The big cogs in the defensive backfield are Revis and Cro. I don't think the loss or Leonard has nearly as much impact. Sure it hurts to lose him, but it's not like we're starting a fresh rookie in his place. And in case you don't think Eric Smith can hit, I offer you this... [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9RfJwSkMU8&feature=related[/YOUTUBE] Just because Leonard is out doesn't mean the Pats recievers are safe...
As far as I know, no. I read somewhere that Jimmy could even be on the sidelines for the Pats game making secondary calls.
I'm sure he could be there..but I don't think they want him standing for 4 hours in 20 degree weather 2 days removed from surgery. He'll probably be in the booth watching the game...or take the trip off.
What he said^. If you're looking for answers to this game, it's in the Jets offense. As goes our offense in this game, so goes the game for us. Leonhard's absence, while troubling, isn't critical because of this. The absense of LT or Greene or Keller or Holmes would be monumental compared to Leonhard's absence, IMO. Keep Brady off the field as much as possible. That's the key. He'll score when he's on the field, so we've got to limit his times at bat. Grind the clock and move the chains, and make every possession count WITH A TD, NOT A FG. If that means going for it on 4th and whatever several times, that's what we have to do. If our offense comes out clicking and moving the chains, we may come out of this alright. If it doesn't, it's going to be a long day. One way or the other, Leonhard doesn't figure to be a huge loss in this game, INO.
From what I have read much of the objections to having players on the sidelines has to do with they can't get out of the way. You see a few times during the game the play goes to one team or another's bench. It isnt too easy to get away from contact with a broken leg......
Hope the injury to Leonard galvanises the team and gives us an extra incentive to beat the Pats. Lets win this one for Jimmy!
I think our defense is quite capable of keeping the Pats offense down a bit. Leonard is but one player of 11...he is good but he is not the end all be all. What I meant by my post is how the offense goes is how this game goes. If they come out flat and play only the last 4 minutes of the first half like they have in couple of these games then we are going to get smoked. If they come out clicking then this game is ours. My recommendation is coming out in our 2 minute offense the first full quarter...jump start the flow and get Sanchez into a rhythm. We do that and I could smell a pounding. To be quite honest...I personally think this game will be a blow out one way or the other.
It obviously hurts, but I still think we'll win the game. Eric Smith will step up into the defensive QB role well, but he's obviously not the athlete Jimbo is.
This game came down to Sanchez before the injury and itll come down to him after. He plays like he did last time we played the pats, congrats on our first bye week in a long fucking time. If he plays like he did the time before that vs the Pats, well we proved last year what we can do as a #5 seed. Eitherway this is all on marks shoulders. And just a small tidbit, but if anyone has looked @ Aaaron Hernandezs numbers the last 3-4 weeks (their TE) he has FUCKING SUCKED HARDCORE. And he was one of the guys who lit us up last time. Their other TE has been doing decent during the same time span so it looks more like trouble for them at this moment.
Keys are focus, focus, quiet confidence by every player that we can kick ass and avoid mistakes or penalties at all costs. We got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Steal a page from Mangini versus Belli. Anticipate how he wil game plan against us and give him the element of surprise in spades. a) Aggressive play calling on offense from the get go. No dumb risks but keep the chains moving. Mix it up early. Go with 2 minute offensive huddles. Go on 4th and 1 when appropiate. Throw the pass on second and short. More reverses. When appropiate have Smith throw from the wild cat for a change or don't even bother with the wild cat. Above all, stop over complicating the play calling at the line of scrimmage and avoid false starts. b) Plug the middle of the field and take away Brady's short passes and the run. Force him to throw long and pass rush like never before. they will not beat us long. I feel confident the Jets might shock us all and put their best game together to-date. If we are within 7 late in the 4th we will pull it off. While we will miss Jim L eonhard at safety, someone in the secondary will rise up and steal the show. I believe Smith or Ihedigbo or more likely Lowery.
my feelings havent changed. i have full faith in our coaching staff to make the necessary changes and for our team to step up and make it like it never happened
I am actually just as confident that the Jets will win Monday as I was before the injury. I think the jets O is gonna light the Pats up. ats_suck:
Good stuff offensively. I'd add one more thing that is unfortunately a page from Mike Francesa's advice this week (as I hate to give this A-hole much credit): He described Schottenheimer as having a "fertile mind." A seemingly nice compliment until he claims Schotty's a victim of this fertile mind. Mike contends (and I agree with him on this to some extent) that Schotty mixes it up so much (in an attempt to move the chains) that he overlooks the obvious: if something is working, why leave it for other stuff? He cited the slant with Holmes that worked perfectly against Cincy and was only used sparingly. He cited that when Norm Turner, for example(or any other good coach in the NFL) spots something that is working against your weakness, he keeps on pounding that call until you either make him stop or give up a lot of weakness in other areas. Schotty needs to look up from his plastic-covered cheat sheet once in a while and see what the hell is working... and talk to pl;ayers coming off the field about the success or one or the other. If it's working (as Fatty says), why do you abandon it and hop to another thing? Pound it on them and drive Belichick crazy trying to put out the fire, THEN move on to another area if they stop you. This defense should allow us to move the chains and gobble up clock time. We need to do this and have to do this to keep Brady off the field and there's no reason why we can't. Between Sanchez and Schotty, this thing is squarely on their shoulders. Find the penetration and don't let up.
I am extremely confident that the Jets are going to play a crushing defense for the full 60 minutes and pulverize the Patriots. We keep hearing our team hasn't played their best football yet. Well, this one's for Jimmy and it's time to go out there to knock Brady right out of his boots.
I am incredibly confident - I just don't see the Pats winning this game and in all honesty people are questioning our 9-2 record while I just do not think the Pats are really that good - the Jets are just overall a much better team.
I am confident because I think Rex Ryan, being the type of coach that he is, will use this injury as a rallying cry for the team, and especially the defense. If our pass rush steps it up like it did vs. Carson Palmer then we have a very good chance of winning. I think Sanchez will have a bounce back game and Shonn Greene may finally have that game that we have been waiting for all season. What does worry me is Welker (as always) and the 2 TE formation with Gronkowski and Hernandez, two very good tight ends. However, I do think that the Pats will not be able to run the ball, which may make defending the passing game somewhat easier.
