New York Jets

Could A QB Challenged Team Make The Playoffs?

June 30, 2015 by Micheal Savoie

As OTAs wrap up and teams gear up for training camp, a surprisingly high number of NFL teams are having a “quarterback conundrum”, either overtly or covertly. Let’s take a look at some of the teams that are still up in the air on choosing their starting field general.

The Cleveland Browns made headlines much more often than they cared to last season due to Johnny Football‘s on-field and off-field antics. The Brown’s wisely signed quarterback veteran Josh McCown. Manziel has seen marked improvement after rehab but according to NFL.com, McCown would “have to crumble during training camp to lose his grip over the starting gig”. I believe Manziel will see significant action this season and if he has a solid performance in training camp and shows a dedicated attitude, he could still be the Brown’s starter. Everyone love’s to see a comeback kid.

Next up, we look at the Buffalo Bills. New head coach Rex Ryan is playing it cool, but the Bills are in trouble. Last season was a disaster with E.J. Manuel, who had a 80.3% rating, threw for 838 yards with 5 TDs, 3 interceptions and a fumble. (stats obtained by espn.com) The Bills pulled Manuel and began using Kyle Orton as starting QB for the rest of the season, but Orton is gone now. So it’s a three way battle between Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. Ryan is taking his time with a decision, stating on 6/10/2015 that he will go into training camp to see the guys practice in full pads before making any decisions.

The New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey announced on 5/20/2015 that Geno Smith would return as the starting quarterback. However, since that announcement there has been an uptick in chatter about Ryan Fitzpatrick, the journeyman QB the Jets traded a draft pick to the Texans for. “Fitzy” has been seeing a lot of first team playing time in recent OTAs and Jets quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo is impressed with his pocket presence.

With the Houston Texans trading Ryan Fitzpatrick, they have to decide between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer, who they acquired from the Cleveland Browns. In a 5/14/2015 SB Nation poll, 82% of respondents voted for Mallett while 18% voted for Hoyer, so it is clear who the fans would like to see as starting QB. Head coach Bill O’Brien stated on 6/10/2015 that he will make the decision very soon because the entire team needs to know who the leader is going to be.

So there you have it. These are just four of the teams struggling with quarterback decisions. The NFL 2015-2016 season is certainly shaping up to be another wild ride! Do you think it is possible for a team without a clear leader at QB to make it to the playoffs? Lets hear what you think on our Fan Page or in the comments section below!

Percy Harvin: A Gleam In Rex Ryan’s Eye?

October 19, 2014 by Micheal Savoie

With almost half a season gone, the Seattle Seahawks decided that they were interested in simplifying their offense and their locker room by trading away Percy Harvin less than 2 years after trading 3 draft picks for him from Minnesota.

Harvin missed most of last season with a hip injury and he rejoined the team in time to make a splash in the Super Bowl. But did he contribute to the journey to the Super Bowl? The team got to the big game by beating a lot of tough opponents with a stifling defense and a punishing running game. They won all their home games except one against division rival Arizona, who missed the playoffs even though they had a 10-6 record. Harvin was really just icing on the cake in the Super Bowl, since the team that got them there was still intact.

This season, the Seahawks have not looked as good as the punishing team of 2013, having lost to San Diego and Dallas (crazy, right?). Harvin’s contribution to the offense has not been enough to help them in those two losses, and with San Francisco and Arizona in front of them in the division, the Seahawks are looking to streamline the offense to the punishing style they had a year ago.

By trading Harvin away for a conditional 6th round pick, Seattle is showing that they are willing to do whatever it takes to regain dominance in their division and the league. With 5 of their next 11 games being to division rivals, they desperately need to improve their game if they want a chance for a repeat Super Bowl victory!

The Jets, on the other hand, have been in dire need of a spark, and talent. Having won their only game to the winless Oakland Raiders, head coach Rex Ryan has been looking like a guy who just ate bad sushi. His discomfort is caused because his team is able to stay close in tough games and then allow themselves to be completely blown out in others.

With the addition of Harvin, the Jets are hoping (make that praying) that they will see a return on investment immediately in the kick return game and then later in the offense. With a playmaker like Harvin in the backfield or lined up on the line of scrimmage, the Jets will give the opposing defenses something to worry about other than picking off Geno Smith.

Opinion: Does It Really Matter?

Personally, I think the Jets will win a few more games, but unless they win their next 9 games in a row (and New England has a losing streak), they have very little chance at the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks will still struggle this season and will have to fight for a Wild Card berth. Sorry, ‘hawks.

Percy Harvin Super Bowl — Will Percy Harvin help the Jets to a Super Bowl Win?

What do you think?

AFC East Could Get Exciting

October 11, 2013 by Micheal Savoie

The 3-2 New York Jets host a struggling 0-4 Pittsburgh Steelers team at Met Life Stadium on Sunday afternoon while 3-2 Miami has a bye and the 4-1 New England Patriots host the 5-0 New Orleans Saints. The records indicate that a shift is coming.

If you go by the win loss record, the Jets should defeat the Steelers and the Saints should upset the Patriots. That would put the Jets in a tie for first place in the AFC east with the Patriots (the Patriots hold the tie breaker with a win against the Jets).

In the following weeks, the Patriots go to Met Life Stadium to play the Jets on October 20, then host the Dolphins back home on the 27th. So depending on how they both do this weekend, the matchup next week could be one to decide first place.

After their bye, the Dolphins have a division matchup with the Buffalo Bills and then the Patriots, so they are in control of their destiny as well, if they get some wins following the bye.

Even the Bills, should they recover from the loss of QB E.J. Manuel for the next couple weeks, have a chance to fight for the lead in the division. They do have to win against the Bengals this week and then survive the Miami game on the 20th and then win against the Saints in New Orleans on the 27th.

Should this division stay competitive for the remainder of the season, a lot of Bills, Dolphins and Jets fans will be hanging on the edge of their seats! Or will the Patriots run the table and beat out all of their division opponents and get in the playoffs as the winner of the AFC East?

Your opinions are encouraged! Comment below!