Michael Lombardi Article on Jets problems this year and their future Sanchez gets pounded because the run game is grounded "Every morning on my way to work, I stop by the local Dunkin Donuts for my morning coffee. Working behind the counter is Mohammad, a huge football fan and a devoted Jets backer. After each game, Mohammad is either planning a Super Bowl trip or hoping the Jets clean house. There is no in-between for him, which is why he is such a great fan. The only player that does not ride Mohammad's rollercoaster is Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Mohammad, like many Jets fans, blames all the team's problems on Sanchez and wants him gone. Mohammad does not care that the Jets have no viable option at quarterback right now; he just wants Sanchez out. Sanchez has taken a beating this year, as has offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Both are subject to much hostility from Jets fans who feel the team has let them down. But is the Jets' lack of offensive production the fault of these two men? Hardly. The number one thing an organization must do is to find out not what the quarterback can do well, but rather what he can't do. The Jets identified early on that they wanted to manage Sanchez, as they did not want his arm to carry the team. The key to the offense would be its physical nature. When Sanchez was a rookie in 2009, the Jets were a top rushing team, averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry. The Jets rushed for more than 130 yards in 12 games, with two games of more than 300 yards rushing. They had at least 150 yards rushing in each of their final five games, the last of which was a loss to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game. The Jets had found a formula for winning with Sanchez, and it was dubbed "Ground and Pound." In 2010, even after losing top rusher Thomas Jones, the Jets still averaged 4.4 yards per carry, but they were not as dominating as they had been in '09. The desecration of their running game was starting, but the staff did a good job of hiding the problems. And they made a strong stretch run before losing in another conference championship game. Once again, the Jets' winning identity included running the ball and not putting too much on Sanchez. Yet in 2011, this all changed. The Jets cannot run the ball effectively; they rank 30th in the NFL in rushing average and their longest run of the season is just 25 yards. How did this happen? The Jets believed that Shonn Greene was their star back, that he could carry the offense because he was so good in '09 during the playoff run. Yet Greene is not a big-time, full-time back. He has proved that this year. He is more of a change-of-pace back, as he struggles to catch and make explosive plays, and his lack of run skills puts the burden back on the quarterback and play-caller. The Jets need a great runner if they want to continue to keep Sanchez as their quarterback. Right now, the Jets are a horse and buggy offense, as they cannot make big plays down the field. Every drive must be 10 perfect plays, as they lack explosion. For all the talk and hoopla around their signing of receiver Plaxico Burress to give them more big-play ability at receiver, he has failed to deliver. In fact, he is only a threat in the red zone, where he can use his size to create separation. He is slow on tape and there is not a corner in the league who is afraid to challenge him. Therefore, the coverage is rolled to Santonio Holmes, whose yards per reception average (12.8) is down almost two yards from his career average. With no one on the other side to help take away the coverage, Holmes' longest play of the season is just 35 yards. Sanchez does have to shoulder some of the blame for the Jets' offensive woes. He is not a quick reader of the progression, therefore with every call, Schottenheimer has to tell him where to expect the open man. If the call is a bad one, then Sanchez starts to panic and looks nervous. The most effective pass play he runs is the fake handoff, deep crosser, which has no read -- just fake and come out throwing. The more Sanchez has to read off the play, the better chance the play has to break down. Therefore, the Jets must keep things simple. A simple offense with no explosive players and no run game will never produce, which is why the Jets rank 27th overall. But the Jets know all this. They know they need to run the ball, they know they need to limit Sanchez, and they know they need to win with defense and their kicking game. Their model for success is exactly what the 49ers have created this season. But there are differences between the Jets and 49ers, mainly in their personnel. The 49ers have better runners and the 49ers have much better players in their front seven on defense. For the Jets to win, they have to improve their talent base. Last week, I wrote that coach Rex Ryan must be more realistic in his statements about his team. And even though he won't change his rhetoric publicly, he must change internally. He has to find a way to improve the roster, improve his talent base and build the right kind of team around Sanchez, since he has already proclaimed him his lifetime starter. Schottenheimer will take the fall for the offense's problems; even though Ryan has publicly supported him, he won't be back with the Jets. But this is not all Schottenheimer's fault. Until the Jets realize what kind of team they need to be around Sanchez, then the next coordinator will have the same problems. The fault does not always lie in the scheme, as the talent -- or lack of talent in this case -- has played a huge part. The hardest thing to do in the NFL is to evaluate your own team. This is what Ryan must do really well this offseason. In spite of what he says to all of us, he at least better be honest with himself". Usually NFL.com writes shitty articles that are completely outrageous, but this one is pretty decent. He is one of the very few on this website that I've seen support Sanchez's future as a Jets. I completely agree that the Jets are using his talents wrong (although I disagree in the fact that a good amount of this could be put on Schotty). I think he actually gets that the front office is too worried about building a win now team instead of a franchise that is built for the long haul. Because we've brought in veteran players at the end of their career's, the teams talent is automatically going to decrease within a year or so, and we are seeing those affects now. This team needs more talent. Also like the comparison to the 49ers... They have a lot more talent and have better offensive coaching
Well this on point, realistic, reasonable assessment of the current stat of the Jets isn't going to set well in Jet/land. Personally I think he made an effective blueprint of what the Jets need to do, if they are going to challenge the Dolphins and Bills down the road, let alone the Patriots. Blame? Well we are fans and if there is one thing fans like/need to do is BLAME. Now who do you blame for this? The Brain trust Tanny/Ryan. Don't forget that 3 years ago they inherited a pretty talented team, and since that time, they've been dismantling parts of it, without improving the whole. Lets start with the QB - What he does, he does well. Well, like Lombardi says, stop having him do things he isn't good at. That's what coaching is all about. Putting players in position to succeed. My question is, how come you drafted a QB as high as #5 who was "limited" to start with. So now instead of building your offense around the strengths of your QB, who makes everyone else better, you are building it around his LIMITATIONS. Well, its not pretty, but it is what it is. Its the situation you have and it isn't going to change soon. The question I have is, do the Jets have the cap room to go out and get the players necessary to create a system that Mark Sanchez can thrive in. There is some good news. In this age of spread formations and pass happy QBs, only a few teams are going to want to "ground and pound", so teams like the Jets and Niners will have their pick of all the players that fit that mold. Here's the bad news - below is a list of players I think the Jets need to add to turn this around. The problem is that the Jets don't have the cap room to get them in FA, and getting them in the draft is uncertain, and even when you get it right they take time to develop. OFFENSE- RT- the best you can find in FA OG- the best you can find early in the draft That's 2 new "maulers" that can come in and start. OL - 2 professional grade back ups (the kind that could play for the Pats) RB - I think Lombardi has a point. the good news is decent RBs are cheap to find if you are lucky. QB - You need a legitimate back up that could provide competition. I can let you have Brian Hoyer for a 4th or 5th DEFENSE OLB - You have to replace Thomas and you aren't going to do it with Westerman or Maybin. Not for your regular D LB - I'm pretty sure that either Scott or Pace is gone after this year. Both are good players, just not worth the money they got (few FAs are) but you'll have to replace the one that goes S - if you let go Lenard, you'll need two safeties....and don't be messing with Landry or Mathis, I already have dibs I don't think that this can be a quick fix. It might have seemed quick for the Niners, but they had a decade of high picks to improve their roster before this year's turn around. There won't be any Aldon Smith's around for the Jets to pick in the early 20's Well, I await to discuss the many areas where you think I'm wrong.
Ray McDonald, Isaac Sapoanga, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Novarro Bowman, Patrick Willis and Parys HAralson. Fine, Patrick Willis is better than David HArris, but don't tell me about the Niners' superior talent base. MAYBE tell me about the Niners better discipline and how that is a reflection on the coaching staff, but superior talent? Please.
Without a doubt, Burress's shortcomings have been ignored. He doesn't have the speed he once had and is only effective in the red zone, where his size becomes more of a factor.
For a Jets hater, Lombardi isn't far off-base here. Not sure where the nugget about Schotty having to tell Sanchez where to expect the open man comes from though. If that's true then either the plays are too convoluted or Mark is too retarded to succeed.
Yeah, this really scared me. If that's true, then Mark's a disaster. I think this shows what a perfect storm of offensive mess this is: poor personnel decisions, poor co-ordinator, poor (or at least inconsistent) QB play. Having said that, with a new co-ordinator, a new RB (as Patfanken mentioned, they're not that hard to find in the pass-first NFL), a speed WR and a new RT Jets could at least be middle of the pack on offense while they figure out what they have with Sanchez and add some speed in the front 7. I thought this was a great article.
I dont think that when we drafted him, we saw his flaws all that well. Schotty didnt create an offense around Sanchez- he just threw him in there. This is my whole problem with the FO and Coaching staff- they just threw Sanchez in there and didnt build around, they threw in any receiver they could find or any RB they could find, and its just been a carousel at these positions. He's struggled to develop any kind of chemistry with his WR's, OL and RB's because the faces are never the same. I also dont think they really have to build around his limitations as much as he says, but more so realize that he is limited, and utilize his strengths. Schotty does not do this. Once they utilize his strengths, he can develop his limitations and then make the offense more complex. I also agree that this is not a quick fix, also like the pats D is not a quick fix. There are plenty of holes besides the QB position that are holding this team back. This is why I HATE all the Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck shit, because they dont cover a TE, rush the passer, block for the QB, get open and catch a ball ect... In order for this team to become a SB contender again, I think Tanny has to have the best offseason in his career.
Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, and Navaro Bowman are all more talented then the Jets front seven... maybe excluding David Harris They are built really well up front, and added a great, young, athletic pass rusher in Aldon Smith who is just reeking havoc on offenses.
Laxinx, I can't disagree. its almost like a chicken and egg thing. Which comes first the QB or the surrounding players. There isn't any one way to to put a team together. But I'd opine, that the Jets FO the last 2 years hasn't added anything to what was aready there, AND lost some important parts as well. Also the Jets have problem when guys like Homes, Plex, and Scott are the only ones speaking for the team, while guys like Harris are silent. ....and since you asked :wink: I think the defensive problems of the Pats ARE quick fixes 1. As bad as the Pats D is, they still are 14th in scoring D. 2. They lost their 2 top S's for almost the entire season (Chung and Barrett) They lost 2 key CBs (Boddin and Dowling) They lost their top run stopping ILB (Spikes), and their 2 best pass rushing DLmen. (Wright and Pryor) These aren't excuses but explanations. So imagine playing James Iheadeabu as your best S. The other S is 10 times as bad, and the 2 back ups are WR. What a shock the Pats D sucks. Of course it does. Its less surprising that it gives up yards, but that it allow so few points. Heres the fix 1. The Pats have several solid young DLmen coming back who have gotten better over the past 2 years. Pryor, Brace, Love, Deadrick. Add them to Carter, Anderson and Wilfolk and the Pats have the backbone of a decent DL. 2. When healthy the Pats have 3 good ILBs (Spikes, Mayo, Fletcher) All of these guys have missed multiple games this year. They just need to get healty 3. Rob Ninkovich is a very underrated 3-4 OLB but that's about it. Cunningham is a young OLB but on IR The Pats will need to add 2 new guys if they want to go back to the 3-4 as their main D. One FA, one of the 5 picks the Pats have in the first 3 rounds 4. CB- They get back a very good looking big CB back in Dowling who as been on IR - They should draft another with a top 5 pick. These days you can't have too many coverage DBs 5. - S - this is the key. They draft a S with a top 3 pick, they sign the best FA Saftey available Now add Chung to that group and let Iheadabu go back to playing special teams and a rare situational D I think just getting people healthy and adding about 4 new key FAs/ draft picks who can play a key role, in the 14 man rotation; will VASTLY improve this defense Remember the Pats offense is only going to get better next year. The Pats don't need its D to be come the 85 Bears. We need just need it to get to middle of the pack in yds and in the top 10 in scoring D. and the Pats can IMPROVE on this year's record Sorry my friend, but to reach THAT, is going to take a just quick fix. Just look at what the Texans' D accomplished with just a few changes. Of course you have to hope that you don't run into another big injury year, and that half your 8-10 draft picks and FAs work out
All of this sounds easy in theory... Add 4-5 new starters and the D is fixed. I mean I could say the same for the Jets- Add a RT through the draft, a top tier Safety through FA, draft an OLB in round 1 or 2, and sign a WR and draft another. In essence that would revamp the whole roster. But to make it happen is easier said than done. To make this happen, the FO is going to have to have an amazing offseason. It could be solved in a year, and next year we are battling the Pats for the AFCE and the top team in the AFC, or we could be in a situation similar to this year and still need another offseason or two.
The Patriots don't need 4-5 new starters, they need 1 new starter at S next to Chung, and to add some DB depth and perhaps a situational pass rusher. The rest of their D is decent when healthy, it is just that their depth in the back 4 is awful, and their offense when healthy is talented and deep at just about every position. The Jets problem goes deeper, we need O-linemen, at least 1 new safety, at least 1 new linebacker, we also have a questionable situation at Qb, no RB depth and no #2-4 WRs and we don't have an elite offense to cover up the holes and put pressure on the other team.
Agree with this article. 1) Rex needs to hire someone that will run the O the way HE wants it... ergo ground and pound. Both our HC and our QB are built for that, let's not change who we are. 2) We need to upgrade our RBs... how can you expect to have a dominant run game with a mono-dimensional back in Greene, an unknown (and small at 207 lbs) Powell and a feather in McKnight? 3) How the fuck can a run first team afford having Keller as it's starting TE and Mulligan as a blocking TE? I'd love to have Keller and a big all round TE in 2 TE sets... it sucks Cumberland tore his achilles.
I would love to pick up 4 new O linemen, but realistically we are getting Turner back as one "backup". We can get a RT in FA and then another O linemen in the draft. I think let Greg come back and "battle" with Sanchez. I'm surprised RB is on there above WR. The Jets need someone to take away double coverage from Tone even if its a rookie. Defensively I think we keep Jimmy, and don't be greedy leave one of landry/mathis for us!
In the draft, Jets could hope for DeCastro, G from Stanford in the first round or Cordy Glenn, G from UGA. On the D Line Wilkerson looks like he'll fill in nicely. Kenrick Ellis might be a bust (for a 3rd rounder). If you go O-line in the first, you might pick up David Wilson RB VT or Doug Martin RB Boise.
I thonk this is an unfair account of what I have seen from schotty the last 3 yrs. Do not forget that 'letting Sanchez free' was the mantra among the fans not too long ago. Shotty has done all he can to play with a limited QB, never taking any risks in his own redzone or on 3rd and long etc etc. I just don't think he has succeeded and therefore he should be gone. When it comes to building the team I am convinced that RR is not very good at it, and certainly not experienced at it, therefore we end up in this mess, and I doubt that he can take us out of it, with or without schotty, Sanchez etc etc.
I do not see us becoming better than the pats in the foreseeable future. They need people to come back from injury, we need fas and picks to work out immediately. They have 5 picks because they do not need them and didn't need them the previous yrs, always trading from strength. AND they have a significant headstart, this was the year in my opinion when they where there for the taking.
