What to Watch For: Jets vs. Giants
In its first “dress rehearsal” the Jets take on the New York Giants in its annual preseason game, which every, if not almost every year falls on Week 3 of the preseason. The fans will actually get the see the starters for more than a blink of an eye or two. Both teams have been bitten by the injury bug and both teams have showed flashes of brilliance and signs of cluelessness.
Both teams have major questions at the wide receiver position and it’ll be interesting to see how the regular season unfolds as to who ends up as the 1,000 yard receiver on both teams. Premature prediction: Cotchery for the Jets and Smith or Hixon for the Giants. Not a stretch yes, but worth predicting. Here’s what to look for in tonight’s game.
NYJ:
Sanchez: When he’ll not be a thing to focus on is the real question. Sanchez showed a good presence in the pocket against the Rams and looked, at first, like a deer in the headlights at Baltimore last Monday. However, he stuck in there, like any promising quarterback should, and took the Jets down the field via RB Leon Washington for a touchdown.
This will be Sanchez’s first extensive outing as a Jet and will be facing the starting defense of the Giants for at least three quarters. With CB Aaron Ross out on the blue side, it’ll be interesting to see if Sanchez focuses on the side of the field where Ross would usually patrol. But that side will be manned by his former Trojan teammate, Terrell Thomas, who is a promising young second-year corner with decent speed.
Now that Sanchez is the starter, who will he target the most? David Clowney? Keller? How about Cotchery? He seemed to look Keller’s way for the most part during his first game two weeks ago. But with Clowney moving up the depth chart and Sanchez no longer stuck throwing to second rate receivers (even though Wallace Wright is anything but), his selection of targets has grown considerably.
With rain and high winds from Hurricane Danny in the forecast, this will be a good test to see how the golden boy handles a wet ball in the wind tunnel that is Giants Stadium. Same goes for Eli Manning, but that’s nothing new. And with Chris Canty nursing an injury, look for the Jets to attack the line with its one-two punch of Washington and Thomas Jones. Shonn Greene is out for the rest of the preseason due to a rib injury.
David Clowney: Enough talking about Vernon Gholston. Everyone knows what he has to do. But what David Clowney must do is more interesting. It’s been reported that he has moved past Chansi Stuckey on the depth chart and is looking to stake his claim as the #2 wide receiver. His great speed will prove to be an important commodity this season, as long as he stays on the field and off the injury report. He has all the tools to make a big contribution in the Franchez’s first season.
Last season, the Jets seemed to have caught lightning in a bottle off the Packers practice squad, with Clowney burning every Cleveland Browns defender, cashing in 123 yards receiving and two touchdowns, only to see his season end due to a broken collar bone.
He has shown that same lightning this preseason, separating from defenders with ease. The one thing that hasn’t been analyzed is his blocking skills. Yes, how much blocking will he have to do? But it merits a discussion considering the Jets will do a significant amount of running this season with a rookie under center.
Look for Clowney to see some balls thrown his way tonight.
Marques Douglas or Mike Devito?: With Shaun Ellis to miss the first regular season game, these two are the ones to watch. Even though Ellis most likely will start tonight, Douglas and Devito are his understudies. Douglas was brought over by Ryan from the Ravens and Devito has been a backup sensation since joining the Jets in May 2007 as an undrafted free agent. Both are locks to make the team.
Devito has recorded 39 tackles (28 in ’08) in 23 games as a DE with Gang Green and is no slouch on the line. Douglas on the other hand has experience on his side. The nine-year veteran is tied for third in tackles-for-loss from 2003-2008 with 41.5, behind only Pat Williams (Vikings) and Lance Briggs (Chicago). He has not missed a game in six years, so his durability, especially at defensive end, is second to none.
Although it’s only one game that either will start, unless the injury bug begins to fly around, the Jets will lose Shaun Ellis’ god given ability to get to the quarterback, but both of these players can play the game. The smart money is on Douglas, but don’t be surprised if both flip flop during Week One’s contest at Houston.
NYG:
The receivers: There’s no one receiver to watch here. It’s going to be a very mixed up year for Eli Manning and the Giants in terms of who sees the most passes. Both the Jets and Giants have a plethora of talent at wideout position. But now that the “real” action of the preseason has come, who will step up behind Smith and Hixon? Assuming the aforementioned are one and two respectively, this is a make or break year for Sinorice Moss. He said last season was going to be his year; that didn’t go as planned. This offseason, he has shown more speed than years past and has made it known he has to make something happen. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
With the way it looks now, the Giants will go with five or six wide receivers on the roster. Possible cuts by preseason’s end: Derek Hagan and David Tyree; a shame really. Hagan has showed he can catch the ball and Tyree, well, it just goes to show that this really is a “What have you done for me lately” town. Ramses Barden and Mario Manningham are the most intriguing cogs right now. With Barden’s size, it’s almost a given that Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be saying ‘Manning to Barden’ in first and Goal situations on Sunday’s.
Said Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News: If he flat-out dropped a ball in training camp, I don’t remember it. His size makes him a tempting target, as does his long arms. Not the greatest explosion off the line, he has decent speed once he gets moving. Could be an important red-zone or short-yardage target. But one question: When is he going to get a chance to beat someone other than Stoney Woodson? Spent too much time practicing against third- and fourth-team defenses.
Right on all accounts Mr. V. If Barden can get up on corners like Dwight Lowery and Lito Sheppard, then the Giants know Barden can be a big part of the offense this season instead of a year or two from now.
And Manningham may be the biggest sleeper out of all of them. A second-year rookie slowed by injuries last season, showed good hands in the Giants first game against Carolina, hauling in two nice passes for considerable gains from Eli Manning.
Barry Coefield: There’s not much to analyze, being that he’s been a standup defensive tackle since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2006. Did you know he was the first Giants rookie defensive player to start every game since Lawrence Taylor and Bill Neill? Even though Canty is nursing an injury and Fred Robbins, although playing is still recovering from micro-fracture surgery, the Giants aren’t losing anything with Coefield starting. Plus, Tom Coughlin has Mathias Kiwanuka on the sidelines to sub-out Coefield and Rocky Bernard. Look for Coefield to get acquainted with the Jets running backs tonight.
Travis Beckum: A lot has been said of this rookie, but he’s made little or no impact whatsoever during the preseason. However, he showed some good blocking skills against Carolina, albeit against second and third teamers. Other than Kevin Boss, only Beckum and Michael Matthews are listed as tight ends on the depth chart. It’s been said that Beckum will be used as an H-back this season, but his hands are what got him drafted. The Giants should test them out, even though it’ll probably be in the fourth quarter tonight.
Prediction: With the starters in, we’ll finally get to see what these two teams are all about. But it’s still a coin toss. Okay. Head: Giants. Tails: Jets.
Heads: Giants 17 Jets 14
8 Responses to What to Watch For: Jets vs. Giants
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nyckage says:
Rich
Why would Mathias Kiwanuka, sub out Barry Coefield. Kiwauka is a Fast DE, and I don”t see how he can play against a Center or a Guard. I just don’t see how a DE can sub for a DT.
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Rich Forestano says:
NYCkage, it’s been reported that he will see time at DT. I don’t remember when I read it but it has been said. But you’re right, Kiwanuka is better at DE, but as long as Osi and Tuck don’t get hurt, he won’t see much time at DE.
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BigKatFan says:
I wanna see how our starting defense deals with brandon jacobs. i think that test will show how our front 7 can handle a threat without Kris Jenkins. Good luck, guys!
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Cmart28 says:
Rich, what do you mean it’s likely only one game either DeVito or Douglas will start? Both will likely start week 1, and one will start all year opposite Ellis.
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True, Figured they’d start but Ropati Pitoitua was rumored to start RE. But who knows? With Douglas shining he’ll start.
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PhillyJetsFan says:
Tails.
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Lol Philly
The main test for the Jets tonight is not the Qb, the WR, or a particular DE. If the healthy Jets OL can keep the Jints off their Qb and can open some holes our offense this season will eventually be as promising as our D and Specials and the Jets will be fine this season.
IOW, the key question is whether our OL when completely healthy can dominate instead of be dominated by a solid professional D such as the Jints.
Everything else is incidental.
Harlan