Jets v. Broncos Preview

The Jets come into the game as one of the hottest teams in the league after taking down good teams like Minnesota, Miami and New England.  The Jets fly into Denver to face a Broncos team which excels in the passing game and seems to have its sole mission be to get Kyle Orton 10,000 yards passing.  The Jets secondary will have to be ready to combat a QB who may throw the ball 50+ times.  Our defense's bend but don't break philosophy has been pretty good all year and if we can shut down the Broncos passing attack in the red zone I can see us running away with this game because they have absolutely no running game.  The Jets offense will have to control the ball with the run and keep Denver's offense off the field.

What to watch for....

• The Jets still haven't allowed a first quarter point.  Let's see if they can continue that trend today.

• Darelle Revis did not look like himself last week coming off the hamstring injury and he will be needed this week to shut down the Broncos passing attack.  IF Revis plays, he has to be sure he's 100% ready.
• The Jets need to take advantage of a very beat up secondary of the Broncos.  Brian Dawkins, Andre Goodman and others in their secondary will be missing and Sanchez will have to take advantage of that.

Who to watch for...

• Tomlinson should be able to pick apart the Broncos run defense.  He has looked great in the past few weeks and I fully expect him to pick up near 100 yards today.
• Calvin Pace, Jason Taylor, Shaun Ellis: These three (and others) will need to get after Orton and not allow him to sit in the pocket and pick apart the secondary.  Get to him early and make him play a step quicker for the rest of the game.
• Santonio Holmes:  I think Holmes will have a good game today in his second full week back.  He should be full go today and he will need to cut out some of the drops that plagued him last week.

The Jets should go in to Denver and win this game.  However, I am more nervous about this game than I normally would be against an average team because of the Broncos passing attack.  They will attack, attack, and attack more in the passing game and we can't allow big plays.  

Prediction:

Jets- 31

Broncos: 17

Game Review: Jets v. Bills

Jets- 38
Bills- 14

The Jets went up to Buffalo and turned in a dominant performance against an abysmal Bills team.  The running game finally took off as both LT and Shonn Greene both went over 100 yards and the defense completely shut down the Bills offense.  The Jets move to 3-0 in the division and 3-1 overall and are in a great position.  The Jets running game was absolutely dominant and they really had no chance to stop either LT or Greene.

Thumbs Up...

• LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene:  Both went over 100 yards and LT looked particularly dominant in this win .  His signature 26 yard touchdown run included a cut that made him look like the LT of old.  

• Dustin Keller:  Keller picked up another two touchdowns to continue his torrid streak.  

• Antonio Cromartie:  Cromartie has looked great in the last few weeks and today he shut down Lee Evans.  Cromartie had very tight coverage on every throw to his side and used his long arms to disrupt Evans and Fitzpatrick.

Thumbs down...

• Kyle Wilson:  Wilson has to do a better job turning to find the ball.  He got burned on the Bills second touchdown and he shouldn't be giving up plays like that.

The Jets came into this game expecting to win and delivered a great performance.  The running game and defense were top notch and there wasn't really much of a question who was going to win the game going into halftime.  The Jets sit atop the division and are looking great going into a Monday night game against Brett Favre and the Vikings.  The scary thing about this team is the potential return of three pro bowl players in Revis, Pace, and Holmes.  There is no other team in the league that is sitting at 3-1 (3-0 in the division) that is getting the kind of talent back that the Jets are.  Long time to wait until the next game.

Game in Review: Jets v. Dolphins

Jets- 31
Dolphins- 23

The Jets traveled into Miami on Sunday night and came out with a win against a good Dolphins team.  Going into the game I was expecting a low scoring battle between two pretty good defenses.  However, what we got was an offensive shootout with little defense on either side.  Mark Sanchez looked great for his second straight game and the Jets defense looked shaky in their first full game without star cornerback Darrelle Revis.  This was a key road win which puts the Jets on top of the division and gives them the leg up with wins over both division rivals.

Thumbs up:

• Mark Sanchez- Sanchez showed up to play for the second straight week and he has now gone three games without an interception.  Sanchez seems to be forming a pretty good connection with Dustin Keller and he connected with him for 98 yards in the first half alone.  Sanchez seems to be much cooler under pressure and has avoided big mistakes.

• LaDainian Tomlinson- Tomlinson continues to go out and look like the back that he was a few years ago.  He finished this game with 88 all purpose yards and a touchdown and showed some great burst getting around the edge on a few runs.  His enthusiasm is unmatched which is really incredible figuring how many years he has been in the league and the fact that he is already a hall of fame player.

• Brad Smith- Brad Smith was great on kick returns and continuously set the Jets up in great field position.  I have never been a huge Smith fan on kickoffs because he lacks the breakaway speed that sets apart good returners from great ones.  However, if he can continue setting the Jets up with good field position that breakaway speed becomes less important.

• Sione Pouha- Pouha seems to always make plays.  He is no Kris Jenkins but he has become an anchor in the middle of the defense and the Jets should feel comfortable with him for the rest of the season.

Thumbs Down:

• Kyle Wilson- I can't count how many times I yelled at the TV, "Turn around and find the ball," when it was throw in Wilson's direction.  He seemed so focused on watching his man at times that it made it easy for Dolphins receivers to make plays.  He needs to start turning to find the ball which will help him shut down opposing receivers and avoiding costly penalties.

• Shonn Greene- Greene has been very underwhelming this year after most people figured he would start and get the majority of the carries.  He has not run well so far and LT is clearly outplaying him.  Greene still delivers punishing hits but he doesn't seem to be showing the burst that he had in last year's playoffs.

• Penalties- I'm not sure who to put this one on specifically but this team will never win a Super Bowl with the amount of penalties that are being committed.  The Slauson holding call erased a Mark Sanchez TD run and there were plenty of other penalties which could have cost the Jets the game.  This has been a huge issue in the first few weeks and it's something that needs to be fixed.

Overview:

The Jets will look like a completely different team when they play the Dolphins next time.  They are the only team in the league which can boast that they have 3 potential pro bowl players returning in the next few weeks.  The infusion of Santonio Holmes, Calvin Pace, and Darrelle Revis into this lineup should make this team scary in a few weeks. If Sanchez keeps throwing the ball the way he is and LT continues to run with the passion, fire, and burst of a 25 year old we should be looking at good things in the near future.  We travel up to play the Bills next week in what should be a win.  

Jets v. Dolphins

The Jets go down to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football.  The Jets need a win to avoid falling into a 2 game hole in the AFC East behind the Dolphins and Rex Ryan is looking for his first win against the Dolphins as the Jets coach.  A lot of the talk this week has revolved around Braylon Edwards and his drunk driving arrest earlier in the week which will put him on the bench for the first quarter of tonight's game.


What to watch for...

• It has been announced that the Jets will be without Edwards for the first quarter of the game.  This shouldn't play too much of a factor on the game as the Jets will probably just keep the ball on the ground and play solid defense in the first quarter.  Even without Edwards, Sanchez was good last week at finding Dustin Keller.

• Rex Ryan is looking for his first ever win against the Dolphins after falling to two crushing losses last year. Rex will have a defensive gameplan drawn up which should confuse Chad Henne and an average Dolphins passing attack.

• The key to this game on defense will be the Jets handling of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.  If the Jets front line can stop the run game, as they have done all year, I don't see the Dolphins doing much on offense.

Who to watch for...

• Shonn Greene and LT will have to control the run game in order to give Sanchez time to throw.  Greene hasn't had his breakout game yet this year and hopefully today we can see the same guy we saw last year in the playoffs.  

• Antonio Cromartie has to play the same way he did in the second half of last game if the Jets hope to shut down Brandon Marshall.  Cromartie has to avoid stupid penalties if the Jets want to win this game.

Game Overview:

I look for the Jets to come out in the first quarter establishing the run to open up the game for Mark Sanchez later.  The defense has been rock solid so far and I don't see that changing tonight as long as the Jets can shut down the Dolphins running game.

Prediction:

Jets- 17

Dolphins-13

Game Overview: Jets v. Patriots

Jets- 28
Pats- 14

Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense came alive in the second half today as the Jets defeated the Pats 28-14.  Mark Sanchez and LT provided a huge spark in the second half as the Jets offense dominated the Patriots defense.  The defense suffered a major injury (minor injury but major name) in the first half when Darrelle Revis came up lame on a touchdown pass to Randy Moss and had to leave the game with hamstring troubles.  We will get more info on Revis in the coming days but my guess is that he will be held out of practice all week and will hopefully be able to start next week against Miami.  However, even without Revis the Jets defense showed a lot of life in the second half.  Cromartie took on Revis's role of covering Randy Moss and played a pretty good game.  He collected his second interception and assisted in Pool's interception.


Thumbs Up:

• Mark Sanchez:  Mark Sanchez played one of the best games of his career today in finishing 21/30 for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Brian Schottenheimer opened up the playbook today and seemed to do everything he was afraid to do last week.  The Jets allowed Sanchez to throw in running situations and got Braylon Edwards heavily involved right from the start.  Sanchez seemed committed to throwing the ball downfield and it was a great thing to see.  

• LT:  Tomlinson played a great game today and showed outstanding burst.  Tomlinson runs hard on every play and is showing why he is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time.  There are few times when he goes down at the first contact and showed great speed to get around the edge.  

• Brian Schottenheimer:  The three thumbs up are all going to offensive people partly because of how bad the Jets offense was last week and how much they improved.  Schotty expanded the playbook today and didn't back away from giving Sanchez a chance to throw the ball down the field.  I am extremely excited to see what he can come up with when the Jets best WR Santonio Holmes gets on the field.

Thumbs Down:

• Offensive line: I'm not sure who individually to put this on so I will just point out that the offensive line had a pretty horrible game in pass protection.  Sanchez seemed to be moving around in the pocket a ton, especially in the first half.  The pass protection needs to greatly improve or the Jets could be looking at an injury to Sanchez in the near future.

Game Overview:

Overall, I was extremely satisfied with the way that game turned out.  The Patriots looked great last week against the Bengals (a pretty good team) and we managed to beat them by 14 points.  The defense will not face many challenges greater than attempting to shut down that offense (especially without Revis) and responded by only giving up 14 points.  The main concern for the last week, the offense, was a completely different animal from what we saw last week.  Sanchez threw the ball great and Tomlinson looked like he did a few years ago showing some great burst and making people miss.  Schotty opened up the playbook and called more plays where Sanchez looked downfield and also got back to throwing the slant routes that Sanchez is so good at.  With the Dolphins game coming up next week this win was necessary and the Jets responded.

Game Preview: Jets v. Patriots

The Patriots come to the Meadowlands today to take on the winless Jets.  The matchup everyone will be focusing on this week is Randy Moss vs. Darrelle Revis.  Revis called Moss a "slouch" after their first matchup last year where Revis shut down Moss.  However, the most important matchup for the Jets defense is probably Welker against whoever the Jets put against him.  Whether this be Cromartie or Wilson, somebody will have the all important job of shutting down Welker.  The Jets need this win as the Dolphins are 2 minutes away from a win against the Vikings and the Patriots already won last week.  A loss in this game would put the Jets 2 games behind both the Patriots and the Dolphins which is not the way you want to start the season

What to watch for....

• The Jets crowd was pumped up last year for the first  meeting between the Jets and Patriots and this was a major factor in helping the Jets take down the Pats.  Ryan is looking for the stadium to be rocking today which could help to throw off Brady's passing attack which was spot on last week.  
• Revis v. Moss is always a fun battle to watch.  Revis will have the opportunity to show once again that he is the best cornerback in the NFL as he takes on one of the NFL's best receivers in Randy Moss.  There has been no shortage of words between these two as they prepare to do battle today. 

Who to watch for...

• Antonio Cromartie was picked on last week by Joe Flacco and the Ravens and I would not be surprised to see something similar this week.  Brady knows how to take advantage of defenses and will be ready to pick on Cromartie.  The Jets will be sending tons of blitzes at Brady and Cromartie cannot commit the number of penalties that he did last week.
• Mark Sanchez and Schotty both have to improve their games on offense this week.  Schotty needs to vary the playcalling and give Sanchez a chance to throw the ball downfield.  Sanchez needs to look past his check downs and take some chances down the field to open up the running game.
• Shonn Greene is the Jets starting RB and needs to start playing like it.  Greene can't put he ball on the ground and needs to have a good game if the Jets hope to move the ball down the field.

Game Overview:

The Jets have a chance to take down the Patriots this week and with the Dolphins and Patriots looking to move to 2-0 they need to capitalize.  Most of the attention will be paid to Mark Sanchez on offense but if the Jets can get the ball moving on the ground they should be able to win this game.  Greene needs to punish them early and Schotty needs to make some playcalls that allow Sanchez throw the ball down the field.

Prediction:

Patriots- 17

Jets- 10

Losing Jenkins

Sad, but expected, news came out of Jets camp last night as we learned that the Jets have lost DT Kris Jenkins to a torn ACL in his left knee.  This news is devastating to Jenkins future and my guess is that he will probably retire rather than undergo another round of surgery and intense recovery.  Jenkins is an unbelievable player when healthy and fought back hard to get back to the point where he was healthy enough to play.  It is sad that his career ends with this result but he should be regarded as one of the best defensive lineman of this generation.  Although he wasn't healthy with the Jets for very long, he was a great team player and leader.

To replace Jenkins the Jets have signed DT Howard Green.  Green played 12 games for the Jets last year and will step into the backup role behind Sione Pouha.  The Jets were thin at defensive line after losing Jenkins so this was a necessary signing before facing the Patriots.  There were a few other moves yesterday as the Jets released fan favorite Danny Woodhead and picked up WR David Clowney.  Clowney gives the Jets another receiver option (we were down to 3).  Actually throwing the ball downfield would seem to be the logical step before signing more WR but the Jets don't seem to realize that.  They probably felt that Woodhead was not going to see the field and he was simply not the same caliber receiver as Clowney.  My guess is that we will see Woodhead around here some more sometime in the future.  

An unsung hero of Monday night was OLB Bryan Thomas. Thomas recorded 9 tackles and 1.5 sacks and has really come into his own in this defense.  Thomas was a first round draft pick a number of years ago and has widely been viewed as a disappointment.  However, over the last few years Thomas has grown into a very good run stopping linebacker and is a pretty good pass rusher.  With the continuing saga of Vernon Gholston playing out around the Jets linebacker unit it is nice to see a former "bust" succeed.

Until tomorrow...  

A Day After

I've gone over this loss in my head a bunch of times and it surprises me each time how close we were to winning that game.  Off the top of my head I can name 5 moments that, had they gone differently, would have resulted in a Jets win.

1.) The Braylon Edwards illegal shift penalty on Dustin Keller's catch at the 3 yard line.  The Jets were up 3-0 and driving down the field when Mark Sanchez hit Keller on a route down the middle of the field that would have put the Jets at the 3 yard line with a first down.  Instead, Braylon gets called for an illegal shift and we get pushed back 5 yards and the play is called back.

2.)  The Braylon Edwards running into the kicker call.  This call was HUGE and allowed the Ravens to get their only touchdown of the game.  If Edwards doesn't run into the kicker (I can hardly blame him because of how athletic the play was) the Ravens don't go on to score that touchdown.

3.) The Kyle Wilson pass interference call in the end zone.  The Ravens were driving at the end of the half (after the Edwards penalty) and this call put them on the 1 yard line with under a minute to go.  I am fairly confident they would not have scored if Wilson doesn't commit this penalty.

4.)  Shonn Greene's fumble after Cromartie's interception was a huge turning point in this game.  The interception put the Jets on the Ravens 30 yard line with a 6-0 lead and could have led to a game-cementing drive.  However, on the first play from scrimmage Greene fumbles and this leads to the Ravens scoring drive.

5.) The Dustin Keller 4th down play at the end of the game didn't cost us the game but it was such a boneheaded play that it deserves a mention.  Keller has to make sure to get the first down in that situation and he clearly had a chance to turn up the field and at least get an extra yard.

Overall, the more I think about the game, the more infuriating it becomes.  I only mentioned this in passing yesterday but we are all awaiting news of Kris Jenkins injury and I am not expecting good news.  Jenkins had surgery on that knee last year and we should know more tomorrow after an MRI.  Jenkins is one of the my favorite players and really seemed to be pumped for this year so I am hoping it is just a sprain.

Like I said yesterday the playcalling on offense needs to change.  For some reason we did not see any of the slants which were Sanchez's saving grace in last year's postseason.  Nor did we see any screen passes to beat the Ravens blitz.  The offensive line needs to step up their game and Slauson needs to get over his first year starting troubles very quickly.  Until tomorrow...

Ravens 10 Jets 9: Game Overview

Ravens- 10

Jets- 9

Jets: 0-1

The Jets came into this game with an offense that was a work in progress.  New pieces were added in LaDainian Tomlinson and Santonio Holmes (out until Week 5) and Mark Sanchez was supposed to be a much improved quarterback than what we saw last season.  What we saw tonight mirrors much of what we saw last season.  Brian Schottenheimer called an EXTREMELY conservative offense  while Mark Sanchez didn't even look capable of thinking about throwing the ball down the field.  It is had to pick out which party is more at fault in this game.  What can be said is that the Jets offense looked as bad tonight as I have ever seen it.  The defense showed up to play tonight and played great with the exceptions of Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson.  Wilson was victimized in his first NFL game and even suffered a fumble (recovered by the Jets) on a punt return.  Cromartie was targeted all game and committed several very costly penalties.  His only positive in this game was a pretty good interception and return.  Overall,  I was very happy with the play of the offense and absolutely disgusted with the play of the defense.

Thumbs Up:

• Jim Leonhard provided a spark on special teams with a pretty good punt return in the first half and another semi good one in the second half.  With a horrible Jets offense any kind of spark was needed and Leonhard at least tried to provide that.
• Bryan Thomas finished the game with 1.5 sacks and really played great on defense.  Along with the other linebackers the Jets held the Ravens to a minuscule amount of yards per carry and did a great job at shutting down the Ravens.  The only touchdown they gave up was the result of a running into the kicker penalty by Braylon Edwards.  
• Steve Weatherford punted great tonight and twice pinned the Ravens inside the 2 yard line.  It is weird to praise a punter in my thumbs up section but he is the only non-defensive player that deserved this.

Thumbs Down:

• Brian Schottenheimer called an absolutely horrible offense tonight.  He was incapable of taking any chances against a suspect Ravens secondary on first downs and the offense he did call seemed overly complicated.  Mark Sanchez seems to think he is Peyton Manning with all the line calls.  I don't know what has to happen but this seems to be the story with Schottenheimer every single year.
• Mark Sanchez played a terrible game.  He never seemed to look downfield and every play was either a check down, a sack, or a Sanchez run.  Unless this offense opens up and the ball gets thrown downfield there is no chance for anything to be successful.  
• Dustin Keller needs to get the extra yard on that 4th down play.  He had plenty of time to quickly turn up field and at least reach the ball over the first down line.  I don't have much more to say about his play but he needs to get that done.
• Penalties, Penalties, Penalties.  Was there any third and long tonight where the Jets didn't commit a penalty.  Even with the horrid offense the Jets could have won this game if they had cut out two penalties.  First is the Braylon Edwards running into the kicker and shortly after was the Kyle Wilson pass interference.  This team needs a dose of discipline.  

Notes: Kris Jenkins went out in the first quarter with an injury to the same knee that knocked him out all of last year and I don't expect the news to be good.

Game Thoughts:

If the Jets offense doesn't come alive in the coming weeks we are going to suffer through a lot of these games this year.  The defense is superb and will finish top 3 in the league if everyone manages to stay healthy.  However, for the Jets to win this tough division they need to get some offense going.  I realize that the Ravens have a very, very good defense so I am willing to give the offense a break for this week.  However, in the coming weeks I need to see something more before I proclaim this team to be as good as they talk 

Game Preview: Jets v. Ravens

After a busy offseason and months of waiting opening day is upon us.  The Jets will host the Ravens at 7 PM tonight on Monday Night Football as they open one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory.  The Jets didn't get lulled into a false sense of security after a good playoff run last year and instead went out and made some moves which should greatly improve the team.  The additions of LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie, and Jason Taylor should all play a huge factor in tonight's game against a very good team.

What to watch for...

• The Jets prolific running attack will be facing one of the best defensive front sevens in the league tonight.  The Jets led the league in rushing last year and figure to be near the top this year.  The Ravens front 7 is anchored by DT Haloti Ngata and MLB Ray Lewis and should be a formidable defense against the Jets running game.  The Jets will be cautious in this one early and I could see a very disappointing offensive first half running the football.

• The Jets offensive line play will greatly depend on the play and maturity of newcomer Matt Slauson.  The Jets will be in trouble if Slauson's suspect pass protection forces Sanchez to hurry too many of his throws.  Another worry is the play of RT Damian Woody.  Reports have said that Woody looks a step slower this season and may not be playing up to the same form he did last season. 
• The Jets defense finished #1 in the league last year and made several key additions this offseason.  CB's Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson will join Darrelle Revis in a secondary which hopes to be even better this season.  Jason Taylor will start at OLB for Bart Scott and will be given the opportunity to show that he can regain some of his old form.  

Who to watch for....

• Darrelle Revis: Normally Revis is somebody that will rarely get mentioned in this part of the preview as somebody to watch for because he is so good and consistent.  However, with only a week of practice under his belt and coming off a prolonged holdout Revis may be tested early by Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin.  Revis will have to prove early that he can duplicated last year's form and force the Ravens to throw away from Boldin and towards Cromartie's side.
• Mark Sanchez: The Jets worked all offseason to load up the weapons around Sanchez to give him a better chance to succeed in the passing game.  Sanchez cannot make decisions that cost the Jets the game.
• Shonn Greene: If Greene can get going early it will make life much easier on Mark Sanchez and the rest of the Jets offense.  The offense needs to control the clock and wear down the Ravens front 7 in the first half to set up scoring opportunities against a tired Ravens defense in the second half.

Game Overview:

The Jets come into this season with a target on their backs and with extremely high expectations.  Rex Ryan has created a new culture for the Jets and that should be evident tonight.  The Jets and Ravens are two of the toughest teams in the league and both should be looking to run it down each other's throats.  I see this as an extremely even, low scoring game which the Jets should win simply because they are home.

Prediction:

Jets: 13
Ravens: 10

Jets v. Giants Reaction

Analysis of the Starters:



Mark Sanchez:


First Drive:

• Bad decision on a throw to LT over the middle.  He missed the fact that the Giants were backing into a zone and LT was double covered.  Interception that turned into a touchdown for the Giants.

Second Drive:

• Sanchez looked composed during the second drive and seemed to check down most of the time.  He targeted Keller a ton and didn't take many chances down the field.
• Ended up getting a touchdown pass when the Giants left Brad Smith wide open on the outside at the goal line.

Third Drive:

• Put in a difficult position after the Robert Turner hold and wasn't able to do much with the drive.
• Put a pretty good pass just out of the reach of Brad Smith in the end zone.

Fourth Drive:

• Sanchez opens up with a few good throws to Cotchery and Edwards as he finally targets some wide receivers.
• Offense is opening up on this drive as Sanchez is beign asked to throw more.
• Playing against the Giants second team defense.
• 
  

LT:

• Tomlinson came in mostly on passing situations.
• He showed some great burst getting away from the linebacker on a big third and long catch which put the Jets into the red zone.
• On the third drive Tomlinson rips off a 15 yard touchdown run (called back because of holding).
• Showed great burst on the run.

Shonne Greene:

• As usual, Greene ran really hard and seems to have improved vision from last year.  He hit the hole a few times instead of simply trying to run through the opposition.

Dustin Keller:

• Keller ran a ton of routes between 5 and 10 yards and seemed to get great separation every time.  
• Sanchez targets him a lot which isn't overly surprising.

Nick Folk:

• 36 yard field goal in the first quarter was right on.
• Another short field goal for Folk

Defense:

• Jets came out on the first drive with a lot of penetration on the early plays and then a big blitz on third and long which confused Eli Manning.
• The second drive was more of the same after stuffing two straight runs and then sending the house at Eli Manning and forcing another bad throw.  
• The defense gave up points on the third drive but it was in part to a completely blown holding call on Shaun Ellis.
• Huge hit on Manning leaves him gushing blood.  Bart Scott looks like he's on a mission with the way he's getting to the quarterback in this game.

Antonio Cromartie:

• Had a few interceptions slip through his hands and he looked great in man to man.

Special Teams:

• Eric Smith with a great blocked punt.

That's pretty much enough analysis of the starters for me.  I'm sure somebody will catch my eye in the second half who I can add onto this post.

Preseason Game # 1: Jets v. Giants

The football season unofficially starts tonight for the Jets as they will open the new season and stadium with a game against the cross town rival Giants.  The outcome of the game doesn't matter much but here are a few things I am looking for in this game:

• According to Rex Ryan the starters will be playing at least a full quarter.  This should give us time to see Mark Sanchez and the new look offense on at least two drives.  Sanchez hasn't had the best preseason but now has the weapons around him to excel.  We will get a real time look at how Sanchez's knee looks after offseason surgery.
• Tomlinson has been taking the majority of snaps with the first team offense during training camp so it looks like he will be out there with the starters at the beginning of the game.  I don't see this meaning much as I expect Shonn Greene to really carry the load for us this year.
• Matt Slauson is currently winning the left guard battle with Vladamir Ducasse and should get the start tonight.  Rex Ryan has even gone as far as to say that Slauson could be the long term solution at the position.  This is our first look to see if he is right.
• The defense will be without Darelle Revis as he continues his hold out.  This will push Kyle Wilson up the depth chart and will give us an opportunity to see him play against the Giants first team wide receivers.  With the Revis situation looking grim it will be good to see if the combination of Cromartie and Wilson can get the job done.
• Kris Jenkins will be back anchoring the middle of the defense (although I don't expect him to be in there for many plays).  This will be a welcome site to Jets fans who thought the season was over last year when he went down to injury.
• Vernon Gholston has had a good training camp adjusting to his new position and he will look to continue that in tonight's game.  This season is the last one for him to prove that he can be a good, productive football player before the Jets cut ties so he has to make the most of every opportunity. 

Seeing the Jets come out on the field for the first time this season tonight will be exciting even though it is a preseason game.

Position by Position Overview: Offensive Line

The Jets return an offensive line that was among the NFL's best last season and should only improve this season.  The biggest move on the line was the release of Alan Faneca.  Faneca was the weak member of the line last year and this year he will be replaced by either second round pick Vladamir Ducasse or second year player Matt Slauson.  A few days into training camp it looks like Matt Slauson has a slight edge but this will remain a hot topic until the season starts.

Overall, there isn't a huge need to go over the individual positions on the line.  Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson are the anchors of the line and are among the best at their respective positions.  Ferguson just got a contract that will keep him here for many years to come and I'm sure Mangold's contract will come soon.

Brandon Moore is one of the most underrated lineman in the league and is a definite run blocking presence.  Damian Woody joins Moore on the right side of the line and should be a solid contributer to that side of the line.

A few interesting things to note about the offensive line.  The Jets had the same 5 starters for every game last year and we hope this can continue.  Mangold is having contract troubles (big surprise) and is hoping to get a new contract.  We will see how this plays out.

Revis Contract Situation

With the immense amount of talent on the Jets practice field right now people still can't help but question when the best player might show up.  Darelle Revis is staging a hold out after the Jets refused to renegotiate his current contract and make him the highest paid corner in the league.  On day three of training camp it doesn't appear that the Jets and Revis are any closer to signing a deal.  Rumors from the Revis camp say that the Jets offers are way off from where he wants them to be while the Jets front office is dealing with the problem of an uncertain CBA next year which is making it extremely difficult to give a lucrative, long term extension.  

My personal opinion: Revis shouldn't be at camp at his current contract.  Normally, I would side with the team in saying that if a guy is under contract he should be participating.  However, the Leon Washington situation last year changed all of that for me.  Washington entered the season with a contract on the table that would have payed him around 5 million a year.  He turned this down and went into the season unprotected and came out with a broken leg.  the team didn't show any loyalty to Washington (nor did they have a responsibility to) when they sent him to Seattle on draft day.  Revis looks at this situation and can see a similar thing happening to him.  If a player gets injured and the team has a way to get out of paying them they have every right to do that.  Why should Revis show up to camp with a small contract and no guarantees that he wouldn't be sent right along as Washington was if he suffers a bad injury.  Revis proved last year that he was the best cornerback in the league and an integral part of the best defense in the NFL.  He deserves to be paid and he more importantly he deserves to have his future guaranteed.  The only point that I am against Revis on is his insistence that he is the highest paid corner in the NFL.  This usually would not be a major problem.  The best player at a position deserves to be the highest paid.  However, Nnamdi Asomugha's contract in Oakland is absurd and should not set the benchmark for any future contracts.  Revis should accept a deal in the 12-13 million dollar a season range and be happy with that.  I hope we see him out on the field soon but until the Jets start submitting serious contract offers I do not blame him for staying home.

Position by Position Overview: Wide Reveivers

The Jets come into the 2010 season stacked at the wide receiver position after the addition of Santonio Holmes from the Steelers.  The trio of Holmes, Edwards, and Cotchery gives Mark Sanchez enough weapons to excel in the passing game.

1.  Edwards will be the #1 receiver and he is one of the most talented players on a talent laden Jets team.  He has a history of drops but I think he will find some rhythm with Sanchez this year and show everybody what he can really do.  He is playing for a contract as the Jets will probably only be able to keep him or Holmes after this season.  Edwards has the edge now and I wouldn't be surprised if he responds with a monster season.

2. Cotchery is a long tenured Jets who is one of the best possession receivers in the AFC.  He consistently puts up good numbers and was Sanchez's favorite target last year.  The acquisition of Holmes means that Cotchery will have to play the slot position some of the time and I think this is an area where he can excel.  Holmes and Edwards will provide the necessary deep threat to open up opportunities for Cotchery over the middle.

3. Holmes is suspended the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy but he should be able to step in Week 5 and make an immediate impact on the passing game.  Holmes is super athletic and has big game experience (Super Bowl MVP).  Holmes has dedicated himself  this offseason to learning all three receiver positions and being able to mix up him and Cotchery in the slot and outside positions should provide a dynamic that few offenses have.

4.  Laveranues Coles was signed last week to take over for Holmes the first four weeks while he is suspended.  If Coles can work himself into good shape and prove himself there is no reason he can't stick around after Week 4.  To round out the receiving core, David Clowney, is looking to move up a stacked depth chart.  Clowney has long been a fan favorite because of his speed and ability to stretch the field but he has never seemed to "get" it.  Could this be the year that he does?  Probably not.

Position by Position Overview: Running Back

1. Shonn Greene
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
3. Joe McKnight

1.  Shonne Greene

Greene enters the season as the Jets #1 running back and the replacement for last years star Thomas Jones.  Many people are looking at it as a mistake that the Jets released Thomas Jones after the season but Greene proved in the playoffs that he is more than capable of carrying this team.  As I said repeatedly last season Greene runs harder than any running back I have seen since Jerome Bettis and a young Jamal Lewis.  His running style leads to injuries and I hope that will not be a problem this year.  Despite the worries about the injuries I think Green will have a relatively injury free season.  I see 1,200 yards and 8 TDs for Greene this year.

2.  LaDainian Tomlinson

Tomlinson enters this season as the backup to Shonne Greene and should play a prominent role out of the backfield.  The Jets are hoping that Tomlinson can regain some of his previous form and serve as a good backup to Greene.  He should get a lot of touches around the goal line and should catch passes out of the backfield.  I see about 500 yards and 8 TD's for Tomlinson this year.

3.  Joe McKnight

The only thing we have really heard about McKnight this offseason is that he threw up in his first practice.  McKnight probably will not see the field much but he will be the Jets answer for the trade of Leon Washington.  They are hoping McKnight can develop into an explosive change of pace runner who can grow into the number 2 role behind Greene.

Position by Position Overview: Quarterback

Depth Chart:
1. Mark Sanchez
2. Mark Brunell*
3. Eric Ainge

Missing Out:
Kevin O'Connell
Kellen  Clemens

1. Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez comes into the season leading a revamped passing attack which should feature more prominently in the Jets offense this year.  With the additions of Santonio Holmes and a full offseason of working with receivers Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery I expect better things from Sanchez this year.  Last season Sanchez was responsible for many early season losses and really only came alive in the playoffs.  Sanchez should be able to replicate the playoff success he enjoyed last year.

2.  Mark Brunell

Brunell hasn't been signed as of yet but he should be a veteran presence who can mentor Mark Sanchez and help guide him through this season.  At this point in his career Brunell doesn't have much to offer on the field but he cannot do much worse than Kellen Clemens has done as a backup.  More comments to come during training camp after he actually signs.

3. Eric Ainge

I believe that Eric Ainge will be the third quarterback on this team beating out Kevin O'Connell.  He shouldn't see much playing time this year and if he does we are in serious trouble.

Projected Depth Chart

QB: Mark Sanchez, Mark Brunell*, Eric Ainge

RB: Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, Danny Woodhead

FB: Tony Richardson, John Conner

WR: Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith, David Clowney

TE: Dustin Keller, Ben Hartsock

T: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Damien Woody, Wayne Hunter, Robert Turner

G: Vladamir Ducasse, Matt Slauson, Brandon Moore

C: Nick Mangold

DE: Shaun Ellis, Matt Devito, Vernon Gholston, Ropati Pitoitua, Marques Douglas

DT: Kris Jenkins, Sione Pouha, Matt Kroul

OLB: Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, Jason Taylor, Jamaal Westerman

MLB: David Harris, Bart Scott, Kenwin Cummings, Lance Laury

CB: Darelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson, Dwight Lowery, Drew Coleman, Marquis Cole

S: Jim Leonhard, Brodney Pool, Eric Smith, James Ihedigbo

K: Nick Folk 

P: Steve Weatherford

LS: Tanner Purdum 

The Start of the 2010/2011 Season

We enter year two of this blog with the Jets in a completely different situation than they found themselves in last year.  Last year at this time Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan dominated New York headlines as the media followed Mark's every move while picking up great quotes from new Head Coach Rex Ryan.  The run last year was as special and amazing as any I have ever seen and I can't wait to see how the Jets can improve on last year and make this season the one where we break through with a Super Bowl berth.  The Jets have gotten a lot of media attention this off season with the signings of super athletic cornerback Antonio Cromartie and former great running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  The signing of Cromartie should improve the unit (minus Darelle Revis) that was carved up by Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game last year.  Pairing Cromartie with Revis gives the Jets the best cornerback tandem in the league and should allow Rex Ryan to call even more blitzes than he did last year.    


The Jets were handed a gift in the first round this year when Kyle Wilson, arguably the best corner in the draft, fell to their position at pick 29.  Wilson has impressed in OTA's and minicamp and has solidified himself as the 3rd corner behind Revis and Cromartie.  If Wilson can play up to his potential there is no question that the Jets should be near impossible to pass against.  


With all the new faces around the locker room this year there were bound to be players that were left out.  Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Alan Faneca, and Jay Feely are among those who played significant roles last year (not as much for Washington) and will be sorely missed this season.  The release of Faneca was something I supported as he was sub par last year and I thought it was time for the Jets to move on.  The drafting of Vladamir Ducasse sets up a position battle for LG between him and Matt Slauson.  Whoever wins this battle will be playing between two pro bowl caliber players and will hopefully fit seamlessly into one of the best offensive lines in the league.  


The swap of Thomas Jones for LaDainian Tomlinson is one that has gotten way too much media coverage this offseason.  Tomlinson WAS NOT brought in to replace Jones.  Tomlinson was brought in to backup second year running back Shonn Greene.  Greene's running in the playoffs last year showed the Jets what he can do and if he stays healthy I see great things from him this year.  Tomlinson should be able to fill the role of the complementary back and will provide a good change of pace from the backfield.  


The Jets relied heavily on the running attack last year and will be looking to open up the offense a bit more this year with Mark Sanchez entering his second year and with the addition of Santonio Holmes to an already good Jets receiver core.  This addition (despite the fact that he is suspended for the first 4 games) gives the Jets another great weapon on offense.  Between Braylon Edward's big play ability, the consistency of Jerricho Cotchery, and the big game experience of Santonio Holmes I believe that the Jets now have a receiving core which could rival any in the league.  For the Jets to fulfill the preseason expectations this year Mark Sanchez will need to progress as a starter and show that he is the quarterback we saw lead us to the AFC Championship and not the one who lost us multiple games during the regular season.  Sanchez's maturity will be a interesting subplot to watch as the season unfolds. 


When last season opened up I had no idea what to expect from a team with a new head coach, new quarterback, and completely new philosophy.  In contrast, my hopes are higher this season then they have ever been and I expect great things from a team that was greatly improved in the offseason.

Some Offseason Thoughts

It has been a long time since I have had the chance to post but here's a little summary of my thoughts of what is going on around Jets football.

1.)  I am extremely pleased that Mark Sanchez is back on the practice field and fully participating in 11 v. 11's.  Sanchez needs this off-season to get comfortable with new receiver Santonio Holmes as well as with the guys who were around last year.

2.)  The Revis contract situation is something that has gotten a ton of attention in the media recently.  The other day Revis skipped a voluntary minicamp on the day that Hark Knocks was filming promos for the upcoming show.  Revis is looking to become the highest paid corner in the league and I can't say I blame him.  The problem with this is that the current highest contract (belonging to Nnamdi Asomugha (sp?)) is absurd compared to the people behind him.  Asomugha has a contract averaging around 16 million per season and Revis wants to earn above this.  There have been talks of a training camp holdout but I do not see this being the case.  Tennanbaum is slowly submitting offers to the Revis camp and I would bet that a deal is signed sometime before the middle of training camp.  Even if these negotiations run into camp I expect to see Revis there for the majority.

3.)  The rest of the contracts also need to be taken care of.  Nick Mangold needs to have his contract addressed shortly after (or at the same time) as Revis.  Mangold is part of the "core 4"  (Mangold, Revis, Harris, Ferguson) and needs to be signed soon.

4.)  Vernon Gholston is making the switch to defensive end with the Jets being very thin in this area.  This really isn't news until Gholston gets off his ass and decides to become a real football player.  However, it is worth noting that you will have to watch Gholston screw up this season from a three point stance.

5.)  Mark Brunell will be a Jet come the end of July. I guess it is a good thing that we are getting a proven NFL player to back up Sanchez rather than Clemens.  Clemens was a failure for the Jets and I have never been a big fan.  He will catch on somewhere as a 3rd QB and hopefully someday he gets a chance to start.  Thankfully, it won't be for us.

6.)  Hard Knocks should provide an interesting look into Jets camp this August.  My lack of HBO will make watching this show interesting but I look forward to see the interactions between the many different personalities in Jets camp.

7.)  I find it weird that Tomlinson got a Jets tattoo.  It's great and all that he's happy to be a Jet but I wonder if he realizes that he's probably one and done.

8.)  The expectations are higher this season than any I can remember as a Jets fan (except for maybe 1998 but I was too young to notice then).  How the Jets handle these expectations will go a long way in determining the success of this season.

April Moves: Draft and Others

The Jets have been active and have made some huge moves during the draft.  I will start with the draft:

First Round: Kyle Wilson: CB

The Jets drafted Kyle Wilson with the 29th pick of the 1st round.  Apparently the Jets did not expect any of the top cornerback prospects to be available with this pick and they were absolutely thrilled when Wilson fell so far.  Wilson should be able to fill in right away as the 3rd cornerback and could serve as a replacement to Antonio Cromartie if the Jets are unable to resign him after this year.  Rex Ryan loves cornerbacks and this move should free up the Jets to blitz even more than they did last year.

Second Round: Vladimir Ducasse: OL

Vladamir Ducasse is a monstrous offensive line prospect who should take over the starting job right away for the Jets.  His measurables are 6'5 332 pounds and he should fill in at guard.  The Jets were ready to take him late in the first round before Wilson fell.  This move prompted the Jets to release Alan Faneca.

Fourth Round:  Joe McKnight: RB

McKnight was drafted by the Jets in the fourth round to be the replacement to Leon Washington as the 3rd running back.  McKnight is a good change of pace back with good speed and elusiveness.  He may not be Leon Washington but he should be able to contribute right away.

Fifth Round: John Conner: FB

Conner was drafted by the Jets to be the eventual replacement to Tony Richardson.  Conner will be able to contribute on special teams right away and is a favorite of Rex Ryan.

Released/Traded Players:

Alan Faneca:  The Jets said goodbye to Alan Faneca when they drafted Vladimir Ducasse in the second round.  Faneca was horrible in pass protection this year and the Jets hope that Ducasse can fill in and do the same kind of job.  The Jets will miss  Faneca's leadership and veteran presence up front but his salary was far too high to keep for this year.

Leon Washington:  Washington was traded shortly after the Jets drafted Joe McKnight in the fourth round.  He was traded for a 5th round pick where the Jets drafted John Conner.  Washington has been my favorite player for years and I was in shock when I heard he was traded even though I had been expecting it.  The Jets did not get the value that I thought they could get for a player with Washington's abilities and therefore there must be some legitimate concern about whether he can return successfully from his horrible injury last year.  I hope Leon fully recovers and becomes a great player in Seattle.

Overall, I think the Jets made some necessary and unnecessary moves yesterday.  The release of Alan Faneca and the plan to replace him with Vladimir Ducasse is a good one and should give the Jets a solid left side of the line for years to come.  However, the trade of Leon Washington for a 5th round pick was hard to stomach as Washington has been a fan favorite for years.

I don't like draft grades but I will give the draft a solid B.

Jets Sign Tomlinson

The Jets have agreed to a two year deal with Ladainian Tomlinson.  This deal will bring in one of the best running backs in recent history to be the 3rd option on the Jets roster.  Tomlinson should excel in the role of getting 5-10 touches a game behind the best offensive line in football.  Although he has lacked production in recent years, behind this Jets offensive line and with a reduced role I believe that he will get his YPC average up over 4 and be a great boost to an already good Jets running game.  I am excited and overjoyed by this move as it provides an insurance policy if Leon Washington is unable to return to his old form after the broken leg.  Great signing by the Jets.

Scouts Inc. is a Joke: Kerry Rhodes

So, I'm on ESPN.com today on the AFC East blog looking at their analysis of the Kerry Rhodes trade to Arizona.  While there I run across this Scouts Inc. profile on Rhodes that I would like to comment on:
"Rhodes has size, athletic skills and functional play strength. He has deceptive speed and physical toughness. He shows good speed and quickness as a blitzer. He has been a very physical and productive player coming off the edge in zone dogs. He has good closing speed underneath. He takes good angles when supporting the run but can be inconsistent in this phase of the game." 


Let me do a little analysis of this critique on Rhodes.  Rhodes was consistently half a second late on every single play and usually ended up either throwing his body over a pile or standing around watching.  This "deceptive speed" is bullshit and doesn't actually exist.  The only time he shows any speed is when he is rushing around the edge and this has resulted in 3 sacks in 3 years.  This last year he registered 0 sacks while playing in a Rex Ryan defensive system that sends more blitzers than anybody in the league.  As far as "good speed and quickness as a blitzer", I can't really see how this is actually  helping him out if he is getting absolutely not sacks.


They then make the claim that Rhodes is "very physical".  Do they know the reason that Rex Ryan benched him midway through the season and then proceeded to run him out of New York.  He was benched because he was soft on tackling Wes Welker in one of the Patriots games earlier in the season.  This was a trend that we had to deal with all season.  Rhodes consistently misses tackles and doesn't show any of this toughness that Scounts Inc. claims he has.  As far as taking "good angles to support the run", it seems to me that this is some bullshit that can be said to appease any fan because there really is no argument against it.  I don't have the access to the tapes of all of Kerry Rhodes games to analyze whether he really does take these good angles.  What I do know is that he will consistently miss the tackles after taking these good angles.


I am not a huge Rhodes fan anymore but I do not hate him like the majority of fans.  However, I will never take anything Scouts Inc. says seriously after this joke of an analysis.  They clearly have not watched enough footage on him and are basing this review off a season that was 3 years ago.  If you can't pain an accurate picture, don't even try.

Kerry Rhodes Traded

The Jets have traded Kerry Rhodes to Arizona for a 4th round pick this year and a 7th in 2011.  My first reaction to this news was that I am not very happy that this trade was made.  Rhodes is a great talent who never seemed to be comfortable in the Rex Ryan defense.  The compensation doesn't seem to be enough for a player who is going to step right in and start.  This should open up the possibility of the Jets drafting Myron Rolle in the 3rd or so round or picking up a free agent safety like OJ Atogwe.  I would be a huge fan of picking up Atogwe but I am not sure how the final four restriction rules will play into this.  I am a bit concerned about giving up a starter on defense for unproven picks but Rhodes made too many enemies in New York and it was time for him to go.

Offseason News

As the beginning of March passes there are two HUGE moves that the Jets have made in recent weeks.  I will start with the move that happened today as the Jets acquired Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers for a conditional third round draft pick which could turn into a second based on playing time next year.  This trade will give the Jets the best pair of defensive backs in the NFL.  Cromartie has come under fire the past few years as he has not produced like he did in his all-pro year 2 years ago.  However, playing opposite of Darrelle Revis I can see Cromartie getting many opportunities to become a game changer.  Quarterbacks cannot complete passes to Revis's side and Cromartie has the explosiveness to take advantage of any qb that targets him.  I expect great things about the Jets secondary come next season.

The second big move of the offseason is the release of Thomas Jones.  I am a huge Jones supporter and he put in some very, very good years with the Jets.  He was extremely under appreciated by the majority of Jets fans.  He was consistent, stayed healthy, and put up a few huge seasons.  However, the Jets have decided to move on in the running game with Shonn Greene and Leon Washington both coming into next season healthy.  It is a move that I think had to be made with the way Greene ran in the playoffs.  There is some risk involved with Greene seeming a little injury prone and Washington coming off a horrible injury but the Jets should sign a veteran #3 back as an insurance policy.  Thank you Thomas Jones for what you brought to this team in the past few years and I hope he has another few good years in him for somebody.

Season in Review: Defense and Special Teams

Defensive MVP: Darrelle Revis

Defensive Line:

Shaun Ellis had another good season anchoring the defensive line.  He finished with 53 tackles and 6.5 sacks which are pretty good numbers for a defensive end in the 3-4.  The longest tenured Jet should be returning next year in the same role.

Season Grade: B+

Sione Pouha played great this season filling in when Kris Jenkins went down with an injury.  Many thought the Jets defense would suffer greatly without last seasons defensive MVP but Pouha was able to step in and play great.

Season Grade: A-

Marques Douglas was serviceable at the defensive end position this year and I expect that we will see him back next year in the same role.

Season Grade: B

Linebackers:

Calvin Pace- A-

Vernon Gholston- F

David Harris- A

Bryan Thomas- B

Bart Scott- B+

Defensive Backs:

Darrelle Revis- A+

Lito Sheppard- C+

Dwight Lowery- B

Donald Strickland- C

Kerry Rhodes- C

Jim Leonard- A-

Eric Smith- B+

Special Teams:

Jay Feely- A

Steve Weatherford- C

Brad Smith/Leon Washington Returning Kicks- B-

Coaching:

Rex Ryan- A

Brian Schottenheimer- C+

Mike Pettine- A

Mike Westhoff- B+

Season in Review: Offense

Offensive MVP: Thomas Jones


Quarterback:

Mark Sanchez had the kind of season that is normally expected out of a rookie quarterback.  He started out extremely hot in the first 3 games and led the team to a 3-0 record.  However, this fast start may have caused Brian Schottenheimer and Rex Ryan to open up the offensive playbook a little too much which resulted in a tough middle of the season.  However, Sanchez matured towards the end of the season and realized that his role on the team was to make sure the team didn't lose. 

The biggest turning point of the season for Mark Sanchez may have been when Rex Ryan delved into the offense.  He simplified the playbook and started limiting Sanchez's throws to 15-20 a game.  Once this happened Sanchez became much more efficient and was a major factor in leading the Jets to the playoffs.  Sanchez's play in the playoffs was a major reason that the Jets were able to advance.  He played arguably his two best games of the season against the Bengals and Chargers in the playoffs.

Overall, this season was a growing experience for Sanchez.  He matured greatly as the season progressed and I am almost 100% sure that he will continue to develop and eventually be one of the best starting quarterbacks in the league.  He has the tremendous ability to escape pressure and make throws while on the run.  Also, as the season progressed Sanchez showed much more poise in the pocket and was able to make the tough throws.

Season Grade: C+

Running Back:

Thomas Jones had an absolutely incredible season which exceeded all of my expectations.  He finished with a league leading 331 carries and was 4th in the league with 1402 yards.  He was also able to pick up 14 touchdowns.  Jones was the workhorse back all season and was the main reason that the Jets were able to make the playoffs.  Jones was consistent all season (until the playoffs) and was able to wear defenses down late in games.  Jones wore down a little bit come playoff time because of a bad knee and a huge workload during the regular season.  However, his play during the regular season is what propelled the Jets to having the #1 running game in the league.

Season Grade: A

Shonn Greene took over as the backup running back when Leon Washington went down with a broken leg in the beginning of the season.  Greene finished the regular season with 108 carries for 540 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The one thing I loved about Greene this year was his style of running the ball.  I haven't seen a running back run as hard as him since Jamal Lewis during his prime and maybe Adrian Peterson.  Greene absolutely wrecks people who attempt to tackle him.  However, as well as Greene played during the regular season he really stepped up his game during the playoffs.  As Thomas Jones appeared to be wearing down Greene took over the workload at running back and finished with 304 yards and 5.6 yards per carry.  He was the major reason that the Jets were able to advance past both Cincinnati and San Diego and the Colts game might have turned out differently if he hadn't gone down with an injury.  The only negative with Greene this year was a fumbling problem.  However, he seemed to correct that because the ball was secure in the playoffs.

Season Grade: B+

Leon Washington was on his way to having another very good season before going down with an injury during the Raiders game.  Since he wasn't around for much of the season I am not going to do a full write up but Washington looked like he would have had a greatly increased role this year and I hope he will be back at 100% next year.

Fullback:

Tony Richardson had another stellar year to add to his long and brilliant career.  Richardson anchored a running game which finished #1 in the league and even at his age he is still able to open up holes for the running backs.  As I said before the season, Richardson is great and I really hope he decides to forgo retirement for another year and be the lead blocker for this running game.  If he retires he will be sorely missed.

Season Grade: A

Wide Receiver:

Jerricho Cotchery had an outstanding season with 57 catches for 821 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Although this may not seem so special with the great numbers many wide receivers put up around the league, Cotchery anchored the Jets receiving core and provided a consistent target for Mark Sanchez.  Cotchery rarely had a drop and he is one of the crispest route runners in the league.  He stepped it up against the Colts (in a losing effort) and made a few incredible catches.

Season Grade: B+

Braylon Edwards came to the Jets with much hype after week 4 in a trade that sent Chansi Stuckey to the Cleveland Browns.  Edwards came in with much fanfare and with a reputation for dropping the ball.  We saw two sides of Edwards over the 12 games that he was a Jet.  First, Edwards made some absolutely incredible catches this season.  The one that stands out to me is his first game where he bailed out Mark Sanchez with a great catch down the sideline while somehow getting both feet in bounds.  However, with the great plays came the inevitable drops.  Most Jets fans will have trouble forgetting his drop where the ball literally hit him in the head.  However, the one thing about Edwards that the casual fan will miss is his run blocking.  He showed this year that he is committed to the team with outstanding run blocking on the outside.  Unlike receivers like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens who give up on plays Edwards is always there making a key block.

Season Grade: B

Brad Smith entered this season as a disappointment to most Jets fans but he is leaving it as a fan favorite.  Since he has been drafted we have heard that Smith has the ability to change the game by both running, catching, and even throwing the ball.  However, we haven't seen this talk come to fruition.  After Leon Washington went down the "Seminole" offense seemed to die and a new option offense was formed from it led by Brad Smith.  Smith was incredible out of this offense and we even got to see him throw in the Colts game which I know most people were not expecting.  Smith is still not a great receiver but his ability to make plays out of the option offense is something that cannot be overlooked.  He ran straight through the Bengals in Week 17 to put the Jets into the playoffs.

Season Grade: B+

David Clowney had a very disappointing season and didn't even eclipse 200 yards.  He got into trouble early in the season with Twitter and he never really regained a prominent role in this offense.

Season Grade: C-

Tight End:

Dustin Keller came into the season with high expectations (at least in my mind) and he partially fulfilled them.  Keller is a great pass catching tight end and he showed that during the playoffs with 3 straight games with a touchdown.  However, Keller was hurt this year by the slow development of Mark Sanchez.  With the Jets only throwing the ball 15-20 times a game by the time the season ended there weren't enough balls going around for Keller to put up gaudy stats.  However, he had a fairly good season and was second on the Jets in both receptions and yards.  I expect him to be utilized next year a lot more as Sanchez develops.

Season Grade: B-

Offensive Line:

D'Brickashaw Ferguson has developed into one of the best left tackles in the league.  In a division where there are some great pass rushers (Aaron Schobel and Jason Taylor) Ferguson rarely missed an assignment.  Also, I will say this for every member of the line, anytime your team leads the league in rushing the offensive line is the major contributor in that.  Ferguson is going to the pro-bowl along with teammates Alan Faneca and Nick Mangold

Season Grade: A

Alan Faneca is one of the most respected offensive lineman in the league but he is going to the pro bowl this year based on reputation and not play.  Faneca was the most disappointing member of the line this year.  However, even while having a disappointing season Faneca is a veteran anchor who still is good at his job.  I am not sure if he will be around next year (I am thinking he will be).

Season Grade: C

Nick Mangold is the best center in the league and he continues to get better year after year.  I recently read an article that said that there were two types of centers in the league.  There are power guys and finesse guys.  This article said that the reason Mangold is so good is because he is a mix of both.  I can't say it any better myself so I will just refer to that.  A few years ago the Jets made the brilliant move of picking up two offensive lineman in the first round of the draft.  Although many were skeptical at the time, this move has turned out to be genius.  Mangold has replaced Kevin Mawae and hasn't missed a beat, which is really saying something.  Mangold will once again be going to the pro-bowl.
 
Season Grade: A

Brandon Moore came into this season as the most underrated member of the Jets offensive line and he leaves it the same way.  However, you can't downplay his impact in the power running game.  The Jets run over the right side of the line a ton and Moore is a major reason for that.  He is a dominating run blocker who doesn't get the credit he deserves.

Season Grade: B+

Damian Woody is another member of the line who gets overlooked.  Woody has made the move to right tackle flawlessly over the past 2 years and now anchors the right side of the line where the Jets run the ball all the time. 

Season Grade: B

Jets v. Colts Postgame

Colts- 30
Jets- 17

Jets- Eliminated from the playoffs

The lack of expectations does not make this loss easier for Jets fans.  After suffering through a season which included a 3-0 start, a dip to 4-6 and then a trip to the AFC Championship many people started to get hopes that maybe, just maybe, this would be the year.  However, the Jets ran into the monster known as Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game.  Peyton is not only one of the best quarterbacks of this generation but quite possibly one of the bets of all time.  He has taken an average Colts team this year to a 14-2 record in the regular season and now a Super Bowl berth.  If I was to assign blame in this game it would go on the Jets pass coverage.  Manning was able to easily dismantle Dwight Lowery and Lito Sheppard (when he played) and the Jets sorely missed having a healthy Donald Strickland in the game. 

Thumbs Up:

• Mark Sanchez played his best game as a professional with a stat line of 17/30 for 257 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.  More importantly, Sanchez was great at avoiding the pressure of the Colts offensive line and he did not make bad throws when he was flushed from the pocket.  His pass to Braylon Edwards was beautiful and he made a few great 3rd down plays.  Another pass that stands out is the other touchdown to Dustin Keller which was a perfectly thrown ball to a receiver in tight coverage.  I think what most Jets fans realized in this game is that we have our quarterback of the future.  This guy has poise inside and outside the pocket and I expect with an offseason to prepare he will come back very strong in his second year.

• Jerricho Cotchery made a few great catches in situations where the Jets needed to pick up 1st downs.  He finished with 5 receptions and over 100 yards.  Cotchery has been the Jets most consistent receiver all year and I expect there to be a great chemistry between him and Sanchez going into next season.

• David Harris showed in this game why he deserves a pro bowl berth.  He finished the game with 11 tackles (all solo), 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.  He flies around the ball and seems to always be there to make a play.  His future is looking extremely bright.

Thumbs Down:

•  Jay Feely has been consistent all year and I hate to bash him now but he HAS to make at least one of those field goals that he missed.  Inside the dome both were makeable kicks and the Jets could not afford to leave points on the field and give Manning great field position.

• Dwight Lowery was attacked all day by Peyton Manning.  It seemed like every completed pass was going in his direction.  Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie lit him up for over 100 yards each.  The Jets are going to need to address this position in the offseason (but that's a discussion for another time).  

• Thomas Jones has been a warrior all season and I really hope we see him return next year.  However, it seemed like his hard running all year resulted in him being a little tired for the playoffs.  He did not show the same burst that he showed at the end of the season and the running game was essentially shut down as soon as Shonn Greene went out with the injury.

Well, it's the end of another season.  As I said in my first post I believed this season would be a ton of disappointment with some successes mixed in.  This has been the typical view of a Jets fan over the last 40 or so years.  However, I also expressed that the arrival of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez provided a sense of optimism for Jets fans everywhere.  It turns out the latter was more true than the former.  This season was disappointing in many ways.  There were far too many games where the Jets should have won but either were hampered by extremely poor quarterback play, a breakdown on special teams, or a last second drive by an opposing offense.  However, despite these setbacks the Jets showed resolve and character in fighting their way through adversity to make the playoffs and advance to the AFC Championship.  Sanchez and Ryan have given me hope that the "change" we Jets fans have been looking for is there for us to grab.  It was fun documenting this season and my "season in review" post will be up as soon as I get over this loss and am able to look at this all without as much emotion. 

Jets v. Colts Pregame

Wow.  The AFC Championship game.  Who would have thought that the team that Rex Ryan proclaimed as having no chance for a playoff spot after the Falcons game would be in this position.  I am truly surprised, shocked, and unbelievably excited about this game.  The Jets team and fans have not been in this position since 1998 against the Broncos (If you look back to my first post you will see that the Broncos game is one of my earliest memories of being a Jets fan).  This is the biggest game I have ever experienced as a Jets fan and I truly believe that we have a chance to win it.  The Jets will travel into Indy to take on a Colts team that has run through opponents all year.  Peyton Manning is a god in football circles and he turns an otherwise good Colts team into an almost unbeatable one.  The Jets pass rush will have to get through an average Colts offensive line in order to combat Manning's quick release. 

What to watch for....

• Will the Jets pass rush be able to negate Peyton Manning's brilliance?  The difference between Manning and the average NFL quarterback is two fold.  First, he is able to recognize defenses and blitz schemes at the line of scrimmage and adjust his play to beat them.  Second, his release is so quick that the pass rush always seems half a second too late.  In order for the Jets to win this game Rex Ryan is going to have to design schemes that can challenge Manning.  If he is able to stand back in the pocket with time to throw the Jets will have no shot of slowing him down.

• What are the effects of the Week 16 game?  The Jets have heard for weeks that they have been "let into" the playoffs and that they "backed in".  Now, let me dispel the notion that they "backed in".  When you back into a playoff spot you get in by losing.  However, the Jets in Week 16 and 17 beat the team that was put on the field in front of them.  However, the "experts" don't fully understand this and have been selling the Jets short on that Week 16 and 17 victory (despite the fact that the Bengals played their starters while the Jets built a 27-0 lead).  This could be motivation as the Jets will come out wanting to prove that they really are a team that deserved that Week 16 win.  This could also work the other way with the Colts wanting to prove what a joke it was that they "let" the Jets win in Week 16.

• Could Rex Ryan's itinerary come true?  Rex Ryan wrote up an itinerary before the playoffs started that included a schedule for every day and an eventual Super Bowl parade.  As with most things Ryan does most of the country took this as a giant joke.  However, the Jets players have bought into it and now they are one win from going to the Super Bowl.  Can miracles happen?  

Who to watch for..

• I feel like I post the same thing every week but it is never hard to predict who the big players are for the Jets.  Shonn Greene has led the Jets rushing attack with two straight 100 yard games.  He runs harder than any running back I have seen in a long time and he will need an absolutely GREAT game against a weak Colts rushing attack in order for the Jets to have any chance of winning this game.

• The entire secondary will have to play the game of their lives as Peyton Manning loves to spread the ball around to his various targets.  Reggie Wayne is obviously a favorite but he should be blanketed by Revis for most the game.  The player I am concerned about is Dallas Clark.  Kerry Rhodes and Eric Smith have done a fairly good job of covering tight ends this year and stopping Clark could end up being the key to stopping the entire Colts offense.  Jim Leonhard is going to have to continue his great play in these playoffs and will have to get pressure on Manning with the overload blitzes. 

• The Jets offensive line is the best in the league and will have to give Sanchez time on play actions while opening up holes for Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene.  The success of Mark Sanchez in these playoffs has been reliant on a good play action game which will need to be set up by a strong running game.  Another key will be stopping the pass rush of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.  These are two of the best pass rushers in the league and they could hurry Mark Sanchez into some bad passes if the Jets don't neutralize their pass rush.

The reason I love football so much is that any team can win in any given year.  The 2009 New York Jets are a perfect example of this notion.  However, despite this feeling that "any team can win it" I have never been able to picture the Jets in the Super Bowl.  My emotions while watching that game may border on dangerous.  However, before worrying about that the Jets must take care of business against a great Colts team.  Can this miracle run continue?  We are about to find out.

Game Prediction:

Colts- 23
Jets- 17

My Test for Being a Jets Fan Around 20 Years of Age

I am going to do this in a number of stages.  It will start out easy and end up being fairly difficult. 

Stage 1:

1.) Can you name at least 5 Quarterbacks who have played for the Jets since 2001? (There are 4 on the roster right now)

2.)  Can you name at least 5 running backs who have played for the Jets since 2001?  (Not including fullbacks)

3.) Name the current offensive line with exact position names.

4.) Name 3 Jets head coaches since 2001.

5.) Name 3 current wide receivers.

Stage 2:

1.) Name 3 fullbacks who have played for the Jets since 2001?

2.)  Which wide receiver was included in the trade to the Browns to get Braylon Edwards?

3.)  What pick in the draft did the Jets get Mark Sanchez with?

4.)  What was the name of the Jets kicker who missed field goals to send the Jets to the AFC Championship during the 2004 season?

5.)  Who is James Dearth and what has been his main role since he has been on this team.

Stage 3:

1.) Name 10 Jets quarterbacks since 2001.

2.)  What number is Curtis Martin on the all time rushing list.

3.) Name 10 Jets receivers since 2001.

4.)  Name all the years that the Jets have made the playoffs since 2001.

5.) What college did the following players play for: Darelle Revis, Chad Pennington, Mark Sanchez, Leon Washington.

6.) What team did Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn go to after leaving the Jets?

7.)  Who is Kevin Mawae, what position does he play, and what team is he currently on?

Stage 5:

What comes to mind when you hear the following things:

• 2004 Playoffs
• Monday Night Miracle
• Justin McCarins 

Jets v. Chargers Postgame

Jets- 17
Chargers- 14

Jets advance to AFC Championship against the Colts.

The Jets have arrived and the doubters have to start believing as the New York Jets went into San Diego and took down the red hot San Diego Chargers.  The Jets used their usual formula of great defense and a relentless running attack to take down a team that many believed was headed for the Super Bowl.  The Jets defense stepped up and played great against the Chargers tall and athletic receivers and a few big interceptions by Darelle Revis and Jim Leonhard really gave the Jets a chance to pull off this win and continue this miracle run.  The Cinderella story continues next week as the Jets are faced with a new challenge, beating Peyton Manning. 

Thumbs Up:

• Jim Leonhard and Kerry Rhodes both deserve a thumbs up for their play from the safety spots.  Leonhard flies to the ball whether it's in the hands of a receiver or the quarterback.  He came up with the crucial interception deep in Chargers territory as well as a forced fumble and recovery (which was wrongly overturned).  Rhodes looked a little like his former self coming in on the blitzes and he also made a great play to go up and get the ball on the onside kick.

• Shonn Greene once again tore it up as he rushed for 128 yards and a crucial 53 yard touchdown run to give the Jets a double digit lead.  Greene has run great in these playoffs.

• David Harris played a great game like he always does and he was followed closely by the rest of the defense.  Sione Pouha once again stepped up and played huge also. I can't imagine where this team would be without the losses of Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

Thumbs Down:

• The officiating on the non-fumble was absolutely atrocious.  Vincent Jackson brought the ball in and landed on the ground before being hit by Leonhard.  That was a fumble for everyone except for the ref making the decision.

• Brad Smith and the kickoff return game was disappointing tonight.  They need to set up the offense in better field position.
  

Game Overview:

 Overall, that was the best win I have ever experienced as a Jets fan.  It has been absolutely incredible to watch the transformation of this team throughout this season.  Just taking a look back at my previous blog posts you can see the early triumphs, agonizing defeats, and the recent successes somehow blending together to make this a very special season.  As big as that win was, the Jets have to travel to Indy next week to play a red-hot Peyton Manning.  We all know what the Jets are going to do, now we have to see if the Colts can beat it.  

Jets v. Chargers Pregame

The Jets fly to San Diego to play in their biggest game since the devastating loss at Pittsburgh many years ago.  As a Jets fan, that game (and Doug Brien's missed field goals) defines what it has been like to be a Jets fan over at least the last 10 years.  They build you up slowly only to deflate you with inexplicable play.  However, the "Same Old Jets" moniker has been put to rest so far with this Jets team as they have fought back all season long to stay in the playoff hunt.  The Jets come into this game extremely hot winning 5 of their last 6 games.  All the talk about "lack of competition" should be gone as the Jets have made the playoffs with the #1 ranked rushing attack and the #1 ranked overall defense.

What to watch for....

• Watch the weather in this one.  The last time I checked there was a 20% chance of rain tonight which could really help the Jets.  The Chargers rely on the passing attack and the Jets are the best in the league at stopping that.  The ability to slow down that facet of their offense in any way will be extremely beneficial.

• Who is the tougher team?  The Jets come into this game extremely confident that they are the more physical team and the numbers seem to indicate that.  The Jets excel at playing defense and running the ball while the Chargers excel at passing down field.  This matchup couldn't get much better for the Jets as they are in a position to shut down what the Chargers do best.

• The last time the Jets played a playoff game in San Diego the crowd played a huge factor (although the Jets still won).  The Jets players at that time said that they were extremely loud through the entire game.  With a rookie quarterback playing for the Jets they will have to do something to take the crowd out of the game early.

Who to watch for...

• As it has been with the Jets all year Mark Sanchez and his ability to protect the ball is the X-Factor.  Last week he played a near flawless game and the Jets running attack and defense did the rest of the work.  If the Jets want to have any chance to win this at all Sanchez is going to need to have his throws limited and kept simple.

• Dwight Lowery and Donald Strickland will both be active for this one and will have the extremely difficult task of covering some of San Diego's very good receivers.  The Chargers have a lot of weapons (most notably Sproles and Gates) who these two are going to have to cover.

• Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones will once again spearhead a running attack which needs to eat up clock and keep the Chargers high powered offense off the field.  The Chargers have struggled in stopping the run all season and if one of these two guys can get going it could be a long day for them.

Game Thoughts:

This Jets team has surprised me all year.  I came into the year expecting 8-8 or 9-7 (Can't remember which one I predicted) but I never thought that they could make a serious playoff run in Ryan's and Sanchez's first year.  However, behind a stellar defense and a great running attack the Jets are looking to book themselves a trip to Indianapolis to see the Colts.

Game Prediction:

Chargers: 24
Jets- 13