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Bills/Jets: Five Questions with Gang Green Nation

The Buffalo Bills are 4-7. They're playing under the direction of an interim head coach. A year ago, the Bills were 6-5, and though they had lost four of five and were about to lose three straight and four of their last five, they were in (semi-)serious playoff contention at that point in time. Based on that fact alone, the Bills have clearly regressed from 2008 to 2009.

One clear area of progress, however, has been playing divisional games. Buffalo was swept by the AFC East in 2008, losing two games each to Miami, New England and New York and otherwise ruining a solid 7-3 out-of-conference record. To this point in the regular season, Buffalo is 2-2 in divisional games, registering victories over New York and Miami. Buffalo takes on the Jets this weekend in Toronto looking to sweep our green friends from New Jersey for the second time in three years (Buffalo swept the Jets in 2007).

Joining us this morning is John B from SB Nation's Jets blog, Gang Green Nation. His Q&A with Buffalo Rumblings starts now, and you can see his reciprocating interview here.

What's the latest on the Mark Sanchez knee situation? Will he be hampered at all on Thursday?

I don't think there really is any situation. He left the game briefly on Sunday, but he was back for the next series. Sanchez was wearing a knee brace. He's shown good mobility so maybe it will cut back on that a bit, but he really didn't seem to show any effects from the injury once he got back into the game.

Star-divide

Speaking of Sanchez, I'll get the obligatory status update on him now. Since he threw 5 INT against Buffalo, he's thrown 7 more in 5 games. He's only completing 53% of his passes, and the Jets are 2-6 in their last eight. Obviously the hype has cooled off considerably, but are you still seeing signs of a franchise quarterback?

I think so. The Jets implemented a code system before last week's game, which essentially is the coaching staff giving him guidelines for how acceptable taking a risk on a throw is in a given spot. It worked. His decision making was very good.

There have been games where he's looked like the worst quarterback in the NFL. That's to be expected of a rookie. The good is there have also been games like Miami and Jacksonville where he looked comfortable leading the team back from deficits. He's still a work in progress and needs to protect the ball better. Still, I think back to 2007. At the end of that year, I said to myself that Kellen Clemens hadn't given any indication he was the answer. I won't have the same feeling with Sanchez at the end of the year.

The Jets are obviously leaning heavily on Thomas Jones, as he's carried the ball at least 21 times in each of the team's last six games. Is he wearing down? Should the Jets be using Shonn Greene more?

He's gone over the century mark in 3 of the past 5 games so I don't think he's slowing down. His numbers look pretty good, but it's even more impressive when you consider having a mistake prone rookie quarterback has meant a lot of loaded fronts. Greene has fumbled twice in the past four games so I think Jones will continue to carry a heavy load.

What's your read on just how much the Jets have missed Kris Jenkins? Statistically, the Jets don't appear tangibly worse defending the run.

There are a few factors at play. The Jets have used more four man fronts. Also, his replacement in the starting lineup, Sione Pouha, has done a good job holding the point of attack. They miss Jenkins a lot, though. He's a disruptive force on the defensive line. Opponents always have to worry about him in their blocking schemes. Pouha can tie up blockers. Jenkins consistently beats them and makes plays in the backfield.

Bills fans may not be aware of the situation at safety with Kerry Rhodes and Eric Smith. Mind sharing the Cliff's Notes version of Rhodes' benching and where the team moves from his 2-INT performance against Carolina?

Long story short on Kerry Rhodes: Unheralded fourth round pick from Louisville in 2005. Impressed the coaches enough to start all 16 as a rookie. Broke out in 2006 and 2007 playing at a Pro Bowl level. Got a big contract before 2008. Stopped making impact plays immediately after, although he started talking himself up to the media a lot more. Got burned on a decisive play in a loss to Jacksonville and looked miserable in coverage at New England and shied away from contact in run support. Got benched for Carolina game and had a pair of interceptions.

He won't start this week. The guy who replaced him against the Panthers, Eric Smith, led the team in tackles in that game so Rex Ryan has said he's sticking with Smith. Rex said that Rhodes has earned himself more playing time for the game in Toronto than he had last week, though.

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Well Brian I don’t think this has been you’re most talkative interviewe (sp?)
I hope we stomp the Jets though, beating Miami/NY/NE always makes me feel better about this team, even if they don’t make the playoffs.

I was born in Buffalo, and NO, it's not a suburb of New York City

by Ghetts on Dec 2, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions  

(sp?)

I think just one more e at the end for interviewee.

Good Luck With Your Firings Mr. Wilson….Go Bills!

by killascript on Dec 2, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions  

no, he was correct. it would be intervisheep if brian had spoken to a female. As it was a male, interviewe was correct.

by quantumuprising on Dec 2, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions  

interviewe is not a word…

Good Luck With Your Firings Mr. Wilson….Go Bills!

by killascript on Dec 3, 2009 8:38 AM EST up reply actions  

Joke did not land with you. :)

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Dec 3, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions  

guess not….

Good Luck With Your Firings Mr. Wilson….Go Bills!

by killascript on Dec 3, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Ewe. Female sheep. quantumuprising just mixed up his male/female in the joke, which might be why you missed it

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Dec 3, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions  

aaahhh the ewe, a common crossword answer if I ever see one

Good Luck With Your Firings Mr. Wilson….Go Bills!

by killascript on Dec 4, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions  

I hope Fewell puts in Byrd alot

Sanchez will have alot to think about

…but we do need the run support so im not sure what he will do

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Dec 2, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions  

Unfortunately, I still think Mark Sanchez probably has a bright future. One thing to remember about his recent struggles is that he was only a one year starter at USC and even with the great pedigree of Pete Carroll, that system and USC QBs, Sanchez will take a little longer to adjust to the NFL and make smart decisions than a more experienced QB.

Thomas Jones is in the 2nd last year of his contract and will make a pretty hefty 6 mil next year. I don’t think the Jets should care that he turns 32 in August because at his age, his career is almost over anyways and he can’t possibly be in the Jets plans (at least not in any type of substantial role) past next season. With Washington and Greene both young and under contract for awhile, the Jets might as well run Jones until his body finally gives up on him.

Personally, I think a lot of Rhodes’ problems this year come from not being a great fit for that rover position. He’s not Ed Reed and stylistically, they aren’t at all similiar as players. I don’t think Rhodes is a true FS and I think the Jets have tried to use him as one too often.

I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute

by kaisertown on Dec 2, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions  

i’m still not sold on mark sanchez – i hate how hyped scouts get on players from dominant schools who don’t have a pedigree or history. The dude had one year at USC with the best offensive line in the country and some of the best receivers…its hard NOT to flourish. The only reason he hasn’t completely imploded is probably because the team surrounding him is decent. Think of a guy like jamarcus russell – dude had ONE good game in college (sugar? bowl against ND)…before that no one knew who he was. Sanchez is the same way.

by quantumuprising on Dec 2, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Russell?

C’mon, no way is Sanchez close to that bad.

-"...Dude, Marshawn, does Tom Brady get hyphy?"
-"What!!?"

by KGun on Dec 2, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions  

compare the first season they’ve started….russells stats are objectively better

by quantumuprising on Dec 3, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions  

JaMarcus Russel could have sat that Sugar Bowl out and been the first or second QB drafted and maybe would have gone first overall. The guy is huge and his arm strength is even bigger than he is and he had terrific stats in college. And the Oakland Raiders drafted him, so lets not pretend that he tricked the entire world into thinking he was some can’t miss prospect.

And USC isn’t doing so hot this year without Sanchez. They’re in a three way tie for fourth place in the Pac-10. And understand the reasons that USC has the best WRs and OL in the country are the same reasons that USC always has one of the best QBs in the country. They recruit the very best high school players, have a handful of guys who could start for almost any college team in the country competing for the starting spot (Matt Cassel?) and have a great staff of guys who implement a pro system and prepare these kids for the next level. It doesn’t make any sense to say that they have the best OL in the country, great weapons, but the QB is just a result of that. Carson Palmer is doing just fine.

I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute

by kaisertown on Dec 3, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions  

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