To the people who simply want to whine and *****. Just SHUT UP already! Your constant whining is getting tiresome. Its like scraping your nail down a chalkboard. If you want to JUST complain, become a Jet fan. They are good at it and you'll be among your own kind. To the people to actually offered some suggestions, there were some good points that are worthy of being discussed. Here are my observations and suggestions
OBSERVATIONS
1. Overall I think the DB coverage has been much closer that last year. Although there were a few glaring plays where no one was around the receiver last night, that has been the exception rather than the rule. The problem too often is that the DB is there, but he just doesn't make the play. Dennard's play where he went from getting the pick or knocking down the ball, to deflecting the ball to the receiver for another 20 yd gain. If I had a general complaint about the DB's that would be it. Its been McCourty's greatest weakness. Being there but not making the play.
2. The injuries to Chung and Gregory hurt more than people realize. You can overcome one guy, but when you lose 2 guys in the secondary, especially at the same position, it causes a lot of dislocation, especially in your sub packages. Haters might summarily dismiss Chung and Gregory, but both are solid (if not outstanding) NFL safeties, and your defense gets better when they are playing
3. The Pats defense isn't getting enough help from their coaches.
I hate saying that. Those guys know SO much more football than we do, and have SO much more information to base their decisions on, its is pure hubris to make such a statement. But given that, what the hell, I'm a fan with a little bit of knowledge, so that gives me the right (even though its wrong
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I watched another game where the Pats seemed to rush just 4 players with no stunts or blitzes. I saw just 2 cases where the Pats blitzed a LB. One time they got great pressure and almost got a sack and another when Spikes Blitzed and got picked up by Mangold and no one else got close. That was it. Other than that the Jet OL got to see the same rush over an over again. This has been going on for 7 weeks now and has to stop;
a. Zone blitzes and overload blitzes both can create pressure without committing large numbers of rushers if that's what your afraid of. Both can cause confusion and uncertainty on the OL. Both can be blocked if the OL is well prepared and has sees it a lot in the course of the game. But used judiciously, they can be a powerful weapon. I know BB and Patricia know how to draw some of these up....they just have chosen not to....for some reason.
b. Stunts, stems and twists. These are designed to free up DLmen, again without using a lot or any extra rushers. We don't seem to do these either.
c. We need to do a better job with the personnel
1. Front 7
a. As was suggested earlier Spikes has no business on the field when a pass is deemed eminent
b. The combination of Cunningham and Ninko need to be on the field more
c. We need to rush 5 more often like 10% of the time
d. Bringing the house once or twice a game CAN be a viable and effective option.
e. Maybe its time to see what Scott and Bequette can or cannot do, even if its as inside rushers
2. DB's
a. I like what I see from Dennard and needs to see more play.
b. This was Dowling's best game of his career, so hopefully his star is on the rise again.
c. Until Gregory is back, I would reluctantly keep McCourty at FS. There is just no one else who can do the job right now. However once he's healthy, I'd want McCourty at CB. I think he's a very good one, just an unfinished product.
d. DI's suggestion DB suggestion was a good one until Gregory is healthy. Then I'd move McCourty back to CB.
Ultimately I think at this point I'd like to see us get to the point where McCourty and Dowling are the 2 outside CB's, with Dennard and Arrington the nickel and dime guys, and have Chung, Gregory and Wilson being used equally in various packages. I think that could eventually develop into a solid group as the season goes on.
