We can close the book on the 2009 Jets. Not because they're NOT going to the playoffs but because they don't have a chance to rewrite the headline defining this team. You could argue that the headline is: "Sanchez shows promise but is still a big question mark". But I don't think that's fair. I think Sanchez has played well enough in enough games to have been credited as a winner. Of course, he and the offense are indicted along with the defense and special teams for those awful games that were in our grasp and given away for a lack of cojones. The 2009 Jets quite simply are chokers. The hope is this is a hangover from Mangini and previous administrations and not something that has attached itself to Ryan. Both Miami games, and the losses to Buffalo, Jax, and Atlanta today were giveaways. We had 'em and couldn't hold 'em. Ryan needs to change that mentality and find players who know how to close so that we don't have to go through these agonizing defeats next year.
ryan is changing the mentality, but we have to change it too. To many Jets fans are still babies and whiners and get scared when their team is about to be successful. Very few people with anything to do with the Jets has a pair of balls.
I don't think Sanchez is a question mark at all. Hes made some costly mistakes in quite a few games but it really doesn't seem like his confidence is shaken. If the defense is lights out against next season and Sanchez cuts back on the ints and fumbles I don't see how this team cant go 11-5 or even 12-4.
I agree with the OP to an extent.... what people need to realize...is this a process.....Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez coming to this team was certainly a positive....but the success wasn't going to happen overnight....and that's where the "disconnect" is. We need to give this regime a good 3 or 4 years...perhaps longer if Schotty gets canned. I know it's been 40 fuckin' years....and I hate that.....but that's the nature of the beast, folks. We need to stand by this team....and support them through this. If you can't....then really....you should probably jump on another bandwagon.
I think all were really missing is a guy who knows how to develop a quarterback. I don't have much faith in Sanchez reaching his full potential with Schotty as our OC. I'm not saying Sanchez will end up being a bust he just won't be as good as he could be.
the one thing we can count on though...Sanchez is a student of the game. I believe he'll be watching film, working on his game, and doing whatever is necessary to take his game to the next level this offseason...
I do believe Ryan is the guy and I believe Sanchez is too...not questioning it, just stating what NEEDS to happen next year and beyond. It's hard to be tough guys and swagger when you wilt in the clutch. One thing Ryan needs to do is find players that understand the difference between aggressive and bonehead. Still too many of those plays costing the team games.
The defense is here. The run offense is here (I'm going to include Leon in the factor with Jones and Greene). Sanchez will be here. Our true identity is coming. It's safe to say we know how Ryan handles things, and what he is looking to do with this team. He has to be able to teach Sanchez the ways of being able to manage the game, and not feeling the need to force passes in. In all honesty, if the "color code system" is what makes Sanchez comfortable, then I say stick with it until Sanchez can do it on his own.
It's hard to take right now but I truly believe this team is going places. If it's any consolation my English football (soccer) team hasn't won the league title for 82 years. 'Course I've only been alive for 35 of them but it still hurts like a bastard.
I think anybody who says that the run offense is here needs to explain why this team can't run at will against middle of the pack run defenses. The facts are that the Jets rushing attack has been shut down several times this year when we really needed it to be there. We'd have won today if the Jets could dictate the pace of play on the ground. They couldn't. We'd have won at New Orleans and at Miami the 1st time if the Jets could get the run game going. They couldn't. Miami is the 13th ranked run defense so maybe they shut us down on the merits. Atlanta is the 21st ranked run defense. No way they should have shut us down. New Orleans is 23. We win 2 out of those 3 games if the Jet's run game is there. On defense we have lost 4 games this year when the last score was by the opponent in the final 2 minutes and provided the margin of victory. Miami #1, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Atlanta, all of those games went over with the defense on the field at the end of the game, frequently with long drives doing it. If the defense is there then we win at least two of those games and we're in it. The Jets have a lot of work to do on all aspects of the game at this point and ignoring the defensive side is just going to make that the side that is obviously failing shortly.
Jets lack an impact pass rusher to light this defense on fire. That's why they can't get the stop they need at the end. Must find a defensive end that requires constant double team next year. MUST>
Our DEs have been lights out all season long. Its the pass rushing outside linebacker the thing that we really lack. Pace is a good pass rusher, but he isn't a threat to get to the qb on any given play.
In a 3-4 that's a ROLB not a DE. The Jets have been playing a 3-4 without a pass-rushing ROLB for longer than it's possible to imagine that working. They need to go find the pass rusher next season.
I understand that, but I disagree that the DE have been lights out. They've been serviceable, but Seymour-level.
Way too early to be either happy with or pissed with the Coach or the QB. Mangini was Mangenious and had a cameo on the Sopranos his 1st season and he's now about to be fired from his 2nd job in 4 years. " I got me a QB", was the entusiastic cry of Herm Edwards when Pennington did that little fakeout scrabble for a TD in his first start(i think, but i forget who it was against), as we envisioned him taking us to the promised land. We all know how that worked out. Time will tell with both.It's way too early to vote for or against.
