Nfl 2010

[MAXIFUNK]

Well, as a lifelong Jets' fan I can admit it, they were absolutely awful last night. Yes, the Patriots are playing exceptionally well right now, and yes, Tom Brady is the best QB in the game, but that doesn't account for being absolutely shellacked on both sides of the ball in that game.

I have nothing to say about the offense other than to note that last night's game illustrated some things I've been saying all along this season. While the talking heads spent weeks heaping praise on Mark Sanchez for making some key plays on comeback drives in the last two minutes of recent games I continued to evaluate honestly and saw the same deficincies in Sanchez he showed last year. Last night it was evident.

Regardless, I knew all along the offense was mediocre at best and nothing they do, or more accurately, don't do, surprises me anymore.

My real concern is the defense.

Sure Jim Leonhard was the leader of the defense and an extremely key piece of the puzzle on the field and his absence hurts, but I don't think Leonhard's injury accounts for 45 points.

Quite frankly, the majority of the blame for last night's loss should be on the shoulders of Rex Ryan for his defensive scheming. The coverage calls were just inexcusable.

How many times can Welker burn Drew Coleman before you put Revis on him?

How many times can you see the "off coverages" not working before you go back to what the Jets do well?

The offense failed because of poor execution. The defense failed because the schemes were inappropriate.

Done ranting for now, but as much as I love the Jets, they showed last night that while they are still very much a playoff team, they are not by any stretch of the imagination, a championship team.

I would not worry about one butt whopping as a JETS FANS but if my STEELERS BEAT them in 2 weeks then playing on the road for the playoffs may be an issue for this team.

 

[kidsmoke]

Jets
Steelers
Patriots....

All we need is a died in the wool Colts fan and this place could be real interesting come January. :thumbsup

 

[R_of_G]

I would not worry about one butt whopping as a JETS FANS but if my STEELERS BEAT them in 2 weeks then playing on the road for the playoffs may be an issue for this team.

I'm not putting too much stock in it as it's only one loss as I would try not to be too excited about any single victory, but I am still a bit concerned that it was the defense that showed such utter ineptitude last night.

I'm used to the offense looking pitiful. I'm not used to the defense looking even worse. In the other two losses we'd only given up 19 points combined.

That matchup in a few weeks with the Steelers should be interesting. Hopefully the Jets come to play that night.

 

[MAXIFUNK]

I'm not putting too much stock in it as it's only one loss as I would try not to be too excited about any single victory, but I am still a bit concerned that it was the defense that showed such utter ineptitude last night.

I'm used to the offense looking pitiful. I'm not used to the defense looking even worse. In the other two losses we'd only given up 19 points combined.

That match up in a few weeks with the Steelers should be interesting. Hopefully the Jets come to play that night.

Honestly STEELERS fan or not I think next year with Sanchez another year wiser and everyone in camp on time and playing a full season barring injury is more realistic for the JETS. Considering they have a 2nd year quarterback.
If they pull it off this year they would be way ahead of schedule.
Rex Ryan learned a good lesson last night you coach the game not the ego.
That Field goal try was a big mistake one he won't do again. But to go from 9-7 to 12-4 or 11-5 is going in the right direction for sure. The Jets are learning to play with a target on their backs the PATS, COLTS,, AND STEELERS are used to it there is nothing like experience when it comes to the NFL. An thats exactly what they'll have after this season.

As far as the STEELERS goes I'll take it how ever it comes the offense line is so banged up Big Ben's foot and now his nose. They have been playing very inconsistent the last few weeks. The next 3 games are at home honestly I think they play better on the road. I just want them to win the division that would be a major accomplishment considering Big Ben missed 4 games, both starting Defensive ends have spent major chunks of the season injured. The offensive Line lost a starter in training camp and 5 more injuries and now the right tackle, and some crazy fines later and they are still in the hunt. What more can you ask for as a fan. Besides 2 super bowl wins in 5 years makes it easier to be cool with it all. LOL

 

[R_of_G]

Honestly STEELERS fan or not I think next year with Sanchez another year wiser and everyone in camp on time and playing a full season barring injury is more realistic for the JETS. Considering they have a 2nd year quarterback.

You make a good point, though my biggest concern is that labor issues will prevent there from being a 2011 season at all and then I don't know what to think of the 2012 Jets because I won't know what that will look like given the age of some players and the contracts of others.

As for Sanchez, I'm still not sold on the guy. I want to believe in him, and I expect a young QB to make mistakes, but I find it hard to accept that he's making the same mistakes he made last year as often as he is. The INT numbers from the beginning of the season were deceptively low. He made just as many poor decisions, he just got lucky in that DBs were dropping potential INTs.

That said, I still put the majority of the blame for the offensive ineptitude on OC Brian Schottenheimer. If he could consistently call the right plays at the right time, Sanchez wouldn't be in some of the situations he's in where he feels he has to make a big play. My biggest hope for the Jets' future is that Schottenheimer takes one of the many head coaching jobs that will be available after this season. His name comes up as a candidate a lot and I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later.

Still, back to back playoff seasons is nothing to scoff at a Jets' fan. All I wanted from the hiring of Rex Ryan was for the Jets to be a team that made the playoffs and thus had a chance to contend for a title every year. So far, he's delivering. Like the old NY state lottery ads said, "You gotta be in it to win it."

 

[Eric]

That said, I still put the majority of the blame for the offensive ineptitude on OC Brian Schottenheimer. If he could consistently call the right plays at the right time, Sanchez wouldn't be in some of the situations he's in where he feels he has to make a big play. My biggest hope for the Jets' future is that Schottenheimer takes one of the many head coaching jobs that will be available after this season. His name comes up as a candidate a lot and I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later.

Wouldn't it be funny if Brian Schottenheimer ended up being a really great head coach? I feel like there's often a disconnect between coordinators and head coaches, where people will either be excellent DCs or OCs and completely inept as head coaches, or they will be mediocre as a coordinator but good to great head coaches.

The best example I can think off the top of my head is Dick Jauron. He was an amazingly awful defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, but was a decent head coach in Chicago during the Jim Miller era. By contrast, Dom Capers is a great defensive coordinator, but just can't put it together as a head coach.

I actually think you could probably put Mike Tomlin in the average-coordinator-but-good-head-coach category.

Just some thoughts...

 

[R_of_G]

Wouldn't it be funny if Brian Schottenheimer ended up being a really great head coach? I feel like there's often a disconnect between coordinators and head coaches, where people will either be excellent DCs or OCs and completely inept as head coaches, or they will be mediocre as a coordinator but good to great head coaches.

I could see it happening. He can certainly benefit from the experience of his father who was a tremendous head coach. So long as he's not calling plays for the Jets, I wish him all the luck in the world.

I tend to agree with you that good coordinators do not always make the best candidates for head coaching positions. There are obvious exceptions, but when head coaching jobs open up, I tend to favor guys that are head coaches at the college level or who have had previous head coaching experience.

Obviously there are differences between the college game and the NFL, but in general, I think the transition from college head coach to pro head coach is easier than from coordinator to head coach.

 

[Jipes]

Well just a small note Go Saints Go :thumbsup I hope they make a great game against the tough team of the Steelers :dude

 

[R_of_G]

In the many years of disapointment that come with being a lifelong Jets' fan, I can't remember a lower moment than right now.

Getting shellacked by the Patriots is one thing as they're our big rival and such, but they are clearly a superior team and played better in all aspects of the game. I cannot say the same for what happened today against the Dolphins.

The Jets held Chad Henne to 5 completed passes for 55 yards and we still managed to lose the game. For those of you keeping score at home, this marks the third time this season the Jets have held an opponent to 10 points or less and still lost the game. That isn't acceptable even one time, but especially not three times in one season.

There's a ton of blame to go around on the offensive side of the ball but I'm tired of pointing out Sanchez' now patently apparent flaws.

I'm through complaining about Schottenheimer's baffling playcalling.

I'm over discussing the inability of the receivers to catch the few balls Sanchez actually manages to throw to them.

Instead, I lay the blame on the ample shoulders of head coach Rex Ryan. It's his responsibility to force his coaching staff to make changes when things are not working.

He said in his post game presser that he "considered" pulling Mark Sanchez for Brunell in the 4th quarter. Considered? Good for you Rex. Now grow a set and actually do it. Where's the harm in putting in the backup for a quarter when you're only down by one TD and the defense has forced 5 consecutive "3 and outs" from the opponent? The only "harm" would be to Sanchez' confidence and quite frankly, should he be confident in the way he's been playing? I'm not saying bench him for good, though I'd support that at this point as well, but something needed to be done to jumpstart this offense and Rex wasn't man enough to do it.

It seems to me he just wants to come up with defensive schemes and give press conferences and not do the heavy lifting of head coaching. I admit, he was the coach I wanted them to get and I was elated when they got hi,m. I can admit when I'm wrong and I now believe I may very well have been wrong. He's terrible at clock management. He's terrible with the replay challenges. It now appears his terrible about making tough decisions and changing things when they're going wrong. I'm not saying they should fire him. That would only set us back further. But, if Mike Tannenbaum is half the GM the press makes him out to be, Rex needs to be held accountable for the failures of this team.

It's a terrible shame that a defense that played its heart out after being humiliated the previous week can be hung out to dry by an offense that can't muster more than a pair of field goals.

On the bright side, the Bucs won. Yay Bucs! They now have 8 wins and thus cannot have a losing season. Not bad for having been 3-13 last year.

 

[marnold]

Well now. I give up on the Lions and then they turn around and beat the one team that can make my life much easier. I only watched about the last five minutes because I was so convinced that they were going to be creamed like so much corn.

 

[Tig]

For those of you young 'uns.....the 'Boys of the 70's and 80's....the America's Team 'Boys seemed to always get the benefit of the non-call against them....or the benefit of some ludicrous phantom call against their opponent.

Yep, the town will be in Hunter Green come Sunday.

Eagles pulled off the win over the Plowboys... Yes! :happy
The officials sure turned a blind eye toward Dallas' dirty playing.

 

[Jipes]

I watch on ESPN the Patriots vs Bears game and I was mesmerized by the amazing control that Tom Brady had of his game

I'm happy because the Saints won against our Louisiana rivals :thumbsup

 

[Eric]

I watched some of the Bucs game and was really happy to see the Redskins lose in embarrassing fashion like that. Nice ending there, as well as in the Jacksonville game.

What in the world was up with that Jets coach tripping the special-teams guy? How slimy can you get?

Also, did anyone see the video on the Metrodome collapsing? That was pretty sweet.

 

[R_of_G]

What in the world was up with that Jets coach tripping the special-teams guy? How slimy can you get?

I suppose he thought the play on the field wasn't embarassing enough to the fans, he needed to add one more thing for us to be unhappy about. Plain and simple, it was a despicable act and he should lose his job.

However, I am already sick of reading comments online from Dolphins' fans about how that act somehow reflects on Jets' fans. First of all, no, it quite clearly does not have anything to do with fans. Secondly, I have been to the home stadiums of many teams in many sports and have never met fans even close to the classlessness shown by those I encountered at a Dolphins' game (and yes, I've been to Philly for football, baseball and hockey).

 

[Beerman]

I watch on ESPN the Patriots vs Bears game and I was mesmerized by the amazing control that Tom Brady had of his game

I'm happy because the Saints won against our Louisiana rivals :thumbsup

Being a life long (local) Saints fan, I'm happy we're 10-3 and I hate to be a downer but I think we won't go too deep in the playoffs. Have you ever seen a year with so much parity? Crazy that a 6 or 7 win team will seed higher than a 10 or 13 win team. That's the way things go.

Poor Minny and their dome. Seeing those pictures was scary but amazing!

 

[R_of_G]

Being a life long (local) Saints fan, I'm happy we're 10-3 and I hate to be a downer but I think we won't go too deep in the playoffs.

I wouldn't be too sure. You never know what's going to happen once playoffs start and Brees is starting to look like Brees again. They won't win the division because Atlanta is playing so well, but I think they're as capable of winning in January as any of the other NFC teams they'd have to face.

I was actually hoping the Saints would go into a bit of a tailspin here at the end of the season and make some room for the Bucs but alas, it hasn't happened. Playoffs or not, the Bucs are significantly improved and that makes me happy.

 

[Beerman]

You are right but Brees is something to try and figure out. He's so deadly with some of his passes yet he's tied with Palmer for interceptions this year. If Favre doesn't play, Brees may have more than anyone this season. However, he does pass more than almost anyone else and it's a numbers game....the more you throw, the more INT's you get.
Josh Freeman is going to be dangerous! He's on our radar for sure. I think this division is the tightess, toughest division this season. Could be next too.

 

[Eric]

I wouldn't be too sure. You never know what's going to happen once playoffs start and Brees is starting to look like Brees again. They won't win the division because Atlanta is playing so well, but I think they're as capable of winning in January as any of the other NFC teams they'd have to face.

Yup, I agree with this. One of the interesting parts of all of this parity is that you just have no idea how things will shake out in the playoffs. The Falcons could dominate or wet the bed in a big game and open the door for other teams. It's just hard to tell, which is what makes it fun. At least it is for me if you don't have too much of a specific agenda.

The one downer for me will be if the Pats just steamroll everyone. That's the part of sports I hate the most, and other people seem to love it: completely dominant teams. When Jordan was in the NBA, I just quit watching. I mean, what's the point? I predicted the Bulls would win the title at the beginning of the season, and I was always right.

Sports are about competition, and dominant teams suck all exciting elements of competition right out of the sport and leave it as an exercise in statistics.

 

[piebaldpython]

Secondly, I have been to the home stadiums of many teams in many sports and have never met fans even close to the classlessness shown by those I encountered at a Dolphins' game (and yes, I've been to Philly for football, baseball and hockey).

Hey, Hey, Hey......you're talking about US son!! oke lol Yeah, a few of the Philly faithful have proved on more than a few occasions to be more than a tad embarrassing. :thwap

We beat the hated, molly-coddled 'Boys in the Big D and we are overjoyed. One SB down, one more to go. Maybe the Vikes can help us out and knock off the Giants????

R & G........I feel your pain over the Jets/Sanchez/Ryan. Been there, done that and yet watching the game, I winced every now and again. Kinda like the sports version of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome flashbacks.

 

[R_of_G]

Sports are about competition, and dominant teams suck all exciting elements of competition right out of the sport and leave it as an exercise in statistics.

Completely agree. I've said before that blowout games are boring and have been told that if it was my team doing the dominating I'd enjoy it, but that's not the case at all.

Sure, I'd enjoy the check in the W column, but the blowout games are not all that entertaining to watch. I'd rather see a game that's competitive until the very end than one that's decided in the opening quarter, period, or innings whether I have a horse in the race or not.

 

[kidsmoke]

Ok Gotta chime in here. Regarding the Patriots being a dominant steamroller....NOBODY would have thought that moniker possible coming out of Cleveland 4 weeks ago, or even at Halftime on Thanksgiving Day. The Patriots, like every other division leader this year (and they were not even that this time last WEEK), were a team of amazing capability who was not delivering consistently.

Then something changed. They exited the locker room in Detroit for the second half and have proceeded to put on a clinic, on BOTH sides of the ball, since that time. The terms being tossed around on TV yesterday are comical "the Bears the latest team to fed to the Patriots Meat Machine...."

So for a fan of the team, that's as good as it gets. Your team brings in rookies and free agents, picks up guys off of waivers. The system keeps them in the hunt while they fire malcontents and add gamers. Eventually, everyone buys in and loping 454 gets it's timing right and BAM, domination. This is not a team buying a championship, this is a group of individuals buying in, and executing.

NOW, having said that. I live in Chicago, and it was disappointing to have the game over before half time, although it did verify what everyone thought.....the Bears are who we thought they were.

I guess what I'm saying is the Pats have battled their way to the top this season, and as a fan, my faith is rewarded. THAT feels good.

As For Dominance, need I remind you of the Wild card Giants that held the previously unstoppable Patriots to 14 points and a loss in Superbowl XLII

 

[Eric]

I'm not saying the Pats will kill everyone, but there's always that one team in the playoffs that could make it boring for everyone else. Yankees teams in many years past come to mind. The only team really capable of bowling people over this year seems to be the Pats, so that's why I used them as an example.

That said, they do seem to be playing at a very high level right now.

 

[Beerman]

Being in the same division with Atlanta, I hate to say it but I think they go all the way as does New England. I really would like to see San Diego only because Rivers is deserving of it even if the defense has held them back for years. But,again, Atlanta is in our division so it looks good for us if they go all the way.


When was the last time a 7 win team went to the Super Bowl and won?

 

[kidsmoke]

I'm not saying the Pats will kill everyone, but there's always that one team in the playoffs that could make it boring for everyone else. Yankees teams in many years past come to mind. The only team really capable of bowling people over this year seems to be the Pats, so that's why I used them as an example.

That said, they do seem to be playing at a very high level right now.

Oh no, I get it. I just think it's funny has fast perceptions change. They weren't all that just a couple short weeks ago.

What really plays in their favor now is that it's looking like home field advantage for them throughout the playoffs. A dome team with a Manning or a Brees still scares the crap out of me, because they are still a young defense. That's part of the problem, they'll spend all January beating up on teams on icepak in 25 degree weather, and then play the championship in a dome on turf.

My daughter plays soccer on that synthetic surface, which is great stuff, then they go to a school with this stuff called grass, and it's a whole different ball game. Their passing is ineffective etc.

I know they're pros, but it has to have an impact.

 

[Eric]

I know they're pros, but it has to have an impact.

You know, to diverge for a minute or two, that's an interesting statement. I'm not picking on you, because you actually got it right IMO, but it just reminds me...

I hear all of the time that such-and-such (e.g. playing at home, being fined, etc.) shouldn't affect professional athletes, because they're professionals. That's such a silly statement to me. OK, so they're paid professionals and not volunteers -- does that mean that nothing in the world around them affects their mental state and how effective they are at their job? A coach yelling at them shouldn't affect them because they're professionals?

Anyone with a job is a professional at whatever their job is. Do any of you perform your job differently if there is someone you work closely with that you despise? How about if your boss berates you? What if your company puts some policy in place that removes empowerment from the employees? Would that affect you?

If you're normal, I'd argue that the answer is yes. Just being a professional athlete doesn't make you immune to the reality of being human. If anything, paid athletes exist in a bubble and are more susceptible to mental and emotional swings that most of us.

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programming...

TK, that's an interesting statement about not wanting to play dome teams in a dome. I've never thought about that before, but it's a good point.

 

[kidsmoke]

TK, that's an interesting statement about not wanting to play dome teams in a dome. I've never thought about that before, but it's a good point.

Well, I don't think it's a huge issue but for a handful of teams, and even then, the odds of one of them playing for all the marbles are slimmer.

Patriots
Bills
Packers
Bears
Browns
Steelers

Somewhat lesser extent

Jets
Giants
Iggles



From that list the Giants, Packers, Pats, Bills for a few years back in the day.... And of course the Steelers. They've all had success come the end of January.

 

[Eric]

I'm watching NFL Red Zone on my computer today and I just saw that Lance Moore TD off of the bobbled catch -- WOW was that an amazing catch!

 

[piebaldpython]

7:30 left in the game and the IGGLES are down by 21. FOUR TDs later and they win 38-31 over the Giants. What a punt return by DeSean Jackson. What playing by Vick. Go IGGLES!!!

 

[R_of_G]

Not the prettiest of wins for the Jets, but they needed this one badly today.

It was very kind of Brad Smith to contribute 6 points on the opening kickoff and Jason Taylor 2 more on a 4th quarter safety because the Jets need all the points we can get. Take away those two scores and the Jets don't win this game.

That said, the offense looked better. Not good by any stretch of the imagination, but better.

 

[MAXIFUNK]

Its Official There Are 2 Sets Of Rules In The Nfl One For The Rest Of League And One For The Steelers This Is Really Starting To Piss Me Off. It's Not Why They Loss (kickoff Return & Safety) But It Does Make A Difference In The Outcome. Roger Goodell Get Your Head Out Of Your.......................