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Most people give the Jets no chance in Foxboro on Sunday. That is nonsense. Here is a legitimate reason why they have a good shot at winning this game in the latest addition of Dan’s WW –
There is a good chance DE Myron Pryor isn’t going to play on Sunday.
You might think this isn’t a big deal since there is a good chance you’ve never heard of him.
But the Pats are so thin on the defensive line, it is a big deal.
DE mainstays Mike Wright and Ty Warren are on injured reserve, along with second-year second year DE/DT Ron Brace.
Those are three key players on the Patriots defensive line.
Pryor is listed as a starter. He’s probably more of a backup type, but they have had so many injuries he was forced to start, and now he’s out.
Defensive lines platoon a lot, and I mean alot. The big guys need a lot of respites. One of the key backups on the defensive line now is Landon Cohen, a journeyman signed on December 22, 2010, less than a month ago. Another key backup is Kyle Love, an undrafted rookie free agent. The third backup might be Brandon Deaderick, a rookie seventh round pick who has been in Bill Belichick’s dog house, and has been de-activated a lot recently.
Aside from Vince Wilfork and journeyman Gerard Warren, this line is a mess.
Sometimes we get caught up in the Patriots mystique, thinking they are just going to run players out there, no matter how many injuries, and they will get the job done.
People need to get past that.
These injuries are a big reason the Pats run defense is average, and why Cleveland’s Peyton Hillis ran for almost 200 yards against these guys.
What the Pats have been able to do to hide this pedestrian, banged-up run defense, is to build big leads on offense, so other teams need to get into a throwing mode.
If the Jets can keep this game close, they should be able to run the football, with a lot of success against the Pats.
The Jets talented offensive line, coming off two dominating performances in a row, should have their way with this group.
The key is keeping the score down,
Don’t buy the hype. The Pats are major issues on defense . . .
Look for the Jets to use Robert Turner a lot, as a sixth lineman, to wear this overmatched defensive line out . . .
Trevor Pryce, who came back to the lineup last week from a hip flexor, said he had no set-back last week, and is feeling good. He had a six week injury, but came back after three.
He’s got a ton of playoff experience, and as they have done this year with him, they will put him over the center, Dan Koppen, and try to take advantage of this size mismatch . . .
One observer today noticed that Brandon Moore (back) wasn’t going all the way down in his stance early in practice. This might be due to his back, but he says he will be good to go on Sunday . . .
One New England observer said the Pats want to line-up Wilfork over Hunter a lot. Obviously they view this as a potential mismatch. They are probably mistaken.
You see Hunter is a starting quality tackle. He had some anger management issues early in his career, and ended up on the free agent scrap heap. The Jets took a chance on him, and he will never forget that, so he stays around as a backup. They also have a doctor, who he really likes, who works with him on his anger management problem.
But this guy is an NFL starting quality right tackle.
Rex Ryan says the Hunter is the best backup tackle in the NFL. ESPN’s Ross Tucker was quoted on their website as saying this was a case of hyperbole by Ryan. So I e-mailed Tucker and asked him who is a better backup tackle than Hunter. No response yet. I will let you know what he says.
