We are a few days removed from the Jets’ monumental win over their 2-7 crosstown rivals, the Giants, and anointing themselves Kings of New York as they improved to an impressive 2-7 record. If you’re picking up my sarcasm, I would quote David Spade from Tommy Boy and say “well I should hope so because I am laying it on pretty thick.” The truth is that if you allowed yourself to escape reality for a little over three hours on Sunday, you probably enjoyed a rather entertaining game in which the Jets came out victorious and their franchise quarterback looked every bit as good as you would hope.
Category: Stephen Russo
1st & 10: Jets Drop Another to the Jags and Trade Deadline Thoughts
Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets current situation post trade deadline…
Let me start with a simple thought: I am done with Adam Gase.
I was skeptical when the hire was made in January. I’m being too polite. I was livid when this hire was made. Adam Gase was a notch below Mike McCarthy on my coaching wish list. And Mike McCarthy was rock bottom. The two-hour roller-coaster ride of the should have been Matt Rhule hire to a quick change of direction to give the job to Gase was a swift kick to the you know what…
Like any other fan, I learned to deal with the fact that he’s not going anywhere. While I disagreed with the hire, I ultimately wanted to be proven wrong and wanted the team to succeed. So, I let him endear himself to me. He made some progress with little quips on One Jets Drive, his playful banter with Jamal Adams, and of course, the smelling salts.
1st & 10 – Thoughts Jets Embarrassing Loss to New England
Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots
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I did it. I made a mistake. I made THE mistake. I allowed myself to believe. I allowed myself to become prisoner of the moment. In a world where, especially in the NFL, teams, players and coaches alike are either crowned or dragged through the mud on a week to week basis, I let myself become part of it. And against my better judgment. I admit, when Darnold returned for a lights out game against the Cowboys, it was a breath of fresh air. The guy seemed to erase every possible question mark the Jets had. Instead of remaining objective, taking a step back and looking at the big picture which I have always prided myself on, I thought everything was primed for change. Needless to say I was wrong…
First and Ten – New York Jets Finally Get in the Win Column
Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets first win of the 2019 season
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There is only one place to start following a huge 24-22 win for the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and that is with Sam Darnold. The 22-year-old quarterback returned to the field for the Jets after missing over a month with mononucleosis, and he didn’t miss a beat. From the first snap, Darnold was locked in. He led the Jets to four scores and a win with a stat line of 23/32, 2 TD’s, 1 interception and 338 yards, hitting 7 different receivers along the way. Darnold’s return to the lineup seemed to patch up almost every glaring hole the Jets showed through the first four games, as he re-ignited the team and fanbase as the Jets got a much-needed win to improve to 1-4.
1st & 10 – New York Jets Quarterly Review
Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets through four games…
I have not been a fan of Adam Gase thus far. I was not a fan of the hire when it was made in January. While he has done things during interviews, mini-camp, and training camp that have made me warm up to the idea of him as a head coach, that has all but been erased throughout the first four weeks of this season. Do I believe that this 0-4 start falls squarely on his shoulders? No. I don’t know if Bill Belichick could overcome what Gase has endured through five weeks. Does Gase deserve some of that blame? Absolutely.
However, I do not fault him for giving Darnold the first team reps leading up to this game. It appeared that Gase and the Jets brass had reason to believe that Darnold would be cleared. Knowing what they had in Luke Falk, while also knowing that Darnold hadn’t been allowed to move in almost four weeks, they made a calculated risk to put all their eggs in the Darnold basket, recognizing that if they prepared to get him on track to start had he been cleared, he would give them their best chance to win. This was a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and it backfired. I do not blame Adam Gase for this roll of the dice.
1st & 10 – Jets Drop to 0-3 With Another Dud in New England
Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets 0-3 start
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It was clearly unrealistic to expect the Jets to go into Gillette Stadium on Sunday and pull out a victory. They were without 7 starters (!) and their most important pieces on both sides of the ball in Mosley and Darnold. However, what is not unrealistic is to expect them to put up a fight. Sunday, instead of looking at this as a situation where they were playing with house money, they saw it as a reason to lay down. That is 100% on the coaching staff. Again, there was no creativity, no imagination, no trick plays. No chances taken, no throws downfield. Nothing. Adam Gase and his staff appeared to be perfectly content running a vanilla game plan, taking their lumps, and sauntering back to New Jersey to lick their wounds. On an NFL Sunday that featured seven different teams sending their backup quarterbacks into action, only one team was only able to muster 105 yards of total offense and no offensive points. Anyone know which team???
New York Jets 1st and 10 – Jets MNF Woes
Stephen Russo goes first and ten on the New York Jets struggles through the first two weeks…
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The excuses are everywhere for the Jets. Sam Darnold was diagnosed with mono (!) before their week two matchup (also admittedly leaving him 80-85% for the Buffalo loss), they were without their first-round pick Quinnen Williams and their big free agent signing CJ Mosley at middle linebacker, who also happens to be the anchor of the defense. If that weren’t enough, they also lost a starting receiver in Quincy Enunwa for the season (I won’t even touch on his replacement, Demariyus Thomas – also injured). We’re not done yet. Then, in the 2nd quarter of their Monday Night debacle against the Browns, backup quarterback Trevor Siemian’s foot almost falls off and he’s done for the year… are you ready to throw up yet?
New York Jets 1st & 10 – Opening Day Loss to the Bills
Stephen Russo goes “1st and 10” on the New York Jets week 1 opening loss…
The Jets season opener ended in typical Jets fashion as they blew a 16-point third quarter lead on their way to a one-point loss at home. Here are my thoughts on the gut-wrenching defeat…
New York Jets – A Closer Look at New Jets TE Ryan Griffin
Stephen Russo with a closer look at New York Jets tight end Ryan Griffin
The Jets have been longing for a true pass catching threat at the tight end position since Dustin Keller, and they just might have struck gold with Chris Herndon. Herndon, a pleasant surprise from the fourth round in 2018, showed his all-around ability as a pass catcher, blocker, and consistent security blanket for Sam Darnold, especially in unscripted moments. Sadly, Herndon’s looming four game suspension to start the season leaves the Jets with question marks at the position yet again. With only Eric Tomlinson (yikes) and unproven rookie Trevon Wesco on the roster, the Jets moved to sign six-year veteran Ryan Griffin after he was cut by the Texans. Can Griffin be the guy to hold down the fort in Herndon’s absence?
New York Jets – Grading the 2019 Defense
Stephen Russo grades out the New York Jets 2019 defense
For the better part of twenty years, the Jets defense has outpaced the offense. For too long, defensive minded coaches with antiquated styles of game management strolled the sidelines. If you think hard enough, you can hear them saying “Any drive that ends in a kick is a successful one…” Well the tide could finally turn this year, as new Head Coach Adam Gase roams the Jets sidelines with a litany of offensive experience to bring to the table. While the Jets’ offense is shaping up to be an exciting one with Sam Darnold and a myriad of new weapons, what can we expect from a defensive unit that underperformed in 2018? Let’s take a closer look at the defensive unit and their grades as we look ahead to this 2019 season.