Jets football blog

Leaky D dooms Jets

The culprits were all over the field, missing tackles and getting juked by speedy playmakers from start to finish. A week after the Jets' suffocating defensive performance against the Jaguars grabbed headlines, the backbone of Rex Ryan's team was carved up in a 34-24 loss to the Raiders Sunday. Gang Green's defensive implosion was historic.

The Jets gave up the most rushing yards (234) in 41 games under Ryan, getting gouged for one big play after another en route to their first loss of the season.

"I've never had that happen in my life," said Ryan, whose team faces consecutive road tests in Baltimore and Foxborough in the next two weeks. "But it just happened." 

The Giants were the last team to embarrass Ryan's defense when they racked up 207 rushing yards in 2008 against the then-Ravens defensive coordinator. Ryan hadn't suffered such an indignity in the NFL since he was a Cardinals' defensive line/linebackers coach in 1995 when the Redskins rushed for 259 yards against his team, according to ESPN Stats & Information. (continue)

Jets look to get running game on track vs Raiders

Jets guard Matt Slauson put it diplomatically when asked about Raiders fans this week.

"They are a little bit different," Slauson said.

Uh, yeah. That’s fair.

But even with the Darth Vader costumes, face paint and the hot dogs that surely will be thrown Mark Sanchez’s way at O.co Coliseum, the Jets’ biggest challenge today isn’t the home crowd, but the home team.

The Raiders showed signs of life last season, winning all of their division games, and could be 2-0 if they had not blown a game to the Bills in the second half last week. Running back Darren McFadden had 150 yards two weeks ago against the Broncos, and is one of the league’s best backs.

For the Jets, this begins a three-week stretch of road games that is an early test for the team with Super Bowl dreams. They face the Ravens and Patriots after this week.

"Make no bones about it, it’s going to be challenging," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "When you talk about going to Oakland first, a West Coast trip, then you come back and you have Baltimore and New England back to back. These are teams that traditionally are tough games for us anyway, and then when you put that West Coast trip on top of that, it’s going to be pretty challenging." (continue)

Jets D dominates Jaguars in 32-3 victory

One week after Rex Ryan withheld all of his game balls from the Jets defense, the unit came out and imposed its will on a struggling Jaguars team amid a 32-3 thumping this afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets picked off Luke McCown four times, held the Jaguars to a total of 203 yards for the game. By the fourth quarter, rookie Blaine Gabbert was warming up for Jacksonville. McCown finished with a passer rating of 0.

Antonio Cromartie had two of the four interceptions, nearly returning one in the third quarter for a touchdown. Josh Mauga and Eric Smith also had one apiece.

The offense was paced by Dustin Keller, who finished with 101 yards and a touchdown. Mark Sanchez, who left midway through the fourth quarter, had 182 yards on 17-of-24 passing. Despite two touchdowns – to Keller and Santonio Holmes – he threw two ill-advised interceptions. (continue)

Jets can't overlook Jags

Tom Brady looks like he's bounced back fairly well from the beating he took against the Jets in the playoffs eight months ago. He opened the season by throwing for 517 yards in Miami, just 37 fewer than the NFL record.

In this Jets-Patriots rivalry, it's never too early to start scoreboard watching as they start the journey to their first showdown on Oct. 9 in Foxborough before the Patriots come to Metlife Stadium on Nov. 13.

The Jets play the Jaguars at home Sunday while the Patriots are home against the Chargers. If one of them is going to be able to open a one-game lead Sunday, it figures to be the Jets. They have a much easier game. Then the Jets play at Oakland and Baltimore while the Patriots play at Buffalo and Oakland. New England has a chance to pick up a game over those two weeks because the Jets game in Baltimore will be much tougher than the Patriots game in Buffalo. (continue)

Revis responds to Jags WR Hill

After Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiverJason Hill said playing in New York market over-inflates the hype surrounding sports stars in the area,Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was a little confused.

For starters, he did not know who Hill was.

"I don't even know who that dude is. What's his name again? I have no clue. I don't know who he is, whatever he said is what he said. Whatever his opinion is of us, we'll find out on Sunday," Revis said. "I don't care what he says, I don't know him. He don't know me, he don't know the Jets, so he'll find out on Sunday."

But Hill, who has 55 career catches in five years, has a lingering hip injury that has kept him out of practice for most of this week. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. (continue)

Jets never quit in victory over Cowboys

On an emotional night tinged with reflection, patriotism and strength, the Jets delivered a wild come-from-behind win that won't soon be forgotten. Nick Folk drilled a 50-yard field goal with 27 seconds to go to help the Jets rally from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull out an improbable 27-24 win over the Cowboys in the Meadowlands Sunday night.

Rex Ryan admitted he felt more pressure in the run-up to the season opener on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks than other game in his career. In the end, his team delivered. "We played far from a perfect game - not even close," Ryan said. "We tried to harness all the emotion we were feeling and turn it into passion. We just kept thinking momentum is coming our way and sure enough it did." (continue)

Hunter vs Ware important match up for Jets

On the island, there is little support by design, little to pad the mistakes an offensive linemen could make when he is all alone, with a pass rusher crashing down on him.

They call it the island because of the pure isolation and lack of assistance. In Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan’s system, his tackles are expected to handle the strongest rushers, typically without the aid of a chip block from a running back or a guard sliding over to offer a hand.

“They don’t get a lot of help, if any at all,” Jets guard Brandon Moore said. “You talk about Revis Island, but Brick (D’Brickashaw Ferguson) and Wayne Hunter, they live on islands.” (continue)

Rodgers takes a shot at Sanchez

Speaking on his weekly radio program in Milwaukee, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called Mark Sanchez's photo spread in GQ magizine “embarrassing.”

Sanchez, though, ended up not taking the comments very seriously, treating what Rodgers said like any of the numerous jokes he received from teammates.

"I think he was, obviously, making a joke out of it, and that’s fine, giving me a good ribbing like the guys on our team," Sanchez said in a statement distributed by the Jets. "That’s totally understandable, but I’m just happy that it ended up working out for a good cause and we got to partner with two great companies and one great charity, with Hugo Boss and Tuesday’s Children. It worked out for the better and I can take a little razzing for the way it ended up. I know he’s just joking around, so that’s totally fine."

Here is the exact quote from Rodgers:

"Look at this, that's embarrassing," Rodgers said, referring specifically to the photos of Sanchez wearing a black tank top and white pants. "Page 94 of this GQ thing here, that's terrible." (continue)

Jets trade Lowery to Jags

The Jets pulled off a pair of trades and waived 26 players to trim their roster to 53 a week before kicking off the season in prime time against the Cowboys.

Gang Green Saturday acquired Packers rookie offensive lineman Caleb Schlauderaff for an undisclosed conditional draft pick and traded defensive back Dwight Lowery to the Jaguars for an undisclosed draft pick.

Despite the flurry of activity the past two days, more roster changes are likely on the horizon as the Jets scan the waiver wire in the next day or so.

"That's always a possibility," Rex Ryan said Saturday night. "If we think there's an opportunity to upgrade our football team... We have a history of doing that and we'll certainly look at all possibilities."

The Jets' coaches and scouting department gave Schlauderaff "high grades" coming out of college, Ryan said. Saturday, the coach rewatched tapes of the former Utah guard with GM Mike Tannenbaum and offensive line coach Bill Callahan before proposing a deal to Green Bay. (continue)

McElroy has surgery on right thumb

Jets rookie quarterback Greg McElroy underwent surgery on his dislocated right thumb this morning, a team spokesman confirmed. The Jets will monitor his recovery over the next few weeks and do not have plans to place him on injured reserve at this point.

ESPN New York first reported McElroy's surgery.

McElroy, who was in line to be the Jets' No. 3 quarterback, injured his thumb while completing a pass in ths second quarter of Thursday night's preseason finale against the Eagles. His throwing hand collided with the helmet of offensive lineman Matt Kroul during his follow-through. (continue)