At 4-5 the Jets find themselves in a hole that they need to climb out of if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive and what better way to do that than with a win against division rival New England? Yes, though the Jets have struggled lately they do have the talent to go out there and win but execution and perseverance will essentially determine who goes home victorious. Here is Rex Ryan who delivers a heartfelt message … again.

Quarterback: It cannot be stressed enough that Sanchez needs to learn to protect the ball and make the right decisions especially up against New England as they will take anything they can get on Sunday. That being said, Sanchez will have to make sure he knows what is going on at all times and be on top of his game. Any bets on if O’Connell will be a captain? Anyone?

Running Backs: Thomas Jones continues to run over opponents week after week and when in Foxboro that shouldn’t change much. The Patriots have come a long way from week two but its hard not to predict a good day for Jones at this point in the season no matter how many games the Jets decide to lose (besides I’m sure they will be a little more preoccupied trying to stop Cotch, Edwards, Keller and Chez). Shonn Greene was a factor against Jacksonville as he would set up Jones’ touchdown run and figures to get some time to wear down the Patriots D.

Wide Receivers: Jerricho Cotchery had a solid day against the Jags and is clearly Sanchez’s go to guy and should be available often on Sunday. With Braylon Edwards climbing aboard (since they last met) it will be interesting to see how the Patriots defense will defend these two playmakers. David Clowney should also factor into the equation but unless someone goes down with an injury his production will be limited but won’t go unnoticed if he gets New York out of a few jams.

Tight Ends: Although he was withheld a touchdown Dustin Keller seems to be getting back on the same page with Mark Sanchez and after grabbing the sole touchdown week two against the Pats, I would expect Sanchez to look for Keller quite a few times. Ben Hartsock has been quiet recently and as long as he can keep blocking without getting penalized I won’t have an issue nor will Ryan.

Offensive Line: The offensive line continues to perform and with center Nick Mangold being the anchor the line is more than stable but Sanchez could definitly use more time as the Patriots will try to employ the “get after the rookie” routine. As long as everyone can keep most pressure off Sanchez the Jets will be able to succeed.

Defensive Line: Although DeVito and Co. had their moments against Jacksonville they would come too late as MJD had already done enough damage in the first half that being said, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem as the Patriots running backs are not always consistent week after week but what they lack in running they make up for in the passing game. Still the line will need to be sharp and ready themselves for any surprises.

Linebackers: With Vernon Gholston sitting this one out (surprise, surprise), Kenwin Cummings was added on to the active roster and brought a can-win attitude with him but whether he acts on it (or if the Jets allow him to) is questionable. David Harris who will be wearing the headset should Leonhard be sidelined looks to see some more action and no doubt be a part of the Brady Blitz packages while Bart Scott will hopefully get a little more vocal defensively rather than employing his colorful vocab. Pace, Thomas and Westerman figure to be also get in on the pressure and can hopefully break the Patriots offensive line early and often.

Defensive Backs: There has been big hype surrounding the one-on-one between Revis and Moss but don’t worry Jets fans Revis knows how to take care of buisness and I believe week two couldn’t have done a much better job of emplifying that. Dwight Lowery appeared to take two steps back last week and the presence of Lito Sheppard didn’t exactly do much for the team but for now I imagine Ryan starting Lowery based on his solid performance save the Jacksonville game. It will be a huge test for Lowery as he will probably be put against Welker but as long as he can keep up, I think it will be possible for him to succeed.

Donald Strickland also hasn’t been up to par lately but will play a major role on defense as should Drew Coleman who has seemingly turned around under the Ryan regime. Jim Leonhard is questionable and it would be a major blow to lose him but Eric Smith is good enough to fill in and will need to be on the mark as he was week two. Kerry Rhodes has been struggling the past few weeks and I’m beginning to question whether or not he belongs on the field but with that said he isn’t exactly tanking and with this being a rivalry I’d imagine everyone is stepping up their game.

Special Teams: They recovered nicely and were able to shut down returns mainly due to Brad Smith who was quite vocal after returning from his injuries. As long as Smith and all the right players are activated, I see no problems here. Jay Feely is still going strong and after getting 95% of the points during the previous meeting, I would expect Feely to be ready for anything. Steve Weatherford may be of good use this week just in case the Jets need to use some trickery but don’t expect too much except for a few good punts when need be.

Our friend Bruce Allen of the incomparable

TheJetsBlog: Tom Brady was still finding his game when last the Jets saw him, what’s happened since that time?

Bruce Allen of PatriotsDaily: The biggest thing has been getting his timing and “feel” back on his passes, as well as his comfort in the pocket. His mechanics are a whole lot better right now. The offensive line has done a better job protecting him as well, so he’s had the time to make the passes he wants to.

TJB: Wes Welker was out for the game the last time the Jets and Patriots played. What does a healthy Welker mean for the Patriots gameplan?

PD: It’s huge, and is also a big part of the answer to your first question. In that first Jets/Patriots game, not having Welker as his dump-off outlet was huge. Welker in many ways, is what makes the Patriots offense really go. When he’s in there, opponents cannot devote as much of their top defensive resources to Randy Moss, and the field is more wide open. He and Brady have an amazing knack of knowing what the other is thinking, and acting accordingly. I think the absence of Welker in that first game was a huge factor in the Jets victory.

TJB: Although not there yet, this secondary looks to be getting better as the season goes on, what’s driving this progress for the Patriots?

PD: Young guys getting experience. Thought Jonathan Wilhite had a pretty rough night against Reggie Wayne on Sunday, he was in good position most of the night, and has made good progress in his second year. Darius Butler, the rookie from UConn, has come along nicely, showing some nice ability around the ball. Leigh Bodden had perhaps his best game of the season against the Colts. The bigbest impact though, has been at safety, where the two Brandons, Meriweather and McGowan, have both been impact playmakers, and rookie Pat Chung has shown ability as well.

TJB: A lot has been made of new LT Sebastian Vollmer. Is he better than Matt Light and if so, why?

PD: He’s not better yet. He’s been impressive, but Light has been good for a long time, and will likely get his spot back when he is ready to play. Vollmer has shown great strength, and good footwork and technique. He’s huge at six-foot-eight, and Belichick has said he has a frame that could easier take another 30-40 pounds. He did a terrific job against Dwight Freeney on Sunday night, and is a great prospect for the future.

TJB: There seems to be a love-hate relationship with Laurence Maroney among Pats fans, what’s the core issue for most fans with him?

PD: The biggest complaint people have about Maroney is that they don’t feel he hits the hole strong enough, that he always hesitates a split second too late, or “dances” in the backfield before hitting the lane he’s supposed to run through. His costly fumble near the goal line on Sunday night is the type of thing that drives fans mad. However, he occasionally displays his undeniable talents just enough to keep himself on the roster. He had a nice game against the Dolphins the previous week, which had him in the good graces of the fans, and then goes out and reverts to form against the Colts, even with his touchdown.

“They’re a very talented team with a number of players who are excellent, but they just can’t get out of their own way when the game is on the line. They have no clue how to get ahead on teams, or put them away. They’re like The Cowardly Lion. They talk a good game, but hide behind their tail. I want to hate this team, but I can’t, with everything this team has going for it, more than anything they’re pathetic and I just feel sorry for them.”

This is a new low in my Jets fandom.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been a fan of a Jets team with so many talented parts, that is on the whole, so terrible. I want to hate this team, but (here comes another movie analogy) they’re like Gollum in the Lord of the Rings, they’re not even worth hating, they’re below hating … it just comes down to pity.

So for now, I’ll stay my hand, because it’s just not worth the effort.

The Jets had a shot to beat Miami in their second meeting but once again failed not because of poor planning no, (I’m almost certain Ryan took care of that after the Wildcat embarassed the defense previously) but because Special Teams could not stop Ted Ginn Jr. from running back two touchdowns 100 and 101 yards respectively while giving Jay Feely a chance to play defender.

Although the offense had an oppertunity to win the game, between poor execution (at some points) and Miami’s defense really clamping down to protect their win, the Jets would fall victim to the fish once again. Despite the Jets heading into the BYE at 4-4 they need to continue to keep their heads high  if they expect to keep on moving up the AFC East ladder with only eight games remaining. With that, Rex Ryan has a new message for ya along with a Captain Morgan. (click the photo for Ryan’s message).

Quarterback: The past few weeks, Mark Sanchez has seemed to click despite the Jets various erratic win-loss pattern. Granted the Jets have been limiting what he does but even at that he has done his part lately and must continue to be sharp with the Jets forced into winning at least six of their final eight games. The Jaguars defense is alright but they have much room for improvement and as long as Sanchez handles the ball carefully, I see no problems for Chez unless he wants to eat a hot dog (maybe the sleeveless attire will bring him luck).

Running Back/Fullback: Thomas Jones contiunes to tear up defenses and cause havoc, certainly a vast improvement from where he was towards the start of the season and I cannot see that ending here against Jacksonville despite what others may say. As I half expected the Shonn Greene experiment would come to a crash after a dismal performance against Miami that would cost the Jets the football but don’t let that fool you, Greene was gold in college and I’m sure he will see some time on Sunday against the Jags. Tony Richardson should get some calls but again expect a lot of blocking on his part. With Woodhead at wide receiver, I only expect to see him lurking in the backfield on some special packages.

Wide Receiver: Jerricho Cotchery was still shaky against the Dolphins two week ago but then again the Jets have had two weeks to heal their injuries and get back to buisness. I fully expect J-Co to be more involved this week and get quite a few looks from Sanchez. Braylon Edwards will be the focal point of the Jags defense but his size and ability to make plays ensures some good catches by Braylon. David Clowney who looked good while filling in for J-Co should remain quiet but expect a couple of balls to come his way the same goes for Woodhead.

Tight End: Mark Sanchez and Dustin Keller seemed to reconnect the second time around against Miami but it was mostly because the Jets were in a rush to gain more ground on the Dolphins but again don’t let that fool you facing the Jags D might actually give Keller some more looks and who knows maybe a score. And can we please do something with Hartie? I appreciate his touchdown against the Titans but seriously if your going to keep get penalized, its time the Jets remove the sore.

Offensive Line: Just like the running game, the O-Line has been spectacular lately and although there are a couple of guys banged up (namely Damien Woody) he has been playing a solid game. As I have repeated week after week as long as they can protect Sanchez and give Jones or Greene some room to work with there will be no dilemma’s.

Defensive Line: The Jets defense was pretty fearsome with Kris Jenkins and without him many thought there would be havoc, fortunately that is not the case. The Jets would certainly silence the Wildcat when round two against Miami began which is good news as some of the Jets tougher opponents advance as each week passes. Marques Douglas seems to have enjoyed his past few games making some noise while Pouha, DeVito and Co. have been able to hold their own despite the absence of the Big Man. It will be a tough chore to contain MJD but if the Jets defense works hard and makes the plays, the Jags will have to look elsewhere for points.

Linebackers: David Harris came back to life after knocking Henne down for the 3 and out and had certainly established that he hadn’t lost anything. His partner Bart Scott although less vocal (on the field that is) has been making a solid effort and is no doubt looking forward to ripping off heads during the second half of the Jets schedule. The Jags offense has sputtered despite MJD and MSW and I assume David Garrard will be on the run a lot if Ryan has anything to say about it. Calvin Pace continues to also cause turmoil along with Bryan Thomas who has grown more vocal this season than in the past and why not? The more, the merrier, right? (That includes Murrell and Westerman but I think its pretty safe to leave VG out of this conversation).

Defensive Backs: Darrelle Revis contiunes to be the talk of the town so to speak as he has definitively risen out of Champ Bailey’s shadow and has become known as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Revis has been shutting down all season long and Sims-Walker will hopefully fall victim to the corner. Meanwhile Lito Sheppard is expected to play not that it would make much difference (unless of course he decided to have a monster day) as Dwight Lowery has been just fine totaling 8 tackles, 1 INT and 3 passes defended. Donald Strickland who once again is battling injuries will probably take the field but don’t expect all that after all Drew Coleman’s performance against Miami (batted down a pass, and had two solo tackles) as well as his overall performance this season is making a strong case for his time on the field.

Kerry Rhodes alone with the rest of the secondary have talked about being more involved in the games than they have been which is a step in the right direction but where it will go is questionable. True, Rhodes has been making some big plays this season but he doesn’t truly pop out because he has yet to intercept a pass or make highlight reel-worthy plays. Still it should be interesting to see what Rhodes does to step up his game. Jim Leonhard should continue to make the ‘quiet plays’ on defense and special teams while Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo should also see a few plays themselves.

Special Teams: [facepalm] Um … Where exactly do I begin here? Let me just say that was the worst performance by the Special Teams and it all had to do with the Jets deactivating all the wrong guys. Hopefully Brad Smith will return and those inactivees will actually be active and make the plays instead of giving Jay Feely a few shots at the runner (although he seemed to enjoy that). Though Feely was shaky after breaking Pat Leahy’s record he seems to be getting on track and I should expect little problems here. I’m actually missing the Steve Weatherford, take the ball and run play but I suppose there is no use in overusing it right? Still his punting isn’t bad. Though Justin Miller didn’t break loose for a long touchdown return as most of us hoped, he looked pretty good out there and appears able to get the job done while Leon is sidelined.

We’re taking a quick look at the Jets second half. Nothing can ever be set in stone, as injuries, teams losing (or gaining) steam all need to be considered, but here’s a look at some of the Jets opponents and how the Jets might fare against them — or need to beat them.

Week 10 Jacksonville (4-4) — Maurice Jones-Drew has proven himself worth the faith that the team has placed in him, but overall the Jacksonville offense has sputtered with consistency this year. Although this team has been built to be big and intimidating on defense, it’s lost some of it’s core in recent years and defensively, this is a team that the Jets should be able to run (and pass) over.

Week 11 @ New England (6-2) — I don’t hold a lot of stock in “who beat us and did they beat them” but it’s hard not to think about it when they played the Jets and Patriots in back to back weeks. This Patriots team is not the same team that the Jets saw in Week 2 that was struggling to find their identity in the losses of players like Welker (injury) Jerod Mayo (injury) and Seymour (trade). The defense isn’t world beaters, but they’re good enough to foil the Jets. It’s going to be very hard for an inconsistent Jets team to come out of this away game (where the Pats are 5-0 so far this season) with a win.

Week 12 Carolina (3-5) — Carolina has been good running the ball, but struggled all season throwing it. Defensively the team is mediocre and terrible against the run. This is a “should” game for the Jets. If Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene have good days, the Jets should have a good day.

Week 13 @ Buffalo (3-5) — This isn’t your typical away game. It’s in Toronto, where the crowd and Bills have been flat historically. Playing in a dome and in Toronto will neutralize any home-field advantage. The Jets have already proven that they can run on this team, and just like Carolina a week earlier, the Jets should be able to run all over this team, who is one of the very worst teams against the run in the NFL. Mark Sanchez was very generous in the team’s last outing … as long as he can not sabotage his offense, the Jets can make it out unscathed. Do beware what the optimal conditions can do for the Bills receivers in a dome.

Week 14 @ Tampa Bay (1-7) — Although they looked impressive against the Packers this past weekend, this is still a team that can be had. They are at the bottom of the league on defense, bottom third on offense. Even though it will be in front of a hostile crowd, the Jets proved that they can win these type games and the warm weather will be a welcome game for the “thin-blooded” Mark Sanchez.

Week 15 Atlanta (5-3) — Now it begins to get interesting. If the Jets are 4-1 after the bye at this point, the playoffs have basically begun for the Jets, who will likely need to take at least two (if not all three) games to remain competitive in the AFC. Although Atlanta came out of the gate hot, they’ve fallen back a little bit, but let’s look at those losses: at New England, at Dallas and at New Orleans. Three losses in away games to three top ten power ranked teams. No one’s going out of their way to applaud them for their victory in games like that over the Redskins yesterday, but the fact is they’ve beaten the teams they should beat and lost to very good teams. There’s no shame in that. This is a great “ramp up” game for the Jets as they head into their Week 16 match-up.

Week 16 @ Indianapolis (8-0) — Indy has a long history of locking up the AFC South early. With that history, comes the yearly questions of who will get some R&R to prepare for the playoffs. The team has had varying success at this, but by this time, probably knows their business on this matter. At the rate Indy is going, could they be looking to rest players as early as Week 16? The fact of the matter is that Peyton Manning will likely play, but some bruised defenders or skill players could well be held out as the team preps for the playoffs. Since the team is likely to get a bye, they might only rest a select handful of guys, but it’s hard to know if it will be enough to effect the outcome. Running the ball on this quick, but undersized defense will be an important part of how the Jets fortunes go.

Week 17 Cincinnati (6-2) — This isn’t your regular Bengals team. Carson Palmer’s healthy and playing well, Cedric Benson has redeemed his past indiscretions this season with some solid running, and the defense is coming around, although not confusing anyone with the 2000 Ravens. Steady production on both sides of the ball has been crucial to the progress of this team and has supplanted the Ravens as the second team in their battle tested division. Still the key on this team is passing the ball. Mark Sanchez will have to have a good day to carry the Jets into the off/post season.

Add your thoughts in the comments …

Jets safety Kerry Rhodes and Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter got into a heated exchange during the pregame warmups and had to be separated by Miami linebacker Jason Taylor. The Dolphins were upset because Rhodes ventured to their side of the field.

“You have no business running your butt down there on our side,” Taylor said later. “So we let him know he wasn’t welcome. It was just little dumb mind games.”

Funnily enough, one scribe I talked about it said “I’m sure his teammates aren’t very happy with [the way he was acting].” Which to me was kind of a wake-up call. I asked if he wasn’t one of the heart-and-soul guys on this team, and the answer I then got wasn’t all that flattering. I got the sense that Rhodes act has been wearing some of his teammates thin so far this year … though it sounds like no one’s said anything that the papers have quoted. Let’s see if that changes this week.

Of course, when the press (and I) was(were?) allowed into the locker room, Rhodes nowhere to be found. Shocking. Meanwhile, Tackle Damien Woody sat placidly in front of his locker, answering questions long after most of his teammates had cleared out.

For all or the confidence and swagger that Rex has brought to this team, now standing at 4-4 after a fast 3-0 start, he’s also brought much more intense criticism on himself and the team. After the Patriots win, the press conference room was a claustrophobic fire hazard, jammed to the rafters. Yesterday, the post game conference was much less crowded, for a variety of reasons I’m sure, but I imagine that in some parts, because the Jets are just losing relevance and confidence from that first month of the season.

Unless the Jets start backing up their coach’s continued claim of potential greatness, Ryan’s first season in New York will be remembered more for his outsized personality than for his on-the-field accomplishments.

“We totally outplayed them, but got beat,” Ryan said. “I’d rather be in their locker room with a win than here, even though I’d rather be in this one moving forward. We have a better record than them right now [4-4 to 3-4], so I’ll still take this locker room.”

…

“If we’re going to talk the talk, we have to walk the walk,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “Ultimately, nobody feels sorry for us right now.”

Least of all for Ryan, who while gaining a devoted following among Jets’ fans, has to win more football battles than trash talk ones to earn league-wide respect. His defense is formidable, but just like it did in Miami, gave up another fourth-quarter scoring drive, the one that ultimately put this game out of reach.

And pretty much, Calvin Pace hit it right on the head. When you talk trash, and shove and scuffle as much as the Jets do this year, why should anyone — even your most devoted fans — feel bad for you when you do it and then lose? You’ve gone out of the way to make the fans, the other team and whoever else will listen believe that you’re the better, tougher team, and it’s been for naught. Driving back to Massachusetts last night, I was listening to a New England sports radio station and they were asking whether or not the Jets used all their emotional bullets in the week two matchup against Tom Brady, and looking back, I think it’s a fair question to ask.

From watching some Jets players comments on Twitter over the last few months, it’s kind of sad that players on the team want fans to blindly cheer for them, no matter what they do or what they say, or how they act, or how they lose. Maybe some players don’t understand it, but we’ve been fans of this team long before and will continue to be long after they come and go, so for them to dictate terms of fandom to both you and I only makes me like what I’m seeing from them even less.

Right now, although the access to the team is like an all you can eat buffet, the quality of the food is awful, and I’m having second thoughts about going back for another helping.

Again, I don’t care if a team is deferential or cocky, I just care that they win games. What I will say is that when you’re deferential to your opponents, you’re not going to get as much praise should you win. As far as cocky, if you lose, it generally just makes you looks foolish. It’s kind of like the Jets have now swapped places with the Dolphins for loud-talking do-nothings in the Division. I find it sort of ironic, in a way.

With the talent that this roster has at many spots, I think that this team has the potential to be really good down the stretch, but I don’t know if it even matters for a postseason run at this point. From here on out, we’re looking for progress, looking for growth, looking to see who can play well for next season. Yes, it’s already come to that. To be truthful, it came to that after the Bills loss, but I wasn’t sure if I was willing to accept that fact then. This was to be the redemption game, and much like that last three conference games against the Dolphins, Bills and then this one, it just never came.

One of the more underplayed aspect of this game, I feel, is that this will be the Dolphins’ last visit to (and I hate saying the name of this place) Giants Stadium. There’s been bad, there’s been ugly, but there’s been a lot of good and a lot of memories that have largely made this rivalry what it is.

And it was also where, a decade later, Dan Marino and Mark Ingram hooked up on the classic “Clock Play,” Marino’s fake spike completing a comeback from 18 points down in the second half.

Yet it was also the place where Jets quarterback Ken O’Brien outdueled a young Marino in consecutive overtime shootouts in 1986 and ‘87.

…

Of course, the most painful memory probably came in the so-called Monday Night Miracle. Up 30-7 in the fourth quarter in October 2000, Dave Wannstedt’s first year, the Dolphins managed a complete collapse that saw them fall 40-37 in overtime.

It was so bad that Jumbo Elliott, the great tackle, caught a game-tying touchdown pass at the end of regulation. Each Jets week for several years thereafter, Taylor would hang a Curtis Martin jersey in his locker as motivation.

“Really?” says Martin, No. 4 on the NFL’s career rushing list. “I never knew that.”

As for the “Miracle” game itself, Martin calls it “one of the most amazing displays of not dying, of perseverance.”

…

“I still see the clips where Jason Taylor was on the sideline going, ‘They’re not going to come back this time! Not this time!’” Martin says. “That was one of the greatest feelings, walking off that field.”

The Fake Spike. The Miracle. Chad’s Revenge. There’s just so many memories and so many moments that you just really had to witness, either on TV or in person, to understand how great this rivalry has become in that stadium. Personally, I was there for Marino’s fake spike, Chad’s game and The Miracle and each was special and unique for it’s own reasons. I remember at the end of the first half for The Miracle, knowing I had school the next day, and seeing the score, asking my dad if we could go home. He refused and I owe him more than he knows for that. It was such a special moment to witness when Jumbo caught the TD pass and every Jets fan looked up at the replay board to make sure he held on.

I got to see the Pats and Bills one last time in that place, but I’m genuinely upset I won’t get to see the Dolphins. As I was explaining to my girlfriend during the last Jets-Dolphins game on MNF, there’s just something special about this rivalry. It means more than any other divisional game, even during the Belichick era. It’s one of those things that transcends the players and the coaching staffs. Jets-Dolphins is one of the greatest rivalries of all time and it’s risen to that level thanks in part to the fans, culture, and weather of Giants Stadium. I’m truly sad that I won’t be there in person to say goodbye to it before the move to the new place. Everyone that’s going today, make sure you treasure the game, win or lose. It’s the last one of it’s kind.

After three weeks of disappointment the Jets regained their bearings against Al Davis’ team  er… circus unfortunately it came with a price as the Jets would lose Leon Washington for the rest of the season after just losing Kris Jenkins a week before to a ACL tear. The Jets are heading into a BYE week and are looking for revenge against the Dolphins whose upset on Monday night with seconds remaining in the game crushed the child within all of us. With a two week break ahead, Ryan will want to leave the Meadowlands on a positive note and you can bet that Ryan has not overlooked Miami’s offense one bit this time around. Let’s just put it this way: hopefully the Jets will come out on top or else …

 

Quarterback: Mark Sanchez bounced back from his five INT performance to help in crushing the Raiders, running for a touchdown and tossing David Clowney’s first touchdown reception in regular season action. There were still those rookie mistakes of course, he handled the ball wildly on his TD run, got a little sloppy towards the end of the game and caused a Hot-Dog Gate after trying out one of them Oakland franks. All that aside the rookie had a good day though having a limited role. Oppertunities could open up for Sanchez early in Miami with two rookie cornerbacks manning the secondary and if he can break out his shiny toy again (Edwards) I suspect Sanchez will have a decent day.

Running Back/Fullback: I can already tell you with Thomas Jones finally clicking and Shonn Greene tearing up the place, Ryan is going to go heavy on the run. Granted those numbers both Jones and Greene put up were against Oakland but if you have noticed Shonn’s running abilities against some of the better defenses the Jets have played, you will also notice that there is a very good chance that he will tear up opposing defenses. Additionally, Danny was seen back in his old role so I would expect that the Jets will also turn to Woodhead as their third back despite his transition to receiver.  I would also expect to see Tony Richardson to get some work with backup in short supply but he will definitely be sought out more for blocking purposes.

Wide Receivers: The loss of Jerricho Cotchery seemed to affect Sanchez in previous weeks and it appears that Cotch will give it a go against Miami ironically the last team he played before hitting the sidelines. I wouldn’t expect him to be back to normal right away but if they coaches think it could be safe to hit receivers early you can bet Mark Sanchez is going to give Cotch quite a few looks. The Braylon Edwards hype has died down considerably but when you have a guy like Edwards that draws a lot of attention from defenses that can play into your favor many times, allowing the offense to poke at some holes against opposing defenses. I would expect that to occur but Braylon will most definitely get his share of catches. David Clowney who seems to be losing his Mr. August title had a great showing in place for the injured Cotchery against Oakland and you can bet that with Cotch most likely not 100% he’ll get some action.

Wallace Wright and Danny Woodhead were also seen catching a few passes but don’t read too much into either of them just yet. Wallace is known more for his special teams contributions than anything else while Woodhead is still a work in progress and the third back with Leon down. Nevertheless those special packages will need some updating with LW sidelined which means these two could see some more work.  

Tight Ends: For whatever reason Mark Sanchez and Dustin Keller have lost the connection that they established during the first two games of the season. Keller has seen a lot of dropped passes and is no doubt getting sick of it. If Miami is still willing to give up a lot to the tight end I don’t see why Sanchez won’t look to Keller despite their inconsistencies. Unless Schottenheimer has some plays for Hartsock, Hartie should have a quiet night blocking, good blocking hopefully.

Offensive Line: Just like the running game for whatever reason, the offensive line has clicked lately bringinning back memories of the 2008 Pro Bowlers. Although there will be weaknesses on Miami’s defense (i.e. good conditions for the passing game), the Jets will no doubt continue to look towards Greene and Jones to make some big plays and the offensive line will need to really focus on pushing back the Fins defenders allowing SG and TJ to punch it down their throats. Of course with everyone feeling healthy (more or less) that hopefully won’t be much of an issue.

Defensive Line: As I said before life without Kris Jenkins isn’t the same granted the defense did look pretty damn good against the Raiders (again this is the Raiders we are talking about) particularly Marquice Douglas who forced a fumble while Mike DeVito picked up a fumble caused by Calvin Pace. In their previous meeting with the Fish, the wildcat was practically unstoppable but you can bet the Jets are going to be more prepared for what might be coming. This will be a battle but remember the Jet defenders are still feeling the sting from the last game and I would not be surprised if they broke out the siren and made life difficult for Bill’s fish.

Linebackers: David Harris and Bart Scott were more visible than they have been in previous games (of course Scott being injured wasn’t exactly the recognition I had in mine…) and will continue to make quarterbacks continue to second guess but after allowing Chad Henne to look like Dan Marino it is hard not to be skeptical. Then again, Bart Scott said he really needed to knock Henne out (or anyone else who has the ball for that matter) of the game (on a clean hit of course) so I’d imagine payback will be in store for Dan Jr. and Co. Calvin Pace was very active against the Raiders, blocking passes, getting a few sacks in and overall returning to his old self which begs the question can he do that again!?

Bryan Thomas continues to be the silent force and will no doubt get a piece of the action as Ryan will want to rattle Miami’s offense early with everything he has got (That includes you too Gholston).

Defensive Backs: Darrelle Revis had a great day thanks to JaMarcus Russell’s mishap and although Ted Ginn “burned” him on Monday night you can bet that Revis will not allow that to happen again. The picture is still fresh in his memory and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chad Henne had trouble finding any receiver should he have to throw. Lito Sheppard has been nearly non-existant this season thanks to a quad injury but Dwight Lowery has been more vocal and has been a pretty good compliment to Revis and I would expect Lowery make life difficult. Donald Strickland who was also seen defending some passes in Oakland will also factor into the equation as will Drew Coleman who had a few good games while Strickland was sidelined.

Jim Leonhard who is more known for his punt returns had a great pick off JaMarcus Russell that he almost took to the house for a touchdown but again we are talking Oakland here. Despite this, Leonhard will be more involved defensively along with partners Kerry Rhodes, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo who hopefully won’t throw any punches anytime soon as the Jets look to disturb Miami’s run and pass game.

Special Teams: After missing a 38 yarder in Oakland (and 3 or 4 FG’s over the course of the last three games), I’m not exactly trusting of Jay Feely right now but again he is one of the better kickers currently available so hopefully he’ll be able to shake off whatever seems to be bugging him. Mike Westhoff continues to use Steve Weatherford on fourth down plays and I have to admit I almost fell out of my seat laughing after only one guy on the Raiders D noticed Weatherford running for the first down. The Jets have been quite successful utilizing Weatherford as a rusher and I wouldn’t  be surprised if Miami fell for it again but the timing needs to be just right … other than that nice job with the punts!

Justin Miller has made his way back to New York to help with the return duties filling in for the absent Leon Washington and I have to say I’m uneasy about bringing in Miller who has been up and down the past few years. Hopefully Cimini is correct in saying that a two-man wedge will play to Miller’s advantage (I’ll be happy if his runs prove to be better than his coverage at cornerback at this point).