Audible: Who’s the Biggest Threat?
Much of the talk this week has been about whether the Jets will run the ball enough, whether Sanchez can cut out the turnovers and whether the Jets defensive front is going to be able to stop the Raiders running game. If the Jets can avoid beating themselves, then they have a good chance to enter next week’s game with a winning record. What of the Raiders though? Which of their players represent the greatest threat to the Jets this weekend?
My suggestions after the jump, yours in the comments, please…
Offense: Last year, it was Javon Walker who tore up the Jets, with 5 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. My instinct tells me that won’t be the case this time. Instead, the key will be to slow down Zach Miller, whose 354 receiving yards leads the team and 163 yards after the catch account for one-fifth of JaMarcus Russell’s passing yards so far season. Miller is 48 yards better than the leading Jet in that category. Somewhat surprisingly, the Raiders only have two players that have more than 60 receiving yards through the first 6 games.
Defense: Remember when the Raiders drafted Michael Huff with the seventh pick a few years ago and he turned out to be a complete bust? Well, not so fast…he’s tearing it up this year with 3 interceptions (one in his first three seasons) and 7 passes defensed (averaged less than six per year for his career). Who knew a high draft pick could struggle for a few years and then become good? Last year, it was Trevor Scott that dominated the Jets, capitalizing on illness/injury to Damien Woody, so he is worth keeping an eye on too, as is Richard Seymour, who has been a thorn in the Jets’ side for many years.
Special Teams: Well, the Raiders have one of the league’s best punters in Shane Lechler and a kicker that defeated the Jets last year with a 57-yarder, but anyone who saw last week’s game knows who the difference maker is on the Raiders’ coverage units. He may or may not be the reincarnation of Marquis Cooper, but Coach Westhoff needs to channel Dick Dastardly and STOP THAT PIGEON!
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This being a copycat league you can expect a flurry of pigeon signings.
In truth, with Jenks out, I expect Fargas to get a lot of carries, it should be true gauge of how the remainder of the season will play out.
This probably sounds stupid and I REALLY hope it doesn’t come back to bite me, but as you alluded to in your intro, I think the biggest threat the Jets face this week is… the Jets.
I mean come on, it’s the freaking Raiders. The Jets as a group need to get their heads straight. If they do, this is a W.
Richard Seymour is the guy who scares me the most. When he’s on, he can dominate.
From the Jets site:
>>Ferguson used to be matched up with Seymour when the former was a stalwart in New England. The Jets’ left tackle, a first round pick out of Virginia in 2006, doesn’t see anything drastically different in the player he used to face in the AFC East.
>>“It’s nothing new,” he said. “Same guy, same player.”
Indeed he is. Same guy Brick lined up against twice a year with spotty success.
[...] thejetsblog.com. Please read the complete article and let us know what you think [...]
Steve-
I agree: there is nothing to fear but the Jets themselves.
Last week, that’s who our greatest opponent was.
This week, bottom line: we lose, and our season is over.
Ben:
Relax dude. As much as I agree that a loss will suck real bad to this Raiders team, NEVER SAY THE SEASON IS OVER WHEN THERE IS 9 GAMES TO GO! Man people have to stop jumping off the bridge too early.
Andrew-
The Jets just lost two straight games to teams they should have beat. We beat ourselves–THREE games in a row. And, okay, the Saints are a very good team. But the Fins are, at best, mediocre. And the Bills are really just plain terrible.
And the Raiders are even worse than the Bills.
If the Jets lose to the Dolphins, Bills AND Raiders–it’s pretty clear: we suck. Big time.
Which means no shot at the Division title, no shot at the Wild Card, no shot at anything more than a 9-7 or, more likely, 8-8 season.
If we lose today, it’s more than likely we’re going to have a losing record for the season. In fact, our highest aspiration for the year will be to get to 500, or close to 500, by the time all 16 games have been played.
I’d say that pretty much kills the season.
But on another level, a gut level, I’d have to say that after the embarrassing loss to the Fins, and the REALLY EMBARRASSING loss to the Bills, it’s already going to be difficult for me to watch the game today. And I’ve been a Jets fan for all fifty years of their existence. I saw the Jets play at the Polo Grounds when they were the Titans. I saw the Jets play at Shea (as well as the Polo Grounds) when they were an AFL team. Last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, I watched every game the Jets played.
But this year, if the Jets lose in Oakland, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch anymore. It’s just too ugly, it’s just too painful, it’s just too sickening.
Ben,
Why was the loss to the Dolphins embarrasing. They won the freaking division last year and they were at home on Monday night. They are a good team and we have always struggling against the power running game.
The Bills loss was bad, no masking that. But I truly believe we have only blown one game so far and if I would have told you we’d be 3 and 3 after week 6 in August you’d have been pretty darn happy.
Lou in Denver-
Why was the loss to the Dolphins embarrassing? Well, I guess it was because the Fins were 1-3, and the Jets were 3-1. Or maybe it was because their rookie quarterback outsmarted and outplayed our probowl DBs, D Linemen and LBs. Or maybe it was because a 1-3 team ran up and down the field on us at will.
Or maybe it was because Rex Ryan himself called it embarrassing.
Ben-
Well you said it yourself. You have been with the Jets all these years, and even with even suggesting to stop watching them is just well disappointing. I may not have all the years following the team as you, but I have been following the Jets for along time. You don’t ever give up on your team no matter what. That is what being a fan is all about. How could you trow out all those years you have been a Jets fan? I hope you don’t go that route.
Andrew-
No, I guess I won’t stop rooting for the Jets even if they lose today. But it’s going to be difficult to watch them. So difficult I think I probably will miss at least a few games this season.
In other words, in the past, if friends of mine asked me to play poker on a Sunday, I’d say no, because I had to watch the Jets. Even if my friends were going to have the Jet game on, I would say no, because I wanted to focus on the game itself, with no distractions.
But if the Jets lose today, and my friends ask me to play poker next Sunday, well, I think I’m going to being playing poker.