Prideful Coaches Fire a Few Warning Shots
Posted by on November 4, 2010 – 4:46 pmAre Rex Ryan and Jim Schwartz firing shots across each other’s bow? Not really, although some would like to stir the pot that way in advance of the Jets-Lions game on Sunday.
Following Ryan’s comment with Detroit media Wednesday, one report out of the Midwest led with the idea that Rex:
made a little news in Detroit this week by saying that the Jets were bringing the league’s “best defense” to town. He also said the Lions shouldn’t count on another offensive outburst at home.
That prompted Schwartz, when advised of the comment, to reply:
“… They’ve done a good job of putting pressure on the quarterback. I think they have 15 sacks. We have 22. I think that’s what it is.”
Ryan said today at his Atlantic Health Jets Training Center news conference that the context of his Wednesday remark was a little lost in the translation.
“My comment about the best defense in the National Football League coming to town, well, they’re averaging 38 points a game [at home] and one of their reporters asked me, ‘Do you think they’ll score 38 this week?’ ” Rex explained. “I said, ‘No, the best team in the league’s coming to town. No way you’re scoring 38.’ I don’t believe that.
“Whether that’s a shot across our bow that we only have 15 sacks, that’s fine with me, that’s good. They ought to be proud of the fact that they’ve got more sacks than we do and more turnovers than we do,” he continued. “You generally want to judge yourself against the best, so judge yourself against our defense. That makes sense to me.”
Well, we all know this one will be settled on the Ford Field field on Sunday, but here are two factoid graphs that should help each side prepare for the other.
The Jets must consider that the Lions are not only one of the most dangerous 2-5 times this NFL season but in almost any season. Since the 1970 merger, 182 teams have opened their seasons with that same 2-5 record. Only seven of those 182 had more points scored than their opponents. The two teams with the biggest point margins are both playing the season: The Chargers, who were plus-28 after their first seven, and these Lions, who are plus-18. Green & White, beware.
And careful, Blue & Silver as well, the Jets D, as Ryan says, may be coming on. They posted their first touchdown-less effort game of the season against Green Bay — they pitched five zero-TD shutouts last season. And in yielding 237 yards to the Packers, the Jets climbed back into the NFL’s top 10 in opponents’ yards allowed per game, to No. 7, their highest ranking of the season. In 25 weeks as Jets head coach, Ryan’s and Mike Pettine’s defense has been a top-10 team 18 weeks, and including the four Baltimore seasons from 2005-08, Ryan-Pettine D’s have been in the top 10 in 83 of the last 93 weeks.
Whose recent trend gets busted? That’s why they play the games. But while Rex doesn’t need me backing him up, it should again be said that while he unashamedly talks up his team, it’s never at the expense of the other team. About his offense, Ryan said today:
“We’re kind of licking our wounds a little bit. To get shut out, that’s kind of embarrassing. This is a prideful team, a prideful group, a prideful unit, and I expect us to rebound, even though we know this is a tough place to play and that’s a tough team to play over there.”
And allows that some folks might be right about his defense, although he respectfully disagrees:
“We’ve got to get some turnovers and things like that. But yeah, there’s no doubt I expect to have the best defense in the league every year. Is that realistic? I don’t know, probably not. But that’s what we expect … and I think my history is pretty close to that.”
Health Watch
Ryan had one good development and one painful one on his injury report today. MLB David Harris, who sat out Wednesday’s practice with a sore back from weightlifting, returned to full practice today.
But late in the session, starting S Brodney Pool collided with CB Darrelle Revis. Revis is fine but Pool left the field and was thus listed as limited.
“We took him off the field, more as a precaution than anything,” Ryan said. “We’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Tags: Brodney Pool, David Harris, Detroit Lions, Jim Schwartz, Rex Ryan
Posted in Randy Lange | 25 Comments »
By Jim on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
With an offense averaging 23 points per game and a defense allowing an average of 16 points per game, the difference of 7 points concerns me. It’s coming down to a single possession. Every game concerns me. Every possession concerns me. We need more productivity from the offense. Detroit should be a good game.
By scjoe on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Forget all the talk, forget the stats, forget the fact that they have 22 sacks and we have 15. Forget all of that. The thing to remember is, do not take this team to lightly or you will leave Detroit with another embarrassing loss! They have some talent, especially offensively, they always play well at home, and if we know anything, it is never say never in the NFL. Another bomb like last week and they will lose this game. And when I say they will lose this game I do not mean that the Lions will go out and “win” it.
By William on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Good and bad comments, constructive and destructive comments, it all doesn’t matter once the W or the L is posted after the game. I don’t know how possible it is to get more articles on the practices without giving game plannig away. More practice and preparation are the only thing that positively impact the execution during the game, and that is what we need, more execution consistent execution on offense.
I’d like to know how involved Coach Ryan is on the offense during the game and during preparation. I know he is defense-minded, but I wonder if more of his involvement (if he doesn’t have much already) would prove a plus on offense during the game and preparation.
By Pranit on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Play smart football….Detroit is a dangerous team no doubt…But if we can’t beat Detroit then lets just not play the rest of the season…And of course, please don’t let Brian Schottenhiemer (sp chk) call any plays…please….
And No penalties and turnovers…..
By Gmany3k on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Lets just go out there and play like we are built to play dominate scrimmage on both sides. Stop over thinking and execute.
By Arte Old School on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Stop with all this nonsense boys and girls.. Look at who the Lions have played.. The best team so far has been who the Giants?? Or is it one of three teams they’ve already lost to in their division?? This is their first AFC match-up.. Jets toy with the Lions like an amateur team.. This will be the Jets’ best all-around game by this season by far!! Something like 48-0.. That’s more like it!! See you in Dallas :-)
By IRA on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
Listen i don’t care what any of those coaches said. Bottom line is the Jets are the better team and will prove it Sunday.
GO JETS!!!!!
By Jets Fan Tom Since '64 on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
I just tune out Rex’s “We’re the best this…,” “He’s the best that…” talk most of the time now. I’m glad when he recognizes the play of someone like Slauson, of course, who was judged too harshly too early even by the great Joe. But this “best” stuff is Rex’s routine mode and it means nothing, only victories do. Especially victories by a team that looks like it knows what it’s doing with its personnel and can be counted not to let down every couple of games.
By charliejet on Nov 4, 2010 | Reply
ONE GAME AT A TIME………
GO JETS
By john on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Ive been a Jets fan all my life. I moved to Dallas from LI 5 years ago, do me a favor Jets fans….don’t become like Cowboys’ fans! If their team doesn’t win by 30 points, they cry and moan and bitch about every little thing. They constantly criticise even their best players and act like they should win the Super Bowl every year. They are NAUSEATING. The Jets are having a good season, hopefully the season won’t end until February, try enjoying the ride instead of second guessing every little thing from every game, you will only ruin the sport for yourself doing that. GO J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!!
By Dom on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
We are going to hit our stride right now. I letting everyone know we are not going to lose another game for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. If we ground and pound like usual no one beats us, that is something we got away from in Green Bay. But this team is fired up right now and no one wants to be in there way, SuperBowl here we come. By the way that isn’t being cocky thats being completely honest, I love REX RYAN!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!! LETS GO BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Kyle on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Ryan doesn’t need to be firing off any kind of hype after last weeks performance. We’ll never win with the dropped passes and horrible play calling on the Offense (Shotty).
What happened to ground and pound?
Next year, the best thing the jets could do is get a new OC.
By Troy on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
After hearing Trent Dilfer on Wed. on the M.Kay show, I got a renewed sense of that was just flukey bad day..Vs G.B. He said he watched the coaches tape with all the angles,and stating that Mark throughly outplayed Rodgers,and that the Wr’s and the O penalties let the team down NOT MARK,he said get Holmes to catch the 3rd 4 on the opening dr.of 3rd qtr,and just 1 of the 5 4th qtr drops and Jets win 10-6.he was overly confident in stating that he thought we were the best team in NFL that just had a bad day,that will get corrected,but his outlook on Mark was the most favorable take of it all,calling people that blamed Mark for the L delusional that dont know what there looking at,he said he saw 8 drops that =87 yrd..
By Troy on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
cont… 24-38 340 at least 1 td and win…But it has to start this week ,I dont care who the Lions have and where were playing ,they are 2-5 ,and that’s not by accident ,we had our lay an egg game Vs G.B. …now we need to show the NFL that we are for real ,and super bowl contenders bounce back and go destroy teams the following week thats what we need to do..10-7 is not what Im looking for …..34-7 is what im looking for ,a game that looked like Buffalo,look what the’ve done since that one ,not won yet but have taken 2 good teams to OT on the road,and we DESTROYED EM, if we play our game Detroit doesnt stand a chance…We’ll see
By paul on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
I’ve been watching the Jets before joe namath put them on the map! I love my Jets as much as anyone! I just want to say that the GB game was not a fluke, the team has played poorly most of the year and are truly lucky to have the 5-2 record they hold going into detroit. Mark Sanchez has performed poorly throughout the season and is not ‘greatly” improved over last year as some would have you believe. His legs shake in the pocket, leading to poor footwork, bad decisions and even worse throws. Now I’m not blaming it all on the kid, but lets not fire coaches!
My prediction is this team gets nowhere near the super bowl, will lose to detroit, and will be 5-5 before you know it. Ineffective quarterbacks don’t win that many games!
By Troy on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Damn paul, I thought I was hard on our team, but to say Mark hasnt improved and the team has looked bad all year is just not accurate, beating NE. and Miami ,were signature wins ,where Mark outplayed Brady and Henne, now I will say that they;ve regressed over the past 3 games ,but found a way to win 2 of them ,and like I posted above it was mo where near marks fault for that tire fire last sunday ,if the wr’s make one play out of those 9 drops we win,he is inconsistent at times with his fundamentals ,but is definetly better than last year.keep in mind that the D is finally healthy and the new seconadary guys seem to be comm.better so its going to be a struggle for opposing O to get 13-16 points on us ,we avg.26 before the packer game ,
By Hogan on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Wow Paul, Just wow.
By scjoe on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
I think “WOW Paul” pretty much sums it up. We all cast our opinions here, most just constructive criticism. Realty is the Jets are a good team, maybe not a great team because they do not have a great QB. That is not to say all the blame should fall on Sanchez, just telling it like it is. One thing they do, and have done so often in the past, is play to the competition, the great teams do not do that. I certainly hope that is not the case this week, but would it surprise me if they did, No! I hate to mention the Pats on this site, but how often do you see them play down to the competition? But you know what? One blowout win and you will see all the posts on this site change in a heart beat. Exactly what that says about our fans, i’m not sure
By scjoe on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
In 64Toms post above about Slauson, I sure hope he was not referring to me as the “great Joe” I tend to doubt it, but not 100% sure, because as I watch the play of certain players as the season develops I acknowledge if there is improvement in their play, I have done that with Slauson. I think it is just human nature to second guess the coach for replacing an all pro with a rookie at a critical position, but if that rookie shows he gets the job done as the season goes on, you acknowledge it, I do, and I did. Now, I wish I could say the same from the QB position, I won’t say he has regressed, like one ESPN writer, but just have not seen noticeable improvement, “yet”
By Shad on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Prepare to lose this week Jet fans!!
By Jets Fan Tom Since '64 on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
I’ll hold off on the predictions, paul, and I know what you mean about Sanchez looking shaky in the pocket at times. But you’ve watched the Jets offenses long enough to see that Schotty doesn’t have the vision or maturity to run this O.
By Mike Jet Vet on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Some here say we will gobble the lions up others say don’t sleep on them or we’ll lose my favorites the ground and pound that’s all we need too fans WRONG!, keep dreaming do that and we’ll be hard pressed to win 5 more games no matter how good we are every team will just stack the box and dare S-M to beat them he’s no Payton Manning just yet so much for ground and pound ..well I say this all in all the Jets are the better team but our pass rush is null and void reason I say this is we need to blitz 6 to 8 guys to get any pressure on the QB the better teams do it with 4.. Arte old School I share your optimism but until we address this problem it will be twice as hard getting to Dallas GO JETS
By Jets Fan Tom Since '64 on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
There should be no mistaking scjoe for the greatest Joe — Namath — sc. Though Joe Fields was pretty good, too.
By FrankB on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
The defense played great last week and kept the offense in the game until the end obviously, but the offense must be more consistent, period. After week 1 it looked like they finally took the training wheels off of Sanchez’s bike and he was playing like a maturing second year QB. Last week looked like the same old play it safe offensive. Offensive weapons like Holmes, Edwards, Keller, and the two headed monster of a backfield make that loss inexcusable with how well the D payed. Hey does anyone know what has happened to Cotchery? I thought he was gonna be a solid receiver with the big play ability, but it’s almost like he has disappeared from this team. Anyway, GO J-E-T=S, and please beat a deceptively good team on both sides of the ball!!
By lawrence biviano on Nov 6, 2010 | Reply
>>>John, nice comment, very nice. Seriously. Enjoy the ride. Yes, last week was very dissappointing. Apparently, you can’t win every game. I just found it very troubling to allow G.B.’s swiss cheese defense to shut us out at home. That should not EVER happen again. You don’t see N.E. (gasp) ever get shut out at home. They had better pay attention. NE is not giving up their East crown up so easily. LGJ!