I’ve heard
just about all the theories on the Bill Belechick decision to kick off in
overtime. I have defended Belechick on many occasions over the years with his
thinking outside the box. But let me be clear; his decision to kick off
Sunday was one of the worse coaching decisions I have seen since I have been
following sports! After one of the top three quarterbacks of all time leads his
team down the field for their only offensive touchdown, the coach then decides
to kick off to start overtime. I’ve read different articles defending his
decision; I’ve listened to WEEI in Boston all week and gotten many phone calls
and e-mails daily. The bottom line is, unless the weather is almost
treacherous, you must get the ball on offense first if you have the choice. The
proof is exactly how the game ended up. The Jets drove right down the field and
scored a quick touchdown. Game over!
Steeler conspiracy theory: The first week of the season, the
Pittsburgh Steelers played the Patriots in New England with the Pats winning
28-21. According to a September Pro-Football Talk article:
“The Steelers now become at least the fifth team making
accusations, with the team saying that its coach-to-coach communications
repeatedly faced interference from the Patriots’ radio broadcast, and that the
interference would stop when a league official came to the sideline to deal with
it, only to start up again when the league official walked away.”
Since that game, the Steelers have not been shy about their
feelings toward the Patriots. Many Steeler fans say that Belechick wanted to
lose to the Jets to avoid playing Pittsburgh, knocking them out of the
playoffs. This is too far fetched and I don’t give it any credence.
In closing about his topic, I will say that the Patriots decisions were odd the whole game including sitting on the football with
1:55 to go in the first half. With that said, the Jets just beat up an injury
plagued team and should have won by more. Even with the Patriots at full
strength, the Jets match up well against them.
Who is this Quincy Enunwa?
I have become
really fascinated by this player. He has shown sparks of greatness while also
dropping some passes during the season. “Q” as he is known by his teammates,
was born in Rialto California. He starred in track and field as well as
football in high school excelling in the high jump and triple jump. He went to
Nebraska and was the 209th pick over all in the 2014 draft going to
the Jets in the sixth round. In the 2013-2014 season while at Nebraska, Enunwa
broke Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers' school record for most touchdown
receptions in a season, catching 12 touchdowns in his senior year. At the 2014
Gator Bowl Enunwa broke the Nebraska school record for longest reception, by
scoring a 99-yard touchdown.
On the
negative side, he was suspended for four games this season without pay for
violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, stemming from a domestic violence
arrest at a New Jersey hotel in August 2014.
He looks
bigger than the 6’2’ 225 pounds he is listed at.
For those really interested, I dug up his college scouting
report:
Quincy Enunwa /OVERVIEW
Prepped in California, where he also competed in the high
jump. Saw very limited action in 10 games as a true freshman in 2010 and had
one catch for 10 yards and no touchdowns. Started seven of 13 games in 2010,
totaling 21 catches for 293 yards (14.0-yard average) and two TDs. Started all
27 games from 2012-13: Produced 42 catches for 470 yards (11.2) and a TD in
2012 (14 games) and 51 catches for 753 yards (14.8) and 12 TDs in 2013 (13
games). Team captain.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Looks the part with terrific size, long arms and
an NFL musculature. Can elevate and snatch throws above his head. Strong after
the catch. Sheer size and brawn to block out corners outside. Has hustle
traits. Knows where the sticks are and is very football smart. Excellent intangibles
-- team captain with a professional approach and leadership traits. Was a
21-year-old senior.
WEAKNESSES Lacks elite top-end speed to separate vertically.
Shows some hip tightness. Is not fluid or sudden out of breaks (wastes steps).
Not a natural catcher -- lets throws into his body, double catches some and
drops catchable throws.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 6-7
BOTTOM LINE Big, tough, athletic, West Coast receiver who
broke out as a senior. Has a mixture of "Z" and "X" traits
and could even be viewed as a developmental H-back prospect.
Buffalo Bills Game Preview:
The Jets go up
to Buffalo with a ton on the line. Not only is a playoff birth in their grasp
but they can turn around the “same old Jets” story line by Jet haters and fans
alike. They look like they may have caught lightning in a bottle and
everything is going their way as they are playing better and better each week,
whether it is a 4th quarter comeback or a 4th down stop.
They have done this with an inferior Special Teams unit and catching the injury
bug with their quarterback one week and their offensive line a couple of
others. Don’t be fooled by Todd Bowles and his soft-spoken manner. This rookie
coach does not hesitate to shake things up. It can be cutting a player who
punches out their starting QB or cutting a former #1 draft pick or benching a
number of players on their kicking team. Todd Bowles is pushing the right
buttons.
I have a lot
of concerns going into this game. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is the second
leading rusher on the Bills. The Jets have to contain him in the pocket. He
will try to get outside and get past our defensive front line to take advantage
of our linebackers. We must keep Taylor’s rushing yardage below 25 yards for
the game. If he starts putting together large chunks of yardage running, the
Jets will be in trouble. Revis will probably be on Sammy Watkins. This is not
the Revis of 8 years ago so he will need help. The Jets should consider playing 6 defensive backs and 1 linebacker in passing situations. As of now, LeSean McCoy is listed as “out” and so
it tight end Charles Clay who is their leading receiver and Nigel Bradham their
linebacker who is 4th on defense in tackles. If this is true, the
Jets caught a big break.
On offense we
cannot turn the ball over like the Jets did against the Patriots, who scored a
touchdown on a Fitzpatrick fumble. On team defense, the Bills are 20th
in the league, 15th vs. the run and 23rd vs. the pass.
The Jets should be successful passing the ball and Bilal Powell should have a
good game. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker should continue their successful
combination as long as the offensive line does their job. I’m beginning to get
worried about Chris Ivory. The ball keeps popping out of his hands at the end
of his runs. The Jets have been lucky the last few games with the ball going
out of bounds or the refs calling Ivory down before he coughs it up.
I expect a
Jets victory and am quite confident they will come through. Hopefully the
stadium up in Buffalo will be mostly green. Let’s go Jets!
What the Jet scribes are saying…………………..
Rich Cimini, ESPN
“I think the Jets were so freaked out by their Week 7 loss
to the New England Patriots, who held Marshall to four catches, that offensive
coordinator Chan Gailey started scheming up ways to free up his No. 1 wide
receiver. That's what you'd expect any coach to do, but maybe he got too cute.
He started relying on deception instead of letting the player's talent solve
the problem.”
Manesh Mehta, NY Daily News
“Cam Newton and Carson Palmer are justifiably the MVP
front-runners entering the final week of the regular season, but Fitzpatrick
has elevated his play to new heights during the Jets’ five-game winning streak
that has them facing a win-and-in playoff scenario against Rex Ryan’s Bills on
Sunday. Fitzpatrick’s sizzling five-game stretch has vaulted him into the MVP
conversation. He is a Top 3 MVP candidate, behind Newton and Palmer, but ahead
of Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.”
Brian Costello, NY Post
“The Jets have spent the season changing the perception of
the team. Todd Bowles’ businesslike approach as head coach has made it clear
the circus has left town. The performances of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and
wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have made it clear the Jets are
not just a defensive team anymore. Now, Sunday they have a chance to slay the Same Old Jets
image. You know the Same Old Jets. The ones who choke in the biggest of spots
in ways no one could have imagined. The Jets travel to Buffalo this week with a
chance to quiet the doomsayers around the Jets that bring up past collapses.”
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