Tag: Rex Ryan (Page 11 of 23)
This is why you don’t allow punters to make their own decisions
Apparently the failed fake punt that Rex Ryan called for against the Packers on Sunday wasn’t actually called by Rex Ryan. It was called by Jets’ punter Steve Weatherford, who is “given the ability to take advantage of favorable looks when appropriate.”
From the Newark Star-Ledger:
The problem in this situation, though, was that Weatherford didn’t realize the Jets had just lost 9 yards on a sack. Third-and-9 became fourth-and-18, a sizeable distance for even the athletic Weatherford to run. A Green Bay challenge determined he stepped out just before the marker.
“We told him before that it needed to be a manageable situation,” Ryan said. “As he was running, I was trying to make sure he knew where the first-down marker was. I don’t think he was clear on that.
The failed attempt didn’t cost the Jets the game on Sunday. Their inability to move the ball offensively against Dom Capers’ defense was the reason they didn’t win. But that play should have never happened.
Weatherford should have never attempted an 18-yard run on a fake punt when backed up in his own territory like that. Granted, he picked up 17 yards on the play but the guy has to pay attention if he’s going to make a decision like that. If he’s given the opportunity to pull off a fake, then he should know the down and distance before he even steps on the field. Period.
That said, this is freaking hilarious when you think about it. A punter called his own number on a 4th-and-18 because he thought the first down marker was closer than it was? Outstanding!
Even for as banged up as they are, the Green Bay Packers are a damn fine football team. I picked them to win the Super Bowl this year, so this post is in no way intended to downplay their 9-0 victory on Sunday.
But seriously, that’s the best you got, Jets? That’s the best you could do coming off your bye, Rex Ryan?
The Jets outgained the Packers 360 to 237 in total yards, outgained them on the ground (119 to 81) and outgained them through the air (241 to 156). But what the game essentially came down to was one horrendous decision by Ryan to fake a punt on a 4th-and-18 on his own 20-yard line, and three New York turnovers.
I know the Jets only came up a yard short on Sean Weatherford’s fake punt run, but why go for it there? It was so early in the first quarter and the game had no tempo. Punt the ball, play good defense and win the field position game. Don’t take a huge gamble like that and give the Packers the first points in the game.
The Packers only turned one of Mark Sanchez’s two interceptions into points, but coupled with Ryan’s fake punt debacle, the Packers led 6-0 early in the fourth. And because the Jets’ offense couldn’t sustain drives, Crosby’s final field goal with roughly two minutes remaining put the game away.
How could the Jets not muster 10 measly points at home against the most injury-plagued team in the NFL? Again, the Jets were coming off their bye – there’s simply no excuse for them not to score a single point when they had two weeks to prepare for Green Bay. None.
As for the Packers, this was a huge win for their moral. They certainly didn’t dominate New York and they have some serious problems on offense, but they didn’t turn the ball over and they allowed the Jets to beat themselves. For as many injuries as the Packers are dealing with, the end result is the only thing that matters right now and the end result was victory on Sunday.
Every week we have different candidates here, because the 2010 NFL season has been wacky. And that’s okay, as it makes ranking MVP, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year candidates more fun. Anyway, here we go….
MVP Power Rankings
1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts—Okay, so Philip Rivers and Kyle Orton have more yards per game, but they play for 2-4 teams. Manning’s Colts are 4-2, and check out these numbers through six games—1916 yards, 67.3 completion percentage, 319.3 yards per game, 13 touchdowns (leads NFL) and just 2 interceptions, for a QB rating of 103.4. As usual, Manning sort of defines what the term MVP is all about.
2. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers—I heard someone on NFL Network the other day call Matthews the “best defensive player in the NFL.” Not bad for a linebacker in his second year, who was selected after 25 other players in the 2009 draft. Anyway, Matthews has 9 sacks to lead the NFL, and 21 tackles through five games…and the Packers sorely missed him last Sunday in a loss to Miami when Matthews sat out with a hamstring injury.
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers—We’re leaving Antonio on here this week because he left the game against the Rams last Sunday with an ankle injury, leaving Philip Rivers without his favorite target. And then the Chargers lost the game. To the Rams. Gates only had 2 catches for 12 yards in that one, but on the season he still has 31 receptions for 490 yards and 7 TDs (which leads all tight ends and receivers).
Honorable mention: Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (thanks to Kevin Kolb’s performance last Sunday, Vick got bumped off the list); LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets; Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos; Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos; Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers; Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants; Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Coach of the Year Power Rankings
1. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers—If you start the season without your star quarterback for four games, and have the likes of Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon, and Byron Leftwich at the helm, coming out of that 2-2 would be a huge moral victory. Well, Tomlin came out of that stretch 3-1 and it could have been 4-0 if not for that last-gasp drive by Joe Flacco and the Ravens a few weeks ago. Of course, the D led by a healthy Troy Polamalu and hard-hitting-to-a-fault James Harrison, has helped, but let’s give Tomlin some huge and well-deserved props here.
2. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—Has anyone noticed that the Rams are 3-3, having already equaled their win total from 2008 and 2009 combined. And they’re giving up less than 19 points per game after allowing 27 per game last year—something that has much to do with the Rams’ defensive whiz of a coach.
3. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants—How do you go from the scorching hot hot seat to a coach of the year nomination? Ask Tom Coughlin, who the New York media had being replaced by Bill Cowher a few weeks ago when they lost badly to the Colts, and then beat themselves badly in a loss the Titans at home. The Giants rallied around Coughlin and squashed the previously unbeaten Bears, then crushed the upstart Texans in Houston 34-10, before not allowing the dreaded trap game against Detroit ruin his team’s winning streak. So from 1-2 to 4-2, and tied with the Eagles for the division lead. That’s why Tom Coughlin is on here.
Honorable mention: Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks; Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs; Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs; Rex Ryan, New York Jets; Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles
Rookie of the Year Power Rankings
1. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions—Suh leads all NFL defensive tackles with 5 sacks, and he also has 21 tackles through six games, plus an interception—a pretty rare feat for a DT. Is there any doubt that this young big man is the real deal?
2. Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions—Injury may have slowed Best down, but how about the fact that to go along with 249 rushing yards, Best has 31 catches for a league-high 285 receiving yards among running backs. That’s 534 all-purpose yards through six games.
3. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams—He’s way down the list of quarterbacks stat-wise, but Bradford is averaging 226 yards per game and has 7 TD passes. We’ll let the 8 picks slide for now, because let’s face it—the kid is helping to lead the Rams to respectability.
Honorable mention: Max Hall, Arizona Cardinals; Rolando McClain, Oakland Raiders; Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys; Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
You think it’s hard to predict the games and standings from week to week? Try picking MVP candidates. There are five or six different candidates emerging every week. We’ll do this as one post again today and start separating them out next week. And I’m sure by this time Tuesday everything will be turned upside down again. Enjoy the games today everyone!
MVP Power Rankings
1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles—He didn’t play last week and yet the Eagles still won, but barely, on the road in San Fran. Against a team that still hasn’t won a game yet. And hence my case is made again. And when Kolb and the Eagles lose at home to the Falcons today, fans in Philly will be chanting Vick’s name, which will have made my case again.
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