New York Jets: Flight Cancelled At The Gate

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

 

NEW YORK JETS:  Half Way Through The Regular Season, D-Generation Rex Is Caught In A Downward Spiral.  With The Bye Coming Next Week, The Jets Have Two Weeks Of Decision Making Ahead.


The storm of all perfect storms descended upon Met-Life Stadium Sunday afternoon.  Tried as they might to fly through adverse conditions, the Jets never had a chance.  Sunday's flight was doomed from go.  The plane never even made the tarmac.  The pilot never made it to the plane.  Marc Sanchez was stopped at the gate.  Fans are starting to suspect their fly boy is playing under the influence of Performance Depleting Drugs.  Maybe Tim Tebow is diabolically flaking Marc's food at the buffet table?  That's called not-so-very-creative fiction and a poor attempt at humor people!  But the reality of the Jets condition is the quarterback is playing as if he was on dope none the less.


In an ever downward spiraling season filled with worse upon worse efforts, Sunday's was the worst performance by Marc Sanchez of perhaps both his entire college and professional career.  Aiding and abetting in four sacks-against due to horrible presence in the pocket, an interception, a fumble, were only what the box score show.  To watch him Sunday, made Jets fans eyes bleed.


Before we get to all the other inclement elements of Sunday's humiliating loss to the Miami Hurricanes Dolphins, first let me give credit to Head Coach Rex Ryan.  He stuck with Marc Sanchez all game long.  This was Marc Sanchez' game, and Marc Sanchez' failure at quarterback alone.  Waiting on the sidelines was Tim Tebow.  If there was a game which needed handing off to the next guy, it was this one.  But Rex denied Tim Tebow the opportunity of stepping into, on, or over, Marc Sanchez' downfall - not with the Bye Week coming.  That was a great move by Rex.  One, Rex's decision kept the situation very clear cut, and unpolluted.  It leaves the team with two weeks to deliberate over what to do next.  Any decision they make going forward should now be met with very little resistance.  For nothing else has worked.


Make no mistake, this was a perfect storm.  They are now 3-5 this season, with a 2-2 division record.  They barley defeated the Dolphins in overtime in the first match-up.  The Jets opening week game against the Bills stands as their best season effort so far.  Then their win over the Colts was just that, against the Colts.  But the Jets are now thoroughly exposed.


If you take away Shonn Greene's thirty six yard romp, the Jets rushed twenty times for only sixty nine yards.  Marc Sanchez was forced to attempt fifty four passes, and wound up throwing twenty six incompletions.  But should any offense they generated in the 4th quarter really count considering this game was effectively lost in the first quarter?  If you're going by the actual score, the Jets lost the game within the first eleven minutes of the game.


Part of this overall ineptness must fall on the offensive coordinator.  Here's a question - what is he doing?  Marc's worst season is coinciding with the coordinator's first season.  Sparano waited until he faced his former team in Week Three to inaugurate the first hints it might be Tebow Time.  Since then, many fans have gotten lost with how seemingly Coach Sparano incoherently implements the Jets weapon of mass disruption.  The plan has done more to interrupt Marc Sanchez' flow and promising drives, than anything except for their poor offensive line play.  But not Sunday.  Sunday was all Marc, all day.  He didn't take care of the ball.  He had no feel for the pocket.  He couldn't even complete a simple screen pass.


Defensively, the Jets still can't stop Reggie Bush.  He and Daniel Thomas combined to rush twenty nine times for 101 yards.  It was enough.  The real defensive blow to the ego was losing to back-up quarterback Matt Moore.  Miami's starter, Ryan Tannehill's day didn't start out too promising.  But after he pulled a quad muscle via an actual Jets sack, the game took a not so funny football bounce against the Jets.  Their special teams, and everything else, feel apart like wet toilet paper.


How bad was New York's start against Miami?  Mike Westhoff is known for coaching superior special teams units.  Sunday, his teams were repeatedly embarrassed all game long.  All players have one bad day at work they would prefer to forget.  When one suffers, the others cover.  We all get that.  Against Miami, all special teams players shared in having their worst day together.  That spells doom.  An on-side kick and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the first quarter alone were  the start of a miserable afternoon for Jets fans.  Yet another blocked field goal attempt before the half just about disenfranchised everyone in attendance of their pursuit of happiness.


How did they start the 3rd quarter? - By allowing a fifty seven yard kick-off return.  By then, the score was howling in the Jets faces with 27-0 winds.  Then came a near Marc Sanchez pick, followed by an actual Sanchez pick.  Then another sack.  Then more and more and more....


The 30-9 final score is hardly indicative of the damage.  The Jets played far worse.  They suffered poor special teams play, which to be fair, will no doubt be corrected.  The Jets defense are having their troubles.  They are still a good defense.  But they are being asked to do too much now.  To be fair, they are without Derrelle Revis, and were without Bart Scott, and so on.  But despite injuries, the defense was already proving to be somewhat suspect.  And then there was the offense.  There was none.  With one or two exceptions, the offensive line is inferior.  Shonn Greene is trying, but the running game is sub-standard.  Additionally, with Santonio Holmes out, and even with Dustin Keller in, there are no game changing receivers to speak of.


All this ultimately brings us to Marc Sanchez and Tim Tebow.  The Jets have given Marc Sanchez a fair shot at securing the job without having to look over his shoulder, except for stupid conceptual plays here and there.  The job has been his.  Tim Tebow has not had the pleasure of starting at quarterback yet.  I believe he was afforded one partial drive all season under center.


I do not believe, at all, Tim Tebow will change the Jets fortunes.  Not in a box, not with a fox.  Not here, nor there, not anywhere.  However, at this point, asking why not give the offense to Tebow after one half of a season spent spiraling out of control, is the most valid question in the NFL right now.  An independent, yet relative question is, why is he here?  There is one fact towards that end which justifies everything.  The Dolphins dominated.


All is not lost.  Not by a long stretch.  The season is ONLY half over.  The Jets have two weeks to get back in the lab and conjure a solution.





Mike.BTB

New York Jets: Haven't Fumbled Away The Division Yet

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

 

Will Marc Sanchez Be Sleeping With The Fishes after Week Eight?

NEW YORK JETS: Back Pedaling Into Week Eight Against Dolphins.  The Jets Still Have No Plan For Tebow, And Their Trust In Sanchez Is All But Spent.


That's a tough way to lose.  Games within the grasp are hard to accept.  Especially when they're in Foxboro.  Just ask Marc Sanchez.  I hear him getting a lot of flack for getting sacked and fumbling the ball in over-time.  I saw two offensive linemen get badly beaten on the play.  But once you start back pedaling, everyone knows your in trouble.  Yeah, New England got on him quick.  Bad foot work?  Maybe.  But you still need to protect the football.


Among so many things to chose from, the failure of the Jets to hold 4th quarter leads, or blowing games in the 4th quarter, will be their demise.  Through all the nonsense of Tim Tebow, losing Derrelle Revis, and a host of other matters, the Jets have still been in position to win games.  It's no doubt a tough pill to swallow.


Sunday, the Jets did almost everything they needed to.  Marc Sanchez threw for 300+ yards.  The Jets rushed for over 100 yards as well.  Running the ball was a combined effort but they managed the yardage none the less.  Dustin Keller was back in full effect, and the difference in Sanchez was very  noticeable.  But an earlier interception and the final fumble were too much - too many mistakes.  It was a game Marc Sanchez had in hand against a division rival and let get away.


New England is far from leading the pack.  Sunday's win only improved their record to 4-3.  The Jets now have a 3-4 record.  The division is still very very salvageable.  But after losses to the Steelers, 49ers, Texans, and now the Patriots, you have to really question where the Jets belong on the NFL's pecking order.  Their victories came against a flaky Bills team, an overtime win over Miami, and they beat a pretty bad Colts team.


Meanwhile, the secret plans for implementing Tim Tebow are out.  There is no secret plan.  We are heading into Week Eight, and there is still no cohesive plan for Tim Tebow on offense.  Interestingly, the Jets play Miami this weekend.  The last time these teams met in Week Three was the closest Coach Sparano came to giving Jets fans any indication Tim Tebow had purpose, much less a role outside special teams assignments.  Is Coach Sparano's plan to unleash Tim Tebow on the Dolphins again?  Instead of saying stop the nonsense, I'll say sticking with Sanchez is the way to go.


Why is a former (Sparano) offensive line coach's offensive line still playing so horribly?  The Jets allowed five sacks Sunday.  It is worth saying this was the problem with the offensive line last season.  So if lack of faith in their quarterback is what they suffer, well then, the team will just have to just  trust him even more.





Mike.BTB

New York Jets: Ground And Pound Finally Arrives

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

NEW YORK JETS: D-Generation Rex And

Shonn Greene Go Smash Mouth Over Colts.

That's as smash mouth, or in Rex' case, that's as Ground and Pound as you get.  No trickery.  Just straight downhill rushing.  Even with Dustin Keller back on the field, Marc Sanchez only attempted eighteen passes.  Shonn Greene rushed the ball thirty two times for 161 yards.  Throw in Joe McKnight's effort and Bam! -  That's the way to do it.  Old School.

The running effort came perhaps a week too late for Rex's tastes, but the game in which the Jets gave up over 200 yards rushing to the 49ers is now a wash.  You can exhale now Jets fans.

The Jets rushed for fourteen first downs.  The Colts rushed for none.  The Jets effectively took away the run from Indianapolis.  In seventeen rushes, the Jets allowed them a scant forty one yards.  Therefore, the Jets turned the game into an Andrew Luck affair, and the rookie failed.  The Colts asked him to throw forty four times Sunday.  The Jets picked him off twice.  There's your game.

Just goes to show, if you can run the ball, and stop the other team from running the ball, the odds of winning grow exponentially.  And if you're Mark Sanchez, all you have to do is throw the damn ball when it counts.  When you run the ball the way the Jets did, it makes it easier for Mark Sanchez to spot seven different receivers.  Two touchdown passes inside the Colts ten makes him look stellar.

As a special treat, the Jets sacked Andrew Luck four times Sunday afternoon.  And Tim Tebow connected on a twenty three yard 4th down fake which led to a first down, and an eventual touchdown.  Overall, I'd say it was finally a good day for the home team.  The Jets are now 3-3 on the season, and have a bunch of confidence heading into New England next week.

Have a good week of practice boys.

WEEK SIX FINAL:

Colts  9

Jets  35

Mike.BTB

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

New York Jets: Soul Searching In South Beach

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

NEW YORK JETS: Destination Unknown.

Last seen departing gritty Steel City, the Jets might be flying towards more glamorous Miami, but where are they really headed?  On the one hand, there was a resounding win over the Bills to consider.  On the other hand, there was an underwhelming loss to the Steelers they'd rather forget.  So which team touches down in South Beach for Game Three?  And what exactly does Coach Sparano have in store for his former team?  I'm sure he'd love to punish the Dolphins somehow.  I just don't know what he can devise offensively because I still have no idea who the Jets are.  So I claim ignorance.


Here's a better question.  What are the Jets up to?  I still do not get the gist of what the Jets are doing with Tim Tebow other than using him to disrupt Marc Sanchez.  Poor guy, I incredulously watch him trot off the field after making good passes.  I don't get that.  And I don't think Coach Sparano does either.  To be frank, I think Rex is another who has no clue.  Ditto Mike Tannebaum.  By all appearances on the field, I don't think anyone has come up with a feasible plan to incorporate Tebow into the Jets offense.  And you can blame the owner.  I think Tim Tebow was his call, and now it has the team in a bind.  Even if he didn't instigate this acquisition, what the first two weeks of the season have shown Jets fans, is that Tim Tebow still has no role.


Speaking of lacking, Marc Sanchez didn't have Dustin Keller last week.  And perhaps the down tick in Sanchez' play was a result of Keller's absence and their overall failure to run the ball.  Or maybe not.  But Marc Sanchez will most likely have to go without his tight end again this week.  That's a tall order because Santonio Holmes still hates his quarterback.  Last week's disconnect between the two may have exacerbated the situation.  So whether it's Tebow or Shonn Greene, someone better run the ball to get the Jets going.


Defensively, just hope Bart Scott has as much fight in him to stop Reggie Bush Sunday, as he did for reporter/cellphone photographer Dan Leberfeld of Jets Confidential.  Already suffering image problems, a situation like that is the last thing the Jets need.  Derrelle Revis will be back this week.  Last week, no Revis, no win.  Coincidence?





Mike.BTB

New York Jets: Return Mission to Pittsburgh

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

 

Rex Ryan's War:

 

 

NEW YORK JETS: BACK TO PITTSBURGH

 

Battles Of 2010 Still Fresh In Both Team's Memory

 

Week Two Picks

 

Since the AFL/NFL merger, the Jets have faced the Pittsburgh Steelers twenty-one times overall.  Prior to 2010, the Jets managed a mere three regular season victories over one of the eldest franchises in football history.  All three wins came at home.  Back in 1998, the Jets were 24-20 victors. In 2003, the Jets pitched a 6-0 shutout.  And in 2007, Gang Green squeezed out a 19-16 win.


Gang Green's fourth and last victory over the Black and Gold came in December of 2011, when D-Generation Rex defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the first time in Jets franchise history.  To the chagrin of many, the Jets achieved an improbable 22-17 victory.  The 2010 Jets would eventually play their way into the AFC Championship Game.  Similar to the way the Jets season series played out against New England, perhaps a second encounter against Pittsburgh was in the cards.  For the Steelers also managed to play their way into the AFC title game.


For the second time in just a little over a month's time, the Jets flew back to Pittsburgh to play in the final American Football Conference match-up of the season.  The winner would go on to play in Super Bowl XLV.  Back in 2004, the Steelers defeated the Jets in the AFC Divisional round.  In this, their second ever playoff match-up, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Jets once again, this time by a heart crushing 24-19 margin.


The Jets flew back to New York a broken team.  Repairs to Rex's Jets squadron lasted throughout the 2011 season while Pittsburgh went on to lose Super Bowl XLV 31-25 to Aaron Rodgers the Green Bay Packers.


This coming Sunday, the two teams will meet again in Pittsburgh.  For the Jets, the team's futility in Steel City should be a non-issue.  That December 2010 win should still be fresh in many Green minds. But so should that AFC title game loss.  After all, it was D-Generation Rex's second consecutive championship game loss.


Losing Super Bowl XLV wasn't too catastrophic to Steel City's collective mental health; I don't think. They have a whole display cabinet filled with Lombardi trophies. Their Sunday opponents however, only have one trophy, obtained in upset fashion, going on what will soon be forty-three years ago.  The head coach of today's Jets, in word at least, has practically guaranteed a second.  But his time to get it done is running short.  Presently, Pittsburgh is no better off.  They are a rapidly aging team.  And after dropping this season's opening game to the Denver Broncos, and after last season's incredulous loss to Tim Tebow and those same Denver Broncos, the Steelers are as desperate as any team in the league, which includes the Jets.


Both teams are up against the proverbial wall.  But while time might be running out for each team, consider only one coach's job may wind up in peril.  Say Pittsburgh and the Jets both have miserable seasons, odds are the Steelers stick with Mike Tomlin, while Rex Ryan's future in New York becomes far more doubtful, or precarious at best.


D-Generation Rex is on a mission.  Coach Ryan is the first to admit sometimes there are setbacks and sometimes there are unexpected victories.  Rex and a few others have been on both ends.  But outside of Rex, Marc Sanchez, Bart Scott, Mangold, and a select few, I don't know how many Jets share the same level of understanding into the immediacy of their situation.  Somehow, Week Two doesn't seem to carry with it the sense of desperation Gang Green's overall season does.


In Week Two, I think the Steelers are (collectively) the more desperate team and will respond in kind.  For one day at least, I feel they will play with a greater togetherness.  Many current Steelers have been together for a very long time.  So many of their players march to one beat.  Rex Ryan historically has received that kind of unyielding support from his players.  This season's dynamic still needs to prove to what degree.  But that's just my impression as an outside observer.  The Steelers are desperate to keep themselves from starting 0-2, while the Jets are trying to win their second game.  So which team's edge is sharper coming into Sunday?


Make no mistake, Big Ben has the rings Marc Sanchez is still hopeful of being fitted for one season.  Therefore this is Marc's game.  This is his season.  However, even should Marc Sanchez and the Jets play a near perfect game Sunday, history shows us the Jets do not score more than twenty or so points against the Steelers.


What ever the Jets plans for Tim Tebow, if Marc Sanchez plays like he did last week, he will force the Jets to limit Tebow Time, and continue playing the hot hand.  BOOM!  There it is.  This is all in Marc Sanchez' hands.  The Jets road record in Pittsburgh, and Tim Tebow's last second playoff victory last season with Denver be damned.  Marc Sanchez won in Steel City before.  And Pittsburgh's defense is compromised enough to allow him to do it again.  He may have to.  Marc may be forced to out-score the Steelers. However, he will have to do it without Dustin Keller.  That means without his safety net Marc Sanchez will be forced to make better initial reads.  Last week Marc Sanchez masterfully incorporated a head fake and pump into his game and threw touchdowns.  That's what quarterbacks get paid to do - not what Tim Tebow brings.


The Steelers are currently injured at their strengths; linebacker and safety.  Two of Pittsburgh's biggest defensive guns will be missing from Sunday's game.  Word is, Safety Troy Polamalu and Linebacker James Harrison are highly questionable; doubtful; or just plain - out.  Any way you dress it, they are compromised.  As such, Pittsburgh's situation on defense is an invitation for Marc Sanchez to repeat his Week One performance against Buffalo.


Of course surrendering twenty-eight points to the Bills raises its own set of questions.  But lets assume the Jets defense plays this Sunday, and throughout the season, as well as they are projected to be. Consider this about Week One.   Buffalo never blitzed Sanchez, and Mario Williams never got his hands on Sanchez.  No Buffalo Bill ever touched Sanchez.  It is safe to assume, that will not be the case against Pittsburgh.  On defense, the Steelers still field a formidable front seven.  The Jets O-Line had a good week against the Bills.  The Black and Gold are a different animal though.  Marc Sanchez and the O-Line both will most likely have to repeat their efforts, and outscore the Steelers.


Here is the biggest problem facing the Jets this Sunday - Ben Roethlisberger and the absence of Derrelle Revis.  Without Derrelle Revis, there goes whatever pass rush the Jets had.  It's well known Rex relies on his corners to indirectly get pressure on the QB.  Still without a legitimate individual pass rusher, Rex relies on coverage and a bevy of blitz packages to pressure the passer.  That's where Big Ben comes in.  He always seems to bust loose from the pocket.  Just ask Santonio Holmes.  He's the baby Huey of the NFL.  I mean that in a good way.  He's so big, he is hard to bring down.  But what this stumblin', bumblin', rumblin' steel worker does best is thrive on busted plays.  That's why these recent games between the two teams are always close.  And that's why the Steelers usually come out on top.  The Jets defense is already compromised heading into Sunday, but even when healthy, Big Ben still does just enough to foul the Jets best laid defensive plans.  Pittsburgh it seems, is always only a late 4th quarter possession and a busted play away from potential victory.  This Sunday, I think the Steelers sneak by.


I think it is going to be a great game.  Can the Jets win with some turnovers or breaks?  Yes, and don't rule it out.  A win would also work particularly well considering the Jets play Miami the following week.  Losing great games however are no consolation...; as if there were such a thing in the National Football League.





Mike.BTB

New York Jets: Gang Green Routs Buffalo Bills

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

NEW YORK JETS:  Marc Sanchez Soars In Season Opener.

 

FINAL SCORE:

Buffalo   28

JETS      48

Fake Rex: "Yeah well, how 'bout them Jets huh?  I told you we'd be okay.  I mean..., gosh, you guys were killing us.  We had an awful pre-season this - We scored no touchdowns that.  You guys mocked me for keeping plans for Tim Tebow a secret, and all kind'sa stuff.  For weeks now you guys have been running off at the mouth, and printing all kinds of crap about us.  Hey man, I'm cool with that.  I have but one question, "How ya like me now bitches?"


Make me shut up will ya?  At what point in Sunday's game against the Bills did you stop calling the Jets a good team, and start calling Buffalo a horrible team?  I mean really....can the only team that actually plays in New York State please stand up?  This was opening day, and I never put much stock in it.  I do not expect the Jets to continue being this good.  Nor do I expect the Bills to remain this bad.  Take nothing away however, from the Jets effort Sunday.  But.., c'mon.


The secret is out.  The Jets real Tim Tebow has finally been unveiled.  He threw no passes, and rushed five times for eleven yards.  Finally, after much ballyhoo this pre-season, the internal Jets battle between the two headed monster versus a simple pump and head fake was a no contest.  Marc Sanchez was stellar, connecting on three touchdown passes.  Sanchez shovelled one interception in the first quarter that made you want to hit him with a helmet.  Otherwise, Marc Sanchez was very good.  The Jets wound up scoring their highest point total since Marc Sanchez assumed the helm as a rookie.


The big guys up front protected Marc Sanchez today allowing no sacks.  The Offensive Line also opened up enough space for Shonn Greene to rush twenty-seven times for ninety-four yards.  That was good enough I guess.  All told, I'd say the O-Line had themselves a pretty good day.


The Jets had a bit of trouble stopping Buffalo's running game though.  The Bills out rushed the Jets by a considerable sum.  And for the game, Buffalo ran more plays than the Jets.  Doesn't that seem a little odd in a 48-28 game?  Defensive questions will get overshadowed this week because the Offense scored forty-eight point.


This was a good start for Rex Ryan and his Jets.




Mike.BTB

New York Jets: System Check Reveals Faults Before Take-Off

From the desk of:  A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

J  -  E  -  T  -  S

Just - Endure - Tannenbaum's - Signings

NEW YORK JETS:  If You Really Want To Know What Woody Johnson's Priorities Are, Fire Mike Tannenbaum.


This is all just one man's opinion of course.  As such, I believe Bill Parcells departed the Jets, and left behind someone who at the time was put in place because of his salary cap savvy.  He was someone however with a limited football background.  That person, Mike Tanenbaum, was eventually promoted to the office of General Manager.  He and Eric Mangini actually started to build something credible.  Their drafting was hit or miss.  But together they generally brought in quality people and good players.  Eric Mangini's personality and coaching style left much to be desired though, so his team stopped responding to him.  No wonder there.  Needless to say, the Jets made a switch and hired Rex Ryan.  And it was a good hire.


I believe Rex Ryan took what was left over from the Mangini era, and with some tweaking by him and Mike Tannenbaum, elevated the Jets into AFC Championship contenders.  In the newest era of Jets Football, the 2009 season was best.  The 2010 season less so.  And then we all know what happened last season.


The differences in personnel from the 2008-2009 Jets to this season are stark.  And many fans are still undecided as to whether the changes have been for the better.  This is what I feel.  There is a certain measure of quality control a GM must maintain.  There is also a certain degree of direction they must exert over their Coaches as well.  The team vision must come from the General Manager; not from the Head Coach, up.  More on the owner's role later.  But for now, Mike Tannenbaum fails on all counts.  Instead, the Jets GM is Rex Ryan's biggest enabler.  For three years he kept feeding Coach Ryan's hearty appetite for controversy.  The newly adopted tact he teamed up with Rex was diametrically opposed to the way he and Eric Mangini conducted business together.


At the heart of the matter, Mike Tannenbaum's transactions have brought discord into the clubhouse for the last two seasons running.  In 2009, less behaved athletes were still kept in check by guys like Kris Jenkins, etc.  For the most part, those safeguards fail to exist today; not in decent numbers anyway.  His locker room refurbishment has also earned him a full range of criticism.  And the Jets as a whole dominate the tabloids sometimes for all the wrong reasons.


There is no coincidence regarding the down tick, or the fall off if you will, from 2009 to last season.   As more Mangini era players fell by the way side, Mike Tanenbaum kept importing increasingly questionable talent and difficult characters.  He in effect transformed the locker room; not Rex Ryan.  Tannenbaum was the one who relaxed quality control.  A head coach, be it Mangini or Rex Ryan, can ask for the moon.  That doesn't mean they'll get it..., if you catch my drift.  It's up to a GM to keep a Coach's whims in check as well.


Lastly, for a man once considered a CAPologist, I believe Mike Tannenbaum's spending savvy has devolved right along with his quality control.  He wastes his Jets dollars most unwisely these days. So overall, I'd have to conclude by saying instead of progressing, the Jets are now in the midst of regressing under Mike Tannenbaum.


I do like Rex Ryan as a coach.  There is only so much of what ails the Jets that I'm willing to put on him.  Aside from all the other extraneous stuff Rex brings to the table, I believe he squeezed every bit of success he possibly could from the last three rosters he was given.  This season however, he really, really has his work cut out for him.


Will the hiring of new Offensive Coordinator Tony Sparano help the Jets?  With regards to former Coach Schottenheimer, yes.  Will he help with regards to the Offensive Line?  If you limit the discussion to technique, accountability, and preparation, he might.  But if we're talking about ability, don't make me laugh.  It is very simple.  The Offensive Line has to prove they can protect Marc Sanchez better; if at all.  Because if they don't, and make Marc Sanchez look bad in the process, the organization is going to quite literally hand the ball off to Tim Tebow.  And in my view, if Tebow takes over the helm, the Jets will crash and burn.


With all the positions that needed attention this past off-season, and depending how much you like Sanchez, Mike Tanenbaum acquired the one player the Jets needed least.  Ponderous.  At the same time Mike Tannenbaum is devolving by his own doing, the Offensive Line caused Marc Sanchez to devolve as a quarterback as well.  Upgrading the Offensive Line, and finding Sanchez a suitable receiver should have been the GM's concentration; not acquiring Tim Tebow.


In effect, Marc Sanchez took a step backwards last season, partly of his own doing.  But others definitely contributed.  Tannenbaum certainly helped.  He took away Sanchez' favorite receivers, and gave him headaches.  Coach Schottenheimer helped.  He gave Marc Sanchez misdirection.  Then if you want to point at not having an able running game to supplement Sanchez last season, I will point right back at the Offensive Line.  Not only couldn't they protect the quarterback last season, they equally failed to provide any daylight to run through.  It is all relative.  It all starts up front.


If the Offense is inefficient this season, the Defense in turn won't be able to hold up.  They can only do so much.  Outside of the obvious lack of a pass rush, there are no real concerns for the Jets on Defense. They will be good.  But if they are consistently having to retake the field after repeated three-and-outs, or something to that effect, the Defense will surely wear down.  No conditioning program on the planet will prepare Bart Scott for Jets ineptness on Offense and the toll it will take on his own body when the Defense is asked to do too much.


If acquiring Tim Tebow is a sick way of circumventing an ineffective Offensive Line and their plan for shaking free of their bigger problems, they are running directly into a fire.  If things go awry this season, Mike Tannenbaum must go.  It will be then, and only then, Woody Johnson reveals his true priorities.  He's the one in the Control Tower.


So what to make of the man who champions "one can never have enough Tebow....."?  I'll say this about Woody - he is making it increasingly difficult to decipher whether he wants a top flight football team, or a second rate headline maker.  For truth be told, Mike Tannenbaum is also Woody Johnson's biggest enabler.  And therefore, Mike Tannenbaum is in a conundrum.  The GM himself also made it difficult to determine whether the he is commitment to bettering the team, or finding unique and imaginative new ways to sell Woody's undersold tickets.  He is good at skirting the issue because he speaks well without saying much.


If things go badly this season, I'd like to see the GM talk his way out of this one.  But I say if you really want to know what Woody Johnson's priorities are, Mike Tannenbaum needs to be fired.  But who fires Tannenbaum?  He serves Woody so well.  And there-in lies the biggest problem facing the Jets - not personnel.


Good luck this season Jets fans.  Try really really try hard to..........

Just  -  Enjoy  -  The -  Season

Mike.BTB

New York Jets: Please Clean Up After Your Dog

From the desk of:   A BLUE BLOODED GIANTS FAN

SNOOPY BOWL PREVIEW ~ Giants vs. Jets

NEW YORK JETS:  Oh No He Didn't?!

The Sanchise Calls Out His O-Line.

The Only Thing I Can Think Of, That Is Big, Green,

And Entertaining, Is GUMBY Damn It!

Did Marc Sanchez call out his Offensive Line on TV during the second half of Saturday's game against the Giants?  Upon further review, I think he did.

"....they gotta stop a four man rush.  It's that simple." - or something to that effect, is how he phrased it.

Those are biting words my friend, and an easy way to lose friends.  As a matter of fact, almost everything he said into the microphone Saturday night was directed at the Offensive Line.  The Giants sacked Jets quarterbacks seven times in last night's exhibition.  They got to Sanchez three times, and got hold of Tim Tebow another four times.

At least Sanchez got caught by the Giants' starters.  In the first half, he was greeted in the backfield by Jason Pierre Paul, Osi, and Justin Tuck, which is quite understandable.  But in the second half, the Offensive Line allowed the Giants to corral Tim Tebow another four times by guys named Adewale Ojomo, who had two sacks, William Hill, And Matt Broha.  To get run over by that line-up guarantees a week chock-full-o criticisms.  And the only way the criticisms will stop, is if the Jets take the field next week, and actually show they can play this game.

Poor guy.  Marc Sanchez is trying really, really hard to exert himself now that Tim Tebow is here, isn't he?  His words might carry some more weight if he hadn't thrown that pick-six though.  The Jets QB may have single-handed won a place on the Giants' roster for rookie, #38-Jayron Hosely, with that play.  Jayron Hosely took Sanchez, to-the-house.  He returned a Marc Sanchez INT seventy-seven yards for a touchdown in front of Gang Green's crowd.

Marc Sanchez had six offensive opportunities to matriculate the ball up the field.  Six times, the Jets failed to score points.  And on their way to halftime, Steve Weatherford reminded his old team just how huge of a mistake they committed by not signing the now Giants Punter.  In this Giants fan's eyes, Steve Weatherford was Big Blue's runner-up MVP of last season.  In the first half of Saturday's game, the Jets watched their punter, T.J. Conley, shank punt after punt after punt.

In the second half, at least Tim Tebow moved the Jets close enough to score a field goal.  And on the passes he did connect on, he looked a little crisper than Sanchez as well; just a little.  There was the obligatory interception, of course.  But at face value, there were a lot a cheers for Tebow when he took the field for the first time.  Like Sanchez, even Tebow had a word or two for his Linemen.  On one occasion after getting sacked, he popped up and got pretty animated, and seemed to be directing his ire towards his front guys.  The QB controversy only gets worse from here.

I put much of the blame for this mess on Mike Tannenbaum.  And if I'm ranking the one's most responsible, indeed Tannenbaum is number one.  But then comes his boss, Woody Johnson.  After the owner I start blaming players.  And at the bottom of my blame list, would be Head Coach Rex Ryan.

Since reaching back to back AFC Championship games, the Jets have done more to devolve back into the green primordial ooze of futility than assembling a squadron of qualified Jets.

Right now, I can only think of one thing that is Big, Green, and entertaining.  And that would be Gumby damn it!  I'm not a Jets fan, but even I was annoyed at Gang Green's play Saturday.  That goes for all of them.  The Jets have a potential disaster on their hands.  So buckle up, make sure your trays are in their upright positions.  When the oxygen masks drop on Opening Day, kiss your season good-bye and brace for impact.

And by the way, the Giants are upset the Jets didn't clean up after themselves after pooping in their house.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Paint the City Blue

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  G-Men Take Care of Business in The Jets' House of Blues.

SNOOPY BOWL - I

Giants  29

Jets      14

After a crushing loss to the Redskins, I pretty much left off thinking the Giants just better show up against the Jets and make the final showdown with Dallas matter otherwise there would be all kinds of hell to pay.  And as the game drew closer, I still found my team a little too confusing for me to predict anything heading into Week Sixteen.  So what I wound up doing was reverse engineering my way through last week's win over the Jets.  That's right.  My own team confused the bajabbers out of me, so I put myself in the Jets' shoes and figured things out that way.




Prior to game-day game, in  N.Y. Jets; A Clash for TITANS  -  I asked if Mark Sanchez was up to snuff heading into this game?  But I also asked if the two headed Offensive Coordinator Schotty-Moore can find the right plays to suit his touch?  The answer I gave on the first question was no; Sanchez wouldn't be up to snuff.  And we found out the answer to the second question as to whether the two-headed monster would dial up plays tailored for Sanchez was a resounding NO; with fifty-nine pass attempts and a total of eighty-nine futile plays from scrimmage piled up as evidence.




Then in N.Y. Giants - Eve of Frustration -  I said, even with a suspect (Giants') 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.  ....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.   And he didn't.  And by throwing the ball fifty-nine times, the Giants chances of winning sky-rocketed.




Ultimately in my weekly PIGSKIN picks I said,  I have no idea (who'd win the game).  Both teams have pluses and minuses that cancel each other out.  So when I put this game in the hands of the quarterbacks, I side with Eli.




Okay fellow Giant Fans, why so preoccupied with the Jets?  Well, because as I pointed out in N.Y. Jets - Living in a Big Blue World, how on the one hand the Giants did what they needed to in order to win, and on the other hand the Jets did everything possible to lose that game.  So as a Giants fan who now has his playoff aspirations on the line versus Dallas, I'm concerned by the fact as I just stated, the Jets did more to lose, than we did to win.




The Victor Cruz touchdown was a busted play amongst two Jet players.  The tackle should have been made.  And if the Jets hadn't veered so far off their game, I think it could have been a much different game.  On a day Eli Manning only completed nine of twenty-seven passes and threw an interception, and a day when the Giants Offense as a whole had thirty-four less plays from scrimmage than the Jets did, their quarterback failed to do better. 




As part of thirty inconsequential pass completions, Marc Sanchez' two interceptions were pass attempts into the abyss and deserved getting picked-off.  Marc Sanchez also held on to the ball way too long and gifted the Giants with at least two of their five sacks and a fumble (recovered).  A second fumble came off a bad snap with the Jets threatening from the two yard line.  That fumble kept the Jets off the board.  And a Giant sack of Sanchez in the end-zone conversely put points on the board for Big Blue.




WHAT THE GIANTS DID WRONG ON OFFENSE:




The number of three-and-out possessions is keeping almost every team in games.  The failure to consistently get first downs has resulted in the Giants losing the time of possession battles more frequently.  It's continually resulting in teams far surpassing us in plays from scrimmage.  That in turn lends itself to exposing the Defense.




Kevin Gilbride resorted to the same losing formula that waisted everyone's time during the Redskins game.  There was never an attempt to establish the run in the first half.  With numbers almost identical to the week prior, Gilbride called for eighteen passes and just seven running plays during a 10-3 first half.




Furthermore, I didn't agree with the reinsertion of David Baas at center.  I thought the combination of Kevin Boothe at Center, with Mitch Petrus and Chris Snee at the Guards was working very well.  With David Baas at Center, the middle of the Line has been closed to the running game.  Saturday's game was no different.  Except for one big rush Ahmad Bradshaw busted off Center, all the Giants success came running off the Tackles.  Ahmad Bradshaw and D.J. Ware found daylight running between Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie.  Brandon Jacobs found his daylight running off David Diehl. Throughout the first half however, Kevin Gilbride insisted on running up the middle when it clearly wasn't there.




WHAT THE GIANTS DID RIGHT ON OFFENSE:




For starters, Kevin Gilbride finally turned to the run once he found out Eli was going to have a bad day.  After the first half, the running game turned up the heat.  The trio of Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, and D.J. Ware combined on twenty-five rushes and 116 yards.  Two of the three Giants touchdowns came on the ground.  And Bradshaw should be given a special mention for running with power.  The final splits between plays were twenty-seven passes, and twenty five running plays.




The Giants may have only had fifty-five plays from scrimmage, but they still averaged over six yards per play.  Thank Victor Cruz for that.  He had a 99 yard touchdown grab that padded the stats.  But he also became a Giants record breaker.  The day was also a measure of satisfaction after a week of verbal jousting with Darelle Revis.




And well, whether I disagree or not, with David Baas, the Offensive Line gains a measure of depth again.




WHAT THE DEFENSE DID WRONG:




For the second straight week, the Defense took a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty.  This week's directly led to the Jets' first touchdown of the day.




In dire need of a defensive stop with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter, after just trucking over Marc Sanchez on a first and ten play, second and twenty became third and twelve, which became a first and goal after a Giant penalty.  Sanchez ran a bootleg in for a touchdown.




Lastly, the Jets running game was building steam until they got derailed by their own coach.




That concludes a very short list.  That can only mean good news.




WHAT THE GIANTS DID RIGHT ON DEFENSE:




For having a quarterback throw the ball fifty-nine times with thirty completions, and for a team that ran eighty-nine plays and held the ball for thirty-six minutes, the Giants defense limited to the Jets to 331 total yards for the day.  The Secondary didn't get lit-up, and instead intercepted Sanchez twice.




The Giants' Pass Rush made it's triumphant return to dominance sacking Mark Sanchez five times for a loss of thirty-two yards.  The pass rush also caused the Jets' Center to mis-snap the ball in haste causing a fumble at the Giants' two yard line which the Giants recovered.




The Defense also scored two points with a Safety against Sanchez which pretty much ended the Jets' last stand.  Chris Canty was the one who got a hold of Sanchez.  And thus closed out the game for the Giants in a formidable manner.




Perry Fewell's unit did their job well Saturday considering the amount of time they spent on the field as the offense could only generate first downs at a 26% clip.





RELATED POSTS:

N.Y. Jets - A Clach for TITANS
N.Y. Jets - Living in a Big Blue World

N.Y. Giants - Eve of Frustration. But For Who?






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Jets ~ Living in a Big Blue Town

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE  D-GENERATION REX

 

NEW YORK JETS:   The Aftermath; Through the Eyes of a Giant Fan.



It's not easy being Gang Green.  Saturday's woeful loss will be pondered till Spring.  This loss was black; grey; bleak; dark; and many more sinister and colorful descriptive words like that....



That was the extent of my fun.  I am a Giants Fan just so you know.  In light of Rex Ryan's Super Bowl aspirations; and his Big Brother/Little Brother jive; and This is a Jets Town nonsense; and even his on-field exchange with Brandon Jacobs; and faced with the temptation to completely lambaste Rex the charlatan and the sycophants who picked up on his mantra and ran with it, I respectfully pass the opportunity to amuse myself even with so much material to work with.  I actually like Rex.  He's refreshing.  And I don't particularly enjoy watching him have to worm away from something he might have said.



I'll just say this.  To a man, Saturday's game was a lesson in humility.  One team's Head Coach needs some.  The other team's Head Coach preaches it.  Yet both are good coaches.  Maybe I'm out of context - in that perhaps what I choose to instill in my son, shouldn't apply to football players or coaches.  So on a Fan level then, I guess I'm talking to some of you.  I'm trying to run a semi-clean shop here; save for the sporadic light yet loose language.  So I think this is as far as I'll go with this inner-city Giants/Jets rivalry amongst US fans.



Let's talk football.  That I can do very fairly.  Because if left to talk about what only really amounts to a few of you, I'd lose a level of decorum I try to maintain here.

*     *     *     *     *

For here's the reality of the situation.  The Giants did what they needed to do in order to win.  But the Jets did everything possible to lose.  Credit ten penalties, three turnovers, and an Offensive Line that allowed Sanchez to get sacked five times for aiding and abetting an embarrassing loss.  That's what should be near the top of every Jet Fan's short lists regarding what went wrong Saturday afternoon.



Then there are two matters specifically that should top the list.  Two things failed the Jets miserably Saturday.  First, someone came up with a horrible offensive game plan.  And secondly, that same  person failed to realize his plan was a hot mess, while also failing to revert to what the Jets do best in recognition of that fact.  Why on earth did Coach Schotty get as far away from the running game as he did and ask Marc Sanchez to throw the ball fifty-nine times?  I know Jet Fans wanted their Offensive Coordinator to ease up on Sanchez' leash.  But what Schotty designed Saturday was no doubt the capstone on his body of work as the Jets' offensive play caller.  For surely once the off-season descends upon Jet-Life Stadium, his work here is done.



The Jets Defense held the Giants to fifty-nine plays from scrimmage.  The Defense gave Brian Schottenheimer every opportunity to possess the ball for thirty-six minutes and run eighty-nine plays from scrimmage.  Yet the Giants ended the day with 332 total yards while the Jets came in at 331 total yards from scrimmage.  That's a bizarre stat by any stretch.



Coach Schottenheimer took a page right out of Kevin Gilbride's playbook.  He asked Marc Sanchez to throw fifty-nine times (which is obscene even by Gilbride's standards) and only called on Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson nineteen times.  Together they gained eighty-seven yards and averaged 4.95 yards per carry.  In a game that remained 10-3 up until the Giants scored with 0:13 left in the third quarter, there was no reason to drop Sanchez pack to pass time and time again; not when the Offensive Line couldn't protect him; and certainly not after showing success running the ball. 



Only after having said all that should you Jet Fans admit that quite simply, Marc Sanchez was not up to the task.  He started out strong and finished badly.  At times it seemed as if he was throwing the ball into the twilight zone.  Marc Sanchez got sacked five times.  On two of those however, Marc had receivers open and pumped, but held on to the ball way too long causing a sack.  Then there is the math of his game. Yes, he threw up fifty-nine passes.  He completed thirty of them, but for only 258 yards?  Is that all thirty completions get you these days?  Look at the Offensive Coordinator for an answer to that.  To say his play calling was suspect is being kind.  And lest we forget the Jets' first touchdown came as a result of the Giants having twelve men on the field which kept the Jets' drive going.



But don't go dumping on Sanchez too badly.  There was a much better way to attack the Giants Defense.  And in coaches speak, Schotty didn't put his quarterback, or his offense, in a position to win.









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 ~ A Clash For TITANS

THE SNOOPY BOWL - I

NEW YORK GIANTS

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

THE MET-LIFE GAME OF DEATH

NEW YORK JETS:   We Have a Penalty.  Prior to the Game, Failure to Keep Mouth Shut - Head Coach of the Green Team.  Penalty to be Assessed Saturday Afternoon.

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 had 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, while each is unknowingly more frightened than the other.  Who then is better than Met-Life to draw up and underwrite a policy for Saturday's upcoming East Rutherford Riot.  For in the aftermath of this game, one of these two team's seasons will surely die.

Rex Ryan already stepped out of line and prematurely cut the ribbon on Snoopy Bowl I.  He said the Jets are the better team and have been for two years now.  I don't listen to him much.  I'd rather take up issue with those who overzealously attack Rex for every word he says.  At least he gives it straight.   I'm a Giants Fan but I'm not a Jets Hater.  Although sometimes you fans make me sick.  But I'm mildly interested in the Jets' success just as long as it doesn't interfere with my interests, of course.

Rex is an interesting cat.  I get what he's up to.  If the Media is too busy with him, it leaves his team with more time to concentrate on preparation.  That works to a point.  But everyone can still see what happens on the field with their own eyes.  Additionally, by supporting his players and propping them up the way he does, he creates an "us against the world" mentality.  He gets his guys to want to jump in front of a bus for him.  And in doing so, perhaps gets more out of a player than a player thought he could give.  When you multiply that by a roster, what you're left with is a confident and rambunctious team.

I'm only one guy, and with all the other stuff I like to keep tabs on, I admit, the Jets have suffered the most.  I haven't necessarily posted about you guys all season long.  But that doesn't mean I don't see what's going on.  In my weekly PIGSKIN predictions, I always made sure to include a lengthy paragraph in-lieu of a dedicated post.  As a matter of fact, last year's playoffs were some of the more fun games to write about; especially that second Patriots game.  So like I said, the only thing that came between this blog and the Jets was a lack of time.

I'm not bragging at all here, just merely trying to point out that I think I have a grasp of your team and maybe even more so than my own team.  Whether I picked for or against the Jets, I am 12-1 picking Jets games this season against the spread.  WooHoo...yeah I know.

Go back and you'll see I said point blank, they'd lose three straight games against the Raiders; Ravens; and Patriots.  And that only after that, will they straighten out.  Not because I don't think they're a good team.  I thought that because there were too many changes to the roster and Tanenbaum strayed from a successful formula that almost worked the year before.

There it is.  I think Mike Tannenbaum over-shot your bid for a Super Bowl this year.  I think he tinkered too much.  But I'm not saying you can't win a Super Bowl.  I merely think you had a better shot last season.  I think last season will prove to have been the best shot once this present assemblage of players gets purged somewhere down the line.

J  -  E  -  T  -  S

Just  Enjoy  Tannenbaum's  Signings

That's what I said back then.  And I stand by it.  The Jets are a good team with a good Coach.  But Mike Tannenbaum out-thought this one coming into 2011 I'm afraid. 

I'm also not about to start ripping Marc Sanchez.  Do I think he's up to snuff?  Not really.  But the Giants went through a lot of growing pains with Eli also.  And you can't take four road playoff victories off his young resume.  Things will start to click for him a lot more next season.  Don't forget how little college experience he had.  On the job training can be a brutal endeavour in the NFL .

Can Marc Sanchez beat the Giants over the top Saturday?  Probably, every one else has.  So why shouldn't he?  Perhaps the new two-headed Offensive Coordinator; Shotty-Moore; can find the right plays that suit his touch.  Can the Jets burn the Giants' linebackers in coverage; especially with Dustin Keller?  Yep.  Everyone else has.  Will Marc Sanchez have enough time to find all these receivers behind a troublesome Offensive Line?  Probably.  The Giants' pass rush is currently MIA.  Osi Umenyiora will miss another game and Justin Tuck is a compromised player right now.  So.., yeah, Marc Sanchez might have enough time to see things develop down field.

Can the Jets run the ball against the Giants?  It's going to be harder to do than passing against them.  But it can be done.  If all the Jets are looking for is ninety or so yards rushing from Shonn Green, he should get it.  The Giants have actually tightened up on the run considerable since early to mid-way through the season.  If Shonn Green was able to rush for seventy-three yards against Philly last week, he should be able to hit ninety against the G-Men.  And that happens to be just slightly above the Giants' rush against average of  +/- eighty-six yards per game.  Fact is, Shonn Green above anyone else, will help Marc Sanchez out the most.

Defensively, I think the Jets can really limit the Giants' running game.  One reason is because they can.  Another reason is the odds Kevin Gilbride ignores the run are good.  The Giants are also down to their third-string Tight End.  Let's just say the Jets have been covering Tight Ends this season from afar.  Last game, the TV posted a stat of all the League's Tight Ends whom had superlative days against the Jets.

Elsewhere, the Jets sure as hell aren't getting to the QB either.  They haven't all year.  Eli will have time to throw, and as a result I think there will be some company on Revis Island this week.  The Giants Fan in me says Kevin Gilbride will ask Eli to throw the ball upwards of thirty-five to forty times.  So I'm sure there will be a pass or two begging to get intercepted.  But no pass rush and no Jim Leonard at Safety calling signals will definitely work in Eli Manning's favor.  However, I never discount Rex's ability to dial up a unique game plan to hunt down, in this case, Eli with.

Do I have a prediction?  No!  Not even as a Giants fan.  I have no clue is going to win this game.  At least today I don't.  Therefore Jet fans, I hope you guys play an amateurish, pathetic, and overall poor game.  Those are my hopes.  But good luck to you all the same. 

See you on the streets.

Mike.BTB