By RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, December 7th 2008, 12:08 AM SAN FRANCISCO - If the Jets pull another defensive clunker Sunday when they face the 49ers, the Romeo Crennel rumors will heat up. Crennel, likely to be fired as the Browns' coach, is a proven defensive coordinator who goes way back with Eric Mangini. They coached together with the Jets (1997-1999) and the Patriots (2001-2004), where they won three Super Bowls on Bill Belichick's staff. The Jets are ranked 19th in total defense under Bob Sutton, but they've been leaking oil the last three weeks. The last three quarterbacks they've opposed, Matt Cassel, Kerry Collins and Jay Cutler, have passed for a combined 1,000 yards. Next up: The 49ers' Shaun Hill, who is better than you might think. In seven starts, he has 11 touchdown passes, only four interceptions. The Jets need to revert to the aggressive mentality they showed earlier in the season. In recent weeks, they've emphasized pass coverage over pass rush, according to players - a bend-but-don't-break philosophy. Last week against the Broncos, they blitzed on only 12 of 43 pass plays, unofficially. Some, including outside linebacker Calvin Pace, would like to get into the attack mode. "I envision our (sack) numbers picking up," said Pace, whose production has tailed off. "It's not that we're getting blocked up. We've been covering a little bit more." Pace is their best edge rusher, but he's regarded as a do-everything linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 scheme, and one of the things he's being asked to do is cover the tight end at times. Though he wasn't second-guessing the coaches, Pace indicated that he prefers rushing over covering. The Jets generated only one sack in the last two games, although the Broncos and Titans are among the best pass-protecting teams in the league. But the downward trend started before that. End Shaun Ellis, arrested last week for possession of marijuana, has a team-high seven sacks, but he's in a four-game slump. Outside linebacker Bryan Thomas? No sacks in his last seven. There should be chances against the 49ers, who are tied for second in sacks allowed (43). Their numbers have dropped in recent weeks - Hill doesn't take as many sacks as J.T. O'Sullivan, the previous starter - but a Mike Martz offense always will leave the quarterback vulnerable. The 49ers' coordinator uses a vertical passing attack, requiring double moves by the receivers, and that means the quarterback must hold the ball for a second or two longer than usual. "We definitely need some pressure this week, just because a lot of the things they do are more down the field," Pace said. "I think this will definitely be the week for us to hopefully get back on track." Since Mike Singletary replaced Mike Nolan on Oct. 20, the 49ers have evolved into more of a balanced offense. But the Jets, mindful of their struggles against the pass, expect Martz to come out winging it. "Why not?" safety Kerry Rhodes said. "Why wouldn't they try to attack us that way?" http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...if_jets_defense_struggles_against_49ers_.html I would take him in a heartbeat.
Have to find a way to stop the quick screens and short drops. That is why the sacks are down. Is it the coaching or lack of talent at LB? Hopefully the return of Harris will make a difference. IMO the coaching has to find away to solve this problem, otherwise we are going nowhere this year. Reserve judgment till end of season on new DC.
Sutton does not know the meaning of killing the QB. That should be a quality that the next DC has. Pressure causes bad decisions.......Bad decisions lead to turn overs.....turnovers equal points. Anybody but sutton please. Even if the Jets win it all sutton should go.
The only success Crennel ever had as a DC was w/ Belichick over his shoulder. Crennel would not help us as a DC.
We were actually doing pretty well earlier in the season putting presure on the QB. The coaches have started calling for more coverage since the pass D sucked even with the pressure. The problem now is that the pass D still blows but at the expense of the pass rush. It's now up to Sutton to realize that his adjustments didn't work and go back to what we were doing earlier in the year.
More likely he'd end up back with Belichik as associate head coach or some such thing. BB isn't thrilled by the work of his current DC Pease.
After todays game, I am certainly convinced Sutton has to go, hell with waiting till the end of the year. I was surprised before the season he was still our DC...
Sutton's gone. Nothing short of us winning the Super Bowl will save him. I just hate the fact that we have to suffer through agonizing defensive displays before realizing he's crap.
