Tag Archives: 2010

September 22, 2010 · 9:54 am

Jets Week 2 Postgame

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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July 1, 2010 · 1:58 pm

DECISIONS DECISIONS.

Last night while sitting in my room trying (stop laughing) I had, and I kid you not, 10 websites open with pages linking me to different Lebron rumors.  By the way, these were all credible sources telling credible reporters that it was confirmed that Lebron would go here and there.  I decided I’d had enough and closed all the links at once and decided, screw this, Lebron James will NOT ruin my life.

Of course that didn’t happen.  I sat there unhappily and found myself at ESPN.com and theknicksblog.com again.  Like a slave to the situation.  But I came to a few conclusions while thinking about this and Knicks fans you might want to listen to this before you decide to hang yourself after watching the sixth edition of Sportscenter where Chris Broussard definitively says that the Knicks have little to NO chance of coming to New York.*  It has to do not with Lebron, but Dwayne Wade.

*= Two thoughts on this.  1. What does he have against us? and 2. The report is NOT going to change, Sportscenter is the same for the next six hours!  Even the live edition has about two seconds of actual new footage to share but we aren’t changing Chris Broussard’s mind.

Let me explain.  Scanning the list of free agents this summer I noticed one interesting stat: Dwayne Wade is the universal number two guy in this free agent wish list for teams and yet he’s the only guy with bling.  The only guy who was the unequivocal leader on a team that won a title.  He’s the franchise guy every team is looking for.  I mean that would be the requirements right?  Which is why the Heat is smart by focusing all their energy on resigning Wade on so many fronts including the reason I just mentioned.

Yet Lebron hasn’t won any team hardware but he’s being treated like a certified title bearer to whatever team brings him into their fold.  So it got me to thinking about this big summit that happened in Miami according to “reputable sources.”  If Wade, Lebron and Bosh were having this summit, don’t you think as friends that they’ve had it already?  That if they are texting, calling and hanging out all the time that since they all signed those 3 year contracts and left an extra 20 million on the table in 2006 to set up this hostage situation that they’ve discussed what they are going to do already?  So I don’t believe that just because they were in Miami talking that means they were talking about a super team in South Beach.

In fact let me go further in saying that Lebron needs Wade more than Wade needs Lebron.  If anything the three best friends, were perhaps discussing options on what each individually would do.  Bosh is the odd man out in this equation in my opinion.  I think it would be foolish to think any of these guys leave that kind of money on the table again by trying to form a super team.  These three have their sights set on bigger individual goals off the court and that can’t happen with all three trying to get the ball and stats on one team.  Just can’t.  Two stars and a team full of excellent role players I can understand, but not three star players in the prime of their career with the chance of signing one more max contract before all is said and done.  No.  I don’t think its selfish, its the right business decision on all their parts to think that right now, they need to do what’s best for their family.

Lebron and Wade can never team up unless its in a completely muted situation like the Olympics where it would be to each other’s benefit to look like the facilitator instead of the ball hog.  Lebron and Wade were probably sharing notes on who’s going where and how next year’s eastern conference will be markedly different than before.  Instead of creating one super team we’re going to be looking at multiple teams with 2 or 3 superstars in the prime of their careers creating an exciting race that could be the best in years.  Again, its not about being selfish.  I think Wade AND Lebron care about their legacies and while it would be nice for them to team up and give fans of South Beach something to care for more than their tans, it will ultimately come down to their innate competitiveness.  Lebron and Wade are friends but they are guys who I imagine sharing stats with each other after games.

Wade: Hey Lebron, in Houston.  Dropped 35, 11 and 8.  Beat that.

Lebron: I did that last week, I’m in Portland, 25, 15 and 11.  Done.

I think that’s how their friendship works.  They aren’t involved in their work affairs on a daily basis so this dream sequence of all three coming together, while appealing, is a figment of a pretty sad desperate for attention sports writer’s imagination.

As for Chicago’s more appealing pitch, I must say I was a bit upset by that but again, the dominating shadow that Michael Jordan casts over that city and that organization can make any super star uneasy.  Not just legacy wise.  But Wade’s comments rung very loudly for a guy who expects loyalty from his organization.  Jerry Reinsdorf doesn’t have cozy relationships with Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen, the two greatest players in their organization and his penchant for being cheap means that while giving two max contracts may seem likely because of cap space, that conversation changes in two years when Derrick Rose comes looking for a max contract.  Imagine Lebron doesn’t win a title with that team and the Bulls don’t resign Rose because he wants a max contract and Jerry refuses to pay, and remember this is the same guy that broke up the greatest team assembled due to finances so there’s precedence, Lebron would never forgive him for that.

No, Chicago, look for Amare and Joe Johnson, though Johnson will more likely be offered the max by his former club than Amare so Amare and maybe Rudy Gay.

So it leaves Cleveland and New York.  Here’s the toss up.  I think loyalty is hugely important for Lebron and if so, Cleveland’ s the choice but the consensus opinion is that he’ll sign a 3 year deal giving him options to leave if he doesn’t see enough improvement on the roster front while giving his conscience peace of mind that he gave his home town team every opportunity to surround him with elite talent because as we learned this past season, no team can win with just one super star.  Not even Kobe Bryant can do it alone.  Lebron needs his Pippen.

Now if he signs a 3 year deal that means New Jersey joins the list with Lebron’s good friend Jay Z set to offer the promise of playing in Brooklyn to Lebron and being the king of New York from Jay’s home state with an owner that could out spend and out do everyone.  THEN, the Knicks would be in trouble or would they?  Now say they strike out on Lebron.  They could sign Amare.  Sign Mike Miller to a three year contract and then go after Carmello and Chris Paul next year.  Now imagine a team with Amare, Melo, and good friend Chris Paul in New York.  I dont care what you think, that would be much more appealing than say a Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and Brook Lopez combo.  Also remember, this was a 9 win team.  No matter how bad the Knicks were, they won 20 more games than the Nets.

That would be the back up plan for the Knicks.  Even if they strike out again with Lebron after the three year deal with the Cavs, the Knicks have a roster in place to compete.  But the hope is that they don’t have to wait.  If Lebron truly wants a change, there’s only one way to go here.  Its New York.  A fresh start.  The biggest market all to himself.  Which is why his decision time table of July 5th benefits New York and Cleveland.  If its purely an emotional decision, no doubt its Cleveland.  If its based on legacy and riches and all that, not even Mikhail’s promise of ruling a Russian province can convince him that he can’t do that from the world’s most famous arena.  Its there.

In the end, I think its New York.  Its always been New York.  That’s been the apple of his eye.  He’s never strayed and that this juncture he shouldn’t.  If he wants to be a billionaire, he should set up camp, office and everything in New York.  But even if he doesnt, Knick fans there are options.  But for Lebron there are no other options.  If you want to be bigger than Mike then you HAVE to step up and come to  New York.

Its past 12:01 Lebron, what’ll it be?

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