Jets’ Future Bright with Rex’s Defense and Sanchez’s Potential

The Jets finished the 2009 regular season ranked number one in total defense, passing defense, points allowed and rushing offense. It didn’t translate into an 11 or 12 win season because parts of the Jets went AWOL in particular games. Their special teams took a day off in one loss to Miami and their defense was nowhere to be found in the other. Mark Sanchez threw five balls to Bills players in an overtime loss and the Jets held the Falcons to just a field goal until under two minutes left in the game and lost 10-7. The Jets lost five games by five points or less. 

A top rated defense and a top rated running game is a formula for success in the NFL. In the past, teams that have led the NFL in those two categories usually have had postseason success. The Jets were no different until they ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts Sunday in the AFC Championship. Amid all the disappointing regular season losses, the Jets still made a nice run in 2009, but it ended two wins short. What they did in the latter part of the regular season and playoffs is showing of a team that will be a contender for quite some time.

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Jets and Patriots Week 11

Bill Belichick doesn’t make many gaffes. Not many guys with three Super Bowl rings do. Belichick’s stone wall demeanor couldn’t shake off the embarrassment the football world knows he felt after Patriots didn’t convert on fourth-and-two on their own 28 yard line against the Colts last Sunday night. What will make Belichick feel better and less embarrassed? Scoring 50 on the Jets.

Gang Green limps into Foxboro at the worst time. Not only have they lost five of their last six games, but Belichick’s blunder gives New England extra motivation to beat the Jets. The Patriots and Jets never need any extra motivation when they tangle but this is different. What would the Patriots look like if after Belichick’s flub against the Colts, they lost to the reeling Jets? It could be the worst back-to-back losses in franchise history.

I’m not a betting man but the Patriots are going to cover the 10.5 point spread and Belichick is going to try to win by the spread twice over. This isn’t the same Jets team that beat the Pats in week two, nor is it the same Pats team. The Jets were riding high after an opening day win over the Texans, who were picked by many to beat the Jets and be a playoff contender. Health wasn’t a concern early in the season like it is now. Rex Ryan’s crew is playing without Pro Bowlers Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, both of whom have been out with season-ending injuries. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez isn’t the same guy either. His confidence has shrunk smaller than the Jets playoff chances. On the other hand, the Patriots didn’t have receiver Wes Welker in their week two loss to the Jets and in their week one win, they had to drive down the field late in the fourth quarter to beat the Bills. I repeat… to beat the BILLS. At least the Patriots can say they beat the Bills this season and their quarterback didn’t throw five interceptions in a disaster of a game against them. That’s something the Jets can’t say.

Even if the Jets can beat the Patriots and come to within one game of the division lead, they still have six games left and six chances for another letdown. For the second straight season the Patriots looked beatable and the division was wide open. For the second straight season the Jets will be on the outside looking in.

Jets Midseason

The Jets’ bye week is over and they turn their attention to the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) in week 10. Two mediocre teams will take the field in the Meadowlands on Sunday and the Jets really need to start pushing the envelope in the second half if they plan to make a playoff push.

The Jets (4-4) are well within striking distance of the first place Patriots (6-2) but their schedule in the second half may prohibit them from getting closer. The Jets still have road games at New England, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis. They host Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta and Cincinnati.

Rex Ryan looks much grayer since the Jets have lost four of their last five games. The outspoken team was smacked in the mouth twice by Miami in a matter of four weeks. What happened to just playing football and letting your play on the field do the talking? The Jets can talk and tweet a big game but aren’t the same team that beat the Patriots 16-9 in week two.

With two major injuries to Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, the Jets’ confidence has taken a beating and they’ll need to play really well to go 4-4 in the second half to go 8-8 on the season. That won’t be enough for a wild card spot.

Jets Lose Two Pro Bowlers in Consecutive Weeks

Another week in the books and another blow to the Jets. In consecutive weeks, the Jets have lost two Pro Bowl players for the remainder of 2009. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins went down with a torn ACL against Buffalo and running back/return man Leon Washington went down with a broken fibula against the Raiders. 

There’s nothing else the Jets can do but try to replace Jenkins and Washington as best as possible. The middle of the Jets defensive line isn’t going to be as strong without Jenkins and the Jets kick return game isn’t going to be as strong without Washington. The Jets running game should be fine since rookie Shonn Greene had a breakout game against the Raiders. It appears Danny Woodhead will see some time back at running back and add extra depth at the position. 

I expect the Jets to do the right thing with Leon Washington and give him a decent contract over the offseason. They wouldn’t budge before this season but they’ll work out a deal in the coming offseason. Washington isn’t going to get the Maurice Jones-Drew figures he covets but he’ll get a good deal.

Knowing how competitive Jenkins and Washington are, they will be ready to make an impact on the Jets in 2010.

Jets Receivers To Miss Second Straight Game

Jets wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith will miss their second straight games due to injury. The Jets remain thin at the receiver position. Cotchery is out with a hamstring and Smith is out with a quad. The Jets will rely on Braylon Edwards once again.

The Jets haven’t had luck with injuries and haven’t had Edwards and Cotchery on the field at the same time much since acquiring Edwards from the Browns a few weeks ago. Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins is out of the year with a torn ACL and the Jets have had injuries to cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland.

Jets “Group” Together Replacements for Jenkins

There is no replacing the biggest man on the Jets’ defense, Kris Jenkins. Not one man on the Jets roster can fill the shoes of the 6-4, 360 pounder who is out for the season after tearing his ACL in the Jets loss to the Bills. Jenkins made the pro bowl in 2008 while having an outstanding year in the middle of the Jets 3-4 defense.

The Jets are going to sub-in several players at nose tackle the rest of the season. Sione Pouha will lead the group of replacements along with Mike DeVito, Marques Douglas, Ropati Pitoitua, and Howard Green.

This is a group of guys that have played all over the defensive line.

“We’re going to roll that whole group. I feel confident with this group, I really do,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “Obviously, you don’t have the huge bell cow in Kris Jenkins, but we’re certainly going to be good enough with this group of guys.”

Jets Confirm Jenkins Out For Season

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has confirmed the news that Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is done for the season and has been placed on the injured reserve list. Jenkins will undergo surgery in the next couple of weeks.

This is a major blow to the Jets defense. Sione Pouha will replace Jenkins at nose tackle.

Kris Jenkins Out For Season

It has been confirmed that Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. The 6-4, 360 pounder was helped off the field in the second quarter of the Jets’ 16-13 loss to the Bills and after game reports were not optimistic. Jenkins made the pro bowl in 2008.

Jets Lose to Bills Week 6 Notes and Quotes

Bad news coming out of the Jets organization is that DT Kris Jenkins’ left knee injury is “severe” and his season may be over.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s probably severe,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “I’m not sure, though.”

Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis said, “It’s a huge blow. Guys are going to have to step up across the board and fill in his shoes, and those are big shoes to fill.”

Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw five interceptions in the game.

“I don’t know if I could play any worse,” Sanchez said. “It was totally my fault and I owe these guys a lot.” He added, “of the six games, three losses, two of them I felt like you can blame No. 6 on offense.”

Jets running back Thomas Jones, who had a career day with 210 yards rushing, said, “when you have a lot of penalties and a lot of turnovers and plays that get called back, just a lot of misfortunes in the game. You’re not going to win.”

About rushing for the Jets record Jones said, “We lost. I could’ve had 2 yards. We lost the game.”

Giants and Jets Had Some Highs and Lows in Third Preseason Game

So how did the Giants and Jets look in the 40th version of their annual preseason meeting?  Both teams are still working the kinks out but that’s what the preseason’s for.  The third preseason game is most telling of how teams will play in the regular season because the starters play well into the third quarter.  There were some good things that happened and there were some bad things that happened in the game for both teams.

The Good:

Jets:

• Mark Sanchez and the Jets receivers were clicking for most of the game.  Sanchez went 13-20 with 149 yards and one touchdown.
• The Jets defense played better against the run and forced two turnovers in the first half.  
• Leon Washington had another great preseason game with 62 yards on nine rushing attempts.  

Giants: 

• The Giants used a no-huddle offense that lead to a touchdown on the first possession of the game.  
• Rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks had six receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71 yard touchdown.
• The Giants have found a very viable backup quarterback in David Carr.

The Bad:

Jets:

• Penalties.  The Jets’ defense had five penalties, three offsides and two pass interferences, in the first quarter alone.  Even Kris Jenkins, the nose tackle, jumped offsides.  The Jets had 12 total penalties in the game.    
• The Jets looked susceptible to the big play in the air, although the Giants didn’t convert on two long passes that were open.  

Giants:

• Steve Smith dropped a perfect pass from Eli Manning that would have been a 90 yard touchdown.  There were a few other dropped balls by Giants receivers that needed to be caught.
• The defensive and offensive units played better than last week but still didn’t seem to be fully in sync.  They sacked the Jets rookie quarterback just once. 

There’s still a lot of work to do but Rex Ryan and Tom Coughlin will have their teams prepared for opening weekend.  The teams are nowhere near where they need to be.  The Jets host the Eagles in their final preseason game and the Giants will travel to New England.  Starters won’t play for more than one or two series if they play at all.