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NFL preview

Written by footballfan on September 19th, 2009

Arizona RB Tim Hightower vs. Jackonsville LB Justin Durant
Both the Cardinals and Jaguars lost week 1. This matchup features a pair of Division I-AA players from Virginia. Hightower, who was not invited to the combine prior to the 2008 draft, established himself during his rookie season as a do-everything player. He was discovered by former Cardinals assistant Maurice Carthon at a campus workout. A good all-around player, he can run , catch, block, and keep defenses from keying on him. Hightower, who had 10 rushing TDs in 2008, caught 12 passes last week for 121 yards. Durant had a team-leading 10 tackles last week against the Colts. He plays fast — he ran a 4.62 40 at 240 pounds at combine in 2007. He will hit someone on every play. Durant had 17 tackles in a wild-card playoff game against Pittsburgh in 2007. He has the ability to make plays in space, which he will need to do against Hightower and the Cardinals.

Jets Ryan vs. Patriots Belichick
The New York Jets meet division rivals the New England Patriots this weekend. That rivalry has been spiced up recently by yet another Jets head coach saying things that the Pats can take personally.  Rather than turn them in for cheating, Rex Ryan had the gall to say “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s ring.  I came here to win.” Tom Brady also threw cold water on Jets.  No doubt that both of them are famous for their defense system.  Belichick’s defense has great planning. He likes to stick his neck out. T.O. experienced Patriots’ defense last week.
 
Remarkably, the Jets defense is just as formidable as the ferocious units Ryan had in Baltimore. Patriots’s victory record was nearly broken by Ryan in week 13 of 2007.