jets vs. browns.. 3 things to watch for ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

With the upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns, naturally we are all going to be watching the New York Jets with the hopes of a preview for the rest of the season. Obviously we hope the team wins, but it's also important that they perform well in the process; nobody is hoping for a sloppy 6-3 final score. So what should we be looking for in particular? Here are three things I'll be focused on :

1. How does Ryan Fitzpatrick look? With reports that Geno Smith is participating in positional drills, he could be ready to go quickly. If Fitzpatrick struggles, which is of course possible against a strong Cleveland defense led by Mike Pettine, Smith could be back even sooner.

2. How does the defensive line look without Sheldon Richardson, and, in particular, how does Leonard Williams look? The Big Cat is due for plenty of snaps this season, especially with Richardson out. He's looked as advertised in the preseason, but can he do it against starters?

3. Will special teams finally be able to reverse the slide? Since Mike Westhoff left, special teams has struggled. I'm going to be keeping an eye on Chris Owusu, or whomever the team has back at kick returner, to see if the team can get some good field position for a change.

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2015/9/7/9274217/cleveland-browns-three-things-to-watch-for

[Integrity28]

3 things to watch for:

1. Are we winning or losing?

2. Did we beat them, they beat us, or we beat ourselves?

3. Boobs.

[Jetman55]

...special teams over run game and secondary?  No way.  

 

The return of a vaunted secondary vs McCown should be a staple of the team/season.  If the Jets secondary comes close to covering like they should, they should keep us in most games.

[kelly]

 fyi :

-- Johnny Manziel expects to be ready to be the Cleveland Browns' backup quarterback in Sunday's season opener against the New York Jets.

Manziel threw in practice Monday for the first time since Aug. 23. Tendinitis in his right elbow led the Browns to rest him since that day and for the final two preseason games.Asked if he had any doubt about being ready to go on Sunday, Manziel said: "Not in my mind. Not, I don't think, in anybody else's, either."

Manziel said he started throwing a football the past couple days, and that he threw lightly in Monday's practice. That was by design, he said."It's a Monday, it's kind of the extra practice for us," Manziel said. "So there's no reason to be out there really slinging it around."

He said he fully expects to throw all-out on Wednesday, when the Browns practice next."Stay on this pitch count for a couple days and be ready for the time I need to be," Manziel said.

Coach Mike Pettine said Manziel should be ready to go Sunday, "barring a setback."Manziel said he was not overly concerned about the tendinitis because it was simply a matter of overuse. He said rest reduced the inflammation."Now it should be back to normal and everything should be fine," Manziel said. "From now on, learning that, OK, hey, when it gets to this point, let's take it a little bit easier and not get to the point of overuse."

To help at the position, the Browns signed Austin Davis, who started eight games for the St. Louis Rams last season, and placed rookie cornerback Charles Gaines on the short-term injured reserve list -- meaning he'll be eligible to play after Week 8.Running back Duke Johnson, who was diagnosed with a concussion in the third preseason game, did not practice.

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13602696/cleveland-browns-qb-johnny-manziel-elbow-throws-practice

[kelly]

saw this..

~ ~ Cleveland Browns

Key 2014 Results
Record: 7-9 (NFL rank: 20)
Pythagorean Wins: 6.9 (NFL rank: 25)
Pythagorean Difference: plus-0.1 (NFL rank: 15)
Record in Close Games: 4-4 (NFL rank: 13)
Strength of Schedule: 0.480 (NFL rank: 24)
Turnover Margin: plus-6 (NFL rank: 9)

The Browns did one thing notably well last year: stopping the pass. They were well below average per DVOA when throwing the football (22nd), running it (26th), and trying to stop the run (31st). They were a far more respectable 14th in special teams DVOA, but Mike Pettine’s bunch was second in the league against opposing passers. If you’re expecting the Browns to take a step forward in 2015, you’re either a firm believer in Johnny Manziel or you’re expecting them to build on that pass defense.On one hand, you can understand why Cleveland’s pass defense was great. Pettine is an excellent defensive coach with a track record of success, both under Ryan and as the coordinator of Buffalo’s second-ranked pass defense in 2013. The Browns already had a no. 1 corner in Joe Haden, invested heavily in free agents like Paul Kruger, Karlos Dansby, and Donte Whitner,² and got a breakout season from safety Tashaun Gipson, who had six picks in just 11 games.

At the same time, the Browns got really good, really quickly. They were 23rd in pass defense DVOA the previous season, and while their situation changed, the evidence suggests that teams like Cleveland that take an enormous leap usually lose some of those gains the following year. There had previously been 21 teams that saw their pass defense DVOA jump by 20 ranks or more, as the Browns did by finishing no. 2 last year. During the following season, those teams declined by an average of 9.7 ranks, which would place the Browns somewhere around 12th in pass defense DVOA for 2015. Even if you figure Pettine is good enough to fade some of that history, second is going to be a tall order to repeat.Pettine will instead hope his 31st-ranked run defense improves, which seems likely, especially given that the Browns rebuilt their defensive line by signing Randy Starks in free agency and drafting Danny Shelton in the first round. But the problem is that these aren’t the Bills, who were a dominant defense in both facets of the game last year. The Browns were 11th in defensive DVOA, even with that great pass defense. Even if improvement in their run defense overcomes the projected decline in their pass defense, that might very well only be enough to mete out an average defense on the whole.And it’s not clear the offense will be much better than Buffalo’s. The hope is that a healthy season from center Alex Mack will be enough to return the Browns to their impressive early-season run, during which they averaged 26.8 points per game. I’m sure the … return … of the Mack will help matters, but even he can only do so much with Josh McCown under center. Cleveland also lost offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and replaced him with Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, whom the Browns bill as having developed young quarterbacks before getting to Matt McGloin, Terrelle Pryor,³ and Derek Carr. The jury is out on that, and it remains to be seen whether Norv Turner and Bill Walsh combined could turn Manziel into a viable starter. With quarterbacks this bad, Cleveland’s ceiling is too low to augur much promise.

Best-Case Scenario: Manziel comes alive, the defense takes another step forward, and the Browns ride an emotional wave to 9-7 and playoff contention.

Worst-Case Scenario: The pass defense declines and the Browns correspondingly struggle to do anything well. Pettine gets fired as Cleveland goes through yet another regime change.

rest of above article :

> https://grantland.com/the-triangle/nfl-2015-season-predictions-part-1-the-cellar-dwellers/

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets brought in seven players for tryouts on Tuesday, including former Giants S Stevie Brown. This came two days after they acquired S Ronald Martin on waivers. Evidently, they're still looking at their depth. Other tryouts: DE Mike Catapano, TE Nick Kasa, TE Brian Leonhardt, G Michael Liedtke, DB Ryan Murphy and G Vinston Painter.

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

Ten things to know about the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets' opponent on Sunday :

1. The Jets can't complain about this matchup. The Browns are the worst opening-day team in league history, having lost 10 straight Week 1 games. That's more than double the next-longest active streak (four), held by the New York Giants. Since the merger in 1970, the Browns are 14-28, a league-worst .333 winning percentage.

2. Continuing that theme, the Browns haven't fared too well in Weeks 2 to 17, either. They've gone 12 straight years without making the playoffs, tied for the second-longest drought in the NFL. Their winning percentage over the last five years (.313) is worse than every team except the Jacksonville Jaguars (.275). Other than that, things are looking up in Cleveland.

3. The Browns are without their general manager (Ray Farmer), their offensive line coach (Andy Moeller) and their star receiver (Josh Gordon), all of whom are serving suspensions. Farmer got busted by the league for illegally texting during games last season and Moeller was suspended indefinitely by the team for allegedly assaulting a female guest at his home last weekend, according to reporting by NFL Nation Browns reporter Pat McManamon. Gordon is on a one-year drug suspension. And people think the Jets are dysfunctional?

4. Browns coach Mike Pettine returns to MetLife Stadium for the second time since leaving the Jets after the 2012 season. He served as Rex Ryan's defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2012 before deciding to make a lateral move to the Buffalo Bills, which still puzzles some people. The Jets' defense includes eight holdovers from Pettine's last season, including cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who clashed with Pettine. The players respected his knowledge of the game, but they chafed at times because he wasn't as warm and cuddly as Ryan. Pettine is a good coach, but you have to wonder if he'll get a chance to show it at the Cleveland circus.

5. People always bemoan the Jets' decades-long search for a franchise quarterback. Imagine how the people in Cleveland feel. The Browns have used 37 starting quarterbacks since 1976, including 23 since 1999. What in the name of Otto Graham is going on there? The next man up is Josh McCown, 36, who signed a three-year, $14 million contract last March. He's smart and steady, the quintessential game manager, but he's not the future of the franchise. Don't forget, he went 1-10 last year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He could be keeping the seat warm for ...

6. Heeeere's Johnny (Football). Amazingly, it took us to No. 6 before getting to Johnny Manziel, but things have quieted down after a headline-making rookie year. It was a disappointing year on the field -- two poor starts -- and we all know about his rehab stint during the offseason. The latest drama surrounding Manziel is a sore throwing elbow He threw lightly on Monday for the first time since Aug. 23, and there's some question as to whether he will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday. As insurance, the Browns signed Austin Davis.

7. To beef up their 32nd-ranked run defense, the Browns made two significant acquisitions, signing free agent defensive end Randy Starks and drafting nose tackle Danny Shelton in the first round. Starks occupies a small place in Jets' lore. In the 2011 finale, Starks, playing for the Miami Dolphins, intercepted two screen passes by Mark Sanchez. You've been warned, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Shelton isn't your typical plodding nose tackle. He's 335 pounds, but he's a high-energy player and moves very well. The Browns should be strong up the middle, but their linebacking corps is average and they might be vulnerable on the edges.

8. This game features two of the best cornerbacks in the league, Darrelle Revis and Joe Haden. They have something unusual in common: Both were drafted by Eric Mangini. He was only 33-47 as the Jets and Browns head coach, but Mangini sure had an eye for cornerback talent.

9. The Browns' offensive line is very good, led by left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. The starting five consists of two first-, two second- and one third-round pick. It's so good that this year's first-rounder, Cameron Irving, is on the bench, backing up every spot.

10. Todd Bowles and his defense probably have to prepare for Terrelle Pryor and the Wildcat offense. In the final preseason game, the former Ohio State star -- listed as a wide receiver -- played a total of 17 snaps, running twice out of the Wildcat. He also lined up as the personal protector on the punt team. Sound familiar? It should; it was Tim Tebow's role with the Jets in 2012, when Pettine was an assistant. Pettine also was around when the Jets used Brad Smith in a similar role. It's possible he used Pryor last week just to give the Jets something to worry about. Or maybe not.

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53924/so-you-think-the-jets-have-issues-meet-the-cleveland-browns

[kelly]

fyi  :

Terrelle Pryor's move to wide receiver was successful even though Pryor barely played in the preseason.

Pryor made the Cleveland Browns' 53-man roster on Saturday after playing just one half of the final preseason game. He did not have a pass thrown to him during the preseason, but did line up twice as a quarterback to run the read-option.As a quarterback, Pryor had been traded by Oakland to Seattle for a seventh-round draft pick, then released by the Seahawks and Bengals.

When Cincinnati cut him in June, he decided to move to receiver and the Browns claimed him on waivers.A hamstring injury kept him out of the bulk of the preseason, but even that did not dissuade the Browns from keeping him.Coach Mike Pettine had said that Pryor would have been a projection at receiver even if he had played all preseason.

The coach called Pryor's versatility a benefit."Anytime you can have a guy that can run, that can throw, that can protect, I just think it changes the mindset defensively a little bit," Pettine said after the team's preseason finale in Chicago.

>   http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13590825/terrelle-pryor-makes-cleveland-browns-53-man-roster

[kelly]

-- Highlighting two players who figure to play integral roles Sunday for the New York Jets against the Cleveland Browns  :

Eric Decker, wide receiver: Decker has been overshadowed by Brandon Marshall, but he could be the key to the Jets' passing game in the season opener. Decker said he expects Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden to shadow Marshall. If that's the case, Decker will be covered by the No. 2 corner. Tramon Williams is no slouch, but the Decker-Williams matchup probably will be more enticing to the Jets than Marshall-Haden. If Marshall and Haden play to a stalemate, the onus falls on Decker to win in single coverage. Hey, he's on a roll if you count last season. Remember, he finished with a career game, 11 catches for 221 yards.

Damon Harrison, nose tackle: Big Snacks believes he's the best nose tackle in the league, and he'll get a chance to state his case in Week 1. He'll be matched against center Alex Mack, the glue to the Browns' offensive line. Mack, a first-round pick in 2009, hadn't missed an offensive snap until last Oct. 12, when he broke a leg and missed the remainder of the season. The offense fell off a cliff without him in the middle. With Mack on the field, the Browns averaged 4.4 per rush and 6.0 per play, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Without him, the numbers fell to 3.3 and 4.8, respectively. The Browns have a good line, and they will challenge the Jets' talented defensive line. Harrison has to be ready.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54001/wr-eric-decker-will-be-key-against-browns-secondary

[Thor99]

I can't believe all of these articles were in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 

[kelly]

— Devin Smith officially was limited during practice on Wednesday, and head coach Todd Bowles ruled him out for the Jets' season opener Sunday against the Browns.But Smith, , a rookie wide receiver and the Jets' second-round draft pick, is making progress in his recovery from broken ribs and a punctured lung."They've got me doing a little more than I've done in previous weeks, to see where I'm at," Smith told NJ Advance Media this week.

"Before I was doing just straight individual [drills]. That's really just [getting tempo with] my routes, going through some of the drills that our receivers coach [Karl] Dorrell has us doing."But Smith also acknowledged that "the injury is still there," and that he still experiences pain "from time to time," which is why Bowles said Smith wouldn't play against the Browns."They're not hitting him [yet]," Bowles said.(An aside: Smith switched his jersey number on Wednesday from 84 to 19. Now you know.)

Though Smith is expected to be the Jets' field-stretching deep threat, they still have five other available receivers in Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, Quincy Enunwa, and Chris Owusu.Smith has been out since breaking his ribs and puncturing a lung while making a catch on July 31. The initial prognosis was that he'd be back by the end of training camp. But the Jets obviously want to be cautious."This week, I'm started doing a little more with the team" in drills, Smith said. "So I plug in a little with the scout team, and also with the first-team offense. Mixing myself in and just getting those reps, and kind of gauging to see where I'm at."

>   http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/devin_smith_wont_play_for_jets_against_cleveland_b.html#incart_river

[kelly]

Here's a look at the Wednesday injury report — the first one of the week — for the Jets' season opener Sunday against the Browns.The Jets have already ruled out quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver Devin Smith.The latter participated in team periods Wednesday for the first time since he broke his ribs early in training camp. But Devin Smith was officially listed as limited.Browns coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday that backup quarterback Johnny Manziel is on track to be available for Sunday's game. 

Here's the full report from Wednesday  : 

JETS

Did not participate: QB Geno Smith (jaw)

Limited participation: LB Erin Henderson (knee), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), WR Devin Smith (ribs), DE Leonard Williams (calf)

(All of the Jets' limited players are expected to play Sunday, except Devin Smith.)

Full participation: DE Stephen Bowen (knee), G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), CB Antonio Cromartie (hip), T Ben Ijalana (knee), RB Chris Ivory (knee), WR Jeremy Kerley (concussion), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (knee)

 

BROWNS

Did not participate: T Joe Thomas (rest day, not injury related)

Limited participation: WR Dwayne Bowe (hamstring), CB Pierre Desir (concussion), CB Justin Gilbert (hip), CB Joe Haden (hip), RB Duke Johnson (concussion), LB Christian Kirksey (groin), QB Johnny Manziel (right elbow), LB Barkevious Mingo (knee), LB Nate Orchard (back), WR Terrelle Pryor (hamstring), CB K'Waun Williams (abdomen)

Full participation: WR Marlon Moore (rib), T Mitchell Schwartz (thumb)

>    http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/jets_vs_cleveland_browns_initial_injury_report_joh.html#incart_river

[Ex-Rex]

Johnny Manziel is going to start against the Jets? If that's the case Jets win in a romp. Manziel sucks...he is worse that RGIII.

[Joe Jets fan]

Johnny Manziel is going to start against the Jets? If that's the case Jets win in a romp. Manziel sucks...he is worse that RGIII.

Where did anything say Manziel was going to start??

 

It said he will be the number 2..

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Once again, the Jets had full participation in practice -- at least during the 30 minutes open to the media. That portion doesn't include team drills. Still, the Jets are in a good place health-wise as they prep for the Browns.

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

It's just about here: Jets-Browns on Sunday afternoon in the 2015 season opener at MetLife Stadium. The game is about the teams and all the players new and old who will be starting their first seasons or their next seasons in the NFL.It's also about the coaches. Todd Bowles makes his Jets and NFL head-coaching debut. "I’ll be excited Sunday," he said Thursday. "It doesn’t sound like it right now, but I’ll be excited."And Cleveland's Mike Pettine makes his first appearance as a head coach in the stadium he used to call home as the Jets' defensive coordinator from 2009-12. He said he has "for the most part great memories of New York and my time there. It’s a great environment and great stadium. ... I know it will be a heck of an atmosphere for an opener."

Here are seven more points to ponder while waiting for the opening kickoff :

1. Starting in Different Directions

The Jets have played their last five openers at home and have won their last four, both currently the NFL's leading streaks. The Browns have lost their last 10 openers and 15 of 16 since they were resurrected in 1999. Past performance is no indicator of future results, and opening-day wins guarantee nothing (the Jets, after all, beat Oakland last year, 19-14) but these recent opening-day trends by both teams are suggestive.

2. Cornering the Market

Top past and present cornerbacks from both teams will cover the field Sunday. For the Jets, obviously, it's Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and former Brown Buster Skrine. For Cleveland it's Joe Haden and Tramon Williams. (Said WR Brandon Marshall about his third career matchup vs. Pro Bowler Haden: "Man, I never look forward to going against Joe.") Helping coach up the Jets' CBs is Daylon McCutcheon, the seven-year mainstay in Cleveland's secondary. Assisting the Brownies: Aaron Glenn, who had 24 INTs, a 100-yard return and two Pro Bowls as a Jet from 1994-2001

3. Time to Strut Their Stuff

The Jets anticipate being top run-stoppers this year, and why not? Opponents' 3.6 yards/carry the past two years is best in the NFL, and even without Sheldon Richardson for a while, Mo Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, David Harris, Demario Davis & Co. are ready to roll. The Browns, meanwhile, were 28th in rush yards/carry last season and 27th this preseason. They just traded their No. 1 rusher, Terrance West, to KC on Sunday and have put the ball in the guts of second-year man Isaiah Crowell (who rushed for eight TDs last year) and rookie Duke Johnson.

4. Getting to Know You

The QBs we could see in this game are all new to their teams. The Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty, we know about. Cleveland is the seventh different team Josh McCown will start for in his well-traveled career (which included stops in the UFL and as a high school QBs coach). And Johnny Manziel, who had two late-season starts as a Browns rookie, "looks like he's on track to be available Sunday" from his sore elbow, said Pettine. Key question: Will Bowles and DC Kacy Rodgers open "the gates of hell," as Bart Scott predicted, and try to blitz McCown into submission?

5. Brick Wall for Starks

RDE Randy Starks will try to rally the Cleveland defense against Fitzpatrick. If Jets fans shudder instinctively when they hear Starks' name, there's good reason: As a Dolphin, he had five career sacks of Jets QBs and his two backfield interceptions of Mark Sanchez in the 2011 season finale at Miami are the most INTs ever by a D-lineman in a game vs. the Jets. LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Fitz's blind-side protection will need to be on their game.

6. Turn Over a New Leaf?

One of Bowles' mantras is turnovers. It should be:.From 2012-14 the Jets were 30th in the NFL in giveaways (90), last in takeaways (51) and TO margin (minus-39), and 31st in points-off-turnovers margin (minus-156). Are they moving in the right direction? Their plus-6 this preseason, tied for third in the league, would suggest so. "Turnovers, sacks, they’re going to happen," Fitzpatrick said. "You want to keep them to a minimum. But it's also how you respond when it happens, making sure people aren’t hanging their heads and we're moving on and staying confident."

7. White & Green?

We hear the Jets will wear white jerseys and green pants. On the one hand, needless to say, it's been donned before. On the other hand, the Green & White haven't worn white and green on opening day since 1996 (31-6 loss at Denver), and the last wins in white/green to start a season were in 1994 (23-3 win at Buffalo followed by home-opening 25-22 OT triumph over the Broncos). Start of a new sartorial tradition? We'll soon find out.

>       http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7points/7-Points-Jets-Browns-Say-Start-Me-Up/314a1d37-ea64-4f65-b5a6-da20baf6ae9b

[kelly]

-- The Cleveland Browns waived Terrelle Pryor on Thursday, five days after it appeared the quarterback-turned-receiver had beaten the odds by making the 53-man roster.Pryor was let go because the Browns were awarded former Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin on waivers.

Turbin is recovering from a sprained ankle and will miss a few weeks of time. He has been in the league three years and gained 928 yards on 231 carries with no touchdowns. He played behind Marshawn Lynch in his three seasons, during which he didn't miss a game.

Pryor was attempting to make the long climb in switching from quarterback to receiver. He missed most of preseason with a right hamstring injury, then played one half in the final game but did not have a pass thrown to him"This will be a mistake by them," Pryor told the Northeast Ohio Media Group after his release.He had a friendlier goodbye on Twitter than he did in the Cleveland media :

Suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon tweeted some words of encouragement to Pryor after the move.Pryor worked with Gordon earlier this summer at the Randy Moss Academy as he tried to make the transition to wide receiver.As a quarterback, Pryor had been traded by the Raiders to Seattle for a seventh-round draft pick, then released by the Seahawks and Bengals.

When Cincinnati cut him in June, he decided to move to receiver, and the Browns claimed him on waivers.

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13625716/cleveland-browns-cut-terrelle-pryor-claim-robert-turbin-waivers

[JETSfaninNE]

Ten things to know about the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets' opponent on Sunday :

1. The Jets can't complain about this matchup. The Browns are the worst opening-day team in league history, having lost 10 straight Week 1 games. That's more than double the next-longest active streak (four), held by the New York Giants. Since the merger in 1970, the Browns are 14-28, a league-worst .333 winning percentage.

2. Continuing that theme, the Browns haven't fared too well in Weeks 2 to 17, either. They've gone 12 straight years without making the playoffs, tied for the second-longest drought in the NFL. Their winning percentage over the last five years (.313) is worse than every team except the Jacksonville Jaguars (.275). Other than that, things are looking up in Cleveland.

3. The Browns are without their general manager (Ray Farmer), their offensive line coach (Andy Moeller) and their star receiver (Josh Gordon), all of whom are serving suspensions. Farmer got busted by the league for illegally texting during games last season and Moeller was suspended indefinitely by the team for allegedly assaulting a female guest at his home last weekend, according to reporting by NFL Nation Browns reporter Pat McManamon. Gordon is on a one-year drug suspension. And people think the Jets are dysfunctional?

4. Browns coach Mike Pettine returns to MetLife Stadium for the second time since leaving the Jets after the 2012 season. He served as Rex Ryan's defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2012 before deciding to make a lateral move to the Buffalo Bills, which still puzzles some people. The Jets' defense includes eight holdovers from Pettine's last season, including cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who clashed with Pettine. The players respected his knowledge of the game, but they chafed at times because he wasn't as warm and cuddly as Ryan. Pettine is a good coach, but you have to wonder if he'll get a chance to show it at the Cleveland circus.

5. People always bemoan the Jets' decades-long search for a franchise quarterback. Imagine how the people in Cleveland feel. The Browns have used 37 starting quarterbacks since 1976, including 23 since 1999. What in the name of Otto Graham is going on there? The next man up is Josh McCown, 36, who signed a three-year, $14 million contract last March. He's smart and steady, the quintessential game manager, but he's not the future of the franchise. Don't forget, he went 1-10 last year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He could be keeping the seat warm for ...

6. Heeeere's Johnny (Football). Amazingly, it took us to No. 6 before getting to Johnny Manziel, but things have quieted down after a headline-making rookie year. It was a disappointing year on the field -- two poor starts -- and we all know about his rehab stint during the offseason. The latest drama surrounding Manziel is a sore throwing elbow He threw lightly on Monday for the first time since Aug. 23, and there's some question as to whether he will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday. As insurance, the Browns signed Austin Davis.

7. To beef up their 32nd-ranked run defense, the Browns made two significant acquisitions, signing free agent defensive end Randy Starks and drafting nose tackle Danny Shelton in the first round. Starks occupies a small place in Jets' lore. In the 2011 finale, Starks, playing for the Miami Dolphins, intercepted two screen passes by Mark Sanchez. You've been warned, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Shelton isn't your typical plodding nose tackle. He's 335 pounds, but he's a high-energy player and moves very well. The Browns should be strong up the middle, but their linebacking corps is average and they might be vulnerable on the edges.

8. This game features two of the best cornerbacks in the league, Darrelle Revis and Joe Haden. They have something unusual in common: Both were drafted by Eric Mangini. He was only 33-47 as the Jets and Browns head coach, but Mangini sure had an eye for cornerback talent.

9. The Browns' offensive line is very good, led by left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. The starting five consists of two first-, two second- and one third-round pick. It's so good that this year's first-rounder, Cameron Irving, is on the bench, backing up every spot.

10. Todd Bowles and his defense probably have to prepare for Terrelle Pryor and the Wildcat offense. In the final preseason game, the former Ohio State star -- listed as a wide receiver -- played a total of 17 snaps, running twice out of the Wildcat. He also lined up as the personal protector on the punt team. Sound familiar? It should; it was Tim Tebow's role with the Jets in 2012, when Pettine was an assistant. Pettine also was around when the Jets used Brad Smith in a similar role. It's possible he used Pryor last week just to give the Jets something to worry about. Or maybe not.

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53924/so-you-think-the-jets-have-issues-meet-the-cleveland-browns

Wow this must have been written hours before Pryor got cut lmao.

Forgot what day today is, thought it was Thursday still lol

[kelly]

oh ,.. jets by 14...

 

cheers ~ ~ 

[kelly]

fyi...

~ ~ Pryor: Back to natural position

Jets S Calvin Pryor says he feels more comfortable playing in his natural position and having Revis and Cro makes things comfortable as well.

>  http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

Game Preview : Jets-Browns

Team Reporters Jamir Howerton and Eric Allen Examine How These Two AFC Foes Measure Up

 

video..

>   http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Game-Preview-Jets-Browns/87ad036f-593e-4b34-b0b0-ddede44dd8b0

[kelly]

Marshall vs. Haden: A Battle Outside the Numbers

Veteran Wideout Is Gearing Up to Face One of the League’s Best Cornerbacks

One of the highly anticipated matchups to watch during the Jets' Sunday opener against the Cleveland Browns is between wideout Brandon Marshall and cornerback Joe Haden.

Haden has been a standout shutdown corner for the Browns ever since he was drafted in 2010, receiving Pro Bowl honors for the past two years.“I never look forward to going against Joe,” Marshall said after Monday’s practice. “He is one of the most competitive guys out there. He’s hyper-competitive, works hard, and he’s always in the right place.”

“It is mutual respect. He is one of my friends,” Haden told the Cleveland media of Marshall. “He is a good dude. At the end of the day, it is just two competitors. You know he is ready for me, for sure, don’t get that wrong. He is ready to play. Definitely appreciate the mutual respect we have for each other’s games.”The first time Marshall and Haden clashed was in 2011. Cleveland traveled to Miami in December to face the Dolphins and Marshall finished the game with four catches for 43 yards.

The second battle took place in Chicago in 2013. Marshall walked away with six catches for 95 yards and one touchdown that came during a two-minute drill in the second quarter to tie the game.“He is just a big dude who has been doing it for such a long time,” Haden said this week. “He is a very, very talented receiver. He is one of the best in the league and he has been doing it for a while.”

In those two games combined, Marshall totaled 20 targets and 10 catches for 138 yards and one touchdown.“I’m not excited to play against him,” said Marshall. “He is one of the best corners out there and I’m expecting him to follow myself or Decker around the field this week and we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”

Haden (5'11", 190) has a knack for following opposing teams' top wide receivers. This is something he welcomes and takes pride in after finishing 2014 with 73 tackles, three interceptions and 20 pass defenses.“He’s one of the best in the league,” said head coach Todd Bowles after Wednesday’s practice. “Even though he’s not as tall as some of the rest of them, he’s feisty and he’s tough and he’s strong up top. He understands the game very well.”

Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil, who complimented Marshall’s game, did say the visitors would put different players on the 6’4”, 230-pound wideout.“He’s big. He’s physical. He’s got great hands,” said O’Neil while addressing the Cleveland media. “The quarterback is going to get him the ball. Joe will obviously be against him some. A lot of our guys will have a chance to go against him. I am looking forward to that matchup.”

Whether Haden is on Marshall for the bulk of the game or not, it is one of the matchups you would hate to miss out on. 

>    http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Marshall-vs-Haden-A-Battle-Outside-the-Numbers/fbc5b51c-14ce-4f86-bf07-18a060ed257a

[RutgersJetFan]

What an informative article. I have never watched football before and thought to keep an eye out for if the quarterback is good or not. 

[no psls]

Who is Kelly ?

[Dcat]

Johnny Manziel is going to start against the Jets? If that's the case Jets win in a romp. Manziel sucks...he is worse that RGIII.

reading comprehension isn't for everyone apparently.  

[Dcat]

Who is Kelly ?

ans is she a he or is he a she?

[kelly]

The NFL debut of speedy Jets receiver Devin Smith will be probably still be delayed.But it might not be. Smith is ahead of the schedule Jets coach Todd Bowles has shared publicly and was officially listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Browns on the injury report.

Smith suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung on what Bowles called a “freak play” in a July 31 practice. The immediate diagnosis was an absence of at least six weeks, but Smith has been back at practice this week, participating in team drills but with no contact.

Because he hasn’t been hit and because he missed so much time — Smith was hospitalized after the injury — Bowles has said that Smith probably won’t be among the active Jets players this weekend.

At very least, Smith’s status gives the Browns something to think about. Smith was the best deep threat in college football last season and gives the Jets an element they’ve been missing in recent years.

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/11/devin-smith-listed-as-probable-probably-wont-play/