Chris CrockettThese New York Jets Are No Fluke…They Have Arrived & Are For Real
January 20th 2010 17:30
I think the time might have arrived for people (including myself to a degree) to stop viewing this New York Jets football team as a fluke or beneficiary of good fortune. It may be time to consider the fact that they may have arrived on the scene at just the right time as a serious threat, now and for years to come.
I was listening to Felger and Mazz on 98.5 ‘The Sports Hub’ on the way home from work on Monday evening and I became ‘informed’ once again by Felger. I only caught the tail end of his discussion with Mazz, but I got the jist of it. They were rolling off the names of players on the defensive side of the ball for the Jets and saying how this team shouldn’t be taken lightly and that a lot of those players on defense were high draft picks. “This team is no fluke”, Felger was yelling. I caught a couple of the names that they had mentioned and last night I decided to dig a little deeper.
The Jets start FIVE former 1st Round picks on the #1 ranked defense in the NFL. Yeah, but they can’t all be good right? Wrong. Take a look…
Darrelle Revis (CB) (1st Rd--2007) : Considered by most to be the best corner in football. He had 6 INT’s this year to go along with 31 pass deflections and 54 tackles this season.
Bryan Thomas (LB) (1st Rd--2002): Moved from defensive end to linebacker in 2006 when team changed to 3-4 defense, posting a career-high 77 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2006, including 6.5 sacks during a six-game span. Had 53 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble this season.
Shaun Ellis (DE) (1st Rd--2000): Has 68 career sacks, which rank him third on the Jets all-time list behind Joe Klecko (77.5) and Mark Gastineau (107.5). Had 6.5 sacks this year and also forced a fumble.
Calvin Pace (LB) (1st Rd--2003 from Cardinals): Established career highs with seven sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 2008...Had 8 sacks and 3 forced fumbles this season.
Lito Sheppard (CB) (1st Rd--2002 from Eagles): A very good corner with 2 Pro Bowl appearances. Only started 9 games this year and had only 1 INT but is a damn good cornerback.
Throw in guys like Bart Scott, Kerry Rhodes and the young 2007 2nd Round pick, linebacker David Harris, who had a great season, and you’re in serious business.
Out of the remaining three teams in the playoffs, the Saints and Vikings start three 1st Rounders on defense and the Colts start one.
If Mark Sanchez wasn’t a rookie and didn’t have to take some lumps like all rookie QB’s in this league, this team wouldn’t have had to depend on winning those last two games of the year to sneak into the playoffs. The offense has plenty of talent to build on moving forward. With Sanchez’ rookie season now under his belt, all this team has to do is add a talented wideout to that offense--whether via the draft or free agency--and watch out!
Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if the team that laid down on NFL history--the Indianapolis Colts--and let the Jets hand them their first loss, went down to them once again in the AFC Championship Game? I’m pretty sure the Colts will keep their starters in for this game though.
I still like the Colts in a tight football game on Sunday. I just wouldn’t put any money on it! The future is definitely bright in the land of the J-E-T-S.
Chuck
~TCFB~
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Comment by 5280
Vishnu vishnu
Rama viiiiishnu
...however how can one not give credence to the yin/yang aspect of how Peyton Manning, the deliverer of a "teabag" to some lucky lady in college (see previous fantastic post by Chuck-Dawg regarding this) being the recipient of a Dirty Sanchez if the Jets pull off the upset.