By Tom Rock
Sorry I’ve been away for so long. I guess my confidence is shot after those scathing remarks from Al. In case you are wondering, that remark is dripping with more sarcasm than the one that sent Al into a tirade.
I think the Jets are going to make the playoffs, if for no other reason than that the other four teams in that 7-5 scrum still have to play each other and pick themselves off. But I’m looking at the division leaders and I’m not thinking that the Jets scare any of them. Yeah, they beat the Pats at Gillette this year, but what are the chances of that happening twice in the same season? Besides, Belichick would be on suicide watch if Mangini’s Jets knocked him out of the playoffs in the first round. I know, Glauber will tell me I’m getting ahead of myself, figuring out playoff matchups with a quarter of the season remaining. But that’s what bloggin’ is about. Besides, Chuck D. and Glauber best buds? Don’t believe the hype.
I’m liking what the Jets are doing with Brad Smith, using him as an ordinary receiver and then springing him on trick plays only occasionally. I don’t even count that reverse against the Packers as a trick play because it’s the kind of thing any receiver can run. It’s those direct snaps and option-passes that teams have been worried about, and when they fall asleep on them Schottenheimer will unleash one in a key situation. I’m thinking second quarter of the Dolphins game.
Mangini wasn’t too quick to defend Justin McCareins, the intended receiver on the two Pennington interceptions in the third quarter on Sunday. I guess that stint out of the doghouse following his special teams volunteering has ended. And speaking of special teams, Kevan Barlow better figure out how to get himself on Mike Westhoff’s short list if he wants to check into any games in the future. That seems to be the path to playing time for a lot of guys – McCareins, Schlegel, etc. – and as long as Barlow brings nothing to that unit and Houtson and Washington keep producing at a decent pace, Kevan may be wearing those street clothes for a long time.
Warning: Vulnerable human moment fast approaching!
There aren’t many things that can impress a sports writer, and though I hope I’m not as jaded as some I’d like to think I have a pretty good sense of my place in the scheme of things. I’m usually not awed by players or stadiums. But I have to admit that as I watched the closing minutes of the Jets-Packers game on Sunday while standing on the field at Lambeau, I was impressed. After the game ended, I was even sure to wander off the canvas flooring that surrounds the perimeter of the playing surface so I could actually stand on the Frozen Tundra. The only other time I’ve had that sense of Wow! Was the first time I sat in the dugout at Yankee Stadium. And, of course, the time I caught a 44-pound striper when I was doing the fishing beat. But that was a little different.
Comments (7)
tom-
you know i'm a huge fan of you and your blogging, but i need to step in here. to say that none of the divisional leaders would be afraid of the jets is perplexing and 100% wrong!
success in the playoffs isn't predicated on final records, but who is peaking at the right time (see Steelers last year). bottom line is the jets, san diego and cincinnati are playing arguably the best football in the AFC right now. (yes, i said it - the jets are playing some of the best football in the AFC). they continue to execute better week in and week out.
so, if they continue to maintain this pace and win at least 3 of their last 4, they will have finished 6-2 in the second half of the season. pls explain to me how noone will be afraid of the jets then?
thanks in advance!
jeff i
Kid Rock:
Chuck D sends his regards ... I'll be out on his tour after the Super Bowl, so let me know if you need some tix ... dude, you're SUPPOSED to be excited about visiting Lambeau for the first time. Hey, Chadwick said his heart was beating a mile a minute when he went there with Jets in 2000 - and he was a third-stringer back then! ... No problem with you lookin' ahead to playoff picture. It's not just bloggin'. It's life!
Here's my thinking on this one, Jeff. The Chargers have the best running back of the decade and a decent enough quarterback to be able to shred their way through the Jets rushing defense (which is still ranked 27th and gave up 149 rushing yards and some big plays that were overlooked in the Packers win). The Ravens defense will be able to clamp down on the Jets offense, which has yet to prove it can score consistently against a solid unit. Remember Chicago? Remember Jacksonville? The Jets can be overwhelmed. The Patriots may be beatable, and they are ticked off about losing that game last month, but do they fear the Jets? I doubt it. Too much recent history to be wiped away by a rain-soaked win. The only team that might possibly have trouble with the Jets is the Colts (the Colts?) because of their lackluster defense and an offense that isn't as dominating as it has been in years past. But they have PM, they'd be playing indoors, and that's enough of an edge for them. So do I think the Jets can pop off a win against one of the division leaders? Sure. But do I think any of those teams will be freightened by the Jets? No, because to make the playoffs the Jets will be overacheiving and that gets exposed in January.
How is this Houston fellow, is he the real deal or just a stop gap? I have selfish reasons as I need a fantasy rb to go with LT. Thx
By the way, Jeff, thanks for the civilized dissent!
There really isn't much point in talking playoffs at this stage other than to accomplish the typical cycle for a Jets fan.
Get your hopes up and set yourself up for disappointment later on.
The Jets are 7 and 5. Cool beans. They have an excellent chance to beat the Bills this week. That's all I'm worried about.
The Playoffs will arrive eventually and I'll see where the Jets are at that time.
When I read Mangini's presser that referred to his vast library of informaion on head coaches, I couldn't help but remember that Belichek locked him out of the Pat's complex after he interviewed for the Jets HC job. Do you think Mangini lost any data that he had accumulated while at the other place? Could you bring this up to Coach at his next presser?