Let's Face It Jets Fans Manish Mehta Is The BEST Jets Beat Writer We Have Seen

[SoFlaJets]

Jets Rewind: Analyzing the Good, Bad & Ugly in 24-20 win over Broncos in Week 6

By Manish Mehta

We begin the Fortuitous Flag Edition of the Rewind with three unyielding truths from the Jets’ 24-20 come-from-behind win over the Broncos on Sunday:

1) Yes, Santonio Holmes would have caught Mark Sanchez’s 4th-down heave if not for Renaldo Hill’s blatant facemask that put Holmes off-balance just enough.

2) No, Jim Leonhard’s hit on Brandon Lloyd was not an illegal helmet-to-helmet one. Brutal call by the officials.

3) Demaryius Thomas’ right foot clearly wasn’t inbounds on his 17-yard go-ahead TD catch over Darrelle Revis late in the third quarter. Sure, the Jets were down to their final timeout after having lost a challenge two plays earlier, but you have to throw the red flag there. In the end, it was a moot point, but it could have come back to haunt Rex Ryan’s club.

THE GOOD

Antonio Cromartie is putting together a Pro Bowl caliber season after holding Brandon Lloyd, who led the league in receiving yards entering the game, in check. By my breakdown, he was thrown at 10 times and allowed three catches for 55 yards. He was flagged for a highly questionable 19-yard pass interference on Lloyd in the third quarter. He also added 3 pass breakups.

Everyone will remember Nick Folk’s franchise-record 56-yard field goal. But how about this: The Jets kicker was 5-for-5 in touchbacks on kickoffs. Pretty impressive.

Brilliant route and field awareness by Braylon Edwards on his 32-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter. Edwards beat Champ Bailey on a post pattern by 1) Influencing Bailey to hedge to his left -- the sideline -- on a quick move stutter move off the snap and 2) using cornerback Nate Jones to, in effect, pick Bailey and create separation. Edwards ran past Jones’ right shoulder as Dustin Keller (who motioned to a stack formation behind Edwards pre-snap) ran an out route. … LaDainian Tomlinson picked up the linebacker blitz to give Mark Sanchez plenty of time to hit Edwards for the score.

John Conner’s crushing block on Renaldo Hill on a stretch play helped pave the way for Tomlinson’s 20-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Great blocks by Conner, Keller, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Matt Slauson.

DID YOU NOTICE? Left guard Matt Slauson stepped on Sanchez’s left foot after the snap on Tomlinson’s 2-yard game-winning touchdown. Sanchez did a great job to make sure the handoff exchange was clean.

The Jets still haven’t given up a point in the first quarter this season.

The Jets are excellent at limiting their tendencies. Consider the run:pass breakdowns:

First play of series: 8 run, 4 pass

On first down: 15 run, 11 pass

Credit Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for opting to change their pressure packages on the Broncos final drive. Kyle Orton took advantage of 2 4-man rushes and a 3-man rush to get the ball to near midfield. Then, the Jets came with a safety blitz (Pool and Leonhard) that resulted in just a 4-yard completion. The Jets came with a corner blitz from Dwight Lowery off the defensive right side that paid dividends when Orton couldn’t handle the shotgun snap. Lowery was in perfect position to land on the ball and seal the victory. (James Ihedigbo and Drew Coleman blitzed form the defensive left side as the Jets’ showed a 7-man rush before bringing just 5).

The Jets’ execution down the stretch ultimately proved to be the biggest difference. In three fourth-quarter drives (excluding game-ending kneel down), Rex Ryan’s team ran 18 plays for 140 yards and scored 14 points.

In contrast, the Broncos ran 20 plays for 68 yards and scored 3 points. They also had a critical turnover.

THE BAD

Mark Sanchez made the right decision when he needed to, but he easily had his worst statistical day. Consider:

1. Sanchez was 6-11 for 67 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, sacked once on third downs

2. After a stretch of 184 consecutive passes without an interception, Sanchez threw two picks in 13 passes.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimerhas done a nice job through the first six weeks to get Sanchez throwing on the run via misdirection. Here’s the breakdown on Sanchez in the pocket and on the move (created by designed bootlegs and defensive pressure that forced him to leave the pocket):

In the pocket: 12-23, 151 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Out of the pocket: 5-7, 47 yards, sacked twice, 1 46-yard DPI

The defense was shaky on third-and-passing situations. Consider: Ryan’s unit allowed Kyle Orton to convert 6 of 13 third-down dropbacks for first downs.

Here’s the breakdown of how Orton fared against the Jets’ various pressure packages.

3-man rush: 0-1; 1 carry for 9 yards

4-man rush: 0-1; 1 carry for 13 yards

5-man rush: 2-3, 30 yards; 1 fumble lost

6-man rush: 0-3

7-man rush: 1-2; 29 yards

8-man rush: 1-1; 27 yards

Orton’s total third-down stats: 4-11; 86 yards; 2 carries for 22 yards; 1 botched snap (turnover)

It’s hard to say that Darrelle Revis was bad. It’s also hard to say that he was particularly good. Let’s just say he wasn’t his typical dominating self. By my breakdown, he was thrown at 9 times and allowed 4 catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. Not brutal. But not Revis-like, either.

Keller appeared to have hurt his right wrist after tackling Jason Hunter during the linebacker’s interception in the first quarter. The tight end was scheduled to undergo an MRI, but Rex Ryan didn’t believe the injury was serious. You still don’t need one of your key playmakers to get hurt while tackling a defender after a turnover. (Broncos fans will remember that Terrell Davis’ career was never the same when he tore his knee trying to make a tackle after a turnover).

THE UGLY

What was Holmes thinking on his fumble on an end around late in the third quarter? Not sure. Holmes had two choices to make: 1) Cut outside (left behind Braylon Edwards’ block) or 2) Cut inside (to Edwards’ right), where Tony Richardson could have provided a clear path. Instead, Holmes inexplicably ran right into the back of Edwards and crashed into a waiting Perrish Cox. Strange.

Mike Westhoff is one of the best special teams coaches in the business, but his unit was caught napping on the Broncos’ successful second-quarter onsides kick. Kenwin Cummings and Brodney Poll were the culprits.

[newjakecity]

He and Jenny Vrentas have been a nice change. They both give well thought out analysis and you actually can learn something you may not have known by reading their articles.

[SoFlaJets]

He and Jenny Vrentas have been a nice change. They both give well thought out analysis and you actually can learn something you may not have known by reading their articles.

and you can see that the guy actually spent a lot of time in front of his DVR with a note pad-UNlike say Cimini who just pulls things outta hizass

[T0mShane]

I like Mehta. He's a stand up guy, too. He'll take criticism and hang in on Twitter, even DM you to discuss his position. The only criticism I'd have right now is that he could take more chances, be a little bolder in his analysis both post- and pre-game--interject more opinion. That will come in time, though.

[Green DNA]

Broncos fans will remember that Terrell Davis’ career was never the same when he tore his knee trying to make a tackle after a turnover).

This is not correct, Davis's knee was demolished when he was tackled by one of my all time favorite Jets, Victor Green.

[Sperm Edwards]

He and Jenny Vrentas have been a nice change. They both give well thought out analysis and you actually can learn something you may not have known by reading their articles.

Vrentas is the one who made the big stink about the reporter with the great a$ when said reporter wanted no part of the controversy. She sucks. Plus her name is missing a vowel. Hate that.

[Greenranger]

This is not correct, Davis's knee was demolished when he was tackled by one of my all time favorite Jets, Victor Green.

While Davis trying to tackle Victor Green after an Interception Matt Lepsis, also going for Green, took Davis' knee out by accident.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NOciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=faYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2691,3395929&dq=terrell+davis+victor+green&hl=en

Edited October 20, 2010 by Greenranger

[JetsFanInDenver]

Vrentas is the one who made the big stink about the reporter with the great a$ when said reporter wanted no part of the controversy. She sucks. Plus her name is missing a vowel. Hate that.

+1

[Maxman]

Vrentas is the one who made the big stink about the reporter with the great a$ when said reporter wanted no part of the controversy. She sucks. Plus her name is missing a vowel. Hate that.

Jenny has a Masters from Columbia. Sit down son and you will speak when spoken to.

[Sperm Edwards]

Jenny has a Masters from Columbia. Sit down son and you will speak when spoken to.

Well she still makes simple grammatical errors that are taught in junior high school (like mixing up her singulars and plurals in referring to a single person as "they"), so color me unimpressed. She should have gone to charm and beauty school instead and become a homemaker where she could have been of better use to society.

Plus she's a Giants "reporter" who now happens to cover the Jets only due to the job opening (boo!) and the Star-Ledger lazily desiring to give the job to someone already on the payroll (rather than bringing in someone else who was qualified). She's still better than Cannizzaro but only because it is impossible to be worse than that Herm Edwards sycophant.

[flgreen]

Vrentas is the one who made the big stink about the reporter with the great a$ when said reporter wanted no part of the controversy. She sucks. Plus her name is missing a vowel. Hate that.

Thought it was that broad from the NY Times. Vrentas chirped in later

[SoFlaJets]

Thought it was that broad from the NY Times. Vrentas chirped in later

it was all 3 of them fg: Judy, Jane, and Jenny all in solidarity only to get thrown under the bus by Sanz who mocked them all.

[The Crusher]

Jets Rewind: Analyzing the Good, Bad & Ugly in 24-20 win over Broncos in Week 6

By Manish Mehta

We begin the Fortuitous Flag Edition of the Rewind with three unyielding truths from the Jets’ 24-20 come-from-behind win over the Broncos on Sunday:

1) Yes, Santonio Holmes would have caught Mark Sanchez’s 4th-down heave if not for Renaldo Hill’s blatant facemask that put Holmes off-balance just enough.

2) No, Jim Leonhard’s hit on Brandon Lloyd was not an illegal helmet-to-helmet one. Brutal call by the officials.

3) Demaryius Thomas’ right foot clearly wasn’t inbounds on his 17-yard go-ahead TD catch over Darrelle Revis late in the third quarter. Sure, the Jets were down to their final timeout after having lost a challenge two plays earlier, but you have to throw the red flag there. In the end, it was a moot point, but it could have come back to haunt Rex Ryan’s club.

THE GOOD

Antonio Cromartie is putting together a Pro Bowl caliber season after holding Brandon Lloyd, who led the league in receiving yards entering the game, in check. By my breakdown, he was thrown at 10 times and allowed three catches for 55 yards. He was flagged for a highly questionable 19-yard pass interference on Lloyd in the third quarter. He also added 3 pass breakups.

Everyone will remember Nick Folk’s franchise-record 56-yard field goal. But how about this: The Jets kicker was 5-for-5 in touchbacks on kickoffs. Pretty impressive.

Brilliant route and field awareness by Braylon Edwards on his 32-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter. Edwards beat Champ Bailey on a post pattern by 1) Influencing Bailey to hedge to his left -- the sideline -- on a quick move stutter move off the snap and 2) using cornerback Nate Jones to, in effect, pick Bailey and create separation. Edwards ran past Jones’ right shoulder as Dustin Keller (who motioned to a stack formation behind Edwards pre-snap) ran an out route. … LaDainian Tomlinson picked up the linebacker blitz to give Mark Sanchez plenty of time to hit Edwards for the score.

John Conner’s crushing block on Renaldo Hill on a stretch play helped pave the way for Tomlinson’s 20-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Great blocks by Conner, Keller, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Matt Slauson.

DID YOU NOTICE? Left guard Matt Slauson stepped on Sanchez’s left foot after the snap on Tomlinson’s 2-yard game-winning touchdown. Sanchez did a great job to make sure the handoff exchange was clean.

The Jets still haven’t given up a point in the first quarter this season.

The Jets are excellent at limiting their tendencies. Consider the run:pass breakdowns:

First play of series: 8 run, 4 pass

On first down: 15 run, 11 pass

Credit Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for opting to change their pressure packages on the Broncos final drive. Kyle Orton took advantage of 2 4-man rushes and a 3-man rush to get the ball to near midfield. Then, the Jets came with a safety blitz (Pool and Leonhard) that resulted in just a 4-yard completion. The Jets came with a corner blitz from Dwight Lowery off the defensive right side that paid dividends when Orton couldn’t handle the shotgun snap. Lowery was in perfect position to land on the ball and seal the victory. (James Ihedigbo and Drew Coleman blitzed form the defensive left side as the Jets’ showed a 7-man rush before bringing just 5).

The Jets’ execution down the stretch ultimately proved to be the biggest difference. In three fourth-quarter drives (excluding game-ending kneel down), Rex Ryan’s team ran 18 plays for 140 yards and scored 14 points.

In contrast, the Broncos ran 20 plays for 68 yards and scored 3 points. They also had a critical turnover.

THE BAD

Mark Sanchez made the right decision when he needed to, but he easily had his worst statistical day. Consider:

1. Sanchez was 6-11 for 67 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, sacked once on third downs

2. After a stretch of 184 consecutive passes without an interception, Sanchez threw two picks in 13 passes.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimerhas done a nice job through the first six weeks to get Sanchez throwing on the run via misdirection. Here’s the breakdown on Sanchez in the pocket and on the move (created by designed bootlegs and defensive pressure that forced him to leave the pocket):

In the pocket: 12-23, 151 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Out of the pocket: 5-7, 47 yards, sacked twice, 1 46-yard DPI

The defense was shaky on third-and-passing situations. Consider: Ryan’s unit allowed Kyle Orton to convert 6 of 13 third-down dropbacks for first downs.

Here’s the breakdown of how Orton fared against the Jets’ various pressure packages.

3-man rush: 0-1; 1 carry for 9 yards

4-man rush: 0-1; 1 carry for 13 yards

5-man rush: 2-3, 30 yards; 1 fumble lost

6-man rush: 0-3

7-man rush: 1-2; 29 yards

8-man rush: 1-1; 27 yards

Orton’s total third-down stats: 4-11; 86 yards; 2 carries for 22 yards; 1 botched snap (turnover)

It’s hard to say that Darrelle Revis was bad. It’s also hard to say that he was particularly good. Let’s just say he wasn’t his typical dominating self. By my breakdown, he was thrown at 9 times and allowed 4 catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. Not brutal. But not Revis-like, either.

Keller appeared to have hurt his right wrist after tackling Jason Hunter during the linebacker’s interception in the first quarter. The tight end was scheduled to undergo an MRI, but Rex Ryan didn’t believe the injury was serious. You still don’t need one of your key playmakers to get hurt while tackling a defender after a turnover. (Broncos fans will remember that Terrell Davis’ career was never the same when he tore his knee trying to make a tackle after a turnover).

THE UGLY

What was Holmes thinking on his fumble on an end around late in the third quarter? Not sure. Holmes had two choices to make: 1) Cut outside (left behind Braylon Edwards’ block) or 2) Cut inside (to Edwards’ right), where Tony Richardson could have provided a clear path. Instead, Holmes inexplicably ran right into the back of Edwards and crashed into a waiting Perrish Cox. Strange.

Mike Westhoff is one of the best special teams coaches in the business, but his unit was caught napping on the Broncos’ successful second-quarter onsides kick. Kenwin Cummings and Brodney Poll were the culprits.

Him just being a Jets fan is a wonderful change of pace.

[SoFlaJets]

Him just being a Jets fan is a wonderful change of pace.

I'm not sure he even is Crush-but at least he's objective and does the work ya know? I mean I've sat down and tried to analyze what's going on and it's hard work.

[The Crusher]

I'm not sure he even is Crush-but at least he's objective and does the work ya know? I mean I've sat down and tried to analyze what's going on and it's hard work.

At this point not HATING the Jets is close enough.

[SoFlaJets]

At this point not HATING the Jets is close enough.

effin' Ay

[T0mShane]

it was all 3 of them fg: Judy, Jane, and Jenny all in solidarity only to get thrown under the bus by Sanz who mocked them all.

In fairness, every media outlet--male and female reporters alike--jumped on that story. Battista, Vrentas and McManus are singled out because it's assumed they were hyper-sensitive to the situation for obvious reasons. Battista has been in the business a long time and has some harrassment stories that would make Archie Bunker puke. I give those women credit for trying to be professionals in a field at least partially defined by the likes of Jenn Sterger and Inez Sainz. I'd much rather read their work than anything Cannizaro or Serby puts out there.

:::steps off soapbox:::

Edited October 20, 2010 by T0mShane

[SoFlaJets]

In fairness, every media outlet--male and female reporters alike--jumped on that story. Battista, Vrentas and McManus are singled out because it's assumed they were hyper-sensitive to the situation for obvious reasons. Battista has been in the business a long time and has some harrassment stories that would make Archie Bunker puke. I give those women credit for trying to be professionals in a field at least partially defined by the likes of Jenn Sterger and Inez Sainz. I'd much rather read their work than anything Cannizaro or Serby puts out there.

:::steps off soapbox:::

I think Judy is now covering the Giants, Jenny is OK, but Jane has become the biggest disappointment for me. I think she hates me over on Twitter because I call her on her continual Jets bashing since she moved over to ESPN.

[NIGHT STALKER]

In fairness, every media outlet--male and female reporters alike--jumped on that story. Battista, Vrentas and McManus are singled out because it's assumed they were hyper-sensitive to the situation for obvious reasons. Battista has been in the business a long time and has some harrassment stories that would make Archie Bunker puke. I give those women credit for trying to be professionals in a field at least partially defined by the likes of Jenn Sterger and Inez Sainz. I'd much rather read their work than anything Cannizaro or Serby puts out there.

:::steps off soapbox:::

Serby...anyone old enough to remember when Todd stuffed his a$$ in a locker. Good times...

[Lil Bit Special]

Everyone will remember Nick Folk’s franchise-record 56-yard field goal. But how about this: The Jets kicker was 5-for-5 in touchbacks on kickoffs. Pretty impressive.

5 for 5 in touchbacks? Really! I totally missed that, but that is freakin awesome! Sure it was Denver, but we never seem to have a kicker who can kick it into the endzone ever.

I apologize for every negative thought and words I had for Nick Folk. Im sorry. I was wrong. You're not a pile of steaming horse manure laying in the street after a parade featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales.

[Green DNA]

While Davis trying to tackle Victor Green after an Interception Matt Lepsis, also going for Green, took Davis' knee out by accident.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NOciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=faYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2691,3395929&dq=terrell+davis+victor+green&hl=en

I stand corrected

[Jbro22]

Personally I think Jenny is awful. She's always a day late and a dollar short.

[SoFlaJets]

Serby...anyone old enough to remember when Todd stuffed his a$$ in a locker. Good times...

you know NS-Serby is still pretty good-and he's always been a Jets fan...yea I remember that from the 82 season. I still beleive that Richard Todd threw that game-I really do

[SoFlaJets]

Personally I think Jenny is awful. She's always a day late and a dollar short.

nothing she ever writes is as good as say the work that Manish put into this article ya know Justin? I mean when her links come out you never GET anything breaking that you didn't know about 5 minutes earlier.

[Lil Bit Special]

Personally I think Jenny is awful. She's always a day late and a dollar short.

I'd still teabag her.

[lamont_jordan_rules]

... agree ... mehta is the best jets writer out there ! ...

l_j_r

[Maxman]

I think Tyson Rauch is the best. Mehta is second.

[Jbro22]

nothing she ever writes is as good as say the work that Manish put into this article ya know Justin? I mean when her links come out you never GET anything breaking that you didn't know about 5 minutes earlier.

I hear you, but that whole Inez Sainz thing put me off. Vrentras was stirred that pot.

I'd stir that pot with my face btw.