Gang Green Nation

John's Midseason Jets Awards

2009-11-07T14:08:54Z

I'm giving my choices for team awards at the halfway point.

What can you say about Revis this year? The guy has literally cut the field in half for opposing passing attacks. He's completely shut down Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens. You can probably count the number of plays he's looked bad on one hand. This blitzing defense leaves corners on an island. Revis seldom has any help. That makes the job he's done even more impressive. It's a lot easier for this coaching staff to take chances when it knows Revis will blanket his man even if the offense picks up a blitz.

Offensive Player of the Half-Year: Thomas Jones

TJ had a bit of a slow start, but that was due in part to teams stacking the box against a rookie quarterback and his line struggling a bit early. He led the AFC in rushing a year ago, and he's on pace to put up even better numbers this season. Now opponents are stacking the box because they have to. Jones' play is going to be a major asset for Mark Sanchez the rest of the season.

Defensive Player of the Half-Year: Revis

Rookie of the Half-Year: Mark Sanchez

There's not a ton of competition here, but Sanchez has been far better and looked way more polished than I expected. He's had two real stinkers against the Saints and Bills. He had one game where he didn't have to do anything against the Raiders. The other five games were all good to very good performances. There's room to improve, mainly in protecting the ball and not locking on to targets. At the end of the day, it's not easy to even be 4-4 with a rookie starting quarterback. He's one of two rookies to beat Bill Belichick. The other, Ben Roethlisberger, has a pair of Super Bowl rings. He led his team from behind twice in the fourth in a hostile venue on national television against the Dolphins a few weeks ago. Sanchez looks like the real deal.

Coach of the Half-Year: Rex Ryan

This award is a competition among coaches on the staff. Mike Westhoff may have gotten this before last week, but Rex has earned it. He's really transformed this defense. A year ago, one of my biggest complaints was the talent on the defense not being utilized properly. No such complaints this year. The Jets are giving up the second fewest yards in the league and the fourth fewest points (and this includes points off special teams and turnovers; it would be even better if we're talking about defensive points), and Rex's well designed schemes have been terrific. He's also instilled a sense of confidence in this team. Sometimes he'll end up with egg on his face for his swagger if the team doesn't perform, but for the first time in a while you get the impression the Jets are expecting to win every time they take the field. He made great adjustments for the second meeting with the Dolphins after they ran all over him the first time. He can improve in his game management, but overall I've been very impressed. This team has built a strong foundation for the long haul with a promising quarterback and a brilliant defensive mind as head coach.

High Point of the Half-Year: Win over New England

I think this win was from a mental standpoint as good as three wins. The Jets talked all week. They went in expecting to win. They kept Tom Brady out of the end zone, off the scoreboard in the second half, and held him under 50% completing the ball. I always got the impression under Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini the Jets were hoping to beat the Pats when the teams played. This time, the Jets expected to win. It was something of a catharsis game. The Pats are a great team. They'll surely beat the Jets in the future, but I get the impression we'll remember this game as the one the Jets finally asserted themselves as legitimate challengers. There was no backup quarterback like last year. You have to love the way the media has played this win off as the Pats not being sharp at the beginning of the year. The reason they weren't sharp was that the Jets outexecuted them.

Low Point of the Half-Year: Loss to Buffalo

You could argue last week's game against Miami. It's surely frustrating to loss a game when the other team can't move the ball on you all game, and their defense can't stop you in the second half. Regardless of whether the Dolphins end the year with a winning record, though, they're a plucky team and a tough out. This loss to Buffalo was totally inexplicable. The Bills had a backup quarterback and lost to Eric Mangini's Browns the week before, even though Cleveland's starting quarterback was 2 for 17. I don't care that Mark Sanchez threw 5 interceptions. They couldn't stop the Jets on the ground, and New York had a 10 point second half lead. Two horrible penalties in overtime really cost the team.

Best Offseason Move: Trading Up for Mark Sanchez

The signing of Bart Scott deserves consideration, but this move was a franchise changer. The book has not been written on Sanchez, but it looks promising. A miss there by Mike Tannenbaum sets the franchise back for years. It doesn't look that way right now. The Jets look like they have a quarterback, and that move could set the team up to contend for a long time.

Worst Offseason Move: Trading for Lito Sheppard

The book on Sheppard is that he's talented, but he can't stay on the field. That's why the Eagles never gave him the big deal he was seeking. That's played out so far this year. While Lito has looked good, he's played in under half the games. Not only that, but Dwight Lowery, a cheaper internal option during the offseason, has looked good in his place. I'm not giving up on Lito. Don't take it that way. It's just if the Jets had known this, they probably consider holding onto the Draft picks and the money from the new contract and just hand Lowery the starting job.

Most Improved Player: Sione Pouha

One thing that stuck out to me even before Kris Jenkins' injury was how much better Pouha was playing at the point of attack. Last year, he was consistently losing matchups, and the run defense took a hit once Jenkins left the field. This year, Pouha has been much stouter and done a good job demanding double teams. If he continues to improve the rest of the way, this team still has a chance to do things this season. His play is a credit to the coaching staff. Rex was known for the way he maximized the output of his stars in Baltimore, but there's been a stark improvement in the play of guys like Pouha, Mike Devito, and Eric Smith (and the development of Jamaal Westerman) with this new regime.

Most Disappointing Player: Kerry Rhodes

Kerry was supposed to play the Ed Reed role on this defense. He was supposed to be all over the place making plays. Jim Leonhard taking over making calls was supposed to free him up. I can't remember too many impact plays Kerry has made this season. In 2006 and 2007, he was a play making machine. He hasn't been the same guy since he got his contract.

Agree? Disagree? What awards did I miss? Let me know below.

Early Christmas Shopping Suggestion

2009-11-07T13:22:45Z

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to profile a few cool spots to shop for the Jets fan in your life during the holiday season. This is a website with 1980's style t-shirts, including Jets shirts. I personally think this is a bit nicer than the Jets thong we profiled here last year.

Looks to me like a decent shirt to show your team love at a reasonable price.

Vote Joe Klecko in the JC Penny/Van Heusen Hall of Fame Poll

2009-11-07T13:13:26Z

JC Penny and Van Heusen are presenting a Hall of Fame vote for NFL fans. This is sanctioned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The results will be announced on selection weekend. Does this count? In a technical sense, no. The winner is not automatically inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Why should you vote then? Joe Klecko is on the ballot. Right now he ranks 71st in votes. We have to do better. Klecko belongs in Canton. How many players can say they have made the Pro Bowl at three different positions? Klecko did that at defensive end, defensive tackle, and nose tackle. Think of the variety of skills it takes to consistently play well at all three positions. Klecko did it. That's the mark of a dominant force. I know Mark Gastineau got more headlines for his antics, but Klecko was the best player on the New York Sack Exchange in the 1980's. It's always a sore point during the holidays with my father that Joe isn't in Canton.

Fan movements matter in Hall of Fame voting. Steelers fans pushed for Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Giants fans did the same for Harry Carson. The biggest movement was Redskins fans pushing Art Monk. They drew voters' attention and got them to take a second look at these guys. There's no major movement for Klecko. Let's get something started here.

Former Jets Boomer Esiason and Nick Lowery are also on the ballot, but most of their credentials came with other teams. They also aren't as deserving in my book. Klecko is a Jet for life. He still cares about the organization and is a presence in Florham Park. Show Hall voters how deserving he is by clicking here and voting.

Parade Day in New York

2009-11-06T13:00:28Z

More photos » by Koji Sasahara - AP

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Today the Yankees head down the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate championship number 27. I'm interested to see how Jets fans root in baseball. The general perception is Giants fans root for the Yankees, and Jets fans root for the Mets. I'm an exception to that rule, though. I'm a big Yankees fan.

Please vote below.

Poll

What's your favorite baseball team?

Braylon Edwards Takes a Leadership Role

2009-11-05T14:03:56Z

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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Braylon Edwards is stepping up in the locker room.

I asked Edwards, as he was getting ready to leave the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on Monday for a six-day bye week, if he's given his new teammates the full force of the Braylon boldness yet or if there's a lot more left for everyone to feed off of once the team reconvenes next Monday.

"I think the team has seen it. Guys have made comments," he said with a smile. "I think the guys have seen that I want to win, I want to do everything in my power to win. I'm here to help. I'm not here to cause problems and be a distraction. So I've just been going out there and giving it my all, practicing hard, playing hard, and I think the guys appreciate it."

They do appreciate his attitude, and they welcome the great things that may be ahead now that he and Cotchery finally were teamed at full strength for Sunday's home rematch against the Dolphins, during which they combined for relatively tame yet still beguiling numbers of seven catches for 144 yards and Edwards' not-to-be-denied 19-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

How many times do you see it? A guy who was a problem somewhere benefits from a change of scenery. Make no mistake about it. Edwards is playing for a new contract and will be on his best behavior. He wants to show the league his former team was the real problem. Still, he's seemed very mature, a real asset during his month in New York.

I think the Jets need to make resigning him after the season a priority. Do you think it's more important to sign Braylon or Leon Washington to a new deal?

Prospect Watch: 2010 NFL Draft, Carlos Dunlap

2009-11-04T22:00:05Z

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The second in our prospect watch, draft special. This week is highly regarded but often disagreed about Florida DE, Carlos Dunlap.

Many Jets fans might scream when I say that scouts will be more impressed by his athletic characteristics than his on field action, and the word potential that so many of us have to come to loath. Athletic ability and potential are the two most used phrases to describe one Vernon Gholston in the run up to the 2008 draft.

However at 6'6 290lb's and a 4.7 40 time, we have to at least have a look at him, and his pass rushing ability that seem to be missing from our defensive ends. Granted we run a 3-4 and ends are not as relied upon for their pass rushing ability as in the 4-3, and some are sceptical where Dunlap fits, is he a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 one?

Continued after the jump

One of the reasons why I think that it doesn't matter too much if he is seen more as a 4-3 or a 3-4 is because although we run from the 3-4, I have noticed we often run from a 4-3 and I truly believe that he can excel at either position in either system.

The Florida defence relies on the one gap speed penetration so it's up in the air how this will translate to the NFL, however playing next to a guy like Kris Jenkins who commands the double, his lightning quick outside step could prove very valuable in increasing the pass rush

One player that comes to mind when looking at Dunlap is Houston's Mario Williams, he will likely have similar measurable s than Williams, but he has a stronger upper body, a good motor and that outside step.

He does need to work on his run defence, but he could easily step into a NFL rotation especially on 3rd down in obvious pass situations and make things happen. He has the size to get up at the line and bat balls down.

Has been accused by some of going through the motions, not showing enough commitment and passion on the field, but in limited time as a starter in 2008, he had 36 tackles, 13.5 for a loss and 9 sacks, despite starting only two games.

The one problem that we are likely going to face is that he is probably gone long before we select, that's barring any kind of second half meltdown, he is projected anywhere from the first choice to around 11-12. Although he is bound to put on a very good show at the combine and have a team fall for him.

However I think we have seen that if we highlight a player as a must have then Mike Tannenbaum has no problems moving up to select him. Although I feel we have neither the depth or the finances to make another leap in 2010, you never know.

Through the first eight games this season, Dunlap has amassed 22 tackles and 6 sacks, and recently had an outstanding game against Mississippi State where he totalled 5 tackles and 3 sacks.

Carlos Dunlap vs. Florida State (via AloDraft)

Should Vernon Gholston Have Been Active?

2009-11-04T13:08:54Z

More photos » by Peter Morgan - AP

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Pelzman asks that question:

Linebacker Marques Murrell, one of the Jets’ best special-teams players, was a healthy scratch Sunday, while Vernon Gholston was again active. Gholston has 12 tackles on defense this year, and one tackle on special teams, while Murrell has eight special-teams tackles. Gholston has only four tackles since Calvin Pace returned from suspension.

When asked why Gholston was up instead of Murrell, special-teams coordinator Mike Westhoff said, "That’s a good question. You’d have to ask the defense that, to tell you the truth."

It’s understandable that the Jets would want to get a return on their $21 million investment of guaranteed money in Gholston, the sixth overall draft pick in 2008, but they also must think about the bottom line of winning down the stretch, now that they are in a playoff battle. And if Murrell or someone else gives them a better chance to win that day than Gholston, then that decision must be made — no matter how it looks publicly or how it hurts in the wallet.

Nobody is more disappointed that Gholston has not developed into a defensive force as I am, but I don't think I agree with this thinking. Vernon has been solid against the run this season, and the biggest focus heading into Sunday was on stopping the run. We're not having this conversation if special teams standouts like Jay Feely don't kick a line drive, Wallace Wright takes a better angle, or Larry Izzo doesn't totally whiff on a tackle.

Prospect Watch: 2010 NFL Draft, Arthur Jones

2009-11-04T00:22:25Z

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So with it being a bye week and Rex ordering everyone to vacate the building by Thursday or else, we thought it might be time to switch gears. Start talking about the future potential Jets while the current Jets fly off to Cali (Rhodes) or anywhere else they might be jetting off to (no pun intended).

So this week I'm going to take a look at some of the prospects that the Jets may have their eyes on in 2010, because although the players are taking a welcome break, being a fan is a 24/7/365 job and well, we need something to keep our mind occupied until a week Sunday.

You may not agree with some of the players we profile this week, and obviously that's fine, just leave your comments with your opinions on the particular player being discussed.

So first up after the jump, it's a player close to home, Syracuse's Arthur Jones

I haven't been able to watch Syracuse all that much, and let's be honest who would want to if your not a fan. However scouts seem to really like Jones. Projected to be a mid-to-late first round selection, he should be available around where we will be picking.

Currently a 4-3 DT, but definitely more suited to a 3-4 DE in the NFL. Has good not great size, standing at 6-4 and listed at 294lb's. Although he is working to add a little bit of weight without losing any of his quickness that makes him so valuable to a team.

Looking at his basic stats, not many would be impressed, but over the course of the 2007-2008 season, he had 30.5 tackles for loss. He had three sacks in 2008 and currently has just the one sack,

In 2008 he was named as a first team all big East selection, as a Notre Dame fan he left a lasting impression on me after last season. That day he recorded 15 tackles, 4 for a loss of 24 yards in total and 1.5 sacks. He was the Big East defensive player of the week and earned himself a ESPN helmet sticker for his contribution.

At Syracuse he is doubled continuously and that partly explains why his sack totals are not higher, uses a good bull rush and is excellent at using his hands to shed blocks. Difference hear to Vernon Gholston, Gholston has a excellent bull rush, but he can't shed blocks, Arthur Jones manages to do this. Is quicker than his times suggest, and is continuously in the face of the QB making life uncomfortable.

However run defence is perhaps where he excels the most, which can be put to his penetration, moves down the line fluidly, protects the gaps and his tackles for loss shows that he gets excellent push off the line and has an explosive nature to him. His conditioning is above average and he has the motor to play until the whistle stops. Will be seen in the backfield and then seconds later down the field making the tackle.

One of the best attributes in Jones is his awareness, he knows where the ball is and his football intelligence is used to good measure to reveal where the likeliest path of the runner, which helps him bring down the ball carrier. For a defensive tackle he is a good open field tackler. He plays very low, and has the length to bring down the ball carrier, uses his hands to his benefit and rarely gets caught too high. Not often seen being pushed out of the play.

Another attribute that you won't find on any stat sheet but that is equally important to a system is attitude. Jones has a excellent never give up attitude which was probably developed through being on a team that has had very little success. His coaches love him, he comes in to play every single day, and has become a leader on the team, gave everything he had for Syracuse and I'm sure they are sorry to be loosing him.

His attitude, back-field presence, and high motor make me predict that he would be a excellent player in Rex Ryans system.

Below are the only highlights that I could find of him, so fast forward to the 3:36 minute mark

DraftParty's Week 1 Highlights/Lowlights Part 2 2009 (via ProDraftParty)

Borrowing from ST to bolster D lost the game

2009-11-03T14:19:22Z

I was surprised in Week 1 that Shonn Green was not active. What I realized later was that Ryan decided to bolster the defense, missing both S Ellis and C Pace, so he stacked the defense and consequently, had to deactivate some of his 3rd string players. Every week since that I noticed that different players were inactive, mainly to add personnel at weak spots on the field.

Now I dont know how common it is from week to week to dramatically change your active and inactive players - but the Jets do it a lot. And unfortunately, with Jenkins out for the season and some other minor injuries, Rex apparently did the same last week against the Fins.

While our defense certainly played well and looked the part, thanks in part to the creative personnel packages on the field, the special teams suffered as a direct result:

"Westhoff was without three of his favorite players Sunday, Ahmad Carroll, Marquice Cole and Marques Murrell, who were inactive. The Jets wanted more size and help for banged-up linebacker Bart Scott."

from the NY Daily News.

So it wasn't just a fluke that Miami was so dangerous on kickoffs - with Carroll, Cole and Murrell all inactive, and Brad Smith injured and J Miller signed to just handle KR duties (this spot used to belong to L Washington who was also the 2nd RB.. this week we needed 2 bodies to fill that role, RB S Greene and KR J Miller), we should have realized early on in the game we'd be in trouble - especially when K Jay Feely made two or three kickoff tackles. Once we saw our Kicker getting downfield and making the tackle, EVERYONE should have realized that something wasn't right with that picture. And now I think we all understand why.......

Now I don't necessarily blame Rex for this because looking at our Defense, they are among the most devastating in the NFL, despite a laundry list of injuries and suspensions since week 1. However, you cannot completely deplete special teams and expect to contain the kickoffs. After the first 2 kick returns for a touchdown, I was surprised and mad to see they were still kicking to Ginn. I would have preferred them kicking it out of the endzone (hell, even out of bounds and take the penalty) than give up huge field position and a possible 3rd TD to Ginn.

I think we need to cross train the team a little better on ST so that when we pull the 3rd and 4th stringers out (or inactive them) and the guys higher on the depth chart have to play ST, they know what they're doing.

New York Jets Have a Vacation

2009-11-03T13:31:27Z

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

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The Jets have six days off for their bye.

Although Ryan had told the team of its extended vacation last week, there’s nothing wrong with changing his mind and dishing out a little tough love (owner Woody Johnson could certainly eat a few plane fares), especially with the Jets inventing new ways to lose each week.

At one point so far this season, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez (four turnovers vs. the Saints and five interceptions vs. the Bills), the defense (inept play vs. the Wildcat in the first Dolphins game) and the special teams (allowing two Ted Ginn kickoff returns for touchdowns vs. Miami on Sunday) have all lost a game or games.

"I wasn’t going to punish them or whatever," Ryan said Monday. "That’s not the purpose (of the bye week). Our purpose is to get them where they’re emotionally ready to go for this charge, this last eight games I want them ready to play football when they come back."

This is a really good time for the bye. Last year it came after four games, probably too early. At this point of the year, guys are really beaten up and can probably use the rest. You couldn't blame Rex, though, if he called everybody in, and this isn't quite the vacation these guys thought they were getting.

Do you think the Jets should rest this week or practice hard as a punishment for the loss to Miami?

Woody Johnson & Marques Douglas Encouraged

2009-11-02T23:01:00Z

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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There is a terrible atmosphere around the Jets at the moment, it can be expected after going 1-4 over the past 5 weeks, but lets keep some things in perspective. We have had a day to moan, gripe, feel sorry for ourselves, but now it's time to move on from all of that. Put the first half of the season in the rear view mirror and focus on the final 8 games of the season.

One thing is for sure Woody Johnson is now downhearted:

Woody was asked what it says about the Jets that, heading into tonight's final game of Week 8, Atlanta at New Orleans, they have the NFL's No. 1 rushing offense and No. 2 overall defense.

"Surely you're cooking with something," he said. "If somebody told me that before the season, I'd be jumping for joy. We know we're a good football team. We've just got to be consistent with it all the time. If we want to be the team we say we want to be, you've got to play your best ball in November and December."

I know a lot of people are down right now, but 4-4 is a good record. Yes because we have a rookie head coach and yes because we have a rookie QB. That is a valid excuse. We are not getting blown away by any means, we are in every single game, now we need to turn those nearly's into victories.

"I'm very encouraged," DT Marques Douglas said. "We have a dominating offensive line at times. We have a dominating defense at times. I'm encouraged that our rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez, has come into this league and has already won four games. I'm encouraged that Sione Pouha has stepped up and filled in Kris Jenkins' shoes. I'm also encouraged by the way we just stick together whether it's a win or a loss. There's no divide in this locker room. The coaches made this very clear, that we win as a team and we lose as a team."

Regardless of the record, teams are not going to want to play us. We are a good football team who can beat any football team in the league. We can also lose to any, just like Rex said. So let's pick ourselves up, start looking ahead to the game against the Jaguars.

Pointing fingers gets you nowhere, especially not this early into a new era with a new regime and a new face of the franchise.

Kerry Rhodes Disappears

2009-11-02T19:24:39Z

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

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Kerry Rhodes was nowhere to be found after yesterday's game.

Rhodes, in a disappointing showing for someone who fancies himself as a team leader, made such a hasty exit from the locker room he was long gone by the time reporters were let into the room. He must have been talked out.

Let's not jump on him too much for this. For all we know, there was a good reason he had to bolt.

My real issue has been his play. It's tough to remember too many impact plays he's had this year or last year for that matter. He hasn't been the same player since he got that big contract. The two years before his deal, he was playing at a Pro Bowl level. He may not have been a Reed or Polamalu caliber player but certainly the level just below.

I don't really have a problem with him trash talking or getting into the opponent's face, but he's been something of a disappointment this year. He was one of the guys people were expecting to take his game to the next level in this system. Unlike David Harris, it hasn't happened yet.

Week 8 Approval Rating

2009-11-02T13:00:50Z

Previous Weeks:

Week 1: 97% Approve; 2% Disapprove

Week 2: 96% Approve; 3% Disapprove

Week 3: 97% Approve; 2% Disapprove

Week 4: 91% Approve; 8% Disapprove

Week 5: 73% Approve; 26% Disapprove

Week 6: 46% Approve; 53% Disapprove

Week 7: 93% Approve; 6% Disapprove

Poll

Do you approve of the job Rex Ryan is doing as head coach of the New York Jets.

Dolphins 30 Jets 25: Sick to My Stomach

2009-11-02T00:36:03Z

I don't think the Jets could have gone into the bye on a worse note. Today's 30-25 loss to Miami at the Meadowlands stings. It drops the Jets to 4-4, one and a half games in back of the Patriots in the division, two in the loss column. The Dolphins are just half a game back, even in the loss column, and holding the head to head tiebreaker in addition to a 3-0 division record. The Jets are 1-3 in division.

Beyond the frustration of losing is the way the Jets lost. It's very difficult to win in the NFL when you're spotting the opponent 21 nonoffensive points. All of these points had more to do with what the Jets didn't do than what the Dolphins did right.

More after the jump.

The Bad:

Kickoff Coverage: I guess it goes without saying that kickoff coverage belongs here when the opponent runs a pair of kicks back for touchdowns. The Jets looked like they were Purdue against Ted Ginn. There were so many errors on the kicks, it wasn't even funny. There was Jay Feely drilling it too low on the first one. Danny Woodhead didn't contain to the outside. Wallace Wright took a bad angle to Ginn. Larry Izzo whiffed on a tackle on the second one. Guys didn't stay in their lanes. Against a speedster like Ginn, that's asking for trouble. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one guy on kickoff coverage released between now and the next game.

Larry Izzo: Wasn't he supposed to be on the roster for his special teams play? There was his missed tackle on Ginn, but there was also the inexplicable running into the punter penalty. He had no shot at blocking a punt and still dove into the punter. Izzo is a candidate to be that guy released.

Shonn Greene: Even when Mark Sanchez has been bad, I've gone easy on him. It's rough adjusting to the NFL for a quarterback. So much is different from college. A rookie running back doesn't get the same kind of slack. Sure, there are some things that are different. One is the extra blocking duties. The defenders are also bigger and stronger. Still, you have to hold onto the football. His unforced fumble was a total gift to Jason Taylor.

Justin Miller: Is he in game shape? He looked pretty ordinary on returns (5 for 115). It seemed like he had trouble getting quickly to his lanes and breaking tackles.

Alan Faneca: Lost a ton of one on one battles, including a decisive Randy Starks sack.

The Good:

The Defense: The defense deserved better. It only allowed 9 points, and 3 were the result of a short field. The blitzes got to Chad Henne this time, even though the 'Fins did many of the same things they did in the first game like max protecting and rolling him out. 6 sacks on Chad Henne and only 112 passing yards. Henne got rattled and made some terribly inaccurate throws when he heard footsteps. Ronnie Brown had under 3 yards per carry. Ricky Williams was just over 3. Just a dominant performance by the defense. It avenged its only poor performance of the year. This unit has played much better than its 4-4.

Mark Sanchez: No question the rookie was the best quarterback on the field. The disastrous third quarter put the Jets behind two scores. Although the coaching staff was very conservative early, they had no choice but to let Sanchez cut it loose. Mark put 22 up in the second half (with an assist from Davone Bess) and had the Jets on the verge of a winning touchdown. The Dolphins covered New York's receivers on the goal line, and the offensive line had a breakdown. Not Mark's fault. He did make an incredible throw to Dustin Keller on fourth and long to prolong the drive. Great touch on the ball.

Dustin Keller: Where has this guy been all year? 8 catches for 76 yards and a great grab on the receiving end of that fourth down play. I'll give the coaching staff some credit too. Miami's struggled covering the tight end, and it seems like the calls made Keller Sanchez's primary read. Is this the start of big things? Will he become Mark's safety blanket? Stay tuned.

Braylon Edwards: 4 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Certified Dolphin killer. And if you ever question his heart, watch the way he fought his way into the end zone on the touchdown grab.

Thomas Jones: Another 100 yard day. The average wasn't too great, but put it in context. The Dolphins were loading up the box all day. There were a lot of times nothing was there. He made a lot of guys miss.

Sione Pouha: Miami's vaunted rushing attack gained 2.3 per carry. Pouha was a force inside clogging lanes. He had 5 tackles and opened things up for others.

Shaun Ellis: Nice of him to finally show up this year. He had 1.5 sacks and generally won his matchups on the line. The way Miami was leaving extra blockers in, guys were going to have to win their matchups to get to him.

David Harris: 5 tackles and a sack. He was all over the place.

Bart Scott: 8 tackles and the sack that got the Jets the ball back for their last drive with a chance to win. So was he.

Defensive Approach: Give the staff credit. They adjusted well from the first game. The Wildcat was held in check. The Jets did a much better job of staying in their lanes. They also sent extra men from the secondary. It worked. It may have left them vulnerable to the pass, but they closed on Brown well and forced him to eat it for a big loss and got a ball deflected both times he was looking to throw it. The fact is the formation is usually a running formation. Passes are going to be few and far between. When they do try to throw it, Brown isn't putting it up unless he has a guy wide open and isn't under pressure. He's not trained to throw. It's always best to attack him with extra men even if it leaves a guy open. Force the running back to make a throw.

I also liked the Pace-Gholston-Ellis-Westerman line on passing downs.

We saw plenty of the Ellis-Green-Pouha-Douglas line and Pace-Harris-Scott linebacking look I predicted to stop the run. It worked.

Again, Henne was on the run all day and got hit so much he felt heat and rushed his throws even when there was none.

I don't expect this to be a fun bye. This team should not have lost this game. The Jets lost the first game to Miami because the Dolphins outexecuted them. They lost this game because they self-destructed. Give the Dolphins credit for not self-destructing I guess, but there's no way this team should be 4-4 at the halfway point. That's where we're at, though. At this point, we have a mediocre football team on our hands.

Jets Hand Miami a Game

2009-11-01T21:07:41Z

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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Anybody else going to be sick? The Jets absolutely handed the Dolphins the game today. How else can you break down a game when you give up 21 nonoffensive points in a single quarter? It's one thing when the opponent takes it to you like the Dolphins did in the first game. It's another when you just decide to hand them a game. A horrible fumble and missed tackles led to the points more than anything anybody on the Dolphins did.

I'm not going to sit here and say the better team lost. The better team doesn't shoot itself in the foot like that. Still just a horrendous loss.

Merry Christmas, Tony Sparano. You got a game gift wrapped that you did nothing to win. The defense deserved better. It played a brilliant game.

Vent below. The official recap will be up tonight.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Game Thread

2009-11-01T17:00:35Z

Today the Jets sit in a very similar position to the one they were in three weeks ago. They can finish off the Miami Dolphins. If the Jets take this one, it's going to be very difficult for Miami to recover from a 2-5 start. A win and they are right back in the division race. They'll own the head to head tiebreaker over the Jets, and New York's division record will be 1-3. It's time to end this two game winning streak the Dolphins have and reassert our dominance in this rivalry.

SQUISH THE FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Joey Porter Wants to Make Mark Sanchez Wear an Ice Pack

2009-10-31T18:49:49Z

More photos » by J Pat Carter - AP

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Joey Porter said he wants to hit Mark Sanchez hard tomorrow.

"He (Rex Ryan) made a little comment about Will Allen being hurt, saying, 'Boo hoo hoo,' as if it's a joke or something. We'll see if it's a joke on Sunday," Porter said. "I'm not worried about [Sanchez] eating hot dogs on the sideline. I'm worried about how I can get him on sideline, with an ice pack."

But hey, the Jets are just a classless team full of obnoxious trash talkers if you ask some Dolphins fans.

I really don't have any problem with what Porter said. When you play defense, you should want to hit the other quarterback hard. If he uses this to motivate himself, more power to him. Let's see if he can deliver against a really good line.

I wonder what certain Miami backers who reside in glass houses think.

Can the Crowd Get to Chad Henne?

2009-10-31T17:02:43Z

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

Rex wants you to make a difference tomorrow.

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Let's get one thing straight. Chad Henne is not your typical quarterback making his first road start in the NFL. Three years ago, he threw for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns in front of over 105,000 hostile Ohio State fans with a trip to the National Championship Game on the line. He threw 4 touchdown passes in the Rose Bowl at 19 years old (3 were to teammate Braylon Edwards). He started 4 years at Michigan, a school with one of the most rabid fan bases in college football. It's going to take a lot more to get him rattled than it would your average quarterback.

Now let's think back to Week 2. The crowd in the Meadowlands got to Tom Brady. He was holding his hands over his earholes to hear the radio signals from the opening kick because it was so loud. He was taking uncharacteristic delay of game penalties, including an incredible two in a row because he lost his focus. The crowd took the Jets to another place that day and helped lift the defense to an incredible performance.

Will the crowd show up the same way tomorrow? This is another big divisional game against another bitter rival. This rival has plenty of guys who love to talk trash about everything that has to do with our team from our coach to our fans. (And yes Dolphins fans, I know the same is true of our side. You don't have to point that out.)

If you're going tomorrow, this is your assignment. Make it as miserable for Henne and the Dolphins as you made it for Brady and the Patriots in September. Let's hope the guys who run the entertainment system bring back the air rain siren they blew before every Pats drive in the home opener. That seemed to get everybody going.

How do you think the home crowd will affect the game?

New York Jets Run Defense vs. Miami Dolphins Run Offense

2009-10-31T15:16:04Z

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - AP

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Nobody needs a reminder of what happened three weeks ago. The Dolphins ran all over the Jets with the Wildcat. That's what the Dolphins do. They run it and run it often. Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are both on pace to go over 1,000 yards this year. They do this even with a fairly punchless even if efficient passing game.

In the first meeting, the Jets got whipped up front. There was only one guy in the front seven consistently winning his matchups. He wears number 77 and is now on IR.

How do the Jets combat this rushing attack? I think they need to go as big as possible. That means a lot of 4-3 sets with Shaun Ellis and Marques Douglas at end, Sione Pouha and Howard Green at tackle, and Bart Scott, David Harris, and Calvin Pace at linebacker. Pace looked very rusty in the first game, constantly overpursuing the play. He's rounding into form and should be much more effective this time around.

I think the approach the Jets took in the first game was flawed. They showed a lot of different looks. The problem is there is very little adjustment necessary in a power rushing game. You aren't going to fool the other team. You aren't going to get them to change what they're doing. You need to find something that works and stick with it. It's all about execution. The Dolphins execute well, running for 6.6 yards per play out of the Wildcat.

The Saints contained the formation last week. What they did was run blitz from the secondary. That's the way to stop it. Part of why the Wildcat works so well is numbers. There's no quarterback handing the ball off. That means the spot the quarterback occupies in a normal offense can be used on an extra blocker. The defense has to bring extra men into the box to combat this.

This means leaving receivers in man coverage. I'm fine with that. I know Brown completed a pass on the first drive of the first game. That seemed to soften the Jets defensively. I think they should leave the corners against those receivers on an island all day. I think they can handle it. Even if they can't, I'm fine with Brown throwing it. He may hit some passes, but he's a running back. He's not used to throwing it. He can't be totally comfortable. The way to force mistakes in the National Football League is to get guys doing stuff they're not used to. Dare Brown to throw it even if it means giving up a big gain or two.

New York Jets Pass Defense vs. Miami Dolphins Pass Offense

2009-10-31T14:57:50Z

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - AP

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The Dolphins throw the ball to keep defenses honest. Their long touchdown pass to Ted Ginn in the first meeting aside, they do not make many big plays in the passing game. After Ginn's struggles last week with some critical drops, he can expect to see his playing time decrease against the Jets. That takes away the one big play threat in the receiving corps. Anybody who has read this blog knows I don't think much of Ginn as a receiver. There is no doubting, though, that his straight line speed adds an extra dimension to an offense if nothing else. The Dolphins will probably play receivers who work primarily underneath in Davone Bess, Greg Camirillo, and Brian Hartline. Tight end Anthony Fasano has been close to a nonfactor in the passing game.

The Jets lost the last game because Miami pounded the ball on them. What they need to do is sell out to stop the run. The Dolphins aren't the kind of team that's going to put it up 50 times. They don't have the playmakers to do it effectively. The Jets can stick Revis, Sheppard, Strickland, and Lowery on an island with these guys. I trust any of the four corners on an island against anybody from Miami's receiving corps.

I don't see the Jets selling out to blitz at Henne. Again, the focus will be on stopping the run game. We'll likely see a lot of four man fronts. That makes it important for Shaun Ellis to win his matchups and get into Henne's face. In the first meeting, Henne showed he makes sound decisions when he's comfortable in the pocket. At this point of his career, he's a game manager. The Jets want to get in his face and force early throws and checkdowns, but they aren't going all out like they did last time.