Comments on: TJB Chat Hijack: ESPN 6/5 & 6/7

By: TOON2388

TOON2388 — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:00:12 +0000

great point on the coaching staff deserving credit Jeff – definitely agree there. I also agree that if guys get hurt, this coaching staff is not going to make ecuses – instead, they will tweak game plans to fit the strengths of the players who will be on teh field.

By: jeff i

jeff i — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:04:59 +0000

toon – good post but two comments on the injury “luck” you cited. first, part of the credit needs to go to mangini preparing the team physically for the season. two years ago it was a disgrace the shape the team was in, which was why they got rocked at KC and everyone dropped like flies. second, we weren’t as lucky in the injury area as you think – it’s just that mangini doesn’t use injuries as an excuse so they are not as much on the radar as under herm. think about it. we lost curtis (starting RB), trey teague (starting center), david barrett (starting DB), tim dwight…and a few others i’m sure i’m missing. clearly it wasn’t the debacle of the year before but you can’t discount losing your starting center. give all the credit in the world for mangold for stepping up but he didn’t do it alone – the coaches deserve credit too.

By: wayne

wayne — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:02:08 +0000

Addendum to my post above, according to the Schrager power ranking in below blog, Jets (ranked 9th overall, 7th in powerful AFC) play only three games against higher ranked team, NE twice and BAL.

So, if this ranking is more accurate, which at first glance it seems to be, and the Jets continue the trend of beating the teams they are supposed to beat, they would be 13-3.

By: billvv

billvv — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:46:03 +0000

RJ: Only Jets fans will still think we might not be better! Years of suffering will not easily be replaced by the certainty of the Patriots. Having them be both the last game we played last year AND the first team we play this year means LOTS of time to stew and think and plan and prepare by both the coaches and the players. I think the rest of the football nation will get a wakeup call! I, for one, can’t wait!

By: TOON2388

TOON2388 — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:41:44 +0000

The schedule is tougher ON PAPER. Last year, every team we were scheduled to play had us down as a W pre-season. They were wrong 10 of 16 times.

There is a lot to be said that the core of our team is the same. Year 2 in this system should prove very fruitful on the defensive side of the ball. Have we all forgotten that year 2 in NE, EM was there when they won the Super Bowl?

The one thing that concerns me are injuries – just because we were so lucky in that area last season.

By: RJ

RJ — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:03:18 +0000

Just to throw in my own 2 cents…

First of all, I think everyone would agree that the Jets will most likely be a very competitive team this year, maybe even more than last year.

Looking back at last year. I think we can say the Jets struggled for a number of reasons:

1. They had an entirely new coaching staff from top to bottom
2. They introduced totally new schemes on offense and defense
3. Almost half the players were new including rookies
4. They lacked talent at certain key positions

Now let’s consider how much better this team will be because of continuity:

- The coaches will know better how to coach the players, design the plays and actually call the best plays to fit their talent.
- The players will better understand how to run the offensive and defensive schemes.
- The players techniques will be better.
- Communication between players and coaches will be better.
- Last years rookies will be better.

There may be some others, but I think you get the idea. Continuity will bring a big, maybe a very big, upside to the Jets this year.

And I don’t think you can over-rate continuity. Players talk about it all the time.

The real advantage of continuity, I believe, is that in a close competitive game the team that is the “tighter” unit, that really “gels”, will have the greater advantage to win, even over a more talented roster.

And if you add to that a coaching staff that really understands its players and how to put them in the best position to make plays i think you could have a formula for winning alot of games.

Still it’s hard to know how far to take this continuity thing with the Jets. There is certainly a nice “karma” coming out of Jets camp.

With all the excitement of the players and the team’s hard work its hard not to get caught up in the optimism for a winning season, even if they don’t have the most talented roster.

By: billvv

billvv — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:53:59 +0000

I glad to hear my sentiments expressed by everybody above me here. Every so often this spring, I get an insight into the Jets coaches thinking. Reviewing all last year and determining what worked, what didn’t, and, most of all, why, was the latest. Every team we played knew we couldn’t run. And we still found a way to win. What would you say they are thinking this year? The media can underrate the Jets, they’re so in man-love with the Patriots, I can’t wait for that surprised look on their faces. Bring them on, 10-6 is no sweat.

By: RK

RK — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:26:40 +0000

The Jets record could have been even better last year with a couple of calls their way. I’d say that makes them better than 80% of all teams in the league. They fought the Pats tooth and nail in game one losing by a TD, as well as Bears but couldn’t score and Colts lost by FG…they proved they can win those games even if they didn’t and with a rookie coach and line to boot. I don’t care what team you talk about, competing against the the top 3 teams in the league is paramount to making players “buy into” a system. I think the team is on board but what needs to happen now is to stop the run. Can’t lose to Ruben Droughns and the like again. Improving run stopping will improve the record. Likewise T Jones will help in those close games. I said 8-8 preseason last year but this year I think 10-6 is a better possibility than last year. It is hard to win no matter who you play…it is about the team not the schedule. Spending time being afraid of the schedule is something that Mangenius doesn’t waste his or the team’s time on.

Regarding trick plays, they got frustrating because often they seemed without purpose, but upon reflection they were used to determine what the opponent’s reaction/response would be. Trick plays don’t win but one trick play can win a game here and there. If that is the difference between the playoffs and fishing in the offseason let them slip the whoopie cushion wherever they want. Or the can of snakes, or fake doogie poo, or my favorite naked lady pen.

By: jeff i

jeff i — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:37:35 +0000

i hear you bassett. i don’t envy your job but you put out a great product so it’s worth the effort.

have a good weekend.

jeff i

By: Bassett

Bassett — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:28:24 +0000

thanks jeff, the hardest thing about writing this blog is taking the 1000 thoughts about any given topic, and somehow encapsulating them in a way that make sense. all the while, not getting fired at my real job, sleeping a little and not driving my wife to the divorce lawyer … :D