This guy had gotten ripped a lot in the first couple of games but he has been quietly improving each week. This is the second week in a row that Mark Sanchez has finished a game with his jersey as clean as it was when he started the game. At the same time we are top 5 in the league in yards per rush. Can't say I miss Faneca. Not saying the guy is a playing like a pro-bowler but he is doing his job. That's all you can ask for a first year starter. Just wanted to give the guy some love before the next time he gets ripped again for giving up a sack or getting a penalty.
I'm really impressed with this kids ability to work hard and want to be great. Callahan has done a great job with him. The kid is going to have growing pains. I never expect a new starter to come in and play lights out, especially on an OL. The chemistry factor is just too great. That's unfair to any player. What's amazing is that there are still many aspects of this team that need to click, which means they can keep winning now and still get better come january. A awesomely frightening concept.
Callahan is a GREAT Offensive line coach..... I had faith in his endorsement of Slauson being able to at least hold the fort from Go. Boomer Esiason, Tierney and most of the media can eat shit on all the flack they give the Jets on that letting Faneca go.
How great is this though? in reality we have been dominant in this game, and the second half of NE, and parts of the Miami game. Yet there are still so many things we can improve on, its ridiculous. Looking at some of the mistakes we have been making it doesnt make sense that we are beating teams the way we have, but thats what we have been doing. Once we reincorporate the injured and Holmes, if we were to put together a dominant 60 minute performance where we don't make any significant mistakes we might win 60-0. How amazing is that? in my eyes, Slauson has been playing pretty well, and has been getting better each week. Sure mistakes are going to be made throughout the season, but he is improving almost by the play. When the chemistry clicks for the OL, its going to be awesome.
Nothing helps an O-Line jell faster then be able to pound the other defense with over 250 yards rushing! Next week will be a big test for the O-Line, hopefully they will once again pass with flying colors.
Two things allow for this to happen: A very good football coach who has a unbelievably talent staff surrounding him. A franchise QB who can make everyone around him better (typing that sent a shot of adrenaline through my body).
agreed completely Mick. I don't think there is a single person left who can even argue doubt about Mark at this point. His last three games has been very good, not flawless but pretty damn good. and he has been very limited in the "poor decision" department. I would just like to state it again for the record Rex is the shit. So glad he is ours, and so pumped to have been one of the starters of the Hire Rex Ryan bandwagon after the 08 firing of Mangini. Can't wait for him to become our Bill Cowher, and 10 year coach here in NY, that might be unheard of. Don't think we have ever done it, unless Weeb managed it, and I don't know if the giants managed it early in their history. Where's Cakes when you need em?
faneca was overrated he was great in 08 but he declined badly in 09 slauson is playing just as well except slauson doesnt have a pro bowl resume so his mishaps are more noticeable while fanecas would sort of slide by because of reputation
Weeb had a decade here. 63-73. I can see Rex surpassing that. Even if the team goes into a 6-9 win stretch for some reason down the road, I see Woody and Tanny keeping him. I'd like to have a Cowher/Shannahan deal with this CS/FO. Stability. Its what makes a franchise great.
oh I agree with you. People are surprised the Steelers have always been so good, but what have they had now? 4 coaches in 48 years or whatever? When you are not constantly changing philosophies overall (or on either side of the ball for that matter) you have the ability to bring in talent to fit your system, and then develop your own guys within that system. The Steelers have had great coaching, with a great system for a very long time, and thats something we should strive for. I want to see rex in Green and White until he retires for broadcasting (hopefully after a hand full of rings)
Bubba Franks said something that stuck with me - Passing down knowledge on this game is important. He became a mentor to Keller in 08. When you have stability, and the same system is being run, the veterans are able to teach something they've been apart of for a few years. When you have philosophies being changed, everyone is learning together. It makes a huge difference.
Slauson played a really good game today. We'll see how he does against the Vikings. If he's still at this level then he's a plugged hole.
Weeb was a great Jets coach for as long as he had a healthy Joe Namath. Ryan will live and die with Sanchez and we'll always remember them together the same way we do Weeb and Namath.
again so true Mick. Remember the segment of Hard Knocks where they were discussing the fact that T-Rich was teaching Conner? How Tanny, Rex and Woody said that they knew they had the right guys in the system. Because essentially Conner would soon be taking T-Rich's job, be it this year, or next. Passing along knowledge is part of developing players, and part of how great teams find continued success as their greats age and move on in life, either to other teams or retirement.
I think Rex said after he drafted Sanchez they'll be joined at the hip for whatever they do here. Rex gets it. The era in the NFL has changed, but its waiting for a new group of QBs to take over. Brady and Manning are on their way out, its time for new start QBs to take that helm. Brees is one, Rodgers and Sanchez are my two candidates to ride along with him. I don't count Rivers because Norv Turner will never allow him to reach a SB.
While Rodgers definately counts here, Brees is 31. It's not like he will be around any longer than Peyton will be. I could easily see Peyton sticking around until age 38 if he keeps playing the way he is now. I can't see Brees playing past 35, especially if the Saints manage another ring in the next 4 years. Actually this might be the last year Brady has as a dominant qb in the NFL, next year, I don't think he will even be the best QB in his divison, let alone the league. My guesses for the next group of elite QBs, Sanchez Bradford Stafford Rodgers Yup, those 4 are my guess to be tops of the league, no particular order of course. I think Rodgers is the best QB of the bunch (now) I think Sanchez will win more rings (not too much bias on my part of course) Stafford (if he can be healthy) to Calvin Johnson will be a deadly connection for this decade, and Bradford is already impressing as a middle of the road QB, with no weapons around him. If you give him something to work with, he will develop into a deadly passer. I'm shocked, i would never have called him being very impressive in year 1 if at all.
I said this before, but Slauson's problems aren't in pass protection. He's been fine in pass protection, and better than Faneca by far. However, his run blocking is nowhere near Faneca's at this point, largely because Faneca ran the guard pull better than anyone. Overall, I'd MUCH rather have Slauson right now. He's young, he's raw, and he's improving. As soon as he can mentally develop his run blocking, he'll be fantastic. He certainly has the strength for it. People shouldn't be ripping him, but it's not necessarily ripping him to isolate the things he should be working on. I guarantee that's exactly what Callahan's doing.
Bradford is a surprise to me as well, because his arm looks fine after the surgery. He can make all the throws. That defense seems to have new life as well. I'd like to see that franchise rebooted. They've sucked long enough.
