JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 7
Eric Mangini takes him team out to the West Coast AGAIN, and let’s hope for better results this time around. Hopefully new Raiders coach Tom Cable does not influence Mangini with Medieval Times tickets, free cable (it’s the ultimate aphrodisiac – Ed.), or a karaoke party for him and the staff the night before the game. Now to the match ups:
1) Eric Mangini vs. Keeping The Team Focused – The NYJ are approaching the second game of a three game swing in which all three games are extremely winnable. Mangini must not let the team get ahead of themselves and take any team for granted. Winning in the NFL is a task no matter who your opponent is nonetheless traveling across the country to play in the Black Hole. After being embarrassed by the Saints last week, you know the Raiders will be looking to come out firing on all cylinders at home. Mangini and staff must keep the players focused and focus on the task at hand.
2) Darren McFadden/Justin Fargas/Michael Bush vs. NYJ Run Defense – One of the NYJ strengths’ this season has been stopping the run. The addition of Kris Jenkins has been crucial in the Jets improvement in this area of the game. The media has written about this improvement all week which was clearly deserved. On the other hand, the one thing the Raiders do well on offense is run the football. They are 4th in the league in rushing averaging 141 yards per game. McFadden is the most explosive being able to hurt you rushing or receiving. All three backs have their own niche, and all can deliver any time they touch the ball. The NYJ rush defense has one of its biggest rushing tasks this week in Oakland.
3) L.Coles/J.Cotchery vs. Nnamdi Asomugha/DeAngelo Hall – Coles and Cotchery have been doing a magnificent job all season making catches. Many feel Asomugha may be one of the best shutdown corners in the league. Hall is a corner who can make plays but at times also gets toasted. Coles and Cotchery each have 26 receptions after the first 5 games which is good balance. If Favre can get the ball in their hands enough on Sunday to make plays, the NYJ should walk away with a victory. Will Asomugha and Hall be able to shut down the wide receivers and let their defense dictate the game?
4) Zach Miller vs. NYJ Pass Defense – JaMarcus Russell is developing slowly as an NFL quarterback. He does not have any big play wide receivers where he can develop a niche with thus far in his career. Russell has established a connection this season with his starting tight end Zach Miller. Although not a big household name such as Gates, Winslow, etc, Miller has been doing a nice job giving Russell a target to throw to. Miller has 14 catches for 199 yards including a touchdown after six weeks. The NYJ have shown some vulnerability this season being able to cover tight ends. Antonio Gates and Anthony Fasano both caught touchdown passes early on this season. Since Russell does not have big play wide receivers, shutting down his favorite target and the running game will help further the defense’s reputation as becoming one of the better in the NFL.
7 Responses to JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 7
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DaveTN says:
Good post kc, but I would say it seems pretty clear that Coles, who is a complicated cat, wasn’t as sulky as everybody decided he was. At least, he didn’t let it affect his job.
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Sean says:
Good Post JMatt.
DaveTN: I agree that Coles is a complicated individual and he has been one of my favorite players since he began to emerge before the Jets traded him to the skins. I also agree that while he was pissed off about how the organization treated his long time friend Chad he was not as disgruntled as the media made him out to be. HOWEVER, I cannot recall a stretch of games where he has dropped so many balls. Either he was affected by the release of Chad and it has affected his focus or he is just not as good as he used to be. WAY too many drops this year.
In fact, should have 3 more TDs. There was a low throw in (I believe) the Miami game that he usually catches, he dropped one against the Cardinals and should have caught one last week on the post in the third quarter.
Also, did not fight hard enough for the ball that Cromarties ran back.
I love the guys passion for the game but I have to tell ya, it does not seem like he has the same fire as in the past.
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Harlan Lachman says:
JMatt, you give us one more thing to worry about. So far, this year, we have not been able to stop TE. Lowery and Revis have had much success shutting down the two WR. We have been killed by the slot receiver, TE and backs out of the backfield have had some success too.
Yikes!
Suttoni better have an answer to this problem. If you can point this out, one would hope our coaches could figure out that it could be a problem too. Good defense should stop what the other team wants and is able to do.
harlan
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Reprocity says:
I think the reason why we seem so inept at covering TE’s and 3rd WR is the people who usually cover them are the one’s blitizing! They are the hot routes so they get the catches instead of the NO 1 and 2 WR’s. Pace/Barton/Harris/BT, none can really cover all that well but when they blitz it’s really an easy completion IF the QB can get the ball there. Other than the hot routes Revis and Lowery have been giving the rush an extra second or two to get to the QB hence the increase in sacks. Any takers?
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TOON2388 says:
Pace can cover – but he is our best pass rusher. On 3rd & 7 or more, I would like see 5 or 6 DBs with these 5 or 6 from the front on the field: Ellis, Pace, Harris, Gholston, Thomas, & Bowens. I am aware a running play will catch us every once in awhile, but if teams want to try a low % run just because we only have 1 DL on field, it means we are dictating to them.
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billvv says:
Sean, I’m surpirsed you failed to account for two things working against Coles. One, an injury kept Coles from practicing and, two, a new QB always takes some getting used to. When that comes in a game, ball speed and location will cause problems and adjustments, both of which he has accomodated. I agree that Coles was never the problem the media made him out to be and posters here should know better.
The New York Jets acquired a quarterback who’s maintaining the best passer rating of his ILLUSTRIOUS career and whose presence is stimulating dreams not entertained in recent times.
All they sent to the Green Bay Packers probably will be a second- or third-round draft choice. Brett Favre has been worth it and then some.
Before Favre, the Jets were headed for a quarterback controversy. Chad Pennington wasn’t afraid to share his impressions of how the team viewed him, suggesting the front office wanted Kellen Clemens to win a job that had flip-flopped in 2007. Problem was, Clemens was losing the battle in camp.
Pennington is lauded unanimously for being a classy leader, but with the muddled quarterback outlook and little confidence from coach Eric Mangini and his staff, the variables were immense and dangerous.
Then Favre arrived, and everything became crystalline. A surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer at the helm instilled a conviction the Jets wouldn’t have had.
Yes, there have been adjustments. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles sulked over Pennington’s dismissal. Favre labored to rewire himself after 16 seasons as Green Bay’s motherboard.
But the Jets are 3-2 and working their way into AFC East contention, with an upcoming schedule that’s softer than a Sarah McLachlan album.
The Jets invested a lot of money to land such players as guard Alan Faneca, tackle Damien Woody, nose tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace. An unquestioned quarterback was the missing piece.
They got one, and there won’t be any regrets.