New York Jets vs. the Wildcat: Part Deux
The Jets can expect a heavy dose of nonsense on Sunday
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 2:45 PM EDT, Fri, Oct 30, 2009
If time heals all wounds, then the New York Jets must be the equivalent of Neosporin for the Dolphins.
Nothing makes you forget about choking away a victory a week before like hatred. And so the Dolphins have already forgotten about the second-half collapse versus the New Orleans Saints to focus on trying to bring a repeat performance of the team's best game this season.
And a player only need to look at the post game press conference tape of Jets players and coaches to get amped up for the showdown.
Jets linebacker Calvin Pace called the Wildcat nonsense and head coach Rex Ryan totally dissed the Dolphins by saying his team gave the game away in a 31-27 loss at Dolphins Stadium three weeks ago. Now Ryan says he is going to take Sunday's tilt against the Miami Gimmicks in the Meadowlands real "personal."
Unless we have missed the news, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis aren't going to suit up in green and white for the Jets and neither are a bunch of cartoon Japanese swordsmen so the defense can probably expect a heavy dose of nonsense for 60 minutes. And what's worse for the Jets, their monster in the middle, Chris Jenkins is out for the season.
On the bright side, that gives Ryan to strap on a chin strap and play nose tackle, but then we'd have to insert Channing Crowder at fullback just to be fair. On second thought, he hasn't done much at linebacker so it might not be a bad move. Besides, Crowder needs someone to hate.
Some of the faces have changed on both sides, but the formula for a Dolphins victory will remain the same. Keep Chad Henne out of third and long situations and let Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown handle the ball the majority of the time. And when it's time to play action, Henne should be able to hook up with Greg Camarillo or Brian Hartline.
If he decides to toss the ball Ted Ginn Jr.'s way, coach Tony Sparano should bench him for Pat White. Immediately.
On defense, the Dolphins have a little less to worry about now that running back Leon Washington is out of the year. The former Florida State Seminole was the biggest thorn in Crowder and the Dolphins' sides. But expect a heavy dose of running from the Jets, who don't want to put the hand in Mark "Dirty" Sanchez's hands anymore than they have to.
In a sense the Jets would love to have a gimmick to hide their shortcomings at QB. So when Ryan says he is taking the game personal, maybe he meant to say he would be taking notes.
Because the Jets beating the Dolphins on Sunday sounds like nonsense.
First Published: Oct 30, 2009 1:27 PM EDT
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