What Went Well: Demba Ba scored his league leading 7th goal from a flick on from Shola Ameobi. A run from Hatem Ben Afra led to a shot by Sammy Ameobi which deflected off Papiss Cisse for the injury time winner. Tim Krul made some fantastic saves.
What Did Not Go Well: Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson had a long day against Romelu Lukaku. Not quite sure why Shola Ameobi was playing on the right wing.
What Else: Fortune shone on the home team at St. James' Park as a deflected shot to a lucky winner. A draw may have been a fairer result and some could argue that West Brom should have fun. Lukaku was unplayable and Newcastle was happy when he was substituted.
This was another Newcastle lineup that I was unsure about. It looked like 4-4-2 but for some reason it drifted to a 4-3-3 with Shola Ameobi on the wing. Though he put in a great cross for Ba, there was no reason for him to be there. He actually played Lukaku onside for the goal showing his lack of positioning. Why not play Gabriel Obertan to reward him for his Europa League efforts?
This was also another game where Newcastle changed formation during the match. Though it is good to be able to change tactics, too many games have started with Newcastle falling behind. Not having a set formation also does not give the players a set way of playing. I was not happy with Alan Pardew using the Europa League as an excuse for poor Premier League performances. Newcastle played at home and made 9 changes to the starting lineup. The biggest teams in all of Europe have to balance domestic and continental fixtures. If that is where Newcastle wants to be, they need to be able to strike that balance.
Now What: After 9 games, roughly quarter of the season, Newcastle are in 10th place but only 4 points out 4th. I don't expect Newcastle to finish at the heights of last season, trophy please, but I expect a top 10 season. Three fortunate points against a team in good form helps. Next week they are in a high profile game against Liverpool, a team that is not better than Newcastle but is considered better because they were really good in the 70s and 80s. Though Newcastle has a bad record at Anfield, I can see them getting a draw if they start the game well. No Europa League game this week so there is no excuse there. A win over Liverpool will put Newcastle in a good position as they move towards a favorable November schedule on paper.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
NFL Miami Dolphins 30 New York Jets 9 10/28/12
What Went Well: Thought long and hard about this one. Could not come up with anything.
What Did Not Go Well: I will make my life easier by saying everything.
What Else: For those like myself who have always valued special teams, this game is a great way to showcase how valuable special teams can be. Over his tenure as Jets special teams coordinator, Mike Westhoff has built the Jets into one of the league's best special team units. For whatever reason, those days have come to an end. This game had many special teams mistakes that put the Jets in a hole. Getting caught off guard on the Dolphins first kickoff is excusable but it shows the mentality that the Dolphins had going into this game. More on that later. After that there was a blocked punt and field goal, Jets players running into Clyde Gates preventing him from a kickoff return for a touchdown, not covering the ensuing kickoff well after the Jets finally scored points, and Jeremy Kerley's ability to field punts inside the Jets 10. It was a total disaster.
A few weeks ago, I had given up on Mark Sanchez as a franchise quarterback. This game displayed why. He is not a difference maker at the position. He has had too many games disrupted by erratic throws. I can't recall another quarterback who has that many batted balls at the line of scrimmage especially on screen passes. I have this worry that Mark Sanchez may be someone's reclamation project in 5 years but nothing can be done about that. For cap reasons, he will probably be on the team for at least one more year. He has to play better. I am not calling for Tim Tebow and I won't be at any point this season. It has become apparent to me and many others that Tebow's presence is cosmetic only and the coaching staff wants to use him as little as possible.
It never concerned me how much the Jets talked trash. It was all in fun for me and did not take away or add to the result of games. However, after the talk this week, I would hope the Jets would have come out with some fire. That did not happen. The Dolphins came out intensely and the Jets did not match that. After playing so well last week, being at home against a division rival was not enough for the team to come out like they cared. A lot of that is on the plate of the coaching staff. They were out thought by their Dolphins counterparts. From the early onside kick, using corner blitzes, or through exposing Tim Tebow as a punt protector the Dolphins beat the Jets at every corner. I never thought that Rex Ryan was on the hot seat this season but the Jets did not show up for 2 games this season and the blame has to be on his door.
The hottest seat in the entire New York Jets organization belongs to Mike Tannenbaum. As I have said before, the Jets roster holes are huge and there is no quick fix. That has to be part of the reason why the special teams have deteriorated over the last few years. Three of the four Jets starting linebackers are older than me and the Demario Davis era may have begun. Sanchez's failings aside, the offensive line has had it. Brandon Moore may be past it, Matt Slauson has regressed, and Austin Howard is shaky. I don't think that Woody Johnson should take a page out of the Jerry Richardson playbook and fire his general manager during the season. It won't change anything now as could be seen in the Panthers vs Bears today where the Panthers again lost a close game they could have easily won. But there is a rebuilding job that needs to be done and it must be decided if Tannenbaum is the man to do that. With the Jets next game taking place after the election, it may be an opportunity for Mr. Johnson to focus on what the Jets need to do in 2013 and beyond.
Now What: I won't be watching too much television over the next two weeks as it pertains to the NFL knowing how much the media loves to take shots at the Jets when there is no reason. After that display, I am sure the ESPN suits are licking their chops. It would be great to find a silver lining in this but there isn't one. The Jets go into the bye week with more questions and the season looks like it is spiraling out of control. The Jets still are in touching distance of a wild card spot but seeing this squad reach 9 wins looks unlikely.
What Did Not Go Well: I will make my life easier by saying everything.
What Else: For those like myself who have always valued special teams, this game is a great way to showcase how valuable special teams can be. Over his tenure as Jets special teams coordinator, Mike Westhoff has built the Jets into one of the league's best special team units. For whatever reason, those days have come to an end. This game had many special teams mistakes that put the Jets in a hole. Getting caught off guard on the Dolphins first kickoff is excusable but it shows the mentality that the Dolphins had going into this game. More on that later. After that there was a blocked punt and field goal, Jets players running into Clyde Gates preventing him from a kickoff return for a touchdown, not covering the ensuing kickoff well after the Jets finally scored points, and Jeremy Kerley's ability to field punts inside the Jets 10. It was a total disaster.
A few weeks ago, I had given up on Mark Sanchez as a franchise quarterback. This game displayed why. He is not a difference maker at the position. He has had too many games disrupted by erratic throws. I can't recall another quarterback who has that many batted balls at the line of scrimmage especially on screen passes. I have this worry that Mark Sanchez may be someone's reclamation project in 5 years but nothing can be done about that. For cap reasons, he will probably be on the team for at least one more year. He has to play better. I am not calling for Tim Tebow and I won't be at any point this season. It has become apparent to me and many others that Tebow's presence is cosmetic only and the coaching staff wants to use him as little as possible.
It never concerned me how much the Jets talked trash. It was all in fun for me and did not take away or add to the result of games. However, after the talk this week, I would hope the Jets would have come out with some fire. That did not happen. The Dolphins came out intensely and the Jets did not match that. After playing so well last week, being at home against a division rival was not enough for the team to come out like they cared. A lot of that is on the plate of the coaching staff. They were out thought by their Dolphins counterparts. From the early onside kick, using corner blitzes, or through exposing Tim Tebow as a punt protector the Dolphins beat the Jets at every corner. I never thought that Rex Ryan was on the hot seat this season but the Jets did not show up for 2 games this season and the blame has to be on his door.
The hottest seat in the entire New York Jets organization belongs to Mike Tannenbaum. As I have said before, the Jets roster holes are huge and there is no quick fix. That has to be part of the reason why the special teams have deteriorated over the last few years. Three of the four Jets starting linebackers are older than me and the Demario Davis era may have begun. Sanchez's failings aside, the offensive line has had it. Brandon Moore may be past it, Matt Slauson has regressed, and Austin Howard is shaky. I don't think that Woody Johnson should take a page out of the Jerry Richardson playbook and fire his general manager during the season. It won't change anything now as could be seen in the Panthers vs Bears today where the Panthers again lost a close game they could have easily won. But there is a rebuilding job that needs to be done and it must be decided if Tannenbaum is the man to do that. With the Jets next game taking place after the election, it may be an opportunity for Mr. Johnson to focus on what the Jets need to do in 2013 and beyond.
Now What: I won't be watching too much television over the next two weeks as it pertains to the NFL knowing how much the media loves to take shots at the Jets when there is no reason. After that display, I am sure the ESPN suits are licking their chops. It would be great to find a silver lining in this but there isn't one. The Jets go into the bye week with more questions and the season looks like it is spiraling out of control. The Jets still are in touching distance of a wild card spot but seeing this squad reach 9 wins looks unlikely.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Episode 7
On this week's episode, I talk about the legacy of Lance Armstrong, the NBA's power over ESPN's selection of commentators and the backlash on Cam Newton.
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UEFA Europa League Newcastle 1 Club Brugge 0 10/25/12
What Went Well: Gabriel Obertan scored his first goal of the season. Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson played well looking like good squad players.
What Did Not Go Well: Papiss Cisse missed three glorious chances and looked off the pace. Cheick Tiote picked up another booking and played some poor passes.
What Else: Newcastle came out like a house of fire against Club Brugge. They dominated the first half but could not get a goal. Cisse could have had a hat trick in the first half but one goal would have been enough to give the home team a lift that they could push on with. The second half saw the introduction of Shola Ameobi and a switch to 4-4-2. Shola's pass to Sammy led to Sammy's great flick and pass to Obertan. Obertan took his goal well and has been the best player for Newcastle throughout the first 3 Europa League games.
After the goal, Club Brugge forced the action and could have gotten goal. Some good defending and bad finishing contributed to keep the Belgian side out of the net. Newcastle and Leverkusen are the only teams not to concede a goal in the Europa League group stages and that is a good stat to have.
Very happy to win a game where Hatem Ben Afra, Tim Krul, and Demba Ba were spectators and Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini made cameo appearances. The absence of Sylvain Marveaux and the quick hook of Vernon Anita are worrying signs but it is a long season and both of those players will play their part at some point.
Now What: With the victory, Newcastle has 7 points in 3 Europa League games putting them in 1st place in the group at the midway point. That puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages. As a fan of a team that has not won a trophy since 1969, I can not take the opportunity to pass up a chance at glory. These games have been beneficial to give some squad players a chance to play. A draw at Brugge and a home win for Maritimo should put Newcastle through to the next phase and after that we can all dream. As for now, a Premier League win against West Brom is next up on the schedule.
What Did Not Go Well: Papiss Cisse missed three glorious chances and looked off the pace. Cheick Tiote picked up another booking and played some poor passes.
What Else: Newcastle came out like a house of fire against Club Brugge. They dominated the first half but could not get a goal. Cisse could have had a hat trick in the first half but one goal would have been enough to give the home team a lift that they could push on with. The second half saw the introduction of Shola Ameobi and a switch to 4-4-2. Shola's pass to Sammy led to Sammy's great flick and pass to Obertan. Obertan took his goal well and has been the best player for Newcastle throughout the first 3 Europa League games.
After the goal, Club Brugge forced the action and could have gotten goal. Some good defending and bad finishing contributed to keep the Belgian side out of the net. Newcastle and Leverkusen are the only teams not to concede a goal in the Europa League group stages and that is a good stat to have.
Very happy to win a game where Hatem Ben Afra, Tim Krul, and Demba Ba were spectators and Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini made cameo appearances. The absence of Sylvain Marveaux and the quick hook of Vernon Anita are worrying signs but it is a long season and both of those players will play their part at some point.
Now What: With the victory, Newcastle has 7 points in 3 Europa League games putting them in 1st place in the group at the midway point. That puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages. As a fan of a team that has not won a trophy since 1969, I can not take the opportunity to pass up a chance at glory. These games have been beneficial to give some squad players a chance to play. A draw at Brugge and a home win for Maritimo should put Newcastle through to the next phase and after that we can all dream. As for now, a Premier League win against West Brom is next up on the schedule.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Episode 6
On this week's episode Cillan Flavin joins me to talk about the first 6 weeks of the English Premier League and Matt Schrantz joins me to talk about the University of Buffalo taking on the University of Pittsburgh. For the first time ever, there are multiple Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooters of the Week.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
United States 3 Guatemala 1 10/16/12
What Went Well: Clint Dempsey scored two goals tying him with Brian McBride for third most goals in US national team history with 30. Carlos Bocanegra scored his 14th goal surpassing Marcelo Balboa for most goals by a defender. Joe Corona came on as a late substitute ensuring that he was cap tied to the US.
What Did Not Go Well: Not sure if it was miscommunication or an exposure of Bocanegra's lack of pace but the Carlos Ruiz goal showed defensive frailty.
What Else: No heart palpitations occurred after Clint Dempsey's goal in the 20th minute. Before then the US started brightly but allowed a long ball to Carlos Ruiz to expose a defensive weakness. Lack of pace at the back. Bocanegra is the captain and has been a great servant to the national team for the past 7 years or so but at 33 he may be past it as a front line player and will be past his prime at the 2014 World Cup. The problem is what is the alternative to him at center back? Players such as Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, and George John have been discussed as the future but none of them have been near a US squad in ages. My belief is that in a national team the best players must play and for Bocanegra to be out someone has to be better than him. Right now there is a no clear answer. The US only kept one clean sheet in the six qualifiers and they must get better defensively as a whole.
The main thing that I enjoyed about this game was the US did not waver after the early goal and Bocanegra's equalizer. They could have gone through with a draw but pushed for a win. To me that was important mentally as the US has slipped into moments of complacency during these qualifiers. They wanted to win and they put in a performance to show that the team was not content with what had gone on in previous games and wanted to do better in front of the home crowd. Getting the third goal was important because it created a barrier that Guatemala was not able to overcome.
I am known for my tendency to criticize Jurgen Klinnsman but I won't today. Though I was not happy with him not bringing in players for the ones who were injured, I felt he put out the right lineup considering the players who were available. The US has played well at home during this round of qualifying and I expect that to continue in the next round. Hopefully they can bring that mentality to some of the road games next year.
Now What: Qualifying processes in soccer are not transitive properties. Once you make it to the next level, everyone starts from scratch and there is little correlation to the past. The US won the group and when you show this to your children on Wikipedia in 20 years you will only remember the table and not the process. The US has moved on to the final round of World Cup qualifying and will join Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica there. The schedule for the games should be within in the next two weeks with the first game coming in February. Though the US needs to make improvements by then and who knows what players will be available at that time, what form they will be in, or what process Klinnsman will have in selecting the squad, the important thing is that these games are there to be played. The alternative was unthinkable and thankfully we don't have to worry about that.
What Did Not Go Well: Not sure if it was miscommunication or an exposure of Bocanegra's lack of pace but the Carlos Ruiz goal showed defensive frailty.
What Else: No heart palpitations occurred after Clint Dempsey's goal in the 20th minute. Before then the US started brightly but allowed a long ball to Carlos Ruiz to expose a defensive weakness. Lack of pace at the back. Bocanegra is the captain and has been a great servant to the national team for the past 7 years or so but at 33 he may be past it as a front line player and will be past his prime at the 2014 World Cup. The problem is what is the alternative to him at center back? Players such as Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, and George John have been discussed as the future but none of them have been near a US squad in ages. My belief is that in a national team the best players must play and for Bocanegra to be out someone has to be better than him. Right now there is a no clear answer. The US only kept one clean sheet in the six qualifiers and they must get better defensively as a whole.
The main thing that I enjoyed about this game was the US did not waver after the early goal and Bocanegra's equalizer. They could have gone through with a draw but pushed for a win. To me that was important mentally as the US has slipped into moments of complacency during these qualifiers. They wanted to win and they put in a performance to show that the team was not content with what had gone on in previous games and wanted to do better in front of the home crowd. Getting the third goal was important because it created a barrier that Guatemala was not able to overcome.
I am known for my tendency to criticize Jurgen Klinnsman but I won't today. Though I was not happy with him not bringing in players for the ones who were injured, I felt he put out the right lineup considering the players who were available. The US has played well at home during this round of qualifying and I expect that to continue in the next round. Hopefully they can bring that mentality to some of the road games next year.
Now What: Qualifying processes in soccer are not transitive properties. Once you make it to the next level, everyone starts from scratch and there is little correlation to the past. The US won the group and when you show this to your children on Wikipedia in 20 years you will only remember the table and not the process. The US has moved on to the final round of World Cup qualifying and will join Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica there. The schedule for the games should be within in the next two weeks with the first game coming in February. Though the US needs to make improvements by then and who knows what players will be available at that time, what form they will be in, or what process Klinnsman will have in selecting the squad, the important thing is that these games are there to be played. The alternative was unthinkable and thankfully we don't have to worry about that.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Colts 9 Jets 35 10/14/12
What Went Well: Someone told Shonn Greene it was 2009 as he ran for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns. Joe McKnight had a 61 yard run. Antonio Cromartie played great defense on Reggie Wayne and should have had a pick six. Quinton Coples had 1.5 sacks.
What Did Not Go Well: Injuries to McKnight and Bilal Powell may rule them out for lengthy spells. Too many penalties, 8 in total.
What Else: If I said that Mark Sanchez threw for 82 yards, how much would you have assumed the Jets lost by? This game shows that fantasy football statistics don't correlate to victories. He did not make any mistakes and made some good throws especially the two touchdown passes to Stephen and Jason Hill.
The game plan was Rex Ryan's dream. Run, run, run some more. Make a few passes in critical times and go home. Greene may have read the stories of his demise or seen his carries shrink and was unhappy but either way he ran like he had something to prove. Hopefully that will continue since he may be solo the next few weeks depending on the injuries to Powell and McKnight. The offensive line also deserves a tip of the cap for opening the holes and only giving up one sack.
The run defense was better. It helps that the Colts only ran the ball 17 times but there were no runs longer than 5 yards. There was a pass rush and the Jets got 4 sacks. Andrew Luck missed some throws but the Jets were able to hold long Colts drives to field goals which helped to keep the gap in the score.
The coaching was better. The play calling was better. Not happy with the use of timeouts but it really did not matter. Good use of Tim Tebow today especially on the fake punt. To be fair, that play was set up by previous plays where he ran up the middle.
Now What: The entire AFC East is 3-3 with the Jets being the only team with 2 division wins. No one in the AFC is running away with anything so 3-3 also keeps them in the Wild Card mix. Next week's game is against the Patriots and everyone knows the rivalry between those two. Win or lose, the Jets are staying around in spite of the media's desire to turn their season into a disaster.
What Did Not Go Well: Injuries to McKnight and Bilal Powell may rule them out for lengthy spells. Too many penalties, 8 in total.
What Else: If I said that Mark Sanchez threw for 82 yards, how much would you have assumed the Jets lost by? This game shows that fantasy football statistics don't correlate to victories. He did not make any mistakes and made some good throws especially the two touchdown passes to Stephen and Jason Hill.
The game plan was Rex Ryan's dream. Run, run, run some more. Make a few passes in critical times and go home. Greene may have read the stories of his demise or seen his carries shrink and was unhappy but either way he ran like he had something to prove. Hopefully that will continue since he may be solo the next few weeks depending on the injuries to Powell and McKnight. The offensive line also deserves a tip of the cap for opening the holes and only giving up one sack.
The run defense was better. It helps that the Colts only ran the ball 17 times but there were no runs longer than 5 yards. There was a pass rush and the Jets got 4 sacks. Andrew Luck missed some throws but the Jets were able to hold long Colts drives to field goals which helped to keep the gap in the score.
The coaching was better. The play calling was better. Not happy with the use of timeouts but it really did not matter. Good use of Tim Tebow today especially on the fake punt. To be fair, that play was set up by previous plays where he ran up the middle.
Now What: The entire AFC East is 3-3 with the Jets being the only team with 2 division wins. No one in the AFC is running away with anything so 3-3 also keeps them in the Wild Card mix. Next week's game is against the Patriots and everyone knows the rivalry between those two. Win or lose, the Jets are staying around in spite of the media's desire to turn their season into a disaster.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Antigua and Barbuda 1 United States 2 10/12/12
What Went Well: Eddie Johnson started and scored both goals in his first national team appearance since 2010. Alan Gordon, making his first appearance for the national team, provided the winning assist. Michael Bradley had a lot of bite in midfield. Graham Zusi played well in the first half but faded badly in the second.
What Did Not Go Well: Jermaine Jones played poorly making bad passes, bad tackles, and getting an intentional handball in a dangerous era. Clint Dempsey was anonymous. Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, and Geoff Cameron did not cover themselves in glory on the goal from Dexter Blackstock.
What Else: The US was a 91st minute winner from Eddie Johnson away from disaster. Drawing to a team with a population of a nation under 90,000 would have been a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. Alarm bills rang when the striker who was supposed to be in for his heading ability was put on the left wing. After the goal, the US lacked urgency and allowed Antigua and Barbuda to get back in the game. The US looked unsure of what they are doing. The substitution of Jermaine Jones was nonsensical as he did not offer anything and made no sense since the US needed a goal. It appears the team either does not have a plan or can't execute it. Not finding a way to get the best out of Clint Dempsey is inexcusable.
Now What: A win is a win and the US only needs a draw against Guatemala on Tuesday to qualify for the next section of World Cup qualifying. However, it is imperative that the US play better and Jurgen Klinsmann needs to improve to justify his paycheck.
What Did Not Go Well: Jermaine Jones played poorly making bad passes, bad tackles, and getting an intentional handball in a dangerous era. Clint Dempsey was anonymous. Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, and Geoff Cameron did not cover themselves in glory on the goal from Dexter Blackstock.
What Else: The US was a 91st minute winner from Eddie Johnson away from disaster. Drawing to a team with a population of a nation under 90,000 would have been a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. Alarm bills rang when the striker who was supposed to be in for his heading ability was put on the left wing. After the goal, the US lacked urgency and allowed Antigua and Barbuda to get back in the game. The US looked unsure of what they are doing. The substitution of Jermaine Jones was nonsensical as he did not offer anything and made no sense since the US needed a goal. It appears the team either does not have a plan or can't execute it. Not finding a way to get the best out of Clint Dempsey is inexcusable.
Now What: A win is a win and the US only needs a draw against Guatemala on Tuesday to qualify for the next section of World Cup qualifying. However, it is imperative that the US play better and Jurgen Klinsmann needs to improve to justify his paycheck.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Episode 5
This week's episode focuses on the big deal over Drew Brees' touchdown record and the USMNT World Cup qualifiers.
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
Texans 23 Jets 17 10/8/12
What Went Well:
Jets scored a touchdown on offense and special teams. Jeremy Kerley had 94 receiving yards on 5 catches. Antonio Cromartie played shut down defense on Andrew Johnson. Joe McKnight had a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Short list.
What Did Not Go Well: Run defense was torched for 169 yards, a majority of them by Arian Foster. No pass rush. Inability to run the ball. Offensive line getting knocked over. Red zone turnovers. Poor play calling and usage of timeouts. Sanchez having balls batted down.
What Else: It was a positive to not be embarrassed on national television especially with ESPN looking for anything to jump on at any moment. That was accomplished but fact of the matter is that was a winnable game at home. The Texans are my pick to win the Super Bowl but a combination of conservative play calling and poor pass defense kept the Jets in the game. The Jets were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
The run defense is bad, currently ranked 31st in the NFL. Though everyone goes crazy over the pass, the inability to stop the run can be demoralizing. The Jets have become a bad tackling team that can't get off the field on third. There is also no pass rush which has been a staple of Rex Ryan's time as head coach.
The offensive play calling was abysmal. The interchange of Sanchez and Tebow only lead to confusion between the offense. The Jets used two timeouts due to having the wrong personnel on the field. This cost them at the end of the game. The Jets have to abandon the run because it is not working.
The coaches brought out all the gimmicks including onside kicks, going for it on 4th down, and more gimmick wildcat plays. To me it showed the desperation of the game and the team admitting that they are not able to beat the Texans head on. Having 12 men on the field to start a defensive series shows a team that is not prepared.
Now What: The Jets play the Colts on Sunday and it is a winnable game. If you looked at the Jets schedule after the first five games, 2-3 would not be a crazy record. But they need to perform better in all phases including coaching. The AFC is wide open and being 3-3 will keep them in the playoff hunt.
What Did Not Go Well: Run defense was torched for 169 yards, a majority of them by Arian Foster. No pass rush. Inability to run the ball. Offensive line getting knocked over. Red zone turnovers. Poor play calling and usage of timeouts. Sanchez having balls batted down.
What Else: It was a positive to not be embarrassed on national television especially with ESPN looking for anything to jump on at any moment. That was accomplished but fact of the matter is that was a winnable game at home. The Texans are my pick to win the Super Bowl but a combination of conservative play calling and poor pass defense kept the Jets in the game. The Jets were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
The run defense is bad, currently ranked 31st in the NFL. Though everyone goes crazy over the pass, the inability to stop the run can be demoralizing. The Jets have become a bad tackling team that can't get off the field on third. There is also no pass rush which has been a staple of Rex Ryan's time as head coach.
The offensive play calling was abysmal. The interchange of Sanchez and Tebow only lead to confusion between the offense. The Jets used two timeouts due to having the wrong personnel on the field. This cost them at the end of the game. The Jets have to abandon the run because it is not working.
The coaches brought out all the gimmicks including onside kicks, going for it on 4th down, and more gimmick wildcat plays. To me it showed the desperation of the game and the team admitting that they are not able to beat the Texans head on. Having 12 men on the field to start a defensive series shows a team that is not prepared.
Now What: The Jets play the Colts on Sunday and it is a winnable game. If you looked at the Jets schedule after the first five games, 2-3 would not be a crazy record. But they need to perform better in all phases including coaching. The AFC is wide open and being 3-3 will keep them in the playoff hunt.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Episode 4
This week's episode focuses on baseball. I talk about the new MLB postseason format and the race for the AL MVP award.
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