1.) Ne/Jets over 40.5
The NE offense has been much improved in the off-season at the wide out position. The passing game will be their strength this year or at least should be. I cant see the jet secondary being able to keep up with the passing attack personnel that NE will be bringing to the field. The burners on the outside will force the Jet secondary to compensate for the long ball while the middle of the field should be wide open for Welker, Watson and the receiver in 4 receiver sets. i like safety Rhodes for the Jets but their corners are a big ? mark. i don't foresee either dyson or barret being able to handle Stallworth or Moss so the Jets will have to scheme something up to help their corners, which again opens up big openings for the tight end and 3rd of 4th receiver.
my concern on offense for NE is the running game. I am not convinced Maroney can take the pounding of an every down back. i like Morris to get more touches than people expect. With the focus on the NE wide-outs there should be some opportunities for big runs for the Patriot backs especially in spread formations. I do like the linebackers for the Jets and they will hold their own here but as long as NE is able to run to the point of keeping the Jet defense honest so to speak then NE should get their chunks here and there and only help the effectiveness of the Pass attack.
jet offense: without harrison or Seymour i have to believe the Jets should get some effective drives going and put some points up. i have big question marks about the NE secondary and LB corp. There is no way samuel is in playing shape. although i do expect him to play and their safeties can get burned at times. i have no idea what to make of merriweather at this point since he is a rookie but you can expect him to make a few rookie mistakes here and there and when that occurs in the passing game big plays may likely ensue. i am not sure if wilson is playing as he was held out of most of the third pre-season game and the 4th game. In all I think they could give up some big plays I just don't know whether pennington has the arm strength to truly burn the secondary for long plays.
The linebackers are good but some have lost a step. they wont be a liability per Se because of the addition of Thomas and the football smarts this unit possess but they may have trouble keeping up with the athletic and quick backs and tight-ends and I look for Mangini to expose the lack of speed this unit may be prone to.
The defensive line is clearly the patriot D strength. they will put pressure on the QB thereby limiting the exposure of the weak links of the D. They are now without Seymour for first 6 weeks. although i am not sure his loss will be as profound as most would think it will no doubt be a negative. The Patriots will find ways to put pressure on pennigton in seymours absence but by doing so I believe they will open up their linebackers to having to cover offensive personnel they are not equipped for.
Mangini knows this team, personnel and philosophies so we have a coach who can scheme a little better than most for the New England defensive attack. Further, i have to believe that the NE passing attack can expose the jet secondary and make some long big plays which is always conducive to the over.
This number is low enough to allow these teams to have a bad quarter of offense and still hit it. with the offensive improvements for NE and the question marks I have about their defense, especially in the secondary. i like our chances.
Cooz
The NE offense has been much improved in the off-season at the wide out position. The passing game will be their strength this year or at least should be. I cant see the jet secondary being able to keep up with the passing attack personnel that NE will be bringing to the field. The burners on the outside will force the Jet secondary to compensate for the long ball while the middle of the field should be wide open for Welker, Watson and the receiver in 4 receiver sets. i like safety Rhodes for the Jets but their corners are a big ? mark. i don't foresee either dyson or barret being able to handle Stallworth or Moss so the Jets will have to scheme something up to help their corners, which again opens up big openings for the tight end and 3rd of 4th receiver.
my concern on offense for NE is the running game. I am not convinced Maroney can take the pounding of an every down back. i like Morris to get more touches than people expect. With the focus on the NE wide-outs there should be some opportunities for big runs for the Patriot backs especially in spread formations. I do like the linebackers for the Jets and they will hold their own here but as long as NE is able to run to the point of keeping the Jet defense honest so to speak then NE should get their chunks here and there and only help the effectiveness of the Pass attack.
jet offense: without harrison or Seymour i have to believe the Jets should get some effective drives going and put some points up. i have big question marks about the NE secondary and LB corp. There is no way samuel is in playing shape. although i do expect him to play and their safeties can get burned at times. i have no idea what to make of merriweather at this point since he is a rookie but you can expect him to make a few rookie mistakes here and there and when that occurs in the passing game big plays may likely ensue. i am not sure if wilson is playing as he was held out of most of the third pre-season game and the 4th game. In all I think they could give up some big plays I just don't know whether pennington has the arm strength to truly burn the secondary for long plays.
The linebackers are good but some have lost a step. they wont be a liability per Se because of the addition of Thomas and the football smarts this unit possess but they may have trouble keeping up with the athletic and quick backs and tight-ends and I look for Mangini to expose the lack of speed this unit may be prone to.
The defensive line is clearly the patriot D strength. they will put pressure on the QB thereby limiting the exposure of the weak links of the D. They are now without Seymour for first 6 weeks. although i am not sure his loss will be as profound as most would think it will no doubt be a negative. The Patriots will find ways to put pressure on pennigton in seymours absence but by doing so I believe they will open up their linebackers to having to cover offensive personnel they are not equipped for.
Mangini knows this team, personnel and philosophies so we have a coach who can scheme a little better than most for the New England defensive attack. Further, i have to believe that the NE passing attack can expose the jet secondary and make some long big plays which is always conducive to the over.
This number is low enough to allow these teams to have a bad quarter of offense and still hit it. with the offensive improvements for NE and the question marks I have about their defense, especially in the secondary. i like our chances.
Cooz
