Jets Like Their Matchups
September 2nd, 2013
It looks like it will be like old times in practice Sunday for Darrelle Revis and Santonio Holmes. Both are expected to play in the opener.
The Bucs kick off 2013 in six days against the New York Jets — six days! The Jets are a miserable bunch, so the Bucs are probably catching them at the worst time, before all hope is lost in Gotham and the inevitable meltdown occurs.
Right now, though, Jets fans are hopeful. One big reason is Darrelle Revis’ old practice rival, wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Reports out of New York have Holmes practicing today and primed to come out firing Sunday after foot surgery in the offseason.
Brian Bassett at TheJetsBlog.com likes what Holmes’ return might mean for matchups in the Bucs’ secondary.
As we expected, Santonio has been readying for regular season football and we expect he’ll be playing against the Bucs next weekend, potentially matched up on Revis. That is fine, because that leaves Stephen Hill and/or Jeremy Kerley against some sort of Leonard Johnson/Dashon Goldson matchup. Johnson ranked out as the 120th best cornerback in the 2013 preseason and while he’ll benefit from Revis, there’s room for the Jets to take advantage.
Of course, the Bucs should be able to rattle whatever quarterback lines up for the Jets, hopefully rookie Geno Smith.
But if the Bucs can’t generate much pass rush or can’t contain Smith’s scrambling early, what should be a sure victory against a bad team could turn into a very difficult road game. And in case you were wondering, DJ Toes On The Line is supposed to start at tight end for New York.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:20 pm
We cant afford to take this team lightly. I am positive they are looking at this matchup as a win to. After all were still just a 7-9 team until we prove otherwise. I like our chances but Pre-season didnt offer much in hope. We shall see!
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Agreed Couch.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:27 pm
I think they forgot about Banks. I’m thinking Banks will be a bit better than Johnson.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Well I truly hope Barron Von Barron can say a special hello to Captain Pushoff.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:28 pm
First, keep Lavonte David or Mason Foster in as a spy to shadow Geno Smith on every play. If he tries scrambling Foster or David will be there. Second, mix it up a little, Santonio may not be in great shape to stretch the field all game, so don’t have Revis just on him. We may not be able to shut them out but we can slow them down and make them go three and out a few times and we can win the T.O.P. battle. Plus, I really think the NY’s are over looking our pass rush. We don’t need sacks to take any of their QB’s out of the game. All we need is some pressure, a spy, and a respectable secondary and we’ll finish those fools off and expose them for what they are.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Hill recorded five receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Mark Sanchez despite battling a stomach illness that caused him to vomit frequently throughout the game. Hill was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2012 after suffering a sprained LCL in his knee. He finished the year with 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Kerley was selected with the 153rd pick in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He caught his first career touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez against the Patriots on October 9, 2011.
During the home opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 9, 2012, Kerley got his first career punt return touchdown. After Tim Tebow requested to be removed from the wildcat formation, Kerley took his place, and threw a 42-yard pass, though the Jets lost to the San Diego Chargers 17-27.
WORRIED YET?
September 2nd, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Nope…we have # 5
September 2nd, 2013 at 4:36 pm
One of the major components of the art of war is to never underestimate your opponent.
Hope our Bucs adhere to that doctrine.
September 2nd, 2013 at 4:38 pm
1st game of the season should be very telling
September 2nd, 2013 at 4:41 pm
K2 will demand that Geno get him the ball, much in the same way he demanded that JF5 get him the ball. The rook will fell pressured to throw it to K2. Can’t wait to see the Bucs shut down this hot mess!
September 2nd, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Actually we are not unfamiliar with the inevitable meltdown at least during Mr. Dominik’s era.
You know, the 7, 10, and 5 game losing streaks? The no playoffs. The nfl and franchise defensive futility records?
We are coming off a 1-5 meltdown just last year.
Better play our best to win and stop acting like we won the super bowl by going 7-9.
September 2nd, 2013 at 5:01 pm
I guess he doesn’t know we drafted last years Thorpe winner?
September 2nd, 2013 at 5:07 pm
My goodness, some of you make it sound like the 7-9 with a 5 game losing streak is worse than 2006 with a 4-12 record and never losing more than 4 in a row. Of course, we lost 4 in a row, 3 in a row, and 4 in a row that year… but who’s counting…. In 2008 we were 9-3 and leading the way to the playoffs, but finished 0-4 to miss out. Not a 5 or 7 or 10 game losing streak, but it hurt just as bad… and that was with an experienced head coach AND GM. 2004 saw two more 4 game losing streaks and no two Ws in a row. 2003 saw the same record we had last year, but no real win or loss streaks. problem with that is the offense was about the same rank in the NFL as last year, but the D was top 10. Did it matter in 2003 that we didn’t have a losing streak? Did that make the 7-9 season better? Or was it just Super Bowl Fan hangover that made it ok?
September 2nd, 2013 at 5:26 pm
@Eric.
You must be joking man. Do you honestly think the players think like some blog posters? This is the NFL. None of our Bucs players are taking this lightly or any game for that matter. The fact of the matter is we are a way better team than the bumbling Jets. The best thing that can happen is Geno Smith starting. He’ll get a rude welcoming to the NFL. I’m confident we win this game by 10 or more. We are flat out better than the mess the Jets are.
September 2nd, 2013 at 6:28 pm
to the idiot who said “After all were still just a 7-9 team”, ok then where the hell is Michael Bennett and Roy Miller? And who the hell let Darelle Revis in the got damn locker room??
@RBell, no real need to spy on Geno. He’s not much of a runner. I say we attack, attack, attack. at least a 5 man rush, all day.
September 2nd, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Did we not finish 7-9 last year? YES! We did…. Just because we got some new players and let some players go does not mean we are anything more or less than 7-9 until we get on the field and prove we are better.
Keep your head in the clouds though buddy, hopefully all that optimism will be well founded.
September 2nd, 2013 at 6:58 pm
youre damn right Im optimistic! its the only way to live! what, should I live my life in constant doubt, with my minset stuck in fourth gear, stuck in 2012??
what sad fu(k would want to live that way?? oh, nevermind…
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Did I say you didnt have a right to live that way? NO! I didnt… you sure do like to change the subject a lot… In none of that banter did you answer the question…
Be as optimistic as you want, but that wont change the fact we are a 7-9 team and we can’t take any team lightly…. Not sure exactly what you are trying to argue here.
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:21 pm
just when I think Im out, you pull me back in…
look, if you want me to break down:
“Did we not finish 7-9 last year? YES! We did…. Just because we got some new players and let some players go does not mean we are anything more or less than 7-9 until we get on the field and prove we are better.
Keep your head in the clouds though buddy, hopefully all that optimism will be well founded.”
a) we’re 0-0. at least according to the NFL.
b) the fact that we got new players and got rid of old players ABSOLUTELY means that we are more or less than our 7-9 team last year. and I’m bankin that we’re better. cause my head is way up here in the clouds.
c) hows your mother?
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:49 pm
As I said keep that big head in the clouds. You have every right to. Back down here on earth, we are still a 7-9 team until we prove otherwise. And shes good thanks for asking.
September 2nd, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Honestly, not taking sides but I thought we were 0 – 0 also. Maybe I’m wrong some how unless your making a prediction, last year was, just that, last year 🙂
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:18 pm
If that is how you want to look at it then the Jets are also o-o. Either way you look at it we can’t afford to take them lightly, which is what I said in the first place.
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:22 pm
I have 2 words for Duh Jets….
Doug Martin.
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:26 pm
I foresee this to be a low scoring pound the ball type game… Both QBs have their issues and running the ball often and well will cut down on them becoming the reason for losing the game…
If so, whichever team runs more effectively will likely prevail… Hopefully the Bucs will be the victors of this bout though their is certainly no guarantees!!!
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:33 pm
I agree. I expect a very similiar game as last years season opener aganist Carolina. Sloppy, low scoring struggle. Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes win.
September 3rd, 2013 at 6:20 am
With our completely revamped secondary and defensive line from where we left off last season; we will have 6 or 7 new starters on the defense side. To think this is the same 7-9 team is silly. The offense (ranked # 9) hopefully can insert the two Pro-Bowl guards and get some stability up front. While the prognosticators typically predict the future by the past; every season is a new adventure. As the song says, “Let’s get it started!”
September 3rd, 2013 at 8:34 am
Couch, you are right. The Jets are 0-0. We are 0-0. All of the NFL is 0-0.
And unless there has been a rule change I don’t know about, our record from last year doesn’t affect our standings this year.
But I agree with you. The Bucs should not take the Jets lightly. I don’t believe ANY team should take any opponent lightly.
However, the off season moves do play a role in predicting the outcome of the season. Simply put, the Bucs made better moves than the Jets did. In fact, it could be argued that the Bucs are one of the most improved teams on paper.
But that is on paper, right? I has been proven on the field now. But couldn’t the same be said to the people who predict this team will be bad? It’s still got to be proven on the field.
September 3rd, 2013 at 8:36 am
“I has been proven on the field now.”
It has to be proven on the field now. – Correction.