By Tom Rock
If it’s going to be like this all season, I may want to go back to the fishing beat.
The Jets’ major weaknesses glared in Friday night’s 16-3 loss to the Bucs, and those weaknesses are depth on defense and a running game. The Green Team could not move the ball in the second half, while the Bucs plowed the field for a pair of 80-yard drives and held onto it for the final 7:20 to seal the win. It’s a good lesson for the Jets: When you can run the ball effectively, you can control the game.
Unfortunately for the Jets in this game, they couldn’t. Blaylock and Houston showed little to discourage the rumors surrounding their position. It feels like the Jets would rather throw to the backs than hand the ball off to them, though Blaylock said he doesn’t think the passing component is stronger in this offense than any other he’s been a part of.
Mangini’s post-game presser was interesting, held in a storage area under the stadium where a small podium had been set up with a Jets backdrop. On TV it may have looked like an interview room, but in reality we were standing where they store the extra towels for the sideline along with the spare pirate ship. I can only assume it’s there in case the one in the end zone sinks.
As for the content of his speech, well, it was clear he was trying to pry some positives from the evening’s events. He continues to show excitement over all of the mistakes the team makes because he can use them as teaching tools. At some point, though, winning and performing has to take precedent over teaching.
The big post-game story was Chad Pennington. Reporters waited almost an hour for the starting quarterback to emerge from the training room following the game. I say this not to complain (at least not entirely to complain, since we were all on deadline at that time) but to wonder about Chad’s shoulder. He said he was in the back checking stats and hanging out, but my Spidey-sense was tingling that something may be wrong with Pennington’s shoulder, especially after that last hit he took with his right arm cocked to throw. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t back there undergoing some sort of treatment on the shoulder. Not that he'll be sidelined by it, but I'm sure it needed to be iced thoroughly and probably inspected by some MDs. He said he plans on practicing in full on Sunday, so I suppose we’ll see then.
Comments (7)
If you think the Jets were bad on the field, you should have seen how they treated the few fans who waited by the buses to say hi and get autographs after the game. Coles was the first one to wander out, stand about 10 feet away with his cell phone stuck to his ear, and completely ignore all the calls of encouragement and requests for autographs, even from my 7 year old son who was at his first professional sporting event. Next up was Nugent (the kicker, blowing us off??!!??), Mangold, Dewayne Robertson (who walked by us so close that my sharpie almost made a line across his side)Eric Barton (who should be happy anyone still wants his autograph after the near-fiasco in San Diego)Justin Miller, Bryan Thomas......I could go on and on. D'Brickashaw came out, signed a few autographs, got to my son and decided he was done and completely turned his back on him, but continued to stand 3 feet away, ignoring him. That was the worst. The look on my son's face broke my heart. Tim Dwight reluctantly signed my son's autograph book, only because I told him that everyone else had blown us off so far. Bryan Cox was the highlight of the night, talking, taking pictures, signing anything you put in front of him. I guess it is the Jets legacy to continue to be outshined by former players. (see Joe Namath)So, to the Jets players and coaches...you should start appreciating your fans while you still have them. You have two less fans today. It looks like we are better off anyway.
Living up in New England, I couldn't see the game last night. Questions:
1. How did the O-line look? The running game is half RB and half O-line. I read the sack was due to a missed block by Houston.
2. How did the D look? Did they play a lot of 3-4? Did the guys on the line look comfortable/competent? (I'm guessing by the Tampa running yards, that there's lots of work still to be done). How did Robertson look? Vilma?
Too bad about the autograph thing. I was able to catch a practice while on vacation. It was nice the Jets sent out the players, but the players did not look happy about it (granted they'd just finished 2 1/2 hrs in the heat). No eye contact as they handed the stuff back to the fans, many of whom were very polite and said thank you. Moments like that are very much appreciated by many fans, but there were some who were quite demanding (like the woman who was pushing little kids away to get to Pennington)...I guess they might ruin it for the polite fans.
chad threw only short passes he is done put a folk in him.get clements on the field as soon as possible
My brother, while watching the game, said to me, "It's gonna be a looooooong season." I replied, "The Paleozoic Era was a 'long season'. This year is gonna take an eternity." Ba-dump-bump.
Here we go again with beat writers saying Pennington looked good in the game...I don't play football..or coach football for a living.. but I think its safe to say throwing the ball 5-10 yards in the air (some looking like wounded ducks) does'nt constitute a Pennington re-birth..For a QB coming into the NFL wihout a strong arm to begin with..How is it possible to have 2 surgeries on your throwing shoulder and improve your arm strength??? Having him start at QB will make the running game even worse...When a defense knows the QB can't throw more than 15-20 yards down field how are you supposed to establish a running game..Barry Sanders in his prime could'nt gain any yards under those circumstances...
thanks again mikey but this is for real fans.you are a jets-go please leave and let us knowledgeable fans discuss.follow the mets they are your kind
what are you a doctor mikey.there is one reason he can't cut it anymore,he is is hurt and never will recover.the man never could throw.he stinks