JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 8
1) Brett Favre vs. Getting Back on Track – Brett Favre has been completely off his usual game the past two weeks. His numbers over the last two weeks are one touchdown and four interceptions. By no means am I blaming him for the offense’s lack of firepower; however I just feel his production has to be a little better being our starting quarterback. Three of those interceptions were down around the goal line. The Raiders game play calling was very conservative with most of his passes being within the 10 yard range. Many questions have arisen over the past week on what the issue may be. Some people feel Favre may be more banged up than we believe, or the fact that Coles/Cotchery dealt with injuries this past Sunday was the reason for the short passing game, or also that the play calling is just very conservative because they are afraid Favre will turn the ball over in opponents’ territory. Whatever the issue is, the NYJ must step up their game with the crucial part of their schedule coming up.
2) Tyler Thigpen vs. NYJ Defense – Matt Cassell and JaMarcus Russell have been winning quarterbacks versus the Jets this season. A playoff football team does not allow this happen twice, never mind a third time. If Thigpen escapes the Meadowlands with a victory on Sunday, the Jets will be in big trouble again. Thigpen’s rating so far on this season is 44.3 with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Where was the pressure last week versus Russell? This week they will have to get pressure on Thigpen and force him into making throws he does not feel comfortable doing so. If you let him sit in the pocket untouched, anything can happen – its football.
3) Eric Mangini & Staff vs. Righting the Ship – The Jets are a .500 team this year after 6 games. That is far less than the expectations that arose during the preseason. We all know that in the NFL things always change drastically week in and week out. There are 10 games left in the 2008 season and a ton will change league wide before its all said and done. I do feel there is enough talent in that locker room to get in the playoffs. Bob Sutton has to make the defense a unit that is feared by their opponents. I feel the offense still has not found a comfortable niche to base their packages and calls upon. Every week they are trying something new. The coaching staff has to start finding their groove or for some of them might be their last hurrah in green.
4) Dwayne Bowe/Tony Gonzalez vs. NYJ Pass Coverage – With Larry Johnson being deactivated for an altercation with a woman, Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez emerge as the big threats of the high-powered Kansas City offense. Bowe is averaging six catches for 70 yards and Gonzalez is averaging five catches for 50 yards this season. I am sure the NYJ will assign Darrelle Revis to Dwayne Bowe as they do every week against the opponents’ top wide receiver. The match up on Gonzalez is once again going to be thwarted with a mix of linebackers and safeties. Losing LJ really hurts the KC offense because they are missing a true grinding, tough running back. Jamal Charles will start in his place; however if they can’t get him going look for Thigpen to try to force feed the ball to Bowe and Gonzalez. That can lead to plenty of turnovers.
5) Herman Edwards vs. You Play to Win the Game – Herm’s favorite words proclaimed in 2002, his best year as a NYJ coach. Herm will have his team prepared this coming Sunday, and we all know he would love nothing more to come out of here with a victory this weekend. This is the NFL – any time can be beat in any game. Herm is a great motivator, and I am sure his team will buy into whatever he preaches them this week. Wait hold on, Mr. Dick Curl how much time do we have left here? Don’t count out an old dog coming to his old playground to justify his coaching abilities.
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J Mattera
It appears that you suffer from a state of consternation when you mention Farves name. Say it like it is; He must start to earn his $12 million/yr NOW if we are to make the playoffs.
Let’s let Favre be Favre. Dink and dunk, no play action, no deep passes. I’ve said before that I thought Favre under-performed the game plan against the Bengals. Against the Raiders, what was the game plan? Get Favre killed? Establish the run, play action pass, on 2nd and long, go to Keller. Let’s keep it simple.
Beware of Charles, (it’s JAMAAL, by the way), he has great open field speed. His weaknesses are that he is not a good pass protector and he has had issues in the past with fumbles. Let’s hope the Jets can captialize on these facts.
In the NFL, I’ve seen the situation before where a really lousy run defense comes up against a running game that is on form, everybody predicts 400 rushing yards and goes wild for fantasy purposes, but then the outcome seems to be that the defense focuses more on the run and the more significant damage is done through the air. So, while the Jets should definitely pound away at that fragile defensive front, they will need the passing game to come up big for this to be the comfortable win we are all hoping for. I wonder how much of a downgrade Hunter will be over Woody, if he takes his place? He seemed to do OK in spot duty last week.
I am very scared of the “Mets-always-struggle-versus-pitchers-they-don’t-have-the-book-on” corollary that I’ve mentioned before.
You still need to run the ball. Control the line of scrimmage. Brett still needs to read the defense and take what they give him. Like a screen!! Run if its there or throw. KC is very young. I’m sure he’ll be able to thow for three tds Sunday. This is the type of game where we win and the defense needs to make a decision. Play prevent or or go forward and work on playing man on man defense. I would really like to see them be aggressive.
Considering that it’s possible our starting RT and both starting WR’s could be out, along with our best blocking TE, I don’t care about statements or easy victories, I just want to make sure we play sound, fundamental football and win. For those who’ve pined to see Keller get some chances, this may be the day. Solid running by TJ and Leon setting up seam passes to the TE and play action to Stucki and Smith should get it done. I also hope to see the D come out in a fiery rage and dominate, possibly even score one TD.
Subway, you took the words right out of my mouth (or keyboard). Winning by 40 pts doesn’t get you anything. Win the game handily, meaning dominate line of scrimmage. Show improvements in the areas where we’ve been weak the last few weeks, ie, protect the QB, win turnover battle, no stupid penalties.
They wont be able to run the ball, Dwyane Bowe will be invisible just like he was last year when he faced Revis, my only concern is tony gonzales since the jets have shown trouble covering the TE. Other than that, I just want mistake free football from the offense.
MY belief is that we have enough talent on our team to line up and play footbootball.
All the cute stuff and extra motions was kool when he had no talent on our team and Victor Hobson was starting on D and Kevin Barlow and Cedric Houston where running the football behind Kellen Clemens at QB. Not to mention the great Jacob Bender and Anthony Clement blocking.
*CHad Penn was at Qb.
Youre right Najy, that stuff was acceptable when we needed to do it in order to be successful, But with the talent on our O-Line, and an all-pro FB, and a hall of fame QB, we should not need to use all these gimmicks, and motion, and all the other cute stuff our offense does. If you ask me we have one of the best rosters in the NFL on paper, so why not just line up and PLAY FOOTBALL
Looks to me like they were trying to setup the run with the pass early on against a solid secondary of the raiders. How bout we try the opposite this week like most above average teams do and setup the pass with the run. We all know herm loves the cover 2 and what happened with playaction. Also how bout some pressure on the QB, rusell had all day back there, maybe vernon “ghouls and gholston” can get some pressure or how bout calvin pace stops running like orlando pace and get some pressure
Ghouls and Ghosts broke my spirit. That game is frickin hard!