Breaking down the loss ? By Rich Cimini Quickie thoughts from the press box: 1. Can't blame Mark Sanchez for this loss. He played perhaps his best game of the year, demonstrating the skill and maturity that bodes well for the Jets' future. 2. Peyton Manning 5, Rex Ryan 0. That's the career record between the QB and the defensive guru. This wasn't Ryan's finest day as a play calling. Once Manning solved the Jets' early blitzes, the Jets were toast. He tried man-to-man coverage, but the matchups (Dwight Lowery-Pierre Garcon, Drew Coleman-Austin Collie) weren't good for the Jets. When they went to zone, Manning found the soft spots. 3. How does Lito Sheppard go from being the No. 2 CB to the No. 5 CB in one week? Didn't make sense. Even Manning, who never questions any opponent, wondered after the game why the Jets benched Sheppard and started Lowery, who had no championship-game experience. 4. It was nice knowing you, Lito. Can't imagine the Jets are going to pay that $10 million option bonus in March. 5. WR Braylon Edwards, in a cryptic kind of way, questioned the play calling after the game. He beat fill-in CB Jacob Lacey like a drum on that 80-yard TD, and got only three more chances the rest of the game. (He dropped one.) It's a valid question: Why not feed him the ball? O.C. Brian Schottenheimer said he wanted to, but couldn't because the Colts played more Cover-2 than expected, taking away the deep ball. 6. Questionable decision by Ryan on that 52-yard FG miss by Jay Feely. He should've punted. Against a high-scoring team like the Colts, the field position was more important than the three points. He gave Manning a short field, and that was all she wrote. It was the turning point in the game. 7. Losing Shonn Greene (ribs) in the third quarter was a killer. Thomas Jones is a warrior, but he simply looked like he was out of gas after a taxing season. 8. The offensive line did a fantastic job in pass pro, but they didn't hammer the Colts like they said they would. 9. For 2010, the Jets need to dig up a couple of receivers like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. They'll put a one-year tender on Edwards, because they can't let him go for nothing, but I don't get the feeling that he's the guy of receiver they want to build around. 10. LB Bart Scott (ankle) was hurting a lot more than the Jets had been letting on. He was replaced by DB James Ihedigbo in nickel packages. 11. Hey, it was a nice ride. They just happened to run into one of the greatest QBs of all-time. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2010/01/breaking-down-the-loss.html#ixzz0db8PDM8k
Solid analysis. I disagree with point 6 - going for the FG was the smart choice. The decision I don't agree with was passing on 3rd down before the FG instead of running if they felt they were in range.
I don't like to pin a 13 point loss on an injury to one player but man this game could have gone so differently if Greene didn't get hurt
I don't like the thing about Edwards. I think the guy has all the tools in the world and even though makes some awful drops really helped to open up the running game this year. The Jets have been looking for a guy like that for a while and letting him go would be a bad decision. I also think a year with Sanchez and the offense in the offseason is going to make them a great combination next season.
can't blame on shotty!!!!!stop that non sense. i blame more on the defense (our secondary and not being as aggresive during the second) and on some questionable referee calls...
I had bagged on Schotty all season until our late run, but I can't blame this on him. What was he supposed to do without Greene?
I am really not going to knock anyone on the Jets. They had a couple missed tackles on aAddai (the one quick screen where if he was stopped would it would have been a 3rd and 10, but turned into a 13 or so yard gain). It's just that Peyton Manning is unbelievable. He is far and away better than any quarterback in the league. He was in the zone and the Jets really did try anything and even on great coverage, Manning was able to throw it in the exact spot for a WR.
Yeah, I disagreed with a few of Shotty's decisions but that's with 20-20 hindsight. All the people whining that the Jets didn't open up the passing game enough were the same people bitching about how the Jets were trying to do too much with a rookie QB all season and should have stuck with the run.
Gotta agree blaming Schotty is wrong, I disagree on a few plays here and there but overall he did a good job, I think after that amazing Brad Smith pass they should have utilized him more. After shocking everyone passing it would have opened up the Smith run option.
I'm not blaming anyone but the fact that the Colts were able to rest up for weeks coming into the playoffs and had the bye did them wonders. We came in having to kick, scratch and fight every week and it appears it took a toll in the injury category. Strickland, Greene, Scott just to name a few. Tack on Ellis and his one hand, Harris' ankle, etc. We had 'em but couldn't withstand them with backups filling in everywhere. Lesson learned. Win the AFC East in 2010 and get a bye.
What I said in the game thread! The Middle of the field was wide open and now we know it was because the Cover 2 yet. Shotty knew they were playing it and made ZERO adjustments.
Exactly.....and also get home-field......win 1 home game, then host the AFC Championship at our new stadium. A helluva f****** lot easier way to get to the Super Bowl than winning and travelling in 3 different cities in 3 weeks.
T - Most times I'd agree but asking Sanchez at this point in his career to start doing something mid-game on the fly is not an option when you had the running game get you to the game.
Jones was his usual self, and Greene was doing alright until he was hurt. Greene would have certainly broken out in the second half when the D was worn down.
I can understand that but when the running game is not working and you lose 1 RB and have 1 inactive it's time to look at the options available, ESPECIALLY since our receivers were open and Sanchez was throwing the rock so well Because when you look at the runs we were getting caught by their speed... I already rewatched the 1st half again and many times they'd come through where we pulled from and tackle us backside . IMO we needed to push them back and run more counters and use their speed against them....
The bad thing about having success, especially like the Jets have in the second half running the ball the past few games, is that you lull yourself into thinking the success will continue if you keep plugging away. Losing Greene hurt. I think they could have pulled it off had he stayed healthy.
