The Jets’ joyride season ended in a 24-19 defeat at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field Sunday night. New York fell into an insurmountable 24-3 halftime hole before rallying to make a game of it in the second half. Pittsburgh held on to win, the prize being a trip to the Superbowl to face the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers are headed for Dallas after grabbing their third AFC Championship in six years last night.
Pittsburgh quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, scrambled on the Steelers’ opening drive in single digit temperatures to chew off nine minutes on the clock. Roethlisberger orchestrated a 15 play drive capped by Rashard Mendenhall’s one yard touchdown lunge to put the Steelers up by seven. The Jets struggled to get first downs and Pittsburgh maintained excellent field position throughout the first quarter. Roethlisberger was intercepted for the first time in 200 attempts on the Steelers’ second drive, but the Jets’ offense could not capitalize. Shaun Suisham booted a 20 yard field goal to put Pittsburgh out in front by ten points midway through the second session. The Steelers thundered into the end zone again with two minutes left in the half. Roethlisberger charged from two yards out to complete a 66 yard Pittsburgh drive for the 17 point advantage. Rex Ryan’s bombastic third ranked defense could do little to prevent the Steelers from adding another touchdown or slowing down Mendenhall.
Ike Taylor hit Jets’ signal caller, Mark Sanchez, to force a fumble with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Cornerback William Gay scooped up the loose ball and rushed 19 yards the opposite way for a third Pittsburgh touchdown. The Steelers outgained the Jets 231-50 in yards during the first half. The Jets scooted 44 yards to reach field goal territory near the end of the second quarter. All New York could muster was a Nick Folk 42 yard field goal as time expired on the AFC Championship game’s first half. Pittsburgh dominated time of possession, leaving the trash-talking Gang Green offense down four scores heading into the locker room. The Steelers held an absurd 135-1 advantage on the ground in the first half. Mendenhall finished with 121 rushing yards (95 in the first half), only the second time a back has accumulated over 100 against Gang Green all season.
The Jets awoke from a slumber to score 16 unanswered points in the second half. Pittsburgh failed to score again after the break. In the first drive of the half, Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 45 yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 24-10. Sanchez had two touchdown passes on the night and threw for 233 yards in the loss. Mike Devito recovered a safety in the fourth quarter following a Roethlisberger bobbled snap to miraculously make it a two possession game. New York had a chance to score again midway through the fourth, but the Steel Curtain’s goal-line stance made them come up empty. Previously injured Jets’ wideout, Jericho Cotchery caught a four yard touchdown pass from Sanchez with three minutes left in regulation. The Jets trailed by five and took the lead in yardage during the second half, but it was too little too late. Pittsburgh had too much of a first half cushion to forego the lead. Mendenhall was handed the ball three times before rookie, Antonio Brown secured a Pittsburgh first down on a 14 yard reception with two minutes to go. The Jets didn’t have any timeouts left with 1:48 left. The Steelers ran out the clock and improved to 14-4 on rout for a chance at their seventh Superbowl in franchise history. A date with Green Bay is set for February 6th at 6:30pm.
Parting Points: It should be a good Superbowl. The Pack are a 2 ½ point favorite.
Who the heck is Caleb Hanie?
Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Cream of the Crop
Patriots by six touchdowns!
The Jets ran out of fuel in Foxboro. New England nuked New York, holding Gang Green to three measly points in Monday night’s AFC East division showdown. Last night helped separate the pretenders from the players, and it wasn’t pretty for Rex Ryan and the showy Jets. The Patriot’s dismantled the Jets to the tune of a 45-3 romp and improved to 10-2. The Jets, winners of five consecutive games on the road, fell to 9-3. Second year signal caller for Gang Green, Mark Sanchez, threw three interceptions and kicker, Nick Folk, missed a try from 53 yards. Brady embarrassed the Jets’ defense in prime time with 326 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan was outcoached, the defense was outmatched and the Jets were outclassed on the road.
The Jets looked off guard and unprepared most of the evening, but stopped New England on their opening drive. Brady tossed three incompletions before handing the ball back to the visiting team. New England didn’t come up short very often the rest of the way. Shayne Graham’s 41 yard field goal made it 3-0 Patriots. New England took over at the 43 yard line after Ryan unsuccessfully gambled on Folk’s 53 yard field goal attempt. Benjarvus Green-Ellis plowed into the end zone from one yard out to give the Patriots their first touchdown and a 10-0 edge. Deion Branch completed the first quarter scoring with a 25 yard touchdown reception with one minute remaining.
The Jets were shut out in every quarter but the second. Folk’s 39 yard kick at 12:14 into the second stanza were the only points New England would afford the humbled team from New York. The Jets’ secondary struggled badly without safety Jim Leonard. The defense allowed 405 total yards, including Danny Woodhead’s 102 receiving for New England. The running back chewed up a yardage on just four receptions and Green-Ellis added 72 yards on the ground. Brandon Tate four yard catch midway through the second quarter made it 24-3 in favor of the home team at the half.
Sanchez was out of sync with his offense and was picked off by on three consecutive drives in the second half. Wes Welker was Brady’s favorite target, hauling down four receptions for 80 yards and a score. Welker caught an 18 yard pass from his MVP quarterback, the only points of the third quarter for either team. Brady was 21-of-29 in another efficient effort behind center. His fourth touchdown pass of the game came seconds into the final quarter after Devin McCourty intercepted Sanchez at the New England 45 yard line. Brady hit Aaron Hernandez following an eight play, 94 yard New England drive. Brady sliced up the Jets’ secondary on rout to his 26th straight regular season home win. Green-Ellis hammered the final nail in the coffin with his second touchdown run, a five yard scurry with 9:20 left in regulation. The Patriots appear to be the elite team in the AFC, tied with Atlanta at the top. Brady is making a strong showing for another MVP award, while the Jets are simply winning close games and losing the big ones. The Jets have finally hit a road block.
Parting Points: RIP Don Meredith.
The Jets ran out of fuel in Foxboro. New England nuked New York, holding Gang Green to three measly points in Monday night’s AFC East division showdown. Last night helped separate the pretenders from the players, and it wasn’t pretty for Rex Ryan and the showy Jets. The Patriot’s dismantled the Jets to the tune of a 45-3 romp and improved to 10-2. The Jets, winners of five consecutive games on the road, fell to 9-3. Second year signal caller for Gang Green, Mark Sanchez, threw three interceptions and kicker, Nick Folk, missed a try from 53 yards. Brady embarrassed the Jets’ defense in prime time with 326 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan was outcoached, the defense was outmatched and the Jets were outclassed on the road.
The Jets looked off guard and unprepared most of the evening, but stopped New England on their opening drive. Brady tossed three incompletions before handing the ball back to the visiting team. New England didn’t come up short very often the rest of the way. Shayne Graham’s 41 yard field goal made it 3-0 Patriots. New England took over at the 43 yard line after Ryan unsuccessfully gambled on Folk’s 53 yard field goal attempt. Benjarvus Green-Ellis plowed into the end zone from one yard out to give the Patriots their first touchdown and a 10-0 edge. Deion Branch completed the first quarter scoring with a 25 yard touchdown reception with one minute remaining.
The Jets were shut out in every quarter but the second. Folk’s 39 yard kick at 12:14 into the second stanza were the only points New England would afford the humbled team from New York. The Jets’ secondary struggled badly without safety Jim Leonard. The defense allowed 405 total yards, including Danny Woodhead’s 102 receiving for New England. The running back chewed up a yardage on just four receptions and Green-Ellis added 72 yards on the ground. Brandon Tate four yard catch midway through the second quarter made it 24-3 in favor of the home team at the half.
Sanchez was out of sync with his offense and was picked off by on three consecutive drives in the second half. Wes Welker was Brady’s favorite target, hauling down four receptions for 80 yards and a score. Welker caught an 18 yard pass from his MVP quarterback, the only points of the third quarter for either team. Brady was 21-of-29 in another efficient effort behind center. His fourth touchdown pass of the game came seconds into the final quarter after Devin McCourty intercepted Sanchez at the New England 45 yard line. Brady hit Aaron Hernandez following an eight play, 94 yard New England drive. Brady sliced up the Jets’ secondary on rout to his 26th straight regular season home win. Green-Ellis hammered the final nail in the coffin with his second touchdown run, a five yard scurry with 9:20 left in regulation. The Patriots appear to be the elite team in the AFC, tied with Atlanta at the top. Brady is making a strong showing for another MVP award, while the Jets are simply winning close games and losing the big ones. The Jets have finally hit a road block.
Parting Points: RIP Don Meredith.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Soar & Sore
Dallas’ debacle season continued against the Packers on Sunday night. The Eagles edged the Colts by two in an intriguing, firework-like contest at the Linc. The upstart Raiders and Chiefs played a thrilling overtime game with the black-and-gold pulling through in the end. But the 1pm game between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions is the focus of this post.
The Jets soared to an overtime victory over the Lions in Detroit. New York improved to 6-2 and benefited from poor coaching, a little bit of green luck and another Lions’ choke job. Detroit fell to 2-6 on the year after suffering a heartbreaking 23-20 home loss. Nick Folk’s 36 yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter sent the game into an extra session. The Jets’ place kicker nailed a 30-yarder in overtime to lift the Jets over a sore Detroit squad. New York sits in first place in the AFC East after the Patriots were topped by Colt McCoy’s Cleveland club.
Matthew Stafford, the gifted signal caller for Detroit threw for a pair of touchdowns and 246 yards before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Drew Stanton. Detroit coasted to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Brandon Pettigrew’s 10 yard reception. The Oklahoma State product hauled in Stafford’s pass after an 11 play drive at 9:16 in the first. The Jets did not answer until the clock read 3:57 in the second stanza. Folk planted a 31 yard field goal to cut the Lions’ lead to four. After a Detroit punt, the sloppy Jets (five fumbles) got the ball back. Facing third-and-nine, quarterback Mark Sanchez lofted a bomb downfield to Braylon Edwards. The Gang Green receiver made the 74 yard catch and ran it to the end zone with a minute left before halftime.
The Jets’ 10-7 advantage didn’t last long after the break. Detroit threatened to score on their first drive out of the locker room. Stafford drove the Lions inside the five yard line, but Detroit would have to settle for a field goal opportunity against Rex Ryan’s stingy defense. Jason Hanson’s kick was good, but New York was charged with a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Lions had new life, albeit at the cost of their kicker. Stafford ran the ball in from one yard out after faking a handoff to Jahvid Best in the backfield. Defensive tackle and top draft pick, Ndamukong Suh replaced Hanson, but booted the extra point, making it 13-10 in favor of the Lions.
Neither team executed the run very efficiently. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 55 yards on 15 carries for New York. Best rushed for a mere 48 yards in the loss. Nate Burleson’s two yard pass from Stafford with 3:17 left to play gave the Lions a ten point cushion. The Jets would soon erase that protection. Sanchez orchestrated a 56 yard drive on six plays, culminating in a one-yard quarterback scramble. Stanton had little success completing passes and running out the clock. The Lions afforded New York too much time, and after a Detroit punt, Folk planted the game-tying kick. In overtime, the Jets needed just five plays to race down the field. Santonio Holmes charged down the field and grabbed a 52 yard pass from Sanchez to set up the winning field goal. Holmes, the dynamic receiver from Ohio State, finisihed with 114 yards. Burleson nearly matched him, with 113, for the Lions. Sanchez finished with a career-high 323 yards, which makes sense when you look at the two bombs he threw for completions. The Jets are riding a seven game road winning streak as they head to Cleveland next Sunday.
Parting Points: The Yankees are pursuing Cliff Lee. Really!?
The Giants absolutely destroyed the Seahawks yesterday. It’s been a rough year for Pete Carroll.
The Jets soared to an overtime victory over the Lions in Detroit. New York improved to 6-2 and benefited from poor coaching, a little bit of green luck and another Lions’ choke job. Detroit fell to 2-6 on the year after suffering a heartbreaking 23-20 home loss. Nick Folk’s 36 yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter sent the game into an extra session. The Jets’ place kicker nailed a 30-yarder in overtime to lift the Jets over a sore Detroit squad. New York sits in first place in the AFC East after the Patriots were topped by Colt McCoy’s Cleveland club.
Matthew Stafford, the gifted signal caller for Detroit threw for a pair of touchdowns and 246 yards before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Drew Stanton. Detroit coasted to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Brandon Pettigrew’s 10 yard reception. The Oklahoma State product hauled in Stafford’s pass after an 11 play drive at 9:16 in the first. The Jets did not answer until the clock read 3:57 in the second stanza. Folk planted a 31 yard field goal to cut the Lions’ lead to four. After a Detroit punt, the sloppy Jets (five fumbles) got the ball back. Facing third-and-nine, quarterback Mark Sanchez lofted a bomb downfield to Braylon Edwards. The Gang Green receiver made the 74 yard catch and ran it to the end zone with a minute left before halftime.
The Jets’ 10-7 advantage didn’t last long after the break. Detroit threatened to score on their first drive out of the locker room. Stafford drove the Lions inside the five yard line, but Detroit would have to settle for a field goal opportunity against Rex Ryan’s stingy defense. Jason Hanson’s kick was good, but New York was charged with a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Lions had new life, albeit at the cost of their kicker. Stafford ran the ball in from one yard out after faking a handoff to Jahvid Best in the backfield. Defensive tackle and top draft pick, Ndamukong Suh replaced Hanson, but booted the extra point, making it 13-10 in favor of the Lions.
Neither team executed the run very efficiently. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 55 yards on 15 carries for New York. Best rushed for a mere 48 yards in the loss. Nate Burleson’s two yard pass from Stafford with 3:17 left to play gave the Lions a ten point cushion. The Jets would soon erase that protection. Sanchez orchestrated a 56 yard drive on six plays, culminating in a one-yard quarterback scramble. Stanton had little success completing passes and running out the clock. The Lions afforded New York too much time, and after a Detroit punt, Folk planted the game-tying kick. In overtime, the Jets needed just five plays to race down the field. Santonio Holmes charged down the field and grabbed a 52 yard pass from Sanchez to set up the winning field goal. Holmes, the dynamic receiver from Ohio State, finisihed with 114 yards. Burleson nearly matched him, with 113, for the Lions. Sanchez finished with a career-high 323 yards, which makes sense when you look at the two bombs he threw for completions. The Jets are riding a seven game road winning streak as they head to Cleveland next Sunday.
Parting Points: The Yankees are pursuing Cliff Lee. Really!?
The Giants absolutely destroyed the Seahawks yesterday. It’s been a rough year for Pete Carroll.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Dolphins Dumped in Division Draw
The New York Jets joined the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots atop the AFC East. New York finished off the Dolphins in a 31-23 week three victory Sunday night in Miami. Dustin Keller grabbed a pair of touchdowns and Braylon Edwards had 87 receiving yards to pave the way for the 2-1 Jets, who forced Miami out of first place. Edwards hauled in a 67 yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to give New York the lead for good in the third quarter. Running back, Ladainian Tomlinson capped off the night with a one yard touchdown run with 1:55 remaining in the contest.
Chad Henne completed 26-of-44 passes for the Dolphins and had his best game of the season in Miami’s first loss. Henne spread the ball to seven different receivers and twice found the end zone for touchdowns. The Miami signal caller struggled through the first quarter against the Jets typically stout coverage in the red zone. He seemingly missed a touchdown when he overthrew former Ohio State wideout, Brian Hartline, on the game’s first drive. Former Dolphin, Jason Taylor, sacked Henne in the first quarter to damage the drive for Miami. Henne improved, going 9-of-10 through the air as the Dolphins got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter.
Sanchez was brilliant for the second week in a row for Gang Green. The USC alum tied a career-high with three touchdown passes and tossed for 256 yards in his third consecutive start without a pick. Sanchez hooked up with Keller on a 24 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to put the Jets ahead 7-0. The Jets’ quarterback connected with Keller again in the second quarter on a 12 yard pass and 14-0 New York edge. The Dolphins answered with 17 straight points, including a three yard pass from Henne to Anthony Fasano and a Dan Carpenter 44 yard kick that cut the Jets’ lead to four points at the half. The Jets defense didn’t blitz Henne and the Dolphins’ offensive line protected the quarterback long enough for him to make plays.
Ricky Williams fumbled the football in the third quarter for Miami, but a replay challenged overturned the call and the Dolphins proceeded down the field to the end zone. Henne sparkled, converting three third downs before completing a 11 yard pass to Brandon Marshall. Marshall had his best game since arriving in Miami via Denver. The receiver led all players with 166 yards on ten receptions. With Miami clinging to a 17-14 advantage, the Jets launched a one-play drive midway through the third quarter to forge ahead. Sanchez hit his maligned receiver on an out route down the left sideline for his third touchdown of the game.
Carpenter footed a 20 yard field goal to end the third quarter scoring and pull Miami within a point of tying the game. After a Miami blocked punt, Jets’ placekicker, Nick Folk, planted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights with eight minutes remaining in the final stanza. The field goal exchanges continued with Carpenter’s third, a lengthy 50 yarder that again cut New York’s lead to one. But the defense from New York stopped Miami’s offense to fend off their last attempt. The Jets stopped the Dolphiins on four consecutive plays in the red zone, culminating with a Drew Coleman interception of Henne. Tomlinson pounded home the final touchdown of the night to seal the deal for Gang Green.
Parting Points: Song for Monday- “Green Grow the Rushes” by REM
Happy Birthday to Michael Jack Schmidt.
Chad Henne completed 26-of-44 passes for the Dolphins and had his best game of the season in Miami’s first loss. Henne spread the ball to seven different receivers and twice found the end zone for touchdowns. The Miami signal caller struggled through the first quarter against the Jets typically stout coverage in the red zone. He seemingly missed a touchdown when he overthrew former Ohio State wideout, Brian Hartline, on the game’s first drive. Former Dolphin, Jason Taylor, sacked Henne in the first quarter to damage the drive for Miami. Henne improved, going 9-of-10 through the air as the Dolphins got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter.
Sanchez was brilliant for the second week in a row for Gang Green. The USC alum tied a career-high with three touchdown passes and tossed for 256 yards in his third consecutive start without a pick. Sanchez hooked up with Keller on a 24 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to put the Jets ahead 7-0. The Jets’ quarterback connected with Keller again in the second quarter on a 12 yard pass and 14-0 New York edge. The Dolphins answered with 17 straight points, including a three yard pass from Henne to Anthony Fasano and a Dan Carpenter 44 yard kick that cut the Jets’ lead to four points at the half. The Jets defense didn’t blitz Henne and the Dolphins’ offensive line protected the quarterback long enough for him to make plays.
Ricky Williams fumbled the football in the third quarter for Miami, but a replay challenged overturned the call and the Dolphins proceeded down the field to the end zone. Henne sparkled, converting three third downs before completing a 11 yard pass to Brandon Marshall. Marshall had his best game since arriving in Miami via Denver. The receiver led all players with 166 yards on ten receptions. With Miami clinging to a 17-14 advantage, the Jets launched a one-play drive midway through the third quarter to forge ahead. Sanchez hit his maligned receiver on an out route down the left sideline for his third touchdown of the game.
Carpenter footed a 20 yard field goal to end the third quarter scoring and pull Miami within a point of tying the game. After a Miami blocked punt, Jets’ placekicker, Nick Folk, planted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights with eight minutes remaining in the final stanza. The field goal exchanges continued with Carpenter’s third, a lengthy 50 yarder that again cut New York’s lead to one. But the defense from New York stopped Miami’s offense to fend off their last attempt. The Jets stopped the Dolphiins on four consecutive plays in the red zone, culminating with a Drew Coleman interception of Henne. Tomlinson pounded home the final touchdown of the night to seal the deal for Gang Green.
Parting Points: Song for Monday- “Green Grow the Rushes” by REM
Happy Birthday to Michael Jack Schmidt.
Monday, January 18, 2010
NY’s Next Nemesis
Defense wins championships. The upstart Jets are the AFC’s best defense. New York blistered the Bengals and crushed the Chargers. The next task is demoralizing and daunting. The Jets must find a way to overcome the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning behind center. Both New York and Indianapolis held their divisional round opponents to under fourteen points. Sunday afternoon’s title game should be stellar. It really shouldn’t surprise Jets fans to see Gang Green reach this round of the playoffs. They shouldn’t be shocked their team is still alive and kicking. The Chargers were favored to win yesterday by a touchdown. But Rex Ryan’s defense wore down San Diego’s offensive line. The Chargers’ Phillip Rivers wore his emotions on his sleeve the entire game. His exposed frustrations gave the Jets the juice they needed to make plays. New York quietly halted the Chargers’ 11 game winning streak by performing like an elite football team. It shouldn’t be surprising the Jets won because the Chargers have had a useless running game the entire season. Their kicking was just as unproductive yesterday. Pro Bowl kicker, Nate Kaeding essentially booted the game away for the Chargers. Had Kaeding made just one of his three misses, the Jets might not be talking Superbowl today. Sports are wonderful because you just cannot predict the outcome. Who would have guessed Kaeding would miss three field goals after connecting on 69 straight? Maybe it’s a testament to the Jets’ will to win. With all due respect to the Jets, they have gotten some very lucky breaks during their run to the AFC championship round. Gang Green will need all the lucky green attire when they storm Indianapolis in one week.
There are countless storylines to next week’s rematch of Week 17’s showdown between the Jets and Colts. The teams share a storied history. The 2010 versions will add to that history next Sunday. The coaches, for starters, are intriguing enough. Ryan is a cocky and bold first year head coach. Indianapolis’ Jim Caldwell, also in his first season as an NFL head coach, is exactly the opposite. Both coaches have been to the Superbowl in inferior roles before. Caldwell appeared with the unassuming 2006 Colts as Tony Dungy’s assistant head coach. Ryan joined the Baltimore Ravens in earning a 2000 Superbowl ring. Caldwell is an offensive guru while Ryan is brimming with defensive know-how. The Colts are the low-key team even though New York appears to be the underdog. The two franchises collided in Superbowl III, when the AFL Jets were the heavy underdog to Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. New York, lead by their outspoken leader Joe Namath, pulled away with the only Superbowl in franchise history. Broadway Joe predicted a Jets upset. The correlations between the 1969 and 2009 Jets are eerily similar. Ryan’s defense and deliberate running game have keyed the Jets this far. The head coach emphatically remarked how his team would be in the Superbowl three weeks ago. Now, the Jets are sixty minutes away from making that statement a reality. Namath went without a touchdown pass in Superbowl III, yet was named Most Valuable Player. Gang Green quarterback, Mark Sanchez, might not be able to make that claim. The Jets need their quarterback to throw touchdowns against the Colts. Indianapolis possesses an offense capable of much more than any team in the league. New York can’t fall behind and rely on the defense to beat Manning. It won’t happen. The Colts can rewrite history by stopping Darrelle Revis and containing New York’s pass rush. If the Pittsburgh corner is shut out and the defensive line is unable to get to Manning, the Colts prevail. Manning is not Rivers or Carson Palmer. The NFL’s Most Valuable Player won’t lay down, especially not in a post-season game. Gang Green’s defense won’t hold the Colts to 33 yards rushing like they did with San Diego’s Darren Sproles. LSU product, Joseph Addai, will have more than three carries next week. Manning has more offensive weapons in Indy than Palmer could ever dream of having. Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are a only a few of those threats. Automatic Adam Vinatieri is not going to pull a Kaeding. Need I remind Jets fans about the kicker’s ability in the playoffs? Ask any Patriots fan who the best clutch kicker in the history of the NFL is, and I don’t have anything more to say. It should be a great game, and I give the Jets a chance. Their defense keeps them in the game until the fourth quarter. But, like magic, Manning and Vinatieri will fly away with the win and hop a plane to Miami for the Superbowl.
Parting Points: Maria Sharapova falls at the Aussie Open and the Cowboys get run over by the Vikings just in case you missed it.
There are countless storylines to next week’s rematch of Week 17’s showdown between the Jets and Colts. The teams share a storied history. The 2010 versions will add to that history next Sunday. The coaches, for starters, are intriguing enough. Ryan is a cocky and bold first year head coach. Indianapolis’ Jim Caldwell, also in his first season as an NFL head coach, is exactly the opposite. Both coaches have been to the Superbowl in inferior roles before. Caldwell appeared with the unassuming 2006 Colts as Tony Dungy’s assistant head coach. Ryan joined the Baltimore Ravens in earning a 2000 Superbowl ring. Caldwell is an offensive guru while Ryan is brimming with defensive know-how. The Colts are the low-key team even though New York appears to be the underdog. The two franchises collided in Superbowl III, when the AFL Jets were the heavy underdog to Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. New York, lead by their outspoken leader Joe Namath, pulled away with the only Superbowl in franchise history. Broadway Joe predicted a Jets upset. The correlations between the 1969 and 2009 Jets are eerily similar. Ryan’s defense and deliberate running game have keyed the Jets this far. The head coach emphatically remarked how his team would be in the Superbowl three weeks ago. Now, the Jets are sixty minutes away from making that statement a reality. Namath went without a touchdown pass in Superbowl III, yet was named Most Valuable Player. Gang Green quarterback, Mark Sanchez, might not be able to make that claim. The Jets need their quarterback to throw touchdowns against the Colts. Indianapolis possesses an offense capable of much more than any team in the league. New York can’t fall behind and rely on the defense to beat Manning. It won’t happen. The Colts can rewrite history by stopping Darrelle Revis and containing New York’s pass rush. If the Pittsburgh corner is shut out and the defensive line is unable to get to Manning, the Colts prevail. Manning is not Rivers or Carson Palmer. The NFL’s Most Valuable Player won’t lay down, especially not in a post-season game. Gang Green’s defense won’t hold the Colts to 33 yards rushing like they did with San Diego’s Darren Sproles. LSU product, Joseph Addai, will have more than three carries next week. Manning has more offensive weapons in Indy than Palmer could ever dream of having. Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are a only a few of those threats. Automatic Adam Vinatieri is not going to pull a Kaeding. Need I remind Jets fans about the kicker’s ability in the playoffs? Ask any Patriots fan who the best clutch kicker in the history of the NFL is, and I don’t have anything more to say. It should be a great game, and I give the Jets a chance. Their defense keeps them in the game until the fourth quarter. But, like magic, Manning and Vinatieri will fly away with the win and hop a plane to Miami for the Superbowl.
Parting Points: Maria Sharapova falls at the Aussie Open and the Cowboys get run over by the Vikings just in case you missed it.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Painter Portrays Playoff Picture
It took the longest kickoff return in team history and Colts’ coach, Jim Caldwell, pulling his starters for the Jets to pull into a four-way tie for the final AFC playoff spot. Gang Green improved to 8-7 and controls their own destiny after handing Indianapolis their first loss of the season. The Jets’ 29-15 road victory over the unbeaten Colts ended Indy’s record 23 regular season winning streak. Caldwell benched quarterback, Peyton Manning, and most of his other key players, during the second half. The move was a clear indicator the rookie head coach is preserving and protecting his players for the playoffs. Still, Rex Ryan’s Jets, on the brink of being eliminated from the extra season, responded with authority. New York outscored the Colts 19-0 after Manning was removed. A win next week against AFC North champion Cincinnati would put the Jets in the playoffs. Gang Green remains tied in their wildcard pursuits with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver and Houston. Sunday’s surprising defeat on the road puts them in a “win and you’re in” position.
The Jets’ sealed the first loss by the Colts in over a year and snuck a step closer to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with two fourth quarter scores. Clinging to a three point lead with fifteen minutes left, Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal made it a 21-15 Jets’ advantage early in the final quarter. Thomas Jones’ one yard touchdown run was followed by a two-point conversion to increase the visitor’s lead to the final score, 29-15. Jones finished with 105 yards on the ground and rookie rusher, Shonn Greene, put up 95 yards. New York’s running game seized control of the game and guided the offense all day. First year signal caller from USC, Mark Sanchez, was 12 of 19 for 106 yards. The mistake-prone, often scrutinized Sanchez went without an interception, relying on a bevy of core receivers.
Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in cheers when Joseph Addai scrambled for the game’s first score, a 21 yard rushing touchdown. Addai and the Colts struggled with the Jets’ run defense. Addai mustered just 40 yards on the ground, but his long 21 resulted in a home touchdown. Donald Brown, in his first season out of UConn, wasn’t much of a factor with feet. The rookie carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards Indianapolis made it a 9-0 game in the second quarter behind Adam Vinatieri’s 22 yard boot. Feely put New York on the board with a three point kick from 35 yards with 1:44 remaining before halftime. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards paced the Jets’ offense in the first half.
The Jets mastered the number one seed in the AFC during the second half. Brad Smith ran Pat McAfee’s kickoff back 106 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum the Gang Green way. The longest play in Jets’ history gave New York a one point edge. Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession. The Colts went up 15-10 on Brown’s one yard run on an 81 yard drive. The Jets did a credible job against Manning. The MVP tossed for 192 yards through the air and completed 14 of 21 passes. The defense began blitzing more often as soon as Manning’s replacement came into the game in with the Jets trailing in the third. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne blanketed the Jets defense all game, but were also yanked in the third quarter. New York took the lead for good when Purdue product, Curtis Painter, fumbled. Marques Douglas recovered the backup quarterback’s fumble and turned it into six Gang Green points. Sanchez’s two point pass to Dustin Keller made it 18-15 Jets, putting Indy’s hopes of perfection in jeopardy. Painter also threw an interception, while completed four of his 11 passes. The undefeated season wasn’t a priority for Caldwell. He could have left Manning and a handful of other starters in the game to finish off New York. Manning is capable of comebacks and sustaining drives. The cornerstone of the Colts methodically moved the Colts 81 yards to set up the go-ahead scored after Smith’s record return. The Pro Bowl passer would have held Indy out in front had he not been benched. Instead, Caldwell allowed the visitors to top his backups and crush their bid for a perfect season. Caldwell probably figured his team already had home-field advantage. He would rather lose the game than lose an important player before the playoffs.
Parting Points: The Giants were ousted by the Panthers in their worst (and final) home defeat since 1995.
206 yards from Jonathan Stewart? I mean, seriously!? And, just how many ways can Jon Beason beat you?
The Cowboys snagged at least a wildcard berth by shutting out the reeling Redskins. They can win the NFC East with a trouncing of the Eagles next week.
The Jets’ sealed the first loss by the Colts in over a year and snuck a step closer to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with two fourth quarter scores. Clinging to a three point lead with fifteen minutes left, Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal made it a 21-15 Jets’ advantage early in the final quarter. Thomas Jones’ one yard touchdown run was followed by a two-point conversion to increase the visitor’s lead to the final score, 29-15. Jones finished with 105 yards on the ground and rookie rusher, Shonn Greene, put up 95 yards. New York’s running game seized control of the game and guided the offense all day. First year signal caller from USC, Mark Sanchez, was 12 of 19 for 106 yards. The mistake-prone, often scrutinized Sanchez went without an interception, relying on a bevy of core receivers.
Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in cheers when Joseph Addai scrambled for the game’s first score, a 21 yard rushing touchdown. Addai and the Colts struggled with the Jets’ run defense. Addai mustered just 40 yards on the ground, but his long 21 resulted in a home touchdown. Donald Brown, in his first season out of UConn, wasn’t much of a factor with feet. The rookie carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards Indianapolis made it a 9-0 game in the second quarter behind Adam Vinatieri’s 22 yard boot. Feely put New York on the board with a three point kick from 35 yards with 1:44 remaining before halftime. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards paced the Jets’ offense in the first half.
The Jets mastered the number one seed in the AFC during the second half. Brad Smith ran Pat McAfee’s kickoff back 106 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum the Gang Green way. The longest play in Jets’ history gave New York a one point edge. Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession. The Colts went up 15-10 on Brown’s one yard run on an 81 yard drive. The Jets did a credible job against Manning. The MVP tossed for 192 yards through the air and completed 14 of 21 passes. The defense began blitzing more often as soon as Manning’s replacement came into the game in with the Jets trailing in the third. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne blanketed the Jets defense all game, but were also yanked in the third quarter. New York took the lead for good when Purdue product, Curtis Painter, fumbled. Marques Douglas recovered the backup quarterback’s fumble and turned it into six Gang Green points. Sanchez’s two point pass to Dustin Keller made it 18-15 Jets, putting Indy’s hopes of perfection in jeopardy. Painter also threw an interception, while completed four of his 11 passes. The undefeated season wasn’t a priority for Caldwell. He could have left Manning and a handful of other starters in the game to finish off New York. Manning is capable of comebacks and sustaining drives. The cornerstone of the Colts methodically moved the Colts 81 yards to set up the go-ahead scored after Smith’s record return. The Pro Bowl passer would have held Indy out in front had he not been benched. Instead, Caldwell allowed the visitors to top his backups and crush their bid for a perfect season. Caldwell probably figured his team already had home-field advantage. He would rather lose the game than lose an important player before the playoffs.
Parting Points: The Giants were ousted by the Panthers in their worst (and final) home defeat since 1995.
206 yards from Jonathan Stewart? I mean, seriously!? And, just how many ways can Jon Beason beat you?
The Cowboys snagged at least a wildcard berth by shutting out the reeling Redskins. They can win the NFC East with a trouncing of the Eagles next week.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saints Smother Sanchez
It took four weeks, but somebody finally zapped the energy and exposed the indolent inertia of the New York Jets. The sluggish Jets were outmatched and outclassed, but should not be completely disappointed with their Sunday setback against the New Orleans Saints. New York was winning with uninterrupted, improbable frequency until they came across the stifling Saints. The 24-10 trouncing featured the only game between unbeaten teams in the NFL. The Jets’ defense did their part in holding Drew Brees and the high-octane Saints’ offense to 190 passing yards and no touchdowns. They kept the league’s best offense from scoring more than 10 points. New York also exhibited exceptional downfield coverage and stopped the Saints twice on fourth down attempts.
The first offensive touchdown scored by New Orleans occurred with just over six minutes left in the game. Pierre Thomas squirted into the endzone from one yard out to give the Saints added insurance and a 14 point lead. The Jets were within a touchdown after a third quarter 15 yard rush by Thomas Jones. The 31 year old Virginia running back carried the ball 13 times for 48 yards and a touchdown against a relentless New Orleans defense. The Saints showed they are not just a one-dimensional force. The persistent punchers from the Bayou caused fits all day for the visiting quarterback, Mark Sanchez. The rookie was picked off three times and went without a touchdown pass in his first look at the Saints. The less-heralded defense provided the Saints an early advantage. Veteran safety and active leader in career interceptions, Darren Sharper, made it a 10-0 contest when he intercepted Sanchez in the second quarter. Sharper returned his 59th career interception 99 yards for a touchdown. The USC quarterback permitted the Saints to score 14 points off his blunders. Will Smith forced a fumble and sacked the Jets’ signalcaller twice. Aydoele, a nose tackle of all people, forced a fumble, and Charles grant had five tackles and a pair of sacks. Ayodele’s fumble recovery for a touchdown came within minutes of Sharper’s terrific trip to the end of the turf.
Sanchez is the Jets’ franchise quarterback. So far, he’s lived up to, if not exceeded, expectations. Sunday in New Orleans, number six completed 14 of his 27 passes. He tossed for 138 yards, including the ill-advised throws resulting in interceptions. Mark’s ball security is severely lacking, and New York needs to address the problem before his mistakes cost the Jets more games. He may not yet be road tested, and granted facing the unbeaten Saints, he had to be pretty perfect. Sanchez was much less than textbook quarterback against the NFC South’s top team. But the former Trojan has still proved he can play with the big boys in the NFL. Sanchez can take the blame for helping the Jets lose this game. He can’t take all the heat though. The Saints’ brilliant defense deserves most of the credit for the Sunday snubbing. When Drew Brees isn’t the main star of a Saints’ game, you know the team played well. New Orleans wasn’t great on short yardage situations. Rex Ryan didn’t employ or utilize a heavy blitz as I expected. Whatever they did seemed to work in most defending situations. It makes you wonder what the outcome would have been if Sanchez found his own receivers instead of the men wearing gold, black and white. The Saints are coming up on a tender part of their schedule. Look for them to keep winning.
Parting Points: The Giants play the Saints in two weeks. Will Eli’s leg be up for the game?
The first offensive touchdown scored by New Orleans occurred with just over six minutes left in the game. Pierre Thomas squirted into the endzone from one yard out to give the Saints added insurance and a 14 point lead. The Jets were within a touchdown after a third quarter 15 yard rush by Thomas Jones. The 31 year old Virginia running back carried the ball 13 times for 48 yards and a touchdown against a relentless New Orleans defense. The Saints showed they are not just a one-dimensional force. The persistent punchers from the Bayou caused fits all day for the visiting quarterback, Mark Sanchez. The rookie was picked off three times and went without a touchdown pass in his first look at the Saints. The less-heralded defense provided the Saints an early advantage. Veteran safety and active leader in career interceptions, Darren Sharper, made it a 10-0 contest when he intercepted Sanchez in the second quarter. Sharper returned his 59th career interception 99 yards for a touchdown. The USC quarterback permitted the Saints to score 14 points off his blunders. Will Smith forced a fumble and sacked the Jets’ signalcaller twice. Aydoele, a nose tackle of all people, forced a fumble, and Charles grant had five tackles and a pair of sacks. Ayodele’s fumble recovery for a touchdown came within minutes of Sharper’s terrific trip to the end of the turf.
Sanchez is the Jets’ franchise quarterback. So far, he’s lived up to, if not exceeded, expectations. Sunday in New Orleans, number six completed 14 of his 27 passes. He tossed for 138 yards, including the ill-advised throws resulting in interceptions. Mark’s ball security is severely lacking, and New York needs to address the problem before his mistakes cost the Jets more games. He may not yet be road tested, and granted facing the unbeaten Saints, he had to be pretty perfect. Sanchez was much less than textbook quarterback against the NFC South’s top team. But the former Trojan has still proved he can play with the big boys in the NFL. Sanchez can take the blame for helping the Jets lose this game. He can’t take all the heat though. The Saints’ brilliant defense deserves most of the credit for the Sunday snubbing. When Drew Brees isn’t the main star of a Saints’ game, you know the team played well. New Orleans wasn’t great on short yardage situations. Rex Ryan didn’t employ or utilize a heavy blitz as I expected. Whatever they did seemed to work in most defending situations. It makes you wonder what the outcome would have been if Sanchez found his own receivers instead of the men wearing gold, black and white. The Saints are coming up on a tender part of their schedule. Look for them to keep winning.
Parting Points: The Giants play the Saints in two weeks. Will Eli’s leg be up for the game?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Passing Preferences
The New York Jets will look inward for their next starting quarterback, but drafting a top signal caller is not out of the question for Rex Ryan. The team will attempt to fill their most pressing needs with six draft picks this Saturday. Quarterback is one area New York would like to see improvement. The Jets do not have a proven commodity behind center, leading to speculation that Ryan could use the 17th overall pick on a quarterback. Stability and certainty are two qualities the next quarterback must bring to the Jets. The team does not have the luxury of a veteran quarterback since Brett Favre retired. Ryan decided not to go outside the organization to acquire someone through a trade of free agency. The Jets could have easily acquired a competent journeyman on the market. He opted instead to go to the kids. The Jets are putting themselves in position to rely on inexperience.
The three probable prospects for Gang Green are Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford. Unless a major shake-up occurs or the Jets trade up for a pick, they will not have Stafford at their disposal. The Georgia quarterback is projected to go number one to the Detroit Lions. Sanchez is also considered a top five draft choice and most likely will be gone by the time the Jets make their selection. Freeman is a real possibility and New York and the Jets are interested in the Kansas State product. The 6’6” Freeman draws comparisons to Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. He has a strong arm and great size, starting 32 games for Kansas State last year. Freeman’s ability to read defenses is not great and he has struggled against competitive teams. The standout Wildcat is the most athletically gifted of the three prospects but will need time to work on his mechanics. He is agile and his size allows him to avoid rushes. Freeman had 14 rushing touchdowns for 404 yards in 2008. He has over 8,000 career yards in three college years.
Stafford and Sanchez are the class of the draft as far as quarterbacks go. Sanchez has all the intangibles to make it in the NFL after winnings the Rose Bowl MVP for USC. The efficient passer does not have the best arm but was only picked off ten times last year. Sanchez is your prototypical, standard stud signal caller, much like Matt Leinert. Mark’s decision to leave the Trojans early and enter the NFL was not embraced by Pete Carroll. The USC head coach feels Sanchez could use more experienced and more starts as a college back. He only started 16 games last year but still managed 34 touchdowns in that time. Sanchez has that likeability factor going for him and all the Hollywood appeal for big star potential. He would probably be able to handle New York if the Jets were willing to take a risk on drafting him. Sanchez threw for the college equivalent of an NFL team in the nation’s most touted program, USC. He definitely knows what pressure means but does he have what it takes to handle the long haul.
Stafford has all the attributes of a well balanced signal caller. The junior is a very smart player who is a take-charge leader. Stafford showed toughness throughout his college career, and has been a top performer in close games. Stafford is close to mistake-proof, which makes him an ideal franchise quarterback option. Many scouts compare this Matt to another impressive Matt--Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. Both are intelligent, competitive and have a good grasp for the game. The Jets couldn’t go wrong with Stafford on their staff, but again, it’s a long shot.
Assuming the Jets begin the 2009 season with a quarterback already on their roster, they will try out three options. Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge are all in the hunt to win the starter’s job. Combined, the three players have three victories between them. They all belong to Clemens, who has been the most impressive in minicamp. The organization remains high on Ratliff because of his zippy short passes and gusto for throwing. He demonstrates strong field presence, but inexperience is obvious at times. Ratliff has been outplayed by Clemens, especially on turnovers. On last check, Kellen has yet to throw an interception, while Brett has been credited with three picks.
Ratliff was a stud in the pre-season last year, coming out of nowhere to take snaps for Gang Green. Brett doesn’t have a single regular season snap under his belt but I am sure that will change in 2009. Ratliff’s mechanics give him a shot to win over Ryan and he possesses the athleticism of a leading quarterback. Ratliff’s feistiness and motivation are positive factors. He may have the added advantage in the race against Clemens because the organization is simply seeking change.
Clemens brings eight official NFL starts to the table heading into this year. All eight took place while filling in for Chad Pennington in 2007. Jet fans bitterly remember him tossing twice as many interceptions as touchdowns (10 INT to 5 TD) in that time. Clemens’ completion percentage was just above 50%. His 2007 saw pass rushers attacking Clemens like free bait. His inconsistency and inaccuracy did not raise many eyebrows but Clemens wasn’t given a very strong offensive line to work with. He did have some nice deep throws when given the chance and can be a solid down-field passer. Jets fans were not enamored with his happy feet in the pocket but should be willing to give him another chance with an improved offensive line. Clemens openly stated he is ready to lead this team so he is not shying away from responsibility.
Ainge is still in the mix as a Jet quarterback option but his playing time should be very limited. The former Tennessee Volunteer has been a disappointment since being selected in the fifth round in 2008. Barring injury to one of the other two potential starters, the up-and-down passer will be relegated to backup duties, traded or released. His struggles in camp last year only added to the fact he was nailed for using performance enhancing drugs. Ainge also suffered a season-ending foot injury his rookie year. It’s hard to believe the Jets will entrust their club and put the team in Ainge’s hands this year. It is more likely they draft a quarterback to start ahead of the beleaguered Ainge.
Drafting a rookie with the slightest notion of playing professional football is a huge gamble for any team. Finding the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco is not a common occurrence. The Jets should use a draft pick on a quarterback, but not one of their top ones. I think Gang Green should start the season with Clemens because at least Kellen has thrown passes in the league with success. Once Clemens settles in and becomes comfortable with his receivers, I believe he will turn out to be the best choice. I wouldn’t mind seeing Josh Freeman in the Meadowlands. Everyone seems to think he will go the Tampa Bay Bucs with the 19th pick. Do the Jets burn a first round pick on him two slots ahead? Or, do they settle for a late rounder, hoping to catch lightening in a bottle? Whoever the drafted quarterback should be, he must be groomed first and carry the clipboard on the sidelines. Any first year Jet should learn the ropes before calling Giants stadium his home.
Parting points: A few Jets I really like- The band, Jet and their hit song, “Look What You’ve Done” and the cartoon classic, The Jetsons.
The three probable prospects for Gang Green are Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford. Unless a major shake-up occurs or the Jets trade up for a pick, they will not have Stafford at their disposal. The Georgia quarterback is projected to go number one to the Detroit Lions. Sanchez is also considered a top five draft choice and most likely will be gone by the time the Jets make their selection. Freeman is a real possibility and New York and the Jets are interested in the Kansas State product. The 6’6” Freeman draws comparisons to Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. He has a strong arm and great size, starting 32 games for Kansas State last year. Freeman’s ability to read defenses is not great and he has struggled against competitive teams. The standout Wildcat is the most athletically gifted of the three prospects but will need time to work on his mechanics. He is agile and his size allows him to avoid rushes. Freeman had 14 rushing touchdowns for 404 yards in 2008. He has over 8,000 career yards in three college years.
Stafford and Sanchez are the class of the draft as far as quarterbacks go. Sanchez has all the intangibles to make it in the NFL after winnings the Rose Bowl MVP for USC. The efficient passer does not have the best arm but was only picked off ten times last year. Sanchez is your prototypical, standard stud signal caller, much like Matt Leinert. Mark’s decision to leave the Trojans early and enter the NFL was not embraced by Pete Carroll. The USC head coach feels Sanchez could use more experienced and more starts as a college back. He only started 16 games last year but still managed 34 touchdowns in that time. Sanchez has that likeability factor going for him and all the Hollywood appeal for big star potential. He would probably be able to handle New York if the Jets were willing to take a risk on drafting him. Sanchez threw for the college equivalent of an NFL team in the nation’s most touted program, USC. He definitely knows what pressure means but does he have what it takes to handle the long haul.
Stafford has all the attributes of a well balanced signal caller. The junior is a very smart player who is a take-charge leader. Stafford showed toughness throughout his college career, and has been a top performer in close games. Stafford is close to mistake-proof, which makes him an ideal franchise quarterback option. Many scouts compare this Matt to another impressive Matt--Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. Both are intelligent, competitive and have a good grasp for the game. The Jets couldn’t go wrong with Stafford on their staff, but again, it’s a long shot.
Assuming the Jets begin the 2009 season with a quarterback already on their roster, they will try out three options. Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge are all in the hunt to win the starter’s job. Combined, the three players have three victories between them. They all belong to Clemens, who has been the most impressive in minicamp. The organization remains high on Ratliff because of his zippy short passes and gusto for throwing. He demonstrates strong field presence, but inexperience is obvious at times. Ratliff has been outplayed by Clemens, especially on turnovers. On last check, Kellen has yet to throw an interception, while Brett has been credited with three picks.
Ratliff was a stud in the pre-season last year, coming out of nowhere to take snaps for Gang Green. Brett doesn’t have a single regular season snap under his belt but I am sure that will change in 2009. Ratliff’s mechanics give him a shot to win over Ryan and he possesses the athleticism of a leading quarterback. Ratliff’s feistiness and motivation are positive factors. He may have the added advantage in the race against Clemens because the organization is simply seeking change.
Clemens brings eight official NFL starts to the table heading into this year. All eight took place while filling in for Chad Pennington in 2007. Jet fans bitterly remember him tossing twice as many interceptions as touchdowns (10 INT to 5 TD) in that time. Clemens’ completion percentage was just above 50%. His 2007 saw pass rushers attacking Clemens like free bait. His inconsistency and inaccuracy did not raise many eyebrows but Clemens wasn’t given a very strong offensive line to work with. He did have some nice deep throws when given the chance and can be a solid down-field passer. Jets fans were not enamored with his happy feet in the pocket but should be willing to give him another chance with an improved offensive line. Clemens openly stated he is ready to lead this team so he is not shying away from responsibility.
Ainge is still in the mix as a Jet quarterback option but his playing time should be very limited. The former Tennessee Volunteer has been a disappointment since being selected in the fifth round in 2008. Barring injury to one of the other two potential starters, the up-and-down passer will be relegated to backup duties, traded or released. His struggles in camp last year only added to the fact he was nailed for using performance enhancing drugs. Ainge also suffered a season-ending foot injury his rookie year. It’s hard to believe the Jets will entrust their club and put the team in Ainge’s hands this year. It is more likely they draft a quarterback to start ahead of the beleaguered Ainge.
Drafting a rookie with the slightest notion of playing professional football is a huge gamble for any team. Finding the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco is not a common occurrence. The Jets should use a draft pick on a quarterback, but not one of their top ones. I think Gang Green should start the season with Clemens because at least Kellen has thrown passes in the league with success. Once Clemens settles in and becomes comfortable with his receivers, I believe he will turn out to be the best choice. I wouldn’t mind seeing Josh Freeman in the Meadowlands. Everyone seems to think he will go the Tampa Bay Bucs with the 19th pick. Do the Jets burn a first round pick on him two slots ahead? Or, do they settle for a late rounder, hoping to catch lightening in a bottle? Whoever the drafted quarterback should be, he must be groomed first and carry the clipboard on the sidelines. Any first year Jet should learn the ropes before calling Giants stadium his home.
Parting points: A few Jets I really like- The band, Jet and their hit song, “Look What You’ve Done” and the cartoon classic, The Jetsons.
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