What will the Jets do? Part II

Yesterday I stated what the team needed to do on defense,in my opinion, let's see if I can figure out what is wrong with the. . . .

Offense:


So everyone,myself included, has been calling for Brian Schottenheimer's job since last year.  While many think he is a brilliant offensive mind, he makes some mind numbing decisions. Such as all the motioning, the gimmick plays, and the lack of the deep ball. Where is the long passing game? Mark Sanchez doesn't have the strongest arm but he is no Chad Pennington. He can throw it deep, but why hasn't he? All Schotty calls are the quick outs and slants you never see him throw go routes, deep posts, or any other deep routes. Part of this could be because the offensive line has been inconsistent this year. But I think a large part of it, is because Schottenheimer does not have confidence in Sanchez or his receivers getting open. I think to remedy this problem Rex needs to get involved in the offensive plan again. In his first year Sanchez was protected by his running game, he never had to put the game on his shoulders. Well look at what happens when the game is on his shoulders, he excels. I'm not saying they should pass 50 times a game, but they should let him take more chances deep. Defenses know the Jets are not going deep so they sit on the short passing game. I'm sure Rex would rather run it twice as much as throw(for defense's purposes), but how is Sanchez ever going to become an elite QB as a game manager? So Rex sit down with Schotty and and reassess the offense.

The line is horrible. I just can't explain it. Does Damian Woody make that much of a difference? Think about it. The only difference in the offensive line from last year is Woody. Ok sure they were counting on Rob Turner to play RT, but they always talked up Hunter as being just as good as Turner. They made Andre Carter look like the second coming of Bruce Smith, when they last played the Patriots. Von Miller(a rookie) abused and embarrassed the line in the Broncos game. Bill Callahan coaches the offensive line and he is one of the best position coaches in the game. He did a great job with Slauson, but Ducasse has been a mistake, and Hunter gets beat every week. Also, Ferguson has been slipping too. Again, just like the ILB position, there is no way to fix this in season. Anyone available on the wire is there for a reason. They will have to cut ties with Ducasse(a 2nd round pick in 2010), and build depth on the line via the draft and free agency. Some of it may be Sanchez not making the proper protection calls at the line. So maybe he needs to be coached more.

Not much can be said for the RB's as there success is directly tied to the offensive line. I will say that Tomlinson will most likely retire next year, and Greene is more of a complimentary back. McKnight has shown flashes of brilliance but I doubt could be an every down back. Bilal Powell is a rookie and is definitely not ready to play at the NFL level yet. The Jets need to check into drafting a RB to either be the clear #1 or a back that can complement Greene.

What will the Jets do?

The coaching staff has ten days to find out what is lacking with the team. There are big problems on both offense and defense. Also it seems like the team is lacking heart. When a team like the Jets faces an inferior opponent,like the Broncos, they should  jump on them early and bury them. Say what you will about Tebow, but he is a leader and he never gives up. I'm not sure that would describe anyone on the Jets. So what would I do during this layover?

Defense


Rex Ryan is known as one of the best defensive minds in the game today. He comes up with masterful gameplans to shut down opposing offense's. Beginning last year he ceded his playcalling duties to coordinator Mike Pettine. While I think Pettine is a tremendous coordinator, I think he makes bad call's when the defense needs a big stop. Take this past game for example. The Broncos have a 3rd and 4, and if the Jets can hold them, then they kick a field goal to tie the game. Pettine calls for zero coverage which pretty much means every blitzes except Cromartie,Revis,and Eric Smith. So what happens? Tebow takes the snap runs to the outside past Smith and into the endzone. Everyone knew Tebow was going to run the ball, that's what he does. Why wouldn't you have guys in a zone instead of relying on your worst defender to make the play? I think Ryan needs to sit down with Pettine and Thurman and reevaluate when and why they are making certain play calls.

As far as the players, Bart Scott and David Harris are great run stopping inside linebackers, but they are slower than molasses in the winter. They cannot cover anyone in passing situations, when a running back gets outside the numbers there is no way they are catching him. There is really nothing the team can do about this in season, but in the offseason they should decide if they should draft or sign a faster ILB. As far as the secondary, the Jets need a safety in the worse way. I stated in an earlier post that they should cut Eric Smith, I admit that may have been an impulse reaction. At the very least they should bench him and let Pool fill his spot or let Emmanuel Cook play. I think the CB's are the strongest unit on the whole team, so they are fine. A major problem with the secondary is communication. If you noticed during the Patriots game, they didn't know where to line up. It looked like Revis and Leonherd were directing traffic. This has been a problem since Ryan took over. I don't know if they need to take more time to coach these guys on where they should be in certain situations. If I was an opposing offensive coordinator I would plan on running no huddle they whole game, because that really confuses this Jets D.

In the next post I'll give my opinion on how to fix the offense.

Pathetic. . .

Last night's defeat to the Broncos was so pathetic I'm not even going to break it down. All I have to say is Eric Smith has to go. I don't care how much he is making, he needs to be cut. He is by far the worst player on defense every single week. Jets play Buffalo at home in ten days.

Jets @ Broncos Part II

You'll see a lot of this guy tonight

Tonight is the night, that hopefully the Jets can get a win. Like I mentioned in an earlier post they have to go up against the aura of Tebow, and they will have to defend a heavy dose of the run. The run actually hurt the Jets earlier in the year but it seems like they have gotten it straightened out, ever since Green-Ellis ran all over them in week five. I was trying to think of teams the Jets have faced that have a run first mentality, there was the Jaguars(which they won 32-3),the Raiders(lost 34-24),the Ravens(lost 34-17), and the Dolphins(won 24-6). The Jags were out of it way early and abandoned the run. The Raiders killed the Jets on the ground with Darren McFadden running for 171 yds.,and 2 TD. Ray Rice was actually held to 66 yds., and 1 TD on the ground. What does this tell us? Nothing really on their 3 game winning streak, they played the Chargers whose offense runs through Rivers. The Dolphins, who fell behind and started chucking it. The Bills who lost Fred Jackson for a period of the game, and who really abandoned the run. So I actually think the Jets will win, why?

Defense: If the D isn't pissed off coming off Sunday night's game, then they don't have any pride. I feel sorry for Tebow because Ryan is going to unleash the hounds on him. Expect to see a lot of run blitzes and a constant 4-3 and 3-4 defensive look. You won't see the Jets in dime or nickel much only because the Broncos don't throw it at all! What is Revis going to do? The Jets can probably get away with putting Wilson on Decker and Cromartie on D.Thomas, and let Revis spy Tebow? Why not? Have your best defensive player take out their #1 offensive weapon. Either that or let Harris spy Tebow and have Revis cover the running back in passing situations. In any event look for the D to have a big night.

Offense: You never know what the offense is going to do. When they should run they pass, and when they should pass they run. Schottenheimer is as frustrating as Mike Francesa's radio show.  Denver is ranked 24th against the pass and 16th against the run. They have given up 5 rushing touchdown's so far this year and allow 117 yds./game. They have given up 18 td's through the air, 243 yds./gm. So I think it's safe to say you want to pass against this defense. Champ Bailey will probably lock down Holmes but that leaves Burress and Keller to find some space. Kerley has already been ruled out in this game, which will hurt Sanchez's 3rd down production. These two teams actually played each other last year with the Jets winning 24-20. Sanchez had a 56.6 completion percentage, 198 yds.,1 TD, 2 INT. Tomlinson(who is out tonight)led the rushing attack with  16 carries for 55 yards and 2 TD. The Broncos defense gets a slight upgrade from last year with the addition of OLB Von Miller. I would still look for the Jets to run to set up the pass, and take some deep shots with Plaxico.

Prediction:Think the Jets start out sluggish on both sides of the ball but come out of it at half time, and win easily. JETS-27 BRONCOS-14

Jets @ Broncos Preview

In a quick turn around that only the NFL can explain, the Jets have to travel to Denver to take on the Broncos tomorrow night. Of course, that means they will have to take on the enigma known as Tim Tebow. I rarely watch college football, but I do know Tebow was a great QB with the Florida Gators. Many experts wonder if he could be successful at the NFL level. Well he is 3-1 as the starting QB. He only completed 2 out of 8 passes last week(one for a long TD), and the Broncos team rushed 55 times! Denver runs a college option style offense. Believe it or not Rex is actually equipped to combat this offense. He was the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. Lets look at the Broncos stats so far:

Offense:

Overall-24th

Passing-28th

Rushing-8th

Tebow-completed 122 passes, 7 TD, 1 INT, 45.7% compeletion 

             43 runs for 327 yds.,2 TD

Tomorrow I will breakdown the game more and give a prediction.

He said WHAT!?!?!

Our altar boy Rex Ryan reportedly cursed at a fan walking off the field at half time. That is an absolute lie! There is no way that our coach, who repeatedly talks trash, was reportedly involved in a foot fetish video, and who gave the finger to a Dolphin fan, would ever do such a thing! Of course I am being sarcastic. Just like the incident in Miami, Rex has to know when to bite his tongue. He is an NFL coach and he has to conduct himself in that way. This is unlike the Bill Belichick incident, in that he said it to a fan who was video taping the whole thing. Rex has to use better judgement and not let his emotions get the best of him. Those same emotions that pronounced the Jets chances of winning the division are dead. COME ON REX!!!

I told you so!

What a way to respond boys! You really showed those Patriots who's boss! NOT!!! I think in some ways last night's defeat was more embarrassing than the 45-3 drubbing last year. Let's think about the intangibles here: the Jets were playing at home(where they were 4-0), they were coming off a manhandling of the #1 offense in the league, the Patriots were coming off 2 straight losses, and what happened? The Jets did not step up to the plate! Why?

The Defense: How could you go from shutting down a similar offense, in the Bills, to being completely inept against NE? The D had a couple of bright moments, like Jamaal Westerman's safety in the 2nd quarter, but besides that they could not stop Brady or Gronkowski. I think you have to give credit to Brady for orchestrating a marvelous 2nd half. The no huddle quick passing game gassed the Jets D line and their linebackers. The confusion in the secondary is something we see far to much from the defense. Someone should be held accountable for that!

Mark Sanchez: He threw 2 huge interceptions in this game,albeit one was more Greene's fault than his own. The 2nd pick he locked onto Tomlinson and Ninkovich read it the whole way. YOU CAN'T STARE RECEIVERS DOWN MARK! How could you not take advantage of the worst defense in the league??? Especially when they were missing two starters and had special teams players filling in. This is why I wonder if the Jets will ever be able to make a Super Bowl,let alone win one, with Sanchez at QB. What was with the timeout right before the half?? He left Brady with tons of time to march down and score a TD.

Special Teams: First Nick Folk misses a chip shot FG, and then McKnight fumbles a punt. I think the fumbled put was the turning point in the game. Think about it, the defense had just forced a second three and out against the Patriots. If McKnight cleanly fields the punt, the Jets get the ball on their own 30 with a chance to tie the game. 

Unlike last week when all three phases of the Jets were clicking, last night they were off. I really think this falls on the coaching staff. How do you not have your team focused and ready to play, with the division on the line? Bill Belichick was seen saying to his son as he walked off the field,"Thirty seven points on the best defense in the league. S**k my d**k!" How does that sound Rex?