Gang Green's 'D' starts with a bang

[Smizzy]

Gang Green's 'D' starts with a bang

Sunday, July 31, 2005

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - When full pads go on for the first time and the defense's tempo is ahead of the offense, no one's safe.

Not even Curtis Martin.

As the Jets' featured back cut back toward a hole in the middle of the line during a full-squad running play Saturday morning, suddenly Shaun "Big Katt" Ellis rose up and pounced. He bear-hugged Martin and planted him on his back on the Hofstra University FieldTurf.

"It looked more violent than it was," said coach Herman Edwards, who nevertheless must have felt his heart skip a beat at the time. "Shaun and Curtis are smart players, so they know when they get into that predicament to kind of back off."

Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson's reaction was slightly different: "I smiled."

Henderson also didn't mind the next play, when tackle Dewayne Robertson barged past a stumbling guard and rolled into the legs of Jay Fiedler, whose red quarterback's jersey failed to protect him.

Yes, it's only day two of Jets training camp, but Donnie's defense is feeling frisky.

"Our goals for camp: We've got to make sure our communication is good, make sure we know what we're supposed to do and work on our technique accordingly," Henderson said. "Long term, we want to be the best, shoot for No. 1. I'm not afraid to say that."

What exactly does that mean? Leading the NFL in points, yards, turnovers?

"Everything," Ellis said. "We want to be No. 1 in everything. That's what we're shooting for."

The first year of Donnie Defense made a nice run at the top. The Jets finished tied for eighth in takeaways, seventh in total yards allowed, fifth in rushing yards and fourth in points - built on seven second-half shutouts, the most in the NFL in 11 seasons.

Of course, the rankings didn't help two Doug Brien field goals find their way through the uprights to beat Pittsburgh. That playoff loss, and the tough road leading up to it, left Ellis bleeding and burned out in the Heinz Field visitors' locker room in January.

"It was a long, grueling season," he recalled. "But it makes you better as a player to go through games like that. It lets you know what type of conditioning and shape you've got to be in."

At the start of his sixth Jets' camp, Ellis looks in great shape, both physically and in the leadership department. He has taken on the mantle as one of this rising unit's leading men.

"I guess it's natural - I've never been a follower," he said of his leadership role. "I always try to do something. I just want to win. Whatever I've got to do, that's what I'll do. That's what leaders want to do: win."

Henderson said wins and points allowed are the two stats he watches the closest. And notice how he and Ellis, in stating their bold goals, aren't worried that neither John Abraham nor Ty Law is in the house.

Ellis gave this update on Abraham, who has yet to sign his one-year franchise-tag tender for $6.67 million: "John's doing good. He's in shape, working out. You know how this process goes. It's business."

And Henderson became the latest to weigh in on Law, the top free agent cornerback whom the Jets are courting.

"You'd love to have a great player like that," he said. "Somebody's going to get him, and that's when he brings down his price. If he brings his price down and we've got a chance to go get him, let's get him."

Meanwhile, the Jets' defense will keep getting after the Gang Green offense. The defenders won't win every practice - the offense rebounded in a less feisty afternoon session. But soon they won't have to, when other teams start supplying the preseason and regular-season competition and it's all right to pancake the star runner and the QBs aren't wearing red.

[TomShane]

I used to hate Ellis, but he won me over last year in the playoffs with the way he fought. Like a warrior, that guy. Donnie H has really goten into his head, and now he could be a premier DE for us for years.

[Smizzy]

I used to hate Ellis, but he won me over last year in the playoffs with the way he fought. Like a warrior, that guy. Donnie H has really goten into his head, and now he could be a premier DE for us for years.

Really? The kid has always played hard even when they moved him to DT

No complaints,no nothing,just hard work.

I love this kid

[124]

The D is going to be a Top 5 this season...even with the loss of Ferguson...espcially if we sign Law.

[RSJ]

This defense definitly has me excited!