NFL Week 2: How The New York Jets Can Shut Down Randy Moss and Wes Welker

In a recent statement, Rex Ryan admitted Darrelle Revis should have been assigned to cover Anquan Boldin who torched the Jets on Monday night for seven receptions and 110 yards.  Boldin is clearly the best receiver on the Baltimore Ravens.  Kyle Wilson was going to be picked on no matter which receiver he drew, but to allow him to repeatedly be matched up against Boldin was inexcusable.  TJ Houshmandzadeh and Derek Mason are no slouches, but Wilson would have fared better against either of them.  Also, Houshmandzadeh had a short period of time to learn the offense.  You could expect him to see less targets from Flacco.

Well, now it is a little too late to fix that mistake, but Rex Ryan also declared Revis would be exclusively assigned to Randy Moss.  This is another huge mistake, because that leaves Cromartie and Wilson to cover Wes Welker who will repeatedly smoke them. 

Last season, Welker was Brady's favorite target against the Jets in their second meetings catching 15 passes for 192 yards.  I was in attendance and it was embarrassing for anyone wearing green.  His absence in the first meeting allowed the Jets to handle the Patriots offense holding them to just nine points.  That alone shows how influential Welker can be for the Patriots offense.  To add to that, in 2009 and 2008, Welker only had fewer than 5 catches in 4 games he played.

I'm confident that Cromartie with his size and range can handle Moss on most plays with and without safety support.  Against San Diego in 2008, while Cromartie was on the Chargers, Moss was held to just 3 catches for 26 yards.  He had 1 catch for 18 yards in a 2007 post season meeting, but 8 for 105 and 2 TDs in the regular season, but that was only the second game of the Brady-to-Moss record setting season.  Cromartie has seen Moss enough and done well for me to believe he can handle him (especially, with Moss pouting about not being loved and likely to jog some routes). 

With the switch Rex Ryan can assign Revis to Welker on most plays.  Skill wise, these are much better assignments.  Moss may be more dangerous down the field, but Tom Brady is likes throwing to the open receiver.  He'll have watched the film from the Baltimore game and know he can just hot route Welker and beat whoever is on him.  But not if Welker is on Revis Island.  To beat the Patriots, the defense has to force Brady to make reads which are not as comfortable.  Throwing into coverage is outside his comfort zone and this arrangement gives the Jets the best chance to cover the main targets.