Content available exclusively for subscribers
Florham Park – It’s time for a dose of “The Good Stuff,” direct from the Jets training complex in Florham Park, NJ. Talk about it . . .
Reading the tea leaves, I get the sense the Jets will look to spread the Oakland Raiders out with multiple receiver sets, tire their big front seven out, and create mismatches.
One time in practice this week, a scout team linebacker, playing the part of Raiders inside linebacker Rolando McClain, was covered LaDainian Tomlinson. That is a tremendous matchup for the Jets. McClain is 255 pounds, and can’t run with LT. Also, McClain has been a little bit of a disappointment, after being picked in the first round last year . . .
Playing in Oakland is never easy. It is certainly an uncomfortable environment for opponents.
Well the Jets practice today was certain an uncomfortable environment.
Not only was it raining, but it was very buggy with bugs that looked like big misquitos, and they were biting . . .
Right after practice, the Jets headed over to Newark Airport for their flight to the Bay Area. I don’t know where they are flying into, but I do know they aren’t staying in Oakland . . .
I get the sense something else the Jets want to do in their passing this game this week is get rid of the ball quickly.
Sanchez has taken quite a beating this year, and the last thing the Jets need is one of those massive Raiders defensive lineman landing on him (just ask Leon Washington about that – it was 6-6, 320-pound Tommy Kelly who fell on his leg shattering it, two years ago) . . .
With the Jets likely playing a quick pace on offense, expect WR Patrick Turner to get some action this week, giving the top three receivers a blow at times.
It seems like Turner is ahead of Jeremy Kerley in the WR rotation. He knows the offense better. Remember, he was with the team last year, alternating between the practice squad and regular roster . . .
I’m not going to describe the route because that is taboo, but early in today’s practice, Sanchez threw way behind Derrick Mason on a short pass.
The quarterback continues to struggle with his accuracy . . .
Speaking of Sanchez, expect a lot of running opportunities for him this week with the Raiders playing man-to-man defense . . .
The Jets expect DT Richard Seymour to be playing over Colin Baxter a lot. It goes without saying – this isn’t a good matchup for the Jets . . .
The Oakland Raiders have the 27th ranked rushing defense in the NFL, so maybe this is the week the Jets get their running game going.
Buffalo’s Fred Jackson gashed these guys last week.
Raider defenders have been blowing a lot of assignments as they learn their new defense (with no off-season) . . .
This is going to be a big challenge for the Jets pass defense – the Raiders have two excellent offensive minds drawing up their gameplans in veteran offensive coordinator Al Saunders and head coach Hue Jackson.
Mike Pettine put it best when describing Jackson’s style – “He’s very good at getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers.”
That includes a lot of screens to tailback Darren McFadden, who has world class speed.
