NFL Pre-Season Review: Last Of The Week 2 Memories

It is becoming a blur after watching week 2 of preseason football. One half of good football, strange final scores that have little to no relation to how the game went. How is one to judge a preseason football game? Do we just make the most of the first half and try and hash together some sort of highlight reel for rookies? I have found myself up at 6am watching Reggie Bush look like he did in fact deserve that Heisman trophy. I watch Cam Newton grin and smile after almost having his head torn off. I watch the Redskins look…good? No sleep can do strange things to the human mind. People can start to believe things like the Redskins winning the NFC East. Shanahan got a haircut. Anything is possible in Washington.

Game 1: Jaguars vs. Falcons

The Falcons have a serious receiving core. Matt Ryan will probably go over 4,000 yards this year. Julio Jones will run block, catch deep balls, and go over the middle without issue. The Falcons are going to need to outscore teams if they want to win in that division. They score fast. The issue with fast scoring is that if the opposing team has a good run game and can eat up clock, then that Falcons offense is going to be stuck on the sideline.

Defense is not the focal point of the Falcons, which is why they used their 1st,5th and 7th round pick on offense. The biggest star on the Falcons defense is John Abraham. Abraham is 33 years old and may not have enough left in the tank to be the dominant pass rusher of years past. Sean Weatherspoon is a solid linebacker but might not have enough of an impact to pick up the rest of the defense.

For the Jaguars, things looked better in week 2 for Blaine Gabbert, who has a serious gun and seems to look more comfortable in the pocket with every snap. This preseason will be good for Gabbert, who is going to need to feel out the offense against defenses that are trying to make him uncomfortable and rush his throws. He will learn to find his tight end, namely Mercedes Lewis when the play breaks down. 6’6 275. Just throw it to him.

Game 2:  Colts vs. Redskins

Are the Colts on the edge of missing the playoffs? Yes. Peyton Manning might miss the season opener. He did not have his usual receiver camp or practice in full pads yet, not a good thing when it is already week 2 of preseason. There will be interceptions and missed throws, possibly more than last year. It will not be pretty until week 6. That said, the Colts have enough defensive lineman to stop the run, though that linebacking core leaves much to be desired. Drake Nevis will fit right in with guys like Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis showing him the ropes.

The Colts knew last year that they needed some help at offensive line, because if Peyton goes down, the season goes down. They grabbed Anthony Castonzo in the 1st round and Ben Ijana in the 2nd round. Manning sleeps well.

The Redskins. Let me tell you a little about my relationship with the Redskins. I’m 23, so the Redskins have never been good in my lifetime. My dad is a Redskins fan. A sad, bitter, almost guilty Redskins fan. I like to occasionally call him and let him know the latest Redskins news, like when they signed Haynesworth last year and gave him a $20,000,000 check.

For some reason, he did not think this was going to end well. It did not end well, and he could only watch as his team was manhandled by Michael Vick. He actually told me that after the first touchdown, he had to turn on The Biggest Loser to stop the vein in his neck from throbbing. So recently I gave him a call, notifying him that Donovan Mcnabb had been traded to the Vikings, and that John Beck was the new starting quarterback. Not former 1st round pick Rex Grossman, but John Beck. The John Beck 99% of NFL fans have never heard of.

I thought it would be a beating. A sad event much like watching Holyfield still boxing, Jorge Posada swinging for the fences, or AJ Burnett trying not to have a nervous breakdown with bases loaded in the first inning. And then the game started.
The Redskins had holes to run through. If the Redskins get production out of Maurice Hurt, they will be able to use Roy Helu like they did at Nebraska. They have enough of a mix of veteran (Stallworth, Moss) and rookie (Paul, Robinson, Hankerson) wide receiver talent to spread the field. And the defense…a Redskins defense?

Mike Shanahan may actually crack a smile watching his defense play. They’ve got a serious linebacking core. London Fletcher is on his last legs, but Brian Orakpo is like having a corner and a D lineman on the field, while Ryan Kerrigan will get moved between defensive end and outside linebacker. If a team decides to throw the ball, they get to sort between Laron Landry, Philip Buchanon and Deangelo Hall. Big hits will be made.

As per the yearly lack of trying, the Colts scored 3 points. Curtis Painter grew his hair to surfer bro lengths, and the Colts look like they will ned another QB to replace Painter if Manning’s neck surgery takes longer than expected to heal.

Game 3: Dolphins vs. Panthers

This was the game I turned on after a night of good old fashioned debauchery, so it was more to see Sporano scream and Reggie Bush run. I wanted to see Cam sling it a bit and see how he handles blitzes, but conclusions are not always what you expect them to be. The Dolphins will rely on four players on offense. Chad Henne. Davone Bess. Reggie Bush. Brandon Marshall. That will be the magic formula. Run with Bush, pass it over the middle to Marshall, and catch Devon Bess on the sidelines.

Cam Newton will run. He will have to if he wants to demoralize safeties and cornerbacks that attempt to tackle him. He is a new breed of quarterback, whose physical attributes would put him as anything between linebacker, defensive end, and the world’s largest safety. Yet he is a quarterback, and that should make anyone under 6 feet tall nervous when he takes off to run. People will look weak and small.

Towards week 3, where the strange will get stranger, and upsets will be glorious.

Jets vs. Bengals: Plax Is Back, As Backups Answer Call

The Jets put preseason game two behind them properly Sunday night, with a 27-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals while both resting key starters and unveiling WR Plaxico Burress in a feature role.

Despite the rain that continued through the contest, Burress, in his first NFL appearance since November of 2008, looked quick, agile out of his breaks, and hungry. Number 17 capped off an impressive return (3-66-1TD) with an over the shoulder 26 yard TD grab, on a third down lob from QB Mark Sanchez.

The Bengals brought their safeties up to the line of scrimmage prior to the play, leaving Jets receivers with one on one coverage. Should this be a sign of things to come, clubs may start to think twice about consistently trying to hurry Sanchez up offense while risking secondary numbers up close to the ball.

Sanchez read the defense and simply dropped quick in order to loft the throw to the 6’5 Burress, who outran the Bengals CB on the play in order to catch up to, and land underneath the perfectly thrown ball. The result was the most exciting play so far in 2011 for the new New York Jets. A club that now features a serious scoring weapon who may help the club climb out from the t bottom of the barrel red zone ranking of 2010.

Aside from the triumphant return of Burress to the field, other notable performances came from LB Aaron Maybin, signed this week after being released by Buffalo. Maybin looked fast speed rushing outside. Although he slipped on one attempt, the third year pro caused a strip late in the fourth quarter, albeit against the Bengals second and third string unit. Should Maybin be able to provide that same speed all year long, the Jets defense will have added an extra boost in disrupting opponent’s third down and long attempts.

Safety Jim Leonhard excited the crowd in his home return from a broken leg in November of 2010 with an interception. Backup LB Brashton Satele, the player that special teams coach Mike Westhoff suggested “open a pizza joint” last Summer on HBO’s Hard Knocks, picked off a second half throw as well, and was tackled just short of the goal line.

Maligned backup offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse settled in finally, perhaps thanks to the return of All Pro C Nick Mangold, who missed the opener at Houston due to a stinger suffered in practice days prior to the trip.

As for others, rookie QB Greg McElroy looked poised for the second straight week. This time during his second half duties as Mark Brunell sat for a second straight week. McElroy capped his efforts of solid decision making with a short rollout TD pass to RB Joe McKnight, who made some nice runs of his own in the battle for the number three job with Bilal Powell. The rookie RB out of Lousiville was quiet during his attempts. RB Chris Jennings broke a long late 4th quarter run that could keep him in the mix as camp heads into the latter stages.

Last week the questions surrounding the Jets centered on Burress and the club’s depth. Those issues were lessened to a degree tonight, despite playing a Cincinnati team undergoing a transition to the future from the Carson Palmer years.

With Shonn Greene, Derrick Mason, and a few other nicked up members of Gang Green resting on the sidelines and no apparent major injuries from the game to speak of, Jets nation couldn’t ask for more out of a rainy night in mid August.

NFL Free Agency 2011: Asomugha To Jets Momentum Picking Up

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire, especially when it comes to Mike Tannenbaum making moves. Along those lines, the chatter about Nnamdi Asomugha coming to the New York Jets has picked up gradually throughout the past few days and is now to the point where it sounds like the Jets are the favorite to land him.

Michael Lombardi of the NFL Network has reported throughout the morning the Jets discussions with him are “very serious” and Albert Breer, also of the NFL Network, has corroborated the report. The Jets beat writers and other media members have reported the team is discussing restructuring contracts with current players to make a run at Asomugha and that he is their top priority right now.

The most recent news is that the San Francisco 49ers have become the Jets main competition to signing Asmougha, which is somewhat surprising considering many thought Dallas, Houston, and Philadelphia would be heavily involved in pursuing him.

Yes, the 49ers can offer more money but the Jets can offer a better location, team, and a proven coaching staff and system. Nevermind the chance of forming the greatest starting duo of corners in NFL history.

Obviously, if the Jets do work something out with Asomugha, other areas of the team will feel the impact but honestly the impact may not be as bad as some make it out to be. Braylon Edwards is probably gone either way, considering how much money was spent on Holmes, same goes with Brad Smith. You don’t need Antonio Cromartie back if you sign Asomugha. Beyond that, the Jets should still be able to get Eric Smith and Trevor Pryce back to improve their defensive depth, and maybe sign somebody like Randy Moss to a short term, incentive-laden deal to replace Edwards.

NBA Mock Draft – June 15th

Take a look at who various mock drafts have the New York Knicks selecting in the first round and profiles of some of their top prospects…

The NBA Draft is next Thursday and while it certainly lacks the excitement of the NFL Draft, it is still something as we wait out the final weeks of negotiations to end the lockout (hopefully). The Knicks have the 17th pick and will likely look to either add some size up front or a shooting guard, like Josh Selby from Kansas (pictured above).

In Memoriam: How “The Legend” Put It All On The Line

A friend of TOJ writes a fitting tribute to a coach from his and my childhood. Article linked from Dime Magazine and written by Matt Donohue.

Getting To Know Your Jets Draft Prospects

Highlights of a few players the Jets could end up with at number 30 in the NFL Draft…Also, listen in at 8:30 tonight to hear TOJ talk Jets draft strategy on Backfield Radio.

Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia

Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona

Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

12 Pack Of Jets Off-Season Thoughts – Edition #10

Come scoop up your weekly 12 pack and on the way follow Turn On The Jets on Facebook and Twitter.

1. Hanging Chad – What a shame to hear about Chad Pennington tearing his ACL while playing basketball this off-season. I really thought he might find a chance to start somewhere as a bridge to a younger quarterback. It might be hard for some to remember but Pennington was considered the second coming of Joe Montana by everyone in this area during the 2002 season and the franchise quarterback who would finally take the Jets to a Super Bowl. He never quite made it, mostly because of injuries and partly because of Doug Brien. However, Pennington did provide some great moments, including two improbable playoff runs in 2002 and 2006, and two playoff wins. Can we sign this guy up to be our quarterback coach? Sorry Matt Cavanaugh and Mark Brunell…oh wait, Brunell is actually our backup.

2. Draft Thoughts – The draft is less than a month away and if I had to guess I would say one of the following will be the Jets selection at #30 – Phil Taylor, Akeem Ayers, Justin Houston, or Cameron Heyward. I’d be stunned if they don’t draft a defensive lineman or outside linebacker and also anticipate a better chance of them trading down, than trading up.

3. No More Jenks – It sounds like Kris Jenkins days with the Jets are truly over, as he stated in an interview this week that the playing surface in the New Meadowlands would likely prevent him from signing a new deal with the team. Overall, the Jets got one dominant season out of Jenkins in 2008 and then not much else. Regardless, TOJ wishes the big fella the best of luck wherever he ends up next year. This development is only more incentive for the Jets to spend an early draft pick on a defensive lineman.

4. New York Knicks Thought – Despite all the appropriate pessimism around the team now, they are going to make the playoffs, and they are likely going to play either Boston or Miami. Personally, I think they can take Miami in a 7 game series because of how they match-up and because I think the Heat will be tight because of all the pressure on them. Boston would take care of business, probably in 6 games, against the Knicks but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be an entertaining, physical series.

5. Random Jets Offensive Predictions – Wayne Hunter will beat out Vladimir Ducasse for the starting right tackle job…Joe McKnight will have at least 25 receptions next year…Dustin Keller will have 10-15 more receptions, 200-250 more receiving yards, and 2 more touchdowns (if Braylon Edwards doesn’t return).

6. The Terminator – I am anxious to see John Conner in the starting fullback role next season. You would think after spending a season learning behind an accomplished veteran like Tony Richardson, he will be ready to have a productive year considering his physical ability. There isn’t a team in the league who won’t have a tough time stopping Shonn Greene running downhill behind Conner, especially with the Jets talent on the offensive line.

7. Doubt It – Despite some talk about a potential return, I have a very tough time seeing Jason Taylor in a Jets uniform next year. The guy looked completely washed up by the time the playoffs started last year and never really brought the punch to the Jets pass rush that the team was hoping for. They badly need to get younger at linebacker.

8. AFC East Thoughts – Even though we have Darrelle Revis, I am a little concerned about New England packaging all those picks they have and moving up to grab one of the elite receivers in the draft…There is no way Cam Newton gets past Buffalo if he is on the board at #3, sorry Ryan Fitzpatrick…I don’t think anybody in the Jets organization is worried about Miami potentially making a trade for Carson Palmer this off-season, let them go from a young mediocre quarterback to an old mediocre quarterback.

9. April 6th – Circle your calendars and open your law books…big day in the ongoing lockout.

10. Big Money Veterans – You have to think the Jets are looking for more production out of their big money, veteran linebackers: Calvin Pace and Bart Scott. The two of them simply didn’t make enough game changing plays last year, considering how much they are being paid.

11. Sanchez – What are fair statistical expectations for Mark Sanchez in year three? The most important thing is for his completion percentage to get substantially closer to 60. You would also think he should be able to get right at 4,000 yards and crack 20 touchdowns. If he can throw over 20 touchdowns and complete near 60 percent of his passes, you can deal with 12-14 interceptions.

12. Weekend Video Clips – Pennington Edition

A Brief TOJ Rant On The Lockout

Everybody out there who is a fan of the NFL has obviously been dismayed by the events of the previous few days. A decertification. A lockout. An April 6th court hearing. A hopeful injunction on that date. A request for players to boycott the draft. Plenty of uncertainty on how the 2011 NFL season is going to shape up, in terms of free agency, off-season workouts, and scariest of all, missed games.

I can’t sit here and claim to know the ins and outs of this legal situation, especially as it keeps evolving. Similar to most of you, I have followed the case the best I could from the various mainstream media sources and similar to all of you, I am disgusted and disappointed.

How can a league which is thoroughly dominating every sport in this county in every way possible and that has never been more popular, go and mess it up?

My sympathy lies more with the players than it does with the owners but that doesn’t mean both sides haven’t made mistakes. The petty back and forth through the media hasn’t helped the situation, and the foolish suggestion by the NFLPA for incoming rookies to boycott the draft is a shame.

All I know is that I want a NFL off-season back as soon as possible, which from my understanding means rooting for injunction on April 6th.

I am going to keep covering the New York Jets and the NFL under the assumption that at some point in 2011 there will be football games. There is going to be plenty of hypotheticals considering we don’t know yet how free agency and trades will be handled. I will keep commenting on the labor negotiations when applicable and always link the most updated information on our Facebook and Twitter account, but for the most part I will keep writing about the actual game of football, not injunctions, decertifications, or other legal topics.

Time For Jets New Acquisitions To Shine

The Jets didn’t hesitate this past off-season to add players who would improve their roster. There has been generally mixed results from the team’s new additions but the Jets need all of them to have big games Saturday night –

Santonio Holmes – 52 receptions, 746 yards, 6 TDs

The addition who made the most positive impact. Holmes made the game winning play in three games this season and has been everything the Jets traded for him to be. However, “Tone Time” as he likes to call it needs to carry over into Saturday night. Let’s be honest here, the Colts can’t double team Holmes because of the presence of Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller, and if he is consistently left one on one, he should shred up the Indy secondary.

Jason Taylor – 36 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs

It was a somewhat disappointing season from Taylor, despite him having his moments like a game clinching sack against New England and a key safety against Pittsburgh. Regardless, the Jets need to put some type of pressure on Peyton Manning and Taylor remains arguably their best pure pass rusher. The Jets can’t afford to have him no show Saturday night. A big time effort against Indy makes his signing entirely worth it.

Antonio Cromartie – 42 tackles, 3 INTs, 17 passes defensed

Cromartie had a pretty good overall year for the Jets defense and did admirable work while Darrelle Revis banged up, covering the opposing team’s number one receiver. There hasn’t been a ton of big plays but Cromartie has a positive history against Manning and is a major upgrade over what the Jets had opposite Revis last year. A strong game from Cromartie is going to severely limit what the Colts can do on offense.

Brodney Pool – 53 tackles, 1 sack, 11 passes defensed, 1 INT, 1 TFL

Personally I was very disappointed with Pool for a large chunk of the year, yet he has played better as of late. Kerry Rhodes was torched all over the field against the Colts last year and the Jets need Pool to play a disciplined game alongside Eric Smith at safety.

LaDainian Tomlinson – 914 rushing yards, 368 receiving yards, 6 TDs

Tomlinson exceeded most of our expectations this year with nearly 1300 total offensive yards and 6 touchdowns. He remains valuable in the passing game and should be a good change of pace from Shonn Greene, who is better fit for the bulk of carries this week. All I know is that LT better not being standing on that sideline with his jacket and helmet on, like we always remember him doing in San Diego.

Instant Reaction: 3 Up, 3 Down Jets Crush Bills, Keep Rolling Through AFC East

Didn’t that feel a little too easy? After watching the Jets embarrass the Bills today, it doesn’t say much for Miami and New England that they beat them by one possession. Today was a completely one-sided statement from Jets, who avoided any threat of a trap game and are certainly looking like one of the elite teams in the NFL.

LaDainian Tomlinson was the primary story on offense, as he put on a show with 133 yards on 19 carries and 2 touchdowns, including a highlight reel move on a 26 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. I don’t think anybody expected Tomlinson to show this type of speed after the way he looked last year. Shonn Greene also finally got going with 117 yards on 22 carries, in a much needed confidence boosting performance.

Mark Sanchez has made it through 1/4 of the entire season without a single turnover. He put together an efficient performance with 166 yards and 2 more touchdowns, included a well executed double move 41 yard touchdown to Braylon Edwards. Without Santonio Holmes out the first four games, Edwards has stepped up with 3 touchdowns in 4 games.

The Bills offense is putrid, but the Jets still did the job they needed to. Shaun Ellis banged his knee up but is apparently fine. Antonio Cromartie completely took Lee Evans out of the game. Dwight Lowery and James Ihedigbo each had a sack. Bryan Thomas had a nice forced fumble. Nick Folk didn’t let us get too comfortable with him by missing a 30 yard field goal.

The most important thing is that the Jets are 3-0 in the division. Even better news, Santonio Holmes and Calvin Pace will be back next week, likely joined by Darrelle Revis. The Jets get a shot at Brett Favre and the Vikings on Monday night football and our stadium is going to be rocking. A victory is going to put all of that talk about the Jets difficult start to their schedule to rest.

Great teams beat the teams they are supposed to, and the Jets didn’t just beat Buffalo today they put an exclamation point on their first tour through the division marking themselves as the team to beat in the AFC East.

A few fun stats:

• Dustin Keller is on pace for 20 touchdowns.
• Mark Sanchez is on pace for 32 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
• LaDainian Tomlinson is on pace for over 1300 yards rushing.
• Braylon Edwards is on pace for 12 touchdowns.