Jets' play-calling under fire after loss at Oakland By Dennis Waszak Jr. ? The Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The Jets tried anything they could to get their minds off what they just had gone through. It was a few hours after a disappointing 16-13 overtime loss at Oakland on Sunday, and some players slept on the six-hour flight home, while others watched movies or read. The plane simply couldn't fly fast enough. "It was extremely long," linebacker Calvin Pace said yesterday, shaking his head. "Especially after a loss, it made it even longer." The Jets (3-3) expected to beat the disheveled Raiders, who had undergone a messy coaching change three weeks ago and were coming off a 31-point loss at New Orleans. But it was the Jets, with their sights set on becoming a bona fide playoff contender, that appeared sloppy and out of sorts. "We had more than enough opportunities to go out there and win that game," Pace said. "To be a team that's spoken of, you know, playoffs and doing great things, we've got to go out there and get that win by any means necessary. Somebody's got to be able to step up and make a play, and nobody really did." The Jets outgained the Raiders on offense with 418 total yards, including 159 rushing by Thomas Jones, compared to Oakland's 344. The Jets also had seven penalties to Oakland's 14, and were slightly more efficient on third-down conversions, going 5 for 16. Still, it wasn't enough to win. Brett Favre had his second straight shaky game, throwing two interceptions in what he called "one of the toughest losses I've ever been a part of." Leon Washington muffed a punt that was recovered by Oakland, which converted it into an early field goal. The turnovers, silly penalties and questionable play-calling doomed the Jets as much as Sebastian Janikowski's booming 57-yard field goal in overtime. "I think it was tough for all of us, because you do see the opportunity," coach Eric Mangini said. "It's very easy to turn on the tape and see those opportunities. It's always disappointing when you do so many positive things and to have production against you, whether it's offensively or defensive, because of the things you do. "That's under our control, and that's something we need to get better at." For instance, the Jets had third-and-goal at the 3 with the score tied 3-3 in the second quarter when D'Brickashaw Ferguson was called for a false start. On the next play, Favre's pass to Jerricho Cotchery was picked off in the end zone. "Whenever you lose, you always have a bad feeling in your stomach," Ferguson said. "Obviously, this is a bad loss for us, but we can definitely be successful and overcome this." There was also the fumbled snap by Favre that was recovered by Washington and took the ball from the Raiders 41 to the Jets 47 in the third quarter. Abram Elam's face-mask penalty added 15 yards to Darren McFadden's 25-yard run that led to a field goal in the fourth quarter. That drive was kept alive earlier when the Jets got caught flatfooted on a fake punt that gained 22 yards. "It was one of those calls that it's like Texas Hold 'Em," Mangini said. "You're going all in at that point because if you stop them, you're in field-goal range. If you don't, it's a really good play. We had someone assigned to the play, didn't get it, and it worked out well for them." The play-calling by Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has come under heavy criticism the past few weeks, with many urging the Jets to turn Favre loose. In overtime, they ran nine times - with Jones carrying the ball on eight of them - and Favre had just four throws, including one to a wide-open Chris Baker, who stumbled and dropped a pass that would've put the Jets in easy field-goal range. "He threw the ball 38 times," Mangini said of Favre. "We're running for 7.2 yards a carry. ... I feel comfortable with what we did in overtime." Against Cincinnati and Oakland, Favre has thrown mostly short passes. His longest completion against the Raiders was a 31-yard catch-and-run by Chansi Stuckey in the fourth quarter. "The running game was doing really well, the offensive line was blocking well and Thomas was running good," Stuckey said, when asked if the offense was too conservative in overtime. "It's something that was working for us, so I don't think so." After a sensational start, Favre has one touchdown and four interceptions in his last two games. When asked if he was hesitant about passing with the game on the line because of Favre's recent mistakes, Mangini shook his head. "Not at all," Mangini said. "No."
HAHAHA, that is funny:rofl: Man, Bret must be saying to himself, nothing could fix this mess in NY, I should be having a beer in my Wrangler jeans.
The play calling did not call for Leon Washington to muff that punt. The play calling did not call for J Co to slip in the endzone allowing the INT. The play calling did not call for Leon Washington to lose that high pitch. The play calling did not call for Chris Baker to fall on his wide open ass with 50 yards open in front of him in OT. (He makes that catch the game is over.)
If you haven't noticed our coaching staff is full of EGO...would it shock you to find out that they DID call those things? Think about it. Mangini and Schotty think they're so good that they thought they could allow the team to mess up a little and STILL win. Shows how dumb, egotistical, and stubborn they are.
Yep, a classic case of us beating us. The face mask on McFadden wasn't good either, but all of the things you sighted were big enough to push it over the edge for us. If we play the same ball against NE or Buff and maybe even Miami; we lose almost always. This year appears to be an example of, we have the talent; for some reason things are just not quite in synch and gelling.
this chiefs win better kick start something, because its going to either unravel and implode or get fixed right now. I pray for the latter.
All very true, my friend. But the playcalling did call for dink-dink-dunk, which is not the best use of Favre's arm. Of course, later in the game, when the dinking and dunking was no longer working, their CBs schooled our WRs, so maybe it just didn't matter. Anyway, the playcalling is always questioned after a loss.
Not only the play calling. The Jets are not playing inspired, consistent football. They have not found any groove all season. Even the Cards game was set up by the AZ mistakes. Take your pick, it's either the players are overrated, the CS is not getting it done, or some combo thereof.
I think it's coaching. I like the talent this team has, for the most part (although WR is looking kinda thin these days). I love our talent on D, but it doesn't look like they know where they are supposed to be. It has to be the coaching.
I tend to think it's the coaching. I agree WR is a pretty thin corps. The Jets went into the season hoping someone would emerge at #3 and #4. So far it hasn't happened, and Coles and Cotch are not playing Pro Bowl football to put it mildly. One other area I am less than enthused by is the play of the OL. Yeah, better than last year, but how could it not be? The fact is, though, despite the investments made in it, this is not a top tier OL. But again, that could be because of the CS. It seems while the run blocking is getting better, the pass blocking remains mediocre from week to week.
The play calling to START the game is what set the tone and was atrocious.... Empty backfield - Get Favre POUNDED... That's where they needed balance. Once Favre got crushed even once, you change up a little and give TJ a hand off.... DAMN.. this game was supposed to be a game where the Jets pounded the ball until the deep pass opened up - They came out cute and thought they could do whatever they wanted and go ALL-IN for pass. The best thing the Raiders had going was their CB's... So, the Jets start off and go all out to attack the Raiders best area.. UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE.... This game reminded me totally of Herm...
I guess if they call Hail Mary's every single play and we still lose, it is the player's fault, because the coach's didn't call "incomplete pass" or "sack" every time.
My feelings exactly. The BS of blaming the coaching staff for everything is pervasive in the site. The players need to step it up and make plays. BF all three of the mistakes you mentioned would have resulted in more point for us if corrected.
Is it not part of the CS's responsibility to see that the players step it up? Play the players who are doing that? I never get the type of comment that the CS has no role in a general lack of performance by the players.
