This is what I see the Jets priorities as being going into the game: 1. Establish the run. The Jets are bigger than the Pats on both sides of the line for the first time in recent memory. They're running the ball well and the Pats have had some trouble against good rushing teams. The Jets need to get 125+ yards on the ground to have a good shot at beating the Pats and they need to control the flow on offense. 2. Shut down the run. Again, the Jets are bigger and they need to push the Pats around some and make Cassell put the ball in the air. The Pats are 3-3 this season when Cassell has been forced to throw the ball 30 times or more. This includes wins against San Francisco and St. Louis where he sucked, throwing 4 Int's and getting sacked 8 times in the process. The Jets win those games instead of losing it like the lousy teams he faced on those days. 3. Avoid getting out-coached by Belichik (again). The temptation for Mangini and his staff is going to be to go into this game as the underdog thinking that they need to really switch things up on the field to have a chance to win. Nothing could be further from the truth. What the Jets need to do is go in and play some smashmouth football and push the Pats around in the trenches. They need to beat them the way a good team does, by dominating at the line of scrimmage and having everything evolve from there. By the fourth quarter the front three of the Pats should be dogtired with their tongues hanging out due to the repeated double-teams they have faced as the Jets try to run the ball down their throats on 65% of the plays. Tony Richardson should be picking a linebacker on every run play and hitting him as hard as he can before the whistle. Blockers can really put a hurting on the guys who have to get through them and the Jets should be intent on doing that. 4. The Jets need to take shots down the field when they're not driving the ball up the middle. The West Coast may eat some teams alive but the Pats aren't one of them. The Jets should be exploiting the seams with Cotchery and Keller off of play action after they have established the run. A halfback fly pattern or two out of Leon Washington (something we haven't see all year) will keep the safeties out of the box as they have the primary responsibility for picking up a streaking runningback. 5. The Jets really need to go for 7's in this game. 4th and 2 on the Pats 33 is a play to go for it on not to try a 50 yard FG.
Run at and throw short passes at Pierre Woods. He will not be ready for Favre and Keller in this short time, and he isn't shutting down TJ or LW. There is a huge gap between him and Adalius Thomas. Exploit the shit out of that.
Watch the screens to Faulk and bubble screens to Welker. They've killed the Jets with those plays. Better field position than last time is also crucial. Graham blew.
Sometimes I forget how much of an upgrade Hodges has been over Graham so far. Anyone know how Graham has been punting with the Saints?
Nice list, but the real question is whether #3 is the most important one. Or not. I would hate to admit it is, but there's this nagging feeling it probably is. Jets can't let that get into their heads, though. But it will probably be in mine, at least to some extent.
Giants proved last year. Eagles almost did. Beat up on Pats DL with run early on. Fuck passing. Just beat the living daylight out of that old fucks. Make sure their LBs get tired. TOP advantage of 7~8 minutes will be sufficient. When their LBs get tired in the 2nd half, (Or late in the 2nd quarter?) make them run with Keller. If Keller can slam into their DBs while he has the ball in the open field after catch, that would be the icing in the cake. Keep slamming into their DBs with TEs - and by 4th quarter, nobody would be left standing to cover either Coles or Cotch. Time for Coup de Grace.\ *Man, I am too fond of rough-house tactic...*
I think the key is getting pressure on Cassel. Seriously, we can rattle him so much, the guy is a clueless qb. He's really terrible. Also, we need 20 carries for Jones, 5 for Leon
I'm only concerned about Favre throwing picks if the Jets can't establish the run. Then he's going to get picked a few times is my guess and we're in trouble. The line I want to see for Favre on Friday morning is 28-17, 225, 1, 0. The team that has to throw the ball 30 times on Thursday night is probably going to lose.
I think we need atleast 10 carries for Leon Washington, give TJ the NOW usual 20 carries a game, just all over the field we need Leon Washington's speed, Favre no mistakes but we need to take some chances to get into the end zone, I want Favre to kill these guys, i want big games from Cotchery and Coles they been missing the past 2 games
Yep. Pats need some time to let their receivers run their routes. Jenkins will be key, as if he continues to draw the double team, it will open pass rushing lanes.
I am and always am. However, I have a strange feeling about this game. I could see him playing really well.
I would take away Cassell's security blanket...Welker. It will be tough though because we need Revis to stick Moss but I would disrupt him at the line to throw off the short passing game and make sure we pound him evertime he touches the ball. Offensively I think we need to throw the ball to win this game. Lets face it the Pats don't have Harrison, their best DB, and now they don't have their best pass rusher either. We have to be able to make plays in the passing game. Do I think we can run the ball better than last time we faced them yes but I don't know if we can win this game solely on the ground.
Which we have dominated from start to finish. Cotchery and Coles can be the nails in the coffin but you build it with the kind of ground game the Jets have shown us over the last few weeks. The Jets would have blown out the Raiders if they came out and established the run. Instead they dicked around the entire first half trying to be the high-powered passing offense (9 runs) and blew the chance to dominate a lousy team.
I think running the ball is going to be difficult for the Jets. Last Sunday the Bills could barely move the ball, and the defense really seems to have taken some impressive strides. Mayo is an absolute stud, and while Bruschi and Vrabel are old and slower, Seymour is looking healthier and stronger than he has for a few seasons and Wilfork and Warren are both performing well this year. I think the key is on offense is more to slow down the Pats pass rush. Their secondary is pretty thin and will be exposed if Favre has any time to throw. Running the ball probably won't be worth it unless the Jets already have the lead. And besides that, the Pats aren't a team you beat (in terms of on offense) by beating them up. That just plays into their strengths, they have a big, strong, but slow front 7. You need to throw the ball on them to win. I agree that shutting down the Pats running game is going to be essential for the Jets to do anything. Although, I will say that is probably less so than a month ago as Cassel appears to have made genuine progress since the San-Diego disaster. Don't forget about a guy named Randy Moss, Cassel has underused him a bit this year and at some point that will change.
Other than the obvious no bad penalties, no turnovers, etc... We Must get pressure on Cassel from the edges... as well as jam their receivers, none of those quick bullshit bubble screens, to Faulk & Welker especially-- and hope Revis D's up Moss. For once in my lifetime, I think throwing the ball is the way to go here-- their strength is D-line/inside-middle linebacker... We must expose their depleated secondary-- and use Keller effectively... IMO, he will have a mismatch all night long... I've been down on Favre since day 1, but I think playing in this type of game is the reason he didn't retire.
Why is it going to be any more difficult to run on the Pats this time than last? We were pretty successful last time (19 carries, 98 yards from our backs) and our o-line seems to be getting in sync. I'm not trying to argue with you, I just don't get how it's going to be more difficult this time. The Jets shut the Bills run game down too.
