Jets News 10-28

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Stat check: Special teams rock

October, 27, 2011

Oct 27

8:00

PM ET

By Rich Cimini

Continuing our bye-week analysis, we move on to the special teams, a traditional strength for the Jets. A comparison of 2011 (seven games) vs. 2010 (16 games):

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jets: Major categories

Punt return avg -- 2011: 9.4 (17th) ... 2010: 9.4 (20th) ... Difference: Even

Kickoff return avg -- 2011: 30.3 (2nd) ... 2010: 25.2 (3rd) ... Difference: +20.2%

Gross punt avg -- 2011: 43.5 (23rd) ... 2010: 42.6 (23rd) ... Difference: +2.1%

Net punt avg -- 2011: 37.9 (21st) ... 2010: 38.1 (17th) ... Difference: -0.5%

FG pct -- 2011: 100.0 (T1st) ... 2010: 76.7 (T27th) ... Difference: +23.3%

Opponents: Major categories

Punt return avg -- 2011: 8.6 (14th) ... 2010: 11.1 (26th) ... Difference: +29.1%

Kickoff return avg -- 2011: 19.7 (3rd) ... 2010: 19.6 (3rd) ... Difference: -0.5%

Gross punt avg -- 2011: 46.1 (23rd) ... 2010: 45.7 (31st) ... Difference: -0.9%

Net punt avg -- 2011: 38.2 (9th) ... 2010: 40.2 (23rd) ... Difference: +5.2%

FG pct -- 2011: 91.7 (17th) ... 2010: 78.3 (T9th) ... Difference: -13.4%

Analysis: The Jets lost several key special-teams performers in the offseason, but they've improved (or remained virtually steady) in almost every major category. People fretted the loss of KR Brad Smith, but Joe McKnight leads the NFL with a 40.0 kickoff-return average. In fact, the Jets lead the league on kickoffs/average drive start (27.6), and they're second in opponents' drive start (19.5). PK Nick Folk, whose return caused many fans to groan, is 10-for-10 on FGs.

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Offensive Report Card

Through the first seven weeks of the season, the Jets are 4-3 and heading into their bye week.

They have had inconsistent play on both sides of the ball so far, but are on a two game winning streak. Also, they just played their most complete 30 minutes of football to get a win against the Chargers. Here is my take on how the offensive skill players have performed to date:

Mark Sanchez- B

Sanchez has been great and terrible at times, often in the same game, but has for the most part, shown the promising signs that made us trade up to get him. His 2-1 TD-INT ratio has been fine, but could be aided by not forcing balls 11-30 yards down the field. All but one of his INTs have come on long passes. If he can cut down on the fumbles, 3 so far, and bring up the completion percentage, we can play deep into January and even in February.

Shonn Greene- C+

After a slow start to the season, Greene has quietly had a solid three game stretch, putting up 83 yards against the Pats, 74 against the Phins, and he just hung 112 on the Bolts Sunday. Greene has had his issues this year on runs to the middle of the field, but he has excelled on runs to the outside. Shonn doesn’t have eye-popping speed, but once he gets the second level he has enough speed, elusiveness, and power to break big runs. Look for a solid second half from #23.

Dustin Keller- A-

Dustin is arguably our best offensive weapon; he’s too fast for linebackers to cover him and too physically imposing for safeties to shut him down. He has cooled down a bit from his torrid start and hasn’t caught a TD pass since week 2, but he has had a nice resurgence in the past two weeks. In 5 of our 7 games he’s had more than 50 receiving yards and has had a 25+ yard completion in 4 games. Look for big games against Buffalo and their 30th ranked pass defense.

Santonio Holmes- B+

Stats don’t tell the whole story in Santonio’s 2011 campaign, although he has only 22 catches for 311 yards, he has played very well. The main reason for his "lack of production" on the stat sheet has nothing to do with his play; it’s actually more telling of the cornerbacks covering him, because Santonio has drawn countless pass interference calls this year. Also, in the Chargers game he had a 23 yard TD pass nullified by an uncharacteristic holding call on Nick Mangold.

Plaxico Burress- C+

Coming back to the NFL after a two year jail sentence, Burress was expected to have trouble adjusting back to life as a professional football player. Also, with the absence of training camp he had little time to get acclimated as a Jet. Despite this, Burress has had a fairly productive start; he has had great downfield blocking and draws frequent double teams in the red-zone. However, he didn’t have a single catch in the Jacksonville and hauled in only one pass against Miami. He didn’t appear to have good chemistry with Sanchez until Sunday’s 3 TD performance. Hopefully Plax can build on this success and be a pest for opposing teams in the red-zone.

Jeremy Kerley- C

When Kerley was taken in the 5th round of the draft, I thought little of it; I assumed that he would only see the field in a blow-out. Due to his nice preseason and Derrick Mason’s bitching, JK has moved up the depth chart and is now the #3 WR. Although he has been on the field quite a bit, he has caught only 9 passes and one TD. All of his catches have come in the past three weeks, including 4 against the Chargers; 2 of those catches went for 1stdowns. His grade is a reflection of the small sample size, but he has been a solid slot receiver and he will hopefully continue to develop into a great WR.

LaDainian Tomlinson- B-

After a solid first year in the big apple, LT, who was the starting HB in the majority of the Jets’ games last year, was given a reduced role this year. At age 32, he is no longer the player he was five years ago, instead he is mainly used as a 3rd-down back and is a key part of our passing game. Although he has only run for 111 yards with a 3.3 YPC, he was been very effective in the passing game. LT is a great blocker and has some of the best hands on the team. In seven games, he has been the leading receiver twice and his great vision allows him to rack up tons of YAC.

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The Post breaks down the Jets’ flight thus far

Last Updated: 6:29 AM, October 28, 2011

Posted: 1:46 AM, October 28, 2011

Brian Costello

The seasons bye comes at a bad time for the Jets, who felt like they were just hitting their stride.

The first seven weeks of the season have not gone the way the Jets expected. At 4-3, they are still in the hunt for the playoffs, but they face a tough road to get there.

After the bye week, the Jets face three divisional games out of the next four. With three conference losses already, they can’t afford many more hiccups.

The Jets coaches spent this week breaking down what went wrong and what went right so far. The Post thought it would be a good time to do the same thing. Here is the breakdown:

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Aaron Maybin. The Bills castoff has been a pass-rushing revelation. Maybin is tied for the team lead with three sacks and has three forced fumbles. The Jets were not that impressed with him during training camp and cut him loose. They brought him back after Week 3, and his speed has given the defense a new element. The next step is for him to learn more of the defense, so he can get more playing time.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Derrick Mason. Whether you believe he was a locker-room disruption or not, Mason was not producing on the field. Brought in to be the third receiver in the Jets’ revamped passing attack, Mason had little impact. He had 13 catches for 115 yards before general manager Mike Tannenbaum traded him to Houston.

BEST REBOUND

Wayne Hunter. The new right tackle struggled mightily in the season opener against the Cowboys -- and it was not just DeMarcus Ware that beat him up. The performance had people panicking, but Hunter has played much better since then and has shown he can be a capable replacement for Damien Woody.

BEST MOMENT

The Jets trailed the Cowboys by 14 points in the fourth quarter on Sept. 11 before storming back to take the victory. Isaiah Trufant’s return of a Joe McKnight blocked punt made the MetLife Stadium crowd explode. Then, Darrelle Revis intercepted Tony Romo to set up the game-winning field goal by Nick Folk.

WORST MOMENT (on the field)

Nothing went right against the Ravens for the Jets offense. Baltimore’s defense embarrassed the Jets, constantly harassing Sanchez. It started with Ed Reed’s strip sack on the first play of the game. Sanchez threw a terrible pick-six in the third quarter that sealed the Jets’ loss and led to ...

WORST MOMENT

(off the field)

After that Ravens game, receivers Santonio Holmes and Mason were not bashful while bashing their teammates. A week later, Mason was traded and Holmes took another shot at the offensive line. Guard Brandon Moore fired back and the Jets suddenly looked like team turmoil. Give Rex Ryan credit for putting his team back together again.

MOST ALARMING STAT

The Jets are allowing 126.9 rushing yards per game. That is 26th in the NFL. Ryan’s defenses have always been good against the run, so this is a big concern. The Jets say the numbers are skewed by a few big runs, but it’s hard to see this team going far if it can’t stop the run.

MOST ALARMING STAT

(RUNNER-UP)

The other half of Ryan’s formula for success has always been to run the ball effectively. The Jets got away from that early on, something Ryan admits was a mistake. They ran the ball better last week but still rank 28th in the league.

GREATEST REVELATION

Joe McKnight. Last year, the running back looked like he might be useless. This year, McKnight has become one of the best kick returners in football and has shown some versatility. The Jets have used him on offense, defense and special teams. The highlight of his season was the 107-yard kick return in Baltimore.

UNSUNG HERO

Nick Folk. The Jets kicker had to fight to keep his job in training camp. Early on, it looked as if Nick Novak might beat him out, but he has been a perfect 10-for-10 in field goals. He booted the game-winner against the Cowboys and sealed last week’s win against the Chargers with a clutch kick.

PREDICTIONS

Plaxico Burress will finish the season with fewer than 60 catches for the first time in his career when playing a full season.

Santonio Holmes will say something critical about the offense again.

Darrelle Revis will win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

The game with the Giants on Christmas Eve will decide whether the Jets make the playoffs.

Fans will chant “Fire Schotty” at MetLife Stadium at least once in December.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/time_for_fly_bye_5T93KphVM2esV1JnQ5VDCI#ixzz1c51dd7xK

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Jets coach Rex Ryan's son part of a Summit High School football team succeeding under John Liberato's strict regimen

Published: Friday, October 28, 2011, 4:30 AM

Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger

Summit Jets.JPGWilliam Perlman/The Star-LedgerSummit High School football coach John Liberato talks with Seth Ryan, son of Jets head coach Rex Ryan, during practice Thursday.

Practice for the Summit High School football team begins at 3:23 or 3:21, depending on the day.

It never starts at 3:30, because head coach John Liberato likes his Hilltoppers to be regimented,

never assuming, and to check the schedule he tacks on the locker room wall.

A minute late means “extras,” or time repaid on the treadmill, doing snake runs, pushing the sled in 20-yard heats, or running extra plays after practice.

The practice schedule includes the 9-minute segment reserved for dynamic stretching, drilling each of the 24 plays that will be cycled through on offense, and the notification that all football players must wear a tie to school the next day.

Liberato’s team is often mentioned in press conferences by Jets coach Rex Ryan because Ryan’s younger son, Seth, is a junior receiver/cornerback at Summit. Before facing a tough opponent like the New England Patriots, Ryan will crack: “I’d rather be playing Summit,” but catches himself just as quickly. “Well, even Summit is playing pretty good right now.”

That’s because Liberato and a veteran coaching staff have revamped this public school program that won just one game in the two seasons before Liberato arrived with a strict regimen that leaves every second of their day accounted for.

“It’s something that was always part of my style, and as you get older I think you get better at organizing your staff,” said Liberato, who owns a 36-14 record in his fifth season as head coach at Summit.

“Being able to maximize the time you’re out on the field ... I just, I like to be organized. I like everybody to be on the same page and by having practice scheduled down to the minute, there’s no surprises.”

Last week, while he waited for the 62 players in worn white practice jerseys to jog down the hill and onto the field, Liberato leaned on a desk inside a cramped auxiliary office for coaches at Tatlock Park field house. On the white board was a mock-up of the week’s opponent, New Providence. The discussion was how to stop an all-county running back that had New Providence on a roll.

One assistant suggested a Cover-3 look. Liberato, always on time, looked down at the blocky stopwatch that constantly hangs down his shoulders on a thin black rope.

“Well, we’ve got about 35 seconds to figure this out,” he said. Summit would go on to beat New Providence, 35-20, four days later.

Summit, which won a state championship in 2009, scores nearly 45 points per game this season with an average margin of victory tipping 30. Tonight, at 7-0, the Hilltoppers play for their third consecutive division title against Cranford.

“The kids appreciate the discipline, it sounds crazy, I know,” said Gil Owren, a 1958 graduate of Summit High who works as a volunteer assistant on the staff. “(John) is meticulous, fair and tough.”

Owren was a high school classmate of Liberato’s mother, Dotti, but the veteran still insists on cutting up film for the coach and jumping in as a quarterback on tip pass drills, among other contributions. Jim Dietz, the defensive coordinator, had been coaching at Summit since 1971 and came out of an eight-year coaching retirement to be a part of Liberato’s staff.

The respect Liberato commands made it an easy transition for an unusual responsibility — coaching the son of one of the NFL’s brashest head coaches. But to counter the disciplinarian inside of him, Liberato flashes a personable side that everyone says comes straight from his father, Sal, who owned a fish market in town called Summit Seafood for more than 30 years.

“He’s got great charisma,” Seth Ryan said of Liberato, relating him to his father in a few ways. “A great work ethic, everything. He has us ready every week.”

Liberato said the only time he and Rex have disagreed was when he insisted the Jets coach watch Summit’s road games inside the ropes on the Hilltoppers’ sideline. At home games, Ryan has become a regular fixture, holding the first-down marker sometimes. But at away games, he is usually mobbed as halftime lines for autographs swell in the bleachers.

Liberato’s office, fittingly, sits adjacent to the brand-new weight room at the back end of Summit High. The rows of new machines, the drag-down projector screen, and the folding chairs all arrived when he did, five years ago.

After he was hired from 50 applicants, he met the 18-wheeler in the parking lot outside of the weight room with his wife and children to unload all the bars, weights, machine parts and boxes.

“From fourth grade, I wanted to be football coach,” Liberato said, watching his offense at practice last week while perched in a ready-to-tackle stance. “It’s the way it’s supposed to be, I’m in the right place at the right time with the right people.”

When he’s not teaching a phys ed class, he roams the hallways during the day and breaks up cafeteria scuffles. He swings through the training room to make sure any injured players he has are getting treatment. He opens up the coach’s film room next to his office and finds two players glued to a flat-screen television watching film during their study hall.

“What game are we watching?” he asked them.

Without a full answer he suggests Cranford film. More Cranford. Game day was only three days away.

Thursday, as a heavy rain began to overtake Summit’s practice field, the team lined up outside of Liberato’s room at 3:11, just as the schedule stated, so each player could get the maroon game jersey and yellow pants they’d wear today.

On their way out to the field, at 3:21, they tapped a sign that read “DISCIPLINE.”

“(Liberato) set the framework,” senior captain Andrew Perry said. “He’ll be our best friend one play and the next play, he’ll kick our (butts). But it’s great, everything is where it’s supposed to be. We’re perfectionists.”

Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com

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Midseason Awards

I know it's only been 7 games for the Jets, but we're reasonably halfway through the season and we've seen enough I believe to give a proper evaluation of how our players have done this year.

On that note I would like to present my first annual "Midseason Awards" - titles bestowed on the players and moves that have made us cheer and boo the loudest online and from our couches whenever we watch the team play. These awards also reflect the outcome of what we've seen - not what we've hoped, or expect to see.

Winners with explanations after the jump.

Star-divide

Most Improved Offensive Player - Matt Slauson

If you're an offensive lineman it's an extremely good sign when nobody mentions your play at all during or after a game. Last year we all thought that Slauson would have a tough time replacing Alan Faneca, and he has to a degree - in the running game. But in pass protection Slauson has been stellar, he hasn't been flagged all year (something that even Mangold, Moore and Brick can't claim), and he has proven in the last two years that he could probably be a starter for any other team in the league.

Most Improved Defensive Player - Kyle Wilson

I simply cannot take anyone seriously who says that Wilson's rookie season was anything above average. If you're a 1st round pick that people are calling the 2nd-best CB in the draft (even though you were the 4th one drafted) you have to prove that you can at least be a #2 corner, and he didn't do that last year. That being said, Wilson has really developed into an excellent #3 - tackles very well in space, can cover some of the fastest receivers on the opposing team, and can even get to the QB on a blitz. I'm disappointed with his ineffectiveness on ST, but there's enough depth there for Wilson to stick with coverage.

Least Improved Offensive Player - Mark Sanchez

We were all relieved that there was no "Sophomore Slump," but to be honest, if having numerous Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and game changing players as your weapons doesn't make you more efficient, more accurate and more willing to throw the ball deep, what can? I will never blame an O-Line for a QBs problems because plenty of QBs are able to play great with awful protection. Is he a legitimate starter at QB? - of course he is. Has he played to his drafted potential? - not yet.

Least Improved Defensive Player - Eric Smith

If Smith hasn't reached his ceiling yet, then we really can't afford to wait much longer. If he has, why is he still starting over the much more athletic Brodney Pool? We don't need 2 Run Stoppers in the secondary in this day and age - this isn't the 1950s. We need coverage for those fast wide receivers and athletic TEs. If brains is the only thing Smith brings to the table, he deserves a headset, not a starting job.

Most Frustrating Offensive Player - Wayne Hunter

It's hard to replace a Pro Bowl caliber RT like Damien Woody. That being said Hunter has struggled so much on the O-Line that it is shameful. Penalties, missed assignments, lost blocks - what else needs to be said? There's been improvement, but Sanchez needs better protection than what Hunter has offered.

Most Frustrating Defensive Player - Antonio Cromartie

We thought when we traded for Cromartie that we were either getting a 2nd shutdown corner or an athlete who chose football as his sport. As luck would have it, we were all half right. Sometimes you get Good Cro, sometimes Bad Crow. You might as well flip a coin. Maybe the pressure is on him more because nobody throws to Revis without paying for it, but he needs to play smashmouth football, not playmaking football.

Best FA Acquisition, Offense - Plaxico Burress

Could Braylon Edwards have done what Burress has done so far? Probably. Maybe even better.

But Edwards wasn't going to stay without a big contract, something Burress was not in the position to ask for. Put it this way: Would you rather have a used Toyota Camry and money to put in the bank, or empty the bank to buy a Bentley? The Jets chose the more efficient route and the investment has paid dividends.

Best FA Acquisition, Defense - Aaron Maybin

Considering how few players the Jets picked up for the defense there weren't many nominees. That being said, the Jets took a minimal risk by taking a Bills bust at a fraction of what the team paid Vernon Gholston, and in less than 4 games he already has 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. I don't know if that says more about the Bills coaching ineptitude or Vernon Gholston's utter lack of work ethic, but I'm glad to have Maybin in a Jets jersey.

Best Offseason Decision, Offense - Re-signing Santonio Holmes

A playmaker in every sense of the word. Great hands and a great route runner - if you're not sure, go back to the SD game and watch the touchdown that got called back by a Mangold penalty. He may not be Larry Fitzgerald, but he deserves every dime of that big contract. Thank heavens for drug arrests or we never would have landed this guy.

Best Offseason Decision, Defense - Not signing Nnamdi Asomugha

I don't care what people say about the defensive scheme difference for the Eagles. The best players in the league should be able to excel in any system. Asomugha was beaten fair and square by Giant WR Victor Cruz for a critical touchdown. Enough said.

Worst Offseason Move, Offense - Signing Derrick Mason

No production. And honestly, the "80/90 catch" proclamation might be the first time that Rex made a statement that he didn't come close to backing up. I'm ashamed of Mason.

Worst Offseason Move, Defense - Letting Shaun Ellis walk

We need a veteran that young players look up to for guidance. If the Patriots WANTED Ellis to have better stats they'd give him more snaps. If Ellis was a starter he'd play like one.

Best Rookie - Muhammad Wilkerson

Has done everything the team wanted from him - rush the passer, stuff the run and occupy blockers. He has the makings of a solid starter for years to come.

Comeback Player - Jim Leonhard

It's nice to see no significant change in Leonhard's gameplay after the leg injury he suffered last season.

Best Coach - Mike Westhoff

If there's one team that has made the best of the new kickoff rules it's the Jets. You can count the number of plays taken out of the endzone that have gone past the 20 with one hand. It's a damn shame that this is his last year with the team.

Special Teams MVP - (tie) Joe McKnight & Nick Folk

In the Dallas game both of them came up huge in the clutch. Since then McKnight has been outstanding in the return game and Folk has been excellent in the kicking game. In spite of all the negative press they received because of their inconsistency in training camp or the regular season, this year they are both playing at an elite level on ST.

Offensive MVP - Nick Mangold

The protection differences between the games where he was out and the games he was in are incredible. The team is 3-1 in games where Mangold plays all the snaps and 1-2 in games he isn't. Nick Mangold's presence is the difference between winning and losing, the difference between Sanchise and Off-The-Mark Sanchez.

Defensive MVP - Darrelle Revis

Revis is more dominant at his own position than any other player in the league - Brady and Polomalu not excluded. Yes he struggled against Wes Welker and Brandon Marshall, both excellent players and Pro Bowlers. Now that we've seen the entire list of people Revis has struggled against, let's look at the list player's he's dominated: Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, Anquan Boldin, the entire Raiders and Jaguars WR corps, and Vincent Jackson. And that's in just 7 games.

Midseason Team MVP - Darrelle Revis

Take every reason mentioned above and then add the fact that he's single handedly changed the outcome of 3 games we easily could have lost. Forget Team MVP, Revis is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year with his play this season.

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Sanchez: Inside the numbers

October, 28, 2011

Oct 28

6:00

AM ET

By Rich Cimini

Few athletes in New York face more scrutiny than Mark Sanchez, who is analyzed every which way.

And that's what we're going to do here, taking a hard look at the Jets' QB through the first seven games, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

PASS ATTEMPTS: 21+ YARDS

4-for-20 ... 20% comp. ... 109 yards ... 1 TD ... 3 INT ... 26.9 rating

Analysis: Man, this is ugly. The most accurate passers in this category, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, are completing more than 61%. Sanchez has a long way to go.

PASSING INSIDE THE NUMBERS

79-for-122 ... 64.8% ... 991 yards ... 6 TDs ... 2 INT ... 99.5 rating ... 8.1 yds/att

Analysis: Pretty impressive numbers over the middle. Why? Sanchez likes to throw to TE Dustin Keller and everybody knows their bread-and-butter pass route with the WRs is the slant.

PASSING OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS

50-for-106 ... 47.2% ... 554 yards ... 6 TDs ... 4 INT ... 66.3 rating ... 5.2 yds/att

Analysis: This is damning. In many cases, numbers like these indicate arm-strength issues, but I don't think that's the case with Sanchez. It's accuracy and the WRs failing to get open on a consistent basis.

PLAY-ACTION PASSING

30-for-55 ... 54.5% ... 429 yards ... 4 TDs ... 2 INT ... 89.1 rating ... 7.8 yds/att

Analysis: Overall, these numbers are solid, although the completion percentage needs to be higher -- 28th in the league. When you're the QB of a run-first team, you need to be killing on play-action.

RED-ZONE PASSING

14-for-27 ... 51.9% ... 128 yards ... 9 TDs ... 0 INT ... 104.6 rating

Analysis: The Jets' red-zone efficiency has improved significantly, and a big reason is Sanchez. His decision making is better than in past years, evidenced by his INT total -- zero. He's learned when to throw it away and when to drill it in. A 6-foot-5 target like Plaxico Burress helps.

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Palladino: Jets Have All Sorts Of Hope

October 28, 2011 7:25 AM

AFC East, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week, Ernie Palladino, Mark Sanchez, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Rex Ryan, Tom Brady

‘From the Pressbox’

By Ernie Palladino

Ernie is the author of “Lombardi and Landry.” He’ll be covering football throughout the season.

As the Jets finish up their bye week in far and near-flung places around the United States, they can watch Sunday’s game knowing they have put themselves in advantageous position.

Whether that 4-3 start is good enough to take a divisional crown away from New England, that’s another matter. But they can now dream, and hope, and hopefully perform to mount a serious challenge, if only to give their mouthy coach some measure of 2011 credibility.

All this will make the next couple of weeks very interesting around Gang Green’s Florham Park training facility. While the Jets rest and return, the 5-1 Patriots will have to work hard to keep a hold on the AFC East’s top spot. And it will all happen with a touch of irony, too, as the Jets will be rooting hard for the Giants to beat the Patriots on Nov. 6, exactly one week before the Jets host those same Pats.

So let’s dream a bit as we unpack this AFC East picture.

Forget about the Dolphins. At 0-6, and probably 0-7 after Sunday’s game with the Giants, they’re already a divisional non-factor. The fans have mounted a Suck-for-(Andrew) Luck campaign, praying that the Fish tank the season in exchange for the Stanford quarterback at the No. 1 overall pick. Tony Sparano has put his house up for sale, and owner Stephen Ross is making nice with former Flordia coach Urban Meyer, who could be Sparano’s successor.

That leaves us with the Bills and the Patriots, admittedly a couple of toughies.

The Bills sit at 4-2 after their comeback loss to the Giants. Chances are they’ll be 5-2 after Sunday’s game against the sagging Redskins in Toronto. At least they should be. With running back Tim Hightower and tight end Chris Cooley newly added to the IR and wide receiver Santana Moss out for an extended period with a busted hand, quarterback John Beck has little to work with. The Redskins may have problems winning another game this year.

Still, the Jets walk into Ralph Wilson Stadium next week with a perfect opportunity to pull into a tie with the Bills for second, while the Giants tend to some business of their own.

And here’s the ironic trivia for that week: When does a Jets fan become a Giants fan? When the Giants are playing the Pats.

If the Giants take care of business at Gillette Stadium and knock the Pats to 6-2 — New England faces a soft 4-2 Pittsburgh this week — the Jets will host Bill Belichick’s squad Nov. 13 with an opportunity to pull into a first-place tie.

And for those who poo-poo that idea, consider that beating Tom Brady hasn’t exactly been an impossible task under Tom Coughlin. Remember Super Bowl XLII.

Considering how the season started, a spot at the top just past the midpoint of the schedule would provide a huge mental boost for the Jets.

Now, that’s just dreaming, and certainly only temporary. Besides the rest of a schedule that includes another meeting with Buffalo, and non-conference games against Philadelphia and the Giants, the Jets have one other big opponent to face in this scenario — themselves. And they’ve shown thus far that they haven’t always been successful in overcoming their shortcomings. Had Miami converted those Red Zone opportunities last Monday night, the immediate future would have looked far different.

When they return to work Monday, the Jets will have to make sure their running game steps up from the 97-yard, one-touchdown effort they mounted against the Pats in a 30-21 loss Oct. 9. Shonn Greene must continue the work he did in a 112-yard effort against the Chargers, only this time against a tougher defense in Buffalo. And Mark Sanchez must continue to keep the turnovers to a minimum.

All pretty standard stuff, but items that have come at an inconsistent quality for the Jets this year.

The wins over Miami and San Diego gave them all sorts of hope to ponder during the bye week. Now it’s up to them to step it up.

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Morning take: Kyle Williams done?

October, 28, 2011

Oct 28

8:00

AM ET

By James Walker

Here are the most interesting stories Friday morning in the AFC East:

Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reports Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams could land on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Morning take: Williams tried to play through the pain but wasn't the same player. According to the report, Williams will stay off his foot a few more weeks and then determine if he can play football again this season.

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post explains how the Jets (4-3) still can win the AFC East.

Morning take: Although not impossible, winning the division sounds like a stretch for New York. The Jets have a better chance competing with the Bills for second place and shooting for the wild card.

Sherrod Blakely of Comcast Sports Net New England explains how the Patriots can contain Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Morning take: Keeping Roethlisberger in the pocket and getting him down when you have the chance are key for New England. Roethlisberger is most dangerous when he can extend plays and continue to look downfield for big gains.

Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post writes Miami Dolphins players are taking exception to tailback Reggie Bush's comments that the team "stinks."

Morning take: I happen to applaud Bush for his honesty. His comments weren't popular in the locker room. But no one debates if Bush was telling the truth.

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The absurdly premature 2011 playoff picture: Week 8

By MJD

The absurdly premature playoff picture presents one man's projection for the NFL playoffs, at each given week in the season -- even if that week is unreasonably early.

The absurdly premature 2011 playoff picture: Week 8

• The Jets are one of two new teams this week, making their appearance at the expense of the Buffalo Bills. I don't feel strongly about it, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it switched back in a week or two, but it's kind of looking like Kyle Williams will miss the season, and if that's the case, that's a big ouchie for the Bills. At the same time, their lead over the Jets has shrunk to half a game, and the Jets showed signs against the Chargers of getting back to a halfway-competent level of offense.

• Pittsburgh jumps up to the No. 2 spot, because Baltimore set football back 70 years on Monday night. I even considered moving the Bengals in and the Ravens out of the picture all together. That's how ugly it was. The Absurdly Premature Playoff Picture is a day late this week because I couldn't bring myself to go back and think about that game. It hurt. It made my eyeballs hurt.

• The Raiders still get the nod in the AFC West, which pains me, because they just lost 28-0 to the Chiefs. At home. You know why I can't put San Diego here? It's not that the Chargers lost to the Jets, or even that they blew an 11-point lead. It's because after the game, all they could do was blame the officials, which tells me that this team still has a major case of "We still think we're way better than we actually are" -itis. San Diego vs. Kansas City is one of the week's more interesting matchups. We might be one week away from having Kansas City winning the West here in the A3P.

• Over in the NFC, we're mostly stable, with Atlanta shoving the Buccaneers out the only change being made. Atlanta went in to Detroit and dropped the Lions, which puts them at 4-3, and they're back to playing physical football. I'm still looking for consistency out of the Bucs, and it just hasn't been there.

• Everything else stays the same, with the hardest call of the bunch still being the winner of the NFC East. Dallas was here last week, and the Cowboys did what they should have done in bouncing the Rams last week. Everyone else in the division either lost, had a bye, or was the Philadelphia Eagles.

• The Detroit Lions still easily have their spot, but for the first time in about a month, I can envision a world where they're not in the Absurdly Premature Playoff Picture. They've lost two straight, they're not a healthy group, and I don't even see them as a lock against Denver this weekend. They haven't been able to run the ball. It's a good sign that Matthew Stafford practiced Thursday, but if he misses time or is limited by his injury, and the passing game goes south, too? The Lions start to look a lot shakier

[Bleedin Green]

Best Coach - Mike Westhoff

If there's one team that has made the best of the new kickoff rules it's the Jets. You can count the number of plays taken out of the endzone that have gone past the 20 with one hand. It's a damn shame that this is his last year with the team.

I'm a huge Westhoff fanboy and think the guy is clearly amazing at what he does, but as far as the last part of this, I know that's what he said last year, but didn't Westhoff already come out within the past few months and say he's already changed his mind on this? I thought he said he'd be back next year as long as the Jets would have him, and at this point he is just taking it year by year.

[flgreen]

I'm a huge Westhoff fanboy and think the guy is clearly amazing at what he does, but as far as the last part of this, I know that's what he said last year, but didn't Westhoff already come out within the past few months and say he's already changed his mind on this? I thought he said he'd be back next year as long as the Jets would have him, and at this point he is just taking it year by year.

Yes he did. He said his kids want him to retire after this year, but he would like to do at least one more season if the team would have him.

Rex said in his next presser "Hell I'll give him a life time contract". Barring something unforeseen, he'll be here next season

[flgreen]

After seven weeks, Jets still a mystery

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 28, 2011, 4:39 PM EDT

We are checking in on every team during their bye week.

We’ve written about the Bucs, Bears and Raiders this week. Now up: The under-the-radar Jets.

Soft on the ground

I

n theory, the Jets are a tough football team. In reality, they get pushed around on the ground. Jets opponents have out-rushed New York by 241 yards. Only three offenses have a lower yards-per-carry average. Only four teams have given up more rushing touchdowns on defense.

Offensive line changes and an early injury to Nick Mangold were huge factors on offense. New York got the ground game going with Shonn Greene in wins over the Dolphins and Chargers. Still, this offense could really use a dynamic running back. Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson add up to average.

Sanchez’s step back

The Jets passing attack is basic. The team used more three receiver sets early in the year to showcase their new wide receivers, but all it did was make fans miss Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards.

Mark Sanchez isn’t throwing the ball down the field or going through his progressions.

In many ways, Sanchez is no different than when he was a rookie. You don’t know what you are going to get week-to-week. He can look great for short stretches, but rarely for long. He throws well up the seam, but not to the outside.

Secondary leads the way

In a pass-happy league, the Jets have the rare defense that can slow down great quarterbacks.

This is the one part of the team the Jets can rely on.

Darrelle Revis should be a Defensive MVP candidate. Second year pro Kyle Wilson is showing signs of life. The safety group is solid. No coach does a better job confusing top-shelf quarterbacks than Rex Ryan.

Ryan has a veteran group that understands how to execute his complex scheme.

Big division stretch

Getting a playoff game at home was Rex Ryan’s big goal this year. That’s what makes their slow start to the year so frustrating. The team is 4-0 at home, but already have three conference losses on the road.

The win over the Chargers was massive, and sets up bigger games in the AFC East over the next four weeks after the bye. The Jets travel to Buffalo, host New England, visit Denver, and host Buffalo.

The Jets need to split with Buffalo and beat New England for any hope in the division. Lose two of the three division games, and the Jets may not get another chance to win a road playoff game this year.