N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Sacks Gregg Williams After Loss to Raiders

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Week Thirteen

Raiders  31

Jets       28

FINAL

Live by the Blitz; Die by the Blitz

... but was this a case of defensive coordinator sabotage?

No one needs to hear it from me.  But truth be told, when you're leading 28-24 with 0:17 seconds left on the game clock, and the opposition has the ball on your 46-yard line, all you have to do as a defense is let them run the ball or allow them a short pass reception, then just make a tackle and it's generally game over.  Ordering an all-out blitz in that situation is very simply a fireable offense.  That's exactly what Gregg Williams does, and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr reads it perfectly.  He throws a game-winning touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III, and it's essentially game over.  On Monday, the Jets relieve Gregg Williams of his defensive coordinator responsibilities and promote Frank Bush on an interim basis.

Was Gregg Williams the only smart guy in the room?  Apparently, he was the only one to grasp the magnitude of the situation.  The Jets were on the verge of compromising their chances to land next year's first overall draft selection until Williams smartly interceded.  Or did everyone forget the Jaguars this season have only one victory with four games left to play?  The Jets have gotten this far without a single win, and Williams was not going to let them blow it in Week Thirteen.

Of course, I say this in jest.  But Williams is an experienced coordinator, albeit a highly aggressive one.  Nevertheless, I assume with great confidence that he knows better than to call for a cover-zero in that situation.  Granted, if I had to sit in meeting rooms with an utterly inferior head coach that has done everything to run this team into the ground and yet is confoundingly considered brilliant by the owner, I'd probably want out of there too.

What strikes me most curious of all is that Adam Gase did the firing.  After an 0-12 start, this man ponderously still holds sway.

• "Obviously, I wasn't happy about that call." - Adam Gase.

So, where were the head coach's superintendence and oversight?  Gase plays middleman with his offensive coordinator where no play gets called without passing through Adam Gase's headphones.  Why is he not in communication with his defensive coordinator?  And if he was and didn't like Gregg Williams' defensive selection, why didn't Gase do something about it?

• "That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game." - Adam Gase.

Trust me, they're no more heartbreaking than any of the previous twenty losses under Adam Gase's command.  But he seems to think fans were copacetic with a 7-20 record, but that this one particular loss can not and will not stand.

• "For that to happen in that situation, we just ... we can't have that happen." - Adam Gase.

It's your fault.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Off To Second Straight 0-4 Start

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK FOUR

BRONCOS   37

JETS           28

FINAL

Air Johnson & Johnson is the Worst Product in Football

"He's a brilliant offensive mind." - Christopher Johnson on Adam Gase

Gang Gase kicks off Week Four in the NFL with a disgraceful home performance on national television against the previously winless Denver Broncos who were starting a third string quarterback.  

Now everyone knows how bad they are.

Think about this for a second.  The Jets lose to Brett Rypien .. Brett Rypien .. who connects with Tim Patrick for 100 yards and a touchdown.  Melvin Gordon rushes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.  It's only his second 100 yard rushing game in his last sixteen, but it comes against the Jets.  I can not think of a more nondescript trio in all the AFC.  Yet, the Broncos torch the Jets for 38 points.  It's the most points Gang Gase has allowed through four games.  Which is another way of saying they are getting worse, not better.

Until Sunday Kickoff the Jets presently own the distinction of allowing the most points in football.  Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams tried unleashing the dogs against the Broncos.  Three times they picked off rookie Brett Rypien.  But all they have to show is six personal fouls and their fourth straight loss to begin the season.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold's career is in the midst of being ruined with each passing game.  In the first quarter Sam was obnoxiously slammed into the ground causing injury to his shoulder.  Not one Jets team mate came rushing to their quarterback's rescue nor took linebacker A.J. Johnson to task.  The play didn't even draw a flag from the dudes in stripes.  Instead Sam's offensive line responds by allowing three sacks.  Sam is forced to put up 42 attempts, and in the absence of a qualified backfield he leads the team in rushing with 84 yards on six scrambles.  Darnold is generally outplayed by Brett Rypien three quarters against one.

Look around the league.  Second year Gardner Minshew; second year Kyler Murray; third year Josh Allen; third year Baker Mayfield; third year Lamar Jackson; and fourth year Deshaun Jackson all have better complimentary talent around them.  All the aforementioned also threw for more yards last season than Sam Darnold.

Before running out of the building like his hair was on fire Jamaal Adams said Adam Gase didn't share a connection with the rest of the team.  Adams is gone yet the Jets are off to their second straight 0-4 start for the first time in their history.

Coincidence?

N.Y. Jets: All Systems Maybe

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

THE LOSER BOWL

DENVER BRONCOS

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

FROM

WINLESS STADIUM

Jets Looking To Avoid Second Straight 0-4 Start

Can the broken Jets defeat the busted up Broncos?

Great thing about the Loser Bowl is that someone must win.  Then again, maybe not.  There is always the chance of a tie.  Just ask the Eagles.  With the way the Jets and Broncos are going nothing is out of the question.

Jamison Crowder might be back, but will he be effective?  Practice means little.  You just can not simulate real game muscle action and reaction unless someone is getting paid to oppose, stop and hit you.

If the Jets have done anything well - and that's a relative term - they've run the ball somewhat effectively.  Why not reverse roles and instead of making Darnold - still playing without a full compliment of weapons - throw 35 times and limiting the backfield to just 21 rushes, stick with the run  35 times and limit Darnold's throws.  Put the ball in Frank Gore's hands and let him run to daylight and kill the clock.  After the Bills game, the Jets improved time of possession by a full ten minutes.  Why?  Because they only rushed 14 times against Buffalo.  Correlation?  You tell me.

It's wrong to blame Sam Darnold for this team's woes.  How about you let him call a damn audible, will ya?!  This is about quarterback development, not holding him back when faced with - I don't know - eleven people getting paid to make him play badly.  Are you not teaching him how to read and react, or are you (Adam Gase) giving Darnold the old Nancy Reagan and just saying no?  

By the way, I wonder how practice went this week?

Practice?

The Broncos decimated by injuries are starting third string quarterback Brett Rypien.  This will be his first NFL start.  If defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn't devise something appropriate for the situation, well, what is there to say ...

All still falls on Adam Gase.  Should the Jets lose, how does a de facto owner suddenly gifted with incredible football executive insight and ability not reconsider his stance?  

T-minus four hours to take-off.

PIGSKIN 2019: Week Three

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Three

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

SCOREBOARD
Week Two Record:  10-5
Overall Record:  14-14
Schmear of the Week:  1-1
Bagels in the Basket:  flat

Familiarize yourself with how PIGSKIN works - HERE

1st and Ten

• Antonio Brown remains the NFL's lead story for a third straight week.  Happy 100th anniversary.
• Look what NFL officiating did to the New Orleans Saints, again!
• Oh yeah, Drew Brees out six weeks or more; thumb surgery.
• Odell torches Gregg Williams Jets in front of a national audience on Monday night.
• Big Ben out for season; elbow surgery.
• Drew Brees out at least six weeks; thumb surgery.

2nd and Long

• No excuse for Antonio Brown playing in week two.  There already existed ample available information to prevent him from stepping onto the field.  This is a league atrocity matter that  should have never been left in New England's hands.
• Buffalo Bills - New York State's only real team - win back to back games against teams from New Jersey.
• Atlanta Falcons redeem themselves in week two.
• Ron Rivera is losing it; his team keeps losing games; senses job may be in jeopardy; ya think?

No Gain

• Patriots pick up Antonio Brown and release him just over a week later; BTW thanks for the touchdown.  There's no accountability on behalf of New England.  They get to walk away from situation without having to answer for Bill Belichick themselves.
• Jets are spiraling out of control down to their third string quarterback; Giants turning to their new first string.
• Cam Newton is either really hurt, done as a viable QB, or just out of his damn mind, or maybe all three, sometimes at the same time.
• Titans take huge step backwards against Jags on Thursday.
• Contract negotiations between Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott
• Taco Charlton cut by Dallas!  What now?

PUNT!

• Antonio Brown text messages are where the NFL draws the line.  Everything else is copacetic.
• Miami Dolphins 102 points allowed in two weeks.
• Giants pull the rug from under Eli Manning's feet after completely ruining second half of his career.

WEEK THREE
Friday LINE NYDN

PATRIOTS -22 1/2 Jets
The Jets defense clearly likes playing for coordinator Gregg Williams.  Last week's 23-3 final score overshadows an otherwise aggressively Green effort (sans Odell Beckham).  Everyone knows if teams generate QB pressure up the middle, Brady's game takes a big hit.  Moreover New England enters the game with two compromised offensive linemen.  Adam Gase's best bet would be to let Jamal Adams play as angry as he wants to be.  However, with or without C.J. Mosley, the Jets defense will ultimately tire.  The Jets enter week three against the New England Patriots with third string quarterback Luke Falk.  I can't envision Gase conjuring a plan that would ensure ball possession for the requisite 38:00 minutes it will take to keep Brady and company off the field.  Props to Le'Veon Bell for carrying the offense after back-up quarterback Trevor Siemian leaves last week's game with a broken foot.  Adam Gase on the other hand is leaving much to be desired.  I wonder where Christopher Johnson's profound respect for his wonder coach now stands after watching his team lose its first two games of the season via a second half collapse against the Bills, and an offensively ponderous sixty minute effort against the Browns.  The Patriots have limited their first two opponents to just three total points while scoring 76 points for themselves.  Good luck with that.
Loss; 30-14 Patriots

BUCS -6 1/2 Giants

• Big Blue Brass Pull Plug on Eli Manning's Swan Song
• Coach Shurmur Fails to Pay the Bills

This has less to do with Daniel Jones' starting debut and everything to do with the Giants defense.  Jameis Winston doesn't necessarily profile as a hall of fame quarterback but even he should be able to shred the Giants novice secondary.  Until Bad Blue is able to cover receivers in excess of "ten seconds" they have no real chance of winning.  Now ... if the Giants finally decide to go smash mouth with Saquon Barkley and the Hog Mollies, the complexion of this game changes.
Loss; 32-31 Giants

PACKERS -7 1/2 Broncos
Ehhh ... Broncos lose a close game at home against the Bears, then lose by eight points at Oakland.  That screams inconsistency.  Despite Aaron Rogers continued sniveling the Packers win their first two games predicated on defense.  This week will be no different, although I'm not too comfy with this spread.
WIN; 27-16 Packers

EAGLES -6 1/2 Lions
Not sure what to make of the Lions yet.  But the Eagles are certainly worth a gamble playing at home, laying less than a touchdown.
Loss; 27-24 Lions

CHIEFS -6 1/2 Ravens
This spread is an anomaly.  If the Ravens were home I just might have taken the bait.  Baltimore is coming off parity wins over the on-strike Miami Sea Mammals and the Cardinals.  Meanwhile Chiefs are playing like they haven't skipped a beat.  They'll give up points, but lay the points at home anyway.
Loss; 33-28 Chiefs

BILLS -6 Bengals
Enjoy yourselves, Buffalo, you're about to start the season with a 3-0 record.  Just don't burn anything down.
Loss; 21-17 Bills

Falcons +1 1/2 COLTS
Both teams coming off big wins in week two.  I'm going with the more polished Matt Ryan and the Falcons over the Colts, their second string quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and their banged up defense.
Loss; 27-24 Colts

Raiders +8 VIKINGS
Two teams I still cant figure out.  Eight points is a nice cushion, though.
Loss; 34-14 Vikings

COWBOYS -21 1/2 Dolphins
I got Patriots/Dolphins wrong, so naturally this week I'm going the other way.  Why not ... everyone else is.  The Miami Sea Mammals have decided to tank the season and rather just sun bathe along Collins Avenue.  Josh Rosen starting at Big Dallas spells h-u-g-e-t-r-o-u-b-l-e.
WIN; 31-6 Cowboys

CARDINALS +4 1/2 Panthers
One failed goal line stand and everyone is souring on the Panthers.  Count me in.  Panthers rushed the ball just 17 times for a mere 39 yards last week against Tampa in a game that was never out of control, so to say.  Meanwhile the Bucs scored touchdowns via both air and ground.  Crazy Cam (Newton) is out this week, and perhaps for another week to come.  Cardinals put up 17 points in week one versus Jacksonville and last week tied Detroit with 27 points.  Larry Fitzgerald and the Cards will find a way towards their first win.
Loss; 38-20 Panthers

SEAHAWKS -3 Saints
We're gonna find out what the Saints can do without Drew Brees.  Even though the Seahawks have been winning by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins, traveling Teddy Bridgewater versus the Seattle crowd is a tough assignment.
Loss; 33-27 Saints

Texans +3 CHARGERS
Neither team jumps out at me.  Vegas doesn't seem too impressed either.  Chargers yielded four sacks last week.  I'm hoping JJ Watt can get a hold of Philip Rivers, early, often, and late.  Houston split very close games against the Saints and Jags.  Chargers week one loss to Detroit is my seed of doubt.
WIN; 27-20 Texans

49ERS -6 1/2 Steelers
Steelers have more problems than a math book.  At last check, Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell never played a down on defense.  Steelers have allowed 61 points through two games.  Were it not for the snoozing Sea Mammals they'd be last in the AFC in point diff.  Let's see what they can do in the absence of Big Ben, or not.
Loss; 24-20 Niners

Rams -3 BROWNS
Vegas showing no respect for the Browns at home.  Nor should they.  Their secondary is shot after Monday night's game.  Jared Goff is not Trevor Seimian and the Rams are just a tad bit better than the Jets.
WIN; 20-13 Rams


Schmear of the Week (1-1)
Falcons +1 1/2
LOSS


Good luck, and have a great Football Sunday, everyone.

Post Game:
Week Three Record: 4-10
Overall Record:  18-24
Schmear of the Week: 1-2
Bagels in the Basket: -9

N. Y. Jets: Latest Overhaul May Be Crazy Enough to Work

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK ONE

Buffalo Bills

vs.

New York Jets

The Jets throughout the off-season got hammered for letting former general manager Mike Macagnan conduct the draft and spend bushels of cash on free agents, then hire a head coach whom in turn convinces ownership to fire Macagnan.  Said head coach is given emergency powers and hires his own general manager and suddenly everything is swell entering the season.  Gase is making John Gruden look like a fool for a lot less money.

How does that happen?  Part of the answer is Woody Johnson's operating model has long been a source of Gang Green's dysfunction.  Therefore the longer I pondered the Jets condition, the more I grew to respect Christopher Johnson's complete reassessment of the operation, and his rather unorthodox corrective action.

Adam Gase is the offensive minded coach Sam Darnold needs.  In fact he's the Jets first offensive minded hire since Rich Kotite coached the Jets.  The Jets list of seven different defensive minded head coaching hires dates back more than twenty years.  Speaking of defensive minded coaches, Gang Green's new defensive coordinator has made quite a name for himself through the years, most notably during his days serving as bounty coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.  Bringing in Gregg Williams was definitely a bravado thing to do.

N.Y. Jets Refocusing Their Eyes on the Prize

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Gang Green Meets BountyGate;

Hello, Gregg Williams.

New York Jets: Despite Flawed Front Office, Hiring Adam Gase and Gregg Williams May Prove Savvy.

It dawned on me this is the first ever official hire by either Mike Maccagnan and/or Christopher Johnson - neither of whom did I ever feel were sufficiently experienced (much less qualified) to serve in their respective capacities.  And despite what may prove to be very savvy changes to the coaching staff, my opinion about the front office remains unchanged.

In the same manner I believe John Idzik undermined Rex Ryan, I view Maccagnan acting as the foil against former coach Todd Bowles.  In matters of personnel and free agent expenditure, both Idzik and Maccagnan demonstrated an ulterior underhandedness by forcing their head coaches into making due with increasingly less.  Why?  Perhaps because neither general manager played a role in hiring said head coach.  While an effective working relationship between new head coach Adam Gase and Maccagnan remains to be seen, Maccagnan's ability to smartly invest the team's $100 million salary cap reserves also remains to be seen.  If we're being truthful, his team building efforts over the last four years, outside of selecting Sam Darnold in last year's draft, have left much to be desired.  Yet, he stays.

Enter Christopher Johnson, who on Monday proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he knows the game and business of football exponentially less than his brother.  Being heir to a corporate empire is one thing, but operating an NFL club is entirely another.  I do feel owners often times inject too many corporate sensibilities which at times are in direct conflict with the business dynamics of football.

I have no particular opinion regarding the hiring itself of head coach Adam Gase - and that's a good thing.  He is certainly someone who seems to have his eyes on the prize!  I couldn't resist ...

All kidding aside, I think many agree this hire is a fine step forward toward the development of quarterback Sam Darnold.  In that regard, the Jets are justified for moving on from Bowles and Jeremy Bates.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets execute another eye grabbing headline with the hiring of Gregg Williams as their next defensive coordinator.  Yes, the same former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator who earned a one-year suspension after taped-recordings surfaced in which he is heard instigating his players into committing unsportsmanlike violence upon the opposition; an episode infamously known today as Bountygate.  That aside, he is no doubt an aggressive thinker, and should serve the Jets very well, provided Mike Maccagnan furnishes him with talent.  With some play makers, a new Jets identity may very well start on this side of the ball.

Despite my previous support for Todd Bowles, and my vote of no-confidence for Maccagnan, the Jets  are nevertheless in the midst of a very promising transition.