Tired of the Jets

On Sunday, the Patriots almost blew a 10-point lead to the New York Jets before winning in overtime.  While New England’s travails continue to puzzle most football observers, the Jets persist in rankling this spectator.

My dislike of the Jets reached new heights this week with two statements by Jets personnel:

First, coach Rex Ryan told reporters at a press conference that since Tim Tebow knows the extent of the offense, he could be ”plugged in” at any position and bring value to the team that way.  Nobody denies Tebow’s ability as a football player, but to make the case that a quarterback could play tight end or running back for more than two plays in an NFL game flies in the face of football’s sacrosanct traditions…and common sense.  The Tebow acquisition, a move I impugned mercilessly on Day One, continues as a gimmick.  First he’s a punt blocking specialist, then he comes in as a Wildcat quarterback, then he’s catching a pass, then he’s throwing one…it never stops.  All through it, Tebow continues to be a team player and, overall, a fantastic human being.  But for his head coach, it’s all gimmickry.

This made things so ironic when linebacker Calvin Pace related the Patriots up-tempo offense to a gimmick technically allowed by the rules, calling it “borderline illegal.”

There are multiple issues with this picture, not the least of which being the Jets creating an excuse for their poor defensive play.  The Pats can burn teams on offense, picking up a team record 35 first downs in Week 5 and running almost 100 offensive plays.  In Week 10 last year, the Patriots effectively kept New York from making defensive substitutions en route to a 38-16 victory.  And yet, instead of accepting the need to play better on defense or be quicker with substitutions, the coaching staff lodged a complaint with the NFL in preparation for Sunday’s game.  One of the unit’s defensive captains explained to reporters not that his team needed to play better, but that should the defense do poorly it could all be excused. 

Frankly, this is more of the same from the Jets, who continue to make off-field news without showing any ability or talent on the field.  This same team two seasons ago taught its offensive trainers to impede opposing gunners on punt coverage, eventually causing an injury to an opponent.  Rex Ryan routinely slathers praise on “the best team I’ve ever coached” despite its obvious imperfections, failures, and downright fecal attitude.  From Santonio Holmes sabotaging the locker room last year to Darrelle Revis holding out prior to every season, Gang Green has no central locker room presence to quiet the children.  And, while Jets fans hate to admit it, the whining is nothing new for the organization as a whole.  Remember Spygate?  Remember all the Jets folks who swore their team could have beaten the Pats if not for the videotaped offensive signals?  Every once in a while, fans should accept their team just can’t beat the competition with any consistency, but New York Jets fans and players want to keep excusing poor play.

The biggest man in the room, Ryan, entered New York commenting how his team “didn’t want to be little brother” to their co-tenants at MetLife stadium.  Two Super Bowl wins later, I don’t hear tales of locker room dysfunction from the Giants nor misplaced excuses for poor defensive performance.  And certainly, no one can attest to the New York Giants lining David Carr up as anything but the waterboy.  The championship pedigree of other teams doesn’t rub off on the Jets because New York puts too much time into all the wrong things.  Were Ryan to enact a radio silence order for his team one week, maybe the team would focus on its own weaknesses rather than inspiring bulletin board material in opposing locker rooms.  The Jets arguably outplayed the Patriots on Sunday and still lost the game.  Style points don’t necessarily count for a squad as listless as the Jets…they need Ws, not Ls next to their names.

It comes down to this, dear readers.  Any media statement by the Jets can be likened to a Cars.com commercial (if you don't know what I mean, click the link).  One statement is never good enough, and before you know it the dang thing has three weird heads chattering at you in various languages and brogues.  It couldn’t be more unbecoming to either the organization or the individuals themselves.  But, the likeness doesn’t stop there.  Like the Cars.com commercials, we the public don’t need any more Jet blowhards clogging up our work week.  This organization has doomed itself by focusing too much on the witty saying rather than the big play, the interjection rather than the interception, and the showdown as opposed to the touchdown.  If New York wants to win in the AFC, it’s time to put up or shut up with no exceptions.  Otherwise, expect this team to look and feel radically different next season.

Bit #1: A Go Route Up the Seam??

In the middle of switching domiciles yesterday, I caught one of the most heartbreaking plays I’ve seen in a while.  The Redskins pass defense, heralded by none, gave up a deep ball to Victor Cruz.  Not just a deep ball, but a go route (translation: run straight and fast, and hopefully I’ll find you open), the same thing we do on Turkey Bowl gridirons.  And, the coverage clearly called for safety help over the top but didn’t call for Madieu Williams to ogle the cheerleaders.  His one job was to provide coverage deep, and he failed miserably.

In a loss like this, however, I give the Redskins credit for finding ways to stay competitive.  Alfred Morris turned in a very solid performance, running hard against a Giants defense known for being stout against the run.  While other NFC East fan bases might not appreciate Griffin, he had a passer rating of 108.9 and ran for 89 yards.  His ability to extend plays and gain yardage with his legs puts the offense on another level, as seen by their point totals this year.  The Skins, however, cannot hope to win by putting the ball on the ground five times in the course of a game.  Three of those fumbles were lost to the Giants, with the all-important hot potato pass by Santana Moss robbing the Skins of any comeback opportunity, however unlikely.  The Giants are reigning Super Bowl Champs, so a positive performance on the road should be accepted by Skins fans as a good omen for the future.  I would also point out Eli threw two picks, so turnovers by the pass D helps a little bit.

Bit #2: Scott Pioli Extension?

Last week, CBS Sports reported that the Kansas City Chiefs offered General Manager Scott Pioli a two-year extension.  Pioli, formerly the personnel architect in New England, has not guided the Chiefs to the promised land, posting a 22-32 record since taking the helm.

While reports now debunk the rumors of an extension offer, that the conversation would even be occurring proves the ownership in Kansas City has no interest in winning anytime soon.  Pioli’s signature failures have been at quarterback and in the draft.  Matt Cassel, originally signed to a six-year deal, must now compete with Brady Quinn (off the Cleveland Browns scrap heap, amazingly) for the starting job.  In the draft, Pioli has spent lots of time bolstering a defensive line with top draft picks, none of whom have worked out.  Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, and Dontari Poe have not as yet justified their high draft selections.  The best draft pick by Pioli likely was kicker Ryan Succop, the final pick from 2009.

In today’s NFL, you can go only as far as the quarterback can take you.  Matt Cassel has not delivered in the last two years, even when he is healthy.  His success filling in for Tom Brady in New England looks to be simultaneous with the Crusades only five years later.  If Pioli wants to keep his job, he will need to hope for a high draft pick and, if that goes begging, trade up for a quarterback.

Bit #3: Game 7 almost a necessity

Every one in a while, sports can create a Homeric lyricism that keeps all of us coming back.  Consider the Greeks, the greatest and unbeatable force in all the world, fighting Troy, a city that had never fallen to any invading horde.

Such has been the Giants-Cardinals NLCS.  The Cardinals, in the drivers’ seat for the series 72 hours ago, must play their third winner-take-all game of the postseason on Monday night.  This same team won a slew of elimination games in last year’s postseason, continuing its cardiac-kids legacy.  For the Giants, they have won five elimination games in the last two weeks, a remarkable feat considering four of those wins came on the road.  Game 6 centered around pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, truly a fantastic story.  A journeyman in every sense of the word, Vogelsong played in Japan, Venezuela, ten minor league cities, four major league organizations, and for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  That’s a career, and for him to start in the NLCS deserves praise and recognition. 

The stats coming into Game 7 really are Homeric in historical implications.  The Giants have never won a Game 7 in their history, but 13 of 14 teams to force a Game 7 after winning at home have gone on to win Game 7.  Only two teams have ever lost Game 7s at home after being down 3-1 in a series.  That’s impressive stuff and, given the recent fortitude of the Cardinals in these situations, something will give.  For my money, the numbers point to a psychological advantage for teams like the Giants winning twice to force a Game 7 at home.  They will win Monday night behind a stellar performance by Matt Cain.