SB Nation New York: All Posts by Jason Pafundi

Fantasy football start/sit, week 16:

2012-12-21T17:17:10Z

For most in fantasy football, this week is the Super Bowl, so with that in mind, here is your guide to who to start and who to sit among the New York Jets for Week 16.

Quarterback
Greg McElroy is making his first career start. Enough said.

Verdict - Sit him!

Running Back
With McElroy making his first career start, expect offensive coordinator Tony Sparano to rely heavily on the running of Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell. Both are solid flex options.

Verdict - Start them as a flex option

Wide Receivers
With an unproven quarterback who has never started an NFL game, there is no reason to start any Jets wide receiver. Which has been the case the majority of the season.

Verdict - Sit all of them

Kicker
Nick Folk is a good kicker. Folk does not get enough opportunities to score. Where have you heard this before?

Verdict - Sit him

Defense/Special Teams
The San Diego Chargers are playing out the string, and quarterback Philip Rivers is almost as bad as Mark Sanchez in committing turnovers. The Jets should be able to generate a couple of sacks and interceptions in this game, so they are a great option.

Verdict - Start them as a No. 1 DST

Good luck during Week 16.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi

Jets' QB of future not on roster

2012-12-19T21:35:42Z

After New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan named Greg McElroy as his starter for Sunday's penultimate game versus San Diego in place of Mark Sanchez, a couple of things became clear.

First, the coaching staff, especially Ryan, does not believe that Tim Tebow is an NFL quarterback. And secondly, neither Sanchez nor McElroy should be or will be the starting quarterback of the Jets in 2013.

Sanchez is done. That also became crystal clear watching his embarrassing performance on Monday Night Football in Tennessee. Throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble, giving him 50 turnovers the past two seasons, is bad enough, but the manner in which they occur is what is most troubling.

[McElroy excited | Tebow upset}

A fourth-year quarterback, a four-year starter, should not be making the kind of mental mistakes Sanchez seems to make each and every week. During the post game press conference after every one of his classic stinker performances, he says that he cannot keep making the same mistakes, that he must learn and get better.

Except he keeps making the same mistakes, he has not learned and he has gotten worse. In his defense, the organization did not do him any favors bringing in Tebow for no reason other than to steal a few headlines from the Super Bowl Champions Giants and have not surrounded Sanchez with nearly enough talent for the Jets offense to remotely resemble an average NFL unit.

But after four years and 61 games, 68 touchdowns and 68 interceptions, and signature moments that everyone wants to forget but probably can't (see Butt Fumble 2012), what has he shown to give anyone in Gang Green Nation confidence that he can be the quarterback to take the team to their first Super Bowl since 1969?

The answer to that question is easy. Nothing. There is no good reason Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum, owner Woody Johnson, Fireman Ed or whoever else is asked, could give for Sanchez entering 2013 as the Jets starting quarterback. And if not for his salary - rumored to be a $17 million cap charge if he is released - there is no reason for Sanchez to be on the roster heading into next season.

McElroy, despite his starting this week and presumably the final game of the season in Buffalo, is also not the long-term answer for the Jets at quarterback. If he was, he would not have been deactivated for every game in his NFL career except for the one in which he replaced Sanchez.

He has thrown seven - that's right - seven passes in almost two seasons, and if the Jets front office and staff saw enough in him, he would have been the backup to Sanchez, not an injured and unavailable Tebow.

The Jets have gaping holes on their roster. They lack talent at wide receiver and lack a consistent running game and the defense plays well but does not create enough of a pass rush.

But the biggest hole the Jets have is at the most important position in all of sports -- the quarterback.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi

Jets Playoff Hopes End In Fitting Fashion - A Sanchez Turnover

2012-12-18T05:07:18Z

Just when you thought Mark Sanchez could not do anything worse.

But after throwing 146 an interception - his fourth - on the one yard line with less than two minutes remaining, the New York Jets got the ball back at Tennessee's 25 yard line after a shanked punt.

On the first play, with 47 seconds on the clock and trailing by four, Sanchez bobbled the snap, flailed as it was kicked by Bilal Powell, and walked off the field after committing his fifth turnover as the Jets season effectively ended with two games to play with a 14-10 loss versus the Titans.

For the game, Sanchez, who head coach Rex Ryan thinks gives the Jets their best chance to win, was 13-28 for 131 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions.

The offense, once again, was a huge problem.

Shonn Greene carried just 13 times for 68 yards, but the Jets turned the ball over five times. As a team, New York ran for 146 yards, including 15 yards on three carries by Tim Tebow.

Chris Johnson had a 94-yard touchdown scamper and Jake Locker added a scoring run to account for Tennessee's offense, which was not much better than New York's.

Braylon Edwards, who returned to the Jets this week after being released by Seattle, had three catches for 47 yards but was not much of a factor.

With the loss, the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention. Next week, the team returns to MetLife Stadium to face the San Diego Chargers in a game that was flexed by NBC out of the Sunday night slot.

Now that the Jets answered the question about whether they would be a playoff team, only one question remains.

What will happen with Sanchez and where do they Jets go from here.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi

Jets @ Titans: Facts, Stats and Analysis

2012-12-17T16:01:24Z

The New York Jets make yet another primetime appearance, this one in Tennessee on Monday Night Football versus the Titans, with a chance to continue an unexpected push to the playoffs.

With Pittsburgh losing yesterday to Dallas, the Jets remained alive with three games to play. They will need to win their remaining games and get some help, but after the debacle on Thanksgiving Night, that they are even still in the playoff conversation is a miracle.

A loss tonight and the Jets would be eliminated.

Taming the Jags
Last week, after a horrible first half that produced nothing, New York scored 17 in the final two quarters and held on to beat the hapless Jaguars 17-10.

Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell both ran the ball well and both scored short touchdowns. The resurrgent defense again played a strong game, punishing Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne and forcing turnovers.

State of the Jets
Ryan said that Tebow’s health has improved and that might bring back -- was it ever there to begin with -- the Wildcat into the Jets offense. Tebow has not played in three games since suffering two broken ribs in Week

What to Expect
Tennessee (4-9) come into the game losers of three straight. They have the 23rd ranked offense and the 27th ranked defense, so anything less than a solid performance by the Jets would be seen as disappointing.

Braylon Edwards returns tot the Jets after being released by Seattle last week, and nobody is happier than Sanchez. The Jets have the 30th rated passing offense, in part because of the lack of playmakers at wide receiver. Edwards is expected to play tonight and against the 26th ranked pass defense, could have a big game.

Greene and Powell were featured heavily last week versus Jacksonville and they figure to see a heavy workload again tonight. The Titans have the 23rd ranked rushing defense.

Defensively, the Jets have moved into the top 10 in the league (ranking eighth). They are third against the pass, which should help cause problems for Jake Locker and the Tennessee wideouts.

On the ground, Chris Johnson has carried for over 1,000 yards, but the Titans offensive line has only one player who began the season as a starter. Injuries have hurt that unit this year and it is reflected in their being ranked 23rd in the league in rushing.

Expect the Jets to bring pressure and force a couple of turnovers. Maybe Antonio Cromartie scores a touchdown tonight, as well.

And lastly, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said that the Wildcat could be back in play with a healthy Tim Tebow, so keep an eye on that throughout tonight's telecast.

STATS
Passing
Jets: Sanchez -- 2,547 yards, 12 TDs, 13 INTs
Titans: Locker -- 1,735 yards, 9 TDs, 9 INTs

Rushing
Jets: Greene -- 230 carries for 883 yards, 6 TDs
Titans: Johnson -- 223 carries for 1,037 yards, 4 TDs

Receiving
Jets: Kerley -- 52 catches for 728 yards, 2 TDs
Titans: Wright -- 59 catches for 555 yards, 4 TDs

Defense
Jets: Harris -- 101 tackles
Titans: Babineaux -- 88 tackles

Jets: Wilkerson -- 4.0 sacks
Titans: Wimbley -- 5.0 sacks

JETS @ TITANS
When: Monday, 12/17, 8:30 pm EST
Where: LP Field, Nashville
TV: ESPN, Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden
Radio: ESPN NEW YORK 98.7
Line: Jets +

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi.

Fantasy football start/sit, Week 15: New York Jets

2012-12-14T12:40:28Z

It is the second week of the fantasy football playoffs for most teams, so here is your guide to who to start and who to sit on the New York Jets.

Quarterback
Keep moving. There is nothing to see here.

Running Backs
Both Bilal Powell and Shonn Greene carried the ball for more than 70 yards and a touchdown last week versus Jacksonville as the Jets took the ball out of the hands of embattled quarterback Mark Sanchez and focused on the running game.

Tennessee ranks ninth in the NFL against the rush, allowing an average of 127 yards per game. They have yielded 12 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Verdict - Powell and Greene are quality flex options

Receivers
Last week, Sanchez completed passes to guys named Cumberland, Schilens, Gilyard and Reuland, and none of those players should be even on a fantasy roster at this point in the year.

Kicker
As has been the case virtually the entire season, Nick Folk has had a solid year, but he has not been in position to score enough to warrant a start in fantasy, especially in the fantasy playoffs.

Defense/Special Teams
This unit is now ranked eighth in the league in total defense. Last week against the Jaguars, the DST had two interceptions and three sacks. On Sunday, they face second-year quarterback Jake Locker, and they are primed for another solid outing.

Verdict - Start them and consider them a low No. 1 option

Good luck during Week 15.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York. And play Pick 6 Football.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi

OPINION: Missing playoffs would be good for Gang Green

2012-12-13T21:03:08Z

The New York Jets travel to Tennessee for a prime time showcase on Monday night versus the Titans with their playoff hopes still alive. But should any Jets fan even want their team to make the playoffs?

For this writer, the Jets would be better off losing their final three games and preparing for next season.

All season long, experts and fans alike have lamented how the Jets just do not have enough talent on their roster to be a big-time NFL team, particularly on offense. The lack of talent is evident when watching the game and looking at the stats.

Offensively, the Jets rank 30th overall in the league. They have the 30th-ranked passing offense and are 11th in running the football.

In defense of quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has been maligned this season more than any at any other point in his career, the Jets have been without top receiver Santonio Holmes since he was injured in Week 4 and tight end Dustin Keller has missed five games.

Sanchez has completed passes this season to a mish-mash of receivers, including Chaz Schilens, Clyde Gates, Konrad Reuland, Nick Bellore and Mardy Gilyard.

A couple of wins and a playoff berth would give credo to head coach Rex Ryan’s claims – that he has made all season – that the talent is on the roster to make the Jets a successful team.

But if the Jets continue to struggle and lose even one of the final three games – at Tennessee, home versus San Diego and at Buffalo – they will finish no better than 8-8, and for a New York team with a head coach who has a mouth as big as his ego, that is not good enough.

Nope, the Jets would be better off missing the playoffs, seeing where their roster stands heading into the offseason, what positions need to be addressed in free agency and the draft and what will happen with Sanchez and Tebow.

For Jets fans, making the playoffs would keep the team believing they are a contender. And that is not the case.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi

Jets Still Alive After Ugly Win Versus Jacksonville

2012-12-09T22:14:52Z

A scoreless first half for the second consecutive week. Inept quarterback play by Mark Sanchez including a first half fumble. The loss of Antonio Cromartie and Stephen Hill.

But luckily for the New York Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars are bad enough that Gang Green was able to overcome those issues and defeat the Jags 17-10, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.

Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell each scored short rushing touchdowns as the Jets scored 17 points in the second half. New York ran for 166 yards, taking advantage of Jacksonville's 31st rank run defense.

Sanchez, benched last week, was not a factor outside of his first half fumble, which was his 45th turnover since the start of 2011. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 111 yards, while also rushing for three times for 11 yards.

Defensively, the Jets did not allow the Jaguars to get anything going until the middle of the fourth quarter. Jacksonville, without leading receiver Cecil Shorts (concussion) and offensive lineman Mike Brewster, managed just six yards of offense in the third quarter.

Chad Henn, who threw for 185 yards, was intercepted twice and was not helped by his receivers, who dropped a number of passes. He was also sacked three times.

The Jets (6-7) won for the third time in four games and second in a row since the Thanksgiving debacle against New England.

Next week, Gang Green will continue to fight for their playoff lives when they face the Titans in Tennessee on Monday Night Football.

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi.

Jets @ Jaguars: Facts, Stats and Analysis

2012-12-09T13:07:07Z

One week after being benched and having their season saved - for another seven days - Mark Sanchez returns as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets as they face the 2-10 Jacksonville Jaguars in Florida this afternoon.

Sanchez threw three interceptions last week versus Arizona and was replaced by Greg McElroy, who promptly threw his first career touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 7-6 victory.

Debate raged early this week about whether or not Sanchez would be named and should be named the starter, and head coach Rex Ryan named Sanchez the starter on Wednesday morning.

State of the Jets
Tight end Dustin Keller has been ruled out and will miss another game this season due to injury. When one considers the play of Sanchez this season, do not discount the fact that he has been without his top two receivers, Keller and Holmes. Tim Tebow, who missed last week with broken ribs, is listed as questionable but is expected to back up Sanchez in his return to his hometown of Jacksonville.

What to Expect
The Jaguars are, by all accounts and statistics, a horrible football team, and they have been equally as bad at home (1-5) as they have on the road.

They rank 31st in the NFL in offense, averaging just 17.2 points per game and have the 31st ranked defense, allowing 28.5 points per game.

Teams will even average offenses would be able to exploit the problems Jacksonville has on defense, but the Jets offense ranks 29th in the league. The Jets should be able to take their 12th ranked rushing attack and control the clock, since Jacksonville is 31st against the run, allowing 144 yards per game.

Grounding and pounding would help take the pressure off of Sanchez, who is looking over his shoulder and playing for his job for the first time in his career.

Defensively, the Jets should feast on Chad Henne, who is starting his third start since taking over for the injured Blaine Gabbert, and the Jags offense.

Henne has played well, posting an 87.0 quarterback rating, but their passing offense still ranks just 24th in the league. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie will have to stop Jags receiver Cecil Shorts, who leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns and is a big-play threat.

The Jets are the fourth-worst in the league in stopping the run, but luckily for them, the Jags have the league's worst rushing offense, thanks in large part to being without star running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who will miss his seventh consecutive game.

This game might not be great to watch, but it will be worth watching to see how Sanchez responds and how the Jacksonville crowd clamors for Tebow.

STATS
Passing
Jets: Sanchez -- 2,436 yards, 12 TDs, 13 INTs
Jags: Gabbert -- 1,662 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs

Rushing
Jets: Greene -- 210 carries for 806 yards, 5 TDs
Jags: Jones-Drew -- 86 carries for 414 yards, 1 TD

Receiving
Jets: Kerley -- 48 catches for 701 yards, 2 TDs
Jags: Shorts -- 43 catches for 824 yards, 7 TDs

Defense
Jets: Harris -- 91 tackles
Jags: Allen -- 102 tackles

Jets: Wilkerson -- 3.0 sacks
Jags: 5 players with 2.0 sacks

JETS @ JAGUARS
When: 12/9, 1 pm
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
TV: CBS, Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcotts
Radio: ESPN New York 98.7
Line: Jets -3

For more on the Jets, visit Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Follow Jason Pafundi on Twitter @jasonpafundi.