Jets' Impreative Adjustment

The following was quoted by the Jets defensive coordinator personnel:
"The one thing about our system is that it is player-driven," Pettine said. "We are going to evaluate during the spring what our players do well and what they don't do well. We've always been of the mind-set that you fit your system to your players and not your players to your system."

Instead of insulting the coaches, what kind of system do you think the Jet defense will suffice?

We have the necessary parts to run a power offense with one of the premiere Offensive lines in football (particularly the left side). Tony Richardson is an above average fullback and even though he is nearing retiring we can use him for the time being. Thomas Jones is the ideal running for a power offense, since he excels at running through the tackles and fighting for those extra one or two yards that eventually payoff in this system where three down first-downs and time of possession are critical. The passing game will no longer be a strength for the Jets as Coles is aging and injury prone, while Favre is on the way out leaving either Kellen Clemens or a new-comer. Either way it will not be someone who has spent an extensive amount of time during game play with the Jet offense, so having a run based offense would be extremely beneficial.

Having that said, the Jets could emulate the likes of Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Baltimore, and the other New York team by creating a team with a dynamic running game and stingy defense.
Currently the Jets are an effective blitzer away from having a top rated defense. With Kris Jenkins and Shaun Ellis providing a solid foundation followed by Calvin Pace, Vernon Gholston, and David Harris. The team has a lot of versatility which would allow them to line up in either the 4-3 or 3-4 - provided the speed and size of Gholston. Presumably, the Jets could sign either a DL or LB and play a fundamental defense with some blitz packages without having to install some elaborate system like Mangani attempted. Having Rex Ryan puts the Jets in the position to steal one of the free agent linebackers from Baltimore (Bart Scott or Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis is not happening); if that doesn't work then Karlos Dansby should be a potential suitor.
If a reliable blitzer is added then the Jets will be an extremely difficult team to run against forcing teams to pass. The Jets had one of the worst pass defenses in terms of passing yards even though Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes are two of the most promising defensive backs in football. With no other significant flaws the Jets can afford to focus on improving the secondary; this offseason turns out to be abundant in defensive backs with Nnamdi Asomugha (yes I copied and pasted his name), Mike Brown, and Brian Dawkins on the market and Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis, William Moore, DJ Moore, and Alphonso Smith in the draft. Realistically, the Jets should be able to sign one of those players and draft one of the players since signing one of the linebackers should be a hassle with Rex Ryan.

The Jets are a commitment, two signings, and a draft pick away from being a definite playoff team and Super Bowl contender. It will be a difficult task, but with the flexibility of Rex Ryan it is within reach.

EDIT: I was inconclusive about what the imperative change is for the Jets. The change is a commitment, as opposed to their current policy of indecisiveness - in terms of system, quarterbacks, direction, and focus. It should have been stressed continually as that was my original intention for the piece; it is also important to recognize that commitment is critical to success in anything.

Bracketism 203 - January 24, 2009

South
1 Duke
16 Morgan St./Alabama St.
8 West Virginia
9 Kansas
5 Minnesota
12 VCU
4 Texas
13 Vermont
3 Syracuse
14 Virginia Military
6 Memphis
11 Arizona
7 Kentucky
10 Missouri
2 Louisville
15 American

West
1 UNC
16 Robert Morris
8 Florida
9 UNLV
5 Butler
12 Wisconsin
4 Georgetown
13 Utah St.
3 UCLA
14 Portland St.
6 Villanova
11 Florida St.
7 Illinois
10 Washington
2 Oklahoma
15 Long Beach St.

---

East
1 Connecticut
16 Austin Peay
8 Miami (FL)
9 St. Mary's
5 Xavier
12 Utah
4 Purdue
13 Siena
3 Marquette
14 Western Kentucky
6 California
11 Texas A&M
7 Tennessee
10 Ohio St.
2 Wake Forest
15 Cornell

Midwest
1 Pittsburgh
16 Stephen F. Austin
8 Davidson
9 Michigan
5 Notre Dame
12 Northern Iowa
4 Arizona St.
13 Buffalo
3 Clemson
14 E. Tennessee St.
6 Gonzaga
11 Arkansas
7 Baylor
10 Dayton
2 Michigan St.
15 North Dakota St.

Last Four Out - Boston College, Stanford, USC, BYU
Next Four Out - Penn St., LSU, Illinois St., Oklahoma St.
Honorable Mentions - Virginia Tech, George Mason, UAB, Providence, Cincinnati

The Bracket Project

Bracketism 202 - January 17, 2009

As of now the last four spots in is interchangeable among the one that I have chosen and most of the members of the last four in and the next four in. As the season progress, it will be easier to distinguish between the deserving teams and the inadequate ones as the basis for contention will be based on the teams' resumes instead of skill, potential, and the few key victories teams have been able to gather thus far.

East
1 Pittsburgh
16 Alabama St./Morgan St.
8 Davidson
9 Boston College
5 Marquette
12 VCU
4 Xavier
13 Siena
3 Texas
14 Western Kentucky
6 Kentucky
11 Florida
7 Michigan
10 Kansas
2 UNC
15 Cornell

West
1 Duke
16 American
8 St. Mary's
9 BYU
5 Louisville
12 Texas A&M
4 Purdue
13 Utah St.
3 Georgetown
14 Belmont
6 Gonzaga
11 Washington
7 Memphis
10 Illinois St.
2 UCLA
15 Long Beach St.

---

South
1 Wake Forest
16 Oral Roberts
8 Arkansas
9 Ohio St.
5 Minnesota
12 Arizona
4 Arizona St.
13 UAB
3 Syracuse
14 Virginia Military
6 Villanova
11 UNLV
7 Tennessee
10 USC
2 Oklahoma
15 Stephen F. Austin

Midwest
1 Connecticuit
16 Austin Peay
8 Miami (FL)
9 Illinois
5 Butler
12 Dayton
4 Notre Dame
13 Vermont
3 Clemson
14 Portland St.
6 California
11 Kent St.
7 Baylor
10 West Virginia
2 Michigan St.
15 Robert Morris

Last Four Out - Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida St., Stanford
Next Four Out - Oklahoma St., Providence, LSU. St John's
Honorable Mentions - George Mason, Bradley, Alabama, Cincinatti, Northern Iowa, Mississippi St.

The Bracket Project

Bracketism 201 - January 10, 2009

Bracketism is back in session.

South
1 UNC
16 Alabama St./Bethune-Cookman
8 Arizona
9 West Virigina
5 California
12 LSU
4 Marquette
13 Portland St.
3 Georgetown
14 Western Kentucky
6 Boston College
11 Kentucky
7 Tennessee
10 USC
2 Oklahoma
15 Stephen F. Austin

West
1 Connecticut
16 Oral Roberts
8 Davidson
9 Ohio St.
5 Gonzaga
12 Michigan
4 Arizona St.
13 Utah St.
3 UCLA
14 Belmont
6 Louisville
11 UNLV
7 Miami (FL)
10 UAB
2 Texas
15 Long Beach St.

---

East
1 Pittsburgh
16 American
8 VCU
9 St. Mary's
5 Notre Dame
12 Florida St.
4 Xavier
13 Kansas
3 Purdue
14 Vermont
6 Memphis
11 Stanford
7 Butler
10 Wisconsin
2 Wake Forest
15 Cornell

Midwest
1 Duke
16 Austin Peay
8 Villanova
9 Illinois St.
5 Minnesota
12 Dayton
4 Syracuse
13 Virginia Military
3 Clemson
14 Siena
6 Arkansas
11 Bradley
7 Baylor
10 Kent St.
2 Michigan St.
15 Robert Morris

Last Four Out - Texas A&M, Florida, Washington, Providence
Next Four Out - Penn St., Alabama, George Mason, Creighton
Honorable Mentions - St. John's, Missouri, Virginia

The Bracket Project

Spread Offenses and NFL - January 01, 2009

Why spread offenses aren't run as consistently in the NFL as they are in NCAA?

First the defenses are quicker. The secondary keeps up with the receivers so it takes longer for the receivers to get open. The defensive line men can get to the quarterback quicker if they put a good move on an offensive lineman and if a linebacker stalls and hits a gap in the o-line then he will get to the quarterback pretty quickly.
With the faster pass rush the quarterbacks do not have as much time to sit there and wait for their receivers to get open leading to risk passes that safeties and cornerbacks can make plays on.

Second, if there is no one in the back field or just an offset RB, then teams can commit more players to the blitz or drop more to coverage, again limiting the time a quarterback has and making it more difficult for a receiver to get open. Additionally, most linebackers can make those open field tackles so if teams runs draws they are not as effective as in the college game. Also, the linebackers do a better job in coverage against the backs so the swing pass is not an effective outlet like it is in the college game (linebackers make the open field tackle again on the swing).

Third, speed and athleticism of NFL quarterbacks. If you have seen Texas run the spread then you have seen Colt McCoy make plays with his feet by extending the play or going out and running for a gain. Have you ever seen Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers run? Some teams do have quarterbacks that can run the system, but then you have to go back to the first two reasons. Besides that, the spread offenses require quarterbacks to go out and make plays and it isn't worth sending out focal quarterbacks up against hard-hitting. Quarterbacks rarely win the battle in the NFL and can be injured.

Fourth, in the NFL you have to vary your offense. In every game you will see a glimpse of the spread as a team runs the hurry up or goes into Shotgun, but with all the information available to the teams during the game it is hard to stick with a single set of formations (hence formations like the Wildcat). So most teams do run the spread offense but not to the same level as Mike Leach does with Texas Tech were it is an every down affair. Defenses will make the stops if they know what is coming every down, so teams must vary sets.

Finally, NFL defenses are more prepared to keep up with the hurry up offenses. Obviously practice and increased film study, but with the addition of in the headset-helmet system, defenses do not need to run over to the side line to receive the play.