Official Game Thread: Jets at Bucs
Posted on August 11th, 2006 by Bassett
It's time! Meaningless football has arrived! And you know what that means, meaning-ful football is hot on it's heels!
Kick out on the Barcalounger, grab a slice of pizza and tell the wife you will fix that sparking wire sticking out of the wall tomorrow… the Jets first preseason game is finally here! I won't get to experience the sheer thrill of the game until Sunday since I am in Massachusetts and will DVR the game on NFL Network and watch it when I get back from camping on Sunday. So do bear with me if I don't make immediate updates. If you are at the game, give us details! E-mail / text: thejetsblog@gmail.com! If you want to chat about the game, feel free to use the link below. I can't guarantee any else will join in, but give it a try!
Kick out on the Barcalounger, grab a slice of pizza and tell the wife you will fix that sparking wire sticking out of the wall tomorrow… the Jets first preseason game is finally here! I won't get to experience the sheer thrill of the game until Sunday since I am in Massachusetts and will DVR the game on NFL Network and watch it when I get back from camping on Sunday. So do bear with me if I don't make immediate updates. If you are at the game, give us details! E-mail / text: thejetsblog@gmail.com! If you want to chat about the game, feel free to use the link below. I can't guarantee any else will join in, but give it a try!
What to watch for:
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The Offensive Line: How does D'Brick look against a speed rusher? How often do the Jets backs & TEs “chip” for D'Brick? How does Mangold look at center? Do they use the shotgun? What side does the team predominantly run towards?
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The Quarterbacks: Since the rotation of when QBs play doesn't matter, who plays the best? How does Ramsey look under pressure? How did Pennington deal with any contact? Were there flashes of Clemens' abilities?
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The Runningbacks: With Curtis sidelined, this unit is wide open. Is Cedric up to the challenge? How does Leon Washington look? Can Derrick Blaylock make good on his best opportunity ever to start? What kind of run plays are being used?
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The Wideouts: Who is in most, and who looks best? How does McCareins respond to his recent criticism? Does Cotchery look like he is able to press his case? Is Dwight the likely #2? How are Brad Smith's hands, YAC and do they run any reverses, options, etc. with him involved?
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The Defensive Line: What schemes do they use most? 3-4, 4-3? How does the front fare against the run? How often does the line get pushed back at the point of attack?
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The Linebackers: Who is in, and who looks good. How much is Vilma really playing against Guards, or is he dropping into coverage more? How do newcomers Schlegel, Kassell & Chatham play? Who is better between Trevor Johnson and Bryan Thomas? Is he seeing more time on the line or as a OLB?
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Defensive Backs: Who is getting matched on Galloway, and who is playing on Clayton? Who gets relegated to nickel most? Does Eric Smith look like a deer in the headlights? Who is playing the Strong Safety and/or 46 role?
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Can't run the ball… Can't stop the run = Can't win
OL, poor run blocking (or are the RB's equally to blame), OK on pass protection unless there was a blitz which the Bucs infrequently used, then all hell broke loose. Tampa pulled its D-line starters out after the first series but the Jets O-line played the entire first half (save Kendall) and couldn't block the second team Buc D-line any better than the Bucs first team D-Line.
QB's will be sitting ducks for blitz happy teams. Run defense was same old story and the Bucs didn't even play Cadillac Williams.
One series the Bucs ran the ball 11 out 12 plays, shades of the Raider game in 2003.
Gradowski looks like a good 6th round pickup in the draft for the Bucs, there goes the Bollinger to Bucs for a draft pick dream.
No pass rush on Gradowski may have made him look better than he appears.
Where was the pass rush?…. In Atlanta. Abraham played a few series, had a sack, forced fumble that led to a Falcon TD.
Vilma was a dissapointment, the fears that he won't be as good in a 3-4 defense appear to be valid.
The positives, Pennington and Clemens did all right and Cotchery made some nice catches.. Where was McCareins?
Nugent had a kickoff for a TB (OK the returner let it bounce into the end zone).
Special teams are the strength of the squad, is it enough to eeke out a few wins though?
Nothing in this performance suggests Gary Horton was wrong in saying the Jets will score the fewest points in the NFL this season.
I wasn't looking for much last night… basically, how the team responded to Mangini… were they organized, or running around clueless… did Mangini look in-control… things like that.
Things were organized… they played like a team.
Mangini was very into the game… showed he's going to coach aggressively in-game. IE: went for a 4th & 1 at the Bucs 40… challenged a Bucs fumble, which was called down by contact; which was ruled a fumble, but they said it was unclear who had the ball, even though it was clear the Jets recovered.
All was very vanilla, as expected.
We played decently in the first half. Blaylock looks like he goes down too easily. Houston started out ok… looks better than Blaylock.
Cotchery looked good… keep yer eyes on Newhouse at WR; he made a nice reception, and ran down the sidelines, with a couple of guys on his back.
Chad looked like Chad… he bounced back up on his few hits. He threw one pass away off the wrong-leg, across his body, which showed to me he has some zip.
Clemens looks like a QB. Very calm & in-control.
He ran a nice 2-minute drill at the end of the first-half.
Probably could have run the ball in for a TD, but hesitated
(rookie indecision).
That two-minute drill actually looked like one. There was urgency, and good awareness of the clock, unlike what we've become used to.
The D was decent in the first half, but the 2nd-half was swiss-cheese.
The key for me, is how Mangini responds.
To me, it's possible we don't have the players on the line, for the 3-4. It'll be interesting to see how Mangini/Sutton adapt.
All-in-all as a first step, having no expectations, I wasn't disappointed. We'll see how they build on this, but they looked organized, and showed flashes.