Archives for November 24, 2011

‘The last three games have been really tough for us. I think just you never want to get used to losing and you’re doing everything you can when your guys are losing. For me, unfortunately in the NFL I’ve been in this situation a lot where things don’t always go the way you want them to go. We’ve got a lot of guys, especially young guys; they haven’t had to face that adversity. In high school you’re the best player on your team and you’re winning and in college it was a lot of the same thing. They’ve come from successful programs. To be able to deal with this adversity is a big thing. A lot of it is just staying positive and working on the practice field and seeing it on Sundays.’

‘"Definitely, I’ve been away from home," Spiller said. "That’s kind of how I look at it. But it definitely feels good to start getting more running back reps — just getting into that mode, that mind-set."’

‘Stevie Johnson, Donald Nelson and Naaman Roosevelt all sat out practice Wednesday. The top three receivers during workouts were Kamar Aiken, Ruvell Martin and Brad Smith. Somehow, you get the feeling that Jets all-pro cornerback Darrelle Revis isn’t losing sleep over this.’

‘Choice was a fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2008. He was a third stringer for Dallas for most of his tenure. He rushed for 472 yards in 2008, 349 in 2009, and 243 yards in 2010. He was released by the Cowboys last month. He was picked up by Washington and played just one game for the Redskins, against Dallas last Sunday. Washington released him on Tuesday.’

‘”That’s obviously a huge loss for us to not have Fred on the field with us,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of Jackson, who had 1,376 yards from scrimmage, second in the league by 15 yards to Chicago’s Matt Forte. “You have to have the next guy step up and we’re going to see (if Spiller can do it). We’re going to throw him in the fire and see how he does. He’s a guy that has a ton of talent, a guy that we think very highly of and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”‘

‘It’s safe to say neither Spiller nor Choice is at the point in their careers where they can hope to replace Jackson’s production although it’s also safe to say Spiller’s ceiling has yet to be met.’

‘In fact, it remains to be seen if Buffalo will truly commit to Spiller as a runner against the Jets, in part because they smothered Jackson (just 82 yards in 18 carries) in a win at Ralph Wilson Stadium last month.’

‘Buffalo loves to use spread formations, employing five-wide looks to help get the ball to Jackson. They were setting up screen passes for Jackson, a tactic they could still try with Spiller. “We have to make some adjustments in some of our matchup stuff because you are essentially taking a wide receiver, a player with wide receiver ability, and putting him in the backfield,” Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. “So you can’t really play him at times, and that’s the one advantage it gives them — he’s both. So we have to be able to handle him when he’s in the running back position and it will be a different matchup than if he goes out at wideout.”‘

‘”We have to make some adjustments in some of our matchup stuff, because you’re essentially now taking a wide receiver, a player with wide receiver ability and putting him in the backfield, so you can’t really play him at times,” defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said.’

Late-game letdowns plague Rex’s unit (New York Post)

Buffalo may turn to Spiller with Jackson out for season (New York Post)

Plax home for holiday, at last (New York Post)

More snaps for Brunell, but game action unlikely (New York Post)

NY Jets defense is putting up solid stats, but Rex Ryan’s crew still has room to improve (New York Daily News)

Time is ticking for Mark Sanchez to prove the NY Jets made the right decision drafting him (New York Daily News)

Rex Ryan staying with Mark Sanchez as his QB (New York Newsday)

A special Thanksgiving for Burress (New York Newsday)

Fred Jackson out, Jets wary of C.J. Spiller (New York Newsday)

Jets’ Rex Ryan says he can’t envision a scenario when he would bench Mark Sanchez (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets prepare for Bills offense featuring C.J. Spiller, not Fred Jackson (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets’ Mark Sanchez may not be great, but the team’s quarterback situation could be worse (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets’ Marcus Dixon, once accused of a devastating crime, shares story in HBO special (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets OC Brian Schottenheimer says Mark Sanchez must improve on game scenario issues (Newark Star Ledger)

Shonn Greene practicing again; Jets still without LaDainian Tomlinson, Jeremy Kerley (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets must cure rushing woes to make playoff run (Bergen Record)

Jets’ notes (Bergen Record)

Ryan sending Sanchez wrong message (ESPN New York)

Mark Sanchez smart to hold his tongue (ESPN New York)

Plax thankful to spend holiday at home (ESPN New York)

Jets’ Burress thankful to be home, not in prison (AP)

Tomlinson, Kerley sit out practice for Jets (AP)

Ryan’s motivational ploy hollow, superstitious (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy And Personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Burress savoring Thanksgiving family reunion (The Sports Xchange)

Sanchez: ‘We’re Just Trying to Win a Game’ (NewYorkJets.com)

Rex’s Wednesday News Conference (NewYorkJets.com)

Bills’ Conference Calls (NewYorkJets.com)

Some Thanksgiving Traditions (NewYorkJets.com)

‘In his 11 NFL seasons, he suffered six concussions. That sixth hit ended his career. The final image of Kelly at Rich Stadium is a carbon copy of so many other retired NFL quarterbacks. Dazed and weary, Kelly was carted to the locker room after suffering a concussion in a 1996 wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The End.’

‘”I think at this point a win (is critical), whoever our opponent is, and it happens to be the Jets and a division opponent, but we’re looking for a win,” Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “Like I said, we’re looking to put the brakes on this thing and it’s an important game for us obviously.”‘

‘The Bills have dropped four straight to the Jets, getting physically dominated each time. This just isn’t a good match-up for Buffalo. Somehow, it needs to do a better job in the trenches, which won’t be easy minus starting center Eric Wood and starting nose tackle Kyle Williams, each out for the year with injuries. Rookie NT Marcell Dareus needs to do a better job against Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold or the Jets will dominate time of possession again; they led with 37:52 in this season’s first meeting. Offensively, struggling QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has to regain his confidence and his accuracy but it won’t be easy against the NFL’s No. 7 defense led by a strong front seven and deep secondary. He was baited into two interceptions last meeting. Now would be a good time to run the ball well and for 2010 first-round pick C.J. Spiller to prove his worth once and for all. He’ll start in place of Fred Jackson (fibula).’

‘The problem is, Spiller has yet to show that inside ability. The loss of Jackson could really be felt in pass protection, with Gailey admitting he knows the Jets are going to challenge Spiller.’

‘”If you’ve got a professional football team that’s in the hunt and I’ve got to go give them some kind of talk to keep them motivated, we’re in trouble,” Gailey said. “My feeling is that if you’ve got a team that is that fragile, you’re in trouble. I believe we have guys that understand about fighting through tough times and fighting through adversity.”‘