-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Green day By Jim McBride Globe Staff / September 14, 2008 Email| Print| Single Page| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size ? + New England Patriots (1-0) at New York Jets (1-0) 4:15 p.m., Ch. 4. Line: Jets by 2 1/2 WHEN THE PATRIOTS RUN New England may not have the Four Horsemen in its backfield, but the quartet of Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, and Kevin Faulk is about as solid as any group in the NFL. Maroney is the starter but he's rarely called on to carry the load for an entire game. His vision has improved. He finds seams quickly and explodes through them. His punishing downhill style sets the tone for the group. His leadership and production are needed more than ever now that Tom Brady is out. Morris has excellent vision and is more of a slashing runner. Morris is the rare back that keeps getting better with age. His legs look fresher now than they did five seasons ago. Jordan has to be considered among the best third-string tailbacks in football. He is big (5 feet 10 inches, 230 pounds) and powerful and can wear defenses out - especially defenses that are tired from chasing Maroney and Morris. He's not the elusive type, but Jordan can take a licking and keep on ticking. Faulk is a very instinctive player with good vision and explosiveness. The big challenge is for the line to shift from a unit that was built for pass protection to run blocking. Center Dan Koppen, a smart, savvy player, has to lead the transformation. Koppen takes excellent angles and rarely misses an assignment. He won't be fooled by stunting linemen and linebackers and will pick off blitzing safeties. The Jets brought in massive nose tackle Kris Jenkins (6-4, 349 pounds) to stuff the run. Jenkins has a quick first step and will shed blockers quickly. He will wear down late. Inside linebacker David Harris has good vision and is relentless in his pursuit of running backs. EDGE: Patriots WHEN THE PATRIOTS PASS Matt Cassel has all the physical tools to be a successful NFL quarterback: size (6 feet 4 inches, 230 pounds), decent mobility, and arm strength. He's shown enough in practice that Bill Belichick has kept him around for four years, and that should speak volumes. While the pressure is on Cassel, he has an outstanding supporting cast. Start with Randy Moss, who, if he remains focused, can have a huge impact Sunday. Moss torched the Jets secondary last year (14 catches, 262 yards) and could be in for another big day if he can exploit a matchup with rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery. Moss is a tremendous physical presence (6-4 with that gigantic wingspan) with soft hands, great body control, and blinding speed. Even if the Jets double Moss, that leaves someone open - and that someone is often Wes Welker. The 5-9 Welker, who had a few uncharacteristic drops last week, will be an invaluable safety valve/confidence builder for Cassel. Welker works the underneath better than any one and is seemingly always open. A change in quarterback shouldn't change his style. Kevin Faulk and LaMont Jordan may also prove invaluable as the Patriots try to get Cassel into a groove early. Both backs are excellent receivers and can inflict a lot of damage on screens. A few completions early will loosen the defense and open things up for the running game. New York's top corner is Darrelle Revis, who possesses the ideal combination of size (5-11), speed, and cover skills. Lowery has size (5-11) and potential but he's raw. Safety Kerry Rhodes has limited coverage skills but can really lower the boom. Ditto his running mate, Eric Smith.Continued... EDGE: Jets WHEN THE JETS RUN Thomas Jones put up respectable numbers last season (1,119 yards) but he was hardly the game-breaking, shifty runner he was in Chicago. He arrived in Gotham with the reputation of a slashing runner with excellent cutback skills and decent quickness. In 2007, he often appeared to be going in slow motion. The problem was compounded by the abysmal play of the Jets' offensive line, which failed to create space and cutback lanes, leaving Jones exposed to big hits and bigger bruises. In two games vs. New England, Jones collected 61 yards on 23 totes. Jones is backed up by tiny Leon Washington (5 feet 8 inches, 202 pounds). Washington has elite quickness and unlike Jones, he can slip through the tiniest cracks and can gain yards when it appears there's none to be gained. Washington does not have the body type to absorb the abuse of a 20- to 25-carry back. The Jets addressed their shoddy line play by signing left guard Alan Faneca, one of the NFL's legendary brawlers. Now in his 11th season, Faneca has lost very little off his fastball. He's exceptionally smart, has excellent vision, and uses his hands effectively. At center, Nick Mangold has the strength and intelligence to be a dominant player but he struggles with consistency. Mangold, who makes all the line calls, can't afford to take any plays off Sunday as he swaps paint with Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The massive Wilfork is tough, smart, and relentless. He has more energy and endurance than any 300-pounder has a right to. Right guard Brandon Moore is tough and strong but lacks quickness and can get overwhelmed by blitz packages. EDGE: Patriots WHEN THE JETS PASS Brett Favre has changed how teams must prepare for the Jets. Gone are the days of the dinking and dunking pass offense that played to the strength of ultra-accurate passer Chad Pennington. Favre, who still has excellent arm strength, is more of a gambler. He can - and will - make all the throws. Favre deciphers defenses quickly and gets rid of the ball in a snap. When he doesn't spot an opening he likes, he can buy time with his legs and suffers very little dropoff in accuracy when he's on the move. He's also extraordinarily tough and plays through bumps and bruises that would send most baseball players to the disabled list. The Jets top receiver is Laveranues Coles, who plays tougher and bigger than his 5-foot-11-inch, 193-pound frame. Coles is fast and fearless. He will embarrass cornerbacks with his speed and surprise safeties with ability to pop up after taking big hits across the middle. Coles can be moody and doesn't always give maximum effort when his number is not called. Jerricho Cotchery is one of the league's most underrated players. Cotchery may not have high-end speed, but he runs good routes, has soft hands, and doesn't mind streaking over the middle and taking on linebackers and safeties. New England's corners have had trouble with this duo and that will continue Sunday. Tight ends Chris Baker (he has good hands) and Bubba Franks (he's a force after the catch) are above average. Favre's main protector is left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who has excellent athleticism, allowing him to mirror speed rushers. The former first-rounder lacks strength and consistency. Ex-Patriot Damien Woody (he lacks focus) mans the right tackle spot. EDGE: Jets Jets' keys to victory: 1. Down thrust: Jones and Washington have to establish some semblance of a running game so Favre doesn't have to win this game by himself. 2. Ground effect: Jenkins has to plug the gaps and Harris has to close the lanes to prevent the Patriots from running rough shod. 3. Hot start: Getting on the board first puts even more pressure on Cassel and the shellshocked Patriots. Patriots' keys to victory 1. Cinderella story: It's important to get Cassel into a groove early to allow him to author a victory against New England's archrival. 2. Chop chop: New England's athletic and versatile front seven must cut down Jones early to force New York into being a one-dimensional offense. 3. I'm all right: Bill Belichick has to convince his club the season isn't over. It's time to deliver a fire-and-brimstone speech to keep team morale high. Prediction: Jets 16, Patriots 10 ? Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
Yeah that line was completely bogus..if anything it's the opposite. Rhodes brings elite corner covrage ability to the safety position w/ ridiculous size (6'3 plus)..what he lacks is consistent physical play.
It isnt the bravest of pics to take the Jets in this game, especially when that whole city is down in the dumps about losing brady.
