They are a lot better than I expected.
Sanchez is better than I expected. He has far more confidence than he showed in the preseason. Although he still makes a lot of stupid decisions they haven't cost them.
LT definitely is a lot better than anyone expected. He isn't what he was in his hey day, but pretty good none the less. Wonder if he can keep it up all season, but right now he is one of the best free agent pick ups this offseason.
Jason Taylor is as good as I expected, not spectacular but solid. He is still better suited for a back up role, but hasn't been a liability and has made some good plays
Cromartie is what I expected - boom or bust. If he could go up against Moss or Lee Evans (who probably was shut down by Ryan Fitzpatrick as much as Cromartie) every week, he will be a Pro Bowler. Unfortunately for him, he still can get beaten like a rented mule by other WRs like Brandon Marshall (his only good game this year came against Cromartie and he would probably have had more catches if he didn't burnout in the Miami heat at the end of the game), Anquan Boldin, and Derrick Mason.
Before Monday night, I was going to say Braylon Edwards has finally started to show that he can actually catch the ball, but Monday might have changed my mind.
Dustin Keller is finally starting to live up to his promise. Before this year he has been far more hype than production. This year so far, he has almost been as go to as Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark.
I would still be worried about Rex's in game coaching. His handling of clock management in the game Monday night was probably on Herm Edwards level. Throwing on second down while protecting a lead with the opposing team out of time outs with about 2:30 left in the game?
Their o-line is still solid against the run, but still up and down against the pass. D'Brickishaw Ferguson is hard to figure out because he has played poorly against some bad competition at times and then totally owned Jared Allen Monday night. Damien Woody has struggled at time too.
Kyle Wilson has been a disapointment. I think Slauson has played better than expected, but still has issues. Shonn Greene hasn't been as good as the Jets wanted, but luckily for the Jets they don't need him to be with LT. The Jets haven't missed Kris Jenkins again this year thus far.
Overall, the Jets need to be considered an elite team over 5 weeks. That said it is early.
Cousins,
We laughed at the Jets because of their lavish pick ups. Getting rid of Jones was a pre-season glaring mistake? Not now. I think LT with a chip is as good or better than expected. Of course the posters here are "We would not want LT. He is done.Look at all the valuable Draft choices we stock pile.Why do we need key F.A. or trades?". Or the famous idiot come back here in this forum...."Pass!". Just like Dillon was done I submit.
I think Santonio Holmes was steal for a throw-a-way fifth and our F.O. was sleeping as usual when these deals come down the pike (see Bolden, Wimbley, Carriker with more tackles than any of our vaunted D-Line, Gocong who is starting and playing solid for the Browns, Brandon Marshall who will lead the league in receptions this year you can mark that down and with an inconsistent QB AND boy couldn't we have used him now Let's see...Branch or Marshall??....., etc.).
We giggle at Cromartie but Cousins, he is playing very well and better than any DB we own, so was he worth a shot? Yep. Argue all you want but it is a fail on your part if you say he was not worth it.
Keller is a key with them and Sanchez' security blanket. Key on him and he is like taking Clark away from Peyton. Their success rate drops.
The key to their defense is not Cromartie, and injured Revis, Bart Scott etc. To me it is that little pest Jim Leonhard.He makes that Defense sing. Match up actual talent with the Pats at each position and after Revis and Harris a very talented Cromartie, we have as much talent on paper with Wilfork, Mayo kind of balancing it out. The big thing is defensive scheme. They are not that more talented. They are ten times more aggressive.
The Pats defense plays not to lose. The Jets defense plays to dominate. We can out Offense them I am sure. The difference between the Teams is we play a scared defense. Rex plays a defense that has swagger to make up for mediocre talent. Dallas at 1 win and 4 losses and the Vikings as well, have way more talent on defense that the Jets.
We have some capable young talent and maybe even faster than the Jets. We have a defense with training wheels on. The Pats can emulate the Jets and Ravens who took a page out of the 2003 and 2004 Patriots. That is why the Jets Defense is rated #1. I don't like Rex but my hats off to the way he plays Defense.
The Steelers are of the same talent as the Jets. Play the same aggressive style and are at the top again with no offense. Why? Scheme.
Rex coach our defense? Would we be better?.....yep!
In this early season, were the Jets pick up's stupid? No.We are the ones who screwed up by not looking twice. Yes, they have made some decent Draft picks in Revis, Greene, Ferguson, Mangold and Harris, but the rest of their Team core are trades and solid FA pick ups. That is one thing we used to do well (see our SB rosters) and now we can't make a trade unless we get taken to the cleaners either coming or going. That my Cousins, is a lax FO issue.
Love all those Draft choices that have a 17% success factor though. We rave at last years Draft class. Let's face it, Vollmer and Chung (perhaps Tate and Edelman but we were desperate for another WR this week so that speaks volumes?)look like the only non JAG components. This years class is still too early. Hernandez and Gronk seem above JAG status. McCorty and Spikes are incompletes. So lets say five work out (above replaceable JAGS) in these two years of Drafts in the years to come. That is good news. Some of these guys are pretty good but.....Our R.O.I (return on investment) is above league average and over 20 percentile range of success with all of these stock piled choices......Big woop!
My point is the Jets did not rely on Draft choices alone.Took a chance on some we used to take a shot with like a Corey Dillon and Rodney, and changed their defensive culture with mediocre talent. Cousins...I hate to say it. The difference is portly Rex. Don't like his mouth but his players have to back up the crap he doles out. It works...for now.
DW Toys
