Week 2 is the reason why we don’t take week one seriously if you’re a Jet fan. Week one, the Jets looked all out of sorts and completely out of synch offensively. Week 2, they looked like a juggernaut. Week one, Kris Jenkins was done after 6 plays and it seemed to take the air out of the team. Week two, Darrelle Revis goes out at the end of the first half and the Jets shut the Patriots out for the second half.
Gotta love the NFL after that huh? Here are my musings, and observations from Week 2 for the Jets.
– Mark Sanchez is the story here. But I have another guy I want to get to who if I were a Jet fan I’d be kind of upset this morning about: Darrelle Revis. During the week, panic had escalated as it was reported that Darrelle Revis had strained a hammy and would be taking it pretty ginger during the week leading up to the game. The media naturally jumped to the conclusion that it was because Revis didn’t play during the preseason because of his contract situation and didn’t have the reps to get into football shape yet. Remember, Revis played EVERY single defensive snap last Monday night, a week after joining the team and having practice in pads for the first time all summer. Who says preseason isn’t important? Trash talk between he and Randy Moss continued after the “slouch” comment by Revis was brought back into public consciousness to ratchet up the rivalry and Moss replying by saying he had practiced all summer to stay off Revis Island which validated Revis as the best cover corner in the league. Rex Ryan even admitted after the game he regretted not putting Revis on Anquan Boldin the entire Ravens game. But there was Revis doing an admirable job on Moss and then, it happened. Probably the most beautiful pitch and catch you’ll ever see (we’ll get into that later). Revis pulls up lame after and all you can do is sigh..uh oh, here we go. Of course, Revis and Welker hadn’t really done much up until that point: Welker had a touchdown grab and Moss had some move the chain catches, but nothing fancy and you could see the air come out of the place as Revis was seen exiting the field and heading to the locker room. The Jets had to be concerned and annoyed at the same time over the injury.
– As for that play: Tom Brady hurries up to the line with a little 1 minute left in the first half and surprises the Jets, who aren’t ready defensively, and throws a beautiful lob as Moss runs past Revis and with no safety help over the top and Moss STILL has to make a spectacular one handed grab for the touchdown. Let me be more specific: Moss caught the ball with one hand and secured it by palming the football! Its one of the greatest catches you’ll ever see because it takes so much skill and soft hands to be able to handle a pass like that. Willie Mays style catch and grace and it amazes me. One thing I remember hearing during the week about Michigan’s QB wonder as an analyst was explaining why he was so fast, he said that the fastest people don’t look like they are going too fast until you realize they are just taking longer strides than the other person and Moss NEVER looks like he’s a burner but he seems to always get separation even at age 34. He’s amazing and still in my mind the most talented receiver I’ve ever seen in this league.
– Stat of the game: the Jets had never allowed a team to score with a minute left in the half last year. This year they had allowed their first two opponents to do so. All this while Rex is visibly cursing at his defensive assistants trying to figure out who messed up.
– Of course that naturally transitions to the turning point of the game: Jets caught off guard, Patriots go up 14-7 heading into the half with all the momentum on New England’s side. Jets start at the 20, first pass is behind David Clowney and the fans begin to have a murmur of a boo. That last touchdown was the kind of soul crusher that would’ve ended the afternoon for the Jets and the Patriots would pour it on from there on out. The second pass was another SPECTACULAR catch by Dustin Keller who had his best game since the Bengals playoff game. Sanchez throws another pass behind him and Keller in mid sprint turns and catches the pass. Then Braylon Edwards makes a great juggling catch to get a first down. Jets hit a field goal from 49 yards to close out the half. So the Jets still salvage 3 points out of a situation that could’ve been disastrous heading into the half.
– Back to Mark Sanchez. He’s the QB. He’s the leader. he’s the guy that Rex Ryan had so much faith in, but I’m gonna talk about somebody else. First play of the second half? Blindside hit as he’s moving which is the kind of stuff you see in highlight reels. 3 and out. Brady comes in and looks sharp making his little dump off passes. 3rd and 13, blitz is coming and he lofts a pass intended for Randy Moss who’s now being covered by Antonio Cromartie. You remember him don’t you? The same guy with all those penalties that helped destroy the Jets chances at a victory last week? Cromartie gets in front and intercepts the pass and gives the Jets the ball back but at the 3 yard line. On that play, Moss misread the play and stopped in the middle and then continued to jet but Cro had already got in front and was first to the ball. Cromartie played an excellent game especially when Jets fans saw him over Moss and were probably thinking “oh no” especially after Revis went out. You have to give him credit. He shadowed Moss and shut him down for the rest of the game.
-The other guy who stood out other than the QB: LDT. Coming into the season I felt as though LDT would have a renaissance year. He’s running behind a much better line and a team that is run first which makes him happy. 11 carries for 76 yards for a gaudy 6.9 YPC. While the Giants are having problems with the old guard coming to terms with his role on the team, a hall of famer on the Jets is loving his relaxed role and is showing up the rookie who was supposed to be a beast. I think that Shonn Greene is running scared. Not playing to his strength which is north and south running and inviting contact. LDT is the slasher and cutter and he’s doing a fantastic job. I loved how LDT was running with intensity and passion. It totally got the crowd pumped up. The Jets will need this LDT all year long. Its not the regular season LDT I’m worried about if I were a Jets fan, its playoff LDT.
– Jets defense came alive in the second half. It seems week after week they lose a guy and they keep on trucking. Is it depth or scheme? Here’s the possessions of the Patriots to open the second half:
INT (Antonio Cromartie)
3 and out
INT (Brodney Pool)
Punt
Sack and fumble (Jason Taylor with the sack and Bryan Thomas with the recovery)
Meanwhile the Jets possession:
Punt
FG
TD and two point conversion
Punt
TD (Dustin Keller)
That’s the game right there.
– Finally some remarks on Mark Sanchez and his Sunday afternoon. A career high 3 TD’s, 0 INT’s in a virtuoso like performance that had people on sports talk radio swallowing some of their “you can’t win with Sanchez” commentary.
His second half clearly was what propelled the Jets to victory, but I go back to that FG to end the first half as his best play at QB. Less than a minute left, Patriots just took the lead. Moss over Revis and Revis went out with an injury. Sanchez throws a terrible pass to open the drive but he never let it get to him and drove his team down field and executed when he had to. His performance showed you what Rex Ryan and staff saw in Mark to warrant trading up to get him. He’s got the leadership and poise and doesn’t let a bad outing get to him. He’s not the best QB, but there’s a willingness to grow and compete. His shovel pass to LDT being the glowing example of how elusive he can be. He’s a football player and that’s what Rex Ryan wants his team full of.
– With Braylon Edwards nabbing more unwanted PR for the Jets, here’s one moment to remind Jets fans that they still have a guy named Jerrico Crotchery on their team. I liken him to Amani Toomer, formerly of the Giants. Not the flashiest guy but when you need a big first down he was a guy the Giants counted on.
– Of course after I dropped both Dustin Keller and Aaron Hernandez they both have huge days. I believe that Sanchez and Keller have impressive chemistry and you know what they say: a tight end is a QB’s best friend.
-Here’s my opinion: week one didn’t tell you anything conclusive about the Jets and week 2 didn’t either. All it told you is like every other team there are some good things and bad things about each team and no team stands above the pack. Baltimore who beat the Jets lost to the Bengals who got destroyed by the Patriots who got spanked by the Jets. What does this mean? I am going to have a headache when I do my power rankings this week.
TEAM GRADE FOR WEEK 2: A
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