The most exciting part of the week one match up with the Rams was #97 Calvin Pace.... the dude who is suspended for the first 25% of the season. As goes the bitter sweet life of a Jets fan, always a blessing a curse. We saw a defense that was a bit more aggressive and for lack of a better word, natural. Lets remember they were playing the Rams who were one of the most pathetic teams of 2008.
Vernon Gholston was gloriously non-effective. Vernon is horrible in interviews and even worse on the field. He has the tools to be an impact player, but our front office made a huge mistake drafting a guy who is not ready for prime time to play for a NYC pro sports team. He is not cut out for the spotlight. So we drop millions of dollars and the #6 overall pick in the draft, and some small market team will eventually pick him up a few years down the road and reap the benefits. I have said it before, it takes a special type of player to make it in the big city.
I liked what I saw from Brad Smith, Chansi Stuckey and David Clowney. Lowery looked a bit out of sorts, he was beaten on a long pass from Bulger and fumbled a couple of punts. I wouldn't read to much into it. He played well last season and he has impressed everyone in camp so far. A bad game doesn't mean anything.
I also liked what I saw from David Harris. The day Bart Scott was signed I said that we need to remember as a team that we drafted one of the best young ILB's in the league and he will remain our #1. He is big, fast and has a nose for the ball.
Another under-appreciated performance came from our patch work offensive line. Depth is a major issue for this team overall. We saw that very clearly when our second and third string defensive players took the field in the second half. But, on the flip side, three of our 5 starting O-linemen were out with minor injuries and the back up's held their own pretty well. Kudos to our line coach Bill Callahan.
Overall I was shocked that the special teams were so sloppy. Mike Westoff is the best special teams coach in the NFL, bar none. He will tighten the screws and get this squad up to speed. And lets remember we always have Neon Leon.
Finally I will address "the pass". The infamous pass that will live in Jets history forever. Let me set the stage: Kellen Clemens lays an egg on his first two drives. Sanchez takes the field serenaded by the loving embrace of the crowd. Our offense is backed up against our own goal line. Sanchez takes the snap and falls back into a 5 step drop. He looks to is first read far left, moves on to his 2nd read in center field, and finally read number 3, David Clowney streaking down the sideline. He puts up a 48 yard completion and 'bandwagoneers' all over the Jets nation officially crown him the next king of NY.
It takes more than a 3 for 4 passing performance to prove you should be the starting QB for my team as far as I am concerned. He has earned the chance to be our starter next week. Thats it, the competition continues. (Come on Kellen, show some signs of life!)
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