Pats Pub/Balestrieri: Memo to Jets, Don’t Fight the Last War, Fight the Next One

Great stuff from Steve Balestrieri here, and something that I’ve been wondering all off-season. If you’re in the AFC East and you’re not building a team to stop Gronkandez then WTF are you doing? Oh well, I’m not complaining. Maybe the Jets know something I don’t? 

So the Jets are bringing in big, physical safeties with limited coverage skills to combat the Patriots tight ends? They will need to upgrade their pass rush and get not good but great play from their CBs because, although this would have and did work last year, when the Patriots go to a 3 0r 4 wide look, it is going to be vastly different than last year. In the 46 defense, the SS moves to cover the 3rd WR. That leaves them vulnerable to the short pass underneath as well as no over the top help. The Jets linebackers were a poor lot in coverage last season overall and their plan has to be being physical and jamming them underneath.

Donald Strickland not getting it done