Looking Back, and Looking Forward

Final Thoughts on Last Week’s Game:

Positives:

1)      Mark Sanchez’s short-term memory: Following a shaky interception, Mark Sanchez seemed unfazed and quickly bounced back to a solid game. Granted that the pass to LT took an unfortunate bounce, it was still a questionable throw to make into tight coverage, and definitely a bad start for the sophomore. Sanchez, however, made like a goldfish in forgetting his first toss and quickly passed past his opening hiccup.

2)      Nick Folk (er, kind of): Folk made some decent-distance field goals, but didn’t connect on his final attempt. Tough to say anything definitive with regards to whether or not he’ll be the consistent Pro Bowl kicker he once was. What was impressive, however, came by way of his kickoffs. He had plenty of leg, and consistently booted them to the goal line to make for tough returns for the opposing team. I’m going to call a “to-be-continued” on this one.

3)      The snap count: Sanchez says he’s been working on his snap counts with graybeard Mark Brunell, and the work seemed evident in the game. The Jets seemed to have the early jump at the line, and often had the Giants defensive linemen jumping early. It even had the Jets jumping early a few times (see below).

4)      Mr. Clemens: Kellen Clemens looked like more than a guy fighting for a roster spot as a third-string QB- he looked like a legitimate back-up. With Mark Brunell already dubbed the Sanchez’s back-up, however, look for Clemens to be rewarded in one of two ways: either a roster spot with Gang Green, or a shiny new contract… with another club. There’s been speculation that the Jets are showcasing him as trade bait, and it’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he gets in the game tonight versus the Panthers.

Negatives:

1)      Jets back-up secondary: While there is typically too much made of Revis’s absence, it’s hard to deny the rather sound logic that many pointed to after the Jets’ secondary allowed the Giants to Cruz to victory: with Revis on the field, the depth chart gains a little… depth. Each corner would have been one notch lower, and we may have even been able to see an interesting Wilson-Cruz battle royale. Instead, we got to see Marquice Cole, Drew Coleman, and Dwight Lowery get burned for big TDs. (Although Lowery had great coverage and got a hand to the face as he slipped while giving up the first of Cruz’s three touchdowns.

2)      Penalties, penalties, penalties: Just ask Mark Gastineau about how much a penalty can hurt a team. The Jets shot themselves in the foot a few times in last week’s game, including a negated LaDainian Tomlinson touchdown run.

3)      Joe McKnight ≠ Leon Washington: At least not yet. The quick RB looked like a timid player, and took run plays designed for the inside to the outside before seeing daylight, usually a no-no in the NFL. He had one nice stiff arm, and he certainly looks explosive; hopefully Anthony Lynn can get this guy on track to get at least somewhat close to Leon’s playmaking ability.

What to Look for in Tonight’s Game:

1)   The Jets coaching staff had some serious work to do this past week. Look for improvements to be made with regards to penalty and the Jets’ back-ups. Any more big pass plays, and cries for Revis will only get louder.

2)   *Prediction Alert*: Larry Taylor will take one to the house tonight. The 5’6”, 177 lbs. Connecticut alum was impressive in the first game, and looks to be the leader in the competition for return man. He’s explosive, quick, and, in my opinion, has big play potential. (Guess I screwed that one up- he wasn’t even in the poll.)

3)   “The primary target is the quarterback’s mind.” So proclaims defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The Jets brought the heat in the first game, and I don’t expect them to stop this game. I’ll be looking to see how well Vernon Gholston and other questioned back-ups bring the heat tonight.

4)   Since age 24, Antonio Cromartie is averaging more kids per year (3.5) than interception per year (2.5). Hopefully his hands will show up tonight in hopes that he bumps up the latter of the two during the regular season- he (along with the rest of the starters) will probably only have the first quarter to show off the athletic ability that his coaches have been raving about. 

***

 

I went to the famous (infamous?) Roscoe Diner the other day. Feeling much like the Jets, Revis was nowhere to be found.

Stay Tuned.

Big Blue v. Gang Green

Fat Francesa opened his talk show today with this: “Tonight, the Jets and Giants will square off in The New Giants Stadium.” Let the banter begin.

Move over big blue, Gang Green is coming to town.

With the Jets hogging the limelight this summer, it would be an understatement to say that tonight’s preseason game will pack a little more punch than usual for a preseason opener. Of all the Jets’ preseason openers, this might be one of the more memorable ones. (The game will be the first in The New Meadowlands Stadium, and will feature the Jets Ring of Honor induction ceremony at halftime.) 

So it won’t be as amped as Monday, the 13^th of September, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be exciting to watch. Here’s what to watch for in tonight’s game:

Will injuries of yore reappear or be forgotten? Jenkins’ knee will catch a glimpse of game-time action in the first quarter, assuming the defensive centerpiece plays no further than the first 15 minutes. We’ve seen his knee survive some full-contact goal line drills, but now he’ll face the truest test. Cromartie, too, seems to have hushed those who questioned the disappearance of a nagging hip injury, but we’ll see just how smooth his backpedals and breaks are in game-time speed. Finally, it’s been easy to forget that Mark Sanchez is coming off of a major off-season knee surgery with all the reassurance players, coaches, and journalists have been dishing out; the deepest sigh of relief will come tonight if Sanchez gets up from some gasp-inducing hits. Look for players to be extra-cautious with the rainy forecast.

Who will stand out among the various players battling for starting positions? Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse. Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson. Tony Richardson and The Terminator. We’ve read about players pushing one another and battling for the top spot. Now we’ll see who goes out and earns the top spots. Just one preseason game isn’t enough to jump to conclusions, but it certainly could be enough to give certain players the upper hand in these position battles. Keep an eye on how Rex Ryan balances his urge to show off questioned veterans with his tendency to rest the older guys’ legs.

Who will shine in the last three quarters of this football game? Let’s not forget that this game is mostly about the guys trying to make the team. Despite all the hype and headliners about the starters, this is the time for the guys behind the scenes to shine. With the skies looking like they did during the 40-day flood, expect there to be the opportunity for big plays… and big mistakes. For guys like Woodhead and McKnight, I’d recommend holding onto the ball very, very tightly.

I’ll be looking forward to tonight, with my DVR set. Can’t wait to see some of the new faces under the bright, green lights.

Stay tuned. 

Full of Fullbacks?

At the fullback position, the Jets have more than a competition: they have a dilemma.

Incumbent Tony Richardson is being pushed – to the limit – by rookie John Conner. The rookie has impressed so many (coach Rex Ryan included) that one has to wonder if Richardson’s job is at risk. Although one roster spot is generally reserved for the fullback position, which would set up the mentor Richardson and the mentored Conner on a crash course with one another, this is the season to make the rare exception and keep two spots open for the fullback position. Tony Richardson’s résumé, toughness, and intangibles are too invaluable for this team to be without. The one-man convoy has blocked for the likes of Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, and Adrian Peterson, three backs whose names you may have heard at one point or another. On top of that, Richardson is a locker room presence and looked up to by many players, including the young Conner. Conner may not boast the same experience, but he’s certainly a keeper as well. His mantra: “If it’s moving, hit it.” Conner has a get-out-of-my-way mentality, which is fitting, to say the least, for a fullback. He will be an asset now and in the future when the 38-year-old Richardson’s time is done. 

Says Rex Ryan: “John Conner, one day is going to be a big-time fullback in this league.”

If he really thinks so, it’s the right move to keep both of these guys.

Let’s see how each shows up in tonight’s New York battle.

***

All of this is bad news for fullback Jason Davis, who will likely face being cut because of the overwhelming competition. The 26-year-old Davis has shown much promise in training camp following his brief stints with Oakland and Chicago, but his play has tapered recently. This likely spells doom for Davis, but he will make a nice pickup for another team looking for a fullback.

Stay tuned.