I'm actually optimistic about tomorrow's game

by JerseyJetsFan on Dec 18, 2010 1:29 PM EST

I'll admit, after the past two losses I've acted a little bit like the world was coming to an end. It's not end though, and neither is the Jets season. At 9-4 this team is still very much alive. Granted we have difficult games approaching against some pretty stout opponents, but we didn't make it to 9 wins from pixy dust.

People are acting this week like we are going to get romped in Pittsburgh. Yes, they have a pretty solid defense but there are exploitable holes. Trying to run against the Steelers is kind of like trying to run through a brick wall, it just doesn't work. However, passing against the Steelers isn't nearly as difficult as people try to make it seem. The Steelers got ripped apart by Tom Brady and the Pats for 39 points and they should have lost to the Bills if God didn't do Stevie Johnson wrong all the time. If we spread the Steelers out, we can exploit the huge holes they have in their secondary. Santonio, Braylon and Dustin Keller all provide match-up problems that the Jets can use to their advantage.

I don't know if anyone has been paying attention either. But the Steelers offense has been playing as bad as the Jets offense lately. The only difference is the Steelers defense has been putting points on the board and the Jets hasn't. We really do have a shot at beating the Steelers right now. Heath Miller is out, Polamalu is out and those are two huge blows for Pitt.

You gotta believe Jets fans...

-Rob

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I Like The Omens

Usually I’m nervous about these games, and maybe I will be once the game starts.
I won’t lie and say I think the Jets have this one in the bag, but this is an opportunity for the Jets to really make the best of a fading situation.

by MachlinT on Dec 18, 2010 1:48 PM EST reply actions

Steelers don't score a lot

All we need is a spark and Mark to get into a rhythm we have the pieces.

by Atronic on Dec 18, 2010 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Steelers is kind of like trying to run through a brick wall, it just doesn’t work. However, passing against the Steelers isn’t nearly as difficult as people try to make it seem.

But what makes you feel that this is an optimistic set up? The Jets RELY on their running game to set the table, at least psychologically. The regularly run even when they can’t make yards, and when they have gone up against weak secondaries (Ravens first week, Packers, Pats second game, and several others with secondary injuries) they actually have performed very poorly. Saying that a team can be passed on doesn’t seem to mean a lot to the Jets O. Further of course, passing required depending on Sanchez whose confidence has ebbed, and doing so against a sophisticated D that can bring the pressure.

by ________key on Dec 18, 2010 2:21 PM EST reply actions

This defense is the worst possible match-up for our offense. The only thing that’s encouraging is that the steelers D had a significant dropoff when Troy went down last year. He is what makes that D go.

I think if we can get keller involved and work the backs in the passing game, we’ll be able to pick on McFadden without worrying so much about them slipping somebody over and under him to pick off Sanchez.

I say find McFadden; motion Keller to his side and run him at the safety in the seam so McFadden has no over the top help; and slip a back into the flat on that side, if they send the LB then hit the back for a nice gain, if the use the backer to cover the RB then work on McFadden in solo coverage.

by Crackback on Dec 18, 2010 5:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The only thing that’s encouraging is that the steelers D had a significant dropoff when Troy went down last year. He is what makes that D go.

But isn’t this similar to the excitement we had when Reed was out? It actually seems that when a secondary is missing players the passing offense plays worse.

I think the Keller is a big deal, which means so would the Steelers. The Steelers are just a very SMART D, the worse kind to be facing. They know that Sanchez is shaken, and they know that the Jets like to coddle and protect him. They will blanket all the safe, short throws. I don’t think Sanchez will be throwing anything safety deep.

by ________key on Dec 18, 2010 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

No the Jets SHOULD rely on their running game, but in reality they have won just as many games through the air.

by Judgegavel on Dec 18, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

This game rests on two key factors

First, will Schotty be as predictable as he’s been in the past and can Sanchez regain his form from earlier in the year. If the Steelers stack the box, we aren’t going to be able to run against them. We need a passing game to open up the running game and for that, we need Schotty to call good plays and we need Sanchez to make good passes (and decisions!). The fact that Polamula isn’t playing is the only thing making me believe we have a chance to win after the last two games.

by OldJetsFanatic on Dec 18, 2010 2:24 PM EST reply actions

v

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

by Troy O on Dec 18, 2010 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

The Steelers don’t rely on stacking the box to stop the run game, such is the beauty of the 3-4 and having the perfect players for it. We have several DL, most namely Casey Hampton, who can eat up blockers and maintain two gaps. They open up spaces for our LBs to make play, and we have some damn good LBs.

You’ll only see them stack the box on 3rd and shorts or goal line downs.

"Stop being a troll." - Mr MaLoR

by John Stephens on Dec 18, 2010 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Which means that they will have more than enough guys to cover the short routes Schotty is planning for. The Jets will only have success throwing middle deep, which they won’t do. They are just going to play field position and hope that the defense turns the ball over to win it.

by ________key on Dec 18, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

Steelers rarely have 8 in the box. they dont need to.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

by Troy O on Dec 18, 2010 3:05 PM EST reply actions

All you guys have to do is get the ball to Holmes and quick slants to Cotchery/et.al.

The WR’s should have a pretty decent game if Sanchez can get the ball exactly where it needs to be, which unfortunately is his biggest problem now. The reason Brady killed us so effectively is his ability to place the ball in the exact place it needs to be. Few QB’s can do that day in and out.

I attended the Jets/Jags game last year and had a great time at the tailgate. I wonder if I met any of you folks. I loved the panel truck that had signatures of nearly every significant jets player of the past. I was the out of place Vermonter taking pictures of every stupid little thing, it was my first NFL game ever. (also got some decent shots of the game, like MJD getting the opening TD- I couldn’t beleive how small he looked, honestly. )

brought to you by Carl Jr's.

by SteelersVT on Dec 18, 2010 3:05 PM EST reply actions

I was at the Jags game too....

And still feel the pain of MJD stopping at the one yard line.

I agree with you on the slants, but the words “all you have to do”. Sanchez’s timing seems to be off recently, and the concern I have is that he doesn’t connect with the timing patterns and the ball is tipped or intercepted outright. The Steelers are nothing if not opportunistic, and with the running defenses so evenly matched, that would prove to be the difference.

And this game might well come down to turnovers, not omens (sorry, MachlinT).

by oldskooljet on Dec 18, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

GOTTA BELIEVE

by JetKing55 on Dec 18, 2010 5:19 PM EST reply actions

i hope we run the ball more this week

it would be nice to see us run the ball more this weekend using green more . if we can run on this defence it will set us up for the rest of the season . use the wildcat when needed and play action .
if we are a serious team it shouldn’t matter that the steelers allow just 60 ypg .they haven’t played us yet .
troy has been used a lot this year in run support and we should try and take advantage of his absence and smash it up the gut all game long .
it would also be the most surprising game plan for the jets to use

by tinley24 on Dec 18, 2010 10:38 PM EST reply actions