So far, the Jets defense has only been able to shut down Luke McCown. Otherwise, they haven't been much better than the Pats. And the Jets are a team that lives and dies on their defense.
Either the Jets defense is taking a major step back this year or it just goes to show that defenses are way behind offenses and there is a lot of room for all defenses to grow.
Look at all the scoring this weekend, even all 3 weeks of this season.
I believe I know what the problem is: The lack of any meaningful training camps. Folks were hollering about how New England needed to get younger, so the team got younger.
Well, youth doesn't always equal improvement. Youth helps with stamina, perhaps, but it also requires support from coaches and veterans to help them make the transition from College to the Pros. That doesn't happen in 3-week's time.
These young players missed out on weeks and weeks of bonding, of learning each others styles, of figuring out the playbook, or practicing their assignments. They only really had about 4 weeks to become a team.
Now, our offense can go great guns because most all of our veterans returned. But the defense has taken some hits through youth, new faces trying to learn the system, injuries, etc.
Yes, you need to be able to step it up when you become a pro. No excuses. But it doesn't happen overnight and the stupid strike is as much to blame for what we see happening all over the league as any other single thing.
That's my opinion, YMMV.
Respects,
