Jose Reyes neutered is not Jose Reyes, and neither are the Mets.

The Omar-Willie-Jerry Mets taught us many important lessons. Don't take taxis in Miami at 3 a.m., don't challenge an innocent Daily News reporter to a fight when you have no job security, and of course, don't build a stadium that completely neutralizes your best player's strengths. But the most important lesson we learned from the Metropolitans during the past six years is this: You cannot let losing rob you of your mojo.

Take Jose Reyes, for example. His best statistical year, and by no coincidence, the Mets best year during the OWJ era was 2006. He set career highs in runs scored, home runs, RBI's, batting average and led MLB in stolen bases. The Mets won 97 games that season, dancing and singing and high-fiving each other to a division title. Both Reyes and the Mets knew how much their opponents hated the team's antics, but they didn't care. The Mets were winning and the other team was losing.

That October things fell apart. The Mets fell a game short of reaching the World Series, much how the Jets missed the Super Bowl last season. The following spring however, they came back as cocky and bold as ever. They started the 2007 season with an 83-62 record and held a seven-game lead on the second place Phillies heading into a weekend series on Sept. 14.

You know the rest.

Every person with a voice in the sports world ripped the Mets to pieces. They spoke of how the Mets talked a bigger game than they played, that they were too flamboyant in their celebrations, and that they'd never win a World Series because "good teams don't talk about winning, they just win." (-Francesa, 1/4/11)

Hmm, that sounds familiar. Every quote and phrase used to describe the Mets and especially Reyes after the '07 collapse was recycled after the Jets and their straw-stirrer, Rex Ryan, lost to arch rival New England 45-3 on Dec. 6. After the loss Rex got quiet. When he spoke to the media he was often tight-lipped and reserved (for his standards), speaking with a blandness and lack of character that eviscerated him of his personality. It was then no coincidence that his team lost to a putrid Dolphins squad the following week. And that's because Rex is the Jets. Without him they are nothing. Just how no player in baseball was more important to his team than Jose Reyes from 2006-2008, no coach has the effect on his team that Rex has on the Jets.

 After the '07 season the Mets forced Reyes to tone down his "act." They sucked the life and love out of his game and as a result his play suffered and the team began losing. To this day Reyes has failed to re-gain the mojo and passion he played with during the '06 and '07 season. And barring a seismic shift in his game this season, 2011 could very well be his final year as a Met. Four years from now, I don't want to say the same about Rex. I don't want to think a failed AFC Championship Game and a poor end to this regular season robbed him of "Rex." He needs "Rex" badly. The team needs "Rex" badly. Give your team "Rex," Rex!

I've liked what I've heard from the head coach this week. He has been his usual brazen self, a little more arrogant and even a little fatter than past weeks (might not be true). The more he pisses off Francesa, the better. Mike played a series of clips this afternoon of Rex quoting a famous boxer who said (paraphrasing), "You become a champion when you know you're going to win and no one else does." As you can imagine, this did not sit well with Mike. "Da rubbah doesnt meet da road Rex! Youahr supposed to BELIEVE youah can win but dont proclaim youahr da best when youahr not." (That of course courtesy of MikeFrancesaNY.)

That's what I want to hear from Rex. That's what the Jets need to hear from Rex. If Rex hadn't said the Jets were the best team in the playoffs last year and that they we're going to win the Super Bowl, do you really believe the Jets enter halftime of the AFC Championship Game with a four-point lead? Of course not. The Jets don't have a Jose Reyes-in-his-prime-type player who can single-handedly take over a game*, but they do have a coach who can tell them they will.

(*Shonn Greene can be that player but there's far too much beauty in the Jets playcalling to let that happen. But hey, what does a Super Bowl ring mean if we don't get LT established by Feb. 6?*)

So let it out, Rex! I know it's in you big fella! Tell me we're the best team in the whole motherf***ing league! I want to lead the league in goddamn wins for the next five weeks! Shine the light, Rex! Lead your team to glory!

And promise me above all, win or lose, in good health or bad, you will never take career advice from Jeff Wilpon! Please! (That was the real lesson of the OWJ Mets...)
no comments

The Jets new No. 6 will have to atone for this No. 6's misdeed (and many others).

Last year was fun. The Jets shadily snuck into the playoffs, beat two teams they matched up well against, and then bowed out to arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. There was no shame in losing to the Colts. It was a magical run that got you amped up for the 2010 season. Next year was The Year.

Well, the first part of The Year has come to an end. It was a success, in a matter of speaking. Had you told on me on the morning of Sept. 13 that the Jets would go 11-5 and play a team with an inferior record in the first round I would have signed on the dotted line (I predicted 11-5 with SB win over Nawlins. I'll stand by it.).

But thanks to Kerry Collins butterfingers the Jets are playing no ordinary 10-6 team. They're playing Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. And if they win, guess what? They get the Tom Brady and the 14-2 Patriots. And if they somehow defeat the two best quarterbacks ever (no exaggeration), both on the road, they can travel to Pittsburgh and beat Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers for the second time in two months.

That's right, barring a second-round Baltimore/Kansas City upset victory over Pittsburgh, the Jets will have to beat the last three teams to escort them out of the playoff dance: Colts ('09), Patriots ('06), Steelers ('04). By doing so the Jets will defeat the three most successful quarterbacks of the past decade, as one has played in every Super Bowl since 2003. Oh, and then (in this scribe's opinion) they'll have to beat that Brees guy who won the Super Bowl last season. That shouldn't be a problem.

It's an unenviable task, but one that must be completed in order to reverse decades of failure. The '94 Rangers had to go through the Islanders and Devils to win the Stanley Cup, the '04 Red Sox had to conquer the indomitable Yankees and Mad Dashing, Impossible Dream-killing Cardinals in the World Series, and shit, even the '06 Colts had to come back from a 21-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. When you wait as long as the Jets have to win the NFL's season finale, you're bound to have to climb a skyscraping mountain.

Unfortunately for the Jets, that mountain has the Mount Rushmore of Quarterbacks carved into it.

Would you expect it any other way?

***

A Regular Season In Review

Let's take this game-by-game, as the NFL's seventeen week schedule is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Week One: Ravens 10, Jets 9

The new stadium blows. Sanchez is Browning Nagle 2.0. I hate lightning delays. The season is over.

Week Two: Jets 28, Patriots 14.

Super Bowl. It's ours. Moss is a slouch. Who needs Revis? We've got Nick Folk and Jason Taylor!

Week Three: Jets 31, Dolphins 23

Teach me how to Dougie, Braylon! Drink up, big fella! I love Hispanic Night! Viva Los Jets!

Week Four: Jets 38, Bills 14

LT is back! MVP! Trade Greene! Keller is going to catch 54 touchdowns! We don't need Santonio!

Week Five: Jets 29, Vikings 20

Moss is still a slouch. Favre still a cockmuncher. Nick Folk is a Golden God! Lightning storms are the best!

Week Six: Jets 24, Broncos 20

Man, the Broncos are good! We got lucky! I've always loved NFL refs!

Bye Week

Rex films wife's feet. Invites random dude to join, adding Another Guy Doing Stuff With My Wife As I Watch angle.

Week Eight: Packers 9, Jets 0

Bench Sanchez. Cotchery's hands stink. Steve Weathford is a moron. Rex crapped the bed with challenges.

Week Nine: Jets 23, Lions 20 (OT)

'Tone Time is born. Let's spark up! Vernon Gholston gets the start. Does not finish first drive.

Week Ten: Jets 26, Browns 20 (OT)

'Tone Time, Part II. Signs of a Special Season everywhere. Buddy gets the Jets a win. Unilaterally labels it a classic.

Week Eleven: Jets 30, Texans 27

'Tone Time, Part III. A terribly traumitizing, exciting, fun win. Sanchez is the Mexican Joe Montana.

Week Twelve: Jets 26, Bengals 10

The Jets find ways to win. Brad Smith runs shoeless for a touchdown; Rex has to change underwear after play.

Week Thirteen: Patriots 45, Jets 3

It's over. Fire the coach. Release the quarterback. Clean House. Play for a better draft position.

Week Fourteen: Dolphins 10, Jets 6

The Jets ahr classless! Did youah see Alosi? Atrocious! Rex Ryan is lawst! He's a duhfensive cawdinatuh! ATROCIOUS!

Week Fifteen: Jets 22, Steelers 17

Where'd I put the keys to the bandwagon? Everybody back on! Strap in tight! This team wins games in crunch time!

Week Sixteen: Bears 38, Jets 34

Lead actor in Beautiful Mind: Brian Schottenheimer > Russell Crowe. Lose and we're in! I hate fake punts. I love Graham Gano.

Week Seventeen: Jets 38, Bills 7

Joe McKnight, meet Jim Brown. Mark Brunell, meet George Blanda. Let's take this team to Indy! We'll see y'all in Dallas! no comments

Buffalo Bills Killer!

It is the story of the 2010 New York Jets. They do something brilliant; then something else that makes absolutely no frickin' sense.

See Joe McKnight stats for today: 32 (just 3 short of the Rex Sanchez presription) carries for 158 yards. Smart!

Rex and Co. were right in sitting the guys they did, in sitting Tomlinson AND Shonn Greene, the latter being of paramount importance now that the Jets are headed back to Indianapolis. The Colts defense is fast, so Greene will have to be at his grinding best, pending Schotty's permission.
no comments

You may be surprised by who has the softer hands...

Welcome to pro football purgatory. The Jets have about 10 days now until stepping onto the field at Arrowhead (or maybe Indy) for the beginning of what we can hope, but hardly expect, to be a lengthy playoff run. This season has been a study in inconsistent returns. With the exception of Week 2, home to the Pats, I can’t say they’ve played a complete game yet. Even that day began with some shaky pass defense and the sight of a hobble Darrelle Revis signing off for the day after straining both hamstring and ego on what would turn out to be Randy Moss’ final (and maybe most spectacular?) TD catch for New England.

And so we wait. Purgatory is the place in between. The Jets are sinners, for sure, but whether or it’s heaven or hell to come, only time and preparation will tell.

***

A reminder: Rex Ryan has a peculiar hitch in his speech, a sort of verbal trope the listener might only notice after a year or so of press conferences. It goes like this: When you would say, "I didn't know," Rex says, "I never knew." When you'd say, "I did not anticipate that happening," Rex would say, "I never anticipated that happening." Basically, the guy always says "never!" He never says "not!"

Here are five things I never knew about the 2010 New York Jets:

1) It’s not about Mark Sanchez.

“We’ll go as far as the quarterback takes us.”

“This is a now team with a tomorrow quarterback.”

Two of the positively thousands of comments all driving at the same point: That Sanchez’s play will be the sole arbiter of the 2010 Jets’ fate. It’s not entirely off the mark; every quarterback carries the season on his shoulders on some basic level. You could say the same for Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, etc. Sanchez is not in their class, but he’s also no longer the Jets’ biggest problem. He might even be one of their most reliable strengths.

In the two biggest games of the second half of the season, Sanchez—in da elements of Chicago and Pittsburgh, where da elements are rough—has completed 43 of 66 passes (65.2%) with just a single, garbage time pick. (Cimini from ESPNNY was his usually overwrought, cranky self, calling that interception, the one in the dying moments at Soldier Field, a “terrible decision.” The game was lost by then, and had Chris Harris been a half second later, Santonio Holmes would still be running with the ball.)

Just like last season—trends are important this time of year, just ask Tom Coughlin—Sanchez is peaking at the right time. Where the New Meadowlands and its wind and the pressure seem to fluster the guy, he seems doubly focused on the road, in the cold. He’s been compact, clever (he threw the ball out of bounds when outside the tackle pocket this week!), and, most impressively as it’s been his bête noire for almost two years, throwing the short pass with a dollop of… touch.

2) The coaches and GM are swept up in the Sound and Fury of LaDainian Tomlinson.

What’s doubly frustrating is that the guy can still play. He just needs to do that playing in the right situations. Like 3^rd and long. Shonn Greene is the closer, not LT. That the former didn’t make it onto the field for a meaningful play after a series of gorgeous, grinding runs during the drive that’d tie the game at 31 last week was shocking. A Beautiful Mind, indeed.

And here’s an account from inside the locker room after the game. I think it speaks to the hierarchy of the team and LT’s mesmerizing effect:

Tomlinson had been around the corner in the coaches locker room watching overtime of the Redskins-Jaguars game. A Jaguars loss would hand the Jets a freebie playoff berth, regardless of the bad result here.

Washington kicker Graham Gano was lining up for a 30-yard game-winning field goal. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum had his hands on Tomlinson's shoulders and said, "Come on Graham, buddy."

Tomlinson turned to Tannenbaum and said, "Oh, you know him?"

"I said, no, but right now he's my best friend," Tannenbaum said later.

Gano's field goal was true, giving the Redskins a 20-17 win over the Jaguars, and the Jets were in the playoffs for the second consecutive year under Rex Ryan…

Tomlinson is an all-time great. A sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Rex and Tannenbaum might be his bosses today, but everyone knows their place in the grand scheme of things. And that’s a dangerous thing in an active clubhouse. To my point, would Shonn Greene have ever planted himself in the coaches’ room to watch the end of the Skins-Jags game? I’d doubt it. I don’t doubt that everyone from Rex to Schottenheimer are in awe of Tomlinson and thus, we have “LT behind Slauson on first down. Gain of one. Second and nine.”

3) The defense is getting worse: They are not who we thought, who we were told over and again, they were.

It’s simple, really. With absolutely no pass rush from the front seven and a decoded set of blitz schemes, the secondary, in Rex’s beloved Cover Zero, cannot cope with even an average receiving corps… like say, the Bears’ group. Jay Cutler threw three touchdowns in the third quarter last week, all from at least 25 yards out, all with the Jets in single coverage (no safety help on two of them, a cb-turned-safety alone on another), and all with the player in coverage with his back to the ball.

Ryan and Pettine need to stop coaching the team they want, and start tailoring their defense to the players they have. A good start would be to give up on Cover Zero as a pseudo-base defense. Even a single deep safety would force the opposing QB to spend an extra click thinking before throwing. Oh, and having eleven guys on the field would also be nice.

4) Nick Mangold is easily startled.

As you dedicated RS supporters already know, Buddy and I had a run-in with the big fella at Smith and Wollensky’s Steak House on Saturday night. Mangold was in sweats, talking to a teammate at the bar (no one was drinking as far as we could see), when he made for the door. Buddy and I sprung to block his exit offering our best wishes and a handshake. We delivered and Mangold returned the favor, but not without a look of abject terror on his hairy mug. In his defense, it probably felt like he was being chop-blocked, as the two short Jewboys came darting in at his knees.

Addendum: We also saw the Mangold family waiting for a cab(?) outside of the Jets’ hotel, which was right across the street from our own, creepily vacant, but uber posh Renaissance Blackstone digs. Suffice it to say, the football playing sister, now a few years out of high school, has not come down off her playing weight. Still has the stare, too. Would NOT want to line up against any of the Ladies Mangold.

5) Wayne Hunter IS the best backup tackle in the NFL.

The Rex Sanchez team owes two big men an apology. After Damien Woody was injured against the Texans we mocked Rex Ryan for calling Wayne Hunter the best understudy in the game. The quote came just minutes after a game that saw Hunter run over by Houston’s gawd-awful D-line (Mario Williams was matched up with Brick). Since then, with the exception of some trouble with Cameron Wake, who to be fair actually has 10-foot long arms, Hunter has been a revelation. In fact, he’s proven himself to be The Best Backup Tackle in Pro Football. Congrats.

***

Meaningless as it may be, we do have some hopes for this Sunday’s game at the NMS against the Bills. In no particular order: No more than a quarter of Sanchez; Not a single touch for LT or Shonn Greene (LT can stay in to block, but that’s it!); so at least 35 carries for Joe McKnight; lots of Cover-2 and zone defense. No use in showing off any blitz scheme and the secondary needs all the work in “communicating” they can get.

Predo: Jets 24- Bills 21

no comments

The look of a father whose son failed to establish the run game with LT.

I had a "Beautiful Mind" article prepared for last week but elected not to post it. I decided to bitch and moan about the offensive coordinator after a win in Pittsburgh would be downright morose.

But this week I have no reservations. I traveled a total of 17 hours to see Brian Schottenheimer throw away a game the Jets had won. Yes, the day ended up a success as the Jets made the playoffs, but Schotty robbed all those die-hards in attendance of a win that may have even trumped the glory of Cleveland.

And for that, we must reveal his internal and external dialogue from Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

It's not for the faint of heart. He truly is...BRILLIANT. Just ask Randy Lange. A Jets-paid blogger who makes Cerrone look like a Mets muckraker. "Randy's Radar" wrote this about Sunday's game...

With offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer calling another brilliant game as the Bears were constantly on their heels, the Jets were balanced with 124 yards rushing and a well-protected Sanchez completed balls to seven different pass catchers with Keller (7-79), Braylon Edwards (6-78) and Holmes (4-69) leading the way.

Poor, Randy. He's seen the beauty and he can't look away. We really do pity him.

1st Quarter

OK, folks. It's late December. It's snowing. The opposing defense is worn out from a long season. I think it's finally time we unleash Shonn!

1st and 10, ball on NYJ 27

Ahhh to hell with that! Give me LT behind Slauson on the game's first play! I love this sh*t!

Result: -3 yards; holding on Slauson

Wait, Slauson got a holding penalty on a play that resulted in a three yard loss?! Is that even possible?! This may be my greatest feat yet!

2nd and 8, ball on NYJ 29

Hmm Mark completed a pass but we MUST get LT going. Do it again! Tomlinson behind Slauson. All day!

Result: +1 yard, LT fumbles, Jets recover

Hey! It's an improvement! I'll take it! Win or lose, we've got to establish LT in the run game! Why else are we here??

2nd Quarter

3rd and 6, ball on NYJ 48

We need to get to their 46-yard line here. How do you do this we ask? Let's throw a screen pass to our slowest wide receiver with the Bears corners playing a yard off the line of scrimmage!

Result: Incomplete to Cotchery; Punt

Last Drive Before Halftime

Wow. We really moved the ball quickly. Yeah Dustin dropped the touchdown pass but Shonn accounted for 34 of our 59 yards on that drive. We really had something going there. I'll be sure to factor that into our second half gameplan.

3rd Quarter

2nd and 3, ball on NYJ 40

Let's see. We got seven yards on first down but even though Shonn has ran well and Mark has completed 14 of 16 passes we still haven't got LT going! We're nothing without him! Let's change it up. Tomlinson behind Hunter! That should do it.

Result: No gain.

I liked the way he tip-toed at the line there. He must still be warming up.

4th and 3, ball on NYJ 40

I can't believe Rex is letting me call this fake punt! Even Marty would have vetoed this! Hopefully he doesn't notice I still have Mark in the game. The Bears won't think anything of the fact I have my franchise quarterback lined up as a blocker with a wide receiver lined up just to the right of him. Who would ever realize this is a fake?!

Result: Incomplete

I knew we should have gone with the direct snap to LT. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Don't overthink these things, self! Trust your beautifulness!

4th Quarter

1st and 10, ball on NYJ 36

Mark is probably having the best game of his career. He's been on target with 25 of his 26 throws. I want to go deep here. But look at poor little Brad Smith on the sideline. He looks so cute with his little headwarmer and big coat!

Hey Mark! Get off the field!

Brad you're in! I want you to throw deep to Braylon!

(Smith says, "After I fake the option, right?")

No you fool! Just throw it deep! I know you want to! Just do it!

(Smith curiously nods head)

Result: Incomplete

Hey, we gotta keep 'em honest! I'm getting ready to throw LT back in the game. We must get him established!!! Established!!!!!!!!

2nd and 4, ball on NYJ 46 (4:32 left to play)

Man, Gould just missed the field goal and we got six yards on first down. The crowd and defense can sense we're about to win this game.

I know it's late, but we MUST establish the ground game with Tomlinson! LT behind Hunter! Break!

Result: -1 yard; Jets punt two plays later

Even if we win this game, it's a loss in my mind. We failed to establish the run game with Tomlinson. I don't care we scored 34 points! LT rushed for 28 yards on 13 carries. He was never established!

Final Score: Bears 38, Jets 34

(Ring, ring)

Marty: Who is this?

Brian: I know, dad. I screwed up. We scored 34 but we never established LT! I'm a failure!

Marty: Oh, it's you. We've had no power the whole day. I didn't see the game and the caller ID was broken. What's this you say about not establishing the run game with LT?!?!

Brian: I, I, I was kidding, pa! We established ole LaDainian real good! Nice and early we got him going! We only scored three points but we got LT over the 100-yard mark in the first quarter!

Marty: Ahhh that's my boy! I knew you had it in you! After you actually called a halfway-OK game last week in Pittsburgh I knew you'd come back fighting today!

Brian: Boy oh boy, dad! I'm so happy you approve! I only wish you could have seen the way the Bears had 11 men in the box! I was persistent though! I knew if we failed to establish the run game you'd be heartbroken!

Marty: What about that Greene kid? You didn't establish him, did you?!

Brian: Of course not! He didn't see the field until the fourth quarter when the game was well out of reach. And guess what?! I let Brad throw it deep!

Marty: Tell me it was out of the shotgun!

Brian: It was, dad, it really was!

Marty: Oh, Brian. My sweet boy. This is the happiest day of my life! I can't wait to see the highlights. I'm turning on the TV now!

Brian: (Muffling noise)

Marty: Son?

Brian: (Sobbing uncontrollably)

Marty: Son, what's wrong?? (Looks at TV). Ohmigod! Ohmiiiiiiigod! Ohmiiiiigoddddddddddddd!

Brian: I'm sorry!

Marty: Never call this house again! Ever! no comments

Great slogan. Overwhelmingly honest. Don't even waste your time driving! Just fly!

Team Rex Sanchez just got home from Chicago. A 854-mile, 14+ hour drive that left me despising the Jets. Not because they lost, but rather that they had a chartered flight home tonight and didn't offer us a seat. How dare they! Every Jets fan who went to that bull shit game should have been flown home by the team! I don't care if that makes no sense! I just drove 1/3 of the way across America! I'm like an eight-months pregnant woman! I can say and demand and anything I want right now!

Before I start writing things that will get the blog shutdown, here's a simple post. With the Jets locked into second place in the AFC East, we can fairly accurately list the Jets 2011 opponents. The only variables will be the second place teams from the AFC South and North; they're in italics.

(Update 1/2: This is now the official schedule.)

Home               Away

Patriots             Patriots
Bills                   Bills
Dolphins           Dolphins
Chiefs               Raiders        
Chargers           Broncos
Giants               Eagles
Cowboys           Redskins
Jaguars             Ravens no comments

He was feeling extra beautiful today...

That's the way it had to be. After their head coach and offensive coordinator joined forces to destroy what looked like an easy win, the Jets backed their way into the playoffs, earning a second consecutive postseason berth.

It was a surreal sight, really. As team Rex Sanchez exited Soldier Field to creative chants of "The Jets Suck!" and "The Jets F***ing Suck!" a huge cheer erupted from the folks in green. We had all found out simultaneously that the Redskins had defeated the Jaguars in overtime, thereby making it a successful Sunday in Chicago. The look of confusion and frustration on the faces of Bears fans was great. Here they were taunting a group of lifelong losers who will be stuck in their frigid city until some time next week and we're high-fiving and chanting "J-E-T-S!" It made losing feeling in my feet worth it. (No, really, I had no feeling in my feet. I forgot the toe warmers at home.)

The Jets had so many chances to win this game. In fact, they had it won but could not stomp on the Bears throat when they were down. Leading 21-10 late in the second quarter, the Jets needed to hold the Bears defense for one drive before halftime. They did not. Dustin Keller needed to hold on to a touchdown before halftime. He did not. The Jets special teams needed not to kick the ball to Devin Hester (ever!)...They did.

The play that cost the Jets an eleventh win though was the fake punt.

It was arguably the dumbest playcall in Rex Ryan's coaching career and eerily reminiscent of Eric Mangini's onside kick versus the Bears in '06. Faced with a fourth-and-3 at their own 40-yard line, up 24-17 early in the third quarter, Rex decided to give the Bears undeserved momentum and called for a fake punt. That's dumb in itself. But to have Sanchez on the field lined up behind the long snapper made it the worst fake punt call in NFL history. Why else would he be out there?! Did Rex really expect the Bears to think he was a blocker?! This criticism could all be a moot point, though, because as we know....REX RYAN IS A DUH-FENSIVAH CAWD-NATUH! HE'S ATROCIOUS!

Then there was the Beautiful Mind of Brian Schottenheimer. It was extra beautiful today. I can't wait to hear what he has to say later in the week. Having Brad Smith throw a 50-yard bomb without faking a run on a play was inexplicable. Running LT (13 car. 28 yds) endlessly on Shonn Greene's (12 car. 70 yds, TD) best day of the season was even more mind-boggling. That's just scratching the surface though. When will they finally give up on having LT as the feature back? Greene is fresh. The regular season is over. What are they saving him for??

Perhaps the most troubling part of the loss was the play of the secondary. It's at the point where if your name is not Darrelle Revis you cannot cover a wide receiver. Cromartie played OK, but like last year, the Jets No. 3, 4, and 5 cornerbacks are inept. Rex is a front-seven coach (a crappy one at that) and the secondary suffers because of it. Had the Patriots drafted Kyle Wilson over Devin McCourty he too would be a candidate for defensive Rookie of the Year. Belichick can take four pieces of poop and mold them into a Michelangelo. Rex is given a piece of gold, silver and two pieces of poop and he can't do crap with it. Shit, man.

But hey, the Jets are going to the playoffs! They are four wins away from football immortality. They are a road team (despite today's loss) and they essentially have a Bye next week before they (likely) head to Kansas City where Thomas Jones will be waiting with a pair of fully loaded guns attached to his shoulders.

Nothing about this season has been easy. Last week wasn't easy, today wasn't easy, and the playoffs sure as hell won't be easy. But as long as the Jets reach their intended destination....who cares, right?

Four more wins...

Four more wins.
no comments

no comments

Whutup, RexSanchez!?! Fist time, long time!

I have a serious problem.

Come Week 16, whatever's going on that season (usually packing it in), I inevitably start to analyze what the team will look like come training camp in August. In fact, this is really the first time since 1998 that the Jets look like a near lock to make the playoffs with two games to play. But, again, old habits die hard and this only makes me more nervous because we all know of what the Jets are capable... or incapable.

With that, I give you a break-down of what our beloved gang of green could look like in training camp.

Coaches:

Rex will most certainly be back, as will our mainstay special teams coach Mike Westhoff. The shifty offensive coordinator, Schotty Jr., however, is on thin ice.  Depending on how the offense performs in January, Schottenheimer may find himself lining up for some of those renewed Obama unemployment benefits.  Or, if he concocts a string of masterful game plans, he could he be in line for a head coaching job (Dolphins? 49ers? Vikings?)

Expect fall guy Sal Alosi to be terminated shortly along with a duffel bag full of cash.

Potential 2011 Offensive Coordinator:

Josh McDaniels, Jason Garrett, Brad Childress

Running Backs:

LT looked rejuvenated to start the season, but has slowed down considerably (although his performance against the Steelers last week was admirable). Shonn Greene has failed to impress this season. Can the blame be placed on their shoulders or does it belong on those of the offensive line and the man calling the plays? I'm inclined to say its the latter two. LT and Greene will both be back. Joe McKnight has shown absolutely nothing this season other than being quick and aggressive to get at the punt returner on special teams.

Potential 2011 Running Back Additions:

Leon Washington, Le'Ron Mclain, Brian Leonard

 

Offensive Line

The once vaunted Jets offensive line, led by LG Alan Faneca, is quickly becoming a distant memory. Fanexa was replaced by Matt "Swiss Cheese" Slauson and that ugly guy from Hard Knocks.  Combined with injuries to David Woody at RT and Wayne Hunter proving why his Wikipedia page says "No notable achievements" under career highlights and awards (it's true). While Brick, Mangold, and Moore are mainstays there are serious chinks in our first line of defense, err offense.

Potential 2011 OL Additions:

 

Alan Faneca, Daryn Colledge, Logan Mankins, Willie Colon, Jared Gaither

Defensive Analysis to Come...

George: I dress by mood. Jerry: And what mood is this? George: This is Morning Mist.

No. This is not in response to Rex's foot fetish revelation. The only good to come out of that have been all the foot puns and jokes! My favorite so far is that Rex has a poster in his office of Shoeless Joe Jackson. (Honorable Mention: Rex's all-time favorite NHL coach is Toe Blake.) Instead, this is our second annual edition of the Many Moods of Rex Ryan.

Like all people in your life, the more time you spend with them the more you learn about them. You learn what makes them laugh, what makes them want to open fire on you, and what makes them want to hide their tail between their legs. Last year we only knew how Rex reacted to winning and losing. This year we know so much more.

Rex is a powder keg. Every time he speaks your ears perk up in anticipation of what he is going to say. For example, today, after addressing the foot fetish story by stating it was a "personal matter," Rex announced Santonio Holmes was probable for Sunday with a turf toe. Hmm, probable with turf toe...did he really need to announce that? Was he subtely poking fun at himself? Who knows. And that's what makes Rex great: Who Knows!

What we do know is that Rex is never one to hold anything back. No matter what he says, his words always sweep you off your feet.

(D'oh!)

The Many Moods of Rex Ryan...

Confidently Defensive

Symptoms: Usually after a win. Media and fans doubt him and team week leading up to game. Voice deepens. Hand gesticulations made.

Example: Last week after the win in Pittsburgh. This was a prime illustration of "Confidently Defensive." From the moment Rex came to the podium he was pissed off and wanted everyone to know how great his team was. He even had the prepared one-liner of, "Same Old Jets...go into Pittsburgh and get the win. I'll open it up to questions." Translation: "Shut the f*** up with that stupid motherf***ing phrase! I'll kill all of you! We won the f***ing game! Suck it! And now because I have to, I'll give you permission to ask me f***ing questions!"

Gregarious and Creative

Symptoms: Comes following a win or at the beginning of training camp. Props are used. Toothy smile displayed.

Example: Rex wearing a wig to look like his brother before Cleveland game. Had the Jets lost back-to-back games to Green Bay and Detroit, Rex would not have done it. The comeback win restored some of his street cred so he felt he could screw around with the media. The whole time, if you noticed, Rex's mouth was dangerously open. Seriously, go back in look. It's a little creepy. The other obvious example came before the New England game when Rex described his wife as a supermodel, comparing himself to Tom Brady...I don't know what joke to use here. I hate when this happens.

The "Never" Trope

Symptoms: As we have chronicled in the "Things We Never Knew About the 2010 Jets," Rex never says, "not," only "never."

Example: After the Baltimore game Rex was visibly ashamed that he lost to his former team on the opening night of the new stadium. "That was the most disappointing thing to me. You can overcome a loss, but that was just a special night and it never turned out that way." Huh? He meant it "did not" turn out that way. In other instances though, Rex uses it to cover his bases. By saying he never considered using his two timeouts before halftime when the team was running a two-minute drill, he is stating that it wasn't like he decided against using the timeouts, he simply NEVER considered it.

Finger-pointingly Embarrassed

Symptoms: Labels scapegoats. Admits feeling shame. Does not vow change, only hopes for it.

Example: Losing to Miami 10-6 in Week Fourteen. After handling the loss to New England surprisingly well, Rex held nothing back in blaming people for the Dolphins defeat. He claimed he was going to bench Sanchez, made subtle jabs at the punter, and even said the defense's effort was not satisfactory. This is Rex's most childish mood. He makes empty threats towards each player's job security and absolves himself any blame for the loss.

Balls Out

Symptoms: Not directly in front of cameras. Filled with profanity, outrageous actions, and porno narrator voices.

Example: There are too many. This is why we love Rex. The obvious examples are him burying the football after New England loss, him cursing at the Colts fans as he runs out the tunnel for the AFC Championship Game, and of course him playing the role of tough enforcer telling innocent, small woman that she is behaving inappropriately but quickly changes his mind and indulges in her misdeeds. In less perverted settings, we saw this after he cried following his first career win, declaring the Jets eliminated from postseason play after the Falcons loss, and his craving of a goddamn snack. This is the mood that forces you to turn on SNY after every Jets game, win or lose, to hear what Rex has to say.

***

The one mood we're all aching to see is the post-Super Bowl victory mood. I'm cautiously optimistic that all five of these moods will manifest themselves into one super mood. Here's how I see it unfolding.

Rex tip-toes barefoot to the podium. He begins sobbing and cursing at reporters for ever doubting him. He kicks over the podium and breaks a toe nail. Then blames Weatherford for teaching him poor punting technique. Takes the Vince Lombardi Trophy and starts using it as a weapon before a wave of calmness and ecstacy overcomes him. He picks up the podium and starts delivering killer one-line jokes and starts doing his version of The Dougey with Braylon dancing alongside him. And then finally, he eats Woody Johnson. no comments