Unpredictable and Exciting!
Opening Day in the NFL is totally unpredictable. I’d like to find the person who thought the Ravens would give up 7 TD passes and would have lost by 30 points if a player on a pick 6 of Flacco hadn’t decided to be a dummy, showboat, and drop the ball casually before he crossed the Goal line.
Last year the Jets came out on fire against the Buffalo Bills winning 48-28 with Mark Sanchez throwing 3 TDs and 270 yards and the defense making 3 interceptions though giving up almost 200 yards rushing (C.J. Spiller). The season looked bright, but the rest of the season went 5-10.
Tomorrow starts a brand new season with many changes. Again the Jets have an “us against the world” mentality but it’s with a rookie QB, Geno Smith.
Offense
Gone from the offense are both guards, starting RB Shonn Greene, Holmes (most likely) Dustin Keller, and of course Mark Sanchez.
The “new” offensive line needs to give Geno time and new FB Tommy Bohanon has to pick up blitzes and lead the way for Powell and Ivory to establish a running game. One thing that Geno already has shown ability to do better than Sanchez is the screen pass. That is so important to negate a rush and the Jets have not been a good screen team. It’s a key component of a successful West Coast Offense. Kellen Winslow can still be a big threat as he’s healthy, but this has to be Jeff Cumberland’s time to step up after 3 years.
I believe that Coach Marty Mornhinweg can develop a game-plan for the offense that caters to Geno’s strengths and allows him to ease into the game as well as developing confidence.
Defense
We all know Darrelle Revis wants nothing more than to show the Jets they made a mistake and that he’s as good as ever. I really hope Geno did watch film on Revis and that he was playing with the media. Tampa has a hitter at safety in Dashon Goldson so Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley need to be ready. So hoping Hill’s improvement in camp is for real.
Okay Coach Rex, now I want to see your real defense. I know you didn’t show all your cards in Preseason. Tampa’s QB, Josh Freeman, drafted in 1st round like Sanchez in 2009, was not voted a captain this year and this is his do or die year. We need a pressure and pass rush, especially with 3/4 of our DBs being new together, including a rookie.
Hopefully this “Achilles” issue on Milliner is totally healed so a tweak doesn’t make him miss a bunch more of the season. Already he’s had 5 surgeries and missed everything since we drafted him with injuries. It honestly scares me! I’m looking for Damario Davis and Ricky Sapp to use their speed to stop RB Doug Martin.
How You Win
- Penalties
- Special Teams
- Turnovers
Penalties, special teams and turnovers are still the three things that determine most games. That never changes. I know we’re young, playing at least 10 new starters so patience is important as a fan.
But it’s the home opener, play with intensity and emotion, and keep penalties, turnovers and missed Field Goals or allowing punt returns by the Bucs and I believe we will win!
Oh and don’t celebrate and drop the football before you get in the end zone!
