(Not my work) I think this sums up most Jets fans feelings. ============================================= With the anticipation rising as week two of the NFL Preseason came to a close, I couldn't help but watch my beloved Jets take on the Ravens. Even though it was only preseason, you could see that both teams wanted to win this game. I watched the game, rewound it to re watch plays (Thanks, DVR!) and broke it down. While originally I was going to do a recap, four things stuck out to me during the game, so I decided to make a list. These four things became so clear to me while watching the game, I have no doubt that they are true. Vernon (Ghost)ton, where are thee? Everyone was calling him a bust after last season. I, on the other hand, waited patiently. The man is a freak of nature with his impressive strength, speed, and size. He didn't do anything his rookie year, and many believed it was Mangini's fault. I believe there are four people in the NFL that would be able to utilize Gholston correctly; Bill Parcells, Bill Belichek, Dick LeBeau, and Rex Ryan. Jet fans are tired of having to look for Gholston to see if he is on the field, he should be having his name called play after play by the announcers. Many have completely given up hope, and the fact that he will be the starter for the first four weeks scares Jets fans. Let's hope Rex is holding him back to unload in the regular season. The Ravens are a top three franchise in the NFL today Notice I did not say top three team, but yes, they are a top three franchise. From top to bottom, this organization is ran to the highest regard. I put only the Patriots and Steelers ahead of the Ravens. GM Ozzie Newsome does an amazing job year in and year out at the NFL draft. I believe he is the best drafting GM in the league today. Constantly, you see stars emerge from the Ravens. The depth they have is outstanding too. They lost three starters to the Jets alone this year, and they filled those holes like it was nothing. They front office knows how to run a football team, and they do it to perfection. I truly believe the Ravens will win a Superbowl within the next three years. Mark Sanchez: Will be named the starter, and will be a great QB The QB battle is hot in New York. You open the papers, you read about it. You turn on the news, you hear about it. It is all that can be talked about. After last night, I believe Mark Sanchez won the starting QB spot. All will remember his first pass, hurried by Ray Lewis, intercepted by Ngata. Welcome to the NFL, Mark. What most won't remember is how he kept his poise the entire time, and showed off his abilities. Does everyone remember the third and long to Brad Smith that was called back? He scrambled, kept his eyes down field, set his feet before the throw, and launched a perfect throw. Does everyone remember the Leon Washington touchdown? Same thing as the Smith pass. Scrambled, kept his eyes down the field, set his feet, and threw. What about the botched screen to Cotchery? It was originally suppose to be a run, but Sanchez recognized the defense, and realized a screen would gain about five yards. If Cotchery was looking, it would of been a great audible. Those are things that he has mastered, his second preseason game as a rookie. Those things can take years to master, and he has them down pat. His poise in the pocket is wonderful, his accuracy is tremendous, his leadership is uncanny. He has all the makings to be a star, and that is exactly what Mark Sanchez will be. Leon Washington is the most explosive player in the NFL today Darren Who? Anyone that makes the mistake that Leon Washington isn't the most explosive player in the NFL today is just crazy. For those that don't know, Leon is currently in a contract dispute with the Jets. They are offering him about $4.5 million, while he wants closer to six. He doesn't deserve $6 million a year. He deserves about 10. I've never seen a more explosive player. Standing at 5'9", he isn't afraid of anything. He has been constantly returning kicks for the past two years, and showed that brilliance on the second kickoff almost taking it to the house before tripping over his own shoes. He runs the ball with power and speed, and he isn't afraid to run up the middle like most small backs. He works for his yards too, a perfect example being the 3rd-and-9 in the second quarter of last nights game. Leon ran up the middle, got hit, staggered on, and fought the tackle an extra two yards for the first down. He runs out of the backfield like there is no tomorrow. He can separate himself from anyone in the league. He can juke defenders out of their shoes. He is consistent, powerful, and a threat to score any time he touches the ball. The Jets need to make sure he gets signed to a contract for many years to come. If they lose him, it would be the worse thing that has happened to Jet fans in recent years. Worse then passing on Warren Sapp for Kyle Brady, worse then taking Ken O'Brien over Marino, and maybe worse then Doug Brien. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/242375-4-things-that-i-learned-jets-vs-ravens#page/1
he's right about Sanchez. its about more reps. The running game is going to be very strong this year. They have to make sure they run the ball 25+ times a game. Sanchez can get away with going 8/15 on certain days like Collins did with the Titans last year.
I was very impressed with the OL and how easily they were able to open up some big holes against one of the best defenses. And Woody was out of the game too. And the defense was missing two of its three biggest pieces, Jenkins and Revis, with Harris being the third one.
I took away from last night's game that Ryan is closer to duplicating the kind of team he came from in 2 preseason games than Mangini did in 3 years of trying to duplicate the Pat's...
They need to get LW's contract done this week. What a disaster it would be if he decided not to re-sign and test free agency.
thats lofty praise for leon, i dont think he is quite that explosive but he will have a much larger role this year it appears so we will find out. we may find we should have paid him while we could afford him i dont see sanchez being great at this point. he made mistakes and had the deer in headlights look last night. the td was a very very poorly thrown ball. hopefully for this franchises sake you are right but i just dont see it yet. the other 2 points i will agree with. the ravens organization stuff i really had never thought about before but you make very very valid points on it. i realize you didnt write it but i dont feel like going back and changing things
I laughed when you called Leon Washington the most explosive player in the NFL... Take off your green glasses man.
Not sure what his point about Gholston is. That they're keeping him on the DL (down low) only to spring him on an unsuspecting league? And the Ravens are a better franchise than the Giants? Or the Colts? OK...whatever.
Have you not seen the Ravens' roster? They are arguably the deepest team in the league. Ozzie Newsome is by far the best GM in the NFL.
bleacherreport sucks and this article is no exception lol, I know right.. Leon isn't even listed at 5'9.
I thought that was a fine article. I will mention a few other things that caought my eye: Ropati Pitoitua, Bryan Thomas, Calvin Pace (though this one was obvious to all) and Dig (INT called back)
Speaking as someone with entirely too much knowledge about the Giants as a franchise, I have to conditionally agree with the "better organization than the Giants" assessment. If you meant three years ago, then yes. Ernie Accorsi brought in some great talent, but also had some big misses (Ron Dayne in the 1st round, Lavar Arrington, Will Demps-these are mistakes at different tiers of GMing, just to show how he misfired). BUT, recently I think that Jerry Reese is second to none (or at least very few, once I remove these blue colored glasses) in terms of drafting & FA moves. He let go of Petitgout at the right time because he saw Diehl could be our OLT. His 2007 draft is one of the best I have seen in my 11 years of watching & understanding football. Finally, I think he's done a great job with the salary cap. Eli Manning's deal is akin to the deal Carson Palmer signed in 2005 as a QB with no playoff wins. Even if you think Palmer is overpaid, considering the salary inflation that is rampany throughout the league and the fact that Eli is a SB MVP that is under 30, it's an amazing deal. Reese I think is a bit better than Newsome in terms of building and maintaining talent. I must say though, that he did inherit a better situation. The Colts are different. Something like 97% of their roster is homegrown (as per NFL Network's NFL Total Access). The Colts' execution is flawless, but their philosophy is flawed. Their philosophy seems to be that they will invest in a big-time offense and a defense that can play the pass very well. Their idea, I think, is to build a lead that you can't erase. The problem is that their defense gets nicked up so often that it never plays up to the potential it has. A friend of mine, describing Indy's defense, put it better than I've heard anyone else say it: Indy has a defense that, under the right conditions, can play amazing but struggles to be average outside of them. And I know they aren't popular here, but the Patriots are a better run organization than the Ravens. I don't want to elaborate on that. ...well, yes I do! 18-1!!!!!
The Ravens are vastly superior. Tru Dat. Top to bottom. ( we should get "the manual" ) They were good when they were known as the Cleveland Browns, aka mistakes on the lake. Scouting, drafting, coaching, playing...top notch( out of the elite, they encompass eliteism ) The blockbuster movie "Terminator" was based on the Ravens attack.
