![](\"\/graphics\/Articles\/headers\/gamepreview.gif\")
\nBy Christopher Gardella<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n The once green, healthy, cathartic leaves no longer glisten in the sunlight following an afternoon shower. No, no, they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. In fact, they are beginning to show their age. The parched leaves begin to wrinkle, and they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re turning an auburn color; a clear indicator that their death is soon coming. The breeze picks up, but the leaves no longer have the strength to defend against the wind. They lose the battle and fall to their annual death. By Christopher Gardella\u00c2\u00a0 The once green, healthy, cathartic leaves no longer glisten in the sunlight following an afternoon shower. No, no, they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. In fact, they are beginning to show their age. The parched leaves begin to wrinkle, and they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re turning an auburn color; a clear indicator that their death is soon coming. The breeze […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[245,258],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-626","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-christopher-gardella","7":"category-new-york-jets-game-previews"},"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/peLffi-a6","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nI see children cheerfully boarding school buses, holding Superman lunchboxes in hand as parents\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bid farewells. \u00c2\u00a0
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\nThe water tastes different. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got a cleaner, crisper, more refreshing flavor to it. And, and, the air\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.the air, it, it smells different. Yes, it too feels cleaner and healthier. In fact, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s invigorating.
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\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotten this feeling several times before.
\nEvery year it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the same thing.
\nIt can only mean one thing.
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\nFOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE.
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\nMore than eight months have passed since the New York Jets participated in a game that actually meant something. Eight months ago, the Herman Edwards-run New York Jets had a very different look than the Eric Magini-run New York Jets of today.
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\nNew management has come to town with a no-nonsense approach. No veteran is sacred, no job is safe. All-pro center, team captain, and fan favorite Kevin Mawae was one of the first to feel the wrath of the new regime. Once considered an indispensable piece of the Jets offensive line, Mawae was promptly cut when Eric Mangini arrived at Weeb Ewbank Hall. This Sunday in Nashville, the New York Jets get to see the Titans and Kevin Mawae for the first time since giving Mr. Mawae his walking papers. To say that Mawae will have a chip on his shoulder this weekend would be an understatement.
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\nThe Jets 4-3 base defense of yesteryear has departed with Herman Edwards\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bags to Kansas City. In is the 3-4, which relies heavily on stout lineman occupying offensive blockers, freeing up the defense\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s linebackers to make plays. Although Mangini has refused to adhere to one specific defensive philosophy, he has shown a preference for the 3-4 in preseason competition.
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\nChad Pennington has been named the starter for opening day despite Eric Mangini\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s refusal to reveal his entire depth chart. Jeff Fischer has taken a seat at Eric Mangini\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s game of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153NFL Poker\u00e2\u20ac? and has refused to name his starting quarterback for Sunday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s game. With the choices consisting of Raiders-reject Kerry Collins, career backup Billy Volek, and the raw Vince Young, none of Fischer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s options at quarterback are particularly enticing. Mangini has promised full preparation for all three quarterbacks, calling Fischer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s silence \u00e2\u20ac\u0153a really solid decision.\u00e2\u20ac?
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\nWHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL
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\n<\/strong>Despite trading for Kevan Barlow, the Jets running back situation is still very much up in the air. Derrick Blaylock showed ability in the preseason but will likely split carries with Barlow, who is more formidable at picking up the blitz. The Titans are going to try to rattle Pennington early by sending multiple defenders at him \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Mangini will do his best to protect the fragile Pennington, which means Barlow will see the brunt of the action at running back. \u00c2\u00a0Establishing the run is high on the list of priorities for Eric Mangini. The Jets are starting two rookies on the offensive line, which is unsettling for any quarterback, particularly for the oft-injured Chad Pennington.
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\nBrian Schottenheimer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s offense did not display much downfield passing in the preseason, and for good reason. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s difficult to pass downfield when protection schemes break down quicker than they should. Expect a short to intermediate passing attack that is heavy on three to five-step drops from Pennington. Asking the offensive line to protect Pennington for more than three or four seconds is unrealistic and dangerous at this point. Pennington, who has attempted only 34 passes since recovering from his second torn rotator cuff, is going to have to fight off the rust early to make quick reads against a blitzing Tennessee defense.
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\nWHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL
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\n<\/strong>Jeff Fischer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s refusal to name his starting quarterback is anything but a good sign for the Titans. Billy Volek\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s horrid performance in the preseason and Kerry Collins\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 propensity to make mistakes makes it unlikely that the Titans are game-planning to beat the Jets through the air. Instead, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll attempt to attack the Jets\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 weaknesses by pounding the ball inside the tackles with running back Chris Brown and Travis Henry. Both runners are bruisers who will wear the defense down if given the opportunity.
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\nWhen the Titans do pass, expect to see Bryan Thomas coming off the corner on blitz packages. The 1st<\/sup> round disappointment has moved from defensive end to outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment and will get a chance to show off his 4.5 speed from the OLB position.
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\nMATCHUP TO WATCH
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\n<\/strong>NT Dewayne Robertson vs C Kevin Mawae
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\nMake no mistake, Kevin Mawae was irked when the Jets cut him this past off-season.
\nOn Sunday, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be looking for blood, and the man lining up right over him will be no other than Dewayne Robertson. Expect lots of holding, trash talking, and perhaps a scuffle or two.
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\nPREDICTION <\/strong>Jets 16-10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"