October 29, 2024 • 11 mins
Dan Leberfeld of Jets Confidential joins The A-Team to preview Texans-Jets on Thursday Night Football. He talks about why the Jets have struggled to win games for much of the season. He also talks about a part of the Jets defense that could be exposed by the Texans on Thursday. If the Texans win, might they be able to possible acquire a Jets player who could fit a huge need?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we are wont to do, especially just before a game,
which is a lot earlier in the week. This week,
we'd like to go behind enemy lines as Adam Wexler
over there, Adam Clanton right here, and Dan Leberfield on
the or lever Feld excuse me on the phone lines
right now if Jets confidential, So get you ready for
a little conversation about this week's opponent. Dan, This is
(00:21):
a very odd matchup because I would I think I
would be safe in arguing that a lot of NFL
fans will look at these two teams and say that
their records are deceptive for very different reasons.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Would you agree, Yeah? I tweeted today that these two
teams the rosters are about the same in terms of
roster strength, and the difference is that Texans have won
a lot of close games this year and the Jets
have lost a lot of close games this year. And
it just shows you the margin of victory can be
(00:55):
so narrow in the NFL. The Jets just lost another
heartbreaker they did to Denver and several other games this
year in the Minnesota Viking game as well. So once again,
maybe you make your own luck and maybe Demiko Rans
is doing a better job coaching his team than the
two Jets coaches have. But the bottom line is the
(01:16):
Jets should be a lot better than two and six.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
There's probably no maybe there. I think everybody would agree,
but I actually would say the difference is how they
follow their leader and how their leader performs. I don't
think it's a fluke that the Texans are running through
their second consecutive season of dominating one score games, and
the Jets and their offense and their quarterback are struggling
through his first season, first healthy season of winning one
(01:40):
score games. And this is after a week where their
offense put them in front in the fourth quarter, only
to see their defense unable to stop Jacoby Brissett. How
does the team feel good about going into a game
when they were unable to stop Jacoby Brissett.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well, because one of the issues is that their defense
is not very good, and the hype about their defense
in the offseason was very misguided. They didn't stop the
run last year and they haven't stopped the run this year,
so I never really got the hype about their defense
in the offseason. The narrative you heard, the talking point
(02:14):
you offered, heard about the Jets was You know, they
had a really good defense last year. If they could
just get going on offense and Aaron Rodgers could take
their offense to the next level, they'll be a really
good team. No, their defense was not that good last year. Yeah,
the secondary was good with Sauce Gardner and DJ Reid
in company last season, but their run defense wasn't good
last year. And you know, Aaron Rodgers is at the
(02:36):
point of his career where he's still a good quarterback,
but he's not an elite quarterback. So in the past
with Green Bay, when he was in his heyday, if
they had issues at other positions or their defense was
struggling or special teams, he could lift the whole team
to a win. He can't do that anymore. He needs
a supporting cast. He needs a good run defense, because
(02:58):
I'm telling you right now, nothing to momoralizes team more
than playing bad run defense week in week out. So
I think you can win an Aaron Rodgers, but you
can't expect him to put the team on his back anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I'm just curious. You know, clearly they haven't turned other
teams over very much. They're near the bottom the league
and takeaways they only have two interceptions, but they don't
give up a lot of yards. They don't give up
a lot of yards per play, they sack the quarterback.
Why isn't their defense well, why don't you consider them
good or why do you just flat out say they
aren't good when most of the metrics and even in
(03:29):
the game. It's one of the reasons they're in all
these games because their offense stinks.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, that's true, but their run defense, I mean, in
the second half against Pittsburgh. Here's the thing with Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh was starting three backup offensive linemen and they still
dominated the Jets on the ground. I don't know exactly
how all those metrics details work, and analytics, I don't
(03:55):
know much about that stuff. But all I know is that, like,
for instance, that Land drive against New England when New
England took the lead and won the game, they will
run on and they don't see. One of the problems is,
and Stroud can take advantage of this if he's inclined
to run this week, is that they run past the
(04:16):
quarterback all the time, which is a cardinal sin. When
you're playing defense on the NFL level, you can't be
running past the quarterback and Drake May before he got
concussed in that game, he could have gone over one
hundred yards rushing because how many times they ran past him.
So they don't play discipline defense, they don't stay in
their gaps, and it's leading to problems. Now, Like I said,
(04:40):
the past defense is not bad. So maybe that has
something to do with some of the numbers you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, as you're preparing for a game and you're the
Texans and you just lost Stefan Diggs for the season
and you still are one week or one game, I
guess I should say away from getting Nico Collins back me,
hearing you talk about the run defense of the Jets
being porous is music to Joe Mixon's ears and probably
music to c. J. Stroud and Demiko Ryans. This guy,
(05:06):
how much does that concern you with what you're talking about?
Because he is a He's not only you know, big,
but he's just a physical, punishing running back and he
has proven the ability to literally carry the Texans at
times this season.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, and the Texans have a good line. I know,
sometimes on the road it's not as good as at home,
and sometimes they have issues with stunts and twists up Trump,
but the Jets don't do a lot of that. So
when you look at the Jets run defense, one of
the problems is, aside from gap integrity, is some of
the positions upfront are too small. Now, will McDonald, the
second year defensive end out of Iowa State, is a
(05:44):
good pass rusher, but he's about two hundred and forty
pounds and you talk about those massive tackles for the Texans,
I don't know how he's going to get off blocks.
And now they at Hassan Riddick who's two hundred and
forty pounds. So one of the issues is the ends
are too small. And then you look at inside. Quinn
Williams a very good player, but there are certain games
(06:04):
when he's matched up against big interior lineman where he
gets belt growth to block. So yeah, you would think
the potentially could be a big week for Joe Mixon.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Uh DJ Reid, Morgan Moses, a couple of the players
with the Jets were as positive as one could be
about the future, Reid saying I think they could run
the table and Moses saying, we have so much football left.
The season's far from over. I tend to agree with them. However,
a seventh loss actually does make me think otherwise. And
it's gonna come at some point if it comes on Thursday.
(06:35):
Are the Jets listening to teams when they call them
and ask them about their talented roster that has two
wins in nine games.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, you know, I was thinking about that a little
bit today. As far as players that if they lose
this game could be available. You wonder a little bit
about Tyron Smith, the left tackle, who you guys know
a lot about in Texas, you know, with his long
run with the Dallas Cowbach. A lot of teams Minnesota
Vikings need a left tackle, and the Jets have Olu
fashion Movie they picked in the first round of the
(07:06):
twenty twenty four NFL Draft out of Penn State, is
a very good left tackle prospect, So you know, you
have to wonder about that and some of their other players.
Obviously one of their receivers. You wonder if the Texans
would call, you know about Mike Williams now that Devonte
Adams is with the Jets. Yeah, I think you make
a good point. If they lose this game and drop
(07:27):
the two and seven, they definitely could be Sellers.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I mean, seriously, Dan, eight minutes in, we've barely asked
you about Aaron Rodgers. I mean, what's the Aaron Rodgers
experience been like for you this year? And everybody covering
the Jets and inside the building.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's definitely different. I know the Jets beat was criticized
by Pro Football Talk for not asking tough questions of him,
and I could see that a little bit he is.
I'm not saying I'm intimidated, not at all, but I
think some people might be intimidating him in press conerence,
and he's got that kind of aura to him as
(08:01):
far as you know, if you're ask him something tough,
it's not going to go well. So maybe the questions
could be tougher. But you know, when you look at
the overall experience, I don't think he's playing as bad
as some people would lead you to believe. I'm sure you, guys,
because it was a national game, saw the little bit
of the texts of the Jets Steelers game. I mean,
(08:22):
they get out to a fifteen to sixth lead. He
throws a bad tick late in the first half, granted,
but that passed to Garrett Wilson. Now on the sidewy
that bounced off his chest and the cornerback for the Texans,
it always goes by Beanie. I'm forgetting his last day
right now. But Beanie intercepts it and runs it back
to the one that wasn't Aaron Rodgers' fault. Aaron Rodgers,
(08:45):
like I said, he's not the same player as was
ten years ago. But covering the Jets throw as long
as I have, he's making throws. He's making plays at
the quarterback position that I have not seen around here
in a long time. I'm not saying he's perfect, and
he's not who he used to be, but he's still
making some really good plays. So if they get their
act together, look at the special teams like one of
(09:06):
the you know we're talking before about Texans being six
and two and the Jets being two and six. How
much does the field goal kicking have the factor to
that when you think about it, how great Fairburn has
been and how much the Jets kicker has struggled.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, Jets only brought in one, two, three, four, five
six kickers today to work out to see if maybe
one of them can unseat Greg Zerline for the game
on Thursday night, last thing on the offense for me
quickly before we hit our break. Should they be scoring more?
Are they underachieving? As Aaron indicated after their last loss.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Oh, there's no question they're underachieving. And one of the
problems is whatever you think in Nathaniel Hacket's offensive coordinator,
he and Aaron Rodgers obviously have that long relationship. To
demote Nathaniel Hackett and promote taut Todd Downing defensive coordinator,
who was essentially the quarterback co you're basically promoting a
(10:01):
guy to run Nathaniel Hackett's offense. Todd Downey used to
be the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, so you
guys saw his offense a few times. Why would you
have someone else run someone else's playbook? This wasn't Todd
Downing's playbook from Tennessee. So I'm not saying Nathaniel Hackett
is Bill Walsh. But who would you rather have running
(10:22):
Nathaniel Hackett's playbook, Nathaniel Hackett or Todd Downing. So I
think the last couple of weeks, I have never seen
this one before, or two things I've never seen. First
of all, calling a timeout on the first drive of
the game that scripted, that happened last week. Another thing,
I've never seen Burnie three timeouts in the first quarter
because you weren't lined up properly. So I ask you, guys,
(10:44):
who would they be better off calling the plays with
Nathaniel Hackett or Todd Downing.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Yeah, it definitely sounds like a very easy answer, almost rhetorical.
I'm going to say Nathaniel Hackett as I thank you
for your time just confidential. The publisher, that's Dan Leverfeld.
We appreciate your time, looking forward to the game on
Thursday night, and I appreciate you taking the time with
us anytime.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Guys, enjoy the game.
As we are wont to do, especially just before a game,
which is a lot earlier in the week. This week,
we'd like to go behind enemy lines as Adam Wexler
over there, Adam Clanton right here, and Dan Leberfield on
the or lever Feld excuse me on the phone lines
right now if Jets confidential, So get you ready for
a little conversation about this week's opponent. Dan, This is
(00:21):
a very odd matchup because I would I think I
would be safe in arguing that a lot of NFL
fans will look at these two teams and say that
their records are deceptive for very different reasons.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Would you agree, Yeah? I tweeted today that these two
teams the rosters are about the same in terms of
roster strength, and the difference is that Texans have won
a lot of close games this year and the Jets
have lost a lot of close games this year. And
it just shows you the margin of victory can be
(00:55):
so narrow in the NFL. The Jets just lost another
heartbreaker they did to Denver and several other games this
year in the Minnesota Viking game as well. So once again,
maybe you make your own luck and maybe Demiko Rans
is doing a better job coaching his team than the
two Jets coaches have. But the bottom line is the
(01:16):
Jets should be a lot better than two and six.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
There's probably no maybe there. I think everybody would agree,
but I actually would say the difference is how they
follow their leader and how their leader performs. I don't
think it's a fluke that the Texans are running through
their second consecutive season of dominating one score games, and
the Jets and their offense and their quarterback are struggling
through his first season, first healthy season of winning one
(01:40):
score games. And this is after a week where their
offense put them in front in the fourth quarter, only
to see their defense unable to stop Jacoby Brissett. How
does the team feel good about going into a game
when they were unable to stop Jacoby Brissett.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well, because one of the issues is that their defense
is not very good, and the hype about their defense
in the offseason was very misguided. They didn't stop the
run last year and they haven't stopped the run this year,
so I never really got the hype about their defense
in the offseason. The narrative you heard, the talking point
(02:14):
you offered, heard about the Jets was You know, they
had a really good defense last year. If they could
just get going on offense and Aaron Rodgers could take
their offense to the next level, they'll be a really
good team. No, their defense was not that good last year. Yeah,
the secondary was good with Sauce Gardner and DJ Reid
in company last season, but their run defense wasn't good
last year. And you know, Aaron Rodgers is at the
(02:36):
point of his career where he's still a good quarterback,
but he's not an elite quarterback. So in the past
with Green Bay, when he was in his heyday, if
they had issues at other positions or their defense was
struggling or special teams, he could lift the whole team
to a win. He can't do that anymore. He needs
a supporting cast. He needs a good run defense, because
(02:58):
I'm telling you right now, nothing to momoralizes team more
than playing bad run defense week in week out. So
I think you can win an Aaron Rodgers, but you
can't expect him to put the team on his back anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I'm just curious. You know, clearly they haven't turned other
teams over very much. They're near the bottom the league
and takeaways they only have two interceptions, but they don't
give up a lot of yards. They don't give up
a lot of yards per play, they sack the quarterback.
Why isn't their defense well, why don't you consider them
good or why do you just flat out say they
aren't good when most of the metrics and even in
(03:29):
the game. It's one of the reasons they're in all
these games because their offense stinks.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, that's true, but their run defense, I mean, in
the second half against Pittsburgh. Here's the thing with Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh was starting three backup offensive linemen and they still
dominated the Jets on the ground. I don't know exactly
how all those metrics details work, and analytics, I don't
(03:55):
know much about that stuff. But all I know is that, like,
for instance, that Land drive against New England when New
England took the lead and won the game, they will
run on and they don't see. One of the problems is,
and Stroud can take advantage of this if he's inclined
to run this week, is that they run past the
(04:16):
quarterback all the time, which is a cardinal sin. When
you're playing defense on the NFL level, you can't be
running past the quarterback and Drake May before he got
concussed in that game, he could have gone over one
hundred yards rushing because how many times they ran past him.
So they don't play discipline defense, they don't stay in
their gaps, and it's leading to problems. Now, Like I said,
(04:40):
the past defense is not bad. So maybe that has
something to do with some of the numbers you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, as you're preparing for a game and you're the
Texans and you just lost Stefan Diggs for the season
and you still are one week or one game, I
guess I should say away from getting Nico Collins back me,
hearing you talk about the run defense of the Jets
being porous is music to Joe Mixon's ears and probably
music to c. J. Stroud and Demiko Ryans. This guy,
(05:06):
how much does that concern you with what you're talking about?
Because he is a He's not only you know, big,
but he's just a physical, punishing running back and he
has proven the ability to literally carry the Texans at
times this season.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, and the Texans have a good line. I know,
sometimes on the road it's not as good as at home,
and sometimes they have issues with stunts and twists up Trump,
but the Jets don't do a lot of that. So
when you look at the Jets run defense, one of
the problems is, aside from gap integrity, is some of
the positions upfront are too small. Now, will McDonald, the
second year defensive end out of Iowa State, is a
(05:44):
good pass rusher, but he's about two hundred and forty
pounds and you talk about those massive tackles for the Texans,
I don't know how he's going to get off blocks.
And now they at Hassan Riddick who's two hundred and
forty pounds. So one of the issues is the ends
are too small. And then you look at inside. Quinn
Williams a very good player, but there are certain games
(06:04):
when he's matched up against big interior lineman where he
gets belt growth to block. So yeah, you would think
the potentially could be a big week for Joe Mixon.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Uh DJ Reid, Morgan Moses, a couple of the players
with the Jets were as positive as one could be
about the future, Reid saying I think they could run
the table and Moses saying, we have so much football left.
The season's far from over. I tend to agree with them. However,
a seventh loss actually does make me think otherwise. And
it's gonna come at some point if it comes on Thursday.
(06:35):
Are the Jets listening to teams when they call them
and ask them about their talented roster that has two
wins in nine games.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, you know, I was thinking about that a little
bit today. As far as players that if they lose
this game could be available. You wonder a little bit
about Tyron Smith, the left tackle, who you guys know
a lot about in Texas, you know, with his long
run with the Dallas Cowbach. A lot of teams Minnesota
Vikings need a left tackle, and the Jets have Olu
fashion Movie they picked in the first round of the
(07:06):
twenty twenty four NFL Draft out of Penn State, is
a very good left tackle prospect, So you know, you
have to wonder about that and some of their other players.
Obviously one of their receivers. You wonder if the Texans
would call, you know about Mike Williams now that Devonte
Adams is with the Jets. Yeah, I think you make
a good point. If they lose this game and drop
(07:27):
the two and seven, they definitely could be Sellers.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I mean, seriously, Dan, eight minutes in, we've barely asked
you about Aaron Rodgers. I mean, what's the Aaron Rodgers
experience been like for you this year? And everybody covering
the Jets and inside the building.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's definitely different. I know the Jets beat was criticized
by Pro Football Talk for not asking tough questions of him,
and I could see that a little bit he is.
I'm not saying I'm intimidated, not at all, but I
think some people might be intimidating him in press conerence,
and he's got that kind of aura to him as
(08:01):
far as you know, if you're ask him something tough,
it's not going to go well. So maybe the questions
could be tougher. But you know, when you look at
the overall experience, I don't think he's playing as bad
as some people would lead you to believe. I'm sure you, guys,
because it was a national game, saw the little bit
of the texts of the Jets Steelers game. I mean,
(08:22):
they get out to a fifteen to sixth lead. He
throws a bad tick late in the first half, granted,
but that passed to Garrett Wilson. Now on the sidewy
that bounced off his chest and the cornerback for the Texans,
it always goes by Beanie. I'm forgetting his last day
right now. But Beanie intercepts it and runs it back
to the one that wasn't Aaron Rodgers' fault. Aaron Rodgers,
(08:45):
like I said, he's not the same player as was
ten years ago. But covering the Jets throw as long
as I have, he's making throws. He's making plays at
the quarterback position that I have not seen around here
in a long time. I'm not saying he's perfect, and
he's not who he used to be, but he's still
making some really good plays. So if they get their
act together, look at the special teams like one of
(09:06):
the you know we're talking before about Texans being six
and two and the Jets being two and six. How
much does the field goal kicking have the factor to
that when you think about it, how great Fairburn has
been and how much the Jets kicker has struggled.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, Jets only brought in one, two, three, four, five
six kickers today to work out to see if maybe
one of them can unseat Greg Zerline for the game
on Thursday night, last thing on the offense for me
quickly before we hit our break. Should they be scoring more?
Are they underachieving? As Aaron indicated after their last loss.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Oh, there's no question they're underachieving. And one of the
problems is whatever you think in Nathaniel Hacket's offensive coordinator,
he and Aaron Rodgers obviously have that long relationship. To
demote Nathaniel Hackett and promote taut Todd Downing defensive coordinator,
who was essentially the quarterback co you're basically promoting a
(10:01):
guy to run Nathaniel Hackett's offense. Todd Downey used to
be the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, so you
guys saw his offense a few times. Why would you
have someone else run someone else's playbook? This wasn't Todd
Downing's playbook from Tennessee. So I'm not saying Nathaniel Hackett
is Bill Walsh. But who would you rather have running
(10:22):
Nathaniel Hackett's playbook, Nathaniel Hackett or Todd Downing. So I
think the last couple of weeks, I have never seen
this one before, or two things I've never seen. First
of all, calling a timeout on the first drive of
the game that scripted, that happened last week. Another thing,
I've never seen Burnie three timeouts in the first quarter
because you weren't lined up properly. So I ask you, guys,
(10:44):
who would they be better off calling the plays with
Nathaniel Hackett or Todd Downing.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Yeah, it definitely sounds like a very easy answer, almost rhetorical.
I'm going to say Nathaniel Hackett as I thank you
for your time just confidential. The publisher, that's Dan Leverfeld.
We appreciate your time, looking forward to the game on
Thursday night, and I appreciate you taking the time with
us anytime.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Guys, enjoy the game.
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