The Chad Pennington Podcast

team did what a losing team normally does. And that's what happened in this game. The winning team being the Jets, and having trying to make a playoff push, did what winners were supposed to do, and that's make plays that were there, take advantage of opportunities, not allow a team that is struggling to stay in the game. And the Jets were able to do that with zero halftime leave That was really important. I was impressed with the efficiency.

First of all, the Jets offense only three punts and all of them those came I believe in the second half. I'm not so sure that they even had a three and ount um if they did it was in the drive that didn't matter. They even when they didn't score point, uh, they were moving the football effectively and they had a nice combination of the run in the past, the flash and game came in big time for them as an offense. Defensively, they were a solid uh four sacks. Wilkerson with three sacks,

did a lot of really good things coverage wise. So I think we are seeing a team in the last three weeks UM that is really coming together and starting to put together complete games, and they're hitting their stride, which is extremely important in these last three weeks of trying to make them playoff run in your mind, chat, was that the most complete thirty minutes of football the

Jets have played this year? It was complete. As far as the result, there were certainly a couple of plays that need to be corrected, uh in the defensive side where the Titans just flat out did not make the play. They dropped the ball and didn't make the play, and so that needs to be corrected. But as far as the result and what you're trying to get accomplished in

a half football, no question about it. Howard Couraged, are you by the run game and what the Jets were able to do and put up nearly two hundred yards against a tough Titans front, and Chris Ivory reaches a hundred yards for the third time the season, and now he's closing in on a thousand yards well the first time. Impressed by the effort all three running backs are giving

in the running game. You watch all three of these guys, they run similar I think that is because of the way Chris Ivory runs the football in the example that he sets running the football. All three of these running backs Ivory pal and really they run in a similar fashion meme. They run um, not recklessly, but passionately. They run with a purpose. They're not running just to get tackled or to go out of bounds or fighting for

that extra yard. That's important in your running game as you move through the season because defenders start to wear down and that physicality of your running game becomes a

tone center. And so I thought that the Jets offensive line did a really good job of taking care of the eighth element when the Titans were trying to defend the run, and they were still creating holes even when they were outnumbered and giving the running back some daylight and not allowing quick penetration early in the run played where the running backs get started and they weren't having to make their first cut or their first move until

they penetrated the line of scrimp. Can you imagine it before? Were the game when we're in the coaches club that you wanted to see the special teams step up? And I thought they really did, especially early. The Jets kept on scoring, but their kickoff coverage was a lot better. I thought they had improved in that area on Sunday.

I agree there weren't any true explosive plays, but there weren't any major negative plays either, and there weren't any game changing place from a negative side with kick coverage and and mistakes and mental air. So that's certainly an improvement something that they can expand upon and build upon for these next three weeks. What do you think about the way Bulls and Casey Rodgers continue to attack on

third down? Because Tomorio Davis told me, uh this this week that, A, you know, these guys have a tremendous package, and they really opened things up on third down showing different looks, and the Green and White continue to get off the field right now. Well, First of all, they're doing a good job. They're solid in first and second down production to create the third down situations that they want,

so they can use their schemes to their advantage. When you're behind the change as a defense, it's it's difficult to implement those schemes because you're on your heels and you're just trying to stop the bleeding. And so they're able to eliminate the first and second down production and now be ahead of the game and ahead of the sticks from a defensive standpoint to be able to implement

some of these schemes. The one thing that I saw that they've started to implement and do uh An add to their package is their matchup zone where it's similar to the game of basketball where you're playing zone, but you're matching up and when the offender comes into your area, now you have him man and that that makes it difficult because that's a mixture of zone and man, and when you have those things oiled up, it can be very effective for defense. Gives you another tool in your

toolbox to use. So not only are they using zone, not only are they using straight man. Now they're using matchup zones, which gives them a lot of different tools and weapons to use in their coverage schemes. And you think the Jets are creating matchups up front, one on one matchups that they've been able to exploit. You mentioned the sack totals they had five and all against the Titans, and Mariota is an elusive quarterback and we can get

out of the pocket. But the Jets did their job is staying in their rush lanes and none they got to the quarterback. Well on what they're doing a really good job of their testing the rules of past protections of these teams. Every offensive scheme and every team they have specific rules to pass protect and protect the quarterback with.

And you have rules that are running back has, you have rules that tight ends have and that the five offensive linemen have, and all those rules work hand in hand, and everybody has to understand the rules and who has what gap, who's responsible for what defender, who's responsible for gap, and certain things happen. We have to make an adjustment on the fly based upon our rules and what um the defense is doing in the scheme that they're using.

As the Jets defenses are using, they're testing those rules and they're creating hesitancy in an offensive line. They're creating um lack of aggression with the quarterback and trying to and they're just creating a lot of communication problems. And so that's that's really important because sometimes it's not about whether or not you can get a guy free on

the quarterback. It's just testing those rules to create an edge and be able to get one of your best one on one players in a position to win his one on one matchup. And then conversely on the other side of the ball. I know you have to be enjoying the way Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jan Gaily continue to be in sync because this offense is operating with high efficiency so far, and they continue to get better the

last couple of weeks. You look get fits now over the past three games, the Jets three game winning streak here the first of the Top Bowls ERA nine touchdowns, zero interceptions. Well, that's the word um efficiency and Van Hitting used to always talk to us as quarterbacks about being effective, efficient, and consistent, and that's what Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing right now. He's being effective in the passing game,

meaning executing the place correctly. He's being efficient in the passing game meaning that when the big play or the big completion is not there, he's finding his check down, finding his secondary routes. And because of those two things, he's now being consistent in the passing game, and it's something that the team can rely on that they're not just using the passing game to get a big chunk of yards. They're using the passing game as an extension

of the running game. I think what has happened to now that the running game is picking back up. You saw the evidence in play action from the gun from underneath and being able to draw up the linebackers and creating space between the linebackers and the secondary. With the play action game which has allowed Decker and Marshall to uh do some really good things downfield. Fitz doesn't really

seem to ever get rattled. And you gotta like that as a former quarterback, the way you approach the game yourself and just thinking about Gaily and him in the red zone. You know that first touchdown the other day, Brandon Marshall, he was on the sideline and what fits did their play action to Chris Ivory, like you mentioned, that was out of the gun, A little play action he freezes a safety just long enough where Eric Decker has well one on one matchup games inside leverage and

Fitz makes it look easy. But it's all the little things that Jets are doing right now. And he even picked up a block from Ivory after the play action well right, And it takes everybody to execute a play in another's a cliche, but it's truly does the difference between the offensive football and defensive football. And defense sometimes you can have a mistake and somebody makes a great

tackle or makes up for it. Normally, in an offense, if everybody's not clicking on the same page and making them right the season at the same time, disaster happens and you have a lack of production. And so you're getting more consistency with everybody across the offensive side doing

their job and doing it effectively. And and you know, the touchdown, the first touchdown to Decker was a great example of that, with the past protection, the play action fake, the freeze of the safety to keep him from moving to the right side of the field to allow a Decker to run his post route. Uh, there's some really good what I call high level football. There was some high level football going on with that play. As well

as with the Jets in general. When it comes to offense, the Decker and Marshall, are you surprised by this kind of production? You play with Brandon, you knew he was a terrific receiver, but these guys have never played gather with this quarterback before, and they've combined for twenty touchdowns. Ducker is on pace to reach a thousand yards as well. The twenty touchdowns ties a franchise season high for two receivers. Well, when you look at their individual capabilities, I'm not surprised

at their production. I'm surprised that it's been able to come, like you said, so quickly, knowing that, uh, their teammates for the first time together. Uh, they have a quarterback that they're working for the first time that doesn't happen, and so that that is a tribute to them as receivers as well as Ryan as a Venter quarterback. And the work that they're putting in, the communication and the talks that they're having trying to learn each other and

to get better. I think that's been most impressive. When you look at the passage, what do you think about this ballgame coming up? You've got a short week. Dallas has struggled mightily this year. Four and nine, I think they still might mathematically be alive, but there are even two games behind in the NFC East. They are just one in five at home so far this season. And the number that stands out to me about the Cowboys right now last in the NFL in turnover margin. They've

had only I believe eight takeaways this season. Well, this is a what we would call a wounded animal so to speak. That, um, you certainly don't want to breathe life into uh. And right there is your number one point to this game, Eric is the turnover ratio and the ability of being able to cause turnovers you do not want to get. This is a complete turnover game

for the Jets. They've got to make sure that they do not breathe life into the Cowboys by having turnovers and and being able to give the Cowboys a short field momentum, a spark. You have to to try to see if Matt Castle can prove to you that he can beat you straight up with no easy ones and no help. And if they do that, I think the Jets will will win this game. If if they make Matt Castle and the Cowboys play as solid four quarters without any help from either side. Are you somewhat surprised

by the Cowboys lack of offense production? I know Tony Romo is elite quarterback and he's outstanding, and obviously that's a big time blow. With that being said, castles by effective at times in the National Football League. They still have some weapons there, Darren mcvadden, you think about Jason Witten, one of the better UH receiving tight ends in football. Does Brian is still an outstanding receiver in his own right.

Have you been surprised their struggles so much, how much they've struggled without Romo the lineup I have, I would think with all of the players that you have mentioned that they would shouldn't be around the six and seven range, off the four nine range when it comes to records, and so I have been surprised. Um, but you know, it's difficult and you're dealing with injuries. You you take a big time I think it shows the value that

Tony Romo brings to that team. And maybe there's a self evaluation to say, maybe we put too much on Tony Romo. Maybe maybe we you know, we I think a lot of times he gets um the short end of the stick as far as criticism, but you are seen he his true value to that organization and he means a lot to that organization. And maybe as an organization, you've got to look at and say, well, how do what do we do to give him the best chance

to even be better than what he is? Maybe we've put too much on him, because it certainly has shown itself this year with his absence. It's almost like they

can't function without him. No, and how much confidence? How much confidence do you have in this Jets team now by what they've shown you the last three games, especially the last two weeks, because you know the way the media is a lot of people who put it in the players minds that hey, potentially this might be a trap game after an emotional comeback victory over the Giants. But the Jets, I thought, really displayed the maturity last week.

So moving forward, how do you anticipate they'll come out here Saturday night as they continue to try to make a push. Well, I hope they come out energized, fired up, realizing the opportunity that they have. This game reminds me of the Monday night game into the Bigs against the Dolphins where we have to win that game as a Jet team to continue our playoff push. That's certainly one of those type of games that the Jets are in

right now. Um, they have a great momentum and energy behind them with the three game winning streak that they have created, but it will be a tough game until you have to take the mindset that Cowboys aren't going to go away. You have to put the m away as a team. You can't expect any type of breaks

going your way. You have to earn everything and you really have to play close to the vest and realizing that we cannot give them any daylight, that we cannot give them any line at the end of the tunnel as a team to create that spark to make them think that they can squeak out a win. Alright, Jets fans are in for a treat this weekend because it's Saturday night prime time. They can watch that ball game. Hopefully the Jets can secure their fourth consecutive win and

move to nine and five. Then on Sunday, a lot of Jets Nation will turn to Pittsburgh in Denver, the Steelers hosting the Denver Broncos. The Steelers of course eight and five right now, the Kansas City Chiefs eight and five as well. When you look at that ball game, what fascinates you about that matchup? Well, I think that the Steelers are like a shot and bloody water right now. Um,

with the injury to Andy Dawton. Uh, you're talking about having life to a team realizing that you actually have a chance to win a division and uh, whereas before you were just trying to hold onto your wild card plane life and now you actually have a chance to possibly steal a division, which is huge. And so I think this is a huge game for both teams. Uh, Steelers having a chance to try to win the a f C North, the Broncos trying to secure a first

round by which is huge. So this is the biggest game of the week when it comes to the a f C playoff picture. And uh, right now, to be honest, I think the Steelers have the edge, I really do. And how they're playing, uh, their offense, this is gonna

be a great match to watch. A very explosive Todd Haley orchestrated offense with Pittsburgh against a Denver defense that that's extremely stinging and so it will be a really good matchup to watch from a football same point, Yeah, and I think Jets Nation is definitely gonna be rooting for the Denver Broncos here is Sunday. Obviously, Pittsburgh's eight and five. But conversely, you just mentioned the Broncos and Cincinnati.

Both those teams have ten and three marks. They play each other in two weeks, So if Pittsburgh did beat Denver this week, that would mean the Broncos are ten and four, and then all of a sudden, the division might be in play for the Kansas City Chiefs as well.

So when everybody's trying to break down these wild cards scenarios, it's awfully difficult because there are three games remaining and some of these teams are still gonna play each other well, and that's what this year has been extremely exciting in in that element, as far as we thought we had a good vibe about what would happen at the division leaders, and with the wild card spots, it look like that the division leaders were taking care of business other than

the a f C South, which is completely up for grabs and you're only going to get one team coming out of that division. But now You're exactly right. Not only do you have your wild card spots up for grabs, you maybe possibly have two division spots up for grabs as well, which a couple of weeks ago looked like that was completely out of a question, and now it's completely in the question. Yeah, because who's gonna make the

push here? Because that Pittsburgh Dunver game is huge across the board speaking about two divisions and the wild card race, because if Pittsburgh wins, obviously maybe they can make a move on Cincinnati. Conversely, if Dunver wins that, I mean, if Dunver wins that ball game, then your talk and about you're talking about I'm looking at the standings right now. So Pittsburgh wins, they're going to nine and five. Cincinnati, Um, Cincinnati's ten and three. But let's let's move to the

FC West real quick. So if Denver wins, then Pittsburgh would drop to eight and six and the Jets could have a chance to move ahead of Pittsburgh no matter what happens, just based on record. And then you have the Broncos sitting here. If they lose Kansas City, the division comes and play for them, because Kansas City is at nine and five, Chad and Denver would be ton and four, and if they ever got a chance where they even up there, they would move past Denver because

they have a better divisional record. Yeah, here's the bottom line for the Jets. They need both division leaders um to win and they need the two hald card spot teams to lose because if the wild card spot teams continue to win and the division leaders lose, the problem with that the Jets have is that these division leaders already have ten wins and so it would get really dicey at the end. Knowing that they already have can win.

All they need is one win out the last three games to get to eleven, which really makes it difficult for the Jets. But if you have a flip flop in division leaders, those division leaders then probably become the wild card spots and the wild card spots become the division leaders. That's probably the worst scenario for the Jets.

Whereas if the division leaders stay the division leaders in Cincinnati in Denver and the wild card spots continue to lose, that bodes well for the Jets and securing that wild card position. The bottom line is, we'll see what happens and Todd Bull said, hey, I'm just rooting for our team right now, and we'll lift up We'll lift up our hide at that end of the season. But with all that being said, you know, the way this league works, funny and strange things happen. I think if the Jets

went out, they'll get in. I'm not saying I haven't gone through any scenarios and went through oh this has to happen or that has to happen, or things like that. I just think if you want out and you got to eleven, history tells you that's gonna earn your playoff berth. No question. I have witnessed where eleven and five did not get a team two and eight. There's no question about it. Um the Jets, they continue to win. They not only put put themselves in a good position, they

put pressure on the other team. And and you're you're taking your your fade into your own hands, which that's what you want. And you know, lastly here what I like is that this is a short week, so the Jets don't even have to worry about the Patriot talk to you know, right now they're getting more questions about Pittsburgh and Kansas City than they are in New England. And that's good because two weeks the Jets will face the Patriots at home. Are you ready for a couple

of questions? Absolutely? All right. Let's take our first call, Chad, Eric, how you doing. It's Erica Jets found down here in Miami. You got a question for you guys. With Devin Smith potentially out for the rest of the year, who do you see picking up the slack? Either Curly and his migraines or Kemberal Tompkins coming off to that connective list. Thank you have a great day, guys. All right, Chead, that's a good question, obviously, Uh, tough blow for the rookies.

Battled injuries throughout his first professional season, Todd Bull said it's likely that Smith will be placed on injured reserve. Who do you see stepping up now for the Jets? Well, I actually think, um the biggest factor in this is below Powell. I think he is actually becoming the third option in the passing game for the Jets, which is is unique number one because he's a run back, but number two. It really creates some mismatches and some great

opportunities for the Jets offense. It's really similar to how New England uses uses their running backs to do the same thing. From the receiver standpoint, it's just going to be by committee on who shows up, whether it be Curly or noon Law, any one of those guys that just show up and make a play or two in each game. I don't think it's gonna be just one guy. I think that third option, in that third element to the passing game really centers around below Pale and I

agree with you there. And my final point before call her number two is noon Y Miss. Four games you were suspended. Now you see him come back, and the Jets love his blocking ability and all by the way, the Jets are starting to run the football a little bit better. Let's take call number two. Hey, guys, I just wanted to ask, what is it gonna take to actually the New England Patriots whenever they come to my life? Um, you know the last games he played against them? Um,

you know I've always been close. You know, the games are always Mary and Tans and very physical. Um, I mean, but what was it gonna take to it to finally beat them? You know we play them that meant live stadium. Um, you know there's a lot of there's a lot of states for us in these Glass three games. Yeah, so the fan is asking about next week's ball game, the Jets and the Patriots, and you know it, Chad, You're anticipating a tough ball game and Dallas this week. But

so the Jets gotta get through that first. But the keys for this team to beat the Patriots. I think the key lines in the offense of the Jets versus the Patriots defense. I don't think from my standpoint, um, Tom Brady versus the Jets defense, it is what it is. There's gonna be some places that the Jets makes, They're gonna be some places that the Patriots make. I think the key is the Jets offense, uh and being a to sustained drives, not have three an ounce and really

put the pressure on the Patriots defense. That's where the game lies because you're going to have to score thirty point. That's just the way that it is. Um. The Patriots will have some key players back into the fold, which will be important for them and create some mismatches for any defense, but it will lie in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Jets offense. And I agree with you, and we'll go We're gonna get into that matchup big time next week. There'll be plenty of time for that.

The thing that stands out to me about this Patriots team is the defense is playing better than I've seen it in a long time. That's a legit unit and one of the better units in the National Football League defensively. So they're more than just Brady Gakowski, Ottoman Amadola and all those guys whoever is playing running back. This team is the complete ball team. We'll talk more about that matchup next week. And I finally got one more call.

Ye hey, this messages for Chad. I wanted to know if he was running the offense right now, what would he do differently or what does he think that Fitzpatrick is being exceptionally well? Thank you all right, Chad. I wouldn't do anything different right now. I think that they are completely dialed in as an offensive staff as well as players in what they want to get accomplished and

being able to accomplish it. I think the one thing that has stuck out in my mind with Fitzpatrick over the last couple of weeks, when he hasn't had the big playthrow, he has done a really good job of finding his his checkdowns and being able to get positive yards when the defense has actually covered Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker or his one or number two options. He has found his number three and number four options uh and very consistently, which has kept drives alive and keep

them in manageable third down situation. Has done a really good job of that. Secondly, he's been impressive and when things break down being able to extend and play with his feet get a couple of yards to get down and protect himself. And he stayed away from that disaster decision that can create momentum for the opponent. He's done a really good job in eliminating those type of decisions and played very effective, very efficient, and very consistent. Well done.

As always, you have a good weekend, partner. We'll talk to you next week and we'll preview that big Jets Patriots matchup. Hopefully the Green and White are nine and five and hey, maybe Sunday they get a little bit of help. Absolutely. Thanks Eric,