In A Gang Green State of Mind

Last weekend the Colts and Saints punched their tickets to Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, making for what is the biggest offensive juggernaut game since 1998, when the Packers and Broncos met in Super Bowl XXXII. But I’ll go into more depth on this game next week. This week I’m concentrating on one of the losers this weekend – the Jets – and how their performance against Indy showed why Gang Green will be a force in the AFC for years to come.
Sure, in the second half of Sunday’s game Peyton Manning picked apart the Jets defense with relative ease, but how many times have we seen Manning make good defenses look mediocre? But pointing out the good things from the game has to have other AFC East teams (that means you Pats fans) a little worried. Mark Sanchez played is best game of the year, throwing for 257 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. His 80-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards was perfectly executed, complete with a pump fake that looked like it came from a 10-year veteran, not a shaky rookie out of USC.

At 23, the Sanchize has a bright future ahead of him, and the cast around him isn't too shabby either, especially in the backfield. Rookie Shonn Greene showed signs that he’s ready to take the reigns from Thomas Jones in the coming years in what is already the league’s best running game. He was taking the bulk of the snaps before missing all of the second half with a rib injury. In the two games before he compiled 263 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. His 53-yarder against San Diego ended up being the back-breaker in the team's 17-14 win. The Iowa alum might be the best 3rd-round pick since the 49ers took Frank Gore with the 65th pick in 2005 . And on defense the team’s top 6 tacklers were under 30, and they are led by Bart Scott, a disciple of Ray Lewis and the relentless Ravens defense, so you know the Jets, with former Ravens coordinator Rex Ryan as head coach, will basically be Baltimore East on defense. Oh, and they have Darrelle Revis, by far the best defender in the league who should have been Defensive Player of the Year (not sorry to Charles Woodson). Excuse me for thinking the corner who held these receivers to the following stats deserved the award:

(NOTE: An ESPN statistician went back and looked at all the plays where Revis covered the #1 receiver. So these stats include times when Revis wasn't covering them.)

• Andre Johnson, the most underrated WR in football: 4 catches, 35 yards
• Randy Moss ,arguably one of the top 5 greatest receivers ever: 9 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD in 2 games
• Marques Colston, who should have been a Pro Bowler: 2 catches, 33 yards
• Terrell Owens, who's still dominant when he wants to be: 3 catches, 13 yards
• Mike Sims-Walker, the sleeper of 2009 (kudos to Zack for picking him up in fantasy. Too bad Rolls Joyce was just too much in the ESPN league): 3 catches, 49 yards, TD
• Roddy White, Pro Bowler: 4 catches, 33 yards

There is no doubt that no one is as valuable to their defense right now than Revis is to the Jets. Troy Polamalu of the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers (I can only say this until February 8th, so I'm trying to get it in as much as possible) is a close second, though.

(Random tangent: How is it that the absence of one player turn a defense from historically good to incredibly mediocre? I mean this year's Steelers defense lost one starter from last year's Super Bowl team, Larry Foote, who was replaced by a young, talented Lawrence Timmons. They still had reigning Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Brett Keisel, and Aaron Smith. You're telling me that with Polamalu the D can be one of the Top 5 all-time historically, yet when he's out with a leg injury they make Jay Cutler, Bruce Gradkowski, Matt Cassell, and Brady Quinn (Brady freaking Quinn!) look like Marino, Elway, Unitas, and Montana?? And they won the Super Bowl?? Name 2 other players who had that kind of effect on a defense. Ridiculous...)

Anyways, the cornerstone of all this is head coach Rex Ryan. Eric Mangini was a pure Belichick disciple: quiet, intimidating, sucked to begin his career. He didn't fit into the New York-style. Ryan, though, carries a swag and passion that gives the team a “We can beat anyone” attitude. He'll talk trash and act like his team is the greatest ever, but deep down all coaches think they're team has the talent to win the Super Bowl, except, of course, the Lions. Can they be relegated to the UFL? Is that allowed?

I love what the Jets are doing with their organization. They have the combination of talent, youth, and attitude to be a force in the always loaded AFC for a very long time. So while 2009 wasn’t the year of the Jets, New York fans should have plenty of reasons to cheer.