Monthly Archives: November 2007
When these two teams met back in Week 3, both had yet to win a game. Who knew that eight weeks later, things would pretty much be the same.
Ugh.
To their credit, Miami has continued to play hard under head coach Cam Cameron, losing three of their last four games by only three points each, including last week’s Monday Night Quagmire in Pittsburgh — only problem was that the Phins were shutout. As a matter of fact, the last two contests between the Jets and Dolphins have been three-point margins, including last year’s Christmas present from Leon. . .
Fittingly, the bookies are calling this game a “Pick ‘em” — more like “Puke ‘em,” really. But hey, it’s still Miami, so it at least it means something in the rivalry and pride department.
Witness the woe of the AFC East!! Collectively these two teams have accumulated two wins, carry on boys. Here’s this week’s Jets’ Media Guide, the bible for broadcasters covering the matchup this weekend while the Jets travel to Phinland.
Want to embarrass your friends with the minutiae of detail you know about this Dolphins – Jets matchup? Then this is the document for you!
- Sean Lahman gets all Vidal Sasson on the Jets – Dolphins game.
- Our man Tom Rock is cold in SoFla … no sympathy here pal. I’m freezing my keister and raking leaves.
- Lange is trying to reverse the spin on Pennington.
- Both teams aren’t focusing on records, job well done, fellas.
- Boo hoo … the the NE media is concerned the Pats can’t keep both Randy Moss and Asante Samuel.
- The mayor of L.A. realizes that his city has been nothing more than a bargaining chip. Good work, Sherlock.
- Could McFadden go … all … the … way (at #1)?
The Jets receivers are juggling who’s available, first it was Coles out, now it’s been Cotchery with a finger injury.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday — DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), LB Zach Thomas (migraine)
Thursday — DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), LB Zach Thomas (migraine)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday — RB Jesse Chatman (ankle)
Thursday — RB Jesse Chatman (ankle), DE Matt Roth (groin)
NEW YORK JETS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday — WR Jerricho Cotchery (finger)
Thursday — WR Jerricho Cotchery (finger)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday — CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (ankle), TE James Dearth (foot), DT Dewayne
Robertson (knee)
Thursday — CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (ankle), TE James Dearth (foot), DT Dewayne
Robertson (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday — TE Chris Baker (back), WR Chris Davis (shoulder), TE Joe Kowalewski (shoulder), DT C.J. Mosley
(shoulder), WR Brad Smith (back)
Thursday — TE Chris Baker (back), WR Chris Davis (shoulder), TE Joe Kowalewski (shoulder), DT C.J. Mosley
(shoulder), WR Brad Smith (back)
The Star-Ledger’s David Hutchinson has made a career of stirring the pot, and he doesn’t disappoint in his interview with Chad Pennington.
… [Pennington] yesterday made it clear that he’s not ready for permanent clipboard duty.
“I see myself as a starter in this league. That certainly hasn’t changed,” Pennington said in his first extensive interview since his benching. “I try my best to not think about the future right now and really focus on how I can help Kellen.”
See the rest of Hutch’s meat of Hutch’s article, and my thoughts below.
Thanks to the PhinPhanatic.com for participating this week, we have some thoughts on this weekend’s matchup from someone who follows the boys in Miami as closely as we do the Jets. If you haven’t checked it out, PhinPhan (isn’t that an FDA banned drug?) great look at all things from the Team That Shula Built, and they were kind enough to take the time to answer our questions.
See PhinPhanatic’s questions for me on their site.
1) I know we can’t judge Cam Cameron solely based on this campaign, but what’s the sentiment in Phinland about the new coach? Does the team think it’s heading in the right direction with him
Phinphanatic: I think that if nothing else, the PhinPhans are split down the middle in terms of Cameron and the “support” side loses more than it gains with each passing week. Personally, I believe that it is just too early to tell and I think he needs more time. He inherited a mess with little talent. He inherited a team that was cap strapped and old. It is hard to place that blame on Cameron, although as the face of the franchise he bares the brunt of the responsibility. If there is one thing that has been lacking on this team, it is continuity. That has to change before this team has any chance at success. (more…)
So remember when I just wrote keep an eye on that last roster spot in the post below? Well, I’m getting ready for work and listening to the radio, and they noted that the Jets had signed DL Kareem Brown (6’5″ 315 lbs.), who was recently waived by the Pats to make room for another Brown named Troy.
With the Patriots on the schedule in the near future and a “if it’s good enough for the Pats it’s good enough for us” mantra regarding players, the Jets signed Kareem Brown, a player that according to Reiss’ Pieces the Ravens and 49ers also put claims on, but since the Jets had the worst record, it pays to stink out loud.
Check out his Rookiepedia profile here. He’s a guy who the Jets might try to coach up, as he has some abilities, but lacks in other areas, specifically speed and his motor.
The Jets have released FB Darian Barnes, and CB Manny Collins (again). Also the Jets have picked up another former I-AA player, former UNH standout receiver, David Ball. This still leaves a roster spot open, so look for the Jets to make another move before too long.
Analysis
Darian Barnes — I liked Barnes ability to hit, but beyond that his play seemed flat as he not really a pass catching option out of the backfield and the Jets run out of so many single back sets anyway … that doesn’t mean I think it’s always effective. Barnes was the roster’s only true fullback, but the team hardly used him of late, opting for JoeKo as an H-Back instead. They must like what they’ve seen from the former Syracuse alum, as the backup FB Stacy Tutt was placed on Injured Reservea few weeks ago, so the duties will continue to fall to Joe Kowalewski.
Manny Collins — Collins is one of those guys who the Jets just seem to keep yo-yoing on. I’d expect to see him re-signed in the offseason again.
David Ball — Check out his Rookiepedia profile for more. This is the real interesting move to me and was a guy I was very disappointed the Jets didn’t sign back in May. Ball is a guy who played very well in I-AA at New Hampshire but hasn’t translated in the Pros, as the Bears picked him up for preseason but he didn’t make the cut. All the WRs that the Jets have brought aboard over the past few months have made me think that they are trying really hard to find a diamond in the rough, but failing at it … gee maybe mothballing Chansi Stuckey for the season wasn’t such a good idea after all … ugh. Rather than anoter sub 6 foot possession receiver, what the Jets need is a Jaguars style receiver … big & fast with good hands (I’m looking at YOU Justin McCareins). David Ball is tall (6’2″) has good hands and runs routes well but his biggest problem is his speed. Ball only ran a 4.73 on his Pro Day, but has excellent quickness as displayed by his short shuttle (3.97) and three cone drill (6.59) at his Pro Day. I’d like to think that the Jets will try to hold onto him through the spring to see what kind of player he is with some development. He’s definitely the Mangini type, and it remains to be seen whether his game speed is better than his 40 yard dash speed.
Happy Holidays! I trust each of you had a good Thanksgiving day break and that the ineptitude of the Jets performance in Dallas didn’t spoil the taste of your Turkey.
Sadly, Jets fans can no longer play the “nobody has hammered us except the Pats, who were [allegedly] cheating” card and are now resigned to playing the “nobody has hammered us except the Pats, who were [allegedly] cheating and the Cowboys, who are more experienced at playing on three days’ rest” card, or the “screw it, I give up, we suck, but hey at least we beat the Steelers” card. Not exactly a great hand, but hey it could be worse, Justin McCareins routinely has the worst hands on the team.
(Nothing if not predictable, am I?). We move on, to more thoughts after the jump. (more…)
In my ongoing series of Ron Burgundy-eque “I’m kind of a big deal” posts, Peter Schrager from FoxSports.com was nice enough to contact me saying that he wanted my thoughts on some topics around the Jets, and being a Jets fan.
Peter was up front, saying the article was not meant to be a piling on, but rather “putting a piece together on the plight of the Jet fan.” You can read the whole of Peter’s article here on FoxSports.com, and I have included below the answers to some questions that didn’t make the cut to the article as bonus goodies to those of you who are loyal readers, or have found the site via Peter’s article.
As usual: enjoy, discuss, rinse & repeat.
Today Cimini writes in the Daily News that the Jets need to ask themselves a tough question when it comes to their Quarterback:
Do we like him or do we love him?
When considering a young quarterback, there’s a huge difference between like and love, especially if there’s an alternative. And there might be a tempting alternative for the Jets.
Really? Do we need a history lesson? It’s not like we have to go far, let’s just look to the regime’s history.
2007 NFL Draft — The Jets package draft picks to move up to take Darrelle Revis, not poor ol’ Brady Quinn.
2006 NFL Draft — The Jets stay put at #4 (thus not getting Vince Young) and pass over Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler to take Kellen Clemens, a lower risk prospect in the late second round.
Anything can change between now and April, but it’s my understanding that this QB class isn’t regarded as very strong at the top. When two of the top three prospects both come from the Big East … that to me is rather troubling. Add in the fact that there are a number of quality DE, DT and 3-4 OLB prospects rated highly, and my mouth starts watering at names like Chris Long or Quentin Groves.
I go back and forth between the “best player available” and “need based” draft strategy, but with a LEAGUE WORST defensive line against the run, neglecting to add players early in the draft to the defensive front seven would be a colossal mistake. Sure, we’ll have to see how the free agency period goes, but potentially having Kellen Clemens, Chad Pennington and a top #5 pick like Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan on your roster doesn’t do a lick about stopping teams a backup like Kenny Watson from gashing the Jets defense over and over.
There’s no way to know what Kellen Clemens is yet. What I would say is that I’m not concerned about what I’ve seen thus far, he’s played some very good defenses and has minimized the mistakes. Should he have a mediocre or bad game this weekend against the Dolphins, I will be more likely to be concerned.
Yesterday, the Jets re-signed Jeremy Kapinos, this time to the team’s Practice Squad. Kapinos spent time with the team, signing with the Jets as a RFA in July.
Kapinos (6’1″, 235) punted at Penn State averaging 41.8 yards per punt over four years with a career long of 78 yards.
Ben Graham has been statistically mediocre, but he’s still a middle of the pack punter in the NFL. Only putting four punts out of bounds all season they all seem to have been at poor times. Likely, Kapinos can add some value by keeping Graham more fresh during games for the remainder of the season.
