flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 A look back at the Jets' 34-19 win against the Redskins Published: Tuesday, December 06, 2011, 5:23 PM Updated: Wednesday, December 07, 2011, 2:04 AM By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger Follow Email Print Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerThe offensive line paved the way for RB Shonn Greene's 9-yard TD in the fourth quarter. The Jets pulled off their second straight fourth-quarter comeback against the Washington Redskins, with QB Mark Sanchez and WR Santonio Holmes again hooking up for the go-ahead score. At this point in the Jets’ season, every week is a must-win, and the team incorporated a few new wrinkles on offense and defense in their 34-19 victory. Here’s a look back at 10 things from Sunday’s game that warrant a second look: 1. Wildcat It was coach Rex Ryan’s suggestion to make the Wildcat package a bigger part of the Jets’ game plan against Washington. The Jets ran seven Wildcat plays for 26 yards and a touchdown, with three different players taking direct snaps: Shonn Greene, Jeremy Kerley and LaDainian Tomlinson. Sanchez usually stays on the field split out wide for the Jets’ Wildcat plays, but on Kerley’s snaps, Kerley replaced Sanchez on the field. 2. Aaron Maybin Maybin played by far his biggest role of the season against the Redskins, unofficially on the field for 38 of 71 defensive snaps. More than half of those came in the fourth quarter, when the Jets rallied and forced the Redskins to play catch-up and pass the football. Maybin often rushes out of a unique sideways stance, which he used on his critical fourth-quarter strip sack of Redskins QB Rex Grossman, when he sprinted inside RT Jamaal Brown. A new wrinkle this week was that Maybin did not just rush off the edge but also up the middle, at times shifting at the last minute to a standing stance over the middle. 3. Linebacker swaps Since the Denver game, Garrett McIntyre has started at outside linebacker for the Jets, in the spot vacated when Bryan Thomas was lost to an Achilles injury earlier this season. But in the second half, the Jets put Jamaal Westerman back in the base defense. Westerman made a nice tackle for loss of RB Roy Helu, then sacked Grossman on the following series. The Jets also used Josh Mauga as their second inside linebacker with David Harris in some nickel packages, as they have at times done this season (Mauga also filled in when Harris missed a few plays after tweaking his ankle injury). 4. Moves in the secondary The Jets used a new personnel grouping for three plays in which CB Antonio Cromartie unusually came off the field (not counting goal-line situations, when teams cut down on DBs). These plays were each second-down situations. The Jets used CB Kyle Wilson instead of Cromartie in one of these groupings, and put in Wilson and DB Donald Strickland in the other. Also, after spelling S Eric Smith on defense last week because of his large special-teams role, the Jets were back to using Smith on almost every snap (67 of 71, by an unofficial count). The only plays when Brodney Pool replaced Smith were two goal-line snaps and two of the packages without Cromartie. 5. The offensive line The unit was a strength for the second straight week, notably preventing Sanchez from being sacked by a Redskins front that had the league’s third-highest sack total entering the game. Tomlinson, who only played a handful of plays after aggravating his knee injury, also helped boost the pass protection. Washington recorded just one quarterback hit. Another, by CB Kevin Barnes, was flagged for unnecessary roughness because it occurred after whistles blew the play dead. The line also did a nice job in the run game. One wrinkle was LG Matt Slauson being assigned to pull on a few plays, which helped pave the way for Greene’s 9-yard TD run. 6. Special-teams returns Rookie Jeremy Kerley’s muffed punt return was the Jets’ sixth special-teams turnover of the season and prompted the Jets to move forward with S Jim Leonhard. The Jets also made some questionable decisions on other returns. KR Joe McKnight elected to take out a second-quarter kickoff from the corner of the end zone, but the angle put him in a spot where the wedge couldn’t pave a path for him. He only advanced to the 8-yard line, instead of kneeling and taking the touchback. On the Redskin’s on-side kick, Antonio Cromartie made a nice clean catch – but then he took off with the ball up the sideline. In that situation, the smarter play would have been to simply catch the ball and go down. 7. Rex’s Challenges Ryan made two key challenges against the Redskins. The first was to overturn a 27-yard pass to TE Fred Davis in the second quarter. Davis’ left foot clearly stepped out of bounds, and Ryan got the challenge flag off in the nick of time. Ryan also challenged the third-quarter play when Helu was ruled to be down before losing the football. DL Marcus Dixon had in fact swiped the ball loose while Helu was still upright, and the challenge gave the Jets the ball at Washington’s 29-yard line. 8. Sanchez’s time out Sanchez’s game management has come into focus this year, after taking the time out against the Patriots that drew Ryan’s ire and a mishandled two-minute situation at the end of the first half in Denver. In the third quarter of the Redskins win, Sanchez took a questionable time out. On third-and-23, instead of taking a 5-yard delay of game penalty, Sanchez burned a time out. Since the Jets faced a third-and-forever anyway, the smarter move was to simply take the penalty and save the time out, since the score was tied and it looked like the Jets may need it late in the game. Sanchez said on ESPN 1050 Radio today that the coaches corrected him on this gaffe immediately and again after the game, and he said he can't let a mistake like this happen. 9. No. 3 receiver Kerley returned to the line-up after missing the past two weeks with a knee injury, but Patrick Turner still carried a sizeable role as well. Kerley played 14 of 62 offensive snaps, by an unofficial count, while Turner was on the field for 18 plays. 10. Third-down woes The Jets converted just 4 of 13 third downs, a poor 31 percent success rate. They faced an average of 6.9 yards to go on third down, including two third downs of 20 and 23 yards after multiple Jets penalties. On a third-and-11 in the second quarter, the Jets made the odd call of a screen pass to TE Matt Mulligan. Another drive stalled after a 7-yard pass to Kerley on third-and-9. For more Jets coverage, follow Jenny Vrentas on Twitter at twitter.com/Jennyvrentas Jenny Vrentas: jvrentas@starledger.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Playing-time breakdown December, 6, 2011 Dec 6 11:30 PM ET Email Print Comments1 By Rich Cimini The Jets' playing-time distribution on offense, against the Redskins. Total: 62 snaps. (Press-box view, allow small margin for error): RUNNING BACKS Shonn Greene ... 50 snaps John Conner ... 28 Joe McKnight ... 6 LaDainian Tomlinson ... 6 TIGHT ENDS Dustin Keller ... 47 snaps Matt Mulligan ... 35 Vladimir Ducasse ... 5 Josh Baker ... 2 WIDE RECEIVERS Santonio Holmes ... 53 snaps Plaxico Burress ... 42 Patrick Turner ... 17 Jeremy Kerley ... 12 Analysis: Because of injuries to Tomlinson and McKnight, this turned into a heavy-duty workload for Greene, who still seemed fresh in the fourth quarter ... Turner and Kerley basically split the No. 3 WR role, with Kerley returning to the lineup after missing two games with a knee injury ... Ten of the 11 skill-position players (not counting Ducasse, who lined up as an extra TE/blocker) caught at least one pass. The exception was Baker, who contributed with a key kickoff return late in the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Pennington says Sanchez up to Jets' challenge Jets Blog Last Updated: 8:56 AM, December 7, 2011 Posted: 1:34 AM, December 7, 2011 More Print Brian Costello Follow Brian on Twitter Blog: Jets ON THE JETS Chad Pennington knows what the boos Mark Sanchez heard last week sound like. Pennington knows what it’s like to be dissected on talk radio, blogs and in the newspaper. No one knows what Sanchez is experiencing more than Pennington, a first-round pick of the Jets in 2000 who started at quarterback for six seasons in the same nonstop-news-cycle world Sanchez lives in. “It really tests you as a person,” Pennington, now an analyst on FOX, said yesterday. The home stadium has changed since Pennington left New York before the 2008 season, but the fans, media and expectations have not. Pennington has watched what Sanchez has endured, and he can relate. He also has been impressed. “I think that’s the best thing Mark Sanchez has done is dealing with the challenges of playing in New York,” Pennington said. “He seems to always bounce back from a bad performance. He seems to always handle questions really well. He seems to handle his teammates well.” In other words, Sanchez is passing the test. These past few weeks have shown the best of Sanchez. Not only has he led the Jets to back-to-back wins in the fourth quarter, he has shown poise off the field as the leader of a team nearly in crisis. After the brutal loss to the Broncos, Sanchez shouldered the blame. Never mind that he was watching like the rest of us as Tim Tebow sliced through the Jets defense like a farm combine through a field. Last week, everyone around the Jets, including coach Rex Ryan, seemed delusional when talking about the quarterback’s play — except for Sanchez. He gave a brutally honest assessment of his play. Then came the boos. A few of Sanchez’s teammates took issue with Jets fans booing Sanchez during introductions before the game with the Bills. Sanchez handled it perfectly. He did not criticize the fans, defused the situation and moved on. For all of his stumbles on the field, Sanchez has shown remarkable maturity in the face of the critics, especially since he is still 25 years old. At 25, Pennington was watching Vinny Testaverde from the sideline. He had yet to make an NFL start. Sunday’s game will be Sanchez’s 50th start for the Jets. Oh, yeah, and he’s won 30 of them, 11 with game-winning drives. “He doesn’t get enough credit for understanding how to win football games,” Pennington said. “In his first two years, and even now, he understands how to win because of how their team is built. That is overlooked.” Pennington points out the Jets are built to win with a strong defense and a complementary offense. That means Sanchez’s statistics are not always going to make fantasy football owners happy, but they should be enough to pile up Ws for the Jets. “He should walk around with a T-shirt that says, ‘Who cares?’, and then underneath, ‘as long as we’re winning,’ ” Pennington said. “That’s the bottom line. In the NFL, there are no BCS rankings. There is no coaches’ poll. It strictly comes down to wins and losses.” For Pennington, hearing about what Sanchez is going through brings some flashbacks. Pennington took over as the starter early in the 2002 season. Only three quarterbacks have ever thrown for more yards in a Jets uniform than Pennington. Yet there always were questions about his arm strength and, later, his durability. The team released him in 2008 after trading for Brett Favre. Pennington chuckled when he heard about fans booing Sanchez during warmups, the kind of knowing chuckle you imagine former presidents exchange while recounting stories of their time in the Oval Office. In 2007, the boos were the loudest for Pennington during a loss to the Bills, the team’s fifth straight. Eric Mangini benched him for Kellen Clemens the following week against the Redskins. As Pennington walked onto the Giants Stadium field for that game, a fan shouted toward him from the stands. “Chad, you’re great, you’re the second-best quarterback we’ve ever had other than Joe [Namath],” the fan yelled. “I was thinking, ‘Wait a second. Last week, you guys were booing me out of the stadium. This week, I’m great because now I’m on the bench,’ ” Pennington said. Sanchez returns to MetLife Stadium on Sunday to face the Chiefs. If the past two weeks are any indication, fans who want to boo him should do it early. By the end of the game, he’ll have them cheering. Jets’ schedule full of wild cards Of The five teams in the AFC tied at 7-5, the Jets have the easiest remaining schedule if you go by opponents’ records. The Jets’ remaining opponents have a record of 19-29 and none is currently over .500. But a closer look reveals the Jets have some reason to worry. They play three teams that are hard to figure out. In two weeks, they face the Eagles in Philadelphia. At that point, the Eagles (4-8) could be making plans for the offseason or excited about being spoilers. They then face the 6-6 Giants, who are impossible to read, and the 4-8 Dolphins, who have won four of their last five games, in Miami. The Raiders and Broncos have the most difficult slates, likely forcing them to battle solely for the AFC West title. That leaves the Bengals and Titans to grapple with the Jets for the final wild-card bid. Cincinnati faces two division leaders, which inflates their opponents’ record (25-23). But the Texans, whom they play this week, are on their third quarterback. Then they play the Ravens in Week 17 when Baltimore may be resting its starters. The Titans also play two division leaders. They get the Saints this week, but in Nashville instead of New Orleans. The Saints are 3-3 away from the Superdome. If they are playing for their lives in Week 17, the Titans face the Texans, another team that could have nothing to play for. Rex Ryan’s Jets benefitted at the end of 2009 from playing two teams that already clinched playoff berths. This year, they might need help from teams in that situation like the Texans and Ravens. Not everybody ‘nose’ Pouha’s value on D The Jets are a team of stars, which leads to some solid players getting overlooked. This season, nose tackle Sione Pouha has been a strength of the Jets defense, but has gone mostly unnoticed. Pouha, who is in his seventh season, has blossomed under the direction of Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Pouha has become one of their best run-stoppers and a leader on defense. He is sixth on the team in tackles despite rotating out of the game on most passing downs. “He’s been just quietly so solid for us,” Pettine said. “He’s gotten better at all the little things, just understanding all the things that a nose tackle has to see in a game, all the different blocking patterns and the way teams attack a nose. “And just kind of the tricks of the trade is where he has really progressed.” brian.costello@nypost.com Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/got_chad_vote_vFZMqm8532L9Wb7dnAhSRK#ixzz1frGDfjuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Rex Ryan believes NY Jets can shock the world on their way to another AFC championship run Jets favorable schedule down the stretch could help Gang Green run the table BY Manish Mehta NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Originally Published: Wednesday, December 7 2011, 2:14 AM Updated: Wednesday, December 7 2011, 2:14 AM Andrew, Theodorakis/New York Daily News Rex Ryan feels Jets can do damage if they get in playoffs. Rex Ryan has been prone to hyperbole, lauding just about everyone on the 53-man roster at one time or another. But his latest prediction may be the most accurate of them all. Despite being part of a four-team logjam for the final wild-card spot with four games to play, the 7-5 Jets could be a very dangerous team if they sneak into the playoffs. Even with their inconsistent quarterback (who wins at a higher rate than just about any other young-signal caller in the league, by the way), the Jets are built to pose problems in the playoffs. Ryan & Co. have drawn parallels to their 2009 team that won five of the final six regular-season games (with some help from the Colts) to make the playoffs. Gang Green, of course, shocked just about everyone that season with a run to the AFC Championship Game as the No. 6 seed. Ryan believes his team can do it again. “It hasn’t always been perfect here,” Ryan said. “Our first year here, we really struggled to make the playoffs, but we always believed that if we could get in there, we could do some damage. That’s what we plan on doing this year.” The Jets have overcome early-season locker-room turmoil that included public and private finger-pointing to set them up for another playoff run. “Stay positive,” Darrelle Revis said. “Let’s not get into the negativity of calling guys out or pointing people out. I think we’re past that and moving forward.” Although left guard Matt Slauson said the Jets pressed “the panic button” after their loss to the Broncos last month, they have a fairly favorable schedule down the stretch. After getting back on track with two consecutive wins after the Denver debacle, Ryan’s team could run the table as it doesn’t face a team with a winning record the rest of the way. Their four remaining opponents — Chiefs, Eagles, Giants and Dolphins — are a combined 19-29. Gang Green, which is just 1-5 against teams with a winning record, has the easiest remaining schedule of the five 7-5 teams fighting for a playoff spot. “We have always prided ourselves on playing our best football in December going into January,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “I think we’re starting to do that. Our schedule kind of sets up for us to do that - to make a run at the playoffs.” Of course, sometimes records can be misleading. Although the Jets should be able to take care of business against the 5-7 Chiefs, the final three weeks could be much more daunting. The 4-8 Eagles, out of the NFC playoff picture, are as talented on offense as any team in the league. Michael Vick should be back after missing time with a rib injury. The 6-6 Giants, who nearly handed the Packers their first loss of the season last week, will be fighting for their playoff lives as well. The 4-8 Dolphins, winners of four of their last five, are playing arguably better than the Jets right now. It’s possible that the Jets, who are on the wrong side of the tiebreaker scenarios for now, will have to win on the road on News Year’s Day in Miami to make the playoffs. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-believes-ny-jets-shock-world-afc-championship-run-article-1.987879#ixzz1frH3KvOx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 A look ahead to Chiefs Tuesday, December 6, 2011 The Record Print | E-mail Jets (7-5) vs. Chiefs (5-7) At MetLife Stadium Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: Ch. 2; Radio: ESPN-AM 1050 Early line: Jets by 9 The Jets are 5-1 at home this season, with only one of those victories (Dallas) coming against a team with a winning record. Kansas City appears to be another soft touch, considering the Chiefs have produced only one touchdown in the last three games since losing QB Matt Cassel for the season with a hand injury. But the Chiefs haven't given up hope of winning the AFC West. They trail Denver and Oakland by two games, but finish the season at Denver and host Oakland the week before. On the hot seat Nick Folk: The Jets' kicker began 2011 by connecting on his first 11 field goal attempts, but has been somewhat spotty since then, hitting only five of 10. Granted, one of those misses was a 61-yarder on the last play of the first half at Denver on Nov. 17, but he also missed a 24-yard chip shot against New England and pushed a 40-yard attempt wide right in the third quarter against Washington on Sunday. That field goal would have given the Jets the lead. With the penchant the Jets have for playing tight games, Folk has to be almost perfect down the stretch. Game plan Look for the Jets to try some Wildcat again after bringing it back against the Redskins. They will need it to keep Kansas City's hard-charging pass rushers off balance. The Chiefs had seven sacks in their 10-3 win over punchless Chicago on Sunday, including three by rookie LB Justin Houston. Tyler Palko, who is filling in for Cassel, threw three interceptions in each of his first two starts this season, but settled down somewhat against the Bears and played turnover-free. Still, the Jets' rejuvenated pass rush, led by Aaron Maybin (six sacks), should be able to pressure Palko into some mistakes. The Jets also need to hang on to the ball on special teams for a change. They've had a turnover by that unit in each of the last four games. — J.P. Pelzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Pelzman: Jets let the 'Cat out of the bag Tuesday, December 6, 2011 The Record Print | E-mail It's late in the season and the Jets are fighting for their playoff lives. So that means it's time for a new post-Thanksgiving tradition, that of Rex Ryan getting more involved with his team's offense. Ryan did it two years ago after a Mark Sanchez meltdown in a loss at New England, instituting a color-coded system of play-calling. Depending upon down, distance and situation, that system would let the then-rookie know when he should protect the ball at all costs, and when he could let it fly and take a chance. Sanchez cut down on the mistakes down the stretch in 2009, and with plenty of outside help, the Jets qualified for the postseason. Fast forward to this season, and Ryan was at it again last week. The Jets utilized the Wildcat offense in their 34-19 win over Washington more than they have since Brad Smith left for Buffalo via free agency over the summer. Ryan said he suggested it to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in the days leading up to the game. Granted, in terms of game-altering effectiveness, this wasn't exactly Miami and Ronnie Brown against New England in 2008 (when the idea of a non-quarterback taking snaps first was used in recent years in the NFL) or even Smith in the 2009 regular-season finale against Cincinnati. The Jets rushed for only 26 yards on seven Wildcat plays, the last one being Shonn Greene's 9-yard touchdown run after a Redskins' turnover. Still, it had its moments. Plus, it will give future opponents something else to think about, considering the Jets almost had abandoned it since Smith's departure. "I think it's tough to defend," Ryan said, adding, "When Miami broke it out against New England, [and it] really is just single-wing plays, when they brought it out, it put New England on their heels. We thought that [Washington] was a good football team. They're really good against the run, but we thought that we could challenge them by putting in some of those things." "When Schotty and I talked about it," Ryan recalled, "he said, 'Hey, yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let's go for it.' [Assistant head coach/offensive line coach] Bill Callahan did a great job of putting in a lot of the blocking schemes to it and I thought it was successful." Perhaps most important is it's an example of the defensive-obsessed Ryan again realizing that he coaches the entire team. There's no reason for him not to be more involved in the offensive game plan, even if he lets Schottenheimer have the final play-calling say on game days. "We're just trying to help," Ryan said. "We're all on the same page, and if there's something that I see that I think might be decent to us, whether it's a play, whether it's something like that, then [i'll] mention it." And the oft-maligned Schottenheimer made a pivotal call Sunday on the go-ahead 30-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to Santonio Holmes, which called for Holmes to fake a slant pattern and then break to the outside. Washington cornerback Josh Wilson was fooled and Holmes was wide open for Sanchez's perfect pass. Yes, Schottenheimer can be criticized for the amount of slants he calls, although part of the reason for those short patterns likely is Sanchez's continued inaccuracy on longer throws. E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Scouting the Chiefs December, 7, 2011 Dec 7 6:00 AM ET Email Print Comments1 By Rich Cimini A look ahead at Sunday's opponent, the 5-7 Chiefs: 1. The Chiefs are on their fourth season in 2011. No, really, check it out: They began 0-3, won four straight, lost four straight and won last week in Chicago. And you think the Jets are streaky? 2. KC has suffered some devastating injuries, losing QB Matt Cassel, RB Jamaal Charles and S Eric Berry to season-ending injuries. Against the Bears, recently-acquired QB Kyle Orton hurt the index finger on his passing hand on his first play -- a flea-flicker at the start of the second quarter. They probably were planning to ease him slowly, eventually taking over for Tyler Palko, but that could be on hold. On Monday, coach Todd Haley didn't give an update on Orton's injury. 3. Let's get back to Palko for a moment. He committed seven turnovers in his first two starts before settling down last week against the Bears for his first NFL victory as a starter. Palko has been known to yell at his receivers and display poor body language (could you imagine if Mark Sanchez tried that in New York?), which isn't the best way to earn the respect of your teammates. 4. The Jets could get Palko after Tim Tebow and Rex Grossman in a four-week span -- not exactly Elway, Kelly and Marino in terms of pure passers. 5. The Chiefs' offense is woeful. Consider their point totals over the last five games -- 3, 10, 3, 9 and 10. Oh, by the way, that TD against the Bears? It came on a deflected Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half, their first score in 56 drives. 6. The Chiefs' top receiving weapon is Dwayne Bowe (104 targets), who probably will draw Darrelle Revis. Bowe has playmaking ability (59 catches, 868 yards, 4 TDs), but he also had five drops. As a team, the Chiefs have 20 drops, tied for 10th in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. 7. Old friend Thomas Jones returns to face the Jets for the first time since they released him after the 2009 season. He was a marvelously productive runner for the Jets, and an under-rated leader, but he's on his last legs. It was an unpopular move at the time, but the Jets let him go at the right time. Jones ran for only 896 yards and a 3.7 average last season, and he's down to 325 and 3.0 this season. He's averaging 1.0 yards after contact, 52nd in the league, per ESPN Stats. 8. The Chiefs can play defense. They're well-coached and have some young, talented players. They use a 3-4 system, and they have three good LBs -- Tamba Hali (eight sacks), Derrick Johnson and rookie Justin Houston, who recorded his first three sacks last week. Houston was linked to the Jets in a lot of pre-draft speculation, but they passed on him to take DE Mo Wilkerson and Houston ended up slipping to the third round. Houston, now in an every-down role, has been one of the bright spots for the Chiefs. 9. The Chiefs' coaching staff has plenty of Jets connections. Haley began his career as a Jets assistant, and seven members of his staff are former Jets assistants or players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Morning take: Jets eyeing playoffs December, 7, 2011 Dec 7 8:30 AM ET Email Print Comments8 By James Walker Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday morning in the AFC East: Coach Rex Ryan and New York Jets believe they can "do some damage" if they get into the playoffs. Morning take: The Jets need to focus on doing damage against the Kansas City Chiefs first. There is a lot of work ahead for New York. There is no reason to talk about winning in the playoffs right now. New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light has been a steady presence for the offense. Morning take: Protecting quarterback Tom Brady's blindside is an important job, and Light has been good at it for a while. With tackles Sebastian Vollmer in and out of the lineup with injuries and Nate Solder inexperienced, Light has been reliable. Miami Dolphins linebacker Kevin Burnett is playing a key role in the defense. Morning take: Just as Miami's defense has hit its stride, so has Burnett. Miami's big free-agent acquisition has been stellar in the second half of the season. He had a sack and interception return for a touchdown last weekend against the Oakland Raiders. Buffalo Bills rookie linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is learning on the job. Morning take: Sheppard, a third-round pick, has shown flashes, but not enough to turn Buffalo's defensive struggles around. The Bills need to focus on getting playmakers on that side of the football in the offseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 'Jets Midwest' coming to MetLife Sunday's visit to New York will be a homecoming for many in the Chiefs organization By Rich Cimini ESPNNewYork.com When he was hired to rescue the New York Jets in 1997, Bill Parcells assembled one of the best coaching staffs in recent memory -- a Dream Team that produced four NFL head coaches, a major-college coach and a certain future Hall of Famer who migrated north and has been tormenting the Jets ever since. Oh, yes, and the front office and scouting department wasn't bad, either: It included three future general managers, including the Jets' current boss, Mike Tannenbaum. Week 13: Jets 34, Redskins 19 On Sunday, a good portion of that old group returns to New Jersey, dressed in red. It's the Kansas City Chiefs, with a staff directory that reads like an old Jets media guide. Say hello to "Jets Midwest." Forget about 'Tone Time, this is Tuna Time. The Chiefs are run by GM Scott Pioli, who worked with Tannenbaum when they were young, front-office pups learning the business under Parcells. Pioli, who would become Parcells' son-in-law, made his bones with the New England Patriots, serving as Bill Belichick's personnel guru for nine years and winning three Super Bowls. When he took over the moribund Chiefs in 2009, Pioli hired Todd Haley, who received his first coaching gig in '97. He worked as a quality-control assistant on Parcells' staff -- the bottom rung of the coaching ladder -- along with another coaching wannabe, Eric Mangini. "Todd and I used to play basketball," Tannenbaum recalled Tuesday. "He was very competitive. It's no surprise that he's a head coach." If Parcells, Vinny Testaverde and Curtis Martin showed up Sunday at MetLife Stadium, it would be like a reunion of the '98 Jets, one of the best teams in franchise history. That team -- that watershed era -- was the handiwork of Parcells, who lifted the organization out of its darkest period with his larger-than-life persona and ability to surround himself with good people. Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesRomeo Crennel (back right) is one of many current Chiefs staffers who worked with Bill Parcells during his tenure with the Jets. Some were proven coaches he knew from his days with the New York Giants, and some were unknowns, like Tannenbaum, Pioli and Haley. They're part of his legacy. "All those guys, you can't help but be proud," Parcells said Tuesday in a phone interview, sounding grandfatherly. "I've been very lucky, with some of the success they've had. They're their own guys, and they've done it themselves, but I'm proud." Haley's staff includes seven with ties to the Parcells Jets. You can start with Mo Carthon (assistant head coach), Romeo Crennel (defensive coordinator) and Bill Muir (offensive coordinator/line coach), all of whom are former Jets assistant coaches. Parcells has known Crennel for more than 35 years, and one thing hasn't changed. "Romeo is a good defensive coach -- and he's been good for a long time," said Parcells, recently named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Haley also hired three former players from the '98 team -- Richie Anderson (wide-receivers coach), Anthony Pleasant (defensive line) and Otis Smith (defensive-quality control). Bernie Parmalee, who played for the Jets in 1999 and 2000, is the tight ends coach. "Hey, it's interesting, really interesting, to see how they've grown up and changed as people," said Parcells, alluding to a coaching tree that includes three Super Bowl winners -- Belichick, Tom Coughlin and Sean Payton. "Some have gone on to great things." Haley had no prior coaching experience when Parcells took him in and assigned him to do some work with the receivers, a unit headed by Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet. Haley is the son of the venerable Dick Haley, the former longtime personnel director of the Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. The 50 Greatest Jets Drawn from more than five decades of history, ESPN New York presents its 50 Greatest Jets. Top 50 Rank 'Em The elder Haley, a holdover from the Rich Kotite regime, clicked with Parcells. They were old-school football guys with similar philosophies, and he became Parcells' sounding board. Haley mentioned that Todd wanted to get into coaching, and that's how his career started. When Parcells returned to coaching with the Dallas Cowboys, he hired Todd, who later went to the Arizona Cardinals before reuniting with Pioli in Kansas City. In two-plus seasons, Haley, 44, is only 19-25, but he won an expected AFC West title last season. The Chiefs have slipped to 5-7, but they've been hit hard by injuries and Haley deserves at least another season. In the watered-down AFC West, the Chiefs still have hope. It sets up a compelling dynamic Sunday: Tannenbaum's team vs. Pioli's team. They used to be close friends, but Pioli followed Belichick to the Patriots and -- well, you can imagine how the acrimony of the Jets-Patriots rivalry might affect a relationship. Tannenbaum said they still talk, but it can't be the same. How can it be? Too much stuff has happened over the years. SpyGate, anyone? "He does a good job," Tannenbaum said matter-of-factly. "He's built a good team out there. I respect the job he does." Back in the day, Tannenbaum, Pioli and Parcells met daily at 6 p.m. to discuss "family business," the Godfather -- er, Parcells -- called it. They talked about the salary cap, the waiver wire and potential roster moves, each day a learning experience for the two young executives. It was a special time. Down the hall, they had Haley, Mangini, Crennel and Al Groh, future NFL head coaches. They also had Charlie Weis, who would go on to coach Notre Dame before reuniting last season with Haley as his offensive coordinator. The scouting staff included Trent Baalke, currently the San Francisco 49ers' GM. Parcells has rooting interests all over the league, and Sunday there will be a bunch of his guys in the same stadium, fighting for survival in the playoff race. In most places, blood is thicker than water, but not this place. "You can't help but take an interest," Parcells said. "These guys, I root for them. I mean, I'm watching the Giants-Packers, and it's hard. It's like I'm involved in it, but I'm not. But, hey, it's good. I have no complaints." Follow Rich Cimini on Twitter: @RichCimini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Shoulder may keep former Jets QB Pennington off field | More Print 9:47 AM, December 7, 2011 ι By BRIAN COSTELLO I spoke with Chad Pennington Tuesday for this column on Mark Sanchez. I couldn’t get into this in the column, but I asked the former Jets quarterback about his future plans. Pennington is currently an analyst for FOX. He had his fourth shoulder surgery last year when he was with the Dolphins and then tore his ACL playing basketball in March. Pennington has said he hopes to play again, but he did not sound too confident about that Tuesday. “I don’t know what I’m planning on doing,” Pennington said. “My biggest question is can my shoulder take a hit again. I don’t know for sure if I can answer that question. I look at some of these hits that quarterbacks are taking and a lot of times the answer is, ‘No, my shoulder can’t take that kind of hit.’ Right now, I would say what I’m dealing with is, can I look a coach in the eye and say ‘yeah, you can trust me’ when I don’t know if I can trust my shoulder or not. It’s nothing I can control. It’s just the nature of having four surgeries.” Pennington played for the Jets from 2000-2007. They released him before the 2008 season after they traded for Brett Favre. If Pennington can play, I think he would be a great candidate to be the backup for Sanchez next season. Mark Brunell is expected to retire after this year. Pennington would give the Jets a competent backup, who could also help Sanchez through his growing pains. As I said in the column, no one can relate to what Sanchez is experiencing more than Pennington. But Pennington needs to figure out if he can play first. “My mind can do it,” he said. “The question is will my body follow. I’m not sure.” One other thing I could not fit into the column, but I thought was funny. I asked Pennington about the press conference in 2004 when he lectured the media about how much of a “privilege” it is to cover the Jets. Sanchez has never had an outburst like that with reporters, but I asked Pennington how tough it is to resist firing back. “I hope [Jets PR director] Bruce Speight has shown him that clip,” Pennington said. “He can learn from me not to do that because you can’t win. The only way you win is with your performance on the field. It’s really, really tough because you can be playing well but if the results are not where people expect them to be you’re going to receive criticism. The perception versus the reality can be really far from each other in a town like New York.” Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/jetsblog/former_jets_qb_pennington_unsure_3vo85RQk4ThVtfhUeqPXqJ#ixzz1frhO6fwX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Shoulder may keep former Jets QB Pennington off field | More Print 9:47 AM, December 7, 2011 ι By BRIAN COSTELLO I spoke with Chad Pennington Tuesday for this column on Mark Sanchez. I couldn’t get into this in the column, but I asked the former Jets quarterback about his future plans. Pennington is currently an analyst for FOX. He had his fourth shoulder surgery last year when he was with the Dolphins and then tore his ACL playing basketball in March. Pennington has said he hopes to play again, but he did not sound too confident about that Tuesday. “I don’t know what I’m planning on doing,” Pennington said. “My biggest question is can my shoulder take a hit again. I don’t know for sure if I can answer that question. I look at some of these hits that quarterbacks are taking and a lot of times the answer is, ‘No, my shoulder can’t take that kind of hit.’ Right now, I would say what I’m dealing with is, can I look a coach in the eye and say ‘yeah, you can trust me’ when I don’t know if I can trust my shoulder or not. It’s nothing I can control. It’s just the nature of having four surgeries.” Pennington played for the Jets from 2000-2007. They released him before the 2008 season after they traded for Brett Favre. If Pennington can play, I think he would be a great candidate to be the backup for Sanchez next season. Mark Brunell is expected to retire after this year. Pennington would give the Jets a competent backup, who could also help Sanchez through his growing pains. As I said in the column, no one can relate to what Sanchez is experiencing more than Pennington. But Pennington needs to figure out if he can play first. “My mind can do it,” he said. “The question is will my body follow. I’m not sure.” One other thing I could not fit into the column, but I thought was funny. I asked Pennington about the press conference in 2004 when he lectured the media about how much of a “privilege” it is to cover the Jets. Sanchez has never had an outburst like that with reporters, but I asked Pennington how tough it is to resist firing back. “I hope [Jets PR director] Bruce Speight has shown him that clip,” Pennington said. “He can learn from me not to do that because you can’t win. The only way you win is with your performance on the field. It’s really, really tough because you can be playing well but if the results are not where people expect them to be you’re going to receive criticism. The perception versus the reality can be really far from each other in a town like New York.” Read more: http://www.nypost.co...J#ixzz1frhO6fwX Sign The Beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Sign The Beast I honestly think that's the one move this team could make that would really make it difficult for me to continue to be a Jets fan. There is literally absolutely nothing good that can come out of that scenario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Jets were ready to draft Plaxico in 2000 | More Print 2:23 PM, December 7, 2011 ι By BRAIN COSTELLO Plaxico Burress' arrival with the Jets could have come much earlier than 2011, Chiefs coach Todd Haley revealed Wednesday. Haley, the Jets receivers coach in 2000, said the team was ready to draft Burress but the Steelers got him first. The Jets had just traded Keyshawn Johnson to the Buccanneers and were looking for a replacement. "We had lost Keyshawn, we had traded him to Tampa (Bay), and we were looking for a guy that could fill those shoes," Haley said on a conference call with New York reporters prior to Kansas City playing the Jets on Sunday. "(Burress) obviously had the size and ability and has kind of proven on his own, made a name for himself on his own, obviously. But when you do a lot of work on guys like that ... Everything happens for a reason, but I know as a receivers coach sitting there in the draft room, I was disappointed when the Steelers took him." Pittsburgh took Burress with the eighth pick that year. The Jets had four picks in the first round with Bill Parcells overseeing the draft. They did not take a receiver with any of them (12th, 13th, 18th and 27th) but selected Laveranues Cols in the third round. Burress joined the Jets this season, signing as a free agent after spending nearly two years in prison after accidentally shooting himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub in 2008 when he was a member of the Giants. Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium is a sort of homecoming for Haley, who began his coaching career under Parcells with the Jets (receivers coach 1997-2000). He also worked in the team's personnel and scouting departments before becoming a coach. "The Jets will always hold a dear, close spot in my heart," Haley said. "Went through, survived some changes there, and moved over into coaching when Coach Parcells came. Going back, Mr. (Leon) Hess just showed me so much about how a great owner operates, learned so much just from afar. "Then Mr. (Woody) Johnson coming in, a different style, but I was glad I got to experience some time with him also. There are a lot of people still there that I spent a lot of time with in the trenches and think a lot of. When we're not playing them, I always root for the Jets a little bit." Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/jetsblog/jets_were_ready_to_draft_plaxico_TV84hRiCqXn3NwntIiAd5N#ixzz1fsytcCVw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 LT vs. Thomas Jones December, 7, 2011 Dec 7 2:23 PM ET Email Print Comments5 By Rich Cimini Former Jets RB Thomas Jones is returning to New Jersey this weekend as a member of the Chiefs, a good time to examine the controversial decision in March, 2010, to release Jones and sign LaDainian Tomlinson. GM Mike Tannenbaum took a lot of heat for cutting Jones, who was coming off a 1,402-yard rushing season, but they felt he was worn down and wasn't worth the $5.8 million it would've cost to keep him. They responded immediately by signing Tomlinson to a two-year, $2.5 million contract. In retrospect, it was a good football move, as the stats indicated. Tomlinson has brought a different dimension to the offense because of his receiving ability. RUSHING, 2010-2011 Player --- No. -- Yds -- Avg -- TD Jones ....... 352 ... 1,221 ... 3.5 ... 6 Tomlinson.. 266 ... 1,086 ... 4.1 ... 7 RECEIVING, 2010-2011 Players --- No. -- Yds -- Avg -- TD Jones ........ 18 ... 138 ... 7.7 ... 0 Tomlinson .. 78 ... 696 ... 8.9 ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Moore to remain with Jets for rest of season December, 7, 2011 Dec 7 1:56 PM ET Email Print Comments8 By Jane McManus The Jets offensive consultant Tom Moore was back on the practice field Wednesday as the Jets worked on the indoor field during some heavy rain outside the practice facility. The Colts former offensive coordinator -- ostensibly retired -- arrived last week and traveled with the team to Washington to see the 34-19 win over the Redskins. Moore has been working individually with receivers, and coach Rex Ryan made it clear he'd like to have more of Moore. If the creative offensive plays last Sunday were any indication, the Jets have benefitted from his presence. RG Brandon Moore (hip) was absent from the early part of practice. For more on his condition see the post below. Mike DeVito, who missed the Washington game with a knee injury, did not practice with the team but worked out on the sideline. with practice squad tight end Jamarko Simmons. Joe McKnight (elbow) was present with a contraption on the hyperextended right elbow. WR Jeremy Kerley and RB LaDainian Tomlinson, both having missed recent games with knee injuries, practiced with their groups as well. Not sure if this belongs in the "unusual occurrence" category, but Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum spent a lot of time talking together on the sideline as Tom Moore stood by the quarterbacks. Update: Ryan said that Tom Moore will remain with the Jets for the rest of the season. Ryan joked that he went from consultant to "Mega Consultant." We will have more on that later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Former Jets RB Thomas Jones 'didn't want to leave' New York Published: Wednesday, December 07, 2011, 2:16 PM Updated: Wednesday, December 07, 2011, 2:31 PM By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger Follow Email Print Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerThomas Jones, now with the Chiefs, will face his former team Sunday. Thomas Jones had career-highs in rushing yards (1,402) and touchdowns (14) for the Jets in 2009. After that season, the veteran running back was cut by the team. Jones, who is now with Kansas City, good-naturedly said on on a conference call today that he wasn't surprised and still feels blessed for his three seasons in New York. "I wasn’t surprised, because I knew what was possibly going to happen before the season started," Jones said. "That’s why I didn’t go to the offseason program, because I wanted to just secure my last year there. But it happened for a reason, ended up out here in Kansas City. I’m enjoying being in Kansas City around my team and teammates and the city, and this is just another experience for me to talk about when I'm done playing football." Jones did not report to the offseason program or organized team activities in 2009, speculated at the time to be due to unsuccessful attempts to renegotiate his contract -- though Jones never expressly said so at the time. He was released in March 2010, before he was due to earn a sizeable roster bonus. Jones said he didn't want to leave New York -- just like he didn't want to leave Chicago when he was traded to the Jets in 2007. His former Jets teammates still speak well of his leadership qualities as the Jets went to the AFC Championship Game in Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez's first season. "That’s the most important thing, is what guys say about you when you leave," Jones said. "Despite the fact that I still wanted to play in New York City, I didn’t want to leave -- I loved playing with my teammates there, just like I loved playing with my teammates in Chicago -- I understood that was part of the business. For guys to still think that much of me and still have that much respect for me, it means a whole lot to me." Jones, in particular, served as a mentor to Sanchez and running back Shonn Greene, both rookies in 2009. He praised Sanchez's ability to win and handle the pressure of New York City, and remembered his efforts to keep Sanchez focused on the next game during an up-and-down rookie season. "I tried to be a friend to him and kind of an older brother to him as well, because I've been through a lot of situations," Jones said. "I just tried to give him advice through the good and tough times. I hope he remembers those times, because I do." Jones added: "He’s kind of a perfectionist, and I'm a perfectionist, so I know how it is. You’re your worst critic." Jones also remembered fondly his time playing for Ryan. He said they hit it off immediately, when Jones returned to the team after missing the offseason program. He called Ryan "my kind of coach," and said he thinks he's Ryan's kind of player, too. Jones will get a chance to catch up with everyone this Sunday, when the Chiefs play the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Jones, 33, admitted this season with the Chiefs has at times been "frustrating," as the offense has struggled to get going. He has just 325 rushing yards through 12 games. But Jones said he needs just 11 yards to pass fellow Virginia grad Tiki Barber on the all-time rushing list, and he looks forward to the chance to pass that milestone against the Jets. "Coming back to New York and hopefully being able to do that as well, that’s something special," Jones said. "I look forward to it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Mulligan on flags December, 7, 2011 Dec 7 4:38 PM ET Email Print Comments By Jane McManus With six offsides penalties and an sidelines argument with running backs coach Anthony Lynn caught on camera, tight end Matthew Mulligan said he’s aware he has some things he has some work to do. “That’s something obviously I have to fix because you don’t want to be a hindrance to the team obviously,” Mulligan said. “Unfortunately I’ve had a few offsides penalties. Like (Jets coach Rex Ryan) was telling me the other day, I don’t need to get a jump. He’s like, ‘You can just block the guys, don’t get a jump.’” Ryan spoke to him in passing, Mulligan said, the coach did not specifically seek him out. “He knows I’m my toughest critic.” Mulligan refused to talk about the heated sideline conversation between himself and Lynn, and when asked twice about the dispute caught on pixels did not address the question, and said only that he has a great deal of respect for Lynn. Looks like that’s the company line on the matter, although on Monday Ryan said, “It’s not like getting punched in the face or something. Those things just happen.” Clearly, if Mulligan wants to get a bigger role in the offense, he cannot be a flag-magnet. “I know the snap count and I’m trying to get a jump a lot of times,” Mulligan said. “And unfortunately it’s happened a few too many times. So it’s definitely something I need to get corrected in order to make the team better for sure.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Jones, Jets Still Share a Mutual Respect By Andrew LeRay Posted 20 minutes ago When the Jets take to the field before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium, they will find a familiar face on the opposite sidelines. Chiefs RB Thomas Jones spent three memorable and highly productive seasons wearing the green and white. For many Jets, he was an embodiment of grit and diligence, the definition of a true teammate. On Sunday, their admiration will be set aside in the pursuit of another victory. “He was a big-time leader for us during his time here,” said CB Darrelle Revis. “I wish he wouldn’t have left. I wish we still had him as a teammate, but we know how business goes and I’m sure he’s giving all that leadership to those guys in Kansas City.” In the final year of Jones’ tenure with the Jets, two cornerstones of their offense were rookies trying to discover their roles in the NFL. And both QB Mark Sanchez and RB Shonn Greene had the ability to start their pro careers under the tutelage of a highly respected veteran. “He was one of the first backs I was around when I came here,” said Greene. “He’s been through it all. A lot of what I do is from that guy right there. He’s a great player and an even better person, and I appreciate him.” On a conference call today with Jets reporters, Jones, who's rushed for 325 yards on 107 carries for the Chiefs this season, talked about what it means to still be remembered by his former teammates. “That’s the most important thing is what guys think about you when you leave,” said Jones. “I loved playing with my teammates there, and for guys to still think that much of me and still have that much respect for me means a whole lot.” As Greene was learning the ropes in his rookie campaign, Jones was the featured tailback in the offense. He carried the ball 331 times for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns, all career highs. Greene rushed for 540 yards on 108 carries, and is quick to credit Jones for being a better pass protector, route runner, student and professional on and off the field. “I love to see young backs like Shonn succeed,” said Jones. “We had a great relationship. Especially because he played running back, I tried to lead by example through working hard in practice, finishing runs and watching extra film. Those are the things I tried to help him with, and he responded.” In 2009 head coach Rex Ryan’s “Ground & Pound” was born. Although Jones had a special bond with Greene, his leadership extended well beyond his own position. “He’s one of the best teammates I ever had,” said Sanchez. “He’s a real team leader, and he didn’t say much, but when he did it was from the heart. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever been around. That was a fun time.” Now looked upon to lead the offense, Sanchez takes the lessons taught by Jones and applies them to a younger generation of Jets. “I was just trying to stay afloat,” said Sanchez. “He was one of the first guys who came up to me and said, ‘Hey, man, you’re our guy. We drafted you for a reason. Prove them all wrong.’ So when we get a younger guy like Joe McKnight or Jeremy Kerley, if they fumble or drop a pass, I remind them of that." They once shared a locker room, but the current Jets defenders will have their hands full trying to take down the 5’10”, 210-pound Jones on Sunday. “I never got to tackle him, not even in training camp,” said Revis. “He has a reputation of running hard. He has those big arms he tries to plow you over with. I’ll probably have the opportunity to tackle him on Sunday and we’ll see how it feels.” Rex Ryan partook in Wednesday’s lovefest but made it clear that come Sunday, emotions take a backseat to business. “He’ll be rarin' to go. He’s a great competitor,” said Ryan. “We always appreciated him. It’s funny, we took out an ad in the papers letting Kansas City know the kind of player Thomas was. I have a great deal of admiration for him ... but not this week.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Ryan spoke to him in passing, Mulligan said, the coach did not specifically seek him out. “He knows I’m my toughest critic.” Clearly he's never read JN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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