Xander Diaz
Apr 25, 2009 Nov 05, 2009 36 125
Xander is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!
A programmer by trade, Xander is a life long Jets fan and enjoys engaging in discussion with his fellow fans about his favorite team. Xander recently started AFCBeast.com to give fans a central location to read up on what is going on around the league and of course with the mighty Jets.
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Jets vs Dolphins – Rivalry Redux
by Xander Diaz on Oct 13, 2009 9:30 AM EDT
6 comments
The newest chapter in the Jets – Dolphins rivalry began with another spectacular Monday Night Football game. The Miami Dolphins edged out the New York Jets 31-27, in a game that featured 2 ties and 6 lead changes. A disappointing end to an exciting game for Jets fans.
The loss got me to thinking about some of the great games I’ve seen these two teams play over the years and I decided to put together my list of the most memorable games played between these rival AFC teams.
- January 23, 1983 – 1982 AFC Championship game – aka the ‘Mud Bowl’
During the strike- shortened 1982 season, the Dolphins swept the regular season series. The two teams would meet again in the 1982 AFC Championship game, a trip to Super Bowl XVII at stake. This game was marked by a rather strange incident. The tarp was left off the field of the Orange Bowl during a marathon rainstorm leading up to the game. This resulted in a mud covered field which helped keep both teams scoreless in the first half. This game would feature ten turnovers, eight of them on quarterback interceptions. Three of those interceptions came from the star of the game, Dolphins linebacker A.J. Duhe who would nab three of Jets quarterback Richard Todd’s five interceptions of the day. Duhe cemented the 14–0 win, sending the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII, when he returned one 35 yards for a touchdown.
6 comments | 1 recs |
Jets Running Game May Reap Biggest Rewards From Edwards Trade
by Xander Diaz on Oct 12, 2009 3:06 PM EDT
1 comment
The biggest winner in the Braylon Edwards trade may just be the New York Jets running game.
The Jets currently hold the league’s No. 9 ranked rushing offense, averaging 130.5 yards per game. Those numbers aren’t hideous but Rex Ryan’s promise of a "ground and pound" attack hasn’t exactly been making any defensive coordinators lose much sleep either.
Of course, much of the running games woes can be linked to rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Last season, defenses had to respect the Jets passing game with veteran Brett Favre under center. Now opponents are simply daring Sanchez to beat them through the air by stacking the defensive front with eight and sometimes even nine players.
There has been very little room for Jones and Leon Washington to run in with extra defenders in the box.
Jones is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry and doesn’t seem like the guy who carved up opponents last season. Washington has a 4.0 yard per carry average but hasn’t been the superman we hoped for so far and rookie Shonn Greene has only four carries in four games.
The reality is that until Sanchez proves he can execute the passing game on a consistent basis, opposing defenses will continue to shut down the ground attack. This is where Edwards comes into play.
With Edwards, the Jets are in a position to threaten defenses deep. Forcing opposing defenses to respect the deep ball will help limit the number of 8 and 9 man fronts our running backs will face in a game.
Once Sanchez, Cotchery and Edwards get into a rhythm with each other, you can expect to see some explosiveness out of the backfield.
Rookie Shonn Greene is likely to have some big numbers in his future with the addition of Edwards. Greene, who was MIA through the first 3 games, injected life into the Jets’ slumping ground game in New Orleans. Greene ripped off 9- and 7-yard gains on consecutive carries in impressive fashion. The 5-11, 226-pound Greene would gain 23 yards on four carries.
Too bad four carries was all he got. The rookie would tweak his ankle in the 3rd quarter or he probably would have seen more action. I get the feeling he’ll be getting a lot more touches in the near future.
Through four games, Jones has 55 percent and Washington has 40 percent of the carries. The Jets insist that they can get their triple backfield 25 carries each in a game but that is likely unrealistic. There is no doubt however that Greene will be a factor as the season goes on.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
1 comment | 0 recs |
Jerricho Cotchery Makes Trip To Miami
by Xander Diaz on Oct 12, 2009 9:30 AM EDT
2 comments
It looks like Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery will be a game time decision for Monday nights game with the Miami Dolphins. Cotchery and the team flew down to Miami in the early afternoon on Sunday.
Cotchery is currently listed as questionable on the team injury report. "Questionable" means there’s a 50-50 chance that a player will play.
Cotchery, suffering from a hamstring injury, has had hours of treatment for several days. Cotchery has told friends he expects to play and the extra time off should help his chances.
The Jets’ debut of Braylon Edwards may severely test the skills of the newly acquired wide receiver if Cotchery doesn’t play. Edwards is facing playing a Monday Night Football game against a division rival with a new team, a rookie QB and a couple of back ups tag teaming the other receiver spot.
That sounds like a heck of a trial by fire to me.
Edwards has reportedly been a hit with his new team mates and has been impressive in practice. The 6-3, 215-pounder is making circus catches in practice and displaying the potential to open up the entire offense.
This is great news if he is doing this against the first defense. With Edwards having come from a similar offense in Cleveland, it is obviously a great advantage as he tries to transition.
Cotchery is the Jets’ leading receiver with 23 receptions for 356 yards and one TD.
The Dolphins are sure to play us tough. They come into this match up with a rookie QB who just led them to their first victory of the season. They haven’t won a prime time game since 2004, losing just 3 weeks ago on MNF to the Colts. This means they are coming in on a high and maybe with a bit of a chip on their shoulders too.
I think that our back ups, David Clowney, Brad Smith (the likely starter) and Wallace Wright, can get the job done but I also think they will need to bring their ‘A’ game. Perhaps even their ‘A+’ game. There is no doubt that Edwards presence should greatly improve how they look on the field.
Look for Edwards ability to threaten Miami deep to really help the Jets open things up for tight end Dustin Keller. The Miami defense has been very weak against tights end so far this season. The Dolphins’ defense made Dallas Clark look like a Hall of Famer during that week 2 Monday night loss to the Colts.
Clark had 7 catches for 183 yards including an opening drive 80-yard scoring pass where he got behind linebacker Akin Ayodele and broke the tackle of safety Gibril Wilson.
I’m guessing that Keller may end up playing the biggest role of the night in defeating the Dolphins.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
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Cotchery Could Miss Monday Night’s Game At Miami
by Xander Diaz on Oct 10, 2009 12:41 PM EDT
1 comment
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan says WR Jerricho Cotchery may not play on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins.
Cotchery missed Friday’s practice with a hamstring injury.
Cotchery has been terrific so far this season, with 23 catches for 356 yards and a touchdown. Having Cotchery watching from the bench Monday night, could be a major blow to the offense. Especially now, when this team is trying to rebound from a pretty bad loss to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
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Mark Sanchez Hit With $5K Fine For Vilma Hit
by Xander Diaz on Oct 8, 2009 9:31 AM EDT
0 comments
New York Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was fined $5,000 by the NFL for his low block on New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma last weekend. The league offices don't confirm fines until Friday but Sanchez volunteered the information yesterday.
Sanchez dived at the legs of Vilma when Darren Sharper ran an interception back 99-yards for a touchdown in the second quarter Sunday. The low block resulted in a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
Vilma was less than impressed with the block, expressing some surprise with how it played out. Vilma agreed that the league should fine Sanchez for the low hit.
Sanchez, in a stand up move, said he called Vilma on Tuesday and apologized. The apology was reportedly well received by Vilma.
The first of four turnovers by Sanchez against the Saints, including three picks, Sharper's interception was the beginning of the end for Sanchez that day. Sanchez would also have a fumble recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
I fully expect the young QB to bounce back strong against this week's opponent, the Miami Dolphins. He will need to because it appears the Dolphins are still steaming over the trash talk exchanged between Dolphins LB Channing Crowder and Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Expect the Dolphins defensive squad to be looking to cream the rookie at every chance.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
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ESPN Analyst Chris Mortensen Not So Sure About Edwards Trade
by Xander Diaz on Oct 7, 2009 12:52 PM EDT
7 comments
Speaking this morning on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike In The Morning show, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen voiced some skepticism about the New York’s Jets acquiring WR Braylon Edwards from the Cleveland Browns.
Mortensen said the trade of Edwards was not a surprise to him, in light of his recent troubles off the field. Browns head coach Eric Mangini runs a tough team first program that Braylon Edward’s personality seems to clash with.
Mortensen makes a valid point here. Mangini is essentially a disciple of the Bill Parcel’s school of coaching. This means a tough, hard nosed attitude that is centered around the team at all times. No exceptions. Braylon Edwards does not appear to be of the same mindset, oft times showing a tendency for selfishness as opposed to the team first mentality.
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A True Identity For the Jets?
by Xander Diaz on Sep 16, 2009 4:16 PM EDT
7 comments
True followers of the New York Jets know all too well what the roller coaster ride is like. One week there is heart pounding excitement as the team looks poised to finally reach a Super Bowl after 40 years (nobody needs to be reminded of the talk following the wins against the Pats and Titans last year). Then, before that feeling of excitement can set in, the magic carpet is pulled out from under us, followed by the most unbearable form of heartbreak a sports fan endures.
Complete and total failure.
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Jets Are Taking A Hard Look At Denver's Brandon Marshall
by Xander Diaz on Sep 2, 2009 10:06 AM EDT
8 comments
Newsday reported yesterday that the Jets are seriously considering a trade for the Denver Bronco's disgruntled (and frequently troubled) wide receiver Brandon Marshall.This comes from an unnamed source within the NFL organization who is said to be familiar with the Jets situation.
Easily one of the most talented but troubled receivers in the game, Marshall was suspended Friday by the Broncos for conduct detrimental to the team.
Caught on video and broadcast by a local television station, during pre-practice warm-ups last Wednesday, Marshall walked while the rest of the team ran, punted a ball away from a ball boy instead of handing it to him and he also swatted down a pass thrown to him.
He will remain suspended until September 5th.
Marshall has demanded a new contract through much of the offseason and preseason and also has asked to be traded. He is due to make $2.2 million this season.
It's like deja vu all over again for Denver.
The Jets wide receivers corp have been under some tight scrutiny over the last couple of months, with many pointing to the lack of a true number one receiver in Jerricho Cotchery and the hodge podge of receivers who have yet to produce a clear number two receiver behind him.
There has been very little doubt about the teams need to get a force to reckon with at the position. Brandon Marshall would definitely represent this force should he be picked up, but will the price tag be right?
After the fiasco they experienced with Jay Cutler, it is highly unlikely that Denver will let Marshall go without attaching a high price tag to him. Denver is reportedly looking for a first rounder at minimum.
I have to wonder if the Jets will find this price tag a little high for their liking.
Based solely on his on-field performance, Marshall may well be worth it. Marshall had 104 catches for 1,265 yards and six touchdowns last season and 102 catches for 1,325 yards and seven TDs, in 2007. Marshall also led all NFL wide receivers in yards after first contact for the 2007 NFL season.
These are numbers that definitely put Marshall in the upper echelon of wide outs in the league.
The real concern for most fans, I think, is about his off-field troubles. Marshalls legal woes off the field have gained as much press as his on field play.
His arrest record runs the gambit from assaulting a police officer to domestic disturbance to disorderly conduct. While I admit to craving his level talent on the team, I am not so sure he would be worth the major headache he seems to represent.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
8 comments | 0 recs |
New York Jets Up Offer To RB Leon Washington
by Xander Diaz on Aug 12, 2009 11:26 AM EDT
2 comments
Halleujah! The New York Jets are finally playing ball! Rich Cimini reports this morning that the Jets have finally upped the offer to RB Leon Washington.
Reportedly the offer is now closer to averaging about $4.5 million per year.
This is significantly closer to the $6 million a year Washington and his agent, Alvin Keels, have been seeking. Part of the issue has been a change to the CBA.
Washington will be a restricted free agent in 2010, not unrestricted, and the Jets can retain him for a qualifying offer that would be significantly less than a long-term deal. Under the previous rules – it changed because 2010 looms as an uncapped year – he would have been unrestricted next year.
Another issue is that a $6 million payoff would be more than the team is paying current starting RB Thomas Jones. Jones, the AFC’s leading rusher in 2008, is already upset with the team over his contract dollars and putting Leon up above him could spell disaster for relations with Jones.
Jones is scheduled to earn $900,000 this season in the third year of a four-year, $20 million contract.
I hope this new deal is one that Leon can live with so we can put this contract nonsense behind us already. Our first preseason contest is this coming Friday against the St. Louis Rams and it would be absolutely great if Leon had his mind on nothing but winning.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
2 comments | 0 recs |
Jets Are Not Shopping RB Thomas Jones Around
by Xander Diaz on Aug 12, 2009 6:46 AM EDT
1 comment
Dispelling a rumor on nationalfootballpost.com, the Star-Ledger is reporting that the New York Jets are NOT shopping veteran running back Thomas Jones around. This is according to an unnamed, inside source.
Nationalfootballpost.com posted the rumor last night claiming the Jets had placed a call to an NFC West team in order to gauge trade interest.
The Star-Ledger report, however, was not all roses.
The stellar play of rookie Shonn Greene in training camp thus far could make Jones expendable, but the Jets are standing pat right now with the trio of Jones, Greene and Leon Washington.
With the Jets apparently ready to reward Washington with a new contract, there are concerns Jones could become a problem. He reported to camp on time but has refused to address his contract.
I really hope Jones does not turn into a problem for this team now. It would really ruin my perception of him as a professional. I like the direction this team is headed with their backfield (minus contract disputes mind you) and would hate to see Thomas cause this to fail on any level.
Having said that, I think he will do the right thing, having so far conducted himself in a very professional manner during training camp and simply refusing to talk about the dispute. He has opted to concentrate on football, which is very good, even if only to try and be attractive to another team next season.
I have a feeling he won't be around for us, come next season.
Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief at AFCBeast.com
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