Chicago Misses Thomas Jones

Was listening to Joe Beningo and Carl Banks about 15 minutes ago in my car... they were both saying how much Chicago has to be missing Thomas Jones now.

Banks even went as far as to say that the Bears pretty much did everything they could to piss him off (drafting a RB, then somehow rubbing it in his face, etc.), so Banks was saying it was "no wonder Thomas Jones was ready to leave."

I'd have to agree. Bringing in TJ was a great move.

 

Hopefully Tanny and Mangini are thinking the same way (with the lines). Tannenbaum has been pretty effective in bringing good people in at a reasonable price (Jones is the best example, Kendall before that), but last offseason I was somewhat disappointed that he wasn't more aggressive in F/A.

With our record now, he's got to know his work is cut out for him this year. If we sit on our hands this year I'll really be pissed... lot's of work to do.

 

I didn't hear the whole conversation, but obviously they were talking about the game last night and the lack of a decent running attack, which put a lot of pressure on Grossman. He got injured (looked like high ankle or maybe knee) and left the game.

No question if we had more help on the line Jones and Leon would make Clemens' job a lot easier. I can't wait for the opffseason now, to see what Tannenbaum can do for us! The draft in April will be a real kick in the ass too.

 

Well, I was thinking we need as much help on the D-line as the O-line, but here's a recent article I came across that will raise some eyebrows. I think I'll make a separate thread on it:


http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show/1911-sutton-likes-what-he-s-seeing-on-d-line

Sutton Likes What He's Seeing on D-Line
Published: 12-01-07
By John Beattie
Reporter


There were several instances against Buffalo, Washington and Dallas when the Jets defensive "line" was anything but a line. The Green & White trenchmen got up out of their stance and shifted around with the linebackers while the quarterbacks barked out their cadences.

What started off as either three or four down linemen ended up as a controlled and furious glob of blitzing maniacs.

“The players do that. They take that upon themselves,” said defensive coordinator Bob Sutton at his informal biweekly news conference Friday afternoon. “It’s just something that has kind of taken on its own life. We did something like that last year with linebackers walking around and they've kind of taken to it. They study and they say it’s the best way to do it this week.”

And the scheme has worked. The Jets have called the formation five times since Week 8 vs. Buffalo. The opposing passing line: 1-for-5 for minus-2 yards and an interception for a Blutarsky passer rating: 0.0.

“It’s a good changeup. It’s like when an offense shifts and motions,” Sutton added. “It creates some kind of mental pressure for the offense to identify who’s who and how they are going to identify. I think the players have enjoyed it and have done a good job with it. It’s not going to be every play or every game. It’s just one of those things that’s in the package now.”

That package has shown vast improvements in the last month. Heading into their battle with Pittsburgh, the Jets had just nine total sacks. They not only left that game with a win, they nearly doubled their season’s count with seven sacks of Ben Roethlisberger.

Since the overtime loss to Washington, the Jets defensive line has shown signs of improvement — much like the positive transition they went through following last season's bye week.

Part of the recent success has been the play of defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson. D-Rob is tied with Shaun Ellis for the team lead with a career-high four sacks. Of those four sacks, 2.5 came in that one game against the Steelers when the Jets came away with a 19-16 victory over the AFC North leaders.

“I think Dewayne is a very ‘sudden’ player. He has playmaking ability,” Sutton explained. “Things that have happened come from what’s happening in the scheme, and some of it is his improvement. He’s taken advantage of those opportunities.”

But Sutton has always seen that spark in Robertson. Sutton is in his eighth season with the Jets, spending his first six as linebackers coach. Roberson was drafted by the Jets in 2003, so the two have been through a great deal together.

“Since he’s been here, he’s always had that explosiveness and the ability to get off the block and go make a play,” said Sutton. “We hope we can continue down that road. He’s an effective player who can make plays on his own regardless of the scheme, and that’s what you need. You have to have guys like that.”

Alongside Robertson has been a newcomer to the AFC East. Kenyon Coleman was signed as an unrestricted free agent after spending the previous four seasons in Dallas.

Coleman, who has started all 11 games this year, ranks third on the team with 64 tackles and has also chipped in with two sacks. Part of his success stems from his knowledge of the 3-4 defense that former Cowboys (and Jets) head coach Bill Parcells ran in Big D.

“The one advantage with Kenyon is that he came here pretty well-trained in the fundamentals of the defense because it was a very similar style under Coach Parcells,” Sutton said. “He understood the technique. What we saw on film when he played in Dallas are the same things he’s doing here. He’s taking advantage of the opportunity here — I’m sure that’s one of the reasons why he came here. I think he recognized what he’s good at, it fit our style, and he’s been an improving guy.

“To me, he is kind of your 3-4 defensive end. He’s hard-nosed, tough, strong, he'll battle you to the end of the day,” added Sutton. “If you want to keep playing, he’s going to keep playing.”