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Now it is time for Rex Ryan and the Jets to star in their version of the Road Warriors.
“We feel like we’re kind of built for the road,” guard Matt Slauson said. “Over the last two years, I think we’ve had a better road record (15-7 including playoffs) than home (9-7), so being on the road doesn’t really scare us at all.”
Why do you feel like you’re built for the road?
“Just ’cause as a team, we overcome adversity really well,” Slauson said. “If things aren’t going our way, it’s pretty easy for us to flip a switch. We don’t let the crowd get to us.”
First stop . . .
OAKLAND
Al Davis’ Commitment to Speed has never relented. Darren McFadden has a chance to be a bigger Marcus Allen. Wide receiver Danarious Moore looks like everything Darrius Heyward-Bey was supposed to be. Everyone on the bully-boy defensive line apparently thinks he’s Ben Davidson. Middle linebacker Rolando McClain will have a chance to feast on Shonn Greene with Nick Mangold out. But hey, no Nnamdi. Plaxico Burress against single coverage? Throw him the ball early and often. A word of caution: Jason Campbell is no Daryle Lamonica, but he’s no JaMarcus Russell or Luke McCown, either. It’s new coach Hue Jackson’s first game defending the Black Hole. No hot dogs for Mark Sanchez.
“It’s a hostile environment,” Slauson said.
I asked Slauson: “When you think of the old-time Oakland Raiders, what do you think of?”
He smiled and said: “Huge, burly offensive linemen with massive beards. Crazy fans dressed up in God-knows-what. I mean, they were an incredibly physical team.”
If you look around your locker room, how many guys would have been natural Oakland Raiders?
“I can think of five in our offensive line,” Slauson said. “We got some nasty guys on our line. You watch a lot of plays from [Sunday]. Brandon [Moore]? He was gettin’ after guys like just Oakland-style. He was really grindin’ on guys. Obviously me and Nick, we have the look to play there . . . Wayne’s [Hunter] a big, scary guy so . . .”
How about on defense?
“Oh yeah, definitely,” Slauson said. “Sione [Pouha] and [Mike] DeVito, they’re huge, they’re monsters. I hate playing against them every day. Our backers talk a lot of trash, so that fits right in there.”
And corners who can play man-to-man. “Best in the business,” Slauson said.
BALTIMORE
Ryan will want revenge for last year’s season-opening 10-9 home loss. Baxter will find himself staring up at Haloti Ngata and Ray Lewis. Hunter will have to figure out a way to keep Terrell Suggs off Sanchez. Joe Flacco is a year further along than Sanchez and has Ray Rice to lean on.
“We have Oakland to deal with, so we aren’t looking ahead to them,” Slauson said.
OK, let’s look back: How physical was the Ravens game last year?
“It was very physical,” Slauson said. “I came out of that game, and I hurt.”
Possible roadblock: It is a Sunday night primetime clash right before the Ravens’ bye week. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will be waiting for the Jets. Advantage, Ravens.
“That isn’t an issue for us, I don’t think,” Slauson said. “It’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, we have New England, so let’s take it easy this week.’ “
NEW ENGLAND
No way Mangold misses this one. The Jets’ Ground and Pound is averaging 3.0 yards, 27th in the league. Greene is averaging 2.9 yards. It might be a good idea to keep Brady off the field.
“I think we’re close,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “I have confidence our running game will take off.”
I asked Moore about this three-game stretch.
“I’m just worried about Oakland,” he said. “Who’s after that?”
Baltimore.
“Oh. And then the third one is?”
New England.
“Oh.
“Oakland’s next week so . . .”
Road Warriors, not Road Worriers.