Monthly Archives: December 2006
Today I was travelling back from Virginia, and I have to say that JetBlue has earned my distinction of “best flight ever.” More to do with the Jets than the Terra Blue Potato Chips. Some thoughts for the game:
- Chad Pennington had a good game, taking what the Raiders would give him, using his typical short passes but setting up some longer passes as well.
- Brad Smith didn’t catch any passes, but his reverse and sneak were great.
- Kerry Rhodes had another good game with his fifth sack of the season.
- Glad to see Nick Mangold was OK after he was injured right before the half.
- Stupid Denver! What a suprise, Herm backed into the playoffs! I would rather the Jets have faced the Colts than the Pats, but wow what a matchup!
More tomorrow!
Win and you are in. Can you believe it? So flabbergasted that you can’t remember how the team got to this point? Rich Cimini can help.
The Jets haven’t looked past this opponent, although there are scenarios to get into the playoffs with a loss, the easiest way to do it is with a win. The Jets have faced some tough adversity this season and muscled through, but there have been some games that have left us scratching our heads like the Browns and the latest Bills game.Â
The team needs to be ready for anything today, but my hope is that they can put some points up on Oakland early and take their will to win out of the rest of the game.Â
Today the Jets face their old foe the Oakland Raiders, who have had a rough year. Lamont Jordan, Jerry Porter and Randy Moss won’t be playing, and rumor is that Robert Gallery allowed a sack against the kid above. The Oakland defense has played well, but they struggle against the pass some.Â
- The Jets are going to have a hard time running the ball again, so same old same old from Pennington, who will get his first 16 start season with today’s.
- From a quick check it seems to me that the OAK defense is stout at the line and in the secondary. Attacking the linebackers with shallow routes, and RB dumpoff passes might work well for the Jets.
- The Jets’ corners have to convince me today — on some backup recievers — that they can got it alone without Andre Dyson basically for the rest of the season. If the Jets win, this is their tuneup game for whatever comes next, and it won’t be Aaron Brooks and some backup WRs next week if they win.
- The Raiders have apparently let up 70 sacks on the season, that’s and average of 4.6 a game. I hope the Jets still use some ‘dogs’ or ‘blitzes’ even though they won’t need it to get to the QB.
- Find Bent, and show him how Americans tailgate, and don’t (normally) kill ‘supporters’ of other teams!
- Mangini could have been working for the Raiders?
- McCareins, is earning praise from his coach, but not necessarily his starting spot.
- David Picker from the New York Times notes how these two teams seem to meet again and again.
- Dyson won’t be playing at corner this weekend and maybe the rest of the season. This could be a good test for the Miller, Barrett, Poteat & Coleman rotation.
- Can you imagine Mangini and Rex Ryan playing basketball against each other?
- SI Truth & Rumors notes Aaron Brooks will start (who I met last year) and notes the Jets are debating Leon Washington’s ability to carry the load for the franchise.
OK guys,
I head off to the airport this afternoon for an early morning flight. Not sure if I’ll get a chance to go back online, so I just wanted to thank those of you that took the time to recommend places to go and stuff. If you see three dudes wandering about at the game with funny accents, be sure to pop over and say hello!
I’m ready to make some noise! Who’s with me?
Commenter Aaron found this ESPN podcast of Bob Wichusen and Marty Lyons filling in for Stephen A. talking about the Jets yesterday, definitely worth the time and the listen.
“Can I say something terrible, something that’s going to sound awfully critical? My daughter throws the ball harder than him.”
Well, Pennington didn’t take it as personally as I did. I have to say that the conversation bothered me during MNF, but with a little distance now, I can see what Kornheiser was doing, and it is kind of funny, just funny in that “you’re making fun of something that’s important to me” way.Â
I will say that at least Kornheiser is doing what he does best, which he seemed to be avoiding during the better part of the season, as he bowed and scraped to King Theesman and asked him things like “now what’s a hard count?” Props to Kornheiser for finding his fastball in Week 16.
So the Jets are 9-6, in control of their own destiny and one home win against a terrible Raiders team away from going to the playoffs. Did you expect to be in the playoff hunt in year one?
But wait up, the Jets haven’t gotten this far by looking past their current week’s opponent and this week is no exception. Here are some things to consider as the Jets get ready for the Raiders.
- Andre Dyson Injury – No one’s saying anything, but I imagine we won’t see him against the Raiders, which could cause some trouble. I have to say though that I am comfortable with Barrett, Miller & Poteat handling the lions’ share against the Raiders.
- Home Record – The Jets have struggled at home, posting a 3-4 record. Although, that’s not very reliable when you consider three of the teams they faced; New England, Indianapolis, Chicago
- Oakland Defense – The unit is actually pretty good, a fact which is thrown out because their offense and special teams is abysmal.
Well guys, if you read my “Thoughts from Across the Pond” below, you’ll know that there is no “Thoughts from Across the Pond” next week. Any why? Because I’m not going to be “Across the Pond”…I’m going to the Jets game!!!
There are three of us Brits going to the game, two Jets fans and a Raiders fan! When we ordered tickets in May, this looked likely to be the most meaningless game ever, but in fact, the stadium should be rocking – and who would have thought Chad would still be starting! We are sitting in what looks to be some pretty good seats near the halfway line in the lower level.
If anyone else is going to the game, let me know in the comments below, as it would be cool to see some of you guys in person. We’ll be in Jersey for a couple of days and in Manhattan for a few days. Any ideas for places to visit, eat out or go drinking would be well appreciated, along with any tips for what to check out at the stadium before the game.
Also, we come from a country where an opposing fan would be mutilated for sitting with the home fans (they would have their own blocked-off seating areas). So, at a Jets game, will our buddy be OK? Can he wear Raiders gear to the game (or even walking around NY/NJ)? Will he get beaten up if he cheers for them? I suspect the answer is that he’ll be OK, so long as the Jets win, but I wouldn’t want any problems to arise.
So, thanks in advance for your help and hopefully it will be a great day.
I’ll write about the experience in detail when I’m back home.
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you and your families had a wonderful day yesterday, despite the fact that you were probably pre-occupied all day thinking about the Jets game. I know I was!
So, could the Jets “sleigh” the Rudolphins?
* Having spent ages working out all the permutations, I had satisfied myself that the Jets didn’t necessarily need this one to make the playoffs, so I had no need to be really nervous. Let’s just say that didn’t exactly work. After three and a half hours of intense shivering, my back is killing me. I am now listed as questionable.
* The first half basically consisted of the Jets trying to drive through torrential rain followed by a punt and then bright sunshine while the Dolphins drove until they punted and the heavens opened again.
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As any Jets fan can attest, this was a tense/exhilarating Christmas day. I confess I was looking at the clock all day and figuring out how much time was left until kickoff as the day progressed.Â
Being burned in the past told you not to get your hopes up, and that the electric socks you received today might have been the best present, but you have to admit that this game was better than that crap the Wise Men brought baby Jesus. Screw frankincense, gold or myrrh, give me a win in Miami!!Â
- Taylor made a statement play early on D’Brick in their first matchup, and today it was D’Brick’s turn. On an early pass play he pancaked Jason Taylor. All in all, Brick was beat a few times, but I’ll let that slide when we are talking about Jason Taylor.
- Clearly the offense struggled to get anything going early. The rain made the passing game tough, but Pennington had at least a handful of terrible throws that could have been picked off throughout the game. That Pennington was sacked only one time was very impressive.
- While announcing his fellow defensemen, Vilma called Kerry Rhodes “Hollywood.”
- The defense brought some good pressure early in the game, Ellis helped to create the split sack for Eric Barton and Rashad Washington. All told, the Jets had three sacks, all by backers or secondary players.
- Â Graham’s botched hold was frightening, I was glad that it didn’t come back to bite them.
- The Dolphins had 7 penalties for 78 yards while the Jets just got nabbed for the one holding penalty on a return.
- I almost choked on my soda when Suzy Kolber asked the Williams sisters (my paraphrase) “what’s it like to have 10 guys pounding you?”
- It feels good to have gone up against two of the best run defenses in the past two weeks and still won.
- When Cleo Lemon came out after the half to run the offense I said “THANK YOU SANTA!!”
- While lined up for the long pass to McCareins, you could tell by the TV shot they used (over the line’s shoulders and out to McCareins)Â that the play was a pass and that McCareins was the primary, he just had that “it’s on” look in his eyes.
- The teamwork to down the ball on the one was AWESOME.  Brad Smith kept the ball out of the endzone, Kassell downed it, and Wallace Wright kept Kassell’s body out of the endzone.Â
- The pass that Miller defensed was awesome, to watch Eric Smith come crashing in to apply the hit was fantastic. Miller also had another good stop on Hagans, though it was for a first down. Physically the kid is a menace, I still think he can develop for the Jets. I haven’t lost hope for him.
- The Brad Kassell punt-bounce play was the play that had me almost in cardiac arrest. At best, I was hoping for a field goal, but I had to go to the “this is what it’s like to be a Jets fan” card.
- COULDABEEN Plays of the Game: Zach Thomas shoestring tackle on Cotch (he covered Cotch well much of the game), fumbled hold by Graham, Kassell’s punt bump.
- Not sure what Saban was doing going with Lemon and not running Brown more, he was the best thing they had.
- Looks like Coles will be alright, he’ll probably need some stiches though on his chin.
- I wanted to beat Kornheiser to a pulp as he talked about Chad. WE GET IT, HE DOESN’T HAVE A STRONG ARM. Then to come back and praise him after that pissed me off.
- Can anyone explain using the timeout on Mare while he lined up to tie the game? It seemed a little Herm-esque, anyone know if that was Westhoff’s call since he knows Mare pretty well?
- LEON FREAKING WASHINGTON!!! What an amazing play to all but win the game on the short shovel pass that he took for 64 yards.
- Thank you Leon, thank you Chad, thank you Eric, thank you Santa!!
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Merry Christmas! With the nation in an eggnog induced coma, the Jets are playing the second football game of the day, against Jason Taylor and company. This is the ultimate letdown game for the fans, lose this game and it’s the chorus we are all so familiar with, but win this game, and people will have to think about what this coach can accomplish.
My wife’s family has a holiday tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas, I agreed with one stipulation: get me home by 8:30PM. Here are some things that the Jets need to be mindful of in tonight’s game:
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Let Joey Harrington ‘beat’ them when Brown is in the game. Both the Phins run and pass have suffered this year, but the guy they must shut down is Ronnie Brown. Although he isn’t planning to start, I imagine he will touch the ball at least 15-20 times, maybe more if they are leading at the half.
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The Jets will have their hands full against this run defense, but they can’t abondon the run for sake of the play-action. The difference is, when they are 2nd and 2, don’t hand the ball to Leon Washington, no cute stuff in those situations. Compunding the situation is Houston’s health, it will be interesting to see who is activated.Â
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The Jets best chance is trying to pass the ball, create the motions, mismatches and ‘rubs’ we are used to seeing all year to play possession passing and keep Pennington upright.
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Hold Jason Taylor at bay, Brick had a good first go, but it’s time for him to step up again.
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Kill the Dolphins on kickoffs, they have not played well against them all year and if the Jets are going to struggle to run the ball, here’s the quickest way to make up those yards.
TJB Chat | ESPN Intel Report | ESPN NFL Live Matchup
- Lisa Olson writes about D’Brick’s faith family & values.
- Belichick beat the Jags, closing the door to the Division, but opening the door wider for the Wild Card. Meanwhile, in Cinci, everyone is cheering for the Phins’ tonight.
- Although some players on the Dolphins are saying the ‘right things,’ here’s what’s in their hearts.
- Apparently, Pete Kendall’s kids are glad to not have him “being a drag” on Christmas.
- The Jets are comfortable on the road this year.
- Teddy Atlas has been spending some time with the Jets this season, and it’s paying off. This is one of the most interesting articles I have read all year about helping players’ with their gameday psyche.
