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The Jets are soaring this season. Head Coach Rex Ryan has instilled a “take no prisoners” mentality which has turned the Jets defense into a roving mass of destruction.
The Jets defense shut down the Texans and the Patriots in back to back weeks without allowing a touchdown. They made Tom Brady looked scared in the pocket for the first time since he established himself among the NFL’s elite. If there’s tape of Brady abandoning the pocket and running for his life in a game more often, I’d like to see it.
The pressure defense has revitalized FS Kerry Rhodes as he becomes the Ed Reed in Ryan’s scheme. The linebackers are running rampant. CB Darrelle Revis continues to prove he’s the best corner in the league outside of Nnamdi Asomugha.
The offense has done just enough so far to get the job done. The Jets ran effectively against Houston and found enough big plays in the passing game against the Patriots in the second half to stay on flight.
The big story going into the season was how well rookie QB Mark Sanchez would handle the spotlight of NY. He’s handled it with ease thus far.
He’s not blowing anyone away but is making the right reads and progressions a majority of the time. He is well ahead of Lions QB Matt Stafford in his development and has proved his worth over QB Kellen Clemens.
One play stands out in particular. Last week on third and long with 2:35 to go, Sanchez drops back rolls to his right, gets out of a sack, works back towards the pocket and finds a target, realizes he’s about to get nailed and fumble the ball, and alertly goes down and takes the sack instead of fumbling the ball away. It was not a play shown all over ESPN and the like, but there are very few players in the league right now who would’ve done what Sanchez did in that situation (See Jake Delhomme).
Everything is clicking right now but every year there are teams who jump out to 2-0 starts who are never threats to do anything.
The Bills started 4-0 last year and vanished from playoff consideration. The Broncos were 3-0 last year before falling to 8-8. Now they’re 2-0 this year and will soon realize their mediocrity.
It’s clear the Jets are better now then they were a year ago. Whether they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders this time around should come to light in the next two weeks.
This Sunday the Titans come into the Meadowlands. They are defending the run just fine so far this year and should be able to slow down the Jets rushing attack. The secondary is a different story.
Without Albert Haynesworth and Antwan Odom, the Titans are generating very little pressure on opposing QBs. Since the second half of last year the Titans have started to decline in coverage, particularly CB Cortland Finnegan. The Texans exploited them last week as Andre Johnson went for 149 yards and two scores.
The Jets are trying to use the run to establish easy throwing targets for Sanchez to ease him into the offense.
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