http://www.thejetsblog.com/2006/08/11/bents-crystal-ball-2/ Ranting and Raving about the Gang Green Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:05:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.thejetsblog.com/2006/08/11/bents-crystal-ball-2/comment-page-1/#comment-33933 thejetsblog.com » Bent’s Crystal Ball III Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:58:59 +0000 http://thejetsblog.com/?p=1347#comment-33933 [...] Crystal Ball from the archives: 2006, [...] [...] Crystal Ball from the archives: 2006, [...]

]]> http://www.thejetsblog.com/2006/08/11/bents-crystal-ball-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3252 thejetsblog.com » Bent’s Thoughts from Across the Pond - Week 8 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:04:37 +0000 http://thejetsblog.com/?p=1347#comment-3252 [...] * I was convinced the Jets would lose this week, so it would have been really sweet to pull it out at the end there. When you consider the combined factors of the Browns coming off a week of turmoil, the Jets subconsciously taking their foot off the pedal with the bye week upcoming and simply the fact that when you look at it from their point of view, the Browns were facing a 4-3 team at home that was yet to beat anyone good, it was all too much to overcome on Sunday. * Obviously, we were robbed at the end there, but once the call on the field was incomplete, there was no comeback. (Yes, they probably should change the rules). Clearly, Baker was going to land with both feet in bounds, but in real time I can see how that would have been tough to see. Maybe we will get a make-up call in next week’s game. Who are we playing again? Ah, crap… * As bad as that call was, there was a similar - but worse - one in the USC-Oregon State game (although this was not for a touchdown and had no impact on the final result). Dwayne Jarrett leapt up to make a catch on the numbers and was running-powerslammed British Bulldog style over the sideline. The call on the field was incomplete, which was obviously a farce because it was clearly a force-out. However, there was a chance to remedy this with the review to determine if he came down in bounds (remember: only one foot must touch in NCAA). The review was upheld because his foot came down out of bounds - despite the fact that his elbow came down inbounds first. Good grief. My advice: throw down the middle - it’s easier. * Overall though, I am more disappointed with the performance than the officiating (although one wonders how many pass interference calls Manning or Brady - or any of the league’s more demonstrative wideouts - would have garnered). Great throw by Pennington and a great catch by Baker at the end, it’s just a shame we couldn’t have seen that sooner. * After I wrote how Leon Washington had been protecting the ball better than he did at the college level, he went and lost a key fumble. Perhaps I should just shut up. Whilst I was screaming for the Jets to “bounce one to the outside”, that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. * Yes, Pennington was dreadful and under a lot of pressure all game. I believe this is the first time the Jets had faced a three man front, was it not? (The Pats played exclusively 4-3). What this does, is enable the linebackers to either rush the passer or spread across the field and take away a lot of the short routes. This makes it tougher for your QB to get into a rhythm, hence the lack of fluidity throwing down the field. If we had a decent line, we would be able to do the same thing. * Looking at the big picture, whoever would have predicted 4-4 at this stage of the season? Oh yes…Me! Perhaps I was a bit off on some of the details, but you can’t have it all. * Elsewhere around the league, the Jags impressively shut down the Eagles. So, how do you explain their 20 point loss to the Texans and conceding 36 points to the Redskins? Clearly they are playing down to the level of their competition. When they played us, they won 41-0 so we must be awesome, right? * Coming up during the week: Reckless barrelling into the defense and rarely putting the ball on the floor. No, not the return of Curtis Martin, the NBA season! And you thought the NFL was poorly officiated! (PS: Thank you, Red). * And for the Jets? A week off, then the Pats (who with any luck will be coming off a win over the Colts and due for a let down game, whereas the Jets will hopefully be prepared and rested, not rusty). Following that, it’s the Bears and the TJB roadtrip, which let’s hope is a little bit less of a disaster for the Jets than Bassett’s previous visits to the Meadowlands! * Rookie Watch: Reggie Bush will probably never have a game this bad again, losing a fumble, throwing one interception and having another bounce off his head for six points. He’s still a threat every time he touches the ball, though, which is a big part of the Saints success so far. Maroney and Jackson were excellent for the impressive (and fantasy team killing) Pats, while there were big days in a losing effort for Marques Colston, Wali Lundi and Owen Daniels. Congratulations to Eric Smith for his first NFL pick. * TMQ Watch: I didn’t even read TMQ this week. Do I feel any less educated? Nope. * Jinx Watch: Aside from my inadvertent jinxing of Leon, as mentioned above, it was nice to see Joe Jureviscius shut out (and he even committed a penalty to negate a TD, although the Browns scored anyway on the next play). Not enough this week, though. [...] [...] * I was convinced the Jets would lose this week, so it would have been really sweet to pull it out at the end there. When you consider the combined factors of the Browns coming off a week of turmoil, the Jets subconsciously taking their foot off the pedal with the bye week upcoming and simply the fact that when you look at it from their point of view, the Browns were facing a 4-3 team at home that was yet to beat anyone good, it was all too much to overcome on Sunday. * Obviously, we were robbed at the end there, but once the call on the field was incomplete, there was no comeback. (Yes, they probably should change the rules). Clearly, Baker was going to land with both feet in bounds, but in real time I can see how that would have been tough to see. Maybe we will get a make-up call in next week’s game. Who are we playing again? Ah, crap… * As bad as that call was, there was a similar – but worse – one in the USC-Oregon State game (although this was not for a touchdown and had no impact on the final result). Dwayne Jarrett leapt up to make a catch on the numbers and was running-powerslammed British Bulldog style over the sideline. The call on the field was incomplete, which was obviously a farce because it was clearly a force-out. However, there was a chance to remedy this with the review to determine if he came down in bounds (remember: only one foot must touch in NCAA). The review was upheld because his foot came down out of bounds – despite the fact that his elbow came down inbounds first. Good grief. My advice: throw down the middle – it’s easier. * Overall though, I am more disappointed with the performance than the officiating (although one wonders how many pass interference calls Manning or Brady – or any of the league’s more demonstrative wideouts – would have garnered). Great throw by Pennington and a great catch by Baker at the end, it’s just a shame we couldn’t have seen that sooner. * After I wrote how Leon Washington had been protecting the ball better than he did at the college level, he went and lost a key fumble. Perhaps I should just shut up. Whilst I was screaming for the Jets to “bounce one to the outside”, that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. * Yes, Pennington was dreadful and under a lot of pressure all game. I believe this is the first time the Jets had faced a three man front, was it not? (The Pats played exclusively 4-3). What this does, is enable the linebackers to either rush the passer or spread across the field and take away a lot of the short routes. This makes it tougher for your QB to get into a rhythm, hence the lack of fluidity throwing down the field. If we had a decent line, we would be able to do the same thing. * Looking at the big picture, whoever would have predicted 4-4 at this stage of the season? Oh yes…Me! Perhaps I was a bit off on some of the details, but you can’t have it all. * Elsewhere around the league, the Jags impressively shut down the Eagles. So, how do you explain their 20 point loss to the Texans and conceding 36 points to the Redskins? Clearly they are playing down to the level of their competition. When they played us, they won 41-0 so we must be awesome, right? * Coming up during the week: Reckless barrelling into the defense and rarely putting the ball on the floor. No, not the return of Curtis Martin, the NBA season! And you thought the NFL was poorly officiated! (PS: Thank you, Red). * And for the Jets? A week off, then the Pats (who with any luck will be coming off a win over the Colts and due for a let down game, whereas the Jets will hopefully be prepared and rested, not rusty). Following that, it’s the Bears and the TJB roadtrip, which let’s hope is a little bit less of a disaster for the Jets than Bassett’s previous visits to the Meadowlands! * Rookie Watch: Reggie Bush will probably never have a game this bad again, losing a fumble, throwing one interception and having another bounce off his head for six points. He’s still a threat every time he touches the ball, though, which is a big part of the Saints success so far. Maroney and Jackson were excellent for the impressive (and fantasy team killing) Pats, while there were big days in a losing effort for Marques Colston, Wali Lundi and Owen Daniels. Congratulations to Eric Smith for his first NFL pick. * TMQ Watch: I didn’t even read TMQ this week. Do I feel any less educated? Nope. * Jinx Watch: Aside from my inadvertent jinxing of Leon, as mentioned above, it was nice to see Joe Jureviscius shut out (and he even committed a penalty to negate a TD, although the Browns scored anyway on the next play). Not enough this week, though. [...]

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