The two AFC east 1-1 teams head into Metlife with a lot more underlying stories than people are talking about! The Return of the Jets best pass rusher, OLB Coples only a month removed from surgery, and one of the Jets best rec in Jeremy Kerley. Rex Ryan and former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine are meeting for the first time since Pettine took the same position with the Bills. Rookie EJ Manuel, who has looked stellar in his first two weeks, takes on a familiar face in Geno Smith who has looked, eh...ok?
Geno insists that there is no competition between his good friend E.J and himself, says its all about JETS v BILLS-I think he's right about one thing, there is no competition-not yet. He insists those feelings during the draft are behind him but as tight as Geno was about not going in the first round AND going as the second QB behind E.J, I have to hope that chip is still there. Geno needs that competitive edge this week, he needs there to be a competition between him and E.J and god I hope
With a cumulative QB Rating of 95.9 over the first 2 games E.J Manuel is easily starting to shape up as THE QB pick of 2013, but this class is NOT the QB class of 2012. Smith hasn't looked horrible by any stretch of the imagination but if you look at the comparison from the last 2 games, it really doesn't look good for Geno with a rating of 55.2. Smith has the edge on yardage but completion percentages, TD-INT ratio- it seems Manuel is running away so far but lets see how well he stacks up against the JETS D! On the other side of that coin is the Bills D-line, they have stacked up 9 sacks in the first two games while the other side of the ball has only allowed 1. Jets will have to bring serious pressure to get to Manuel and hopefully the Jets Offensive line can hold their ground much better than they have been, allowing 9 sacks but only getting the opposing QB down 4 times, and be sure to keep Mario Williams (5 sacks) out of Geno's face!
Quinton Coples had surgery on his right ankle less than 4 weeks ago and is expected to get limited reps
this weekend vs. Buffalo. Jeremy Kerley, receiver and punt returner, was cleared by team doctors to get back on the field after suffering a concussion 2 weeks ago vs the Bucs. Both players are expecte
d to play but not much, bet regardless it will be welcomed return for Kerly after the Jets suffered from one of the worst cases of the drops that I have seen in a long time and had virtually no punts returned at all. Coples being out has got to be a large reason why the Jets have not gotten to opposing QBs, his replacements McIntyre and Barnes just haven't been getting it done!
Mike Pettine ended up the scapegoat for all of the locker room leaks last year and took his talents to Buffalo because of it. Obviously he wasn't the leaks considering all of the gossip that comes pouring out of the Jets camp daily! Obviously Rex knew he wasn't the cause and with the new GM coming on, you have to think Pettine knew Idzik would start right away with sending a message by trimming the fat. Pettine says he would have gone back had the position not been offered but I think he knew he would have been made an example and beat the GM to the punch by volunteering to step aside and move to Buffalo.
MARK CANNIZARO from the NY Post reports that Ryan said the following:
“Mike Pettine can stand on his own,’’ ... “He’s a tremendous football coach. It won’t be long before he’ll get his own opportunity to be a head coach. We were together for a long time. He’s somebody that I’m extremely proud of. We’re like brothers.’’
NY Jets Injury Report
|
| Aboushi, Oday | OL | Knee | - | LP | Out | Out |
| Colon, Willie | OL | Knee | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Coples, Quinton | DE | Ankle | LP | LP | LP | Probable |
| Cromartie, Antonio | CB | Hip | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Ellis, Kenrick | DT | Back | LP | LP | LP | Probable |
| Gates, Clyde | WR | Knee | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Hill, Stephen | WR | Knee | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Holmes, Santonio | WR | Foot | LP | DNP | LP | Probable |
| Howard, Austin | T | Ribs | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Kerley, Jeremy | WR | Concussion | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| McIntyre, Garrett | LB | Knee | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Powell, Bilal | RB | Illness/Shoulder | DNP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Richardson, Sheldon | DL | Shoulder | LP | LP | LP | Probable |
| Smith, Geno | QB | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Wilkerson, Muhammad | DL | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | Probable |
| Winslow, Kellen | TE | Knee | LP | LP | LP | Probable |
Buffalo Bills Injury Report
We saw great Revis, oh man did we! Those first two years were spectacular, shutting down the best WRs in the game, he was the sole source of pride for the Jets as the most feared (perhaps even the best) defensive player in the NFL. But then we saw LITERALLY worthless Revis... In Revis' last two years, also his 2 most expensive as a Jet-were his worst performing years by far due to his lack of production which came from his injuries. Oh poor Darrelle :( His injuries were a result of his own greed and there is no one in sports that would tell you different. Had he not held out until week 1 and had he participated in both OTAs and the preseason like the rest of the team- he would have been in the shape he needed to be. Instead he was chumped in prime time by Moss for a TD and ended pulling up lame with the first of his two pulled hammies in two consecutive seasons. His greed singlehandedly handicapped the Jets the past two years and while he was home enjoying the games in him multi-million dollar mansion it was us Jet fans holding the bag freezing our asses off at Metlife. Giving up Revis was the single most profitable move in two years and our defense is head and shoulders better because of it-AND YOU KNOW IT! No Wilkerson, no Richardson and no Milliner (the weak link in recent weeks but he'll get better).
