Let's take a break from FA and talk about one of the big problems from last year and one of the keys for next year. I'm going to make the argument that even with the way the jets failed to dominate the line of scrimmage last year, better playing calling by Schott and execution by Penny were the limiting factors for the Jets in 06. Sure, the Jets did allright against most of the teams, but in their biggest games--against the Colts, the Bears, and the Pats in the playoffs, the Jets inability to score TDs (and indeed, giving the ball away) cost them dearly. The Jets had the Colts beat, but for Penny's ill-advised pick inside the 5. The Jets were poised to take control of the Bears game, when Urlacher stepped in front of Penny's pass. If the Jets score TD's in those situations, they probably win those games. And with two more wins, they win the division on a tie-breaker and are hosting the playoff game. In the wildcard game, the Jets had 3 chances inside the 20 and could not put the ball in the end zone. Not beating the Champs that way. Great teams find plays that they can execute with a high degree of proficiency (NE, Indy). These are typically plays with multiple options for the QB where if "A" is not there, "B" or "C" usually is. Sure, the Jets do not have the personnel of these teams, but I think that Schott and Chad need to really sitdown in this offseason and brainstorm the hell out of this and find these scoring plays in order to take it to the next level.
It was 4th down and Pennington had to force it. Bad example. The Jets did clearly have red zone problems no doubt. A running threat should help this problem though.
We need better blocking up front. If Pennington has a little more time to throw the ball and the RBs more room to run, we won't have this problem.
Yes, but what happened on the first 3 downs? The play selection was atrocious before that as well. TJ should help things, but there needs to be some more creativity down low.
It's not the only problem that was with it, but a huge thing was our lack of a running game. Because we couldn't run, those teams were allowed to drop more men into coverage and in turn led to the picks because of an overcrowded secondary. Obviously, it's not the only problem; with a year under his belt, Schotty will no doubt come up with some new plays to run and may be able to call them better. It's concerning, yes, but having Thomas Jones and an extra year under Brick and Mangold's belts will help. I just still really think that we need an upgrade over Moore at a run blocking guard...
thomas jones with thomas jones now in the backfield and leon washington back in action for his second season, things are really brightening up for the jets running game. Now that that problem is addressed the other things we could use to make us better in the redzone is a TE which will provide chad with a big target and big wr someone like robert meacham...with the addition of size and running theres no reason we cant get in the redzone.
We are an offense built around Timing, reads and awareness from our QB and Speed and precision from our skill players. It's alot more difficult to dictate this type of offense w/ any success in the redzone b/c their is less time to make decisions, and less space to get creative w/. Whats the solution? - A more physical running game(T jones should help as well as hopefully some OL personell upgrades) - A big physical target in the passing game( This could be Brad Smith if he improves at recieving as he is 6"2 and very athletic)
I think a real good running game is where an effective red zone offense statrts. It keeps the linebackers honest and forces them to stay inside, out of the passing lanes. It also causes the safeties to have to think about more than just the pass. From there, the QB has to make good decisions and zip the ball in tight spots. The Jets lacked both last season. If Jones can get those tough yards, it may free up some areas for Chad to make some passes.
Part of that was play calling because when they did attack the endzone, ie coles vs miami or cotch vs NE they did score.
you could give chad 2 min inside the 5 and someone not be open, or hed end up trying to force it. we dont have a huge target. its easier to cover a team in the redzone then it is on the other 80 yds of the field. less space for players to get open in. the addition of jones will help their RZ offense, but they still need a 6'3 wr/te to be that big body to go up and get a ball....
you have to be able to stick the pass in there inside the 10. I hate the fade pattern, but I particularly hate it when you throw it to a guy barely 6 ft tal Chad's arm is a liability down there. I agree that z large target or two would help a lot.
The Jets have always had problems in the red zone since 2003. With Herm and Chad the problem was too many FG attempts and not enough TD's as Herm played ultra-conservative to avoid turnovers. Last year Mangini and Schottenheimer decided to force the issue and Chad threw several key interceptions inside the 20. The issue, of course, is that it's damn hard to dump the ball off inside the 20 and almost impossible inside the 10. There are just too many defenders in a limited space and you either get stopped short of the endzone or you throw it away or you throw a pick. Inside the 20 is one of the few areas in the field where you MUST have arm strength to throw the ball effectively. Chad really does not work well in that situation. And yah I know he had zero INT's inside the 20 going into last year. That's what happens when you play super conservatively in that area of the field.
chad u can't just sit there and say its because of chad, or its because of herm being conservative, the reason we arent affective in the endzone is because we dont have a big target, we dont know how to get open, and our running game was extremely poor last season except leon washingtons exceptional plays. Chad really isnt the problem, infact his accuracy is rediculas and he can still zip the ball in there, but he just hasnt been able to soar the ball 60 yards. I garentee after this season chad will be able to get the ball out there to some of our deep threats and no im not saying 60yrds, but im sure 40-50 wont be a problem considering hes been healthy for just about a year and will be working out hard all offseason. So i just dont see Chad Pennington being the problem.
One thing we didn't see a lot of this year in the RZ was playaction and using the TE. With the addition of TJ, not only should we be able to run the ball better but I expect we'll see Chads PA working much better and also called more often. If Baker and TJ stay healthy I expect Baker to have a breakout season.
This is a good point, but it is something most Jets fans already knew. The Jets were a bad redzone team and must improve if they want to go anywhere in the playoffs. I think TE needs to be addressed. I don't care what any of you say...I think Baker is vastly overrated on this message board. He is a decent TE, but he hasn't done anything for me to make me think he can be a redzone threat and a consistent threat over the middle. Alot of people say, "Oh, well Baker doesn't put up big numbers because the Jets don't look his way." Well perhaps consider this...Maybe Baker doesn't run good routes? Maybe Baker doesn't have great speed to create seperation? Maybe Baker doesn't know how to read defenses well and doesn't always know where the blitz is going to be etc...(Yes recievers/TE's have to read defenses too.) I like Baker, but an improvement needs to be made because Baker hasn't done it. I think Thomas Jones helps open up the playaction pass much more for us and a tough runner inside the 20, but we need a BIG target inside the 20 and especially the 5-10 yard range and Greg Olsen could be a great guy for this area of need. http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIb99s3gM_Y There may be a handful of LB'ers who can cover this guy one on one. Check him out running the gauntlet drill. Very Smooth...looks so comfortable catching the ball. This guy along with Chad Pennington, Thomas Jones and Jerricho/Laveranues outside...he could be a nice threat in the middle of the field.
te i wont lie the tight end position is definitly something that needs to be addressed this offseason, lets not forget that jermey stevans is still out there in fa, I think he could be a big target for the team, but i think there are better in the draft. Ive heard we might go TE with the 25th pick.
if he could catch half of what he drops hed be someone of interest. unfortunately he cant. i know this is a homer comment BUT i think if any round after the 3rd, if clark harris is there, we should take him. id be happy to see him here. but we should draft brian leonard before we get harris.:up: :wink:
rb dont you think we have plenty of depth at rb for a few years with the addition of thomas jones? now we have jones washington and houston
BL is a FB....i think hed flourish in the west coast style offense we run. hes a very capable blocker, great hands, good field vision and a knack for running the ball. i dont think the "leonard leap" will fly in the nfl, but hed be an asset to chad and the offense. as for houston, he gives us depth, but his only real chances he had he got hurt on. i like the guy, and if he could have stayed healthy last year we probably could have made a little more noise than we did. i think with jones here hes expendable. i can def see the FO drafting a rb in later rounds if hes the BPA. if its a FB (like BL was) id be happy. i think askew was a detriment to the team last year. its not a glory position, and gets very little love from fans, but its important. a good FB can make all the difference. remember when we had neal in front of curtis? when barry sanders had a FB he broke 2k yards...i know we signed someone, but i dont know much about him. hopefully we address it in the draft if the opportunity arises.
