SB Nation - Brad Smith

Falcons 10 Jets 7: Kicked Away

John B — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:19 -0000

by Kathy Willens - AP

The Jets fell back to .500 after suffering a crushing 10-7 loss to the Falcons today at the Meadowlands. Once again this team loses in the final minute. Once again this team wastes a great defensive effort. Once again we have to ask how the heck the Jets lost a game they seemed to control. It's the story of the season.

More after the jump.

The Bad:

Jay Feely: Jay, I'd like to introduce you to Doug Brien, John Hall, and Cary Blanchard. Feely helped kick the Jets out of the Playoffs by not connection on a pair of makable field goal tries. If he does his job, the Jets are comfortably ahead in the fourth quarter. No, he doesn't get a pass because the wind was bad. This is Feely's second season in the Meadowlands, and he spent time with the Giants before. He has plenty of experience in the Meadowlands. Does he get blame for kicking it too low on the blocked try? You bet. Last week's hero is this week's goat.

Kellen Clemens: Fine, we've established you can't play quarterback. Now you can't even get a hold down? The whole reason the Jets made him the holder was because of the botched field goal try in overtime against the Bills. The Jets wanted a guy capable of throwing it on a broken play. Using the backup quarterback presents a different problem. He's not on the field and doesn't handle the ball. Maybe Brad Smith would be a better choice. He sees action and can make something happen with his legs and arm if things break down.

James Dearth: His long snaps were terrible. They didn't help matters.

Sending Three on Fourth Down: The Jets are an aggressive team. That's how they became the top statistical defense in the league. It's how they shut the Falcons down all game. Why go away from what works and only rush three on the play that decided the game?

Offensive Line: The rare performance where the other team was successful loading up the box because the offensive line wasn't getting enough of a push. I'm not going to get on Thomas Jones (19 carries, 52 yards) because I didn't really see anywhere for him to run most of the time.

Missed Opportunities: Five trips in Falcons territory ended in no points. That's a recipe for heartbreak.

Danny Woodhead: Very unimpressive game. Didn't come up with a pair of catches he should have had early. Later he showed no ability to break tackles. He was slow to break after the catch on a third down, and his run back on the kickoff following the winning touchdown put the Jets' back to the wall.

Alan Faneca: Idiotic personal foul killed the last drive before it really started.

Donald Stickland: Terrible penalty on the last drive. Even worse coverage.

The Good:

Darrelle Revis: Roddy White had 4 catches for 33 yards. He almost had as many times begging the officials for a flag as he had receptions. Revis shut him down.

David Harris: 10 tackles and was effective as a blitzer. The Jets surely won't be going to Miami for the Super Bowl, but Harris should go there for the Pro Bowl.

Kerry Rhodes: The missed tackle was bad, but Kerry played a great game aside from that. He registered 6 tackles and was excellent in coverage. This was the player we were expecting at the start of the year.

Brad Smith: A great kickoff return to start the second half and made good reads out of the Tiger formation.

Mark Sanchez: Yes, Sanchez goes here. He did some bad things, namely holding it too long, not throwing it away in some spots, and once again not sliding. I think you need to find a new scapegoat for the last drive. Can you blame him for the last interception? The Jets needed to get it downfield. He had to try and force something. The first pick was bad, but I was impressed with the way he responded. The rest of the game, he was making good throws and making good decisions with the ball. Even on the second pick, there was a window open. We were worried whether the cold was in his head. The throw seemed to give him confidence he can play in the cold. That's huge for the future. When you look at the numbers, it won't look great. In the grand scheme of things, I view today as a net positive. He proved he can make plays in the element. Mark will have to play better next week to get a win, though.

Braylon Edwards: 5 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also drew doubles which in theory should have opened thing up for others and did good work as a blocker. Admit it. You were nervous he'd drop the touchdown pass.

I hate to let the defense off the hook. I mean another game winning drive late is upsetting, but the fact of the matter is the game should never come down to the last drive when you only give up 10 points. This game was lost by the field goal unit and the offense not finishing drives. I have nothing left to say. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. Just like last year, we see a season essentially die in a snowstorm the Sunday before Christmas.

Jets 26 Buccaneers 3: Flying High Again

John B — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:02:58 -0000

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

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The Jets are somehow back in the Playoff mix after their 26-3 victory today over the Bucs in Tampa. Gang Green is riding a 3 game winning streak and is back over .500 at 7-6. The last month of this season could get very, very interesting. This performance rivals the Houston and Oakland games in terms of domination.

More after the jump.

The Good:

The Defense: We'll definitely profile some of the outstanding individual performers, but this was just an excellent defensive effort. Tampa's only 3 points came as the result of a personal foul on Bart Scott on which the officials arguably should have thrown an offsetting flag on the Bucs. The blitz packages had Josh Freeman's head spinning and overwhelmed Tampa's offensive line. Freeman was 14 for 33 with 93 yards and 3 interceptions. The Bucs didn't have a first down until the third quarter. They ended with 6 and 124 total yards. This was domination.

Jay Feely: Feely was money today. He hit 4 out of 5 field goals. One was from 40 yards, and a pair were from 49. Feely's kicking helped the Jets put the game away even as their offense struggled to advance deep into Tampa Bay territory.

Calvin Pace: He was constantly running free and finished with 7 tackles and a sack.

Darrelle Revis: Another dominant performance by the game's best corner. Antonio Bryant had 2 catches for 22 yards. Revis had an interception that just about iced the game and broke up a few passes.

Mike Westhoff: A fourth successful fake punt this year deserves kudos. It was the third variety of fake punt the team has run. Apparently the Bucs didn't pick it up on film.

Danny Woodhead: 3 catches for 35 yards. I'm really liking the idea of having him as a third down back and replacing Leon Washington a bit as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

The Tiger Formation: I made that name up, but it's what we'll call the Wildcat package for Brad Smith. Smith only had 16 yards on 5 carries, but getting the ball into the hands of a playmaker in the open field is a good idea and at least gives upcoming opponents something to notice on film and spend time preparing for. Smith had a 21 yard punt return. I'd like to see him out there instead of Jerricho Cotchery. He's more apt to make guys miss. I know he doesn't have great hands as a receiver and would seem to be more of a turnover risk, but catching a punt is different from catching a pass.

Thomas Jones: Another big stat line against an opponent that was gameplanning to stop him. TJ had 99 yards on 24 carries and 2 touchdowns.

The Bad:

Kellen Clemens: The best thing you could say is that he avoided a catastrophic mistake, finishing with no turnovers. In other words, he was lucky that Tampa Bay's offense was no inept because he didn't make any plays. This was bad any way you slice it. This is a bad defense that was loading up to stop the run. Kellen only hit 12 of 23 passes for 111 yards and looked lost aside from a brief period in the second half. He left plays on the field. He wasn't making decisions quickly enough. When he found a receiver, his throws were wildly inaccurate. His mechanics were a mess. He struggled with all but the most basic throws, and even some of them were an adventure.

A lot of us (and I include myself in that number) have been making excuses for Kellen for four years. He was young and inexperienced. He wasn't supposed to play. His offensive line was terrible. The team never gave him a chance. He's out of excuses. By this point, if he was ever going to be a player in this league, he would have shown some sign of it. It's sad to say because from what I hear you'll never meet a more genuinely good person. However, I don't see how Kellen finds a job in the NFL after this season.

Shonn Greene: That would be three fumbles in six games. When the ball is getting punched out from behind like that, it's a sign you're carrying it way too loosely. The Jets are going to have to start taking carries away from him. Even though he's been productive, it's becoming too much of a turnover risk.

Mike Westhoff: Westhoff got credit for the fake punt. He also has to take heat for the onside kick. It's been obvious the up men have been leaving too early all year. It almost cost them against Jacksonville. It hasn't been corrected at all. The Jets had no shot of recovering that kick because their men were so far down the field.

Three down, three to go. Nobody can say for sure how this thing will end. One thing is for sure. The Jets have shown a lot of character this year. It would have been easy to pack it in after the midseason swoon. The way they have continued to fight and get themselves back into this position says a lot good.

Jets Flight Connections 121209

dvdvil — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:56:37 -0000

Kerry Rhodes will not shut up.

Rex Ryan praises Lito Sheppard.

Rex Ryan praises D'Brickasaw Ferguson.

Rex Ryan and Bart Scott praise Josh Freeman.

Mike Pettine praises Larry Izzo.

Damien Woody praises Alan Faneca.

Braylon Edwards praises Kellen Clemens.

Brad Smith and Wallace Wright celebrate with a middle school in New Jersey.

The Jets are thankful to Eric Mangini and learn from the Browns' upset.

Mark Sanchez, Dwight Lowery and Robert Turner will not play on Sunday.

Buccaneers WR Michael Clayton and RB Carnell Williams might not play either.

More connections after the jump.

Miami will be playing against last week's Defensive Player of the Week.

New England might be playing wihout a healthy Adalius Thomas, and with a subpar Tom Brady.

Buffalo will not have Demetrius Bell for the rest of the year.

Once again, Wayne Chrebet is quoted in an NFL concussion policy article.

The topic of NFL injuries is becoming more serious.

Former Buccaneers HC Tony Dungy is still very involved in the NFL.

His other former team is currently still unbeaten, along with the Saints.

I would like to stress again that Darrelle Revis and Thomas Jones need to go back to the Pro Bowl. Please vote for them here. Polls close on Dec. 21.

Lastly, Rex Ryan talks about growing up in Toronto:

Jaguars 24 Jets 22: A New Low

John B — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:40:03 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

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The Jets are 4-5 after their 24-22 loss to Jacksonville in the Meadowlands today. That makes 5 losses in 6 games. It's the 4th of those 5 to be decided in the final 2:00. It's yet another crushing loss in a season that started so well.

More after the jump.

The Bad:

Kerry Rhodes: I've officially had enough of hearing Kerry talk about how great he is. Tone it down until you back it up on the field. Despite the defense's success, he hasn't transformed into the playmaker many expected. He was burned on the decisive play that set up a chip shot field goal.

First Half Defense: The Jets did not force a punt in the first half, and the front seven was completely manhandled. Jacksonville's run blockers constantly sealed their men and gave Maurice Jones-Drew holes to explode through. He almost because the first 100 yard rusher against New York this season in the first half alone.

Last Drive Defense: The pass rush wasn't there. I know this is a great defense, an elite unit. It would be nice if they could get the big stop, though. This is the third time in six games the other team has put together a game winning drive late in the fourth.

Rookie Mistakes by Mark Sanchez: This game was not a total wash for the rookie quarterback. He made some plays that flashed his promise and showed signs of what he will become with more seasoning. There were subtle errors, though, like not elevating the ball Quentin Groves interception. Don't get me wrong. It was an incredible display of athelticism and coordination by Groves. Great, great play. However, part of being a quarterback in the NFL is to make sure a quick throw to a receiver is high enough to get over a lineman. There was the timeout on the goal line he burned in the second half with plenty of time left on the play clock. There were a few attempted throw aways that Jacksonville defenders touched. These didn't affect the game, but it's playing with fire. If you're throwing it away, put it in the second row, not within reach of a defender. These things come with time and illustrate how tough it is to win with a rookie quarterback.

Dustin Keller: I know it's really tough to get on him. His 6 catch, 58 yard day was productive and encouraging. He's starting to emerge in the passing game. There were also a couple of key drops. In addition, a guy with his athleticism ought to be able to make somebody miss or break a tackle every now and then.

Braylon Edwards: Again, tough to get on him with 79 yards on 3 receptions, but his fumble was a killer. So was his drop on the two point conversion after the Jets took the lead in the fourth. It was not an unforced error but still a ball a number one receiver can't let hit the ground. He also never should have thrown it on his option pass. He had open field and a blocker in front of him and could have picked up a first down by tucking and running.

Lowery/Sheppard Combo: Dwight Lowery and Lito Sheppard are good football players. They have been good to very good this season. They had trouble with Torry Holt and Mike Thomas. Darrelle Revis shut down Mike Simms-Walker, but Jacksonville's top wideout scored a touchdown when Revis wasn't on him.

First Play Call: One thing I've always said about Brian Schottenheimer is that he has incredible acumen of X's and O's but doesn't know how to apply his knowledge. It reminds me of this teacher I had in high school chemistry. He was a brilliant guy who knew the concepts inside and out. He just couldn't communicate them so nobody in my class left with the slightest clue about chemistry. The first play of the game made sense on the chalkboard. It ended with Jerricho Cotchery wide open. The problem is it's really too hard for a rookie quarterback to roll left and make an accurate long throw against his body. The result was failure.

Let me talk about the Edwards throw. Part of the blame goes on Braylon for making the throw with open field in front of him, but why would you want him throwing with the game on the line? He's not used to doing it. It's not what he does best.

Darrelle Revis Returning Punts: Let me go on record. This is a horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible idea. I know he was great returning punts at Pitt. I know he had an incredible return against West Virginia. I watched that game and was blown away. There is absolutely no reason for him to be returning punts. By far his most important role on this team is shutting down the other team's best receiver. Why get him hit and potentially injured by running punts back? Is the risk worth the benefit? How much better will the team be with him instead of Jim Leonhard even if he is a little better as a return man? By the way, his long on 2 returns was for 3 yards.

Lack of Intensity: I'm sure we'll hear all week about how Rex Ryan giving the team 6 days off during the bye led to such a sloppy performance. That's a really simplistic explanation, but the poor performance full of mistakes in the first half will give these people plenty of ammo.

Up Men: The Jets got lucky on Jacksonville's surprise onside kick. That's all there is to it. The front line left early. They've been doing it all year. It was only a matter of time before somebody exploited it. The Jaguars executed, and the Jets got a few lucky bounces. It was frustrating to see these guys continue to leave early even after that. This needs to be corrected.

The Good:

Thomas Jones: He hit holes, broke tackles, and grinded out tough yardage on his 77 yard, 21 carry day.

Mike Devito: He played really well in the middle of the line, winning his matchups and getting off his blocks.

Jim Leonhard: He was all over the field with 7 tackles and a sack.

Brad Smith: Made some nice plays on coverage units.

Jaguars Fans on This Site: All week Jaguars fans graced us with their presence here on GGN, and I can't say enough about them. They were classy, knowledgable, and added a lot to our discussion here. In the year and change I've run this blog, I've come across some great fan bases. The Bills and Texans come to mind. The Jaguars fans we came across this week top the list. Congrats on the win. Good luck the rest of the way. Please do continue to stop by.

Halftime Adjustments: The Jets played much more inspired football in the second half.

Other Thoughts:

You really can't say enough about Maurice Jones-Drew. It's been a long time since a football player impressed me like he did today. He's the total package. He's got speed and vision. He hits hits holes. He's bruising between the tackles. He's a threat as a receiver. He blocks well. He's got football intellect and is selfless like when he went down on the 1 instead of padding his stats with a touchdown so the Jets wouldn't have a chance to get the ball back. He was the difference.
David Garrard also gets props. He made the plays on that last drive.
It's funny how things even out. Two weeks ago, the Jets pretty much manhandled the Dolphins but essentially handed them the game by making silly errors. This week, the Jags really had the better of the play for most of the game, but a missed field goal, a guy tripping himself going into the end zone, and a botched exchange from the one foot line were enough to almost gift wrap the Jets a win.
I find this a bit easier to swallow than the Miami game. It's one thing when the opponent plays better than you like the Jaguars did. It's another to constantly shoot yourself in the foot like the Jets did two weeks ago. There was no doubt the Jaguars were the better team today.
It's frustrating because it's clear the Jets are on the verge of being a good team, but they just can't finish games. Kind of like Mark Sanchez. He makes plays that show the ability is there, but it just hasn't all come together yet.

Well, these are surely not the circumstances you want heading to Foxborough. This team is in bad shape after a series of bitter losses. At this point, the Playoffs have begun. The Jets probably need to win their last 7 to make it. How disappointing.

Mizzou Links, 10-30-09

Bill C. — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:26:53 -0000

MU-CU Links

KC Star: Mizzou faces must-win at Colorado
The Trib (Dave Matter): Writer's Block

BTS: What was your take on Hawkins' press conference the other day, the long opening statement and reading the letters of support? Did he come off desperate or was it a genuine sign of good faith some supporters have in his leadership?

Ringo: It was one of the more fascinating moments in a long list of them over the past six years I've been covering CU sports. I came away thinking and feeling like he was trying to make his case and save his job. I think he recognizes that this team is going to have a tough time finishing the season strong and he's trying to get out in front of the snowball coming down the hill behind him. I think it's too little too late.

The unfortunate part of that press conference is that Dan Hawkins was back to being the storyteller and the engaging and honest guy he was during his first two years here. He got away from that in the past year becoming terse and stone-faced and not real fun to be around at times, at least in terms of his dealings with the media. That change came at the same time the sports information department began recording everyone one of his postgame and post practice interviews and putting them on CUBuffs.com. Fans and donors were able to see the change they were reading about for themselves.
The Missourian: Missouri linebacker Will Ebner gets back outside after meniscus surgery
The Missourian: 10 Things you didn't know about Colorado
Post-Dispatch: Run game shows flash of dash
PowerMizzou: Buffs Insider: Five questions for Saturday
PowerMizzou: History against Tigers
Boulder Daily Camera: CU Buff offense still woeful
Boulder Daily Camera (Buffzone Blog): "We're young" excuse no good this week
Boulder Daily Camera (Buffzone Blog): Why some players don't get on the field
The Trib: Behind the Stripes Webcast: Episode 12, Pt. 2

Mike Westhoff Will Help the Jets Overcome Leon Washington's Absence on Kickoffs

John B — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:38:11 -0000

More photos » by Tony Avelar - AP

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One area the Jets are really going to miss Leon Washington is in the return game. He was a threat to take it to the house every time he touched it. Don't fear, though. Part of his success was due to the men in front of him.

Just remember, Washington took over two years ago for Justin Miller. Miller was a Pro Bowl returner. A few years before Miller arrived, the Jets had Chad Morton, who ran back a pair for touchdowns in a single game against Buffalo. What's the common thread? Mike Westhoff was the special teams coach.

Westhoff is the best special teams coach in football, and it shows in the return game. He draws up great return plays, getting guys in the right spots, and teaches excellent blocking technique. Since he's arrived, the Jets' return game has reminded me a lot of Denver's running game. They can plug in average players who play well and turn good players into great ones.

The Jets will miss Leon Washington on kickoffs. There's nobody as explosive on the roster. Still, with Westhoff around, whether it's Brad Smith, Dwight Lowery, or somebody else deep, I expect the team to retain an above average return game.

Leon Washington Out for the Season With a Broken Leg

John B — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:50:59 -0000

More photos » by Kevin Rivoli - AP

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Leon Washington's season is over after breaking his right leg today in Oakland.

Jets RB Leon washington is out for the season after breaking his right leg today against the Raiders. He was taken to a local hospital, where it's believed surgery will be performed. This is believed to be a serious fracture.

An unidentified player landed on Washington's leg as he went down awkwardly, one of those cover-your-eyes plays. Teammates immediately motioned to the sideline for medical help.

This one hurts badly. I don't doubt the Jets will continue to have an excellent running game considering their offensive line and duo of Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. Neither is a game changer like Washington, though. He's the kind of guy defenses have to game plan around. He's a great decoy who always draws attention even when he's not getting the ball, which opens things up for others. You can split him out to receiver if you want. Neither Greene nor Jones is as dynamic of a threat.

Where do the Jets go from here? Greene will replace him as the second back. He's obviously a different player, but Sunday showed a glimpse of what he will become. I'm also guessing Danny Woodhead shifts back to running back. He's not going to be needed much at receiver anymore with Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith coming back and David Clowney playing well. Perhaps the Jets try and turn him into a similarly versatile, speedy weapon. He has a lot of athletic ability.

In what ways do you see this horrible news affecting the Jets?

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Kurupt — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:00:30 -0000

More photos » by Hans Deryk - AP

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The Buffalo Bills sit at 1-4 as they head to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets this Sunday. If they have any plans of even contending for a playoff berth the final two months of the season, this is an absolute must win. We all know that it'll take more than a miracle for this season to turn around, but this is a game that the Bills can win if they come ready to play. The Jets are coming off back-to-back losses to the Saints and Dolphins, the latter running all over them last Monday night. If the Bills can channel some of that Miami success against the Jets this week, we could be in for a surprise, at least in the sense that they can compete with the Jets. Check out the following keys to a Bills victory:

Don't get abused along the Offensive Line: The Bills will be starting rookie Jamon Meredith, who was added off of the Packers' practice squad a few weeks ago, at right tackle this weekend. That's not exactly a recipe for success against an aggressive, complicated scheme that we'll see Rex Ryan's defense running. Look for the Bills to give as much help to Meredith as they can, and look for the Jets to really bring the heat against him. The Bills have to find a way to stabilize that side of the line this week. It doesn't get any easier for the interior of the OL with Kris Jenkins anchoring the Jets defensive line. Last season, the Bills, with Duke Preston at Center, did a nice job against Jenkins in the second meeting, rushing for 187 yards. It'll be imperative to open some holes early and pick up yardage on the ground if the Bills are to play well enough offensively to win. Demetrius Bell and Meredith will need to play extraordinarily with help from the TE's and RB's, and give Trent Edwards some time to throw.

Time for Edwards to put up, or sit down: Well, almost. Edwards has looked terrible, to be kind, of late. His struggles date back to the second half of last year and he shows no signs of snapping out of it. It'll be hard to win this week, or any week for that matter, with a QB playing with so little confidence and guts. There comes a time when a player playing so poorly needs to just say "screw it" and just let it all hang out. This is that time for Edwards. It's time for him to stop overanalyzing and overthinking every pass and start letting it rip. I expect him to take some shots downfield to Terrell Owens and Lee Evans this week, but he needs to do that more than once or twice. He has to get the ball downfield and start throwing it over the middle. If he continues to show he is incapable of doing that, we might see Ryan Fitzpatrick soon (*shudders*).

Ride Lynch and Jackson: One way to take pressure off of Edwards is to really base the offense around the running backs. It may be a good idea to hand it off 40 times this week, assuming the game can stay within reach, and take the ball completely out of Edwards' hands. The Jets have a middle of the road run defense so far this season, so they can be run on. If the OL can play solid football against the Jets 3-4 defense, the Bills might be able to move the chains and maybe find the end zone again.

Limit the mistakes: I'm looking at the offensive line here. A team simply cannot have 9 false start penalties and expect to win. This offense has lacked discipline and has made far too many mistakes, as we all know. It's time for the young guys to step up and cut the mistakes. There's no excuse for all these mental errors. Maybe the change from the no-huddle offense will settle some of these guys down.

Force Sanchez to win the game: The Jets will try to run all over the Bills' bottom feeding run defense. They should have plenty of success in that area this week, but if the Bills can slow their run game down some and force Mark Sanchez to make plays, they'll have a much better chance of springing the upset. If the Jets are able to grind out yards five at a time, and open up the play action passing game for Sanchez, the Bills are in trouble. The defense needs to force the Jets into 2nd and 3rd and longs, putting the ball in Sanchez's hands. With Jerricho Cotchery, and maybe Brad Smith, out this week, there won't be as many receiving options for him. I said something similar when the Bills were getting ready to face Miami and Chad Henne. It obviously didn't happen with the Dolphins running all over the Bills. Let's hope for something different this time.

Match the Jets' toughness: The Jets play physical, aggressive and tough football. The Bills routinely don't. It's time for the Bills to match or exceed their opponents toughness for once. It would be excellent if they were able to stick it to Ryan and his Jets. If the Bills come out flat, like they usually do, the Jets will ram the ball down their throats and control the game the whole day.

Watch out for Washington: Leon Washington seems to make a lot of big plays against the Bills. He has become a bigger part of the Jets offense this year, getting roughly 12-15 touches a game. With his big play ability, the Bills need to keep an eye on him and be ready for anything. I expect the Jets to utilize Washington on screen passes, draws and maybe even the occasional reverse or misdirection. Paul Posluszny and the Bills front seven needs to be ready for all of this when Washington is in the game.

Play better on Special Teams: Piggybacking on the previous key, the Bills absolutely must clamp down on Washington in the return game. Of course, this is assuming the Bills will actually be kicking off more than once, so we'll see if they even have to worry about him there. Besides kick coverage, it'd be nice if the Bills return units finally made a play. Roscoe Parrish is averaging 6 yards per punt return and 23 yards per kick return, which is pretty bad, especially compared to the Bills' return units of recent memory. If Parrish can hit a big one in the return game, it may just be the boost the Bills offense needs to get going. Or at the very least, put them in field goal range without them having to do anything!

Play with some urgency for once: I say this all the time. This team just shows no passion out there, and just looks resigned to their fate. They play defeated before they actually are defeated. I know this is unlikely to change until the entire culture is changed with this franchise, but the players can come out and play with their playoff lives (and jobs) on the line, right? If you're going to lose, fine, at least go down fighting.

*****

It's hard to get up for a game like this knowing the season is basically shot and it'll be difficult for the Bills to win. No matter what, we're all going to watch and we're all going to root for the team to do well. Maybe they'll surprise us this week, and I suppose that's all we can really hope for at this point. Enjoy the game Bills fans!

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 6 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:18 -0000

I'm baaaaacccckkkk! Rejoice in the streets! Brian picked me up last week, like a good leader does, and filled in admirably. Since the last time I wrote this article, prior to the Miami game, the Buffalo Bills have gone from a 1-2 team getting ready to face a pair of winless teams and looking to get back into the division race to a 1-4 mess headed to New Jersey to face the fired up New York Jets. In case you've been hiding in a cave for the last two weeks, things ain't too pretty these days in Buffalo.

Not only have the actual outcomes and performances in these games been excruciating to watch, but there has also only been one fantasy relevant individual performance since the Tampa Bay win (Marshawn Lynch's 125 total yard, 6-reception game last week). It doesn't look like it'll get any easier this weekend when the Bills face the New York Jets, and the league's 8th ranked defense. Come on in after the jump and find out which individual players might be worth considering for your fantasy starting lineups this week:

Quarterbacks
Trent Edwards - I don't really know what else to say about Trent anymore. It's painful watching him play, almost torture-like. He's been so bad the last three games that it's impossible to even consider him for a fantasy start. How bad has he been, you ask? Well he's completed just 50 of 92 passes, for 500 yards, one touchdown, five interceptions, 5.4 yards per attempt and a fantastic 51.0 quarterback rating. Oh, and he's been sacked 12 times, as well. I'd say that's almost Jamarcus Russell-like, but he hasn't been that bad. Don't expect anything to change anytime soon, though. The Jets have been tough against the pass this year, allowing just 194.4 yards per game (8th in the NFL) and an excellent 54.2 completion percentage (3rd in the NFL). As well as the Jets defense has played at time this year, they do have just four interceptions and four sacks. Expect those numbers to increase, unfortunately. One sliver of hope: Edwards threw for a career best 289 yards in his only game against the Jets last year. Of course, he turned it over three times and was sacked five teams, but that's not the point! Steer clear and avoid wasting a roster spot on Edwards at this point. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Mark Sanchez - The Sanchise (or is it the Franchez?) has been a nice surprise for the Jets with his solid all-around play, but it has yet to translate to much in regards to fantasy football. After throwing for 272 yards in the opener against the Texans, Sanchez has yet to top 175 yards since. He's had his moments and made some excellent throws, but he's still a rookie that will have plenty of growing pains. His numbers are quite similar to Edwards', though his play has been a bit more composed and effective. The Bills have improved their pass defense of late (thanks to the Dolphins not needing to pass and the Browns' receivers being awful), moving up to 6th in the NFL against the pass and allowing just one touchdown pass in the past three games. Still, don't bother considering him as a starter unless you are absolutely desperate. Sanchez, at home with a good running attack propping him up, would make for the better start if you somehow had to choose between the two. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch - Lynch returned to fantasy relevance last week after his three game suspension and one game lack of production. He rushed for 69 yards on 17 carries (4.1 ypc) and added 6 receptions for 56 yards. He's still looking for his first touchdown on the year and it looks like it'll be a tough year in that regard, going forward. He'll again get more of the carries, although it'll hardly be a majority ownership of the workload. In two games, Lynch has also added 11 receptions for 99 yards, a major boon for PPR owners. Look for that to continue while Trent Edwards searches for the long lost city of downfield passing. I expect Lynch to have a pretty good performance this week against a Jets defense that is 19th in the NFL, allowing 110 yards per game on the ground and 4.2 yards per carry. It won't be easy, especially since they couldn't run it that well against a terrible Browns defense, but there will be some opportunities to pick up some chunks of yards. I expect Lynch to get around 15 carries, add another 4-6 receptions and probably end up with in the neighborhood of 80 total yards. If you get points for receptions, Lynch makes for a good flex play. Other than that, I might keep him out of the lineup. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex only

Fred Jackson - What happened to the Fred Jackson of the first three games? The easy answer is Marshawn Lynch, but Jackson hasn't looked like the same player either. Of course, the offensive line has done him no favors, but Jackson is no longer a fantasy starting option with Lynch back. His role in the passing game has been reduced, which limits his usability as a flex, and he's only seeing 13 touches to Lynch's 18. It's doubtful he'd be the goal line back either if the Bills were to stumble upon that part of the field again anytime soon. If you have a guy like Marion Barber, Joseph Addai, Ronnie Brown or Frank Gore, or have used Donald Brown, Tashard Choice or Ricky Williams in your flex position, Jackson may be worth a gamble as your flex starter, but I'd be looking elsewhere. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Thomas Jones - Jones just keeps chugging along picking up small chunks of yards and short yardage touchdowns. He's only averaging 54 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry, but does have five touchdowns. With the Bills and their terrible run defense coming to town, expect Jones to see a spike in production this week. Buffalo's defense has allowed 154.6 yards per game on the ground, 4.7 yards per carry and 7 rushing touchdowns. Against the Bills in 2008, Jones ran for 147 and a pair of touchdowns on 4.6 ypc in the Jets' two victories. I think his final line will look like what he averaged against the Bills last season, something in the vicinity of 60-80 yards and a touchdown. I wouldn't hesitate starting him against one of the league's worst run defenses. Verdict: Start 'Em

Leon Washington - Washington has put up some big plays against Buffalo in the past, despite limited touches in those games. Last year, he had a 40 yard reception in the first meeting and a 47 yard touchdown rush in the second. The Jets continue to talk about getting him more touches and have actually done a good job of doing that thus far this year with four 10+ carries out of five so far. He hasn't really broken any big plays yet, which leads me to believe he's going to bust out any game now. Knowing the Bills, it'll be happening this Sunday. The Bills have given up six rushes of 20+ yards so far this year, 4th most in the league. Washington will have his opportunities and it's likely he'll hit at least one big play this week. If I owned him, I'd consider using him as my RB2, and definitely as a flex. Verdict: Start 'Em in all

Shonn Greene - Greene is starting to get some carries for the Jets, but it'd be hard to imagine him getting enough work to do any fantasy damage, barring injury. Keep an eye on him though. If the Jets were up big in the second half, Green would likely see a lot of carries. For fantasy, it's not worth taking that risk though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens - T.O. has been quiet this year, on the field and off, which is a surprise to many (most). With Edwards and the offensive line struggling so much, it's hard to imagine Owens breaking out unless the gameplan is to get it to him as much as possible. That isn't likely to happen, so T.O. should remained planted on your bench. He'll also likely see a ton of Darrelle Revis this week, so expectations for a big game are hard to envision. At some point he'll have a big game, but it doesn't look like this will be the week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Lee Evans - I've already said I'm never recommending starting Evans again this year, and I'm sticking with that. I do think Evans has a good chance to hit on a big play when Revis is blanketing Owens. I expect the game plan to involve more fly patterns this week to give Edwards a chance to make a big play (and maybe to appease an angry fanbase). However, I'd hardly count on any of this to happen, so continue benching Evans. In shallowing leagues, I'd probably cut the cord and go fishing in the free agent pool for someone who is in a more stable situation. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Braylon Edwards - Edwards looked good against Miami on Monday night scoring his first touchdown as a Jet. It's tough to figure out if he'll rise to the challenge of his new situation or slink back to his underachieving, butterfinger ways. This week, the matchup isn't a bad one for Edwards. It's looking like Jerricho Cotchery won't be playing because of a bad hamstring, so there will be extra opportunities for Edwards against the Bills banged up secondary. It's his first home game as a Jet, so I expect him to be fired up while the team looks to get him involved early. He also had one of his better games last season against the Bills (8 for 104). As always, he'll be a good option for Sanchez in the red zone due to his size and leaping ability. Verdict: Start 'Em

Jerricho Cotchery - As I just mentioned, Cotchery is unlikely to play. Even if he does end up playing, make sure he's on your bench. It's never good to rely on a WR with hamstring issues. Verdict: Sit 'Em

David Clowney - With Cotchery out, it's likely that Clowney will get the start opposite Edwards. He has just five career receptions, but four of them came last week for 72 yards when he was given the opportunity to get extended playing time. He should get the extra looks this week with Cotchery likely out, and fellow backup WR Brad Smith banged up, so he might be worth considering. If you need help at WR, you may want to take a risk on Clowney. I'd look elsewhere, though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Brad Smith - Smith also missed practice on Thursday, so his status is up in the air. He's not an option when healthy anyway, so move along.

Tight Ends
Derek Fine - After catching five passes against New Orleans, Fine has just one receptions for eight yards in the two games since. We all figured he'd pick up some of Derek Schouman's receiving slack, but apparently not. Look elsewhere unless you start 3 TE's. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Shawn Nelson - Bills' fans want to see more of Nelson in the passing game, and it'd be nice if it were to happen, but it's not something anybody should be relying on. Maybe by the end of the year he'll be a decent option here, but not now. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Dustin Keller - After a solid rookie season and a good week 1 performance, big things were expected out of Keller. It has yet to materialize, however. In the past four games, Keller has just 8 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, which includes getting shut out last week. Going against the Bills defense who has been TE friendly, Keller could see a nice rebound performance. With Cotchery and Smith looking very iffy, Keller could see an expanded role in the passing game this week. If you are a Jason Witten, Dallas Clark or Vernon Davis owner, Keller makes for a solid bye week fill-in. Verdict: Start 'Em as a fill-in

Kickers
Rian Lindell - Like the rest of the Bills, Lindell hasn't seen too many scoring opportunities of late. In the past three games he has just seven total points. Look elsewhere for your kicker. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jay Feely - Feely is a perfect 8-for-8 on the season (as well as connecting on 22 straight overall) and looks to be a decent option against the Bills this week. Since this position is such a crapshoot on a weekly basis, start Feely if you have a gut-feelying. Harf harf harf. Verdict: Start 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo D/ST - The Bills defense continues to lack big plays and turnovers, but have done a surprisingly reasonable job of getting to the QB. With terrible Special Teams and an overall lack of production regarding fantasy defensive statistics, it's not worth bothering with this unit. Verdict: Sit 'Em

New York Jets D/ST - The Jets, on the other hand, look like an excellent option this week going up against a bad Bills' offensive line and a quarterback who is regressing. The Bills are likely to start a rookie 5th rounder plucked off the Packers' practice squad (Jamon Meredith) at right tackle. Pressure has been on Trent Edwards, figuratively and literally, all season. The Jets only have four sacks, but I'd be surprised if they didn't double that this weekend. Don't forget Leon Washington in the return game either. Verdict: Start 'Em

Sleepers
Lee Evans - I'm not going to pull a Brian and say no one, but there really aren't too many options here. I'll roll with Evans since nobody expects much of him for the rest of the season, as sad as that is for a $9M per season WR. As I mentioned above, I expect the Bills to try to get it to him deep this week and he should see a fair share of the returning Lito Sheppard. It wouldn't surprise me if he were to hit on a long one this week.

David Clowney - I don't consider Leon Washington a sleeper this week because most people seem to think he'll have a good week, so let's go with another WR here. As a starting WR, Clowney will get some extra looks and has shown some playmaking ability the past two preseasons. Plus, doesn't it seem like guys always have their breakout performances against the Bills?

*****

Week 6 is already upon us, and it's time to make your move in your fantasy leagues. As always, take this "advice" with a grain of salt and good luck! Enjoy the games everyone.

Jets Add Another Receiver

David_Wyatt — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:47:07 -0000

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Number 83 jogged out onto the practise field today in Florham Park, with Chansi Stuckey being traded to the Cleveland Browns, his number 83 had become vacant and there was a surprise body in the jersey today, as current or maybe now former RB and fan favourite Danny Woodhead was working out with the wide receivers.

Now Rex Ryan has yet to comment on this, but we should know more later today. However there could be one of two reasons why Woodhead was working out at the receiving position.

We could of A) made the decision that he has no future in the NFL as a running back, so we are trying to catch lightning in a bottle by turning him into a slot receiver. Or B) with Brad Smith and Jerricho Cotchery out today for the second straight day, we are in dire need of some extra bodies at the wide receiver position. Or I guess alternatively we could be doing both.

Danny Woodhead has to be one of the most popular player in Jets franchise history to have never made any real contribution on the NFL field but still be adored by Gang Green Nation.

Some have questioned his size limitations, but Wes Welker is one of the best slot receivers in the game, and he stands at just 5'9, a single inch taller than Woodhead. In fact Woodhead is listed at a even 200lb's, where as Welker is 185lb's.

So it is possible. I quite like this move, he is elusive and quick, maybe we may have something special. Lets wait and see.