CBS team on the NFL TODAY looks at the match-up between the Jets and Patroits. Rex Ryan taking pressure off his team by dealing with media
PHIL SIMMS
(On Jets, 2-0 start, 0-2 last two games – are they a completely different team?): No, the signs were there that, maybe I didn’t pay enough attention to, trouble was lurking. The inconsistencies of moving the football, the lack of a sustained pass rush – those are two areas that teams have a hard time overcoming.
(On Jets’ Offensive Line troubles): In the NFL, when there is a weakness in your offensive line, it doesn’t hurt your offense, it hurts your whole football team. It hurts your quarterback, the receivers, the running backs, the situations your defense plays in. Right now, the Jets have a few obstacles to overcome.
(On Mark Sanchez and Jets’ lack of a running game): When your offensive line is in trouble, your quarterback is going to be directly affected by how many times he gets hit, and that shows in his performance. Look at what he did against the Baltimore Ravens. If you go back and dissect that game, there were probably nine throw-aways, minimum, and at least six throws he had no idea where he was throwing because he was getting hit upside the head at the same time. I’m not exonerating him from everything, but you surely can’t judge what he’s doing based on what he was presented against the Baltimore Ravens.
(On Rex Ryan taking pressure off his team by dealing with media): I don’t know if he can take the pressure off his team this week. Everything has changed. He’s in a scenario now that he has never been in since he’s been a head coach. It will be interesting to see how they approach the game and what their overall philosophy will be for this game. How is Rex going to manage it? Do they still think they’re going to open up the offense and be a throwing team? Or are they going to go back – it’s hard to switch in mid-season? It can’t be cured in one week. They just have to get the ship going in the right direction this week.
(On Patriots’ defense): You need to see a body of work before you can say they’ve turned the tide and have a chance now. There are signs every game where you say if they can do that more often they could really start to be something special. But there has not been prolonged success almost in any area to think the Patriots’ defense has turned the tide yet.
Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 (subject to change).
WEEK 5 – October 9 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Tennessee @ Pittsburgh Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
·Oakland @ Houston Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
·Kansas City @ Indianapolis Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·Cincinnati @ Jacksonville Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg
4:15 PM, ET starts:
·N.Y. Jets @ New England Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·San Diego @ Denver Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
WEEK 6 – Oct. 16
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Buffalo @ N.Y. Giants Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Indianapolis @ Cincinnati Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
4:00 PM, ET starts:
·Cleveland @ Oakland Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
·Houston @ Baltimore Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
WEEK 7 – Oct. 23
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Denver @ Miami Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen
·San Diego @ N.Y. Jets Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Houston @ Tennessee Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
4:00 PM, ET starts:
·Pittsburgh @ Arizona Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
·Kansas City @ Oakland Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
(source; CBS)
