I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR THE HEAD COACH OF THE WEEK…
Rex Ryan, New York Jets
Ryan has been talking the talk since he arrived in New York, but Sunday he backed it up with a very creative but sound game plan against the Patriots. Yes, the Patriots -- a team the hometown faithful had not seen the Jets beat firsthand since 2000. Ryan couldn’t care less what people around the league think and made no bones about debriefing former Patriot Kevin O’Connell, now a fourth-string quarterback for the Jets. In fact, he even made O’Connell an honorary team captain – even though O’Connell didn’t dress for the game. For the record, the Jets are one of only two NFL teams carrying four quarterbacks on their active roster. Ryan is brash, he’s cocky and he’s a good football coach. He has his team believing his every word, which is half the battle in the NFL.
I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR AN ASSISTANT COACH OF THE WEEK…
Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati
APMike Zimmer has changed Cincinnati's fortunes on defense.
The words “good defense” and the Bengals have not often been used in the same sentence, but since coming to Cincinnati last year, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has changed that notion. The Bengals are for real on defense: They play hard, they play fast and they’re physical. They feature two very talented young corners in Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, both former first-rounders. Six of the 11 starters come from the draft, and Zimmer has done a good job blending in the players who know his system with what was already in Cincinnati when he arrived. When you look at their statistical numbers, they don’t stand out, but as we know, statistics seldom tell the whole story.
RAMBLING THOUGHTS
1. New England had 16 third downs last week at home and another 15 on Sunday, which means the Patriots are not making any down-the-field plays. New Orleans has had 26. In the Super Bowl, the Giants forced 14. To beat the Patriots, teams must tackle well and not allow the big play.
2. We all know the red zone is key to winning as the Patriots, Chargers and Chiefs were 0-for-the-red-zone and the ‘Skins won despite being 0 for 5. Close games always come down to which team has the most success in the red zone. You have to go back to 2006 to find a game in which the Patriots were held without a touchdown.
3. This is not the first time the Jets have been accused of tampering, going back to Bill Parcells and then Bill Belichick. But what I find interesting is that the 49ers lost a third-round pick for tampering with Lance Briggs of the Bears, so they must know what’s needed for proof in the commissioner’s court. I’m not saying the Jets tampered; all I’m saying is that the 49ers have experience in this area. Trust me, the Jets will not be the only team accused of tampering with Michael Crabtree if his holdout goes into the offseason.
APThe Eric Mangini era is not off to a promising start in Cleveland.
4. Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports reported that Browns coach Eric Mangini fined a player more than $1,700 for taking a bottle of water from the hotel. You have got to be kidding me. There are more pressing problems in Cleveland than the absence of water. Mangini needs to figure out what’s urgent and what’s important. Give me a break on this one. Is it any wonder why everyone is unhappy in Cleveland?
5. Can everyone thank Joe “The Tippper” Fortenbaugh for his sage advice on Johnny Knox, the wideout for the Bears? He’s killing my phone looking for praise. Knox is very good, and Tipper was on it early this year. Well done, Joe.
6. Losing Albert Haynesworth to the ‘Skins is not the reason the Titans are 0-2, but in the game against the Texans, they did miss his push, his presence inside and his ability to make Matt Schaub play in a tight pocket. Schaub needs room to throw, and with a clean pocket, even though he doesn’t zip the ball, he’s very effective. The Titans had mental breakdowns that also hurt.
7. Mario Manningham is averaging more than 16 yards per catch so far this year, and his big body has been very effective making tacklers miss, thus advancing the ball. Speed is important at wideout, but quickness and balance make a player effective, and those are two areas of strength for Manningham.
8. The New York football Giants have won two big NFC East divisional games already this season, including last night without some important players on defense. Based on the first two weeks, they look like the best team in the NFC East -- but it’s early.
APThe Raiders won in spite of JaMarcus Russell on Sunday.
9. The Raiders should not apologize for their win Sunday, but they need to find a way to increase JaMarcus Russell’s accuracy percentage. It’s going to be tough to beat many teams completing only one-third of your passes. Ugly wins still count as wins.
10. Running back Rashard Mendenhall looks to me like he’s going to be the main back in Pittsburgh now. Yesterday, he finally looked like a first-rounder, and this might be the last time we see Willie Parker.
11. Losing defensive tackle Peria Jerry for the season will really hurt the Falcons’ defense as they need all the healthy bodies they can find. They’re tough at home, but can they win with that defense on the road? There was no quit in the Panthers.
LET’S HAVE A TOAST TO…
Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, whose team lost, but whose stadium is flat-out amazing.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
"Mario Manningham is averaging more than 16 yards per catch so far this year, and his big body has been very effective making tacklers miss, thus advancing the ball. Speed is important at wideout, but quickness and balance make a player effective, and those are two areas of strength for Manningham."
nfl.com lists Manningham at 5-11, 183 lbs. Not what I would call a big body for a wide receiver. These days, that's pretty small. I agree he has quickness and balance, but not size.
"Mario Manningham is averaging more than 16 yards per catch so far this year, and his big body has been very effective making tacklers miss, thus advancing the ball. Speed is important at wideout, but quickness and balance make a player effective, and those are two areas of strength for Manningham."
nfl.com lists Manningham at 5-11, 183 lbs. Not what I would call a big body for a wide receiver. These days, that's pretty small. I agree he has quickness and balance, but not size.
What about the Broncos? Are they winning with smoke and mirrors or is this D for real?
Johnny Knox is from my alma mater, Abilene Christian University. He was great for us at ACU. His teammate, Bernard Scott, was even better though at RB. Scott won the Harlon Hill trophy last year (the Division 2 version of the Heisman) and is with the Bengals now. When Cedric Benson inevitably starts sparing us to death watch out for Scott. I was at the ACU game last November when they beat West Texas A&M 93-68.
Ryan is not only brash and cocky, he was down right classless and nearing the level of a horse's hind quarters with naming O'Connell a captain. Marvez said it best "The only thing missing was Matt Walsh of Spygate infamy serving as an honorary Jets captain".
I think the Pats troubles may stem from poor play selection. I thought the line played better than last week.
I watched Manningham for years at Michigan - he isn't huge (though he has certainly added some bulk) and doesn't have elite measurable speed, but he always managed to create separation and make big plays. I'm glad to see he's starting to do the same in the NFL. The only knock against him was that he got dinged up often.
You are blowing mendenhalls one run performance out of proportion. Parker is still the clear cut starter, but he is keeping the seat warm for Mendenhall after this season. Pitt hardly ever signs a back that old to an extension.
But him taking over and not seeing Parker much anymore is simply bad logic. Fantasy wise, if Parker is limited, would rather have Moore.
What I don't understand is no mention of the Broncos defense. They stopped Cincinnati cold. The same Cincinnati who beat GB and stopped Cleveland who scored 20 on Minnesota.
They may not be household names, but from what I have seen that defense will keep Denver in games. This is not the defense that killed Denver the past two years. These guys have a big chip on their shoulder and play like they have something to prove.
Ryan is classless compared to whom? Belicheck? Class left coaching a long time ago. It's not like Ryan broke the rules.
Pats are fine, Brady is just rusty, they have to simply execute better in the Red zone, and with the playmakers they have they will. Both games is they score TDs in the first half as opoosed to FGs, the whole complexion of the game changes. Also, this is the time to evaluate your team, what you have, what you can fix, and what you need to get rid of. Let them play it out, and see how much this D improves as the year goes on.
Bronco's D, at least Dumervil deserves a mention (4 sacks vs. Browns). It looks like Champ is 100% and the 3-4 is working out well. But it's only been 2 weeks.
I am looking forward to the next few games to see what our Defence does, @ Oakland, home against the Cowboys and Patriots and at Baltimore.
'Ol Ball Coach: is Ryan less classy than the Beli who "hereby resigns as the HC of the NYJ", and using a napkin to communicate that message? Please. In any other profession, we call that burning a bridge, and acting with no class. I am tired of the Patsies hypocrisy. Too bad Pats' (organization and fans) can't lose with class (they could not win with class...) We'll see what the organization and fans show when the team has a few losing seasons -- which is on the horizon.
Jets always sent two blitzers, even from different ends of the formation, but it has the effect of eliminting a back in checkdowns becase he has to stay and protect.
When his dad coached the Bears defense he would bracket the tight end. He had to from facing Jimmie Giles or Paul Coffman in division games. Those guys were great at catching the ball, bracketing kept them from getting a free upfield release as a hot route against his blitz or to use an end as the quick outlet.
Rex Ryan has taken that item and found a way to bracket the halfback. Send two on him so he's wrong either way he goes, the closest defender covers him while the other continues his blitz.
That eliminates the checkdowns to a good back, Faulk was not producing many early stats in the pass game. He's a huge part of what they do on third downs. Expect people to copy the Jets plan, this was a "how-to" manual for defeating a 'pass first, second, and third' team.
By the way, how's that trading a HoFer lineman away for a first round pick working out for the Pats defensive line?
@Johnwer........props, you called it and the Jets won. No excuses.
@Mr. Murder........The Pats D didn't lose that game. Save for Whilhite bouncing of Cotchery inste of wrapping up they played pretty solid for a new group. Jets won on the all out blitz. Live by it......die by it. Better blitz recognition and route adjustment by the new receivers and that was a much different outcome. No excuses though, Jets won.
Hey Ol Ball Coach, lighten up Francis.........nice to see coaches having some fun instead of the last 3 years of hell with Mangini.........What was classless about it. The Jets-Pats is a big rivalry, why wouldnt you make former players captains for the game? What the hell do captains do anyway other than the damn coin toss? It is all a dog and pony show, good for Rex to have some fun with it.
Mr. Murder,
What does the trade of Seymour have to do with anything? What is your point? Their pass rush sucked last year WITH him in the lineup and besides that, the defense didn't lose that game Sunday, the offense and special teams did.
That trade was and is still a good trade.... I'll give you Seymour is a better than average run stuffer, but he's BELOW avg as a pass rusher. He certainly isn't worth breaking the bank for and they knew they wouldn't sign him for what he wanted at the end of this year and they CERTAINLY weren't going to franchise him, so they bit the bullet and got something in return.
@ Kevin: I agree with you completely, play selection has been awfully predictable and bland so far in New England. They always run from big sets and pass from three+ wide ... Also, Brady's few accurate passes have been uncharacteristically dropped. In a game as tough as the Jets played, these things add up
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Sep 21, 2009
06:56 PM
Pats O-line is awful, they can not protect Brady nor open any hole for the running game. At the opposite end we've seen a terrific Jets O-line. They gave Sanchez tons of time and they've done a good job in the running game too.