JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 13
1) New York Jets vs. A LETDOWN –
This weekend, the Denver Broncos, a somewhat deceiving division leader comes into the Meadowlands for a game. Yes they are a division leader but their record of 6-5 may not imply that. They have big wins in games against Tampa Bay and Atlanta, but losses at home to Oakland and Miami.
The NYJ on the other hand enter this game on a very hot streak. Two big division road wins against very formidable opponents have the media calling them the best team in the AFC. How will the Jets handle the newfound publicity and media praise? Will they come out with the same intensity as in past weeks or will they come out flat?
I think there is too much veteran leadership in the locker room to allow this happen. Although we can not expect the Jets to play like they played last week consistently, I do expect the Jets to win this football game. Hopefully the motors stay strong and the NYJ can improve their record to 9-3.
2) Bob Sutton vs. DEFENDING THE SPREAD OUT PASSING GAME –
The NYJ defense has been very stout stopping the run and sacking the quarterback this season. Their defense however has struggled when teams go to a wide open, no-huddle passing game. This kind of passing attack gives Kris Jenkins less a chance to make plays up front due to the quick passes and throws from the quarterback.
In the second half of the game against the Cardinals, the no-huddle passing game brought the Cardinals back into the game after a very big deficit at halftime. In the Chiefs game as well, Tyler Thigpen had great success also in this same type of game plan in the second half. Also, once the Patriots went down 24-6, they employed the same throw heavy game plan in which Matt Cassell threw for 400 yards.
Mike Shanahan enters the Meadowlands this coming weekend, and we all know he is a good coach who takes advantage of opponents’ weaknesses. Look for the Broncos to try to utilize the passing game early and often this Sunday with a strong armed quarterback in Jay Cutler and talented receivers such as Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokley.
3) Brian Schottenheimer vs. CONTINUING TO BALANCE THE OFFENSE –
The NYJ offense has looked night and day from the early weeks in the season. Coach Schottenheimer has been doing a great job of keeping opponents off balance when calling their defensive schemes. There are a lot of weapons on this Jets offense, and over the past few weeks they are ALL being utilized.
Thomas Jones has been great running the football so far this season. He really is hitting holes and running hard enabling him to rack up all these yards. Brett Favre has been in a groove the past couple weeks with his new found favorite target in Dustin Keller. Leon Washington is explosive, with a chance to make things happen every time he touches the ball. Schottenheimer has been doing great keeping a balance between all these playmakers, while also putting many points on the scoreboard.
I think this week will be a high scoring game, so the offense will have to stay on par in putting up big points.
4) NEW YORK BLOCK EXCHANGE –
I remember hearing this nickname somewhere for the NYJ offensive line during the 2000 season. The culprits that year were Jason Fabini, Kerry Jenkins, Kevin Mawae, Randy Thomas, and Ryan Young. That line got a lot of attention that year in opening up holes for Curtis Martin.
I think that nickname should now be associated with this current group of offensive lineman in D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore, and Damien Woody. Their play the past couple of weeks has really been what makes our offense tick. Championships are won in the trenches, and we should be thankful our offensive line has really taken shape.
This week there’s no Wilfork or Haynesworth, but there is old friend Dewayne Robertson and Marcus Thomas in the middle. On the edges, the Broncos have Elvis Dumervil who is a good pass rusher. Look for the Jets offensive line to keep dominating this weekend. By the way, does anyone have any better nicknames for this year’s hogs up front?
33 Responses to JMattera’s Gridiron Grudges – Week 13
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subwayfare says:
“fired” up, that is. though I’d prefer fried.
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neauone says:
Jumbo Jets, that would be a good name for the offensive line.
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charleyjet says:
I think the Broncos are a dangerous matchup for the Jets because of the pass attack that you reference. Jets should not be passive but should attack Cutler. Most important will be the ability of the Jets to run the ball and dominate time of possession as they did against Tenn. Keep Denver’s defense on the field.
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k.c. says:
nah SUBWAY,you had it right the first time!
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Fonzie says:
Where are you Rhodes?!!
Where were you against the Titans?
This is the test for the Jets secondary once and for all. When the Jets faced the Patriots on Thursday night two weeks ago they didn’t expect Cassel to perform the way he did and he completely exploited the weakness in the Jets defense. Forget about we can’t cover tight ends and slot receivers and runningbacks. This all lies in Rhodes’s hands. He controls whatever happens when the quarteback decides to hold onto the ball. Now that they face a Broncos’s team who will not likely run the ball we ARE EXPECTING THEM TO PASS. CAN WE STOP THEM? I just read an article I think on Newsday and Rhodes was interviewed and he said that he ” has to hold his end of the bargain and that he will be in a little more action this sunday” thats all talk my friend you haven’t shown anything this year and its time to put up or shut up because the players around you in the backfield are making the plays. You need to elevate your game enough just like Oakland’s terrific secondary to put all these stories about how the Jets defense on secondary is their inability to stop the pass. You are all talk Rhodes show the team something. If it is not you then make sure that everyone else around you is good enough to do your job because you are the leader back there. You are not a rookie anymore.
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Bent says: If Kerry Rhodes is the only thing Fonzie can find to have a vendetta about now, we must have one heck of a team.
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TC says:
Subwayfare,
My thought’s exactly!! This is a scary game,sure hope the last 2 game’s haven’t gone to the Jet’s head as well as what everyone is writing and saying!!!! -
Joe B. says:
Well done Bent.
I think the “letdown” talk is overplayed. We expected a letdown after the Bills game. Didn’t happen. Expected the team to be overconfident after the Rams blowout. Wasn’t the case. Worried about a letdown after the Pats win. Didn’t happen. This team, among other things, appears to be very levelheaded and aware that each game presents a stiff, if varied, challenge. Unlike past Jet teams, these guys appear to have a killer instinct (except for the second half against the Pats). Until they actually look passive after a win, this worrying is little more than paranoia, IMO.
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chris says:
You would expect a solid offensive effort based on the Jets O matchups vs the Broncos D. What is unknown is if Cutler has one of those out of body games like Brees did against the Packers Monday. I hate to use the word “prevent” but the the Jets D CANNOT let Marshall and company get behind them. A clock chewing game will be the Jets best friend this weekend and they SHOULD come away with the W
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JoeyHollywood says:
It seems like when you have a big lead the other team drives down field so easy, that i think was case in the arizona and new england game.
The Jets D need to come blitzing dont give cutler anytime to setup and get out of the pocket.
The Jets will score if theres a good running game again.
GO JETS!!!!!
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avi1010 says:
Can the O-line be called the East Rougherford Block Party
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Ed L says:
press coverage….its wat we did against moss in NE and what we did against tennessee….we need to but a second or two to get to cutler….i think thats the only we stop them
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*buy a second or two
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Sorry Bent,
I didnt know we have another defensive back with his head cut off. I thought we gave him more money so he can perform more out himself. It seems that I am so wrong that I can’t help calling his name because I’m in awe of his physical aggressiveness that only Elam, Lowery, and Revis share. You know Bent I thought you would agree after talking a lot during training camp about him. What has he done this year that stands out? Tell me one thing that he has done to have some resemblence of last year when we were annointing him a Pro Bowl safety. Guess the pundits were right about him? He is just a flashy player who works only whenever the team is not performing to expectations. He is on a rise but when will he perform so that he will make the Pro Bowl. I mean last year was the year to show the NFL that he can be equally as good as any safety playing the position. He showed everything on and off the field. Now this was the year to hammer it in and firmly convince them that he is for real. Instead our passing defense is ranked 26th overall and we signed Ty Law who I bet we really didnt want to get because of his selfish ways to help lead the secondary and teach the young corners how to play into the system. Thats Rhodes’s job right? I am terribly disappointed that this part of the unit looked better last year despite a lack of run defense and pass rush and it still ranked somewhat decent in the league has turned 180 degrees. If anything it should be better now.
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Whine whine whine. Kerry definitely hasn’t been great this year, but god damn, you have to be a real sourpuss to be “terribly disappointed” in anything from this team right now.
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I’ll take 11 guys like Rhodes on my defense any day.
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Bent says:
Rhodes is playing as well as ever. He just isn’t standing out as much because everyone around him doesn’t suck for a change. Have you considered that maybe he has made fewer impact plays because teams know what a great ballhawk he is and have adjusted their offense to shy away from throwing in his direction?
Other than the ill-timed blitz in the Raiders game, I can’t recall him making a mistake.
All he’s done in this five game winning streak is record 19 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 passes defensed (one that was intercepted and returned 40 yards) and approximately 100 yards of return yardage. I’ll take it.
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Andrew Weiss says:
We’re beating up Kerry Rhodes now? What’s with you people? You loved him last year because he was only one of a few bright spots on an otherwise dismal defense. It was Revis, Harris and Rhodes and a cast of mediocre journeymen, or worse.
Now that Rhodes isn’t blitzing, because he doesn’t have to, and Jenks is clogging the middle at an All-Pro level, you don’t see the safeties except in run support and when a long pass is completed and the safety is late. When has that happened recently?
Let’s get real. Our problems on defense have come from the off corner and the nickel and dime guys. We don’t really have a Mickens out there and Poteat and Coleman are
not the long-term answer. But, every team has a weakness. That’s ours. Pointing a finger at Kerry Rhodes is ridiculous. -
I agree 100% about not pointing the finger at Rhodes. But I can’t but wonder how/why the numbers are the way they are. The number of passing plays vs. the number of running plays we’ve seen this year is definitely different than last year. Last year, teams didn’t need to do anything but run against us, so it was easy for the secondary (Rhodes included) to make plays. It also allowed him to make more tackles, because more backs were getting past the linebackers.
If you look at the players in our secondary, (Rhodes, Elam, Revis, Law, Lowery) who would you say needs to be replaced? The talent is there. If you ask me, our problems are 1)overexposure, 2) bigger and slower linebackers doing more tackling and run stopping than pass defending and 3) coaching.
Our defense has been torched in the 2nd half of games while playing with a lead. I believe the stats against the Jets pass D are skewed for these reasons. It would be great to see these guys step it up and make some plays though, because we want to win the Superbowl.
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ramble914 says:
No, we are not beating up on Rhodes. Only Fonzie or Hank or whoever he is is beating up on Rhodes. The rest of admire and respect what Rhodes brings to our defense. If KR is not standing out as much this year as years past it’s because he is not the only star, we now have many stars on defense, and he is one amongst many. It seems to me that when circumsatnces dictate he shows up at just the right moment, and saves the day.
Some people just have to have something to complain about.
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billvv says:
Fonzie, you’re enamored with your own press. You couldn’t be more wrong.
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TJBfan says:
Well of course last year there was less passing, when an average RB can get 100 yard rushing vs you there is little reason to pass….
Now when you hold 2 of the best RB in the league to about 54 yards combined, you have little choice. :)
We have made alot of great rb look mediocre, and LT would have looked the same had Jenkins not hurt his back during that game.
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Steve in Philly says:
We’re getting beat in the 2nd half because all the other teams are using cameras to get our defensive signals.
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And did it ever occur to you that maybe we’re attacking the ball better so the plays aren’t near Kerry this year? I don’t think a safety on a good team should be leading the team in tackles…..
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Harvlis says:
There will be no letdown. These Jets are enjoying how well they play together. We are not depending on one good player. When Jenkins is on the bench, Pouha is making big plays. While Harris is hurt, Barton and Bowens are stepping up. Brett is realizing how many weapons he has and is using all of them. The O-Line is starting to dominate.
The game play against the Titans was right on the money. I think that the coaches will have a special surprise for Mr. Cutler. Fonzie might even see Mr. Rhodes say hello to Mr. Cutlet. If we put pressure on him, the score will be lopsided. This Jet team is the real deal.
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I meant the game plan against the Titans
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If Favre throw’s a pick or 2 tomorrow then they will bash him on monday!!!!!!
For all those who haven’t followed Favre’s career till this year will see a younger version of him tomorrow.Jay Cutler is a younger Favre…… -
I think Fonzie should just fix the situation by hitting Rhodes on the helmet and saying “Ehhhhhh!” Seems to work with jukeboxes.
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If he throws two into’s tomorrow but they catch it at the 10 yard line it doesnt hurt you. He’s into’s open up the defense as much as a long incompletion. It keeps the defense honest.
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The Jets wil not have a letdown tomorrow. We havent won anything. The playes know that. They know our history. We should se a couple of inerceptions tomorrow. I’m sure Mangini is focusing on Cutler like Bill B. used to watch Manning.
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JonnyK says:
I really think it comes down to coaching. The last 2 games Mangini and Schotty have not over thought gameday situations. We are finally using our team skills to win games. Thats all they need to do today and the Jets will win..
The one thing that worries me about this game is the Jets having a letdown after two huge wins and the Broncos being fried up to redeem themselves after a terrible game against Oakland.