Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Out-thinking Youselves

With more than a neutral interest in the Jets-Dolphins tilt this past Sunday, I found myself for the second time this decade cheering for a Brett Favre led team playing in New York in week 17, in order to get the Pats the division title. For the second time, Brett Favre, as is his wont, played like some bearded Kyle Boller, and made the Pats the best of the rest, instead of one of the hopefuls.
One thing that the Fantasy Men could not fathom, was the complete disappearance of the Jets running game. On the day, the Jets handed off to their running backs 20 times, which does not seem low, until you realize that Brett Favre was called upon in a big game, to throw the ball 40 times. I am not one of those people that thinks that magically, if you get to 30 runs, you will be gifted 50 points and win the game, but there is something to be said for maintaining a committment to the running game, a committment that was lacking from the Jets. Since the middle of the season, when the media ripped Eric Mangina for not passing in the red zone, it seems that he has progressively eschewed (what verbose word usage!) the running game, in favor of placing his fortunes on Brett Favre's ailing and decrepit shoulder. In a related note, Eric Mangina is presently seeking employment.
In the first quarter, the Jets ran 3 times, not including one play called back for holding. In the second quarter, they ran only 4 times. In the third, the ball was run 7 times, and in the fourth, 6 more.
The Jets had to have known what we have discovered in hindsight, that Brett Favre was hurt, and Mangina should have been able to see with his own eyes that Favre was not as effective as he should have been, to be throwing the ball 40 times a game.
Sometimes, doing the simple things can win you games. Running on first down gets you into more manageable second downs. Running on third down when you know you are going for it on fourth down shortens the distance for you. The running game is what you do to salt away a win, but there is a place for it throughout the game as well.
The Jets offensive line has been one of the teams strengths this year, and their failure to turn to their ground game in their must win week 17 game was a large factor in their loss.

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