Friday, November 18, 2011

An Unbelievable Loss

I'm still in a state of shock that we actually lost that game last night.  For 54 minutes the defense played an amazing game.  I think the Broncos started drives on our side of the field 4 or 5 times and came away with 3 points.  The playoff hopes aren't dead, but it isn't looking good.

Some Observations:

1.) For the first time, I am losing hope in Mark Sanchez.  He looks extremely tentative throwing the ball and his accuracy is suffering because of that.  If he had waited an extra half second in the pocket Santonio Holmes would have had an easy touchdown.  Instead, he threw the ball too early, while under no pressure, and Von Miller made a good play and tipped it away.  The interception for a touchdown was unacceptable in that situation.  The Broncos offense couldn't move the ball 10 yards the entire half and Sanchez decides to hand them a touchdown.  The offensive line isn't playing well (I will get to that in a second) but Sanchez has to adapt.  I believe that Sanchez has the intelligence and arm to play quarterback in the NFL.  I think there's something seriously messed with his internal clock.  There are times when he holds the ball for way too long and gets sacked and there are others when he seems terrified of a sack and releases an off balance throw that has no chance of being caught.  I don't know if there is a way to "fix" Sanchez but my initial thought is that it is not going to happen this year.

2.) The offensive line play can be summed up in one play.  Sanchez took a one step drop and throws a ball parallel to the line of scrimmage to Santonio Holmes and gets absolutely destroyed.  Now, how exactly do you let your quarterback get hit on a one step drop?  I'm pretty sure nobody has an answer for that question.  Wayne Hunter is terrible at right tackle and it is becoming more and more apparent each game.  He is letting Sanchez get hit way too often and I'm not sure how Rex still defends him.

3.) Brian Schottenheimer (or Shittenheimer if you prefer) is going to be the person to take the fall for this team's offensive performance.  It is really hard for a fan to fairly evaluate an offensive coordinator's job performance but like the offensive line, one play last night summed it up.  The Jets had a 3rd and 5 inside Broncos territory when Schottenheimer calls a direct snap to Joe McKnight.  Now, if you make this call with Shonn Greene or LT it is understandable.  Maybe you catch the linebackers on their heals expecting pass and you rip off a nice gain up the middle.  However, calling this play with a 3rd string running back is absolutely uncalled for.  This was a huge conversion that the Jets needed and Schottenheimer expects the third string running back to get his hands on a direct snap! Absolutely unbelievable.  If I were Rex I would fire the guy today.  Hand the job off to Callahan or see if Tom Moore wants to fill in for the end of the season.  Anything beats crap like that play call.

4.) The final play was another play call which absolutely baffles me.  You have a quarterback who you know if not going to throw the ball.  Rex has even said that he told his defensive players that there was no way Tebow was going to throw in that situation.  So, what does the logical person do in that situation on 3rd and 5 where the main object is preventing a touchdown?  Spy Tebow with David Harris (which we did all game anyways) and set the edge on the outside.  I am no football expert but that is just logical.  You want to make him throw the ball or you want him to run inside where somebody puts a body on him.  What do the Jets do?   Send an all-out blitz and give the responsibility of setting an edge to Eric Smith.  Like he did all game (and all of last game) Smith takes a horrible angle and gets beat.  Tebow runs 25 yards untouched into the end zone   Great call.

5.) Hey Joe McKnight, HOLD ON TO THE FUCKING BALL! That is all.

6.) One side note to this game was the refereeing.  This DID NOT make us lose this game in any way but I thought I would point it out.  There were about 3-4 hits on Sanchez which seemed like spearing or happened extremely late.  Von Miller is a great pass rusher but I couldn't believe some of hits he was getting away with.  If the Broncos do make the playoffs somebody had better inform him that he can't do that against quarterbacks who the referee respects.

That is all.

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