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The Jets have a big AFC contest in Pittsburgh this week, so lets get dive into a heaping helping of Jets notes . . .
For those people who think the Jets might not need the Wildcat since Sanchez had a good first game, chill out.
It’s just one game, and I can’t re-iterate this enough – the Bills’ cornerback situation isn’t a good one.
Tony Sparano’s strategy to consistently go after nickel back Leodis McKelvin was really smart. We talked about the first half yesterday, In the third quarter, After hitting Hill on a flea-flicker (the wide out as being covered by a safety on this play that gained 27 yards). Three plays after this flea-flicker, Hill beat McKelvin on a crossing route, and then broke a tackle to turn this into a touchdown.
Late in the fourth quarter, after Buffalo put a little scare into the Jets, making it 41-28, but a 25-yard strike to Holmes helped ice the win. On this play, Holmes as wide open, another example of the Bills’ awful secondary play in this game. Holmes wide open? How does that make any sense from a strategy standpoint – ever?
There is no question that Mark Sanchez seems more comfortable in this offense compared to the old one, but not every game is going to be this easy. Remember, aside from some personnel issues, this was also the Bills’ first game in Dave Wannstedt’s defense, so there was also a learning curve issue. This was a perfect storm for the Jets’ passing attack.
Much bigger challenges lie ahead with Pittsburgh, Houston and San Francisco.
Don’t write off the Wildcat just yet . . .
It’s unclear why the Jets released Patrick Turner today. I’ve been told there is a chance they will bring him back.
Perhaps a team tried to steal a player from their practice squad, and they needed a spot.
Or maybe they need another linebacker because Bryan Thomas hurt his ankle. Keep in mind Thomas hurt his left ankle against Buffalo. Remember, last year, he blew out his left Achilles. The Jets can only hope the new injury isn’t connected to the old one.
If Thomas can’t play, perhaps the Jets will promote linebacker Ricky Sapp from their practice squad later in the week.
Because with the Thomas injury, and Aaron Maybin being so-so against the run, they would might need an all-around OLB (Maybin’s more of a pass rushing specialist) for the roster, and Sapp would be that guy . . .
Considering how often the Jets used Jason Smith as a sixth lineman, they should have run the ball better . . .
Perhaps the best run block of the afternoon was on Shonn Greene’s key 14-yard run, late, on third-and-five, with Brandon Moore locking up Marcel Dareus, opening up a big hole on the right side.
There was another example of very good run blocking Greene’s five-yard run, to the goal-line, on this aforementioned drive. There were three terrific blocks on this run to the right side – Austin Howard locked up Mario Williams, Nick Mangold pulled to the second level, and took care of ILB Kelvin Sheppard, and John Connor wiped out OLB Nick Barnett . . .
TE Konrad Reuland didn’t a terrific job considering he had less than a week of practice after being claimed off waivers from San Francisco.
His best play was when he pulled from the right to left side, and pancaked Barnett, on a Greene gain of six off left tackle late in the third quarter . . .
D’Brickashaw Ferguson had one of the best blocks of the game without touching anyone.
On a 17-yard screen to Holmes on the left side in the second quarter, Brick led the way, and would not let Jairus Byrd get around him – he shadowed him for about ten yards, and no matter how much the safety tried, he could not figure out a way to get around Brick. This was a very impressive play by the LT . . .
What was the problem with the Jets run defense against Buffalo?
Well, when a starting end, Quinton Coples, has one tackle, and the starting nose tackle, Kenrick Ellis, has one tackle, that is part of the problem.
Coples is a terrific pass rusher, but he’s a work-in-progress as a run stopper, so Mike DeVito needs to play more in obvious running situations.
And the Jets desperately need Sione Pouha back at the starting nose tackle spot. They really missed him against Buffalo.
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