N.Y. Jets: Are you ready for some Monday Night Fitzpatrick?

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK TWO

MONDAY NIGHT 

FOOTBALL

New York Jets

vs.

Indianapolis Colts

FROM

The House that Peyton Manning Built

New York Jets: Defeating the Browns is no hook to hang a jersey on.  This evening's road game against the Colts will be far more indicative of where Gang Green stands.

Welcome to prime time..., right?

No Bermuda shorts required - minus the healthy services of Antonio Cromartie, who participated in limited practice this week, Andrew Luck will have little reason for visiting Revis Island this evening.

Even though Indianapolis's T.Y Hilton is questionable, the Jets can't alter their defensive plan too much, as Frank Gore and the Colts' big offensive line offer no quarter.

I'm sure Coach Bowles and his staff viewed Week One's Colts/Bills game film over, and over again.   Rex Ryan's defense limited the Colts to 14 points, and induced a pair of INT's.  I'm not sure the Jets can afford surrendering many more points than that.

Getting Ryan Fitzpatrick involved in a shoot-out with Andrew Luck is perhaps the last thing Coach Bowles wants.  Last week, Fitzpatrick went for an inaccurate 15/24 for 179 yards largely because the running game carried the offensive load.  Ryan otherwise was put in good positions to make a pair of TD passes.  He also threw a pick, but then again Andrew Luck threw 2 against Buffalo as well.

The Jets, however, can potentially catch Indy on a bad night.  After Vontae Davis, the Colts secondary is pretty banged up.  Brandon Marshal will get his reps, but Eric Decker and Chris Owusu should expect more action than last week.

Running the ball as the Jets did last week against Cleveland would still be an optimal way of keeping the pigskin out of Luck's hands.  Chris Ivory rushed 20 times for 91 yards, while Bilal Powell added 62 yards on 12 rushes.  However, Ivory is nursing a barking groin, and is at the least compromised heading into the game.

Such as life in the NFL.

Defeating the Cleveland Browns is no hook to hang a jersey on, and so this evening's road game against the Colts will be far more indicative of where the Jets stand.  They'll either end the night tied with New England at 2-0, or join the rest of the division with a 1-1 record, which wouldn't be the worst place to be - yet.

One way or another, much of what the world thinks about the Jets will get decided tonight.

So, buckle up.

The real New York Jets season takes off....., now.

New York Jets: D-Generation Rex Takes Major Hit

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

NEW YORK JETS: Revis Island is now an all inclusive resort the rest of the League will be sure to visit often.


This all seems odd to say coming off a win.  After all, a victory in the NFL is worth its weight in gold.  But it appears the Jets are officially in trouble now.  Prior to Week Three, I only suspected it.  That said, there is finally a bigger story and more pressing matters than Tim Tebow to wrestle.


Darrelle Revis' left knee just set the Jets on an uncharted course.  The singularly most important player in what Coach Ryan likes to do on defense is finished for the season.  And in an indirect way, there goes the Jets pass rush as well.  Without the League's supreme cornerback, does a pass rush which relies on down field coverage, deception, and variety still live up to its (deserved or not)  reputation?  Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers will answer that question shortly.  But from here on out, it's up to Antonio Cromartie, and Joe McKnight?  Really?....to buy Rex's blitz packages that little bit of extra time they need to get to the quarterback.


That doesn't explain Miami's Reggie Bush though.  Had he stayed in the game, there is every reason to believe the Jets lose handily.  Bush was running wild until he exited the game with an injury.  So make no mistake, Jets fans can partly thank Reggie's exit for getting the Jets in a position to win Sunday's game.


If the Jets strength is their defense, what does that make the offense?  Well, right now it is a liability.  Shonn Greene, Bilal Powell, Tim Tebow, and even Mark Sanchez all took their turn running the ball.  Of the four names mentioned, least known Bilal Powell was most successful running to daylight.  Shonn Greene couldn't punch through into the end zone from the one yard line.  On a third down and goal from the Miami six yard line, Marc Sanchez decided to run and was tackled at the three.  Tim Tebow finally rushed for a first down out of the Wild Cat.  Anything Tebow after that was confusing at best.  So basically without Powell, who rushed ten times for forty five yards, there was no running game.


Save me the 306 yards passing.  Completing only 21 of 45 passes and two INT's was less than stellar.  And bouncing a pass off Tim Tebow's head was just comical.  But no, I don't blame Marc Sanchez' entire day on the starting quarterback.  When Marc was left in to establish a flow, he was fine.  Otherwise, this TIMplementation of Tebow is still disruptive.  Additionally, it has become far too apparent Marc Sanchez needs Dustin Keller back.


This was an ugly win; as ugly as they come.  But it sure beats playing well and coming up short, right?  I have but this one question.  Why would you wait to unveil the Jets version of the Wild Cat on Coach Sparano's former team?  I mean....   never mind.


In the San Francisco 49ers, the Jets have a formidable opponent on their hands.  They had better study what Minnesota did to them very closely.  More about Sunday in my next post.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Eve of Frustration; But For Who?

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS:

Put Your Muscle Where Your Mouth Is.

Dear fellow Giant Fans, -  I don't know what more to say.  As far as getting things off my chest, I'm all caught up.  The only thing left is to play this damn game.


Everything I've said and posted previously about:
The Coaching
The Offensive Line
The Running Game
The Secondary
And the Defense as a whole  ...remains relevant today.  I wouldn't change a thing now.  And so as to avoid being repetitive about things, I'd ask that you refer back to those posts for details.




Never before have the Giants taken on the Jets; or the Jets against the Giants; - depending upon which allegiance you subscribe to; where both teams have so much at stake.  It's a game in which both teams have everything to gain, along with everything to lose.  They're two desperate, wounded animals trying to qualify for the playoffs while team each is unknowingly more frightened than the other.  Who then is better than the stadium's corporate sponsor; Met-Life; to draw up and underwrite a policy for Saturday's  East Rutherford Riot.  For in the aftermath of this game, one of these two team's seasons which get played in the same house, will surely die. 




A bad game Saturday will prove too ruinous and effectively end either one of these team's campaigns for sure.  In which case for us Giants Fans, the New Year will either be ushered in leaving us feeling a little Green in the face, or thankful and calmed by a pleasant Blue sky above.  With a loss to the Jets however, there will be nothing left to play for and the end of the season will commence a time of judgement for many a man in Blue .  A loss will demand we enter the Giants' proverbial closets for the purposes of expelling some demons.  For this team played itself into this situation and quite honestly deserves to be up against the wall and be put under scrutiny. 




How did the Giants get themselves into this position?  For starters, there are two things the Giants have done well this season and two things only; throw the football and punt the football.  That's not exactly what you'd call a complimentary offensive attack.  The NFC East was begging for it to be dominated by the Giants.  But Big Blue chose to keep their division rivals in the hunt due in large part to woeful underachievement and a coaching staff unable to correct repeated, weekly mistakes.




Closer inspection says the Offensive Line had troubles which directly affected the running game.  The affected running game then conspired to keep our defense on the field.  And once the Giants' defense was on the field, the Secondary became every team's point of attack.  Teams were able to attack our Secondary with vigor, because the Giants' pass rush has all but disappeared.  The pass rush has all but disappeared because of injuries to Osi and Tuck.  But more than just those two individuals, injuries have taken a toll on this whole team.  And that's how we arrived at this do-or-die game against the Jets on Christmas Eve with the Giants in dire need of a gift wrapped win from 'ol Saint Nick.




If the Giants should win this game, there's still one more hill to climb.  I believe this team has a lot of talent on it.  When we do our things correctly, we can be a formidable team.  This team can beat anyone in the League.  That's why the season has been terribly frustrating.  They have a chance today to make all that irrelevant.  They have a chance to start anew today.  One win gives them life and an opportunity to extend their season deep into January.  Win or fail.  It's up to them.

*   *   *   *

The Met-Life Snoopy Bowl - I

NEW YORK GIANTS

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

The Giants' Offense versus the Jets' Defense:

If Coach Kevin Gilbride commits to the run, opens up effective play action, then picks his moments down field, the Giants Offense should win this battle.  But as we know, Kevin Gilbride has no idea how to play smash-mouth.  He has no idea how to manage a clock either.  His quick strike mentality has played into our Defensive malaise as well for he leads the league in longest pass attempts in the League.  But all his pass calling leads to too many three-and-outs or worse, lack of execution on third down conversions.  Eli is merely trying to execute the plays Gilbride calls.  So the message here is don't be greedy Coach!  Be patient with the run and let the game evolve through it....you idiot!


The Giants will be inserting David Baas back at Center today.  I wholly disagree with this move.  David Bass has very simply not been up to snuff.  The combination of Kevin Boothe, Mitch Petrus, and Chris Snee has been an improvement up the middle of the Line and has revived the running game.  With David Baas at Center, the running game was running in tar.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But as a pragmatist, that's the way I see it.


And this may sound cocky and out of line, but Antonio Cromartie and Darelle Revis do not concern me.  I believe Eli can still eat them up.  The Jets can't get to the QB unless they send extra people.  If Rex gets a little too blitz happy, Eli will find the open man.  And don't underestimate Eli's willingness to incorporate Bear Pascoe into the plan.  The Jets inability to cover any tight-end this season must be at a minimum explored even in the absence of Jake Ballard.


If we find ourselves needing late game Eli magic again, I'm willing to bet it will be because the running game didn't do it's job; be it Gilbride, Jacobs and Bradshaw; or due to the reassembled Offensive Line featuring Baas at Center, and David Diehl and Kevin Boothe having been returned to their former slots.




The Giants' Defense Against the Jets Offense:


Even with a suspect Secondary, I still dare Marc Sanchez to throw the ball.  And the more he throws the ball, the better the chances are the Giants win this game.  Shonn Greene is running the ball very well.  But the Giants have gotten substantially better defending the run since the beginning to mid-part of the season.  And so, I'm banking a quarterback still trying to get a firm footing in this league won't be able to carry the Jets on his back today. 


Most of Marc Sanchez' success has come late in games.  Otherwise, he's looked mediocre for three of four quarters this season.  If Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell finally grows a set of footballs and brings the house against Sanchez, the Giants win.  Period.  But his fear of getting burned deep is resulting in the Giants....getting burned deep.  His paranoid attempts at zone coverage are killing us!  Marc Sanchez is behind a suspect Offensive Line and has been taking a pounding.  He just might very well be gun-shy at this point.  That's why Perry Fewell must attack Sanchez early and often to dictate what the Jets' two-headed Offensive Coordinator; Schotty-Moore; will do next.


Attack, attack, attack!  Attack him early.  Then see what we need to do in the second quarter going forward.


That's it folks.  If the Giants can not line up, and to a man, beat the guy in front of him, I'll no longer be in the belief the Giants can win a Super Bowl.  But anyone can deduce that for our season will be over.  I'm done with schemes and plans, and planning.  I want Giants Football back.  I want them to be stronger than the Jet in front of them.  I'm done with logistics.  I want the Giants'  muscles where their mouths are.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. JETS ~ REX Gives INDY "NAG" the BOOT

NEW YORK JETS Defeat Colts:  TAKE TWO


N.Y.  J-E-T-S:  "Those were just blanks...Right?"


Coach Rex BLUTARSKY  looked at FLOUNDER (Nick Folk) and reminded him, "You really hate that Horse, don't you?...Then, go in there and do it!" 

But we all knew it was Rex who hated that damn nag more.  He's been having to deal with that stuff coming out of it's posterior for some time now; since Rex was at Baltimore.  Coach would have loved nothing more than to send this old Colt to the glue factory with one big kick.

Then..., while Coach Blutarsky was giggling his own posterior off, the COLTS fell to the JETS with a resounding thud; as if a Horse had fallen in an office.  Yep!  In another utterly stupid gesture by Coach REX Blutarsky's "independents" on just another Saturday Night of mayhem, they caused something that went terribly wrong for Indianapolis' beloved "Precious" the COLT.

But absolutely no-one is going to believe IT had a heart attack!   Just like there was no way Rex was going to stun Peyton without a Blitz.  Whatever!  You still better get a chain-saw over to Peyton's Office because Coach REX Blutarsky's crazy bastards actually killed Niedermeyer's Horse. 

Coach Rex, Schotty, and Sanchez were all last seen running out of INDY's Lucas Oil Field laughing their asses off on their way to New England?

That's right!  ROAD TRIP!




TAKE THREE
NEW YORK JETS:  Didn't we see that before?

Is this the Jets team that took advantage of Stupid Coach Tricks earlier in the regular season, and mounted comeback victories with second chances and last ditch efforts against Detroit, Cleveland and Houston?  Coach Caldwell of the Colts would have some thinking that.

You could say that too.  After-all, his bone-headed Time-Out allowed the Jets to get a little closer for Nick Folk's field goal attempt.  Instead of a 48 yard attempt,  Folk needed to kick home a 32 yard attempt.

But that's not what I'm thinking.

Mark Sanchez?  Is his shoulder still hurting or was he just that bad in the first half?  Wait; except for THREE to five passes, he WAS bad.  And the interception was worse.

That's not what I'm thinking either.  But here's a quick random thought:  Adam Vinatieri outscored Peyton Manning.  LOL.



I Choose To View The JETS Victory This Way:

This is what I said in the last paragraph of MY PREVIEW,

"So, the bottom line here is Rex has to design something Peyton isn't used to seeing. What? I have no idea. I'm not talking about re-inventing the wheel. I'm just asking for what good coaches do, which is out-coach other coaches. That is something Coach REX hasn't always done."

...And that's exactly what the Big Guy did.  He coached a better game because for one, he made the biggest half-time adjustment of his whole career by demanding the Jets POUND the ball in the second half behind a very rambunctious and game Offensive Line.

I said they shouldn't rely on Mark Sanchez winning it for them, instead they should dictate the game with the run for as long as the Colts proved they couldn't stop it.  And I didn't think they could.  Even LaDainian Tomlinson gave Jet fans a little flash of LT.  But make no mistake, for as forceful a performance as they and the Offensive Line had, Mark Sanchez was still indeed clutch down the stretch and made a nifty final "call".  Braylon Edwards?  Check.

But this is why I'm not buying the Jets are lucky Jive.  Because this Offensive Line IS good and this team can be dominating with the run.  LT still has something left for this year's run and Shonn Greene has shown himself capable of carrying a load.

The Jets just didn't adjust and turn to the running game in the second half; they imposed it.

Second and most importantly, Coach Rex came up with a scheme that had Peyton Manning befuddled all night long.  Give that man some credit!  By manipulating his 11 men on Defense, he created one big mess for Manning...and did it all without Blitzing.  You can try and cheapen what REX devised for Peyton Saturday night by saying Manning is his own worst enemy because he thinks too much or point to his 9-10(?) playoff record.  Even I was saying nothing came easy to Peyton and the Colts this season.

But...,C'mon.  Don't go there.

Coach Rex out-thunk the Colt!  The Defense made it all happen with Rex's plan.




Last Word before we send the Colts off to the Glue Factory:

There's alot of things about this game we can delve into like Antonio Cromartie, Kick Returns and Special Teams...and Brodney Poole having a good ol' time tackling people.  There's enough good will for everybody.

But for a second, forget the exchange of field goals and the things that went wrong during the game and everything else we can talk about concerning this team.  I just want to point out this game was perhaps the most representative of the team Rex has always talked about, but we never quite got to see.

He himself said it best when he said he's through trying to fool people.  From now on he's just gonna line up and try to beat you.  There-in lies your glimpse into the up-coming game against New England and why it will be very different from last time.

He already started shaking his Pom-Poms at Brady and Belichick...(again). 

Can he shake up the Patriots this time too?



Mike.BTB

N.Y. JETS ~ What Makes Coach Rex Smile

NEW YORK JETS ~ TAKE ONE:

This was an old fashioned school yard fight.  What a great game.  And for Coach Rex, the perfect "finish".


The only thing missing from this game was the visible clash of huffing and puffing cold breath being snorted-out the nostrils of opposing Linemen at the line of scrimmage and perhaps some snow falling from the sky.  The Drum..as they call Indy's downtown Stadium, would provide no such backdrop for this Wild Winter Melee.  But after the first quarter we all new exactly what kind of game this was going to be.  We were all in for one serious Stone Cold Affair.  So maybe a burning Oil Drum was the perfect place for this street fight after all.

At the 5:25 mark of the second quarter, Peyton Manning finally drew First Blood.  He connected with Pierre Garcon on a 57 yard touchdown.  Jet Safety Brodney Poole blew coverage and Antonio Cromartie never had a chance keeping up with the play.

The Jets would go into halftime suffering the only serious blow struck by either team, behind 7-0.

The Jets opened the second half having made adjustments.  In the second quarter they got stymied by a Sanchez INT during a mounting 60 yard drive.  So, they decided counter-punching would be their preferred method of fighting playing this fight game over the last thirty minutes.  They opened the third quarter by doubling and tripling up on the jab...I mean, run.  After 5 minutes and 12 seconds and a series of flurries, the Jets fought through 10 plays good for 63 yards on their way to scoring the Jets first knockout touchdown of the game.

JETS 7;  COLTS 7  9:48 left in the fight game.

The Jets kept Peyton Manning guessing and so Adam Vinatieri showed up to implement Plan B for the COLTS.  At 4:53 of the third quarter, he put the COLTS up by three.

COLTS 10;  JETS 7.

The Jets went into counter-punch mode again.  For the next NINE MINUTES and Fifty-Four seconds, the Jets threw left jabs and hooks, upper-cuts and combinations, POUNDING AND GROUNDING the COLTS' Defense with seventeen plays for eighty-seven yards, before LT knocked the COLTS down for the second time of the night with a Straight Right.

When the bell rang ending that round, the judge's scorecard scoreboard said 14-10 JETS, with 9:48 left in the fight game.

Somewhere around the 7th minute of the fourth quarter, Peyton Manning picked on Antonio Cromartie again, burning him on a third-and-eight conversion that took INDY to the Jets' 18 yard line.  But the Jets' defense held firm again as Brodney Poole continued to tighten up his game with good solo tackles.

With 4:37 left in the fight game, Adam PLAN B Vinatieri chipped another three points off the Jets lead.

JETS 14;  COLTS 13.

With 2:57 left, I thought the Jets had fallen for the Ol' Rope-A-Dope.  They failed to control their next possession and were faced with a three-and-out PUNT.  One of my pet-peeves is a team's inability to secure 1st downs late in games when you need them most.  It now failed the Jets and left them exposed for a Peyton Manning KNOCKOUT comeback.  But from somewhere, somebody, something, sprinkled magic dust on the moment and the COLTS were called for a Roughing the Kicker giving the Jets a new set of downs.

First Down and Ten became Second Down and Eight.  That became Third Down and Five.  The Colts called for their second Time-Out when the clock hit 2:51.  Two minutes, fifty-one seconds and a first down on their next play were all that stood in the way of the Jets wrapping up this return grudge match against the Colts.

Mark Sanchez took the next snap from Center and lofted The School Yard Bomb Braylon Edwards' way.  The play was there but the pass was over-thrown, like many passes that missed their Mark this game.  The Barometric Pressure over New York City dropped like a piano out of the sky when JETSNation collectively gasped, "Oh NO!" because they were about to go three-and-out again!

This time there was a punt without the Miracle Penalty Flag thrown in.

The JETS were left with this:
* Indianapolis ball at their own 20 yard line.
* Peyton Manning.
* 2:36 left in the game.
* Colts have one Time-Out left and the two Minute Warning.
* Plan B sitting on the sidelines.
* The Jets one point lead.


Ladies and Gentlemen, What you are about to read are the accounts of a SAD FINISH as they played out on the field in Indianapolis.

2:36 left in the game ~ INDY Ball.
Peyton Manning pass ~ 15 yards to own 35 yard line.
Peyton Manning pass ~ 10 yards to own 45 yard line.
Run ~ 6 yard gain.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
2nd down and 6 to go; Peyton Manning pass to NYJ 36 yard line.
Two yard run to NYJ 34 yard line.
Two yard PASS to NYJ 32 yard line.
1:27 left in the game.
Third down and six to go represents roughly a 50 yard Field Goal.
JETS Call TIME-OUT.
Third down and six at NYJ 32 yard line; Peyton Manning pass attempt ~ Incomplete.
FOURTH DOWN   0:57 left in game.
Plan B ~ Adam Vinatieri, attempts a 50 yard field goal on fourth down and NAILS IT!...right down the middle with 0.53 left on the clock.  The score ~ COLTS 16;  JETS 14.

If you're into tear-jerkers, there it is; Read it and weep.  Find the door that says SAME OLD JETS  and walk through it.  Don't let it swing back and hit you in the ass on the way out because that's REX's job; to stick his FOOT where the sun don't shine!

For the rest of you, the game's NYJ beleaguered player, Antonio Cromartie received the Colts' kick-off and returned it all the way back to the NYJ 46 yard line.  On first-and-ten, Sanchez passed for 9 yards to Edwards.  The play went under review for a completion/fumble.  Before the review, Coach Rex called a Time-Out he was subsequently charged with.

On second-and-one, Mark Sanchez passed the Jets to the Colts' 34 yard line.  With 0:29 left, LT ran for two more yards and INDY called for a Time-Out.  At this point the NYJ were faced with their own 50 yard field goal attempt.

On second down and eight, Mark Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards again for an 18 yard gain down to the Colts 14 yard line.  The Jets called for their last Time-Out with 0.03 left on the clock.

Coach Rex called upon his own PLAN B; Nick Folk, to stick his FOOT into that Pigskin and send the Jets off to New England.  Nick Folk obliged.  He nailed a 32 yard field goal to win the Game for the Jets.  And when this Classic FIGHT game was over, while everyone at ringside was rushing in the ring, everyone in Rex's corner had their arms and hands raised high in triumph.

.....And for this Coach, who ran off the field on the buoyant strength of Both Feet?   He was last seen smiling from ear to ear because at the end of an exhaustive week,  Coach Rex the Freak likes to enjoy a very HAPPY ENDING.

That's REX;  he likes to Crush A'lot.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. JETS Playoff Preview vs. COLTS

NEW YORK JETS:  GANG GREEN Takes Flight For a WILD TIME in INDY.

It's time for REX Ryan to stop being this team's propagandist and be The JETS COACH.

Because this is how REX will ultimately be judged; by winning or losing. While the Jets and Colts conduct their business on the field, the spotlight will be shining on him Saturday night.

REX Ryan's giant leap for JETS-Kind starts with a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game.  Coach Rex and the Jets hope to be the ones doing the eliminating this time around in a Wild Card Round match-up.  Peyton Manning and the Colts ended the Jets' season last year as they fell one game short of making it to the Super Bowl.  For the first half, the Jets made a game of it, but Peyton Manning and the Colts eventually separated themselves in the second half and galloped-off to The Show while REX's Jets stalled in mid-flight.

Then, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum aggressively brought in players during the off-season and some of those acquisitions were called into question.  As of this moment, none of Tannenbaum's signings have come back to haunt or hurt this team.  Instead, they all helped get the Jets into position for the final push towards Coach Rex Ryan's well advertised Team goal; winning the Super Bowl.  In fact, no Tannenbaum transaction has been more controversial that the Coach himself.  He is seen to be almost willing his team to victory brainwashing them with his bravado.  Coach Rex has charged himself with carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and left his team to concentrate on Football.

And so it is, this is not the same team the Colts played last year.  This Jets team will not fade in the 2nd half of the game like they did that last encounter.  They are better equipped to score points this time around because Braylon Edwards was here for the full season, the addition of Santonio Holmes, and Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller complete a cachet of receivers for the still-emerging 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez to use.  If the young QB's shoulder is OK, The Jets should certainly be able to score more than 17 points against the Colts this time..  While on the ground, LaDainian Tomlinson still may have a playoff burst of "LT" in him, but Shonn Greene should be up to the challenge of carrying the load and doing well.

As a matter of fact, the Jets should keep pounding the Colts with Shonn Greene until the Colts prove they can stop him, which I don't think they'll do an adequate job of.  Rex and Schottenheimer should finally unleash their self-celebrated (if now infamous) GROUND and POUND on the Colts.  Run the ball, chew the clock, pick your spots for the deep pass, and keep Peyton off the field.  It's an old formula.  Keep Peyton off the field with the running game and Mark Sanchez won't have to get into a shoot-out with him.  Don't "RELY" on Sanchez to win this for you.  Dictate the game behind a fine Offensive Line and POUND the running game right up the middle; off Tackle.  But hey...that's just me.  Whatever Schottenheimer has in store for the Colts' defense, it should be enough to keep the Jets in a position to win the game, unlike last year's Championship Game.

The problem, as always when playing the Colts, is what to do about Peyton Manning?  The loss of JIM LEONARD may finally prove very costly to the Jets this game.  Against Peyton Manning, the position of Safety becomes a real conundrum for the N.Y. Jets.  It really won't matter who gets stranded on REVIS ISLAND.

We know the Jets' pass rush is lacking and getting their hands on Peyton without Blitzing is improbable.  If you Blitz him, he'll burn you.  He's the type of QB who loves and lives for the Blitz because it makes his life so much more easier.  There's no QB who renders a Blitz DOA better than Peyton.  If you don't Blitz him, he may bleed you in a slow methodical death.  And he does it based on the Safety; Just like REX's Blitz packages are Safety based.  You see what I'm getting at right?

Brodney Pool; Eric Smith; Dwight Lowery; Drew Coleman - You guys had better be on your game and don't let your eyes deceive you.  Football fans know what I mean.

Hey Mike!... What about Revis and Cromartie?!   Well...,  Did you see the Chicago game and how they attacked the Jets?  Did you see the Patriots game?  They attacked the middle of the field and stayed underneath.  Who else is as good as Peyton at neutralizing the Corners after it's already been shown how to attack the Jets Secondary?

One of REX's Safety's is going to have to play at a level he didn't know he could. The kind of help the Jets need against Peyton isn't something for the Linebackers and the Front has shown they can't get to QB's by themselves.

Like I said,  I think the Jets can score enough points to keep the Jets in a position to win the game.  But Rex's SAFETY situation might leak, then burst with too many points and put the Jets in a position to lose.

Yes,  Rex may lose with what he prides himself most with; his Defense.

Here's the good news regarding all that.  Peyton will throw interceptions.  And NOTHING..., nothing has come easy for the Peyton and the oft-injured Colts this year.  They have struggled for every yard gained or defended, and every game they won this season.  I see no reason for things changing for them now.  If they win, they will have to dig and mine deep down for any glory.

For every Blitz, there is a Foil.  The Jets play him Saturday night.  The loser has to go home and explain what went wrong.  That's not that dreadful in Indianapolis, I'd imagine.  But if it turns out to be REX who has to come home and do some 'splaining.....  !Aye Caramba!  He might get turned into the League's and New York City's biggest Pinata.

So, the bottom line here is Rex has to design something Peyton isn't used to seeing.  What?  I have no idea.  I'm not talking about re-inventing the wheel.  I'm just asking for what good coaches do, which is out-coach other coaches.  That is something Coach REX hasn't always done.

But it's something he needs to do now.....For his own sake.



Mike.BTB

PIGSKIN ~ WEEK 6

I went 7-6 last week on the Sunday docket.  I also hit my Shmear of the Week.  By the way, I'm a perfect 4-0 on the Shmear with one week where I did not make a selection. I finally punched through into the Positive Zone.  I've been struggling on the Sunday docket because many of the picks I've been making have been blowing games in the 4th quarter.  I've managed to stay at break-even on the strength of my Shmear of the Week picks which is a three bagel deal.  So alas, heading into WEEK 6,  I am at Plus Four bagels for the season.

Live it up!



The WEEK 6 Bagel Roll:
(Friday NYDN Line)
NYGIANTS -10 (Lions) LOSS 28-20 NYG
NYJets -3 (BRONCOS) WIN 24-20 NYJ
Chargers -8 1/2 (RAMS) LOSS 20-17 St.L.
Chiefs +4 1/2 (TEXANS) WIN 35-31 HOU
Ravens +2 1/2 (PATRIOTS) LOSS 23-20 N.E. o.t.
Saints -4 (BUCS) WIN 31-6 N.O.
Falcons +3 (EAGLES) LOSS 31-17 PHI
Seahawks +6 1/2 (BEARS) WIN 23-20 SEA
PACKERS -3 (Dolphins) LOSS 23-20 MIA
STEELERS -13 (Browns) WIN 28-10 PITT
Raiders +6 1/2 (49ERS) LOSS 17-9 S.F.
VIKINGS -1 1/2 (Cowboys) WIN 24-21 MINN
Colts -3 (REDSKINS) PUSH 27-24 IND

Record on the week  6-6-1

 13 bagels into the oven.  (+4 on the season)
Broke even on the Sunday docket but hit the SHMEAR.  That makes me +7 bagels going into WEEK 7


SHMEAR of the WEEK:  (season 4-0)
Saints -4 (BUCS)  WIN  ...makes me 5-0 on the season.

New York JETS ~ Flyin' High:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Coach Ryan and D-Generation REX, welcome you aboard WOODY's JET.
You've achieved cruising altitude and The Head Coach has turned off the Fasten Seat Belt sign; You are free to party-on about the cabin.

J - E - T - S    Just  Enjoying  The  Season


OK Jet fans, - You're feeling really good about yourselves and your team; rightfully so.  Being 4-1 after 5 weeks speaks to me.  Mark Sanchez is growing into his own.  The Defense has been stellar.  LT (I cringe doing that, even if Lawrence Taylor is in deep doo-doo) has discovered the fountain of HEALTH.  Dustin Keller is rapidly becoming a stand-out Tight End in this league.  Santonio Holmes returns from suspension to give Mark Sanchez another weapon.  Antonio Cromartie showed he can play big.  Calvin Pace is also back in action, even though he's still listed as probable for Sunday's game.

Speaking of probable, or most unlikely, is Derrelle Revis.  It would be easy to pick on him right now.  I'm a Giants fan but not a Jets Hater.  I'm very entertained by the Jets this year and have always thought of them well.

BUT....  The hold-out was ill advised and now he's paying the price for it.  Practice and Camp get your legs acclimated to the short bursts, cuts, stops and starts a corner-back makes, running backwards and transitioning forward.  Me missed that and his legs were being asked to flick on a switch and show up game ready.  This morning he got pulled over for speeding/reckless driving...blah blah..   So...

If I'm the Jets , I just keep Revis out of action this weekend and he'll have a whole two weeks off because next week is the Jets' buy-week.  He can rest up that "hammie" because they just don't go away and get better by taxing them.  Two weeks off would do him and the Jets a lot of good down the road.  Do you want this injury to linger and really haunt you in December?

The Jets have already inflicted heavy damage within their division; beating the Patriots, Dolphins and Bills.  I get having to coach and plan for the next game, but you also have to manage a season and it would be wise to keep Revis inactive.

There's little to debate without getting too nit-picky so I would suggest this ~ Don't get too cocky.  This is the easiest time to slip and not because your flying to Denver to take on the Broncos in the thin air..  Traveling west of the Mississippi River has presented it's own problems for the Jets over the last couple of years.  For a little while there, going west meant ~

J - E - T - S    Just  Empty  The  Suitcase

Sunday is going to start a whole new conversation about this team one way or another.  Another win and the hype machine is really going to start getting loopy.  A loss just means it's not a party until something breaks.



Mike.BTB