Deep Thoughts on Ryan vs. Ryan

1: Rex probably can't pull much on McCoy that he hasn't seen in practice. Unfortunately, ditto Sanchez.

2: But once again, the Jets don't have a Hillis. On his 26-yard gain last week, the formation made it obvious: Two tight ends on the right side, with Vickers set up to lead-block right. "Hey guys, we're going to run around your left side! Ready?"
Couldn't stop it. And Hillis is surprisingly quick and explosive for his size. Thank God for blockheads like McDaniels.

I have to mention that Holmgren probably did NOT influence Steinbach pulling to that side (and smashing a safety). Daboll has consistantly exploited Steinbach's athleticism and minimized his smallish size in this way.

3: Because of his reps vs. a Ryan defense, he has an edge over the other quarterbacks who've played them, and his rookie-hood is less a factor. While Sanchez will no doubt do some damage of his own for similar reasons--and because his offensive line is really, really good--the Browns offense should at least compete.

That's partly because Rex, like Rob, blitze inside quite a bit, and the Browns have the ideal antidotes in Moore and Watson.

4: Green and LT are a scary combo, but at least for the last few weeks the Browns defense has drasticly improved vs. the run. Especially Chris Gocong, who's emerged as a top-flight ILB. I sawe him make one tackle in which he ran all the way around a blocker to take down a carrier from behind--at the line of scrimmage.

See, he had the gap to the guard's right, and was penetrating--he saw the ballcarrier and veered to intercept. Most strong side ILB's can't make that play--that's partly why they don't bother blocking them.

But see here: He WAS penetrating--no standing there waiting. That's why the Ryans are some of my favoritest people.

5: I assert that the wide recievers were always in the game-plan. McCoy even talked about his conscious effort to get it to them more--NOT about asking Daboll to let him.

But if the TE's and Hillis get the bulk of the catches vs. the Jets, blame Revis and Comartie--nort Daboll. Dammit.

6: Speaking of which, their superb man-coverage skills won't mean a damn thing vs. Evan Moore. Not with a quarterback who can put it way up or out there where his massive reach advantage makes them helpless. Nor can they jam him. Look for more passes to him, both outside and inside. He may be the designated blitze-burner.

7: Backup fullback. Trade throw-in. Jets rejects. They cut (Roth/Watson/Moore) "for a reason". You guys should be GM's (hopefully in this division).

Two of the veterans acquired in the Sanchez trade are integral components of the current team which beat the Saints and the Pats. One of them became critical when Jackson went down for the season. Mack is very good and getting great fast.

I wanted Sachez myself, but when I saw the trade, I knew it was smart.

Furthermore, Sanchez had a pretty damn good rookie season, yes--despite the ups-and-downs that some New-Yorkers overreacted to. He's a good quarterback with most of his upside left, yeah. Also, he may be as much as a half and inch taller than Colt McCoy. But I'd still rather have McCoy. And Mack, and three other vets. So quit making asses of yourselves and let it go.

Sanchez was a one-year college starter. McCoy started for four years. Sanchez is accurate. McCoy is MORE accurate. Sanchez is smart. I believe that McCoy is smarter. I believe that NFL experience only makes the two about the same right now. Our quarterback is a match for theirs.

8: This team is actually more talented than the last two. The Saints had some losses and some age, and Doctor Evil has drafted low for too long. The Jets are loaded.

9: Adam Schein on NFL Radio gives a "ton of credit" to Mangini, Daboll, etc. for the last two weeks, but repeats that the only way Mangini keeps his job is to go to the playoffs.

Go to the playoffs playing in the same division as the Steelers and Ravens, the worst of which is probably 10-6. With maybe the most brutal schedule in the NFL. Playoffs or you're fired. Yeah right. Holmgren is retarded.

Oh--no--it's the west coast thing. Can't teach and old dog new tricks!

Bullshit. Holmgren's teams got beat by all sorts of offensive systems, and he respects them. I suppose he wants to fire Ryan because he wants a 4-3. These guys aren't little kids.

If Holmgren himself decides he wants to coach again, ok. But if Mangini wins 7 or 8 games this season, I really doubt that he'd use that as a pretext to replace him, because he lives on this planet and is rational.

This synergy between two successful offensive systems is unprecedented and productive. Becoming a respected/feared team by the middle of his second season is doing a pretty damn good job in this division. Not when the core is nearly all there, and you need one more off-season to fill in the remaining gaps. Not when the players love Mangini and go all-out for him.

Holmgren might want to coach again. If so, so be it. But he also wants to win, and respects results. If Mangini ends the season well, he stays. Playoffs my foot.