Erik Boland Game recap

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Erik Boland: Inside the Jets

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August 23, 2008

Preseason Gameday Live 3: Jets vs. Giants

Good evening Jets fans, welcome to another night on the Jets blog. Tonight the Jets will be taking on the reigning Super Bowl Champion Giants at the Meadowlands. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

On the Jets: Despite the improvements and major offseason acquisitions, the Jets have many questions that need answering.

On offense, who will emerge as the main receiving threat behind Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery? Brad Smith, Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney? All three have the ability.

How much will Brett Favre play tonight? The third preseason game is usually when the starters play at least a half and into the third quarter. Look for Favre to play at least until the half.

Defensively, will rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston begin to emerge as the top playmaker the Jets think he can be?

In the secondary, Drew Coleman, Hank Poteat and David Barrett all have incentive to play well as Dwight Lowery has emerged as a threat to their playing time. Kickoff is minutes away. Enjoy the game.

First quarter recap:

Score: 0-0

Nothing doing in the scoring department as both teams failed to put any points on the board. Both defenses tightened up on third down.

Brett Favre completed 4-of-5 passes for 32 yards.

Positive plays: Brad Smith, trying to emerge as the Jets third receiver, caught a screen pass and took it 20 yards on the Jets second drvie, setting up the Jets with a 1st-and-10 from the their own 39. Second-year linebacker David Harris burst through the middle on a blitz on the Giants second possession and sacked Eli Manning for a 10-yard loss forcing third and long. Rookie defensive back Dwight Lowery followed up that play, tackling Brandon Jacobs after he gained just five yards on a screen to force a punt.

Negative plays: Rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston lost contain and allowed Brandon Jacobs to pick up 19 yards on the first play of the Giants third possession. An illegal shift by Jets wide receivers nullfied a 20-yard catch by Brad Smith on the Jets second drive. Favre was sacked by Justin Tuck on the Jets first drive forcing a third and long.

Second quarter recap:

Halftime Score 0-0

Still nothing on the scoreboard as both teams have played solid defense. Both teams also have seemed to catch the penalty bug. But it is the preseason and a little rust is expected.

Positive plays: Calvin Pace picked up his second sack of the game, causing a 17-yard loss and forcing the Giants to kick a field goal. The Giants had the ball 3-and-7 from the 7 with less than 20 seconds left. The Giants' Josh Huston missed on a 42-yard FG attempt.

Favre hooked up with Brad Smith for 17 yards on the Jets second drive of the second quarter. He later connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 49-yard score, but the play was nullified because of an illegal formation penalty. The play didn't count, but the penalty cleary didn't effect the outcome of the play.Farve completed 3-of-4 passes for 30 yards. It would've been 4-of-5 for 79 yards.

Favre showed he still had some gas in the tank and scrambled eight yards for a first down on the Jets first drive of the second quarter. He found Jerricho Cotchery on a crossing pattern two plays later for a 30-yard gain. Thomas Jones carried three times, but gained just three yards on the same drive.

Negative plays: Bubba Franks was the guilty party on the penalty that nullified Cotchery's touchdown. The Jets had three procedure penalties on that drive, including one by Alan Faneca.

The middle of the Jets defense gave up a 18 yards to Derrick Ward on a counter play, setting up first and goal for the Giants at the 7.

Third quarter recap:

Score: Jets 3, Giants 0

Scoring drive: 17 plays, 72 yards. 9:18

Scoring play: Mike Nugent, 24-yard FG

Key Plays: Kellen Clemens hooked up with Dustin Keller for a 34-yard pass play. The Jets converted two fourth-down plays; Wallace Wright on a nine-yard catch and Jesse Chatman on a five yard catch.

Positive plays: Clemens' 34-yard pass to Keller. C.J. Mosely and Drew Coleman had sacks on consecutive plays. Clemens finished the drive 8-for-11 for 80 yards. The Jets defense limited the Giants to 17 yards.

Negative plays: Brett Ratliff, who was in at quarterback for the Jets second possession of the third quarter, was intercepted by Giants DE Renaldo Wynn.

C.J. Mosely was penalized 15 yards for taunting after his sack. The Jets began their first possession of the third quarter on a dubious note, commiting three straight procedure penalties. They added a fourth procedure penalty later on the drive. Chris Baker Will Montgomery, Jacob Bender and Matt McChesney were guilty of the infractions.

Fourth quarter recap:

Score:Jets 10, Giants 7

Jets scoring drive in the fourth quarter: 2 plays, 51 yards, :39 seconds.

Scoring play: Brett Ratliff, 24-yard TD pass to Paul Raymond.

Key Plays: Ratliff completed a 25-yard pass to Jason Pociask.

Positive plays: Linebacker Cody Spencer and defensive back Abram Elam had sacks on consecutive plays, forcing the Giants to punt. Kareem Brown sacked Giants QB Andre Woodson. Jets DBs Drew Coleman and Hank Poteat broke up pass plays on consective plays that would've been a first down for the Giants. Drew Coleman intercepted Andre Woodson on the Giants final drive of the game.

Negative plays: Giants rookie WR Mario Manningham beat Jets DB Ahmad Carroll for a 32-yard catch.

Final score: Jets 10, Giants 7

Analysis: Brett Favre had a strong day. He didn't throw any TD passes, but he was accurate, completing 9-of-12 passes for 96 yards. He had a 49-yard scoring play to Jerricho Cotchery wiped out because of a procedure penalty. The running game still left something to be desired as Thomas Jones gained 11 yards on six carries. Kellen Clemens was solid as he completed 9-of-12 passes for 83 yards. Third string QB Brett Ratliff made up for a third-quarter interception as he found Paul Raymond for a 24-yard scoring play. The Jets defense had five sacks, an interception and made big plays when it had to.

The Jets defense had a day to write home about, while the offense needs to cut down on the penalties.

The Jets are back in action next Thursday at 6:30 to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in their final preaseason game of 2008