JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 11
In the NFL, matchups are key. Some of those matchups might be on the field, while others are more abstract. Each Friday, JMattera takes a look at a few crucial pieces of the upcoming game for the Jets this weekend, and how they fare against their competition or themselves …
NYJ Coaching Staff vs. Stick to the Script
Coach Eric Mangini must not let his personal battles get in the way of the game as he sometimes does when going up against his old boss Bill Belicheat (see how happy they were above). The NYJ coaching staff must stick to the momentum they are riding right now heading into this game.
Eric, leave all the personal baggage and battles behind when you are preparing for this game. No one is going to give you extra brownie points if you outfox Belicheat. Get the win – that will get you the respect you rightfully deserve.
The coaches and players deserve this shot for first place due to the hard work and perseverance you guys have displayed so far this season. Get physical and tough, go into New England and leave there with first place in your hands!
Brian Schottenheimer vs. Continue to feed Thomas Jones
The New York Jets have the privilege of having the leading rusher in the AFC. They must continue to feed him the ball. He has been on a scorching pace over the past couple weeks. Last game against the Pats he rushed for 70 yards on 17 carries.
The Patriots do have one of the best fronts in the business so having a big day running can be a tough task to come by. Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork are one of the most active units up front in the league. They can put an end to any running game any given week.
It will be the task of the offensive brain trust to continue to feed Jones but also keep in mind Mr. Favre. These are the games they brought him in to win. He can throw six touchdowns against Arizona or lead us to a big victory over the Rams but at the end of the day he was brought here to help beat the Patriots. Playing with a banged up secondary, do the Jets attack them often? The offensive coaches must find a way to keep Brett heavily involved but also do not forget the beast number 20 in the backfield.
Bob Sutton vs. Defending the underneath passing game/slot receiver
The Jets defense went into the Week 2 game not knowing what to expect against a first time starter in Matt Cassell. The Patriots came out and heavily utilized their underneath passing game and screens (running back and wide receiver).
Wes Welker (7 catches, 72 yards) and Kevin Faulk (4 catches, 50 yards) led the attack in the underneath passing game. The quick passing game gives a defense less a chance for pressure because the ball leaves the quarterbacks’ hands very quickly.
It will be up to Coach Mangini and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton to devise a plan to take away the underneath routes as well as keeping pressure in the face of Matt Cassell.
NYJ vs. NE in the Turnover Battle & Special Teams Play
The last time the Jets and Patriots took the field the special teams, field position, and turnover battle dictated the game. The Patriots did not out play the Jets at all that day with both teams having very similar overall stats.
The Patriots did not turn the ball over at all in Week 2 whereas Brett Favre threw an interception in the second half in his own zone. Kicker Stephen Gostowski really outplayed Jay Feely on this day. Not only did he hit four field goals, but he continuously gave the Jets unfavorable field position on his kickoffs.
The Jets will have to improve in these areas going into Foxboro this coming Thursday night. The special teams play, the turnover battle, and field position will be crucial elements in the Jets grabbing a firm grip on first place.
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I don’t get your point. Mangini will do what he thinks it takes to win. Same as any other game. To suggest otherwise is insulting and stupid.
I hear you loud and clear, JMat.
I think Mangini got too cute in week 2 and it cost us the game.. calling the EXACT same running play 3 times in a row from inside the 5 yard line was rediculous.
I doubt we’ll see anything like that tonight.
Mangini was out-coached in September, but I am not sure that Billi-Cheat had enough heatlhy players to fend off the pending upset.
Go Jets
i dont think i have seen mangini in any way shape or form look like he takes these games any more personal then any other game….
i really dont get the basis of these comments but
I agree that Mangini adds a personal battle when coaching games against the Patriots.
If you think Bellichek doesn’t feel this is personal too you guys are plain wrong. It is bigger if Bellichek loses. No one give Mangini much credit. Bellichek is a caoching god according to the media. Sure Mangini wants to win, but Bellichek doesn’t want to lose in his hoem stadium.
I think there is a credibility to this claim because I have seen a difference in playcalling vs. the Pats. Mangini retreats into a conservative bubble against the Pats instead of punching them in the teeth and taking the game from them. That was true with Chad and definitely in the Week 2 game with Favre (although I think that was more of a function of Favre’s lack of knowledge with the offense). I think Mangini should be reminded to play the Jets strengths, not solely focusing on the Pats weaknesses. You need a balance of both, but if we play our style of gameplan, I think an upset is very possible.
On offense: Stick with the tyoe of gameplan we have had in the last couple of weeks, but also throw deep a little more (not a lot more) to exploit some chances with the weak Pats secondary.
On defense: Keep up the pressure on Cassell, especially up the middle. The Pats don’t have a huge running game right now, so we might be able to give a little there. Overall, the main focus should be to contain Moss and Welker, especially Welker.
The three running play’s up the gut seemed to be intended as a big f-you to NE. Didn’t work. If the jets can play hard, put the personal aside and utilize the appropriate weapons (TJ and Keller), they will win this game.
Also, I heard that this game will be broadcast in nyc (outside of the NFL network) is this true?
sjfalcon -
I hardly think that if we win, it classifies as an “upset.” We’re the better team, we should win, I don’t care what Vegas says.
The Chad -
See Bassett’s post on the front page. WPIX is simulcasting the game.
Yes, for the team home fans channel 11 in NJ, the WB11. Check your local listings!
Mangini has a unique team each time he plays any team. Do not interject any feelings into this, it is not warranted. These guys just stand on the sidelines because they must remain calm and deliberate.
Favre has weapons he now trusts. Expect him to find them early and often. Running will be the early test, but they will certainly try to establish rhythm first.
On defense, expect normal pass rushes early so as not to create a big momentum shift. Very short passes are the Pats bread and butter with YAC how they get down the field. If the Jets can manage that, the Pats will have to go long to pry the D off the line.
Expect turnovers from each team. Both Ds are good at it. It’s just the points off turnovers that will matter. I think there will be four TO in a very defensive battle. Late in the game I expect the Jets to begin to show their strength and win going away.
AFC East blog: Scouts Inc.: Favre-Belichick a unique chess match
Worth the read. I wrote mine first!
There’s supposed to be heavy rain in Foxboro and it’s also likely to be windy. Bad weather is always good for the home team. There will be a very good opportunity for the Jets to run right and, especially, run wide right against the Pats D (more Leon?). Ty Warren has had a groin problem and AD is out. Also, if the strong safety starts to move up in run support, Keller could get free because no safety or LB can cover him 1 on 1.
With Favre’s cannon arm and the bad weather, I would test that deep Pats coverage early. DBs fall down or slip and our guys are expert route runners. Let’s face it, BB will force Favre to try to beat the Pats. He’ll take away the running game and hope that the football gods smile on the Pats again, like in Game 2 when Favre’s legit 40-yard bomb to J. Co. was nullified because of a bogus offensive PI call and, then, after the penalty, Favre threw an INT. As much as we would like TJ and the OL to win this game, Favre has to throw effectively for the Jets to win.
listen up in the new england area they dont care if they win 2 games all year as long as they beat the jets we need to lay the wood to them
I would like to see us establish our running game, stay with the running game. As stated, Jones had a decent day the first time they met, ave. about 4 yards/carry, so if he got the ball 25 times he would of been over 100 yards probably. Also, i feel our O-line as a whole has improved and gelled over the last couple of weeks. Establish the run, so on 3 rd down it is 3rd and short. Also this will bring up a safety at times, when this starts to happen, play action pass. Make sure to get our TE’s involved.
Rainy and cold tonite,Favre weather and advantage Favre!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO TO’S Brett,Just get it done!!
Wow! That photo is hard to stomach… As if, I needed any more motivation for tonight’s game?
Go Jets!!!!!!
That photo is so sickening sweet I can hear Barbara Streisand in the background singing “The Way We Were.”
No getting around it, this is a personal grudge-fest that both coaches will probably over-think and meddle with a bit too much. Against other teams, the Pats and Jets are pretty evenly matched, but on the same field who knows what we’ll see.
All I can predict is a great game — and hope that our IR list doesn’t get any longer after it’s done.
Have the Pats had any bad weather games yet this season? If not, then this will be Cassel’s first.
I am pessimistic heading into this game because as a Jets fan something will happen when playing the Pats. I hate have to feel this way but I do. Do you really have the 100% confidence in your mind that they can pull this out?
I’m nervous myself. There is not a doubt in my mind that this team should win the game, but it is the Pats and they always seem to win. We will see and I think it will be a pleasant Thursday night. I miss seeing Brady get sacked tho.
Jmattera,
I think if you’re going to assert that Mangini’s personal feelings toward Bill B. have detracted from his coaching, you should support it with at least one specific example. To do otherwise is too easy, and a weak lead for your piece.
Unfortunately, the generalites don’t end there. Yes, you note the obvious potential problems, but couldn’t you go a little ways out on the limb and suggest possible Jet strategies that might help? Sackdance99 did.
stop welker and faulk and run the ball well ourselves and we win – im telling you – AND WE WILL
JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sal,
For once I am very optimistic in this game. And this has not been the case for a long time. With better run D and rushing, this one is ours. Not only that we shd be able to give some nice jabs on them.
Remember the last time we won in NE? Snowy day? The image of Brady on the ground with all mud soaked clothers? And the clock hitting 0:00? Thats wht I want to see. Im expecting there to be no blue/white on Cassell tonite, only brown mud.
i don’t think mangini takes games against the pats personal per say. i think he might just overthink, if that makes sense, for example ,he might want to call a certain play, but he might think the ex hc of the nyj knows how he thinks, so maybe he thinks about calling a different play, but because ex hc knows him, he thinks that ex hc might know he’ll switch his play, so now mangini might think should i call play 1 or play 2, or maybe call a new play all together( i just confused myself)! he should just go out and coach this game like any other! huge mental game tonight, GO JETS
Hey its a blood war, not a spelling bee tonight. He’s gotta throw out the Wesleyan education and just coach up the guys to play tough, physical, smart football. With Brett being her for awhile now and comfortable in his role in the offense, we just have to keep blocking and tackling because for the first time in a long time, we are the better team on paper
GO JETS THIS IS OUR SUPERBOWL, EFF THE PATS, THEY BLEED AND SWEAT JUST LIKE WE DO, WE’RE READY FOR WAR!!!!!!!!!
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!!!!!