GarageGabs

Let me be the first to apologize to Jets fans.  When they inked Brett Favre I figured (and believe I said) that Favre would lead the medicore Jets to a mediocre finish in magical mediocre land.  Granted, at the time, I didn’t know that Tom Brady would be lost the entire season to injury.

Even so, we sit here 10 games into the season and the Jets are 7-3, atop the AFC East.  They knocked off the big bully New England Patriots last night 34-31 in OT.  You know what else?  They are somewhat likable.  The only true household name on the team is Favre…the rest are an above average group of characters not often mentioned in discussions about NFL elite players, many of whom are really coming into their own this season.  Now, of course the season isn’t over.  The Patriots are only a game back & the Dolphins and Bills are still in it…..but to me, the Jets look like the team to beat in the AFC East.

Thomas Jones isn’t a household name but he’s slowly & quietly accumulating some monster statistics.  Eric, I apologize for calling your fantasy draft pick of Jones idiotic.  See, I thought last year was to be the breakout for Jones.  He was coming off a a couple of really solid years with the Bears and moving to a team with a nice O-Line.  Jones was a huge disappointment (I know, I drafted him) with only 2 total TD’s and a meager 3.6 yards per carry.  Ten games into this season, Jones already has 10 total TD, averages 4.5 yards per carry, and is closing in on 1,000 yards.  Did Jones become a better runner or is this the impact of Favre?  You have to figure the Jets offense is a bit more intimidating (and more vertical) with Favre running the show rather than Chad Pennington & Kellen Clemens.

For a while last season it looked as if Jones might lose his starting job to Leon Washington.  Washington is a 5′-10″ do it all dynamo who is being used as a PERFECT compliment to Jones.  Washington enters the game and electrifies everything.  He can run it, catch it, and is a great return guy (see his 92 yard kick return last night).  He reminds me a lot of a speedier Dave Meggett who was used in much the same way with the 90’s Giants.  You might say, “well, what impact could Favre possibly have on a guy like this?”.  Favre has improved Jones, which has in turn given Washington the opportunity to contribute in more opportune situations…Washington isn’t an every down back, (yet) he’s a guy that is going to contribute in spots.

Jerricho Cotchery,(of NC State) Lavernanues Coles, Chansi Stuckey.  Favre makes them matter.  Coles & Cotchery?  Near mirror images statistically, it’s impossible for opponents to focus on just one.  Stuckey contributes from time to time.  Mix in two productive tight ends (always a Favre favorite) in Chris Baker & Dustin Keller as well as Washington’s production in the passing game and you have 7 players with double digit receptions, 6 with TD’s.  The Jets had 7 double digit receivers last year (throughout an entire  season) as well, but the discrepency between receptions was much larger.  A more healthy Coles, and an ever improving Cotchery are obviously helpful here…..but it’d be crazy to suggest that Favre hasn’t had a positive impact on this group of receivers.

With all this said, it bears mentioning that the Jets schedule hasn’t been too imposing.  They’ve beaten Miami, Arizona, Cincinnati, Buffalo, St. Louis, and New England.  Not imposing, but they’re winning and the schedule continues to be pretty passive down the stretch with the exception of next weeks game at Tennessee.  Denver, San Francisco, Buffalo, Seattle, Miami.  That’s a playoff schedule if you ask me.  I like the Jets to go 4-2 down the stretch, finishing up at 11-5 and IN the playoffs. I just really like the Jets….their team….their players.  This coming from a guy that’s never cared much for Brett Favre.  All of the sudden, I find even Favre a bit likable.  Hell, I even like the Jets uniforms.  You can’t tell me that’s not a cool shade of green….and the white helmets with green lettering look so much better than the green helmets with the trendy JETS symbol on it. GO JETS!  I’ll be pulling for them in the AFC the rest of the year.