New York Jets not giving up on big-play offense

[BP]

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer readily admits that quarterback Brett Favre has gone more to a short passing game in recent weeks, but he insists a post pattern to wide receiver Laveranues Coles -- even with safety help over the top -- is still in the playbook.

Over the past four games, the Jets have gone to a short passing game that has produced five touchdowns and just two interceptions while averaging 35.2 points.

Favre has completed 79 of 103 passes (76.6 percent) for 816 yards in those games. Just six completions have been for 20 or more yards.

"We say it all the time, it's game-plan specific," Schottenheimer said Friday. "You look at Tennessee, very good pass rush, very good football team with Kyle Vanden Bosch, (Albert) Haynesworth, (Jevon) Kearse and all those guys, it lends itself to trying to push the ball fast.

"Plus, a lot of people now are having to load up the box to try to stop the run, they're putting eight and nine guys up there so you can push it a little bit faster on the outside. Again, we have the plays to go up the field."

In the Jets' 34-13 victory over the Titans, Favre had only one completion of 20 or more yards in 32 attempts.

Schottenheimer insists that each game his play-call sheet has everything at the ready and the flow of the game dictates which way he decides to go.

"When the games get going, (you call) the plays that are working," he said. "The philosophy hasn't changed, it's just that we've been executing the short passing game very, very well and that's a credit to the players."

Even so, it's hard to believe that the Jets' decision to go to a short passing game wasn't based, in part, of Favre's interceptions. He had a stretch of seven interceptions in a four-game span prior to the change in play-calling.

And there has been another change in the offense. Schottenheimer has drastically reduced the different shifts and motions that were his trademark in his first two seasons. Instead, he has gone to an uptempo, more stationary offense in which the Jets are dictating the pace of the game with their balanced attack.

As a result, the Jets (8-3) are on a roll, having won five straight and seven of eight entering Sunday's game against the Broncos (6-5) at Giants Stadium.

And as the Jets offense has gone to another level, so too has the relationship between Favre and Schottenheimer. The pair aren't exactly finishing each other's sentences, but they no longer have to wear name tags in meetings.

The Brett Favre experiment that started in August has now produced the league's second-highest scoring team (323 points) and the Jets are on pace to shatter their franchise record of 419 points, set in 1968.

"I've always been very comfortable with Brett," Schottenheimer said. "There has always been that fact that as you go further and further down the road, down the season, there are things you begin to anticipate.

"Where you had to talk about things in the past, now you're able to solve it between each other. You don't even have to discuss it. I don't know if you call it in the zone. We're playing pretty well. We have a very good feel for one another."

NOTES

Rookie CB Dwight Lowery, who has been beaten for six touchdowns and a two-point conversion and lost his starting job to veteran Ty Law, knows Broncos sharpshooting QB Jay Cutler will be looking for him on Sunday.

"No question. I don't see why not," Lowery said. "They're a team that's going to attack what they feel our weaknesses are."

Lowery, a fourth-round pick, says he hasn't lost his confidence and isn't trying to hide when he's on the field.

"You don't play the position not to have the ball thrown your way," he said. "I'm fine. I'm a young guy and things aren't always going to go your way. It's how you respond to those situations."

Coach Eric Mangini said Lowery is working hard to get better and is not sulking.

Friday, Broncos third-year quarterback Jay Cutler was asked if his arm is stronger than Favre's.

"Yeah, I think so," Cutler told the Denver media while laughing. "What is Brett? Is he 40 yet? Thirty-nine, soon to be 40? I think he may have given me a run back in his 20s, but I think I got him now."

Veteran K Jay Feely, who has hit 10 straight field goals, will likely kick vs. the Broncos.

With rain in the forecast, the Jets may turn to AFC leading rusher Thomas Jones (950 yards, nine TDs) to pound the Broncos' 26th-ranked run defense (144.5 yards per game).

LB David Harris (groin surgery) and S Eric Smith (concussion) are listed as questionable. Harris isn't expected to play but Smith is a possibility.

Broncos S Marlon McCree (ankle) is out and LB D.J. Williams (knee) is doubtful. Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey (groin surgery) is questionable but may play.

The Jets, in connection with Jersey Cares, are sponsoring a coat drive on Sunday.

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[CTM]

I really hope they don't change whats working.

Favre hasn't looked good throwing it deep all year and most of his INT have come on longer attempts. I think the old guy lost some of his touch. No reason to force anything now..

[Jetkid94]

Link

hahahahahaha. cutler thinks MAYBE favre was stonger in his 20s. is he on crack?

[BP]

I really hope they don't change whats working.

Favre hasn't looked good throwing it deep all year and most of his INT have come on longer attempts. I think the old guy lost some of his touch. No reason to force anything now..

I would like to see some more slant fakes/pump fake and go routes. we haven't seen too much of that in the last 5 weeks. and they will eventually be jumping those slant routes.

[JonEJet]

Jay Cutler

Eat a bag-o-d1cks

[SoFlaJets]

I would like to see some more slant fakes/pump fake and go routes. we haven't seen too much of that in the last 5 weeks. and they will eventually be jumping those slant routes.

Coles is back to normal (healthy?) and playing the best football he has in a few years I can see us opening it up, especially with Cutler joking about how his arm is bigger than Favre's-I expect the old man to show the youngster how it's done

[docdhc]

Favre can still throw deep with anyone. Our receivers are very good but they are not great deep threats. Keller may be the fastest receiver we have until they let Clowney play.

[aec4]

hahahahahaha. cutler thinks MAYBE favre was stonger in his 20s. is he on crack?

Honestly, Cutler's arm is stronger than Favre's was when he was in his prime.

Doesn't mean he was a better QB, just means if you had a radar gun, Cutler may be bringing more heat, that's all.

[serphnx]

I guess the media needs something to write about.

On Cutler: I'm not sure about that, maybe. Cutler plays in Denver where the air is thinner, so sometimes it might look better than it is. I mentioned in another thread right now I think Russell, Cutler and Favre are the top 3 right now. Favre is 39, so maybe he loses a little something, but in his prime that's a tough as hell argument to make.

Also I don't think Cutler has a better arm than Elway. It's possible, but I dunno, I don't think so from what I've seen. I guess I'll see more tomorrow.

[nyjfan]

He should still be able to make some midrange and long throws....he made them

just fine all of last year....throwing 20-30-40 yarders and more with good force

and accurate. This year the Jets receivers just can't get open and Favre still likes

to try to get it to them sometimes. In Green Bay last year, guys were constantly open

30+ yards down the field and Favre got em every single time without problems.

I doubt a lot has changed since last season. I think this season he was just trying to

get something working prematurely. The long pass should come together real soon.

[Gainzo]

Jay Cutler

Eat a bag-o-d1cks

I agree. Even though the quote mentioned that he was laughing while he said it Cutler claimed earlier in the season that he had a stronger arm than Elway.

Cutler is a douchebag that hasn't done squat.

[nyjfan]

And it's not like it really matters if he has a strong arm or not. If he wants some attention

he's gotta win some games. Look at JaMarcus Russell. He probably has one of the strongest arms in the league and yet no one cares or pays any attention. Why? Because

it's the friggin Raiders and they don't win more than 5 games a year.

[Sperm Edwards]

I didn't find anything wrong with it. Everyone knows Cutler has a cannon, including Cutler. And he may very well throw harder than Elway did. Elway had a once in a lifetime arm, but who really knows who threw harder - and does it really matter when you are at a certain level?

As was mentioned, the question wasn't who's a better QB. Favre doesn't deny he's lost a lot of his velocity. I think McCarthy said that Rodgers has a faster fastball now as well & Favre didn't argue it one bit, other than to joke himself that he's 39 years old, so duh.

I'm sure there are a bunch of guys who throw faster than Favre now, at age 39. Who gives a crap? He throws plenty hard enough that it doesn't matter.

But man, some people here look for things to get offended by. This isn't a big deal to me, and since Cutler was laughing when he said it, doesn't seem as big of a deal to him. Hell, he didn't even say "Without a doubt I throw harder now." It was "[only becaues he's like 40 years old], I think I've got him now."

Some guys like this love to have people ask them about how hard they throw. Favre is/was no different.

This is from 10 years ago:

tUAe4RYKNSM

[nyjfan]

Brett Favre can throw the ball 200 yards under water.

[Sperm Edwards]

Brett Favre can throw the ball 200 yards under water.

The line is "Brett Favre can throw the ball 200 mph under water."

...missed opportunities.

[BP]

I didn't find anything wrong with it. Everyone knows Cutler has a cannon, including Cutler. And he may very well throw harder than Elway did. Elway had a once in a lifetime arm, but who really knows who threw harder - and does it really matter when you are at a certain level?

As was mentioned, the question wasn't who's a better QB. Favre doesn't deny he's lost a lot of his velocity. I think McCarthy said that Rodgers has a faster fastball now as well & Favre didn't argue it one bit, other than to joke himself that he's 39 years old, so duh.

I'm sure there are a bunch of guys who throw faster than Favre now, at age 39. Who gives a crap? He throws plenty hard enough that it doesn't matter.

But man, some people here look for things to get offended by. This isn't a big deal to me, and since Cutler was laughing when he said it, doesn't seem as big of a deal to him. Hell, he didn't even say "Without a doubt I throw harder now." It was "[only becaues he's like 40 years old], I think I've got him now."

Some guys like this love to have people ask them about how hard they throw. Favre is/was no different.

This is from 10 years ago:

tUAe4RYKNSM

The hardest throwing QB I've ever seen was the Rustin rifle, Bert Jones before he got hurt.

[Sharrow]

Yeah, it's kind of annoying when someone gets asked a question, then they answer it honestly and people rip on them for it. It's not like the guy asked the question himself or just ****ing said it out of the blue. What do you want him to do, kiss Favre's ass or ignore the question?

[Sperm Edwards]

The hardest throwing QB I've ever seen was the Rustin rifle, Bert Jones before he got hurt.

You are old.

And I doubt his arm was as strong as you say. Dude couldn't even crush an aluminum beer can if I remember correctly.

[BP]

You are old.

And I doubt his arm was as strong as you say. Dude couldn't even crush an aluminum beer can if I remember correctly.

That's after he hurt his back. I saw him throw an out against the Jets at Shea where he saw the corner breaking for the ball and really fired it. he threw the ball so hard it knocked Roger Carr out of bounds. he had a howitzer.

[ECURB]

Doesn't Leftwich have a cannon arm?

[Sperm Edwards]

That's after he hurt his back. I saw him throw an out against the Jets at Shea where he saw the corner breaking for the ball and really fired it. he threw the ball so hard it knocked Roger Carr out of bounds. he had a howitzer.

Are you arguing that he couldn't crush a beer can in a commercial because he hurt his back? And Roger Carr weighed 12 pounds.

[BP]

Are you arguing that he couldn't crush a beer can in a commercial because he hurt his back? And Roger Carr weighed 12 pounds.

The Lite beer from Miller commercial?

Roger Carr was 6-3 200lb's

[Sperm Edwards]

The Lite beer from Miller commercial?

Roger Carr was 6-3 200lb's

12 pounds.

[Larz]

I trust shotty now like I trusted henning

that, in my book, is high praise

mangini will tell him to eat clock, control the ball, and take shots when you can

I'm calling stuckey TD of over 30 yards and keller from 40