Browns called looking to unload Edwards. Both players have had a major impact on the Jets success this season. And on Sunday, with the game on the line, the Browns had the ball inside thier own five and Mangini, fails to run out the clock and had to give the Jets the ball back. The rest, you can see on any highlight show.
Nick Folk said he was wearing the wrong shoes as his reason he missed three field goals against the Browns last Sunday. The television announcers were talking during the game that the Jets came out for pregame warm-ups and changed cleats to see which ones would be most effective on the Cleveland turf. A player that has to have firm footing to perform, you'd think he'd figure out which shoes to wear? I don't know if i'd cut him for missing the three FG attempts or wearing the 'wrong' shoes!!!
Sanchez played the guttiest game of his young career as he escaped trouble several time to make plays. Cotchery made a tremendous catch top keep the Jets alive. Think he's out of the doghouse.... eight Jets caught passes versus the Browns.
The Jets won the game in the third quarter when they took the ball and marched down the field and ate up most of the qtr. When the Browns offense got on the field they were clearly cooled off.... The Jets prevent defense was horribleas the young Colt marched the Brownies down the field for the tying TD... Still waiting for the defense to become that shut down unit that they were last year, or have teams figured out how to attack them... Kyle Wilson made a great play on a third down to prevent a Browns first down, outstanding tackle!
The Texans come to town this week, they are a much better team than the ones the Jets have played the last two weeks. The oil city gridders are coming off a heart breaking loss to my #2 team the J-ville Jaguars. They will be on a mission to beat the Jets who have lost 2 games at home this season ...T-rich break it down, and the Home of the Jets? Good thing game time is 1pm, Woody won't have to worry about paying the electric bill, which the Mara's apparently forgot to do...
Could this be it for Chad Pennington? Was hoping that he could enjoy another season. Maybe Zygie Wilf will offer him a couple of mill to play next year. He seems to have an affinity for broken down QB's.
Break!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Where's the Beef?
Over the last four games, this team is so far from 'ground and pound' the fact that they rushed for just over 100 yards against the Lions is surprising. The offense has not played well in its last three games and when it was clear that Mark Sanchez was not throwing the ball well on Halloween against the Packers, Shotty resisted running the ball in what was a one score game to build momentum.
This leads me to believe that the coaching staff is disappointed in Shonn Greene's performance and this is evidenced in the fact that Hall of Famer, LT is getting so much of the workload. Leading into the season, we all thought that LT was going to be the compliment to the hard power running of Greene and apparently that plan has changed. LT has played very well, but you have to wonder if #21 is going to be slowed physically as the season grinds on. Coach Parcells always said that champoinships are won in the month December. Mostly because the weather begins to become more of a factor. With that in mind, teams with a strong running game can control the line of scrimmage, control the game and the clock.
Mark Sanchez also needs to get the offense back into a rythem. There seems to be a lack of continuity and that the Jets offense is reacting to the opposing defense instead of attacking the opponents.
So this team, which again hasn't played well when they have had the ball the last few weeks, can start getting back to being more balanced and use the pass as a weapon they can dominate the teams they play over the next few weeks which are the Browns tomorrow, the Texans and then Cincinnati on Thanksgiving night. At 9-2 they will control home field advantage for the playoffs, which is something that Rexie wants.
The defense is playing well, but doesn't seem to be the same dominating defense it was last season. Have teams learned how to match-up. Like when they overload one side of the field the offensive line just slides to even up, but if you rush 6 or 7 and the offense is outnumbered, someone needs to make the play and its not being happening.
Gang Green needs to get back to being physical upfront and shut down the only weapon the Browns have in RB Peyton Hillis. If they put the rookie QB Colt in tough situations they will be able pressure him into making mistakes. Look for Jason Taylor to have a big game.
Green Thoughts...
-I can't believe that I got Heidied last Sunday by CBS Philly as they cut to the Eagles game as the Jets went to OT... frustrating!!!
-Was the Lions game overly chippy, if Bart Scott calls them the dirtiest team they've played, he'd know.
-Santonio Holmes is starting to make an impact ineach game as he enjoy a 100 yd receiving game last week.
-Does Braylon score a TD every week?
-David Harris is a Pro-Bowl player, you need to vote him in.
-Revis starting to regain form, it was fun to watch him against a much bigger physical receiver in Calvin Johnson.
-Isn't a blitz package designed to get to the QB and force them to hurry and make bad passes. Stafford didn't seemed concerned.
-I like Sione Pouha!
-Cleveland has never been an especially kind city to the Jets... need to change that.
-Man-genius getting things in place for the Dawg-Pound, need to derail the Brown dream for a week.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sometimes Better to B Lucky Than Good
Someone please remind the zebras that nobody watches the games to see them...
Gang Green stole one yesterday and they needed to as the Pats keep pace in the divison and those conference wins carry weight.
Someone asked me today who I thought the best team in the AFC is and with the addtion of Deion Branch the Patriots are a better team than they were with Randy Moss. If they continue to improve they may peak at the right time as the Jets did last year.
LT and Braylon Edwards get to the end zone again yesterday...
Santonio Holmes made a pretty catch along the sidelines yesterday, he has an incredible feel for the sideline.
I understand why Revis played yesterday, but he is still clearly hampered by the hamstring injury. The Broncos knew it and made him a target. Something he hasn't experienced since his rookie season.
How many days left does Vernon Gohlston have left as a Jet?
5 and 1 at the break, just what Rex wanted the best record in football. Green Bay coming in on Halloween, Shreck looking for a sweet treat.
Enjoy the bye week!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mid week report
But two things really stuck out in that game as WTF moments. First was the Vikings wasting a time out to discuss if they were going for a two point conversion when they were behind by two points and the Jets overt mismangement of the clock with 2:47 remianing. Even, Charlie Winner and the Mangenius would not have thrown a pass in that series. As Herm Edwards would have said, Run The Clock To WIN THE GAME!
Random Flak...
- Who's decision was it to let Revis play? He clearly isn't healthy...
- Buckle up your chinstraps... when the timing is there, Holmes is gonna break some really big plays.
- Who would have thought that both Cromartie and Edwards would be playing this well...
- LT continues to amaze. I hope his impact will still be there in December...
- Sanchez had trouble with a wet ball...
- (related item) Tim Hassellbeck, husband of The View's Elizabeth H-back, says NFL QB's are having issues with the pink ribbon balls. Not because of the decal, but the balls are brand new and slick. Didn't we all throw a brand new football on Christmas morning? Where's Lester Hayes when you need him?
- Have the Jets let the fans back into the stadium yet... we're expecting more rain tonight
- The Jets secondary better be well rested. This Denver team has a limited running game. Our front seven need to play three yards behind the line of scrimmage on Sunday...
Jets now believe and go 5-1, and ready for a well deserved bye.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Good Things Come in 3's
These three impact players make the Jets better in a number of ways. Let's start with Calvin Pace, who is the Jets best pass rusher. Now as we've witnessed, Jason Taylor is playing fairly well. When you bring him in now on 3rd and long situations and load one side of the line with both him and Pace, it creates a problem for the other team to protect its passer and force them to look short instead of long. Why? Revis will takeaway one reciever and essentially shut down one side of the field, Cromartie and Wilson are playing very well and the safties aren't making critical mistakes. It will be interesting to see if the Jets have Revis or Cromartie cover Moss. Or keep the Vikes guessing what the coverage is goin to be, or do the Jets have Revis cover AP out of the backfield and play in a shadow-type role. The Vikes will look to get AP out in space with the ball in his hand, as he comes into the game as the team's leading receiver. That's why they needed to add a wide reciever like Moss.
Get ready for the Broadway debut of Santonio Holmes! Holmes is one of the biggest impact players in the league. He is gifted with great hands and feet. Remember the game winning catch for the Steelers two years ago in the 'Big Game.' Can anyone's feet be that close to the sideline without being on the line. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Having Holmes on the field at the same time alongside Braylon Edwads will make the TO/Ochocinco combination in the Queen City look limp.
With Edwards playing well, Keller emerging as an All-Pro type TE and Jerricho Cotchery being the dependable steady weapon that they need the Jets can now spread the field and either run the ball with LT or Shonn Greene or go 4 or 5 wide and create some real match-up problems for the Vikings. I like Keller matched-up with any linebacker or small corner, if teams try to shut down the seams that Keller will drive, that will open up opportunities for the other recievers.
Shotty just got his shiny Christmas toy two months early. This offense is really going to be fun to watch. The problem that the coaching staff will have is that if they want to continue to be ground and pound, they will still have to keep the recievers happy. It will also become a challenge for Mark Sanchez to not wan to forcibly spread the ball around and make mistakes. The kid is due to throw an INT and it will happen this week as he tries to force a pass to a reciever to try to get them involved in the game.
The outcome of this game is not as important to me as is the Jets defense splitting Farve like a wishbone as a farewell for sabbotaging our season two years ago and for just being a guy who believes he's bigger than the teams he allegedly play for. It's funny that the local press was scourring the Jets training facility this week looking for positive #4 stories from players and couldn't come up with any. The stories surfaced quickly after the 2008 season that Favre was not a good teammate, and was somewhat aloof to being here. It would be fitting if the Jets take away his season the way he took away ours.
I'm against the 18 game schedule that is being bandied about although it will bring about some interesting changes I'm sure like expanded rosters and changes to the IR list where guys will be allowed to come back; I envision a more MLB like injury list like a 10, 15 an 60 day IR and we'll also need two bye weeks for each team or the play-offs will be a battle of 'survival of the fittest.'
Welcome (Back) To Revis Island!!!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Still Crazy After All These Beers
What I don't understand is all the sanctimonious B.S. coming from the fans this week about how #17 should be suspended, traded, released or crucified. These are the same idiots that have been known to be notorious drinkers themselves sitting in the parking lot on Sunday mornings drinking until they are falling over themselves to get into the stadium. Then at halftime you'll find them taunting women to flash them for amusement because the action on the field isn't enough to satify the cro-magnon appitites. Oh and lest we forget the antics at the Gate C ramp and poor stooges who play the game of cat and mouse; trying to grab as much coin as they could before the rain of beer came pouring down. These are the fans who are calling talk radio stations outraged by Mr. Edwards actions and very bad judgement... .16 of bad judgement!
The lynch mob, who are too stoo-pid to realize the organization are limited in what they can do to punish thier players because the league, collective bargaining agreement and the NFLPA have guidlines on how this can be handled. If the Jets suspended the player, the Players Association flies a grievance and wins the case. The league will handle this as a first substance offense and levy a fine. The Jets are in a no win situation. I don't like the way the organization handled this situation, Woody looks like he put his head in the sand, and Rex looks like dean Wormer from fabled Faber College.
The best comment came from WFAN's Joe Beningo, all he cares about is what the Jets do on Sunday afternoon. If Edwards can be part of the reason the team gets to play in the last game in February it's all good. That's what we pay for and that's why we root. If Braylon Edwards catches 2 or 3 touchdown passes this Sunday and the Jets win, fans will be raising a glass to him and all will be forgotten. If Edwards drops one pass, the boo birds will be out early.
The Jets know that they are built to win now! Win at all costs, that's what the fans want; that's what the organization wants, damn the cost and destruction along the way.
If the Jets can get past the distraction of this week and win in South Florida, they could go on a nice little run with Buffalo up next and a shaky Minnesota after that.
BTW... did the Giant fan who tried to upstage Fireman Ed last month really file a lawsuit against the sixth member of the Village People for "simple assult" because he got bumped? Is the Giants defense taking a cue from its fans... I knew it was soft, but I didn't think it was that soft.
Is Westoff still railing Clowney for not making any contact on Special Teams last week... why didn't we bring Coles back?
David Harris is the most underrated linebacker in the league...
Nice to see Vern on the stat sheet two weeks in a row...
Jason Taylor brought the pain to end the Patriot's game. Maybe Tom Brady should provide more bullitin board material...
Has Ted Ginn been seen in Miami this week? Because the fins haven't found thier offense yet...
The Dolphins will force the ball to Brandon Marshall, and Cromartie will be tested for 60 minutes. Let's see which Cro shows up the game one overmatched CB or the I can cover Randy Moss mano-a-mano defender.
Weeb calls for the Jets 17-10.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Take II
What went wrong? You talked all off season, you talked all preseason. Whenever there was an opportunity for a headline you took it. You painted a huge bullseye on your logo with the swagger and Hard Knocks mini series. Did you think teams don't want to come out and punch you in the face you're mistaken? When T.O. and OchoCinco think you trash talking too much, you know your talking too much... Rex how does your team not come out of the locker room ready to 'ground and pound' on national television and in your 'new' home opener. Matt Slausson looked overmatched by Ngata all night. I'm glad you didn't put in Ducasse, because Sanchez would have been injured.
And let's talk about Sanchez. Fans are starting to talk about body language and the look of fear he had in his eyes before the game. Hey, he had a poor preseason in limited action and did not play at all in the last preseason game. So, realistically he hadn't played in a real game against guys with different color shirts on, who want to get after it in almost two weeks. He needs to use the tools that he has to make plays and win games. The Jets have enough to win. If you are lining up with Keller, Edwards, Cotchery and LT, you got some options to be unpredicable on offense and take pressure off your signal caller. Wake up Schotty and understand what you have to work with. If you are always telling the kid to go through his progressions and check down, he'll never throw the ball downfield out of fear of what happened to him last year. He'll always make the safe throw. You cant wait for Santonio Holmes to arrive to stretch the field. If Sanchez doesn't understand the offense, then do what Dan Henning did with Vinny "The Great" in 1998, draw up the plays and direct him to where the ball should be thrown based on the defensive you see. It's like color by number. Take five steps back, throw the ball to the right flag...
Either way I believe the Jets are still sleepwalking... Pats 35- Jets 13. The Jets give up a touchdown on special teams and Sanchez panics and gives up a pick six trying to make a play that's not there.
Sorry Jets fans... gonna have to dig out of an early hole.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Hard Knocks and Harder Lessons
Watching the mini-series, "Hard Knocks" Training camp with the New York Jets, I can't help but thinking that this is a weekly info-mercial to buy PSL's and season tickets. On the critical side, it seems like all 'reality' tv over-produced, too scripted and contrived. Oh and if Mr. T and Woody spent as much time working on the Revis negotiations as they have vying for camera time. The kid would have been in camp three weeks ago.
Woody walks around like he's coaching the team and the only guy with more fire than the head coach is special teams coach, Mike Westoff. Funny when he threatened to cut a kid from the team right on the field during practice. Westoff, who by the way, should have been cut on the field during the Miami game when Ted Ginn made the Jets special teams unit seem not special at all, as a matter of fact inept. Hey, who actually went out to get the cheeseburgers that the players were eating during practice.
Some preseason observations:
- The Jets drafted the next Blair Thomas in RB McKnight
- Tomlinson and Brunell can still get after it
- Sanchez will take a step back this year
- When Santonio Holmes is on the field with Edwards and Cotchery, it will become very exciting to watch
- Laverneous Coles will be back with the Jets
- The defense will sputter without Pace and Revis
- I'm still not buying Jason Taylor being a factor
- John Conner will make a play to win a game this year
- Braylon Edwards will be a Pro-Bowl player this year
- The Jets finish 9-7...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Maturing at the right time
If this team believes, then we should too. The Colts saw the same defense on Saturday and only scored 20 points. The Ravens were lost on offense and don't have Gang Greens running attack. This will be another good one to watch.
I think all Jets fans can enjoy this season and look forward to an off-season with no angst. Super Bowl or not this team has overachieved and can build upon it's success. They have gone on a magical run with a little help. The doubters said that Indy and Cincy had nothing to play for when the teams met in the regular season. Well the Bengals showed up for the playoff game and failed to get it done. The Chargers, who were supposed to have this incredibly high powered offense scored 14 points and looked uncomfortable at home in a lose and go home environment. Gang Green stood toe-to-toe with two teams whom most experts thought would knock them out and survived. this team is learning how to win at a crucial time. It reminds me a lot of the Giants Super Bowl run from two years ago.
Some obeservations from the divisional playoffs...(in no particular order)
- The score of the Cardinals-Saints game was more like watching an NBA All-Star game...
- Tony Romo and America's Team never got off the bus! Can we all now stop getting so excited about how dominant the Cowboys are, please...
- Nate Kaeding's relived 2004 vs. the Jets all over again.
- Has Norv Turner for Marty Schottenhiemer really turned out any different?
- How does Sanchez' rookie season stack up against Ryan and Flacco now!
- The Colts did play the first half of the game in Week 16... rematch just like in Madden when my son doesn't like the way the game is going.
- Not that they are thinking that far ahead, but do you think some of the Jets would love to get a chance to get a shot on Farve for imploding their '08 season?
And finally, looking back was it really Leno's manager, Helen Kusnick, who put a gun to NBC's head over succeeding Johnny Carson over Letterman. Leno didn't want to be percieved as the bad guy and threw her under the bus. And he's doing it again. Jay, time to go home and play with your cars. You made a promise to step away, be a man of your word and step away permanently. You don't need the money or the gig. Have some class as Johhny did. When the great one stepped away, we never saw him again.
BTW, Dick Ebersol hasn't been relevant to primetime television in quite some time. Zucker needs to get his team under control. P.S. if he has, he hasn't done anything to change the network's standing lately has he? NBC built a dominant network with one night of incredible programming and Jerry Sienfeld and not much else. Going with Conan O'Brien was a brave move, but they wanted their cake and eat it too. Conan never did a conventional talk show that's why it worked at 12:30. If you want Conan, let him do his show at 1135 and give him 18 months to build an audinece as you did for Leno. Or the actual move is to move Jimmy Fallon to 1135 with his more vanilla delivery and innocent demeanor that plays well with mid-america.
