With regards to why the Jetties blow this season, I mostly agree with Fredo. But a few other points:
1. While the issue was not the offense per se, there is no question that at least one of Sanchez and Schott is a bust. Perhaps both. Despite the poor D, if we had a top 10 QB this team would be in solid position to make the playoffs. See the Pats. Sanchez's major regression this year is IMO a sign that he's topped out, or Schott doesn't know how to run an offense. Either way, one of those two should not be with the team next year. Jets have too many skill players in positions around Sanchez to not have scored more.
2. Tannenbaum definitely deserves heat for recent offseason moves. First, too many changes in the past two years. They are ruining team chemistry and losing locker room leaders. As just one example, the idea of asking Brad Smith to "wait" until they figured out Nnamdi was insulting at best, and complete managerial incompetence at worst. Losing his skills on ST, QB and WR hurt us.
3. I never liked the Cromartie pick up. He's only good at covering one thing - a straight fly pattern. Other than that, he's always getting beat.
4. IMO Jets placed way too much importance on Santonio in the offseason. He's a great WR, but not top 5. He has hurt team chemistry with his selfishness.
5. Jets secondary is not good, with the obvious exception of Revis. They get beat a lot, and struggle to make open field tackles.
6. Jets need a true pass rushing DE. Period. They waste too many players bringing blitzes to get even moderate QB pressure, and still often fail to bring down the QB.
Bottom line, in this year's draft Jets need to focus on defensive ends and secondary. I also think it's time to switch out Schott and try another direction. Sanchez seems to perform best under two-minute drills, yet they rarely go to no huddle and try to push the tempo. I don't think Schott is properly running this offense with the personnel he has.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Harkless gets things revved for Johnnies
It's been, unsurprisingly, an erratic beginning of the year for the Johnnies. A team that has turned over just about it's entire rotation, you'd expect them to take a while to get things working.
Their last game against Providence may have been the turning point.
Through 12/26, the Storm was 6-5, without a real quality win (all mid- and low-majors, with 3 of the wins being by single digits), and with two bad losses (at Detroit, and Northeastern at home by 14!).
But on 12/27, the Johnnies, in their first league game, drew the Friars at home. We all know that Lavin put together a big time recruiting class for this season. And Moe Harkless seems to be ready to contribute--immediately. He's put up 15.7/8.5 so far this year--great numbers for a freshman. Against Providence he absolutely exploded: 32 points on 14 of 17 shooting.
The first thing a young team needs, when they're finding their identity, is the desire to work hard, play defense, and value the ball. Next comes developing a go-to guy. It looks like St. John's just might have theirs.
Their last game against Providence may have been the turning point.
Through 12/26, the Storm was 6-5, without a real quality win (all mid- and low-majors, with 3 of the wins being by single digits), and with two bad losses (at Detroit, and Northeastern at home by 14!).
But on 12/27, the Johnnies, in their first league game, drew the Friars at home. We all know that Lavin put together a big time recruiting class for this season. And Moe Harkless seems to be ready to contribute--immediately. He's put up 15.7/8.5 so far this year--great numbers for a freshman. Against Providence he absolutely exploded: 32 points on 14 of 17 shooting.
The first thing a young team needs, when they're finding their identity, is the desire to work hard, play defense, and value the ball. Next comes developing a go-to guy. It looks like St. John's just might have theirs.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
It's SHK grudge match weekend
Not only do we have Jets-Fins, but Duke-Penn is Sunday at 5 on ESPNU! My predictions:
D.C. 1-0
Fredo 1-1
S.H.K. 0-2
Congratulations, SHK. You're at the top of your pledge class.
D.C. 1-0
Fredo 1-1
S.H.K. 0-2
Congratulations, SHK. You're at the top of your pledge class.
Just in time for Jets-Fins,
Some oldies-but-goodies from the SheaHeyKids vault. Before we get those (below the fold), I'll make my prediction that the Fins win this game. Rex does not have this team right now, IMHO. And I'm highly skeptical that Rex will have a tight leash/curfew on his guys for New Year's Eve. Maybe Mark Sanchez can hook up with Duaner Sanchez for a night on the town in Miami?
Defense Rankings
Jets D Rankings by year
Yr Rank Pts/G Yds/G
2009 1 14.8 252.3
2010 3 19.0 291.5
2011 7 22.9 318.9 (through 15 games)
That, my friends, is a huge difference. Points allowed are up 50% over two seasons.
Yr Rank Pts/G Yds/G
2009 1 14.8 252.3
2010 3 19.0 291.5
2011 7 22.9 318.9 (through 15 games)
That, my friends, is a huge difference. Points allowed are up 50% over two seasons.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Ryan has confidence
in Sanchez and Schott.
That's cute. Like Rex has any credibility, at this point, to be passing judgment (yay or nay) on anyone.
That's cute. Like Rex has any credibility, at this point, to be passing judgment (yay or nay) on anyone.
Jets O
Year over year stats: Yardage Ranking / PPG
2007 – 16.8 ppg
2008 – 25.3 ppg
2009 – 21.8 ppg
2010 – 22.9 ppg
2011 (15 games) – 24.0 ppg
2008 – 25.3 ppg
2009 – 21.8 ppg
2010 – 22.9 ppg
2011 (15 games) – 24.0 ppg
Offense is doing less controlling the clock than in past years, and is more turnover prone. Yet, on a PPG basis, we're actually ahead of where we were the past two seasons (with less D & ST scoring, if I had to guess).
Sanchez has regressed slightly this year, in a year where he should've improved markedly. And yet the team has put enough weapons around him that they continue to be able to score (at least by the measure of previous seasons).
The D is primarily responsible for the downgrade in the team's performance this year.
The D is primarily responsible for the downgrade in the team's performance this year.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Jets run over by Giants
From the Jets fan's perspective, let's take a look at the pros and cons of this performance. Since it was a dismal loss, I'll start with the cons:
1) The Jets defense is not the dominant unit it once was. For all the poor play of the O, it's been the fall off in the play of the D that has led to the team's declining fortunes this year. The two Bradshaw TD's, and the Cruz TD, were indicative of what's wrong with this squad: they're too enamored with their image, and not convinced they need to bring it every down. All three of those TD plays could have been stuffed. In all three cases, defenders were where they needed to be to snuff out the play, but the defenders in question got manhandled and out-willed by the ball carrier. A good football coach would be tearing a new a-hole for these guys, but Rex just tells them how good they are. This team was built to be D first, and they're good--but not great. The way this team's been constructed, they need to be great.
2) Sanchez has not been the same QB since he was repeatedly mauled by the Ravens early this season. I believe he was concussed in that game, and he's had happy feet and muddled decision making ever since. Whether Sanchez can be the Sanchise is an open question at this point. He might only get one more year to prove he can be, if his play doesn't start to improve.
3) The O-Line was horrible. Granted, the Giants have one of the better pass rushing units in the league, but there are two pro-bowlers on the Jets line, and the whole unit has garnered a lot of good press. It looks unearned after this game. The pro-bowl center gave away the football at the most crucial moment in the game, on a 3rd and goal from the Giant 1. He snapped the ball off his own leg, and ricocheted forward into the Giant endzone for a crushing turnover. A few plays later, the D managed a turnover and the Jets came down to score and make it a one possession game, but it was just a horrible play. Ferguson couldn't contain Pierre-Paul, who constantly harrassed Sanchez. The ground game was fairly ineffective after the first drive. If the young stars on the line can't perform when all chips are down, that doesn't bode well.
4) Rex gives the other team too much bulletin board material, and has his team focused on all the wrong things going into a game. His players are worried about the verbal tete-a-tete, going back and forth through the press all week, when they need to be figuring out their assignments and preparing themselves for the game. The accountability is crap. Rex defends guys making terrible plays, and what's worse, guys showing terrible judgment (think Santonio last week), while the team gets outwilled. This feeds into everything I've always feared about Rex--a players coach looks great for the first year, and then things quickly turn to crap. Well, Rex may be the ultimate players coach. Yet he managed to squeeze two great years out of his team. I think things are now on a downward trajectory. Rex has certainly earned another year, even though the Jets likely won't make the playoffs this year. That said, I'd fire him now, because I don't see anyway this team can be better than they were this year with Rex at the helm. Coughlin had his team ready to play today, despite being with the Giants for the last 10 years. People forget how hard that is. It's easy to get guys motivated when you're a new voice. When players have been hearing you for years, it's much harder. But that's what happens when you discipline your team and have them habituated to hard work. The Jets are habituated to yapping and thinking they'll win, and I don't think they work that hard.
The pros:
1) Not making the playoffs will hopefully open people's (read: Jets fans and management) eyes to the fact that the Ryan era may have to end sooner than later.
2) Revis is everything he's cracked up to be. You just had to figure he would make a huge play as the Giants kept challenging him. He kept single-handedly squelching key plays, and then finally turned in the biggest play of the day for the Jets--causing the pass to get tipped that led to the Harris INT, the play that kept the Jets in the game after the atrocious Mangold turnover. The guy's a leader.patient)
1) The Jets defense is not the dominant unit it once was. For all the poor play of the O, it's been the fall off in the play of the D that has led to the team's declining fortunes this year. The two Bradshaw TD's, and the Cruz TD, were indicative of what's wrong with this squad: they're too enamored with their image, and not convinced they need to bring it every down. All three of those TD plays could have been stuffed. In all three cases, defenders were where they needed to be to snuff out the play, but the defenders in question got manhandled and out-willed by the ball carrier. A good football coach would be tearing a new a-hole for these guys, but Rex just tells them how good they are. This team was built to be D first, and they're good--but not great. The way this team's been constructed, they need to be great.
2) Sanchez has not been the same QB since he was repeatedly mauled by the Ravens early this season. I believe he was concussed in that game, and he's had happy feet and muddled decision making ever since. Whether Sanchez can be the Sanchise is an open question at this point. He might only get one more year to prove he can be, if his play doesn't start to improve.
3) The O-Line was horrible. Granted, the Giants have one of the better pass rushing units in the league, but there are two pro-bowlers on the Jets line, and the whole unit has garnered a lot of good press. It looks unearned after this game. The pro-bowl center gave away the football at the most crucial moment in the game, on a 3rd and goal from the Giant 1. He snapped the ball off his own leg, and ricocheted forward into the Giant endzone for a crushing turnover. A few plays later, the D managed a turnover and the Jets came down to score and make it a one possession game, but it was just a horrible play. Ferguson couldn't contain Pierre-Paul, who constantly harrassed Sanchez. The ground game was fairly ineffective after the first drive. If the young stars on the line can't perform when all chips are down, that doesn't bode well.
4) Rex gives the other team too much bulletin board material, and has his team focused on all the wrong things going into a game. His players are worried about the verbal tete-a-tete, going back and forth through the press all week, when they need to be figuring out their assignments and preparing themselves for the game. The accountability is crap. Rex defends guys making terrible plays, and what's worse, guys showing terrible judgment (think Santonio last week), while the team gets outwilled. This feeds into everything I've always feared about Rex--a players coach looks great for the first year, and then things quickly turn to crap. Well, Rex may be the ultimate players coach. Yet he managed to squeeze two great years out of his team. I think things are now on a downward trajectory. Rex has certainly earned another year, even though the Jets likely won't make the playoffs this year. That said, I'd fire him now, because I don't see anyway this team can be better than they were this year with Rex at the helm. Coughlin had his team ready to play today, despite being with the Giants for the last 10 years. People forget how hard that is. It's easy to get guys motivated when you're a new voice. When players have been hearing you for years, it's much harder. But that's what happens when you discipline your team and have them habituated to hard work. The Jets are habituated to yapping and thinking they'll win, and I don't think they work that hard.
The pros:
1) Not making the playoffs will hopefully open people's (read: Jets fans and management) eyes to the fact that the Ryan era may have to end sooner than later.
2) Revis is everything he's cracked up to be. You just had to figure he would make a huge play as the Giants kept challenging him. He kept single-handedly squelching key plays, and then finally turned in the biggest play of the day for the Jets--causing the pass to get tipped that led to the Harris INT, the play that kept the Jets in the game after the atrocious Mangold turnover. The guy's a leader.patient)
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Best News a Big East Fan Could Hear
...is right here.
That's right, a league that gets back to what the Big East was all about in the first place, and could be great at again-- basketball.
Truth be told, a league like this would have a competitive advantage against the other "power conferences" in basketball, because hoops wouldn't end up an afterthought. My theory is that great leagues spawn great programs--not the other way around. A league that makes sense geographically (e.g. teams close enough together that there are natural rivalries at play), and with commonalities like school size, private/public, relgious/sectarian, etc., makes for a great league. It doesn't need to be homogenous, but at least have a core of similarity to it.
A new league that contained the B-Ball only schools of the Big East: Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, St. John's, Marquette, DePaul and Seton Hall; and added a few new teams like Xavier, Temple, Butler, as the article above suggests, would be a 10 team league. Pretty potent.
I think, if it were me, I'd rather see it go in the direction of a Northeast league, and forget about the midwest schools. And keep it to 8-10 teams so you could play a full double-round robin schedule, the way it should be. Raid the A-10. Also, 'Nova wants to go 1A football, so they're not going to come along for the ride.
I'd go with:
Holy Cross*
Providence
SJU
Seton Hall
St. Joe's
La Salle
Georgetown
George Mason
George Washington
I'd love to find another New England team to pair off with Providence, but it's imperative this league be an ALL-SPORTS league, to avoid the nonsense that's gone on the last 20 years. That means not taking any schools that compete in Div 1 (FBS or FCS) football. Thus, that rules out schools like Mass, URI, and Holy Cross that would've otherwise been a nice fit. BU?
*EDIT:
G'Town plays FCS football. I was unaware of that. As recently as a few yrs ago they were D3 football. G'Town is a Big East essential, so I guess you have to make accomodations for a team or two to play FCS football in a different conference, so long as they're Big East in all substantially all other sports. This makes Holy Cross a natural fit, so long as they stay Patriot league for football.
The reason I'd draw the line and not take 1A programs (like Mass and soon-to-be 'Nova), is that once they go down that road, it is inevitable that football will run their decisions. The money invested, and money to be made, is just much higher on the football side. To keep a basketball conference focused on basketball, make the tough decision up front to forgo teams that want 1A football.
That's right, a league that gets back to what the Big East was all about in the first place, and could be great at again-- basketball.
Truth be told, a league like this would have a competitive advantage against the other "power conferences" in basketball, because hoops wouldn't end up an afterthought. My theory is that great leagues spawn great programs--not the other way around. A league that makes sense geographically (e.g. teams close enough together that there are natural rivalries at play), and with commonalities like school size, private/public, relgious/sectarian, etc., makes for a great league. It doesn't need to be homogenous, but at least have a core of similarity to it.
A new league that contained the B-Ball only schools of the Big East: Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, St. John's, Marquette, DePaul and Seton Hall; and added a few new teams like Xavier, Temple, Butler, as the article above suggests, would be a 10 team league. Pretty potent.
I think, if it were me, I'd rather see it go in the direction of a Northeast league, and forget about the midwest schools. And keep it to 8-10 teams so you could play a full double-round robin schedule, the way it should be. Raid the A-10. Also, 'Nova wants to go 1A football, so they're not going to come along for the ride.
I'd go with:
Holy Cross*
Providence
SJU
Seton Hall
St. Joe's
La Salle
Georgetown
George Mason
George Washington
I'd love to find another New England team to pair off with Providence, but it's imperative this league be an ALL-SPORTS league, to avoid the nonsense that's gone on the last 20 years. That means not taking any schools that compete in Div 1 (FBS or FCS) football. Thus, that rules out schools like Mass, URI, and Holy Cross that would've otherwise been a nice fit. BU?
*EDIT:
G'Town plays FCS football. I was unaware of that. As recently as a few yrs ago they were D3 football. G'Town is a Big East essential, so I guess you have to make accomodations for a team or two to play FCS football in a different conference, so long as they're Big East in all substantially all other sports. This makes Holy Cross a natural fit, so long as they stay Patriot league for football.
The reason I'd draw the line and not take 1A programs (like Mass and soon-to-be 'Nova), is that once they go down that road, it is inevitable that football will run their decisions. The money invested, and money to be made, is just much higher on the football side. To keep a basketball conference focused on basketball, make the tough decision up front to forgo teams that want 1A football.
Just because it never gets old
Hey Merisi, this one's for you.
BTW, this story broke the same year they lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl. I'm honestly not sure, but have the Patsies won a single playoff game since this time?
ACC haters, rejoice!
For the first time in a long time, the ACC isn't just top heavy. It isn't just mediocre. It sucks.
UVA squeaking by Seattle? Clemson losing at home to UTEP by double digits? G Tech losing at home to Mercer? Florida State (nominally our 3rd best team) getting SMOKED by Florida? NC State beating St. Bonaventure by only 2? BC at 4-7, with losses to BU, Holy Cross, and St. Louis? Losing the B10-ACC challenge 8-4 (a challenge we won 10 straight times before losing the last 3)?
Yup, if you like to see the ACC get beaten up, this is the year to throw the popcorn in the microwave, pour yourself a beverage of your choosing (say, SoCo on the rocks), put your feet up, and enjoy...
UVA squeaking by Seattle? Clemson losing at home to UTEP by double digits? G Tech losing at home to Mercer? Florida State (nominally our 3rd best team) getting SMOKED by Florida? NC State beating St. Bonaventure by only 2? BC at 4-7, with losses to BU, Holy Cross, and St. Louis? Losing the B10-ACC challenge 8-4 (a challenge we won 10 straight times before losing the last 3)?
Yup, if you like to see the ACC get beaten up, this is the year to throw the popcorn in the microwave, pour yourself a beverage of your choosing (say, SoCo on the rocks), put your feet up, and enjoy...
Saturday, December 10, 2011
He has a point
Chauncey Billups got waived by the Knicks. Under the new CBA, teams can waive, blah blah blah, exempt blah blah blah, and blah blah blah to stay under the cap while they're singing Carmelos and Chris Pauls to max deals.
Chauncey's agent had this to say:
Quite true. And this could be one case where the interest of fans, owners, and players could be brought under one umbrella.
Why not have a structure where there is no salary cap that applies to home-grown players (i.e., draftees), but only to guys who have achieved free agency? If a guy like Billups wanted to stay with the Knicks (imagining, for a moment, that New York had drafted him), and the team was pleased with Billups; and willing to pay him the millions owed on his contract, why not accomodate both parties? Why should they have to trade him just to stay within some arbitrary cap number?
The cap is designed, IMO, to keep big market teams from hording all the free agents. That goal can be attained, while still allowing fans the opportunity to enjoy watching a player for his whole career, and while allowing the players who qualify for free agency the choice to re-up with their current employer (who would not be bound by a cap to retain that players services), or go the F.A. route, in which case there would be a lot of bidders, but they'd bound by a F.A. salary cap.
How to handle trades? Not sure, but you couldn't get into the game of assigning salary differentials to F.A. cap, or you'd be undermining the whole point of this system (to allow the mid-tier player the chance to stay with a team, be well compensated, and not be a pawn in the game of getting high-value F.A.'s; also to allow fans to have stability on their teams).
One possibility: traded players who haven't gone the F.A. route would retain the cap-free designation.
Just a thought. Wish I'd had it before they just ratified the new CBA.
Chauncey's agent had this to say:
The way the league is structured, if you're a hot name and teams have interest in you, you have the ability to manufacture mass hysteria, and guys like Chauncey who put in years of high-level leadership, production, and service get lost.
Quite true. And this could be one case where the interest of fans, owners, and players could be brought under one umbrella.
Why not have a structure where there is no salary cap that applies to home-grown players (i.e., draftees), but only to guys who have achieved free agency? If a guy like Billups wanted to stay with the Knicks (imagining, for a moment, that New York had drafted him), and the team was pleased with Billups; and willing to pay him the millions owed on his contract, why not accomodate both parties? Why should they have to trade him just to stay within some arbitrary cap number?
The cap is designed, IMO, to keep big market teams from hording all the free agents. That goal can be attained, while still allowing fans the opportunity to enjoy watching a player for his whole career, and while allowing the players who qualify for free agency the choice to re-up with their current employer (who would not be bound by a cap to retain that players services), or go the F.A. route, in which case there would be a lot of bidders, but they'd bound by a F.A. salary cap.
How to handle trades? Not sure, but you couldn't get into the game of assigning salary differentials to F.A. cap, or you'd be undermining the whole point of this system (to allow the mid-tier player the chance to stay with a team, be well compensated, and not be a pawn in the game of getting high-value F.A.'s; also to allow fans to have stability on their teams).
One possibility: traded players who haven't gone the F.A. route would retain the cap-free designation.
Just a thought. Wish I'd had it before they just ratified the new CBA.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Monday, December 05, 2011
Reyes to Marlins
Per news reports today.
A loss of talent for the Mets. Absolutely.
Won't miss him. At all.
A loss of talent for the Mets. Absolutely.
Won't miss him. At all.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
A nice effort from the Red Storm
The Johnnies fell in Tucson after UA had a late run, but for a team that only played 7 deep (including 4 frosh, a soph, and 2 jrs), that was a nice effort to stay in the game till the end. Particularly in a very hostile arena against a ranked team. One they can build on.
Edit: While SJU was the "away" team, the game was in the Coaches-vs-Cancer classic at MSG, not in Tucson as I had presumed. So actually, a home game for SJU. Takes a little luster off the effort.
Edit: While SJU was the "away" team, the game was in the Coaches-vs-Cancer classic at MSG, not in Tucson as I had presumed. So actually, a home game for SJU. Takes a little luster off the effort.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Jests
The Jets offense is truly atrocious. The dynamic duo of Sanchez and Schott has failed. Sanchez has not progressed at all in year 3; analysis of his numbers show they are essentially identical to season 2.
I don't think it's a matter of more time in this league; at this point I think he just doesn't have what it takes to next-level it Meanwhile, Schott's playcalling is puzzling at best and infuriating at worst. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to most drives. The inability of this team to punch the ball into the end zone in the red zone is inexcusable. When you have a receiver like Plax, coupled with Holmes and Keller, there is no excuse to not have a higher TD % in red zone.
The thing that kills me is we're wasting the opportunity of having absolutely top-shelf players like Revis, Mangold, D'Brickshaw, Holmes, and Harris. Hard to get that solid of a core.
Luckily the Johnnies are on. And playing one hell of a game so far.
I don't think it's a matter of more time in this league; at this point I think he just doesn't have what it takes to next-level it Meanwhile, Schott's playcalling is puzzling at best and infuriating at worst. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to most drives. The inability of this team to punch the ball into the end zone in the red zone is inexcusable. When you have a receiver like Plax, coupled with Holmes and Keller, there is no excuse to not have a higher TD % in red zone.
The thing that kills me is we're wasting the opportunity of having absolutely top-shelf players like Revis, Mangold, D'Brickshaw, Holmes, and Harris. Hard to get that solid of a core.
Luckily the Johnnies are on. And playing one hell of a game so far.
Please let this happen...PLEEEEEZZZZZZZ?!?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/endy-chavez-catch-ny-mets-2012-article-1.978913
Nice test for the Johnnies tonight
On the road v. a ranked Arizona squad. Of whom my last memories are not pleasant.
Let's go Storm!
Let's go Storm!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Andre Dawkins: You Made the Right Call
From ESPN:
Duke looked tight early against Michigan State, perhaps too aware of the moment.
"Coach told us it was just a normal game, but you know it's hard not to think about it. You want to be part of the team that does it,'' guard Andre Dawkins said. "Then last night, coach Knight came to the hotel to talk to us. He said if we didn't win, he was going to run practice for the next two days, so that's why I decided to go out and score some points.''
Happy birthday Doctor K
DocGooden16 Dwight Gooden
Happy Birthday 2 me,I am celebrating my day with a NA meeting,bible study & Peter Lugers steak house,thank u all for the bday wishes!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Reyes lands huge offer from Marlins
It looks to me like we've been priced out of the Reyes sweepstakes before the bidding has really started in earnest.
Draft picks here we come!
Draft picks here we come!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Jose Reyes "No Hay Amigo"
ICYMI: the post by (new contributor) Raekwon the Chef on OccObs, Jose has a video out. Literally translated, "there is no friend," idiomatically, I'm sure it's "there are no friends." Here's looking at you, Fred, Jeff and Sandy.
Monday, November 07, 2011
A tidbit on Sanchez
from Vaccaro in the NYP:
I think Sanchez hasn't taken the step forward I was hoping for so far this year. That said, the return to a run-first offense benefits him in many ways, including taking defenders out of the secondary, and allowing him to use his excellent play-action skills more effectively. Hopefully the second half of the year will prove better than the first half for him.
Still, for all the criticism, there's no denying the wins.
There was some bad, more good, nothing that inspires images of the young Otto Graham just yet but more than enough to remind you that Sanchez has now won 28 games in 2 1/2 years as the starting quarterback for the Jets, and if you’d like a point of comparison, here’s one: That’s five more than team watchdog Joe Namath had in his final seven years as a Jet.
I think Sanchez hasn't taken the step forward I was hoping for so far this year. That said, the return to a run-first offense benefits him in many ways, including taking defenders out of the secondary, and allowing him to use his excellent play-action skills more effectively. Hopefully the second half of the year will prove better than the first half for him.
Still, for all the criticism, there's no denying the wins.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Back to our Raison d'Etre
Mets baseball!
Story here on changes to the dimensions at CitiField. They'll be pulling in the fences in left and the Modell's corner in right-center. Clearly the team wants a park that is marginally friendlier to hitters (still will be a pitcher's park, IMO), but as Sandy said, this will make for a park that is "more balanced."
Jason Bay definitely has the line of the article, though:
Allow me to paraphrase: "Since I'm too slow to chase long fly balls, the pitcher will be freed of the frustration of watching balls bounce over my head. Now they can just fly over the fence."
Story here on changes to the dimensions at CitiField. They'll be pulling in the fences in left and the Modell's corner in right-center. Clearly the team wants a park that is marginally friendlier to hitters (still will be a pitcher's park, IMO), but as Sandy said, this will make for a park that is "more balanced."
Jason Bay definitely has the line of the article, though:
“I think cutting down the space in the outfield will help improve the defense, which in turn should help the pitching”
Allow me to paraphrase: "Since I'm too slow to chase long fly balls, the pitcher will be freed of the frustration of watching balls bounce over my head. Now they can just fly over the fence."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A (brief) reprieve
Apparently, WVU's exodus from the Big East has been slowed down.
Not because they don't want to bolt. Because U.S. Senators (McConnell/Manchin/Rockefeller) are now lobbying hard for their home state teams to get the first plane off the island.
Apparently McConnell pulled strings to get the Big 12 to reconsider Louisville as the primary expansion candidate, before WVU. Now that politics are involved, goodness knows how it will end...
Not because they don't want to bolt. Because U.S. Senators (McConnell/Manchin/Rockefeller) are now lobbying hard for their home state teams to get the first plane off the island.
Apparently McConnell pulled strings to get the Big 12 to reconsider Louisville as the primary expansion candidate, before WVU. Now that politics are involved, goodness knows how it will end...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Renaming ideas for conferences
Big 10: Big North
Big 12: Coal, Oil and Crops; or, the Commodity Conference (ComCon for short)
Big East: Big Everywhere
Pac 12: Big West
Big West: Pac 9
SEC: SEC
ACC: ACC
Big 12: Coal, Oil and Crops; or, the Commodity Conference (ComCon for short)
Big East: Big Everywhere
Pac 12: Big West
Big West: Pac 9
SEC: SEC
ACC: ACC
Good news, bad news for DC
Bad: WVU is fleeing the Big East for Big 12(-ish). The scythe has been well sharpened for the B.E. as a meaningful football league.
Good: Fins grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory against Tebow, keeping them in the pole position of the Suck For Luck sweepstakes.
Good: Fins grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory against Tebow, keeping them in the pole position of the Suck For Luck sweepstakes.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Fins v Jets
Our semi-annual board throw-down.
As a Jets fan, it takes me back to the glory days, when the Jets would take on the role of pugnacious second fiddle, out for respect against a legendary coach and the perennial division winners.
Wait a second...
As a Jets fan, it takes me back to the glory days, when the Jets would take on the role of pugnacious second fiddle, out for respect against a legendary coach and the perennial division winners.
Wait a second...
Friday, October 14, 2011
Don't Call it a Comeback
The Big East, unwilling to do the smart thing and just call off football, and reconstitute as an elite 8-team B-Ball conference, has handed out 5 new invites to "football" schools.
So, ladies and germs, here are your new, distinguished Big East members (should they choose to accept):
-Central Florida
-Houston
-SMU
-Air Force (football only)
-Boise State (football only)
No, people. I'm serious.
So, ladies and germs, here are your new, distinguished Big East members (should they choose to accept):
-Central Florida
-Houston
-SMU
-Air Force (football only)
-Boise State (football only)
No, people. I'm serious.
Brandon Moore Throws Back at Santonio
Well, Holmes continues to underwhelm in his role as a team captain, calling out the O-line publicly for the 2nd time. Only this time Brandon Moore isn't taking it. When a veteran leader like Moore is telling you to shut your mouth, shut your mouth.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Some footage from the archive
SHK goes from hard-core rooting to misery-drowning, after the Jets lose to the Oilers in a "win-and-your-in" game, ending their season:
When it all went bad
A great article from ESPN NY that talks about how the Jets muffed their OL when they cut Damien Woody back in March. It also points out how Rob Turner's injury--a broken leg in a preseason game that most have forgotten--deprived the team of its only sound backup OL.
As a result, Wayne Hunter has been exposed as a good backup, but a not-ready-for-prime-time performer; and in any game, the OL is one turned ankle away from being as porous as swiss cheese.
I will say that the article gives Woody a bit of a pass--he could have kept himself in game shape. I don't necessarily buy that he would have stayed on the stick had the Jets not cut him. But it certainly didn't help.
Finally, the article hits on one of the most important angles of this Woody situation: character. It talks about how Woody was always accountable. It doesn't make the point (but I will) that he was one of several leaders the Jets jettisoned this past offseason.
Cotchery, Smith, Woody, Jason Taylor. Look at what these guys have done on the field this year with their new teams: just about nothing. But look at who the Jets replaced these guys with: Derrick Mason (prima donna, now traded), Kerley (rookie, hence no leadership), no one, and Maybin (draft bust just trying to find his way).
What this team doesn't have right now is the player leadership that keeps guys accountable and working hard. Rex is not a crack-the-whip coach (to put it mildly). That player leadership is more important than under, say, a Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells. The punks and loudmouths don't have the old pros around anymore keeping them honest. The result? 2-3.
As a result, Wayne Hunter has been exposed as a good backup, but a not-ready-for-prime-time performer; and in any game, the OL is one turned ankle away from being as porous as swiss cheese.
I will say that the article gives Woody a bit of a pass--he could have kept himself in game shape. I don't necessarily buy that he would have stayed on the stick had the Jets not cut him. But it certainly didn't help.
Finally, the article hits on one of the most important angles of this Woody situation: character. It talks about how Woody was always accountable. It doesn't make the point (but I will) that he was one of several leaders the Jets jettisoned this past offseason.
Cotchery, Smith, Woody, Jason Taylor. Look at what these guys have done on the field this year with their new teams: just about nothing. But look at who the Jets replaced these guys with: Derrick Mason (prima donna, now traded), Kerley (rookie, hence no leadership), no one, and Maybin (draft bust just trying to find his way).
What this team doesn't have right now is the player leadership that keeps guys accountable and working hard. Rex is not a crack-the-whip coach (to put it mildly). That player leadership is more important than under, say, a Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells. The punks and loudmouths don't have the old pros around anymore keeping them honest. The result? 2-3.
Friday, October 07, 2011
The Yankees Lose--THUHUHUHUHUH...YANKEES...LOSE!!!
Hard to believe I'm actually saying this but, Yay Detroit!
Now if only St. Louis can knock off the Phils all will be good in the baseball world...
Now if only St. Louis can knock off the Phils all will be good in the baseball world...
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Jets-Pats
Jets are going to use the upcoming game against the Pats to begin their reversion to ground and pound, re-emphasizing the running game.
I agree that the unbalanced focus on passing has not worked out great so far. That said, this is not the game to go away from the pass. The Pats weakest link on D is their secondary. They are #32 - dead last - in the NFL in passing defense. Their secondary was weak last year, and it's still weak this year.
The best way to beat the Pats is to make sure you stretch the field with several vertical plays to Plax. If you do that, you'll have your best shot of a mismatch. I hope the Jets remember to work several deep plays in during the game.
Pats D captain and key LB Mayo is out for several weeks, which is good. He's their playcaller and this will cause them some issues. (Although expect a Belicheat-coached team to quickly overcome this issue.)
Finally, Jets need to accept that the Wayne Hunter experiment has failed miserably. Without Woody and Mangold we're not running on anyone.
I agree that the unbalanced focus on passing has not worked out great so far. That said, this is not the game to go away from the pass. The Pats weakest link on D is their secondary. They are #32 - dead last - in the NFL in passing defense. Their secondary was weak last year, and it's still weak this year.
The best way to beat the Pats is to make sure you stretch the field with several vertical plays to Plax. If you do that, you'll have your best shot of a mismatch. I hope the Jets remember to work several deep plays in during the game.
Pats D captain and key LB Mayo is out for several weeks, which is good. He's their playcaller and this will cause them some issues. (Although expect a Belicheat-coached team to quickly overcome this issue.)
Finally, Jets need to accept that the Wayne Hunter experiment has failed miserably. Without Woody and Mangold we're not running on anyone.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Reyes
is a candy-ass b*tch.
Can't wait for him to sign somewhere else and get the hell off our island.
What a shame that Cleon, Mex, Wally, Nails, or Johnny Slow Balls never won a batting title first, so that Josie wouldn't have to be remembered forever as the answer to some key Mets trivia.
Congrats on winning your batting title, Josie. And doing it as a coward and a pussy. Ted Williams is giggling his ass off at your girlie "take me out in the first inning" bullshit.
Jose, Jose, Jose. This guy saved his best for his walk year. A meaningless year for the team from a W's and L's perspective, a year where there was no chance of competing for championship. He saved his best for getting himself paid. And I'm sure he'll be taking the best offer--no hometown discount here.
Why couldn't he have brought this kinds of focus to the table in '06, '07, or '08, when it might have helped the Mets win one or more titles? Back in the glory days, when Jose was too busy uppercutting and free swinging his way to an OBP that was .005 higher than his BA. When he was more interested in practicing his on the field pat-a-cake routine with Delgado and Beltran than playing baseball. When he wanted to engage in a knifefight with his gangster manager instead of taking his manager's damn instructions.
No, this clown has been given a free pass, even adored, by many Mets fans because he's "home grown." F*ck that. He's got a great smile, great wheels, and lots of talent. And until now, hasn't been able to leverage them.
His career will have a short shelf life, and he's no doubt at his peak right now. His wheels won't last long. He's injury prone, and strikes me as the kind of player who'll sit out a few extra games rather than rush to get back in the lineup. He'll probably average 90 games a year for the remainder of his career. Whether that's 4 or 7 years, who knows?
What I do know is that some team is going to have to sign him for too much money and too many years, and I'm going to have fun laughing at the sucker who does it. Even if they squeeze two more good years out of him, he'll still be the same old cancer clubhouse. Rallying the opposition. Ducking the media. Douching between innings.
I look forward to seeing what Sandy can do with the compensatory picks.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tough stretch
The Jets have a real tough stretch coming up here:
@ Bal
@ NE
Mia
SD
@ Buf
NE
They will need to go 4-2 through this stretch if they want to put themselves in good position to make the playoffs. The loss to Oaktown forces them to pick up a tough win somewhere else in the schedule, probably in this stretch. I'm just not sure what to expect. D has been suspect, Cro and Kyle W look lost, and Mangold's injury doesn't help O. Glad to see they did more power tosses to Greene in last game; I was getting tired of every run being a draw up the middle in first two games.
@ Bal
@ NE
Mia
SD
@ Buf
NE
They will need to go 4-2 through this stretch if they want to put themselves in good position to make the playoffs. The loss to Oaktown forces them to pick up a tough win somewhere else in the schedule, probably in this stretch. I'm just not sure what to expect. D has been suspect, Cro and Kyle W look lost, and Mangold's injury doesn't help O. Glad to see they did more power tosses to Greene in last game; I was getting tired of every run being a draw up the middle in first two games.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Big East (football) presidents acting like 28 days later...
Trapped in a building and trying to get the eff out.
Villanova has applied for ACC membership.
U Conn is begging to get in the ACC.
W Va makes a pitch to join the SEC.
Rutgers is deciding between the Big10 and ACC.
10 total programs (is ND among them?) have already reached out to the ACC, which is inclusive of Syracuse, Pitt, and some of the schools above.
Remember, the schools that run the slowest are just man meat for the zombies.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Next up: the Big 3
Of course, there are still many big shoes left to drop, namely Pac12/SEC/Big 10 expansion.
PAC-12 is going to get first dibs, with the richest football contract from a TV revenue standpoint. OK and OK St are going there, and we're going to get that news soon. How do they get to 16? That is the big question. Texas would be the big win for the conference, and they were interested last go-around. But now that they have their own TV network up and running (Longhorn Network), they're not willing to go equal splits, and I think that's a PAC-12 requirement. Texas Tech, Kansas, K St., Mizzou, UNLV, Nevada, Boise St. would all be possibles.
The SEC and Big 10 could look to feast on the carcass of the Big 12 (Kansas, Mizzou, K St., Iowa St., TTU, Baylor) after the PAC-12 has gotten its fill. Or they could turn east. If they turn east, the SEC will almost certainly be targeting ACC schools. The SEC is clearly the major leagues of college football--will that tempt NC St., Virginia Tech or Maryland? Possibly so.
And if the Big 10 looks East, with their money making TV network, they could probably throw some more dollars at schools like W Va, Maryland, Louisville, Cincinnati, or BC than they're getting now.
If the ACC were to lose 2-3 schools, they could quickly fill the void with schools like WVA, Temple, USF, which would maintain their regional integrity.
And as an aside, it's interesting that ND may finally not be able to stand pat as an independent. If we're going to 4 conferences of 16 teams, and membership in a superconference is the only way to be included in the FBS playoff system, then ND may have to choose. I'm sure Big 10 would be the most likely.
And the hits keep on coming.
From ESPN:
If the two schools [Syracuse and Pitt] are to join the ACC, Krzyzewski doesn't want the conference to stop at 14 teams. He said he'd like to see 16 teams, taking two more schools that have comparable rich basketball traditions and are in the Eastern time zone. An ACC official told USA Today that Connecticut and Rutgers would be the candidates.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Pay that man his money.
For IDK how long, I've tried convincing you degenerate bastards that the ACC is the superior league to the Big East. I understand that you all have a bunch of sentimental strings clouding your judgment and preventing you from seeing the truth, but today has to smart.
It was bad enough when BC and VT left for the ACC. One was a BE charter member, the other their strongest football program.
But now, with 'Cuse and Pitt joining the ACC, there's a real question as to whether the Big East will even survive as a football conference.
And even if the league manages to survive (by adding directional schools (ECU/CFU) or geographical misfits (TCU/KU/Mizzou)), it seems likely they will lose their automatic BCS berth.
Worse to come, the Big 10 is likely to come calling for WVU or Conn. There's also a real chance the Big 10 could raid the ACC for Maryland or BC, but in that case, it will still suck for the Big East, b/c the ACC will just take 2-4 more programs out of the Big East to fill the void.
I have to point out, I think the B.E. will persist as a good basketball league. The teams with good bball programs and non-affiliated FBS programs (SJU, GTown, Providence, DePaul, ND, Seton Hall, 'Nova, Marquette) would still make a great standalone bball league. But it's going to be a niche bball league if it comes to that.
Fans of the B.E. (read: you all) may like the league, but those on the inside (like ADs) know where the quality is. And that's why, out of the 4 B.E. programs the ACC has offered membership to, all 4 have accepted. It hurts. Doesn't it.
And even if the league manages to survive (by adding directional schools (ECU/CFU) or geographical misfits (TCU/KU/Mizzou)), it seems likely they will lose their automatic BCS berth.
Worse to come, the Big 10 is likely to come calling for WVU or Conn. There's also a real chance the Big 10 could raid the ACC for Maryland or BC, but in that case, it will still suck for the Big East, b/c the ACC will just take 2-4 more programs out of the Big East to fill the void.
I have to point out, I think the B.E. will persist as a good basketball league. The teams with good bball programs and non-affiliated FBS programs (SJU, GTown, Providence, DePaul, ND, Seton Hall, 'Nova, Marquette) would still make a great standalone bball league. But it's going to be a niche bball league if it comes to that.
Fans of the B.E. (read: you all) may like the league, but those on the inside (like ADs) know where the quality is. And that's why, out of the 4 B.E. programs the ACC has offered membership to, all 4 have accepted. It hurts. Doesn't it.
Friday, September 16, 2011
You've GOT to be kidding me
Well, this is not good news for the Johnnies. Three of their top recruits have been ruled academically ineligible, at least for the fall semester. Not a good start to the Lavin class.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
FOOTBALL!!!
Thank you, baby Jesus!
After this summer of "baseball," the NFL couldn't start soon enough...
After this summer of "baseball," the NFL couldn't start soon enough...
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Mad Props
Congrats to Chris Capuano for giving Mets fans something positive to remember from this season.
Friday night he pitched one of the best games in Mets history: CG shutout, 2 hits, 0 BB, 13 K's, on 122 pitches. Only one man reached 2nd base--on a 2 out double.
Capuano adds his name to the list of great performances: Seaver's 19 K game against the Padres, Bobby Jones's (the white one) Game 4 one-hitter against the Giants in 2000, and Aaron Heilman's imperfect perfect game against the Marlins (leadoff hit, runner erased on double play, perfect from there on).
A tip of the hat to you sir--welcome to the club...which mostly consists of guys that make most fans say "Who?"
Friday night he pitched one of the best games in Mets history: CG shutout, 2 hits, 0 BB, 13 K's, on 122 pitches. Only one man reached 2nd base--on a 2 out double.
Capuano adds his name to the list of great performances: Seaver's 19 K game against the Padres, Bobby Jones's (the white one) Game 4 one-hitter against the Giants in 2000, and Aaron Heilman's imperfect perfect game against the Marlins (leadoff hit, runner erased on double play, perfect from there on).
A tip of the hat to you sir--welcome to the club...which mostly consists of guys that make most fans say "Who?"
Friday, August 19, 2011
Hallooooooo....
Wow.
Such a large room and it's so empty...every sound seems to echo for days...
Actually, I just got really sick and tired of a post about Jeter being at the top of a Mets page.
That is all.
Such a large room and it's so empty...every sound seems to echo for days...
Actually, I just got really sick and tired of a post about Jeter being at the top of a Mets page.
That is all.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Jeter
5-for-5. Really?
Remember Carter trying to get to 300 HRs? This was the polar opposite.
Listen, I'll always hate the Jankees, but let's face it, this guy has been a HOF player. A real professional. #Props.
Remember Carter trying to get to 300 HRs? This was the polar opposite.
Listen, I'll always hate the Jankees, but let's face it, this guy has been a HOF player. A real professional. #Props.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Just when you think things couldn't get any worse...
...Fred Wilpon opens his mouth. Well played, you idiot. You have somehow found a way to reduce the trade value of our players even further. Good luck offloading Beltran and Reyes for fair value now.
Not to mention, what kind of leader would throw David Wright under the bus? Here's a guy who has done nothing but made positive comment after positive comment, to the point where it's actually annoying to me because the situation is so obviously a shit sandwich. So to give him a backhanded compliment after he's produced and had a great attitude is outrageous.
Not to mention, what kind of leader would throw David Wright under the bus? Here's a guy who has done nothing but made positive comment after positive comment, to the point where it's actually annoying to me because the situation is so obviously a shit sandwich. So to give him a backhanded compliment after he's produced and had a great attitude is outrageous.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Well, this sucks
One of the few things that actually matter...developing solid young pitching.
Hopefully Mejia can make it back.
Hopefully Mejia can make it back.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
In response to the last post...
...the more I think about it, the more I realize this really is the BEST possible start to the season.
Why?
Because it means we can dispense with the charade that this is a good team. That they're just not playing up to their potential. That they are one player away from greatness. The reality is, the team blows and it's time for some wholesale changes. Hopefully this start forces ownership and management to accept what the fans have known for seasons now.
Why?
Because it means we can dispense with the charade that this is a good team. That they're just not playing up to their potential. That they are one player away from greatness. The reality is, the team blows and it's time for some wholesale changes. Hopefully this start forces ownership and management to accept what the fans have known for seasons now.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Interesting Mets Preview
A friend of a friend has a nice preview of the upcoming Mets season here. Check it out.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Here's a little tidbit about the power of mid-majors
In the six Final Fours from 2006 to 2011, the CAA (two) and Horizon (two) have each sent more teams than the Big 12 (one). The Horizon also has more Final Four victories (one) in that span than the Big East, which hasn't won a game at the event since Connecticut's 2004 national championship.
Link
Of course, the one Big 12 entry did win the whole enchilada, Kansas in '08.
I would add that the ACC has had 3 FF entries (UNC x 2, Duke), 4 FF victories, and 2 titles in that stretch (UNC '09, Duke '10).
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Johnnies angling for a high seed
They're on track for a 3. If they win out, and make deep run in the B.E. tourney, a 2 is certainly possible.
How many?
How many F'in Top 10 teams does St. John's have to beat before they are ranked? Ranked! I'm not even asking for a top 10 ranking, I'm just asking for any ranking!
They have the #3 strength of schedule, 5 super quality wins, and as of last week had BARELY cracked the "Others receiving votes" category. What a crock. All I know is this team better be top 20 when the new polls come out.
They have the #3 strength of schedule, 5 super quality wins, and as of last week had BARELY cracked the "Others receiving votes" category. What a crock. All I know is this team better be top 20 when the new polls come out.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Under New Management
Grown-ups are back in charge of the clubhouse, with the Alderson/Collins era underway. At least if we act like professionals, I can bear the losing.
With pitchers and catchers set to report tomorrow, the manager gave his first press conference of the spring.
Interesting tidbits:
With pitchers and catchers set to report tomorrow, the manager gave his first press conference of the spring.
Interesting tidbits:
• Asked to identify the areas of competition on the team, Collins named second base, the final two spots in the rotation behind Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese and the bullpen, which he said the organization needs to "recreate."
Collins acknowledged projected rotation members Chris Young and Chris Capuano are "up there" in the competition, but he also identified Dillon Gee, D.J. Carrasco, Oliver Perez and Jenrry Mejia as candidates. The manager added that Mejia is likely ticketed for Triple-A to work on his secondary pitches.
• Asked for "slam dunks" for the bullpen, Collins mentioned K-Rod, Bobby Parnell, Carrasco (if he's not a starter), Tim Byrdak and Taylor Buchholz.
He also said he planned to have a long man, with Pat Misch a logical candidate and Ollie perhaps in that mix.
• Collins did not dismiss Luis Castillo as a second-base candidate, but this comment was telling: "I do believe today second base has become an offensive position." That bodes well for Daniel Murphy, who should be on the team in some capacity, as well as Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus.
Collins expressed full confidence in Murphy as a second baseman, noting how Wally Backman and Tim Teufel were among the coaches working with him Wednesday. "Somebody is going to teach him to turn a double play," Collins said.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Great win for Johnnies
Always a bit torn in these Duke-St. John's games. I'm always rooting for Duke, but I'm glad to see the Johnnies resurrection underway. Lavin has his team playing well and they're a great matchup for a team like Duke that likes to run an overplay man-to-man D.
If this can build some momentum for the Storm and they can string together a few wins, a return to the NCAAs may well be in the cards...
If this can build some momentum for the Storm and they can string together a few wins, a return to the NCAAs may well be in the cards...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Can't Wait Fail
"Bart Scott, the one who couldn't wait to get to Pittsburgh, the one who talks like his pro wrestling heroes, kept whiffing on tackles and playing as if he was ordered to lose by some WWE script."
-Ian O'Connor
Rex's Stalingrad
Well, I think this article perfectly encapsulates my reservations about the Rex Ryan era.
Here's Ian O'Connor's take at ESPNY NY:
I've said time and again, that a players coach who spends as much time cheerleading his players as drilling them can end up with a team that lacks focus and discipline. A team that doesn't want to work for 60 minutes, but thinks it can turn its effort on and off like a switch.
This Jets team has loads of talent, but for what was seemingly the 7th or 8th time this year, played about 30 minutes of football. We still pulled out some of those games against mediocre opponents. We almost pulled out last night's game, against the AFC's best, in their own stadium.
But we're not the AFC champions. Champions bring discipline for 60 minutes. Last year's Duke NCAA championship team was probably the 6th or 7th most talented team in the country. But they brought 40 minutes of tenacious defense every night, and selfless, intelligent play on offense to most possessions. This Jet's team is probably, on paper, the best of the 4 teams that were left standing on Championship weekend, but aren't getting to the final game. To me, that's the difference between the GOAT (Coach K) and Rex. Rex is fun. Rex is a character. Rex makes the player's happy. Rex makes reporters happy. The GOAT wins championships.
This team, and this coach, will probably have one more run at the SB in them. But if they fail to advance beyond their high-water mark again, I think questions will definitely arise over whether this team, with its character and approach, is capable of getting it done against the league's best. And once those questions start to creep into the psyche of the Jets players, it's over. You turn into the Buffalo Bills of the 90's.
After failing to defeat the Red Army at Stalingrad, the Wermacht still controlled Europe from the beaches of Brittany to the suburbs of Moscow. On paper, the German army still appeared a formidable force. But their guts had been eviscerated on the banks of the Volga, and their aura of invincibility destroyed.
While I hesitate to use a military metaphor for something as trivial as a football game, the analogy captures how this game might be looked at, a few year's hence, when considering the Ryan era in retrospect.
Here's Ian O'Connor's take at ESPNY NY:
"After pushing all the right human buttons in Rounds 1 and 2, inspiring his Jets to knock out Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, Ryan suddenly lost the pulse of his team. The stunning disconnect between coach and player allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to score the first 24 points of the game, and ultimately guaranteed that a second-half rally would save face, but not the season.
"We played a good half," an emotional Ryan said. "We just never played a good game."
Rex has to take the fall for that. His chief responsibility as head coach is to have his team ready to play, and yet the Jets were a lifeless mess in the first half, finding inspiration in absolutely nothing...
The Jets' defense was playing flag football out there, lunging and grabbing for air, looking like a unit prepping itself for the Pro Bowl instead of the Super Bowl.
I've said time and again, that a players coach who spends as much time cheerleading his players as drilling them can end up with a team that lacks focus and discipline. A team that doesn't want to work for 60 minutes, but thinks it can turn its effort on and off like a switch.
This Jets team has loads of talent, but for what was seemingly the 7th or 8th time this year, played about 30 minutes of football. We still pulled out some of those games against mediocre opponents. We almost pulled out last night's game, against the AFC's best, in their own stadium.
But we're not the AFC champions. Champions bring discipline for 60 minutes. Last year's Duke NCAA championship team was probably the 6th or 7th most talented team in the country. But they brought 40 minutes of tenacious defense every night, and selfless, intelligent play on offense to most possessions. This Jet's team is probably, on paper, the best of the 4 teams that were left standing on Championship weekend, but aren't getting to the final game. To me, that's the difference between the GOAT (Coach K) and Rex. Rex is fun. Rex is a character. Rex makes the player's happy. Rex makes reporters happy. The GOAT wins championships.
This team, and this coach, will probably have one more run at the SB in them. But if they fail to advance beyond their high-water mark again, I think questions will definitely arise over whether this team, with its character and approach, is capable of getting it done against the league's best. And once those questions start to creep into the psyche of the Jets players, it's over. You turn into the Buffalo Bills of the 90's.
After failing to defeat the Red Army at Stalingrad, the Wermacht still controlled Europe from the beaches of Brittany to the suburbs of Moscow. On paper, the German army still appeared a formidable force. But their guts had been eviscerated on the banks of the Volga, and their aura of invincibility destroyed.
While I hesitate to use a military metaphor for something as trivial as a football game, the analogy captures how this game might be looked at, a few year's hence, when considering the Ryan era in retrospect.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Jets v Steelers
3 burning questions:
1) How do the Jets DBs matchup with Pats WRs? Put Ward on Revis Island? Or Wallace?
2) Will Sanchez be able to make his throws and keep his poise in 10 degree windchill conditions with the swarming Steelers D?
3) Will the Jets continue to play 3-3-5 defense, with only 5 in the box, as they have with regularity (and great success) the past two weeks?
1) How do the Jets DBs matchup with Pats WRs? Put Ward on Revis Island? Or Wallace?
2) Will Sanchez be able to make his throws and keep his poise in 10 degree windchill conditions with the swarming Steelers D?
3) Will the Jets continue to play 3-3-5 defense, with only 5 in the box, as they have with regularity (and great success) the past two weeks?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Patsies
From DC: As much of a d-bag as Belichek is, at least he's smart enough to keep his cheating behind the scenes and not get caught on national tv in the middle of a game.
Oh, if only that were true. Unfortunately for the Patsies, both Fox Sports and CBS ran footage yesterday of the Pats in week 2 doing the same thing as the Jets. They also set a wall, and had the last guy try to trip a Jets player out of bounds.
Pats SB record with Spygate: 3-0. Without Spygate: 0-fer. Suck it, Pats. 0-3 in their last 3 playoff games, 2-3 against Rex Ryan and the Sanchize.
Oh, if only that were true. Unfortunately for the Patsies, both Fox Sports and CBS ran footage yesterday of the Pats in week 2 doing the same thing as the Jets. They also set a wall, and had the last guy try to trip a Jets player out of bounds.
Pats SB record with Spygate: 3-0. Without Spygate: 0-fer. Suck it, Pats. 0-3 in their last 3 playoff games, 2-3 against Rex Ryan and the Sanchize.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
You can't be Sirius
Of all the things I look forward to tomorrow, listening to Steve Phillips eat it on the morning drive to work is perhaps #1. Sirius added him to the morning show on Mad Dog's channel a couple of months ago, and that guy has been hating on the Jets for weeks. He is such a Brady and Pats fanboy for some reason, and Jets hater. I can't WAIT to hear him have to eat it tomorrow from all the callers.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
SHK on Jets/Pats
I'd also note that as crappy as the 45-3 loss was, the Jets are 2-2 against Pats under Ryan. With the notable exception of Brady, I believe the Jets players are better than their equivalents on the Pats across the board.
Thus, if Jets lose, they have only their under-performance or poor game plan to blame, IMO.
-SHK
You're crazy, man.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
27-24
That's my call for Jets win over Pats on Sunday.
Look for some very physical play on both sides of the ball. I am curious about three game tactics: (1) Will Jets go with the conventional wisdom and blitz Brady or will they sit back like they did against Manning? (2) Will Jets go run heavy as against the Colts, or will they try to exploit Pats' 30th-ranked pass D and inexperienced secondary? (3) Will Pats come up with a new wrinkle on offense, or will they stick with their usual (attack middle under routes, with occasional deep fly pattern to Branch or deep slant to TE)?
I'd like to see Jets D try a tactic they did under Mangini one time he beat the Pats. Have the guys not settle into position and instead swarm around until the ball is hiked. Don't let Brady get a clear read on our D scheme, especially who (if anyone) is blitzing.
Look for some very physical play on both sides of the ball. I am curious about three game tactics: (1) Will Jets go with the conventional wisdom and blitz Brady or will they sit back like they did against Manning? (2) Will Jets go run heavy as against the Colts, or will they try to exploit Pats' 30th-ranked pass D and inexperienced secondary? (3) Will Pats come up with a new wrinkle on offense, or will they stick with their usual (attack middle under routes, with occasional deep fly pattern to Branch or deep slant to TE)?
I'd like to see Jets D try a tactic they did under Mangini one time he beat the Pats. Have the guys not settle into position and instead swarm around until the ball is hiked. Don't let Brady get a clear read on our D scheme, especially who (if anyone) is blitzing.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Road to the SB
Well, if the Jets want to make it the SB the road is @Colts, @Pats, and probably @ Steelers or Ravens (I'd guess Steelers but who knows). Certainly a tough road, although we split with Pats, won @Pitt and lost 10-9 to Ravens before our offense got going. Colts are a much weaker team this year, with a lot of players out. That said, I'd probably rather have gone first round against running Chiefs than passing Colts. Our pass D is still highly suspect.
I say we win @Colts, after that it's a crap shoot. AFC is very tough this year.
I say we win @Colts, after that it's a crap shoot. AFC is very tough this year.
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