“CURRENT EVENTS!”

1. Jints- the Burress distraction was bound to hit us at SOME point this year..better week 14 than in playoffs…as for our future, it really doesn’t matter if we beat Dallas or not, except for the possibility of knocking them out of playoffs, which would be GREAT…however, that being said, Coughlin and staff MUST rest Jacobs..it was extremely poor “season management” to play Jacobs against Phila..we all know how much it hurts to plow into the line in the cold weather..all the bumps and bruises get accentuated….come January/Feb., Jacobs MUST be as close to 100% as possible…hold him out against Dallas, play him (if he’s ok to go) against Carolina as that is the ONLY game left on the schedule that matters, and hold him out against Minn., so he has 3 weeks to rest.. I wouldn’t worry too much about the Phila. game..I actually believe losing was a good “stress-reliever” given the recent events.. I am a little concerned about our pass rush however..it’s great to make teams one-dimensional by stopping the run…however, if you let their QB sit back there w/o being pressured, our secondary will get annihilated unless the weather precludes passing…also, I believe we MUST game plan better re: the passing game… the Jints have, for the moment, lost their offensive identity w/o Burress..it is critical they get it back by playoff time..I’m not too concerned about the running attack as it’s basically on cruise control..but the passing game MUST be smooth and in rhythm, particularly Eli’s PLAY-ACTION to Boss, Smith..and Toomer MUST be more “involved” so Eli is more comfortable

Jets- Mangini wants to be a “belechick clone”, i.e, an emotionless statue who expects his 53 players to be professionals who come to work each and every day and know their job..guess what ? this is FOOTBALL !! Your 53 have to bring INTENSITY and frankly, a little bit of craziness, each and every game…they are NOT salesmen at BARNEY’S where they are motivated by commissions and the customers just show up, etc..they have to BRING IT onto the field !! We all believe we know and understand football..trust me, the average viewer has no clue that on each and every play 11 players on one team are trying to kill the other 11 players with an amount of violence you cannot comprehend..as such, to expect your team to play WITHOUT emotion is self-defeating.. the best coaches get their teams “riled up” before the game.. have you ever seen Ray Lewis talk to his team on the sideline before a game ?? That’s what we need..as for strategy, Mangini is approaching the Herm Edwards zone, where he plays NOT TO LOSE as opposed to PLAYING TO WIN !!…3rd and 2 on opening series after recovering an onside kick? you’re on the 49er 38 yd. line..RUN JONES TWICE !! you can’t show enough confidence to “go for it” on 4th down if need be ? why did you even bring in Favre ? to throw the ball SHORTER on the average than Pennington ? when was the last time, other than the AZ and Rams blowouts, that Favre actually completed a pass that he physically threw more than 20 yards down the field ?? Why isn’t David Clowney ACTIVE? He’s the only real home run threat the Jets have..do they EVER complete a 15 yd. “skinny post” or deep out ? Do they EVER go from shotgun with Leon next to Favre, and then motion Leon up in the slot to go 1on 1 with a LB with an empty backfield? How many passes does Reggie Bush catch ? When you have a ball control offense that relies on precision, you CANNOT afford ANY drops or mistakes…hear that Keller ?.. and what has become of the DEEP ball after PLAY-ACTION? remember when Cotchery caught a 56 yd TD on opening day off of play-action ? well ?

As for the DEFENSE, or lack thereof, Sutton and/or Mangini have NO CLUE and the D has NO IDENTITY..sure, for the most part they can stop the run..but how can any D that includes Jenkins, Ellis, Pace,and BT rushing the passer and Rhodes and Revis in the secondary, give up such a HUGE amount of passing yardage to SECOND RATE QB’s like Hill? Go with PRESS COVERAGE and RUSH the QB, mix it up…do NOT let “him” get comfortable !! and for heaven’s sake, can you figure out HOW to stop 2 basic plays:
1. crossing patterns “underneath” that go for 15 yds ; and
2. simple flares or screens to RB’s or Wes Welker clones

Mangini should be kicking their butts and getting them so “mad” that they CANNOT WAIT to wallop someone (the BILLS!!) on Sunday…If I don’t see INTENSITY and a pass rush with blitz packages on Sunday, the Jets will NEVER win out..which is what they MUST do as Pats will go 11-5…the Seahawk game will be REALLY scary, but IF they come out and play “JET FOOTBALL” on Sunday and crush the Bills, it will restore their confidence and get them ready for Seattle… I am VERY sure they will handle Miami in the cold and windy Meadowlands if it’s for all the marbles.