Areas for Improvement: Patriots 19, Jets 10
Posted on September 17th, 2008 by Corey Griffin
If I had written this on Sunday evening, or even some time Monday, it would have been a list 17x longer than it is now. However, I’ve learned that with football, as with most things in life, you should think before you say something stupid.
It’s with that in mind that we tackle the landmine of a loss that was the Jets’ home opening loss to the Patriots in a grander and more sensible light.
- Penalties – It was #1 last week. It’s #1 this week. I know some of you would like to harp on the playcalling, and I will, but if you’re going to play competitive football and try to qualify for the postseason, it starts and ends with mental mistakes. This is beyond uncharacteristic of an Eric Mangini team. I’m not sure what’s suddenly changed with this team — the core remains intact — but these stupid penalties are killing the team, halting drives and giving the other team outstanding field position — that and Ben Graham. I’m unsure as to lay the blame on new faces in key places, but that doesn’t excuse everything. The Calvin Pace roughing the passer penalty was not inexcusable, rather unfortunate. However, there were 5 other calls for 45 yards and several others that were declined that cost this team in key moments. If this team is going to beat good teams, it’s going to start with putting an end to bad penalties — not that there’s such a thing as good penalties.
- Brian Schottenheimer – To quote Peter Griffin, “C’monnnnnnnnnn.” Just one pass, Brian. I know you have it in you. I saw the aggressive unleashing of Favre at times in week 1 against the Dolphins. I’ve seen you go for it all and I still faintly remember your creative juices covering the field week after week in 2006. Look, this has been gone over with a fine tooth comb in the comments, in reviews, and in many of your cars on the ride home Sunday as you spit and screamed at Buttle and company over the FM radios. I mean, for crying out loud, at least call 3 DIFFERENT run plays — a toss, an off-tackle, something. I’m not going to go in depth, because what’s needed to be said has been said ad nauseum. However, it was just another perfect example of why the Patriots are the Patriots and the Jets are the Jets. Go for the kill. Stop coaching like your father.
- #4 – It’s clear he’s not alright. I mean, he’s made some good passes and gotten out of the pocket and made some plays, but it’s clear to me that Brett Favre is having his own little preseason out there. He’s being forced to work it out on the field and we’re seeing the results — inconsistent, at best. There is hope, though Jets fans. I do believe that in week six, when this team comes out of the bye week, and Favre has a chance to look at four games worth of footage with Schottenheimer, Daboll, and Mangini, this offense will develop further and become more developed, dangerous and dastardly (I just like that word). So let’s just hope, for now, that Favre continues to find Chansi Stuckey and Jerricho Cotchery and grows more comfortable with Laveranues Coles.
- Special Teams - Uhhh, where do we begin? First, how long’s it been since the Jets had a kicker able to consistently boot field goals into the BACK of the end zone? A long time. To be fair, Mike Nugent was much better last season and was, optimistically, expected to continue and even expand on that. However, that said, the missed field goals from35 and in are inexcusable and the punting is an abomination. Bassett posed a very good question: Is Reggie Hodges the answer? Well, folks, it’s unlikely that he is and Jets fans will likely have to wait until the offseason before the organization finds a true answer at the position, but he can’t be worse than Graham’s been the past two weeks and much of last season. Nugent has to get healthy and fast, because Jay Feely is awful and totally unreliable; when he does get healthy, he has to become the kicker the Jets drafted in the 2nd round. You know, the guy from Ohio State who made big kick after big kick no matter the distance, who neutralized return games with a good leg and was worth a second round pick.
- Expectations – Just pointing this out, but as the point was made earlier in the week, prior to the Favre trade, Jets fans, the Jets themselves, and pundits would have been happy with finishing the first quarter of the season 2-2. Unfortunately, the trade for #4 drastically shifted expectations of everyone — Tom Brady didn’t exactly help things (He screws Jets fans yet again) — and the Patriots game became a “should-win” instead of a “could-win”, thus unleashing the horrifyingly outraged fan reaction. I got caught up in this as well, but Jets fans need to look at this now as we should have looked at it prior to the start of the season. Even with Favre, this team still needs to gel and build around each other. It’s a work-in-progress; something that’s likely going to take a couple of weeks to fix. So, it’s important to re-tool how you look at this team and reset for after the bye week. If Favre’s still missing open receivers and Schottenheimer’s still calling Pennington’s number, then they could be in trouble.
- Defensive Endurance – I’m being picky on this last one, but I think it merits mentioning. The defense was totally gassed for much of the Patriots’ drives in the second half. Understandable considering how often they were on the field, but still not acceptable. LaMont Jordan wasn’t picked up by anyone for months — via UFA or trade — and then finally he was given the 4th string running back’s job on the Pats. Now, suddenly, he runs roughshod over the defense? The starters have got to be prepared to go deep into games, especially games like this when the offense isn’t clicking. LaMont Jordan cannot run for a 5.6 average on you. That’s disgraceful. Also, towards the fourth quarter, the pass rush started to weaken and Matt Cassel had much more time to throw than he did earlier in the game. I’m not sure whether that’s halftime adjustments — as I only saw the game live, not on tape — or wear and tear, but I’m sure it’s combination of both. Mangini, Sutton, whoever is running the defense has to get these guys legs, and guts, underneath them and get them rolling for 60 minutes.
As always, I’m sure I missed something. So, what did you guys see?
Filed under: Main Page
1# SPECIAL TEAMS
We lost this game because of special teams. The Penalties may be a problem but they did not cost us the game. The Jets are going to have to wait until the offseason to find an answer to the kicking game may be the case. That may be the answer but the question is why.
All this talk of 2-2 is a joke if the Jets don’t play better. If anyone thinks the Jets will beat either The Chargers or the Cardinals with the current play of our special teams and play calling on offense you are kidding yourself.
As far as the D being gassed, I was on the field before the game and I swear it felt like 150 degrees down there. Hot as I’ve ever felt it. Of course the Patriots were playing in the same conditions but had the lead and could just grind it on us. Got to give credit to the Bill Beelzebub for running his freshest horse in the 4th.
I’m getting tired of backing the play calling with you guys. If it works you guys are happy. Denver goes for two and it works, the guy’s a genius. If you look at the Pats play calling, very conservative, but it worked. You hear them bitching?
Holding the Pats to one TD was a feat in itself for the D. Field position was the difference in the game, nothing else. Stat wise, almost exactly the same, but field position allowed the Pats to kick FGs, while the Jets just kicked.
You got nothing else. Just your guess based on hindsight.
The Jets lost the game because Favre has no idea what he is doing. Monday he will not look any better.
The number one need on this team is QB. Bench Favre and start Clemens.
Nikolas do you only come on this web site after a loss. Start Clemens – what do you want? The number 1 draft next year.
We lost the game because of special teams. Field position. Actually the offensive and defensive stats were quite similar between the JETS and PATS.
billvv
I said the main reason we lost was because of special teams. But the offensive play calling is a problem. Chad is gone. We have Farve now. Just like Nickolas the coaches need to get over it and adjust.
Without knowing what he was doing, Favre won one game on his own and kept the team within some bad penalties and special teams play from winning another against the AFC champs. I’m happy to wait till he knows a little more as opposed to going back to a QB who, with full knowledge of the system, won 3 games.
I just don’t understand killing Favre for this loss. Favre doesn’t punt, kick field goals, call his plays or wear stripes with a whistle in his mouth. His one mistake came after an atrocious penalty call for offensive PI. He didn’t blame the officials for a terrible game-changing call. It’s funny. The Chargers are crying about the bogus whistle on the Broncos fumble, but nobody is complaining about that offensive PI call. Those calls NEVER go against the offense. A jump ball, both WR and CB hand fighting and one guy gets tripped up by the other’s feet? I’ve seen that same play hundreds of times over the years and this is the first time that I’ve seen the WR flagged. That call came when the score was 6-3 and on the Jets first offensive possession of the 3rd quarter…it was a huge game-changing, momentum swinging play because 5 minutes later the score was 13-3. If Favre had gotten Lambeau Field calls, the Jets would be 2-0.
It’s not everybody. It’s mainly me. I wish we had a Jet QB. Not Chad, but a homegrown one. This is a truck stop in Favre’s career. Plus who throws a pass passed the line of scrimage. I hate those mistakes.
Farve’s QB rating is just over 104 after 2 games. He is not the problem. Yeah I would love a home grown Jets QB but you’re not going to achieve this by having 4 QBs on the roster and hoping someone turns into something he is not. Cut the crap and move on. Brett Ratliff may be the answer. Brady Quinn will be available next year unless Derek Anderson sucks. Then Anderson will be available. Clemens needs to go.
Sack – there is nothing to understand about killing Favre for this loss. The only thing you need to understand is that Nikolas is a clueless moron who bears a grudge and so will criticize Favre endlessly for no reason, constantly waving his ignorance like a flag for all of us to see.
Schotty might have been playing mind games with the Pats D when he ran it 3 times. It’s the classic “NOBODY FOOLS A SICILIAN” conundrum. Funny, Schottenheimer doesn’t sound Sicilian.
When it came down to it, letting go of Graham was a great move. Punting and kicking has more to do with nerves than talent. Graham seemed to lose his nerve this year.
DC
Leave poor Nikolas alone. He has to root for his own team to lose in order to justify his argument. And I thought my Sundays had been painful all these years.
Sackdance- i totally agree with u! That was some BS offensive PI call that totally changed things for the Jets!
Major Tobacles/ Momentum Killers
Missing that FG on the opening drive (Cost 3 pts.)
First and goal at the 3 and run 3X- kick FG (Cost 4 pts.)
Official’s Horrible call on Cotchery PI, leads to Favre then forcing the ball resulting in a interception- (leads to Patriots TD – 7pts.)
so if u add those 7 pts that we should of scored, and take away the 7pts that came as the result of that interception possibly the result of that horrible offensive PI the score could of been Jets17 Pats 12!
Also Add in the Following (to our struggle with the pats:
Ben Graham horrible punting – leading to the Patriots getting the ball around the 50 yard line where all they needed was like 2 first downs to kick a FG!
One of our final drives- holding penalty on Woody bringing back a nice run by TJ- cost us having to punt the ball
Some Pessimism/ Glass Half Empty Thoughts
Sadly to say, after 2 games I’m starting to think the Jets might not make the Playoffs! Our offensive play calling and defensive prevent defense is really scaring me in thinking the Jets will not make the Playoffs.
After game 1 we said, hey the Dolphins are a descent team, a little imporved from last year- after we got by them with our prevent defense in the 4th quarter. Well what happened in week 2 with the Phins- Cardinals destroyed them. Quess who we play in 2 weeks- the Cards who are looking good. Not feeling confident against the Chargers, and it will be a toss up against the Cards. So we can only have 1 win and 3 losses after 4 games.
After the Bye- Buffalo is looking strong- play them 2X, Denver is looking good, Tennesse has a great D-fense and veteran QB, and then we play the Pats again! If we lose these next 2 games and then also lose the previous ones i just stated, we will be 8-8 not making the Playoffs!
Optomistic fans will say- we will win half of those games i just mentioned; pessimistic fans will say we will lose most of those games as well as losing a couple of games to the teams we should beat- chiefs, bengals, phins, rams, seahawks, 49ers, raiders
I hope i see a major change with this team soon, cause i was so excited for this season; and starting to get heart broken after that loss to the Pats!
Well i think our season comes down to our defense. I mean the patriots started every drive at their 42 yardline and our defense still held them to under 20 points. You know last sunday proved that the system the patriots offense is what has made them successful. Tom Brady happens to be a quarterback who pays attention to it and tries to perfect his play. I know the reason why our offense struggled was because Brett Farve did not know enough of the playbook and Bill Belicheat knew this and cornered him by using his “smart” defense to shut him down. The result farve probably was out of the pocket more times than not and he went back to his gunslinger mentality. We were not outcoached but Farve’s attitude to learning the play book has hurt this offense. He probably wont learn the entire playbook but he will at times shift to what he wants to do. This is a conflict between the coaching staff and him. This is my greatest fear and every game he plays and switches to his game of “slinging” it it will confirm this fear. I know our defense will improve and our offense will gel with time but i am afraid that farve will ruin what mangini has already laid down.
correction- the system that the patriots have has made them successful.
pat d:
Fonzie is right . Stop drinking Johnny Stynnes koolaid and stop thinking that the coaches are wrong and Farve is right. NEWS FLASH !!!!! IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF ALL PLAYERS IN THE NFL TO LEARN THE PLAYBOOK !!!!