Let's Get This Thing Right

Okay Jets fans, the ship is listing, it's true. BUT WE ARE NOT SUNK YET.

Does anyone remember the 1999 New York Jets team, coached by your legend and mine- Bill Parcells? They started out 1-6, had the Bye in Week 8 and then won 7 of 9 to finish with a respectable 8-8. It wasn't respectable about the record itself, but they were one of the best teams in the league despite their record. NO ONE wanted to play them coming down the stretch because the Jets would put a serious dent in their playoff hopes. The Miami Dolphins that year lost to the Jets TWICE in four weeks. That New York Jet team had the attitude that it was going to the playoffs even though there was little hope.

Well, listening to Mangini's press conference after the Catastrophe in Cincy, he sounded like he was ready to fight somebody. The frustration is there because the Jets put together 2/3 a game and that other 1/3 remains elusive. Take this Cincy game, the Offense explodes! Special Teams does their jobs! Defense took the second half off.......

The Giants game. Defense scores a touchdown! Special Teams scores a TD on a 98-yard kickoff return! Offense dominates in the fist half! Then takes the second half off....

What I am saying is: the Jets show glimpses of that team last year. The losses are frustrating and they keep us from seeing any progress that might be made each game. I didn't think Chad could throw a ball 55 yards in the air, but he did it a Cincy on Sunday. Thomas Jones was starting slow, we thought maybe he doesn't have it any more, then he runs for 139 yards.

What we need is one week where all 4 quarters the Jets stay even keel and focused. Focus only on the job at hand, the next play.

Next, we acknowledge what isn't working. The Jets defense is a 4-3 and plays to the talents of their defensive players better that way. Vilma is a middle linebacker, not one of two middle linebackers in the 3-4. The D line is better with 4 guys than with 3, which frees up Vilma to use his smarts and speed to play like Ray Lewis. Revis is the real deal and Kerry Rhodes can lead the secondary. Mangini, organize who you have. not what you would ideally like them to do. The 3-4 is a better way to DISGUISE your defense, but guess what? 4-3 defensive teams win the Super Bowl too.

After that, focus only on running the football and stopping the run. I'll tell you where Chad can be super effective, -play action. You've got burner receivers in Coles and Cotchery.

Simple football. Forget the record, the playoff chase, the fucking bad karma Patriots. Win this week.