My sons took me to task for targeting Eric Smith also, but I was trying to draw a parallel with Gastineau and how history always seems to repeat itself for us As for Robinson in'78, I was just trying to set up how our 8-8 in '78 was so promising and our 8-8 in '79 was not, both because of Matt Robinson.
No problem, 45. I guess I was just being the lawyer too much on 78, so I apologize. I guess I am a bit touchy about Eric Smith. He got blamed for the overall poor play of the safeties, especially in 2011, and while Bell was better for one year, Bell was no long term solution, and despite some promising play by Allen this past year, the safeties overall pretty much sucked again. Smith meanwhile was hampered in pass coverage by the Jets having too slow linebackers, and when TE's would gouge the D for big gains, ending in a tackle by Smith, it looked like he was at fault when it was really someone else's. But yes he was slow and no one else picked him up after he was waived, but that may have had more to do with his knee injury.
Actually, when you think about it, '78 was a unique year in our history. After three straight 3-11 seasons, the Jets had bottomed out. It was the second year of Michaels and the third year of Todd, and they had given us no reason to hope for success. The Jets and NFL football was low on the radar screen in NYC for '78. Then we beat the Dolphins and actually opened 2-0. It was a very enjoyable year, because there were no expectations, and whatever we showed in a positive light, sparked IMO, by Robinson, was surprisingly positive.
good post by the OP, having witnessed all of it i generally concur. it is the nyj history cliff notes.
I agree Gastineau with the worst penalty in Jets history.... how is it a possible a 34 year old man could still have nightmares about something that happened 28 years ago?
I would have changed 2004 to-----if doug brian had listened to his wife when she said "just 2 more inches higher dougie" jets would have won the game and be in the afccg I was sitting in the upper deck end zone ---when the kick was made all the pitt fans were crying --oh no the jets are going to beat us-----but the kick hit the cross bar and we didn't win
cane jet in the Houston playoff game al toon was called for offensive pass interference----so the td wouldn't have counted we jet fans have suffered----oy vey-----I wonder if other teams have had the miseries that we have the most successful team, team with most sb victories, is prob pitt with 6---only 6 out of 48 sb is also cause for many oy veys I started with the titans in 1960----and ill end with the jets----lets keep the faith
