My thanks to Katie Strang for filling in yesterday and, apparently, based on some of the comments in her post, winning you over in that short time.
But I completely understand.
Everything.
Katie will be joining me at for the game tomorrow night and here are a few things I'm looking for from the Jets in their third preseason game:
- How good or bad will Favre play? If he duplicates - over the course of a half or more - what he did in two series last week against the Redksins, Favre will probably not play next week against the Eagles. I know the conventional wisdom is that Favre definitely won't play in Philly but I'm not sure. If - and it's a big IF - Favre stinks it up against the Giants, I think he almost has to get some time in Philly.
- Some more carries for Thomas Jones. Eric Mangini said Jones has gotten plenty of reps in training camp, which is true as Jones clearly is the team's No. 1 back. He's looked it, too, in camp, but as Favre has said, there's no substitute for game experience. Jones doesn't need 15 carries tomorrow night but more than two or three wouldn't be a bad thing.
-The O-line vs. the Giants D-line. This is probably tied with Favre - and is obviously related to - for the No. 1 storyline in this game. Mangini has raved about the job Bill Callahan has done with the line and it gets about as stiff a preseason test as possible against a D-line that completely overwhelmed a good Cleveland line last weekend.
- Who's No. 2, Ratliff or Clemens?
- Can Dwight Swipe a starter's job? Mangini made it clear late this week that the corner job opposite Revis was wide open. My thought is if Lowery plays as well tomorrow night as he did the first two preseason games, he'll nail down the job and be the starter in Miami. A certain commenter (hello, dmb), I will expect cartwheels from if that's the case.
- There's plenty more to watch, including Mike Nugent rebounding, Kris Jenkins continuing his progress and Vernon Gholston doing the same. Also, with the first round of cuts upcoming, the interest doesn't end when the starter's depart. Should be a fun night.
Now, you may stop reading and I encourage you to do so. For [or "fore"] the rest.......
* I do wish Katie Strang could have filled in for me today during the annual Writer Cup matches, which took place at Emerson Golf Club in New Jersey. It pits the Jets reporters against those reporting on the Giants in a match-play format. I took copious mental notes, and a couple physical ones, and had a long post prepared. But since the Giants writers beat the Jets writers pretty soundly, I'll let those wordsmiths over there handle the details. I will simply say Mike Dougherty of the Journal News beat me 1-up and my partner, WFAN's Jerry Recco, was beaten by Mike Garafolo of the Star Ledger, also 1-up. Or maybe it was 2. Whatever. And I know what you're thinking here and I agree: Yeah, I thought Recco would be better, too. Sounds like an athlete, looks like an athlete but, well, um, not so much. Yes, Jerry, straight under the bus for you.
In truth, though, I wasn't very good and Jerry had reason to say under his breath - or out loud - "14 handicap my ***."
How bad was it? I hailed the beverage cart girl after pulling a 7-iron into the trees on the par-3 second hole and was on my first beer by 9:14 a.m. I got to know Marissa the cart girl quite well during the course of the morning. And strangely, my game gradually improved, though not nearly enough.
There's a problem when your best moment of the day is finding a sand wedge that you hurled, after flubbing consecutive sand shots, into some wickedly deep thicket. I'm really not that tempermental usually but the pressure, not to mention the majesty and potential glory, of the Writer Cup, can bring even the calmest to their respective knees. The wedge throw happened on the 15th hole and God, showing the supreme sense of humor He's known for, saw to it that my tee shot on 16 also found sand. Then again, it was probably just another bad swing by me.
The highlight of the day for Team Jest? Recco burying a downhill 18-footer on 16 to halve the hole and keep us 1 down. But we still lost by a hole to Garafolo and Dougherty. A tip of the cap to those two guys and the rest of the Giants writers who earned their victory and the spoils that go with it.
If there are mistakes in this post - misspellings, misstatements, misinformation - it's because I'm writing while on a LIRR train on my way into the city. Yeah, we'll go with that.
Comments (16)
I expect to see some serious emphasis on the running game, for all the obvious reasons.
Plenty of draw plays with a few screens and short slants, Favre's fave.
No long passes.
Defense, they have yet to really blitz anyone, and sure they will want to work on that a little while giving Gholston a shot at Manning and the glory that goes with it. Expect it early.
Most important, need to run the ball and stop the run, neither of which they could do last year or in the first two preseason games.
May they all return healthy and happy.
As for golf, my first beer is opened the earlier of 10am or my first lost ball (or club (or cart):)).
See what I mean .... Golf leads to alchoholism!!
Note to self:
When Boland says that you should probably stop reading, believe him.
I really just want to see what the O-line will do. If they can't protect Favre, it will still be a long season.
NOTE TO PETER KING: My wife and I will not attend this game. Yes, we paid for it but it's August and a glorified scrimmage isn't high on our agenda. If you want to be useful, maybe rail against the greedy bastards who make us buy these stupid things....
LIRR??
No Limo, Erik?
I'll have a talk with Woody, and see what I can do ;)
Really looking forward to Saturday's game. You know the Giants will be playing, so we should get an idea about our two lines.
I'm looking forward to see what Pace brings to the table, since the Jets may want to show some pass rushing, to tell the world that it aint just the Giants, with a pass rush...
By the way, please tell Coach that I'd like to see Jehuu running the ball, a few times in the 2nd-half. Thanks in advance!
Erik:
How about Lowery geting a pick saturday. It will guarantee a start and me a NYC (Manhattan) Sabrett hot dog.
Darrell for the win.
Also, Boland, how'd Rock shoot? If he outshot you, well, I guess we know YOU'RE not much of an athlete either.
Also, my off-color comment of the day after a 16 hour day and a couple brews. It looks like your love life and your golf game have a similar fate...you just can't find the hole.
Cliff, signing off.
Hey.
love the blog! Its become a staple of my daily routine before I go to bed..
I had a question on D'Brickashaw.. I know he won the off-season conditioning program "contest" and he's done a great job in the off-season.. Does this mean he's put on some bulk? People always have labeled him undersized.. Is he finally closer to the 320lbs people claim should make him successful?
Thanks
Its always 5:00p.m. some where, which means its never too early for a beer. Although its probably a little discouraging to have the cart girl tailing you hole to hole, knowing there's disaster looming, and having a fresh one popped and ready to pour.
I agree with Wayne and think they will try to run the ball tonight. And if Favre doesn't play well he will have to get some time next week. If Lowery nails down the starting CB spot tonight i think they will try to trade Miller. I think Miller played late into the 3rd QT and i feel they were showcasing him. If the Jets can get a good backup OT i would trade Miller [he is in his last year of his contract] and try to get a 6th rd pick thrown in with the deal.
I hope Lowery "nails down the starting CB spot tonight", but what does that mean. This is one of the positions in Football that a team needs depth, nickel and dime packages (injuries). I like Millers pure talent, as a JET fan I am rooting for the kid to do well. I was hoping that this would be his breakout year, healthy and mature (fingers crossed).
First beer by 9:14 a.m..... A true jets fan!!!!!! Love your work!!!!!!
I've heard psychologists theorize that bad behavior by golfers is a subconcious attempt to let those around the golfer know how "uncharacteristic" the play is that a golfer would get so uncharacteristically upset.
That's probably why I feel like I'd punch baby panda bears in the face when I play golf.
Erik, if our o-line doesn't keep Favre upright tonight I might still be drinking tomorrow morning at 9:15. Meet you on the golf course?
Darrell, I couldn't agree more.
Cliff, Tom. R didn't play and I have never seen him play, but as he just said to me just now in the press box, "I helped the Giants win twice. Last year when I played, and this year when I didn't." I know the feeling.
Hank/Naples, that's right! I do remember you saying he would start many, many weeks ago. Getting closer...
Blee, thanks for reading and welcome. Ferguson is short of 320, but not significantly so at 312 pounds. Still, he's much stronger up top, everyone seems to say so, which should allow him to take that next step. That and having Faneca next door.
Mike from Foxboro, agreed on the importance of depth at corner but having two lock-down corners doesn't allow teams to steer clear of one guy. Not saying Lowery is a lock-down, but having two quality starters makes a difference.
Bassett, you had me at baby panda...
Squish, you're ascending the ranks here as a top poster...