Weight Problem - Cimini

[Sperm Edwards]

Weight Problem

Jags' D-line is huge test for Jets' Lil' Big Men

By RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

This is the XL era in the NFL, and that's not a reference to the next Super Bowl. It's about the size of the players, who are growing faster than the national debt. These days, fat is phat.

Which means the Jets' offensive line is totally uncool.

Based on the 32 opening-day lineups, the Jets have the smallest starting five in the league, averaging only 293 pounds per man. "The last of a dying breed," guard Pete Kendall said of the Jets' line.

It didn't shrink overnight. The Jets have been playing for years with an undersized line, and yet they consistently rank among the most productive units in the league. They rely on the old-school tenets - guile, toughness and cohesiveness - and a new-school coach, Doug Marrone, who almost always provides a sound plan.

They will need all of those resources today at Giants Stadium, where the Jets will encounter the Twin Peaks - John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, the Jaguars' Pro Bowl defensive tackles.

At 6-7, 328 and 6-6, 312, respectively, Henderson and Stroud are big enough - and fast enough - to rattle Jimmy Hoffa in his swampy grave. Break out the Richter Scale; there could be some tremors.

"They're studs," Kendall said. "They're big and they move like basketball players. They should be illegal."

It will be up to Kendall (280 pounds), center Kevin Mawae (289) and right guard Brandon Moore (295) to prevent Henderson and Stroud from beating up on Chad Pennington and Curtis Martin, who already has a banged-up right knee. The Jets are all too familiar with Stroud, who body-slammed Vinny Testaverde in 2002 - his final play as the Jets' starting quarterback.

No one has known the Twin Peaks longer than Marrone, who knows Henderson and Stroud from their college days at Tennessee and Georgia, respectively. Marrone was an assistant at both schools, becoming close with both players.

"When you're the offensive line coach and you face those guys every day in practice, you try to become good friends," Marrone said, smiling.

Marrone plans to visit with both players before the game, but it's probably safe to assume a nice-guy approach isn't going to soften the two behemoths. So how do the Jets conquer Henderson and Stroud?

The laws of physics suggest the Jets are in for a long day, but Marrone has a way of devising schemes to compensate for the lack of size. They can use combination blocks, zone blocks and misdirection plays. It'll be a classic matchup of brains versus brawn.

"It's like my golf game," said Kendall, who will be matched against Stroud. "I think my way around the course and try to stay out of trouble."

For a relatively young coach, Marrone, 41, is a smart cookie, probably because he has been exposed to so many systems. After leaving Syracuse in 1986, the Bronx native was cut by six NFL teams in a two-year span, a humbling string of pink slips that, in retrospect, proved beneficial.

"I was always embarrassed to say that publicly," Marrone said. "Now I look at it and say, 'As down as I was, it became a great influence on my career.'"

After a sensational 2004 during which Martin took home the NFL rushing crown, Marrone's men are off to a sluggish start. In two games, the Jets have allowed five sacks and Martin is averaging only 2.5 yards per rush. Things have to pick up - immediately.

Over the next four games, the Jets will face the '85 Bears, the '76 Steelers, the '74 Dolphins and the '00 Ravens. Actually, it's the Jaguars, Ravens, Bucs and Bills - all terrific defensive teams - but you would've thought they were playing the all-timers after listening to Herman Edwards.

"We're playing Murderer's Row," said Edwards, who expects a month of ugly, low-scoring games.

Said Martin: "I believe this has to be the toughest schedule, defensively, that I've ever gone against in my entire career."

That he's coming off an injury will make it tougher. Since 2000, Martin has averaged only 30 yards per outing in the four games he played after a significant injury. This game - the next four, really - could be determined by the not-so-phat five up front. There's a big mountain to climb. First, they've got to move a couple out of the way.

Jets Playbook

Jaguars at Jets at Giants Stadium, 1 p.m.

VITALS

THE LINE: Jets by 2 1/2

TV: Ch. 2 (Gus Johnson, Brent Jones)

RADIO: WABC 770-AM, ESPN 1050-AM, (Bob Wischusen, Marty Lyons), In Spanish on 1280-WADO-AM, Nationwide on Sports USA Radio (Howard David, Doug Plank)

FORECAST: Intermittent clouds, high of 74.

INJURY IMPACT

The Jets breathed easily when RB Curtis Martin's MRI came back negative, but his sore knee could mean more carries for Derrick Blaylock. FS Eric Coleman had surgery to repair a fractured right thumb but will play. FBs Jerald Sowell and B.J. Askew both have sore ankles. QB Byron Leftwich, who took a beating in Indy, will play with a groin that limited his practice time. DE Reggie Howard is battling a back injury.

FEATURE MATCHUPS

DE John Abraham vs. LT Ephraim Salaam and Khalif Barnes: The Jaguars couldn't handle Dwight Freeney last week, even when they tried to double him. Abraham has similar explosiveness and needs to harass the gimpy Leftwich. The Jaguars' QB is gutsy but holds the ball low to the ground, where it can be easily stripped. Barnes could make his rookie debut if Salaam becomes a turnstile. Backup Mike Pearson fared no better last week and Barnes has moved ahead of him.

C Kevin Mawae and OGs Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore vs. DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud: Mawae will probably help on Stroud, who has a 25-pound advantage on Moore, leaving Moore to fend for himself against Henderson. In any case, this may be the best DT tandem in the league. They have the ability to collapse the pocket and free the Jags to drop more players into coverage. The Jets' running game, which is not full strength because of Martin's injury, hinges on controlling these two.

SCOUT SAYS

"The Jaguars need to get the ball into Fred Taylor's hands more to take some heat off Leftwich, especially with the Jets' defensive line giving ground. Watch when Matt Jones is in the game. The Jags like to run gimmick plays with him. Donnie Henderson will probably stack the box with his super quick front seven. In turn, the Jags will try to spread the field. Pennington is at his best when he can get into a rhythm, but the Jaguars, with those disruptive defensive tackles, didn't even allow Peyton Manning that luxury. The one-on-one matchup between Jimmy Smith and Ty Law could decide a game that should go down to the wire."

INTANGIBLES

Although it's early, this game could be a wild-card tiebreaker. The Jaguars are coming off a tough loss in Indy and need to rebound in another difficult road game. They have a lot to prove on offense, where new coordinator Carl Smith is feeling some heat. It's a Marshall University faceoff as Leftwich and Pennington match arms.

PREDICTION

JAGUARS 24-13 Pennington will be challenged by this ‘D' because the Jets don't figure to run the ball well.

Originally published on September 25, 2005

[Maxman]

I didn't realize that our line was smaller than Denvers. They had always been pretty small themselves.

Interesting.

[Barton]

I didn't realize that our line was smaller than Denvers. They had always been pretty small themselves.

Interesting.

It wasnt, until KMac bolted for the Giants. KMac was a friggen giant, like 330lbs.

Bigger does not mean better. But it would be nice to have a left guard bigger than Tank Reed.

[PatsFanTX]

I didn't realize that our line was smaller than Denvers. They had always been pretty small themselves.

Interesting.

Keep in mind Shannahan strictly employs zone blocking techniques with his OLine, both run and pass blocking.

Because of that strategy, he is able to get away with using smaller and quicker OLinemen.

The problem with size is when you strictly go with 1-on-1 matchups against the defense.

Smaller units will get worn down much more quickly.

[Barton]

Keep in mind Shannahan strictly employs zone blocking techniques with his OLine, both run and pass blocking.

Because of that strategy, he is able to get away with using smaller and quicker OLinemen.

The problem with size is when you strictly go with 1-on-1 matchups against the defense.

Smaller units will get worn down much more quickly.

Jets are actually using the zone blocking scheme this year, under Dinger.

So far, not so good.

[Maxman]

Keep in mind Shannahan strictly employs zone blocking techniques with his OLine, both run and pass blocking.

Because of that strategy, he is able to get away with using smaller and quicker OLinemen.

The problem with size is when you strictly go with 1-on-1 matchups against the defense.

Smaller units will get worn down much more quickly.

Alex Gibbs! He is the man!

[Maxman]

I thought Gibbs was going to do BIG things in Atlanta. His style always worked. But I guess he keeps burning out. It is shame though because he is a really good coach.

[RSJ]

I thought Gibbs was going to do BIG things in Atlanta. His style always worked. But I guess he keeps burning out. It is shame though because he is a really good coach.

I think he has done a good job considering what kinda backs he is working with down there.

[PatsFanTX]

Jets are actually using the zone blocking scheme this year, under Dinger.

So far, not so good.

Good call barton.

I noticed the Jets did that on several runs early in the game last week.

However, they did not stick with it and the entire 2nd half was 1-1 blocking.

Zone blocking is very difficult to incorporate. One blown assignment usually leads to disaster.

[Maxman]

I think he has done a good job considering what kinda backs he is working with down there.

Yes but he retired again, no?