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[kelly]

One sports-analytics expert isn't buying the hype on the New York Jets.

 

Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders, an ESPN contributor, has posted his projected AFC standings for 2015, and he doesn't believe the Jets will be significantly better than last season. He predicts a 6-10 record, last place in the AFC East.

 

You're probably thinking, "  Who is this Schatz guy ?  "

 

Well, last year at this time, he forecast a 6-10 mark for the Jets. That, too, was met with considerable skepticism because the popular belief was the Jets would build on their encouraging 8-8 finish in 2013 and contend for a playoff spot.We all know what happened. They bottomed out at 4-12 and almost everybody got fired.

 

Once again, Schatz offers a caveat, saying: "When considering these numbers, remember that this is not the final, official Football Outsiders forecast for 2015, and some of these projections will change between now and the July publication of 'Football Outsiders Almanac 2015.'"

 

Evidently, Schatz -- or least his formula -- doesn't see the Jets, with all their offseason additions and changes, making a run at the New England Patriots. Time will tell. So will Roger Goodell. If the commissioner slams Tom Brady with a multiple-game suspension for his role in DeflateGate, it will have an impact on the standings.

 

Here's how Schatz sees the AFC East (SOS is strength of schedule) :

 

New England Patriots: 11-5 (10.6 mean wins, SOS: 25)

Miami Dolphins: 11-5 (10.6 mean wins; SOS: 22)

Buffalo Bills: 8-8 (8.2 mean wins; SOS: 19)

New York Jets: 6-10 (5.8 mean wins; SOS: 20)

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51287/football-outsiders-projects-6-10-jets-in-2015

[kelly]

If his four-game suspension withstands the appeal, Tom Brady's first 2015 home game will be against the New York Jets on Oct. 25, a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.Hardly an ideal situation for Todd Bowles' first trip to Foxborough.The Jets will be walking into the ultimate homecoming game, a Brady pep rally filled with 70,000 blind loyalists who refuse to believe their beloved St. Thomas is a cheater. There will be so much pro-Brady electricity in the atmosphere that the New England Patriots' fans might forget to boo their new traitor, Darrelle Revis, who preferred Woody Johnson's money over the chance to win back-to-back Super Bowl rings.

 

On second thought, they'll probably save some venom for Revis, but his return to Gillette Stadium -- initially billed the "Tamper Bowl" -- will be the sidebar to the Brady storyline. If the suspension holds, Brady will make his 2015 debut on the road, the previous week in Indianapolis, before returning to his Kool Aid-drinking fans.It'll be one of the most anticipated Jets-Patriots games in, like, forever. It'll rank up there with Sept. 14, 1997, when Bill Parcells -- only seven months removed from a Super Bowl run with the Patriots -- returned as coach of the Jets. The game was billed as "World War Tuna," and there was plenty of Parcells hate in the old stadium. The Patriots won.

 

Another memorable week was the run-up to Sept. 23, 2001, the first game after the 9-11 terrorist strikes. It was an emotional, red-white-and-blue day that bonded New York and Boston fans. It also was a day that changed football, as Mo Lewis blasted Drew Bledsoe, opening the door for a young Brady. The Jets took the game, but the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that season.The third game that stands out is the 2010 season wild-card game on Jan. 16, 2011, when most everybody figured the Jets would get blown out again by the Patriots, who won by 42 points several weeks earlier. It turned out to be the Jets' biggest win since Super Bowl III, a moment of sweet redemption.

 

The old rivals will be back at it Oct. 25, with Brady, Revis and slightly different supporting casts. Most notably, Rex Ryan won't be there (less hot air), and neither will Brady's football deflators (more hot air).

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51320/fittingly-jets-will-be-opponent-in-tom-bradys-homecoming-game

[kelly]

Around The NFL predicts the Week 1 starting lineups for all 32 teams, analyzing the potential impact of each rookie class.

 

 

Jets Projected Starters   Offense Defense   QB Geno Smith DE Muhammad Wilkerson   RB Chris Ivory DT Damon Harrison   WR1 Brandon Marshall DE Sheldon Richardson   WR2 Eric Decker OLB Quinton Coples   WR3 Jeremy Kerley ILB David Harris   TE1 Jace Amaro ILB Demario Davis   LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson OLB Calvin Pace   G Willie Colon CB1 Darrelle Revis   C Nick Mangold CB2 Antonio Cromartie   G James Carpenter CB3 Buster Skrine   RT Breno Giacomini S Marcus Gilchrist

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick's injury gives Geno a leg up in this competition. Smith's skill set suits Chan Gailey's style, and the weapons around him give Smith a better chance to succeed than ever before. He played like a competent starter in December last season.

 

We give Kerley the edge over rookie second-round pick Devin Smith for now. The Jets need speed, and figure to use Smith at first as the team's designated home run hitter. That's more of a No. 4 receiver job, with Kerley getting more snaps in the slot. Marshall will also move inside plenty.

 

Not a single rookie is listed as a starter, including No. 6 overall pick Leonard Williams. He will get plenty of snaps rotating at defensive end and could even play inside when the Jets use a four man front. 

 

 Willie Colon could lose his job at guard, but it's not like Brian Winters is a great option to replace him.

 

 I lined the Jets up in a 3-3-5 because they aren't paying Skrine to sit on the bench. Despite all the talent up front, the Jets' outside pass rush options are familiar and boring. It's another year of Coples, Calvin Pace and Jason Babin. Third-round pick Lorenzo Mauldin could work into the mix.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492269/article/projected-2015-starters-new-york-jets

[kelly]

Jets can afford to let Mo Wilkerson situation play out

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51276/jets-can-afford-to-let-mo-wilkerson-situation-play-out

[kelly]

 

 

The Jets' poohbahs trekked out to Long Island on Wednesday night for a town hall gathering with season-ticket holders at Hofstra University. Somewhat remarkably—and in this context, "somewhat remarkably" means "just as expected"—the topic of standout defensive end and Linden native Muhammad Wilkerson's future with the Jets came up.And general manager Mike Maccagnan sounded notably optimistic about the prospect of a long-term contract for Wilkerson, as you can see in the short video clip at the bottom of this post."We have money allocated for Mo," Maccagnan said, which brought applause from the crowd. "We'd like to keep Mo a Jet for a long time. But, again, it's a process."(We laid out how the Jets could keep Wilkerson even with Sheldon Richardson and Williams around here.)

 

Maccagnan has been getting asked a lot about Wilkerson lately. Can't imagine why, what with Wilkerson entering a contract year and the Jets just having drafted another defensive end, Leonard Williams, with the No. 6 overall pick. Wilkerson has not yet been at the Jets' offseason program, but it's all voluntary until next month, so that shouldn't be a concern for anyone. There were also reports just before the draft that the Jets were entertaining trade offers for Wilkerson, but Maccagnan has made it clear on numerous occasions the Jets aren't shopping him.Maccagnan's optimistic tone Wednesday night echoed how he had publicly characterized the Wilkerson contract talks before the draft. In March, just after the first wave of free agency, Maccagnan said the Jets had the resources to a do a deal—it's estimated that Wilkerson could get as much a $40 million guaranteed—and that he "definitely" wanted "to keep him in the organization."But on draft night, just after the Jets took Williams, Maccagnan sounded a little less certain about doing an extension.

 

"Again," he said without elaborating, "I would hope so, but time will tell."Maccagnan reiterated a bit of that uncertainty in an interview last week with WFAN's Mike Francesa. And while he made it clear Wednesday night that "the process" of ironing out a contract with Wilkerson would take time, he certainly sounded much more confident about it happening.

Via SNY, you can watch a short clip of Maccagnan addressing the Wilkerson situation at the town hall here :

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/05/mike_maccagnan_jets_intend_to_keep_muhammad_wilker.html

 

[kelly]

EA: The pairing of GM Mike Maccagnan and HC Todd Bowles is off to a good start. In need of corner help, the Green & White saw a draft class that wasn’t loaded with impact players. And with financial flexibility, the Jets delivered in free agency with the additions of Darrelle Revis,

Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. The Jets didn’t need another stud defensive lineman, but they made the right play in the first round of the draft by taking perhaps the top overall player in Leonard Williams. Then in the third round, they grabbed an outside ‘backer – Louisville product Lorenzo Mauldin - for Bowles/Kacy Rodgers as they run a 3-4. The Jets were effective rushing the passer last year, but they will be more proficient there in 2015 with more talent in the front seven and the upgrades in the secondary (don’t forget S Marcus Gilchrist).

 

In my mind, the most important stat for this defense will be takeaways. What separates the good units from the elite ones are takeaways and this ’15 defense has enticing potential. Maccagnan went the trade route to get one of the most productive receivers in football (Brandon Marshall) and an experienced veteran quarterback (Ryan Fitzpatrick) for offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. The Green & White also added a vertical threat in second-rounder Devin Smith and opposition safeties will have to respect that speed. In league circles, Gailey is well respected both as a play-caller and a coach who can get the most out of his players. That was a terrific hire by Bowles, a coach you can see was heavily influenced by Bill Parcells in his approach. I could go on… Plenty of reasons for excitement.

 

EA: Interesting question. Bowles selected Gailey because he isn’t married to one system. He will adapt to his personnel and put them in the best position to make plays. “He’s even-keeled as far as run, pass…,” Bowles said of Gailey at rookie camp. “He has a good running game and a good passing game.” I think Jeff Cumberland & Jace Amaro are players to keep an eye on. Cumberland, a former receiver on the collegiate level who has developed as a blocker, is one of the faster tight ends in football. Amaro, a Texas Tech product, had 38 receptions and 2 TDs as a rookie. Former Bills TE Scott Chandler, who was a quality pick-up for the Patriots, combined for 12 TDs under Gailey in 2011-’12. “It is definitely an offense where things are wide open. We get to flex out our tight ends a bunch and use those guys as wideouts,” QB Geno Smith said.

 

EA: One of the more intriguing position battles at camp could be at guard. Former Seahawk OL James Carpenter signed in March and would figure to start. Willie Colon re-signed, Oday Aboushi gained valuable starting experience last year, Brian Winters is working back from an ACL injury and Dakota Dozier is a player with upside. Dozier is not talked about often, but he could be poised to take a jump. Jarvis Harrison, a fifth-round selection from Texas A&M, is a 6’4”, 330-pounder who looks the part and has good feet. You need quality guard play in the AFC East with monsters like Ndamukong Suh, Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams lined up across the way.

 

EA: It is so early, but there are plenty of things to like about Petty. He carries a workmanlike approach and he wants to be good. There are natural leadership qualities that you see and he has embraced this transition. I like his size, arm strength and delivery. Most rookie quarterbacks are a little bit on the thin side, but Petty is well-built. I didn’t see any problems with his snaps from under center last weekend, so nerves weren’t a problem at rookie camp. But Petty hasn’t even stepped on the field with the full squad yet. Coach Bowles has been clear about the QB depth chart.

 

EA: Well 2012 was a career-year for C.J. Spiller as he combined for 1,703 yards on 250 total touches. The Bills finished sixth overall in rushing (138.6 ypg) and also fourth in rush carry average (5.0). The explosive Spiller is a different type of back than Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley and company. While Ivory has deceptive speed, he doesn’t know the directions east or west. With that squad, Gailey ran a lot of 3 WR, 1 TE & 1 RB sets. This Jets team has far superior talent at the wide receiver position than that Bills squad. I wouldn’t get too caught up with 2012 just because Fitzy was there. To study Gailey, you really have to make it a Memorial Day Marathon and look at Steelers, Cowboys and Georgia Tech film just to name a few.

 

EA: I don’t anticipate Coach Bowles revealing the plan for Williams. It is all going to be game-plan specific, but Williams is a versatile defender. He obviously can line up as a 3-4 DE, but he can move to a three-technique in pass-rush situations. More than a one-trick pony, Leo is stout against the run and he should only develop as a pass rusher. The Jets are going to make teams pick their poison – who you going to double?

 

EA: Ah, a question to make Jets Nation smile. Smith gained experience both on the outside and the slot at Ohio State. Chan Gailey will mix up personnel groupings, so it all depends on how many wideouts are on the field. The Jets OC is going to use all of the grass/turf to stretch opponents out and Smith can create room. Brandon Marshall, while dangerous on the outside, has also been awfully effective at the slot position in the past running two-way gos. And as far as special teams are concerned, Smith wasn’t just an effective player for the Buckeyes – he was a stellar performer. I’m looking forward to speaking to coordinator Bobby April about the speedster.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-6/EA-QA-A-Glance-at-Gaileys-Attack/0cf9ba7a-1278-46d7-898c-ba7eb19ffdd1

[kelly]

@RichCimini: Actually, it's $9.5 million and that doesn't include the draft pick signings. It'll probably be in the $5 million to $6 million range when we get the updated cap reports, but general manager Mike Maccagnan told season-ticket holders last week at a town hall meeting they have enough allocated to sign Muhammad Wilkerson to an extension. That could be posturing, of course. How much is enough? The team and Wilkerson probably have different views on that. Wilkerson reportedly is looking for $40 million in guarantees, which would put him in the Robert Quinn neighborhood. Quinn, a first-round pick in 2011 (as was Wilkerson), signed a four-year extension last September that averages $14.3 million per year, including $41.3 million in guarantees. Technically, less than $16 million was fully guaranteed at signing, so I'm not sure how that would impact the Wilkerson talks. The bottom line is, Quinn will make $31.5 million over the first three years, and you have to think Wilkerson is looking for something similar. It'll be a huge investment, but as I've said on a few occasions, Wilkerson is a keeper even with the addition of Leonard Williams.
 

@RichCimini: I'll stick to what I wrote on the night of the schedule release -- 8-8. The Jets have made significant improvements on defense, especially in the secondary. If this isn't a top-5 defense, something is bad wrong. The issue is the offense. Yeah, it'll be better than a year ago -- can't get worse -- but are we talking about a playoff-caliber offense? I don't think so. Brandon Marshall will help in the red zone, a major issue, but the offense lacks dynamic playmakers in the backfield and on the perimeter. They have pedestrian runners and, for the most part, possession receivers. Maybe Devin Smith can help right away, but you're reaching if you're depending on a second-round pick to change an entire unit. To me, it comes down to two people: Geno Smith and Chan Gailey. Can Gailey's system galvanize the talent? Can Smith go from a bottom-5 quarterback to a top-15 to 20 quarterback? If he can, this could be a playoff team.
 

@RichCimini: The obvious guys are tight end Jace Amaro and safety Calvin Pryor, both of whom should be more productive now that they're not rookies anymore. Amaro, in particular, could make a nice leap forward. His skill set fits Chan Gailey's spread offense, so he figures to have more opportunities in the passing game -- assuming he learns to eliminate the drops. Pryor will play his natural position, strong safety, and that alone will help. If you're looking for a couple of sleepers, keep an eye on wide receiver Chris Owusu and cornerback Dexter McDougle. Owusu, who made a couple of circus catches last season, has more talent than people realize. He will compete for the No. 5 receiver job. McDougle was showing promise before a knee injury ended his rookie year in the preseason. If healthy, he could work his way into some sub packages and contribute on special teams.
 

@RichCimini: Be worse than Ryan Fitzpatrick. I know it sounds like a smart-alec answer, but it's the truth. The new regime has no allegiance to Smith, and it won't hesitate to start Fitzpatrick if it believes he's the best guy. Smith's margin for error is gone. Todd Bowles has said Smith will go into training camp as the first-team quarterback, which gives him first dibs. It also means he will take the majority of the reps at the outset, meaning he'd really have to screw up to blow his shot at the job. Also remember that Fitzpatrick will be coming back from a broken leg in camp, so there could be some rust involved. His advantage is that he already knows the offense; Smith doesn't. If he can absorb the offense quickly, he'll be in prime position to claim the opening-day job.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51380/new-york-jets-mailbag-can-they-afford-to-re-sign-mo-wilkerson

[kelly]

With five quarterbacks on their roster, the New York Jets must make some difficult decisions. Most NFL teams enter training camp with three signal callers, while a select few carry four at the game's pinnacle position. This means there's an odd man out wearing the red jersey at Jets practice, but is there also a dark horse candidate for the starting QB job?

New York Jets quarterbacks, in order of NFL experience :

Ryan Fitzpatrick - 96 games, 79.5 passer rating
Geno Smith - 30 games, 71.5 passer rating
Matt Simms - 4 games, 61.4 passer rating
Jake Heaps - rookie - 2 years starting at BYU (2010-2011)
Bryce Petty - rookie - 2 years starting at Baylor (2013-2014)

I'd be shocked if the Jets carried two rookie quarterbacks into training camp. However, with only four games played in the NFL, Matt Simms is as close to a rookie as a third year player can get. But this conversation isn't about who gets cut, it's about who rises up to impress their new coaches and make a run at the starting job.Matt Simms is the dark horse candidate for starting quarterback of the New York Jets. He entered the league in the same season as Geno Smith, arguably a leg or so behind Geno in the conversation for starter. Simms has the family pedigree, but none of the college stats that Geno or even Bryce Petty put up.

Outside of nineteen NFL completions, Matt Simms' resume looks much like that of Jake Heaps. That is to say, the numbers mean little to nothing. Simms' coaches know him best, but since they were all replaced in the offseason, it's a fresh start for Matt with the Jets.In the limited action that Simms played, mostly in the preseason, I liked what I saw from the young quarterback. I liked it so much so that I was pulling for him to get the nod over Geno Smith, despite the sparks of greatness displayed by Geno late in the 2013 season. What intrigues me now is that the slate has been wiped clean for both players.New coaches mean new opinions, new strategies, new playbooks, and a new evaluation of talent. The only player on the Jets with playing experience that overlaps with the coaching staff is Ryan Fitzpatrick. Geno Smith has a lot of game tape, but it's debatable how much that tape helps his case for starting quarterback. Simms has very little NFL tape, meaning it's all about practice.

Matt Simms will be fighting for a roster spot along with Heaps and Petty, but he's by far the front runner in that race and easily entrenched in the competition for starter. Coach Todd Bowles must evaluate all of his quarterbacks, regardless of past performance. This probably helps Geno Smith, but it certainly helps Matt Simms.Maybe it's my New York memory, maybe I'm putting too much stock in a few pre-season performances, or maybe Matt Simms has yet to be given the opportunity he deserves to lead an NFL team.

If there was ever a dark horse worth rooting for, it's Matt Simms. He can take down the competition in Jets' camp and play his way into the quarterback conversation. The position hasn't been this big of a question mark for Gang Green in quite some time. If ever a surprise player was to seize the QB job from an incumbent who's been counted out, it's Simms with these New York Jets.

Let the actual competition for quarterback begin.

 

> http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/dark_horse_for_new_york_jets_quarterback/18816008

[kelly]

Darrelle Revis might have won a Super Bowl ring with New England Patriots, but that doesn't mean he's displaying undying devotion to his now-former team (he's back with the their archrivals, the New York Jets, after a two-season hiatus, one spent with the Patriots).

 

Specifically, he has no sympathy for Tom Brady. Revis spoke to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, suggesting the franchise's history of rule-breaking likely played a part in Brady's punishment :

 

"Everybody's blowing it [Deflategate] up because it is Tom Brady. I understand that. But if [the NFL] feels he did the crime or he did something and they want to penalize them, then that's that. [The Patriots] have a history of doing stuff. You can't hide that. ... Tom was there when they did that stuff in the past. ... Stuff repeatedly happened through the years. You got Spygate, you got this and that and everything else."

 

Spoken like a true Jet (or at least someone who has wiped his hands of his former team). Revis certainly has no responsibility to defend the Patriots, but it does make us anticipate the two matchups between the storied foes this coming season even more than usual.

(H/T New York Daily News)

 

> http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/12922958/no-love-lost-darrelle-revis-new-england-patriots

[kelly]

Always something brewing with the New York Jets. Thanks for all the questions.

 

@RichCimini: If the Jets decided to confirm Geno Smith as the starter to avoid a media headache ... wow, that would be a really bad reason. For the record, no, I don't think that had anything to do with it. Let's clear something up: I don't think it was Chan Gailey's intention to create a quarterback story. In his mind, he was simply reiterating what Todd Bowles had said earlier in the offseason. But, in truth, Gailey's comments were more definitive than Bowles' earlier remarks. Gailey skipped the coachspeak and gave an honest and clear answer to a question. Boom, a headline! I've got news for you: We'll still keep quarterback stats in training camp (it's what we do), but there will be fewer questions pertaining to the competition that isn't a competition.

 

@RichCimini: First of all, it's not like he's not showing up at all. He has attended about half the workouts, according to Bowles. Richardson participated in Thursday's OTA practice, according to his tweet. Remember, these workouts are voluntary. The only mandatory portion of the offseason is the June 9-11 minicamp. Richardson is a hard worker and I can tell you he takes a lot of pride in his game, so there's no doubt he will be ready for the season. Me? I'd want to attend every practice, trying to absorb as much of the new scheme as possible. I'd also want to impress the new coach and get to know my new teammates. But that's me; I'm old school. I don't know why Richardson's attendance has been sporadic; he might have a perfectly legitimate reason. Technically, he doesn't need a reason.

 

@RichCimini: Don't get hung up on the $6 million figure; that won't be an obstacle in the Jets' ability to sign Muhammad Wilkerson to a contract extension. Remember, he's already counting $6.97 million on the cap, and they probably can reduce that charge with a certain structure. For instance: Robert Quinn, a first-round pick in Wilkerson's draft class, played last season at a $3 million cap charge after signing a long-term extension. I understand Wilkerson is seeking at least $40 million in guarantees. Quinn got $15.7 million in full guarantees at signing, plus another $25.6 million in rolling guarantees for a total of $41.3 million. Most would say Wilkerson isn't on Quinn's level, but he's close. After drafting Leonard Williams, the Jets have a considerable amount of leverage. They're apparently in no rush to get a deal done.

 

@RichCimini: No, I don't see that happening. I could see him in a sub package, but starting in the base 3-4 defense? That would be a surprise. Mauldin has ability, but there are many aspects to the outside-linebacker position -- setting the edge, rushing and dropping into coverage. It's a lot for a rookie to learn. According to Bowles, Mauldin is working on both sides -- Sam and Rush linebacker. He wants to get a feel for his strengths and weakness before putting him in one spot. If he can handle some pass-coverage responsibilities, he could land in the Sam position (strong side), currently manned by Calvin Pace.

 

@RichCimini: Who's line? If you're a Jets fan, you loved his comments. If you're a Patriots fan, you'll have another reason to boo him when he comes to Foxborough in the fall. I agree with your assessment -- smoke, but no fire. I thought he was stating the obvious when he said the Patriots "have a history of doing stuff." No kidding. I sensed an overall ambivalence toward Tom Brady and the Patriots in his comments to the New York Daily News. Minutes earlier, speaking to a group of reporters, Revis sounded like he couldn't care less about the current predicament of his previous team. I'm sure his quotes were noted in the Belichick bunker.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51475/jets-mailbag-quarterbacks-sheldon-richardsons-attendance-and-darrelle-revis-comments

[kelly]

Ball Is in Geno's Court

Third-Year QB Aims for Consistent Success in New System

 

video..

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Team-Report-Ball-Is-in-Genos-Court-/f051f808-1b5b-465a-90a1-cf91f38246d7

[kelly]

A look at what's going on around the New York Jets :

 

1. Third time's a charm ? It's not unprecedented for a quarterback like Geno Smith to get another starting nod after two below-average seasons. Look at quarterbacks of his statistical ilk, and you'll see it happens fairly often. But keeping reading because there's a caveat.The folks at Football Outsiders did some number crunching and came up with a list of 10 quarterbacks over the last 25 years whose statistical metrics in their first two seasons come closest to Smith's numbers (minimum: 100 attempts). This list isn't flattering toward Smith -- Kyle Boller, Jake Locker,Tim Couch, Rick Mirer, Trent Dilfer,Joey Harrington,Charlie Frye,Billy Joe Tolliver, Steve Walsh and Jake Plummer.Basically, they all stunk in their first two seasons, but eight of the 10 -- all except Tolliver and Walsh -- started opening day in Year 3. Ah, but there's more to the story: Seven of the eight were first-round picks, including four in the top-6. The exception was Frye (third round), who got benched in the 2007 opener and never started another game for the Cleveland Browns.Obviously, teams are more patient with first-round draft choices because of the money invested. Smith was a second-round pick, so, yeah, what the Jets are doing is outside the box. The new regime is planning to start Smith after two years of play that ranged mostly from poor to uneven. If he succeeds, he'll be bucking a trend.

 

2. Follow-up QB thoughts: The Jets' quarterback announcement, which wasn't really an announcement as much as a clarification, has produced some misguided chatter. Allow me to clean up a couple of things.No, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey didn't undermine Todd Bowles by proclaiming Smith the starter. In Gailey's mind, he was reiterating what Bowles already had stated on multiple occasions. In reality, though, Bowles wasn't nearly as definitive as Gailey, who skipped the coachspeak and gave a candid answer to a question.No, the job doesn't come with a lifetime appointment for Smith. He's like 95 percent of the starting players in the league; if he performs poorly, he'll lose the job. Very few are afforded "untouchable" status, and Smith is a long way from that. But make no mistake, their plan is to go into the season with him behind center.

 

3. Geno versus Mariota: I wonder if the new coaching staff would feel this confident about Smith if they had drafted Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston. Gailey was asked if he viewed Smith as a better option than Mariota and Winston, and he ducked. I know this : The Jets never were going to pick Mariota at No. 6; he wasn't among the top six on their draft board. Neither was Winston, from what I'm told.

 

4. Not wild about the deuce: The general consensus around the league is the longer PAT (32/33 yards) will cause teams to try more two-point plays than in the past, especially in bad weather. I have some advice for the Jets: Practice, practice, practice.They're the worst two-point team in the league, and it's not even close for second-worst. Since 2001, the Jets have converted a league-low 27.8 percent -- 10-for-36. Their last successful conversion was 2010.More sobering numbers: In Gailey's last coaching gig (Buffalo Bills, 2010-2012), his offense was only 1-for-5 on conversions.Bowles said his strategy for PAT versus two-point play will be based on weather and game conditions."I think it will depend on whether you’re playing in Green Bay or Miami," he said. "If it’s 20 below and the wind is swirling, you may be more inclined to go for two. If the weather is nice, you probably kick the extra point. I think once it gets cold, it may factor in more than it factors in early in the season."Some good news for the Jets: Kicker Nick Folk is 9-for-9 in his career from 32 and 33 yards. So there's that.

 

5. April disagrees with Feely: Former Jets kicker Jay Feely made headlines with his response to the new PAT rule, saying it increases the injury risk. I understand where he's coming from. Because the kick is 13 yards longer than the previous distance, teams will rush more aggressively in an attempt to block the kick. That will lead to more contact, which could lead to more injuries -- in theory.

Special teams coach Bobby April disgreed with Feely's take, and I'm with April on this one."You wouldn’t want to take contact out of the game," April said. "We’d be playing soccer."

 

6. The Zac attack: Zac Stacy created a buzz on draft day when he tweeted "Yikes!" in response to the St. Louis Rams picking running back Todd Gurley. Stacy told me, "It was humorous. I didn't think it would get that reaction." Unbeknownst to many, he reached out to Gurley, congratulating him and wishing him well with the Rams -- a classy gesture.You know the rest of the story: Stacy requested a trade and he was dealt to the Jets, where he finds himself in a crowded backfield."It'll be a huge competition," he said. "We all understand what's at stake."Stacy said he considers himself an every-down back, and he expects plenty of opportunities."With these guys being third in the league in rushing, I figure they're going to run the ball a little bit," he said. "It gets you licking your chops."

 

7. Double vision: One of the early takeaways from watching Bowles' practices is that he likes to split the team and use two fields, which gives reps to more players. That's one of the reasons why he's going with five quarterbacks on the roster. By training camp, he expects to have it down to four. We saw another practice wrinkle last week. Bowles created an offense-versus-defense challenge in a two-minute drill, and the loser (the offense) had to run gassers. The only time I can remember gassers under Rex Ryan was a few years ago in Cortland, where several skirmishes erupted in practice and Ryan made them run penalty sprints.

 

8. E-Z pass (defense): Listening to Antonio Cromartie talk about Bowles' defensive scheme makes you think it shouldn't take long for the players to master the nuances of the system."This is by far the simplest defense anybody could play," said Cromartie, who played under Bowles last year in Arizona. "The defense itself is straightforward. If you can't learn this defense, something is wrong with you."

Cromartie loves the simplicity because it allows the players to play fast. No one ever called Ryan's scheme easy to learn, but the players always said it allowed them to play fast. Here's what I think: If you have fast players, you play fast.

 

9. The select two: Only two of the nine undrafted players received signing bonuses -- defensive tackle Davon Wells ($15,000) and safety Durrell Eskridge ($8,500, plus a $5,000 guarantee on his base salary). When a rookie free agent gets a bonus, it usually means there was competition for his services.

 

10. Call him Mr. T Bill: Before the 2012 season, then-GM Mike Tannenbaum extended Mark Sanchez's contract even though it had two years to go. Sanchez received a $20.5 million guarantee. Last week, Tannenbaum, now the Miami Dolphins' football czar, extended Ryan Tannehill's contract even though it had two years remaining. It includes $21.5 million in guarantees (which can increase to $45 million). Tannenbaum better hope this works out better than the last one.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51482/sunday-notes-new-york-jets-faith-in-geno-smith-is-unusual-historically-speaking

[#27TheDominator]

Does anybody know which side Carpenter is working on?  You would assume that Carpenter will have a leg up on one G spot.  I would have assumed the right side, with the weaker G's competing for the theoretically easier spot between Brick and Mangold. Carpenter played the right when he first came up with Seattle, both G and T, but I think he played exclusively on the left last year.  Somebody here said that they have been listing him at LG.  The depth chart above seems to guess RG, but that is pretty meaningless.

[kelly]

saw this..

 

~ ~ Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, and the Jets are back at work.

 

On Tuesday, the Jets begin the second of their three-week period of organized team activities (OTAs) in Florham Park. The OTAs are voluntary, which is worth mentioning in light of defensive end Sheldon Richardson's absence for part of last week, which shouldn't have become A Thing, but did.We went over some storylines to keep an eye on last week; after last week's three practices, most of those should remain unchanged. And here's a quick wrap-up of how things went during the first week of OTAs.

 

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who seeks a contract extension, is not expected to be on-hand as he continues to work out on his own. But, again, OTAs are voluntary. And the Brandon Marshall vs. The Secondary matchup should be amped up a bit now that Marshall, a wideout acquired via trade from the Bears, has thrown down the gauntlet with a challenge.This week's OTA practices will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with media access on Wednesday only. There is no contact, and players can do 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 team drills. Next week's last four OTAs run from Tuesday through Friday, with media access permitted on Wednesday only.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/05/jets_resume_otas_on_tuesday_what_to_expect.html

[kelly]

..cool !

 

~ ~ The best offseason work assures nothing in the NFL, as Tampa Bay and a few other teams proved again last offseason. But we can still evaluate the jobs teams have done in addressing their roster needs through free agency, trades and the draft, with an eye toward how moves affect outlooks in the short and long terms.

 

To that end, I've enlisted ESPN analysts Bill Polian, Louis Riddick, Matt Williamson and Field Yates, quoting each extensively in our 2015 NFL offseason grades. I also took into account Mel Kiper's draft grades for every team.

 

Here are offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams :

 

New York Jets: A

Re-signed: DE Leger Douzable, LB David Harris, LS Tanner Purdum, OL Ben Ijajana, OL Willie Colon, RB Bilal Powell

 

Veteran additions: CB Antonio Cromartie, CB Buster Skrine, CB Darrelle Revis, ILB Jamari Lattimore, OT James Brewer, OG James Carpenter, TE Kellen Davis, DT Kevin Vickerson, S Marcus Gilchrist, DE Stephen Bowen, RB Stevan Ridley, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Brandon Marshall, LB Erin Henderson, LB Joe Mays, WR DeVier Posey, RB Zac Stacy

 

Veteran subtractions: S Dawan Landry, WR Greg Salas, DE Jermaine Cunningham, FB John Conner, DT Kenrick Ellis, CB Kyle Wilson, QB Michael Vick, ILB Nick Bellore, WR Percy Harvin, CB Phillip Adams, TE Chris Pantale, FB Mario Harvey

 

Draft picks: 1-Leonard Williams (DE), 2-Devin Smith (WR), 3-Lorenzo Mauldin (LB), 4-Bryce Petty (QB), 5-Jarvis Harrison (G), 7-Deon Simon (DT)

 

Analysis : The Jets commanded the only A grade overall and the only A-plus from an individual voter. Riddick liked their moves that much. He worked with Todd Bowles in Philadelphia and he believes in the Jets' new head coach, calling him a "dynamite" hire. Adding Revis in free agency, Marshall by trade and a luxury first-round choice in Williams separated the Jets."It is hard to find a fault with anything they did from coaching to free agency to the draft," Riddick said. "It is all about the QB. Can Chan Gailey get Geno Smith to not be the cause of losing games ?"

 

Polian said the football gods smiled on the Jets when Revis became available and New York was able to sign him away from its top division rival."Defensively, there may not be many teams better," Polian said. "You just cannot waste a defense like that with a quarterback who turns it over. The question is, does Geno all of a sudden become a quarterback? Or does it have to be Fitzpatrick?"

 

Fitzpatrick headed my list of value signings in free agency based mostly on a statistical profile suggesting he has been better than his reputation suggests. Tennessee was certainly worse off without him, and it's fair to wonder if Houston upgraded by swapping out Fitzpatrick for Brian Hoyer.

Fitzpatrick has generally been associated with horrible defenses (since 2010, only Tony Romo has gotten less defensive support among players with at least 40 starts)."Fitzpatrick is not good, but he is a major upgrade," Williamson said.

 

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/12913383/offseason-grades-all-32-teams-nfl

[kelly]

general manager Mike Maccagnan, continuing his offseason makeover, announced his nine-man college scouting staff on Tuesday -- and it included only two holdovers from the previous regime.You won't recognize any of the names, but college scouts are the anonymous stars in every great organization. Maccagnan wanted to surround himself with his people, so he blew up the previous scouting staff even though it contributed to what was widely heralded as a successful draft.

 

The holdovers are Jay Mandolesi, who will scout the Southeast region, and Johnathon Stigall, who will handle the Midwest. Here's a listing of the new scouts, followed by their area and past employers :

 

National scouts :

 

Lee Gissendaner (East Coast) -- Green Bay Packers

Jim Jauch (West Coast) -- San Diego Chargers

Zach Truty (Central) -- Chicago Bears

 

Area scouts :

 

Xavier Adibi (Plains) -- Kansas City Chiefs

Bill Dekraker (Northeast) -- Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.

Dom Green (Southwest) -- Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brian Shields (West Coast) -- St. Louis Rams

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51514/new-york-jets-announce-nine-man-college-scouting-staff

[kelly]

Unlike the New York Jets' quarterback competition, the mailbag is all about equal opportunity. Thanks again for the questions.

 

@RichCimini: Don't worry, Andrew, Muhammad Wilkerson isn't going anywhere. I'd say there's only a five percent chance he gets traded before the season. It's not zero because you never say "never" in the NFL. It doesn't make sense to trade him because they probably wouldn't get anything in return that could help them in 2015. They'd get draft picks. Future draft picks can't stop the run and produce eight to 10 sacks. Wilkerson is under contract at a reasonable salary ($7 million), so there's no sense of urgency. This isn't the Darrelle Revis situation from 2013. As you might recall, Revis had a provision in his contract that prevented the Jets from using the franchise tag. If they didn't trade him, they probably would've lost him for nothing in 2014. In Wilkerson's case, the Jets can use the tag next year, albeit an expensive proposition (at least $15 million).
 

@RichCimini: I can tell you this, Matthew: The Jets aren't going into the season expecting to play Bryce Petty. Now, if he pulls a Russell Wilson and blows away everybody in training camp ... that's a different story. Realistically, that's not going to happen because this is an entirely new offense. If Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick flop, it probably means the team is having a bad year. If they're 4-10, could they turn to Petty for the final two games? Sure, I could see that happening. One thing to remember: Todd Bowles has a honeymoon year, so he doesn't have to make any rash decisions. He can be patient. The ideal scenario, if Smith fails to solidify the position, would be to prepare Petty to compete in 2016.
 

@RichCimini do you think Devin Smith will play the slot or will Kerley stay in the slot and Smith rotates in #Jetsmail

— Austin Pirrello (@AustinPirrello) May 29, 2015

@RichCimini: From what I've seen in practice (mind you, we've had access to only two practices), Devin Smith has lined up inside and outside. At this point, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is trying to expose the wide receivers to different positions to help them grasp the offense. This is strictly guesswork, but I suspect Kerley will be the primary slot receiver when the season arrives. Smith's skill set -- he's a vertical receiver -- is more conducive to playing on the perimeter. Putting him in the slot would take him out of his comfort zone. The best way to transition a rookie into the NFL is to let him start out by doing what he does best and expanding his role from there.
 

@RichCimini: Love this question. You raise a great point. In fact, it came up in a few player interviews on Wednesday. As Geno Smith said, the throwing windows are smaller this year than in the past. A year ago, the starting corners at this time were Dee Milliner and Dimitri Patterson (lol). Now they're Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Obviously, the coverage will be tighter, which forces the receivers to find ways to create separation. One receiver benefiting is Shaq Evans, who got a chance to play Wednesday with the big boys on the No. 1 field. It's also a challenge for the quarterbacks because of what Smith said -- tighter windows. It can only help the quarterbacks and receivers. Likewise, it helps the corners when they have to cover someone like Brandon Marshall in practice.

 

@RichCimini: It would be funny if they do it against the Bills because Rex Ryan's father, Buddy, invented the 46. It would make sense against the Bills because they will be a run-oriented team, but I don't think that's in Todd Bowles' arsenal. What you could see, though, is a 4-3 front. When the Arizona Cardinals played the Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys last season, Bowles junked his 3-4 and used a 4-3 throughout the game, keying on DeMarco Murray. It worked, as they held Murray to 79 yards and won the game. Other than that game, Bowles didn't use many four-man fronts in his base defense. The Jets certainly have the personnel to run a Bear defense; it would be difficult to run on that scheme. If they did use it against the Bills, you can bet Ryan would mention it after the game, with a hat-tip to his dad.

 

>  http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51582/jets-mailbag-mo-wilkerson-trade-rumors-bryce-pettys-chance-in-15-and-devin-smiths-role

[kelly]

1. Brady's penalty "extremely harsh:" Jason Babin, 35, is the oldest player on the Jets and perhaps the most opinionated when it comes to matters involving the league office and the NFL Players' Association -- i.e. DeflateGate. The veteran linebacker is a former player rep and his grandfather was a union leader in Chicago, where he dealt with Jimmy Hoffa, so Babin can be described as pro-union. But the developments surrounding the Tom Brady/New England Patriots controversy are making him shake his head.Jason Babin is unhappy with how the league has approached the punishment to Tom Brady and the Patriots. What irks Babin is the severity of Brady's penalty (a four-game suspension) and how commissioner Roger Goodell has complete control of the process, handing down the sanctions and hearing the appeal."The punishment seems extremely harsh, comparative to other punishments for other things -- off the field and performance-enhancement penalties," Babin told ESPN.com. "A lot of guys aren't happy that we gave away the right to a fair and balanced procedure when it comes to discipline, giving carte blanche to the commissioner. A lot of guys, when we re-visit the CBA again, hopefully re-think that option or at least fight for it."Babin said he attended most of the meetings during the 2011 CBA negotiations and it "never got brought up." Babin, who was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time, said many player reps were blindsided by what he felt was an abrupt agreement. As he said, "We left a meeting, got home from the airport and, all of a sudden, you see Jeff Saturday kissing Robert Kraft [at a news conference]. We were like, 'What happened?' We thought we were at an impasse. ... A lot of people were a little confused."

Four years later, Babin said it's still "a sore subject." He has recused himself from union affairs.As for Brady's alleged wrongdoing, Babin said: "If there's proof of him being in cahoots with the [equipment] guys, yeah, there should be punishment. But I don't think ... there's a smoking gun. I'm sure he told them, 'I prefer it on the lighter side.' Who knows?"

 

2. The Marshall plan: The Jets are putting an extra $1.3 million in Brandon Marshall's wallet this season, as ESPN Insider Field Yates reported Saturday. The news came three days after Marshall told reporters he's made enough money in his career, and that all he cares about is winning. Hey, I get it, it's a business. Marshall had some leverage when the Chicago Bears put him on the trading block -- several teams were interested -- and he maximized it. What I'd like to know is, how does Muhammad Wilkerson feel about this? The Jets are spitting out cash like an ATM, paying big money for imported players, but their best home-grown player still has the same old contract. Yes, they took care of David Harris; now it's Wilkerson's turn.

 

3. Wilkerson returns to Mo-town: Wilkerson, skipping offseason workouts for contract-related reasons, hasn't talked publicly since the end of the season. On Friday night, he's scheduled to meet the media at his charity bowling event in Linden, New Jersey, his hometown. It's unclear whether he will address his contract situation. Wilkerson is hosting his second annual charity weekend, which includes a youth football camp on Saturday. His foundation will raise money for scholarships, which will be awarded to schools in Union County. He has spent part of the offseason in Atlanta, working out with a personal trainer.

 

4. Mike'd up: During his two years out of football, former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum worked as an agent for Priority Sports, handling mainly coaches. Two of his former clients, David Blatt and Steve Kerr, will meet in the NBA Finals. How's that for a Midas touch ?  "I was just privileged to be around both guys," Tannenbaum said in a phone interview.Kerr, of course, crushed the hearts of New York Knicks fans by taking the Golden State Warriors job.  "Steve has a lot of respect for Phil Jackson," said Tannenbaum, now the Miami Dolphins' football czar. "Obviously, the talks with the Knicks were serious in nature. We had multiple meetings. At the end, the decision kind of happened organically. It resolved itself over 10 days." Little-known story: Blatt almost joined Kerr's staff with the Warriors, according to Tannenbaum. That changed when the Cleveland Cavaliers stepped up with an offer. As for a rooting interest, Tannenbaum said he's hoping for a seven-game series, with overtime in Game 7.

 

5. Brownie points: The Jets' rebuilt secondary, led by Darrelle Revis, already is drawing attention around the league. Asked to name the best secondaries in the league, Cleveland Browns safety Donte Whitner mentioned his own and the Seattle Seahawks. But, according to Cleveland.com, he added, "... Based on the players the New York Jets picked up, I'd say you have to put them up there, but they haven't done anything collectively together, so I'd say the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks."The Jets open against the Browns, but I don't think anything will be settled in terms of which secondary is better. Consider the likely quarterbacks: Smith and Josh McCown.

 

6. The Magnificent 7: Mike Maccagnan is living proof that a general manager doesn't have to get his start in the NFL. Before landing his first full-time scouting job in the league, he cut his teeth in the World League and the CFL. He has an appreciation for alternative routes, which might explain some of his scouting hires. Three of the seven new college scouts spent time early in their careers in football jobs outside the NFL -- Lee Gissendaner (a scout in the World League and CFL), Jim Jauch (played in the CFL) and Zach Truty (a personnel director in the Arena League). Hey, there's more than one road to the big time.

 

7. Look who's talking: Three members of the Jets -- Willie Colon, Antonio Cromartie and Leger Douzable -- will attend the NFL's broadcasting boot camp this week at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It runs from Monday to Thursday and will cover a wide range of topics with instructors from all the networks. It's a great opportunity for players to familiarize themselves with the broadcasting business, just in case they decide to pursue it after football. A handful of former Jets are expected to attend, including Braylon Edwards, who's never had a problem expressing his opinions.

 

8. Old money: A few days ago I wrote a salary-cap analysis, noting the Jets' six highest cap figures belong to players at least 30 years old. Some people on Twitter wondered how that compared to other teams. Well, I checked the other teams in the AFC East and the results support my premise that the Jets have an unusually large amount of money invested in "older" players. Looking at the top six on each team, the Miami Dolphins have three in the 30-and-over category (Cameron Wake, Branden Albert and Brent Grimes), while the Buffalo Bills (Mario Williams and Kyle Williams) and Patriots (Brady and Sebastian Vollmer) have only two apiece. So the Jets are an outlier -- at least in their own division.

 

9. Rookie deflation: Seven years ago, the Jets selected Vernon Gholston with the sixth overall pick and gave him a contract that included $21 million in guarantees. A month ago, they took Leonard Williams in the same spot and he received $18.6 million in guarantees, thanks to the rookie wage scale instituted in 2011. When Williams records his first sack, it will be one more than Gholston notched in his entire career. Don't get me started.I have the specifics of Williams' contract. The only wrinkle is that, in 2016 and 2017, he'll make the minimum base salaries ($525,000 and $615,000), with the rest of his fixed compensation coming in the form of roster bonuses, payable on the fifth day of the league year ($756,858 and $1,513,716). The bonuses are guaranteed. Three of this year's top seven picks signed deals that included straight base salaries after the first year, with no roster bonuses. All it means for Williams is he'll get a nice chunk of his money in March instead of during the season.

 

10. Happy birthday, Joe: That's right, Joe Namath turns 72 today. Cool never gets old.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51571/sunday-notes-jets-lb-jason-babin-sounds-off-on-deflategate-questions-union

[kelly]

Turns out that New York Jets fans aren't the only ones brimming with optimism about their team's offseason, which included some big-time free agent signings and a tremendous haul in the NFL Draft. Legendary NFL executive Charley Casserly, the man who spearheaded the search committee for the team's vacant general manager and head coach positions earlier this year, is impressed with how the team has been reshaped.It was Casserly, a former general manager and league executive who now is a beloved analyst on the NFL Network, who along with former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who were charged by Jets ownership to help the team following the firing of general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan. The search resulted in owner Woody Johnson bringing on board Mike Maccagnan as general manager and head coach Todd Bowles to turn around a team that has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons.

 

Casserly's boys did pretty well.

 

With plenty of room under the salary cap, the Jets went out and spent a pretty penny, bringing in Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie (both former Jets) as well as trading for an elite wide receiver in Brandon Marshall. All of which says nothing about a draft that was widely hailed as fruitful.And Casserly is impressed with how his hires have handled their first five months on the job.“I think it was one of the best in the league. When you look at the team, clearly the secondary was a major problem. I think they did as much as they could do to improve that secondary in the offseason. When you look around, I think they got better at every position group and I think that's hard to do in an offseason,” Casserly told Metro. “Clearly, quarterback is still the biggest issue but there wasn't a solution to the quarterback. So they brought in [Ryan] Fitzpatrick who improves them. They brought in [bryce] Petty whose a guy you can work with in the future; you'll see how he develops in a year. They improved the running back position, bringing in [stevan] Ridley, bringing in [Zac] Stacy from the Rams. The offensive line, brought in [James] Carpenter and [Jarvis] Harrison – that improves them there.

 

“Wide receiver, [brandon] Marshall and [Devin] Smith, that's a big upgrade there getting those two guys. Leonard Williams is the best player in the draft along the defensive line. The nose tackle, he'll be an interesting guy. They improved the depth at the linebacker position. [Lorenzo] Maudlin gives them a guy to develop outside.“I think they got better in every area.”Casserly, of course, is familiar with both of these key pieces of the Jets future. He was the general manager of the Washington Redskins when Bowles made the team as an undrafted rookie free agent and became a starter. And Maccagnan was a scout on that same team before joining Casserly when he was named the first general manager of the Houston Texans, taking roles in their scouting department.

 

There isn't any particular pride that Casserly feels for either Bowles or Maccagnan based off of what, on paper, is an absolutely positive offseason.“I don't look at it that way. I have confidence in both of them, I'm proud of what they've done, I'm proud of what they'll do in the future and I'm proud of what they've done with their careers,” Casserly said. “I was involved with them certainly in different points in their career and I'm not surprised that they've done well; I've expected them to do well. I'm proud of what they've done and I think they're going to do well there.”

 

> http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/charley-casserly-chats-with-metro-about-jets-offseason/zsJofb---LGC8mPqRxRhmU/

[kelly]

-- Todd Bowles opens his first mandatory minicamp in six days, and the New York Jets don't know whether one of their best players -- defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson -- will be there."At this point, I don't have any updates," general manager Mike Maccagnan said Wednesday night at the "True Blue" softball benefit at Yankee Stadium. "I don't know."

 

Wilkerson is skipping voluntary workouts because he's unhappy with the pace of negotiations toward a new contract. Talks are moving at a glacial pace. Maccagnan reiterated what owner Woody Johnson said recently, that the two sides are talking sporadically. The Jets have leverage after drafting defensive end Leonard Williams with the No. 6 pick.

 

Wilkerson is due to make $6.97 million in the final years of his contract. Maccagnan declined to comment on whether negotiations would be impacted by Cameron Jordan's new deal. The New Orleans Saints' defensive end, drafted six spots ahead of Wilkerson in 2011, signed a five-year extension this week for a reported $60 million. It reportedly includes $33.6 million in guarantees, although it's still not clear how much is fully guaranteed.

 

The Jets probably would sign up for that, but Wilkerson is thought to be seeking about $14 million a year, with $40 million in guarantees. It may help Wilkerson's cause if he shows up for minicamp as a good-faith gesture."We'll see how things go from there," Maccagnan said.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51685/jets-gm-mike-maccagnan-no-news-on-the-mo-wilkerson-front

[kelly]

A few random thoughts and leftovers from the New York Jets' practice on Wednesday :

 

Bryce Petty is entrenched as the Jets' No. 3 quarterback now that Matt Simms is gone. 

 

1. Growing pains : Entrenched as the No. 3 quarterback now that Matt Simms is gone, rookie Bryce Petty looked very much like a fourth-round pick learning a new offense. His throws weren't as crisp as they were in earlier practices and he was a split-second late on some passes, including a long ball that was deflected and intercepted in the end zone. Don't be alarmed, this was to be expected. His mind is spinning with a lot of information and he's bound to have rookie hiccups. Obviously, this won't be an overnight process.

 

2. Leonard update: First-round pick Leonard Williams spent most of the practice on the No. 2 field, working with the third stringers. Relax, he got some reps with the starters in team drills, so it's not like he's buried on the depth chart. Todd Bowles said the prized rookie has been going back and forth between the No. 1 and No. 2 fields throughout OTAs (organized team activities). The goal at this point is to get the young players as many reps as possible, which, in theory, should help the transition when they get to training camp.

 

3. Still hurting: This shouldn't come as a surprise, but cornerback Dee Milliner (Achilles' tendon) might not be ready for training camp, according to Bowles. Milliner had surgery eight months ago, but we're talking about a severe injury. It would be a shock if he doesn't begin training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He could start the season there, too. Said Bowles: "You just want to be sure about those things. You don’t just want to throw people out there and have them have a bad reaction." Running back Stevan Ridley (knee surgery) also is a question mark for the start of camp. Safety Marcus Gilchrist (shoulder surgery) has missed the entire spring, but he should be cleared for camp, per Bowles.

 

4. Problem spot: Starting to get the feeling that right guard will be this year's version of the No. 2 receiver spot last summer. Remember? It was Eric Decker and bunch of wannabes with various levels of experience. The Jets waited for someone to step up to play opposite Decker, and no one did. At right guard, the incumbent is Willie Colon, but he's competing against Oday Aboushi and a cast of hundreds -- or so it seems. On Wednesday, Brian Winters and Brent Qvale split reps with the first team. Colon, who missed the practice to attend the NFL's broadcasting seminar in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, has been working on a limited basis this spring because of knee soreness. Who knows? By the time camp arrives, the Jets might have a six-man rotation, a la the New York Mets. Said Bowles: "You'll see a mixture throughout."

 

5. Fitz on the mend: Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick moved pretty well for a guy who fractured a leg last December. On one play, he escaped the pocket and got into a footrace with Darrelle Revis toward the sideline. One defensive player shouted, "He's got some wheels." Fitzpatrick, he meant. He made the play of the day, a 50-yard scoring strike to Decker. Fitzpatrick still isn't 100 percent -- he's still regaining his stamina -- but he's ahead of schedule and should be a full go in training camp.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51693/some-expected-hiccups-for-jets-rookie-qb-bryce-petty

[kelly]

Muhammad Wilkerson notes other deals, plans to come to minicamp

 

 

Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has been exercising his right to volunteer or not for voluntary workouts, as he waits for a new contract.But when things become mandatory next week, he plans to show up.

 

According to Steve Serby and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Wilkerson will be on hand when the Jets hold their mandatory minicamp next week.Not doing so would result in $72,920 in fines, but Wilkerson has much bigger numbers on his mind. Moments after the Saints signed Cameron Jordan to a five-year, $60 million deal yesterday, Wilkerson tweeted out “Yup I see how this works.”But Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan may not be in as much of a hurry to dole out a bigger deal, saying that Wilkerson was “under contract.”

 

“It’s going to be a process,” Maccagnan said. “We’re just going to see. I don’t really want to put a timeline on anything. I’m just going to see how this plays out in the near future.“I would hope [to get an extension done] at some point in time.”Maccagnan said the Jordan deal “reset the market” for defensive linemen, and the Jets may be hesitant to spend big money after they used their first rounder on Leonard Williams.

 

“Each player is kind of different in how you slot or grade them,” Maccagnan said in reference to the Jordan deal.Perhaps next week will be an ice-breaker, once Wilkerson walks in the door.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/04/muhammad-wilkerson-notes-other-deals-plans-to-come-to-minicamp/

[kelly]

— For a team that overhauled its front office and coaching staff after finishing with a 4-12 record last season, the Jets have surprisingly few tough choices and plenty of backup-plan options as they finish off-season training and prepare for training camp.

 

Twenty of the 22 starting-lineup positions are essentially set. The most interesting position battle might be for the uninteresting position of right guard.The other spot is only sort-of undecided, but it’s at quarterback. Head coach Todd Bowleson Wednesday repeated his mantra that the struggling Geno Smithremains the No. 1 guy over the veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick—for now.“You don’t go into camp having two first-team guys,” Bowles said after practice. “It’s Ryan’s job to take it, it’s Geno’s job to [not] lose it. If he doesn’t lose it, and Ryan doesn’t take it, he’s the starter.”

 

Fitzpatrick, acquired in a trade from Houston in exchange for a late pick in the 2016 draft, is recovering from a broken leg in December, but he looked nimble during a long scramble during practice Wednesday.Fitzpatrick was a curiosity when he entered the league in 2005 as a Harvard graduate, but since then has become a reliable quarterback for six different teams. He has been a starter and said he has been ranked as low as fourth on a team’s depth chart.“This being my sixth different team and really sixth or seventh or eighth different situation that I’ve been in, in terms of being a four, or a three, or a two, or a one, I know I’ve got to be ready,” Fitzpatrick said, in response to a question about whether he wanted to compete for the starting job.

 

Overall, the lineup is serene, and that has to do with both luck and action. The Jets didn’t lose any significant players to free agency in the off-season, while new general manager Mike Maccagnan,with more than $40 million in salary-cap space at his disposal, hired a bevy of established veterans: cornerbacks Darrelle Revis,Antonio Cromartieand Buster Skrine; receiver Brandon Marshalland safety Marcus Gilchrist.His first-round draft pick, defensive lineman Leonard Williams,figures to play often as well.

 

The Jets’ defense will return all seven starters from its aging linebacker group and its young, stellar defensive line. Gilchrist figures to join Calvin Pryor,the Jets’ first-round pick from 2014, as the starting safeties. Revis and Cromartie, who have both won All-Pro honors, are the team’s starting cornerbacks, while Skrine will get plenty of playing time as the No. 3. The team also has three other cornerbacks who have started at least eight games for the Jets over the past two seasons: 2013 first-round-pick Dee Milliner,Darrin Wallsand Marcus Williams.

 

‘

You don’t go into camp having two first-team guys. Bowles said after practice.

’

—Jets head coach Todd Bowles on the team’s quarterback battle

 

The Jets are the only NFL team to have more than five cornerbacks who have started at least eight games, according to Stats LLC. Bowles said Wednesday that Milliner isn’t fully recovered from a torn Achilles yet, but hopes the cornerback will be ready by the beginning of training camp in late July.As far as the offense, the only unsettled position besides quarterback is right guard. The Jets re-signed the false-start-troubled Willie Colon,but he will have to fight to win back his job from two youngsters with starting experience—Brian Winters,who is recovering from a torn knee ligament, and Oday Aboushi.

 

Jeff Cumberlandis currently the team’s top tight end. Jace Amaro,a 2014 second-round draft pick, had a setback Wednesday after pulling up lame while going after a Fitzpatrick pass in practice Wednesday. He grabbed his lower back and left practice to see a trainer. Bowles said he was unsure how serious the injury was.

 

> http://www.wsj.com/articles/jets-end-spring-practices-with-few-lineup-questions-1433376173?ru=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp

[kelly]

One of Mike Maccagnan's first hires was Brian Heimerdinger, a former St. Louis Rams scout who became the New York Jets' director of player personnel. Only 28, he's considered one of the top young executives in the NFL.Heimerdinger hasn't been made available to the New York media, but he broke his silence (if you could call it that) in an interview Wednesday with Nashville radio station 104.5 The Zone.One of the co-hosts is Paul Kuharsky,our NFL Nation Tennessee Titans reporter.It's a big weekend for the Heimerdinger family. The "Drive 4 Dinger" golf tournament is Friday and Saturday in Nashville, a charity event to raise money for the Heimerdinger Foundation and to honor the memory of Brian's father. (Todd Bowles is one of the participants.) Mike Heimerdinger, who died of cancer in 2011, was a longtime Titans assistant coach. I got a chance to meet him when he was the Jets' offensive coordinator in 2005, and I discovered why he was so well-liked around the league. Dinger was candid and respectful, a pleasure to deal with.Jets director of player personnel Brian Heimerdinger says getting Leonard Williams at No. 6 had the feeling of Christmas morning. 

 

Brian talked about his father during the interview, but he also touched on a few Jets-related topics :

 

On drafting Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick: Heimderdinger said he was "surprised and excited" that Williams fell to the Jets, adding: "It's like getting your favorite Christmas present when you walk down the stairs on the 25th of December. Very excited. He's a big, strong, athletic guy. Usually, you like to have those guys."

 

On Titans draft pick Marcus Mariota: The Jets were linked to Mariota in pre-draft speculation. Citing the tampering rules, Heimerdinger declined to give his evaluation of Mariota as a quarterback, but he noted how the Jets traveled to Oregon for a personal workout and brought him to New Jersey for a follow-up meeting. He added, "The Tennessee Titans have an unbelievable young man. I mean, I can't say enough about the guy's character. I think the Titans got a great kid, but not only that, he's going to represent their team well and the NFL well." (As I've stated before, the Jets wouldn't have picked Mariota if he had slipped to them,)

 

On Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall: Heimderdinger had some pre-trade insight into Marshall because his father was a Denver Broncos' assistant in 2006 and 2007, Marshall's first two years in the league. Heimderdinger said his father's coaching style came up in a discussion this week with Marshall. Brian said, "The way (my father) stayed on you if he believed in you ... you hated it, you always hated it, but then you would see the results. I think a lot of guys he coached really respected that."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51697/jets-rookie-personnel-exec-calls-leonard-williams-a-draft-day-gift

[#27TheDominator]

 Colon, who missed the practice to attend the NFL's broadcasting seminar in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey...

 

Hahaha. 

[kelly]

New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson told ESPN's Josina Anderson that his teammate, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, told him he will report to the team's mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.Mo Wilkerson, who is seeking a long-term contract extension, is staying away from the Jets' offseason program, which began Monday. 

 

Wilkerson, who skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason in the midst of a contract dispute, said last Friday that he would make a decision over the weekend on whether to attend the minicamp."It's a business; I guess it takes a long time," Wilkerson said of a long-term contract extension. "This is new to me. But, hopefully, something will get done soon."

 

Wilkerson is entering the final year of his rookie deal after the Jets exercised their fifth-year option. He is due to make $6.9 million this year, but wants a long-term deal from the Jets.If Wilkerson skips all three days of the minicamp, he could be fined more than $72,000.

 

Wilkerson has been working out with personal trainers in Atlanta and Maryland. He has kept in touch with teammates, going over play and defensive schemes with them. The Jets are installing a new system under coach Todd Bowles.

 

> http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/13037649/sheldon-richardson-new-york-jets-muhammad-wilkerson-minicamp

[kelly]

New coach Todd Bowles is expected to have his entire team together for the first time Tuesday, when the New York Jets begin a mandatory minicamp. The three-day event will cap an eventful offseason for the Jets, who rebooted after a 4-12 disaster. They have a new coach, a new general manager, new marquee players and renewed hope.A quick look at the top storylines:After skipping the voluntary portion of the Jets' offseason, Muhammad Wilkerson will be at minicamp barring a last-minute change. 

 

1. Mo in the house: Barring a change of heart, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson will show up after skipping the voluntary portion of the offseason. He knew a week ago, maybe longer, that he'd be showing up, but he remained noncommittal publicly, perhaps hoping to make the Jets squirm a little. Wilkerson, signed for 2015, is looking for a long-term extension and he's frustrated by the team's glacial approach. Any player who misses a mandatory minicamp is subject to a $60,000 fine, according to the collective bargaining agreement. Maybe his presence will have a positive impact on negotiations; it can't hurt unless he pulls a Darrelle Revis, who once feigned a hamstring injury in a minicamp when he was looking for a new contract. Then again, it didn't hurt Revis, who still cashed in.

 

2. Williams & 'Sons': Because of Wilkerson's no-show and Sheldon Richardson's sporadic attendance in the offseason program, the starting defensive line hasn't worked together since 2014. Now there's a new element -- No. 1 pick Leonard Williams, who joins an already-talented unit that also includes nose tackle Damon Harrison. There has been a lot of speculation about how Bowles will deploy them. Nothing will be finalized in this camp, but it could provide an early glimpse into the team's thinking.

 

3. Geno and the Porsche: Geno Smith wasn't unavailable to the media last week, so we still haven't heard his reaction to Willie Colon's "Porsche" quote. Knowing Smith, he'll probably shrug it off, saying, "No big deal." Colon has been a Smith supporter, so he probably wasn't trying to be critical of the third-year quarterback, but his words -- likely shared by many in the locker room -- underscore the belief that Smith is out of alibis and needs to galvanize the offense. That's added pressure. With Ryan Fitzpatrick (broken leg) back in team drills, the competition/non-competition is underway. It's a stretch to suggest he can level the playing field over the next three days, but Fitzpatrick can send a warning flare, letting Smith know he's out there, lurking.

 

4. Positional battles: No one will win or lose a job based on a June minicamp, but there are a few areas we'll be monitoring. The right guard job is wide open, with Colon and Oday Aboushi the leading candidates. Who's the No. 5 receiver? A handful of players are in the hunt. What about punt and kickoff returner? This could help settle the previous question because a number of receivers are involved, such as T.J. Graham, Saalim Hakim, Chris Owusu and Walter Powell. On defense, the 11 starting jobs appear locked up, but there's good competition for backup jobs on all three levels of the defense.

 

5. The itinerary: Just like everything else in the NFL, there are strict rules about minicamp. For instance: Teams can have two practices on two of the three days, but one of the two has to be a walk-through. No practice can last longer than 2 1/2 hours and, of course, there's no contact. You may recall the Seattle Seahawks got busted for excessive contact in last year's minicamp.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51746/w2w4-mo-wilkersons-return-qbs-will-be-focus-at-jets-minicamp

[kelly]

We are on the eve of a mandatory minicamp for the Jets. Let's take a look at five key questions entering camp.

 

1. What to make of Muhammad Wilkerson ?

We have dedicated much digital ink to discussing Muhammad Wilkerson's contract situation. We will likely spend much more digital ink dedicated to it. The biggest question is whether Wilkerson will come to minicamp. If he sits out, it will be a sign he is ready to escalate the matter and push for a quicker resolution. There have been multiple reports he will be attending. If he does, the question is whether he will be vocal with frustration over the lack of progress. The more he less, the further apart the two sides are likely away from a deal. The less he says, the closer the two sides likely are.

 

2. How do the quarterbacks look ?

Until somebody puts a stamp on the job, this is going to be a primary question around the Jets. The coaching staff has indicated Geno Smith has a leg up but also indicated Ryan Fitzpatrick has a chance to win the job if he lights it up or Geno Smith really struggles.

 

3. How do the sophomores look ?

This is a big year for Calvin Pryor and Jace Amaro. Both have their feet wet in the NFL. Both had mixed rookie seasons. The biggest improvement for many players is between their first and second NFL seasons. These guys now know what to expect, and they know how to prepare. While playing well in minicamp won't guarantee a breakout season, hearing some buzz about these guys would be a sign they are on the path for big second seasons.

 

4. What to make of the return game ?

The return game is a big question for the Jets. There are no incumbents with a legitimate claim to a return job. These jobs seem wide open. For bottom of the roster types like Chris Owusu, staking a claim to a returner job might be the only path to the roster. Who is getting work there? I'm interested to find out ?

 

5. How are the injured recovering ?

The Jets have an awful lot of players coming off serious injuries from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Stevan Ridley to Dee Milliner to Dexter McDougle to Brian Winters. Some of them have hit the practice field. Others have not. Which players will be on the field, and how far into their respective recoveries will they look ?

 

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2015/6/8/8749227/new-york-jets-five-questions-for-minicamp

[kelly]

video..

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Team-Report-Minicamp-Day-1/6913f6a1-9aff-47d2-899a-81828c6eb5d3

[kelly]

 -- A few takeaways from the New York Jets' second minicamp practice :

 

1. Look, no turnovers for Geno: For those ready to bury Geno Smith after one bad practice, chill out. He rebounded nicely after a three-interception performance on Tuesday. Once again, he took the vast majority of the reps in the team period. This time, he didn't throw any to the wrong team. For the most part, the ball came out quickly and accurately. It was mostly underneath stuff, but he struck deep on one play, finding Walter Powell (yes, really) for a 70-yard touchdown. Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookie Bryce Petty also avoided interceptions, so it was a much better day for the entire passing offense. Head coach Todd Bowles said "the quarterbacks were decent. We just have to be consistent."Geno Smith and the Jets quarterbacks had an efficient day in minicamp. 

 

2. Even split: For most of the session, Fitzpatrick and Petty split the backup reps. Interesting. In the final period, Fitzpatrick presided over a two-minute drill, which ended like most of the two-minute drills -- a "stop" for the defense. Make no mistake, the defense has dominated the minicamp -- the entire offseason, for that matter. Are you shocked by that? Don't be.

 

3. Even the greats have an occasional hiccup: That Powell touchdown? The cornerback he beat on the play was none other than Darrelle Revis. It was a stunner all right. Revis misplayed the ball in the air, allowing Powell to get position in the end zone. That might have been the highlight of Powell's career.

 

4. Vintage Marshall: There was one particular play that highlighted Brandon Marshall's potential value. He was well-covered by Darrin Walls on a sideline pass, but the 6-foot-4 Marshall was able to use his big frame and long arms to reach over the defender to snare the pass from Smith. You know what they say about receivers with a large catching radius: Even when they're covered, they're open.

Before practice, Marshall talked about how much he's looking forward to playing with fellow receiver Eric Decker, another big target. "Alshon" is what he calls Decker, a reference to his former Chicago Bears' sidekick, Alshon Jeffery. In turn, Decker's name for Marshall is "Demaryius" -- a reference to his former Denver Broncos teammate, Demaryius Thomas."When it's Decker's time to get the ball, I have to be selfless and run through the seam and carry coverage, run the dummy routes in the seam," Marshall said. "When you're on a team with selfish guys, it makes it hard. Guys won't run through that wall for you. We get it. We've been around the league. We've had success. All we want to do is win."

 

Everything is great in June.

 

5. Easy does it: These are supposed to be noncontact practices. Calvin Pryor apparently needs a reminder. In a red-zone drill, the second-year safety lowered his shoulder into tight end Zach Sudfeld, who went down with a leg injury. Sudfeld, perhaps caught off guard, lost his balance and crashed to the turf. He limped off with a trainer. Bowles was none too pleased, saying, "A couple of guys got a little carried away." Rookie linebacker Deion Barnes crashed into Fitzpatrick on a "sack." Bowles said he was planning to address it with the team.

 

6. Injury report: Walls (leg) and Marshall (stubbed toe) also left practice. Marshall's injury came at the end of practice, conveniently allowing him to sit out the wind sprints. Tight end Jace Amaro (back), rookie wide receiver Devin Smith (personal), guard Willie Colon (knee), running back Stevan Ridley (knee) and cornerback Dee Milliner (Achilles) also didn't practice.

 

7. Odds and ends: A couple of rookies, defensive end Leonard Williams and linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, got some work with the first-team nickel package. ... Brent Qvale and Brian Winters shared time at right guard with the starters. ... Nice practice for tight end Jeff Cumberland, who made a couple of grabs in red-zone drills. The offense was significantly better in the red zone than the previous day. ... Safety Rontez Miles was active near the line of scrimmage, but he let a potential interception sail through his hands.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51811/jets-qb-geno-smith-rebounds-with-strong-practice-at-minicamp

[kelly]

Minicamp : Done.

 

Organized team activities : Done.

 

Basically, the New York Jets' offseason is over, which means this is the perfect time to throw out a few opinions and observations, based on what these eyes witnessed over the past few weeks. A few things to keep in mind: They were non-contact practices ("touch football," as Todd Bowles likes to say), so let's keep things in perspective. Also, the entire spring was devoted to installing new offensive and defensive systems, which put the emphasis on teaching and learning.

 

Got it ?

 

OK, here goes :

 

1. Big picture: The defense looked terrific, hardly a surprise. The offense has a long way to go. I could've cut-and-pasted that evaluation from the previous six offseasons.All eyes are on Geno Smith this offseason as the former second-round pick adapts to new coordinator Chan Gailey's spread system. 

 

2. Same old Geno: Geno Smith was inconsistent. That's not just my opinion; Bowles said the same thing. I find it interesting that teammates and coaches  praise Smith for his "arm talent" and his ability to "spin it," but you don't hear much about his intangibles. It'll be fascinating to see how he adapts to Chan Gailey's offense when the pads go on. His spread system is predicated on the quarterback getting the ball out quickly, meaning a lot of three-step drops and fast decisions. In open formations, the Jets will get blitzed, so reading the blitz and finding the "hot" receiver are imperative. The knock on Smith is that he doesn't see things fast enough. This will be his greatest challenge. Nevertheless, he'll probably be the opening-day quarterback. The new regime will give him a chance to show, once and for all, he can (or can't) do the job.

 

3. In the bullpen: Ryan Fitzpatrick, who began the offseason with questions about whether he'd be able to practice before training camp because of a broken leg, wound up getting a fair number of team reps in what amounted to rust-removing practices. That should help him get off to a quicker start in training camp. Clearly, he doesn't have Smith's arm strength. Fitzpatrick relies on smarts, timing and anticipation, throwing to the right place at the right time. Gailey knows exactly what he has in Fitzpatrick, a game-manager who still has the ability to escape the pocket. I heard a lot of positive feedback on how much he helped Smith and the other quarterbacks in the meeting room. His knowledge of Gailey's system is one of the reasons they traded for him.

 

4. A legit No. 1: The Jets haven't had a legitimate No. 1 receiver since 2010, when Santonio Holmes was healthy and focused. Brandon Marshall changes that. Recovered from last season's injuries, which caused his numbers to drop with the Chicago Bears, Marshall looked terrific. Because of his catching radius, he'll be a big help to Smith, not known for his pinpoint accuracy. The question with Marshall is whether he'll stay in the game mentally when he doesn't get his 10 targets per game; it will be tough to reach that number under the defensive-minded Bowles, who wants a balanced offense.

 

5. Spread the news: Without pads, the 12 practices (three minicamp, nine OTA) amounted to one long passing camp. That allowed Gailey to install his spread concepts in the passing game. It was beneficial to Smith, who had some familiarity with the scheme because he played in a spread at West Virginia. It also helped with the transition for rookie Bryce Petty, who came from a pure spread system at Baylor.

 

6. Idzik's parting "gift" : In two years as the general manager, John Idzik drafted four guards -- Oday Aboushi, William Campbell (gone), Dakota Dozier and Brian Winters. At least one of these guys should be able to play, right? Honestly, I don't know. The right-guard position is there for the taking, and what we saw throughout the spring was a rotation that included Aboushi, Winters and Brent Qvale, an undrafted player who spent last season on the practice squad. The incumbent, Willie Colon, spent a lot of time on the  sideline, dealing with residual soreness from an old knee injury. Unless the Jets sign free agent Evan Mathis, cut by the Philadelphia Eagles (I'd be surprised if they do), Colon probably will go into camp as the starter, but you get the impression this job won't be decided until late in the preseason.

 

7. Ivory tower : Chris Ivory got a ton of work. Dude was all over the place, lining up everywhere in the formation. A couple of reasons: I think the new coaching staff wanted to see if Ivory, a between-the-tackles guy, has the ability to play in space, splitting out as a receiver. (Takeaway: He's not a natural pass-catcher, but we already knew that.) There also was a shortage of backs in camp. Stevan Ridley, coming off knee surgery, still hasn't been cleared for team drills. (Don't be surprised if he begins training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list.) Zac Stacy, acquired in a draft-day trade, was a late arrival.

 

8. A foundation on defense : While everyone was gushing about the talent on defense (everyone from players to media types), Bowles said the most encouraging development was how the players grasped the on-field communication. That's important because so much of the game involves pre-snap adjustments. All the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

 

9. Spring stars : A few unheralded players who stood out over the past few weeks -- cornerbacks Marcus Williams and Darrin Walls, wide receivers Shaquelle Evans and Chris Owusu, safety Rontez Miles, defensive end Leger Douzable, running back Daryl Richardson and linebacker IK Enemkpali.

 

10. On the flip side ... : It's unfair to rip a guy for a poor offseason performance, but there were a few players that left you wanting to see more. In some cases, they were limited by injuries. Others didn't jump out as much as you would've liked. My list: Tight end Jace Amaro (for both reasons), rookie wide receiver Devin Smith (excused from minicamp), Aboushi, wide receiver Quincy Enunwa and running back Bilal Powell.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51892/same-old-story-for-jets-defense-shines-offense-lags-behind

[TuscanyTile2]

Minicamp : Done.

 

Organized team activities : Done.

 

Basically, the New York Jets' offseason is over, which means this is the perfect time to throw out a few opinions and observations, based on what these eyes witnessed over the past few weeks. A few things to keep in mind: They were non-contact practices ("touch football," as Todd Bowles likes to say), so let's keep things in perspective. Also, the entire spring was devoted to installing new offensive and defensive systems, which put the emphasis on teaching and learning.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51892/same-old-story-for-jets-defense-shines-offense-lags-behind

 

Our off-season is over?  Is week 1 coming up Sunday or something?

[kelly]

1. Looking into the crystal ball: Three fearless predictions on the Muhammad Wilkerson situation: He will report to training camp next month under his existing contract ($7 million). He will play the 2015 season under said contract. He will get slapped with the franchise tag next offseason. Beyond that, it gets cloudy.At that point, the Jets could (pick one): Sign him to a long-term deal, let him play for the franchise tender (an estimated $16 million) or execute a tag-and-trade. They also could let him walk away as a free agent and take a 2017 third-round pick as compensation, but that's unlikely.The tag-and-trade scenario is complicated and risky, which is why we haven't seen too many in recent years. To trade a franchise player, you have to find a team willing to give up significant draft-pick compensation and commit a mega contract to the player. By rule, a team is entitled to two first-round picks if it declines to match an offer sheet for a non-exclusive franchise player, so you can bet it won't accept a whole lot less in a trade situation -- unless it's blatantly obvious the team has no plans to keep the player at a franchise-level salary. That happened in 2009 when the New England Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs.Muhammad Wilkerson has shown he deserves a big deal now, but the NFL can be a cold business. From the Jets' perspective, there are many variables that could dictate Wilkerson's future. What kind of player is rookie Leonard Williams? If he's the real deal, Wilkerson becomes expendable. Will Sheldon Richardson continue his ascent? If so, they will have to set aside big bucks to extend his contract in 2017, perhaps squeezing Wilkerson out of the budget. Right now, the Jets have two forms of leverage -- the franchise tag and Williams. You can't blame them for taking a wait-and-see approach. It's good business.Clearly, Wilkerson deserves a big score. He's everything you want in a player -- talented, dedicated and homegrown. Thing is, unless he lowers his asking price, it's hard to imagine something getting done. I don't think he will bend. He wants Robert Quinn money ($14 million a year and $41 million in guarantees) and I suspect the Jets would offer only Cameron Jordan money ($11 million a year, $33 million in guarantees).Wilkerson is right: Players who excel on and off the field should be rewarded. But this is a cold business, and he's finding out the hard way.

 

2. The team, the team, the team: One particular sentence in the statement released last week by Wilkerson's agent caught my eye: "Mo is and has always been a team-first player, and is willing to put the team ahead of his own contractual status." That would make it tough to rationalize a training-camp holdout, wouldn't it ?

 

3. Evan almighty: If I'm the Jets, I'm on the phone to Evan Mathis' agent. I know he's 33 and I know he won't come cheaply, but let's face it: Right guard is a major concern. Mathis, officially released Friday by the Philadelphia Eagles, is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons. They should offer him a two-year deal with $6 million guaranteed. The Jets have only $4.9 million in cap space, but there's always a way to tinker with the cap. It reminds me of 2004, when guard Pete Kendall was unexpectedly cut by the Arizona Cardinals on the eve of training camp. The Jets scooped up Kendall, 31 at the time, and he was the final piece for what became a terrific offensive line.

 

4. Same old, same old: The theme coming out of the offseason is the same as last year and the year before and ... well, you get the idea: The defense is way ahead of the offense. Did some checking: The last time the Jets' offense finished with a higher ranking than the defense (yards allowed) was 2003 -- 19th and 21st. It also happened in 2002 -- 22nd and 24th. Obviously, we're not talking juggernauts here. The last time it happened with a legitimate offense was 1998 -- fourth and seventh. I don't see the trend changing this year.

 

5. Silly season: The Jets are on a six-week break until training camp. This is the time of year that gives gray hairs to coaches and general managers. The players have too much time on their hands and that can lead to no good. Brandon Marshall, offering his philosophy on the down time, advocated training over partying."The reward is greater than the sacrifice," he said. "You can go party now and be out of the league. You can get three or four years in, make a couple of dollars and that'll be it. Or you can sacrifice the time now and live like a rock star forever."Leonard Williams plans to get his driver's license during the offseason break. 

 

6. Driving Mr. Williams: With an $18.6 million contract, fully guaranteed, Williams can afford to hire a full-time chauffeur, but he prefers to drive himself. One problem: He's not legal."I already know how to drive; I just don't have a license," he said.It's on his to-do list before training camp.

 

7. A dash of Pepper: During his playing days with the New York Giants and Jets, Pepper Johnson always was popular among reporters. He was engaging and quick with a quote. Fourteen years as a New England Patriots assistant has turned him into a Stepford Jet.The new defensive line coach, in his first interview since being hired by Todd Bowles, was downright Belichick-ian. His comments about his current linemen were bland and he declined to re-visit his failed bid to become the Giants' defensive coordinator. At the time of the rejection, he aired his frustration in the papers. Asked about it last week, he sounded like he wanted to pull a Belichick and say, "We're on to training camp."

 

"I'm trying not to go backwards," he said. "It happened. ... I am ecstatic about working with Todd Bowles. I am telling you, everything he says -- whether he's standing in front of you or with the team -- there's a lot of stuff that are like words out of my mouth ... things I would've liked to have said or had the courage to say. He's a strong man. I'm happy in the situation that I'm in."I know this about Johnson: He might be holding back his personality, but he knows how to coach.

 

8. Bowles-speak: There's a new defensive system, and that means new terminology. Here's a small sample. Under Bowles, the four linebacker positions are known as Mike (strong inside), Mo (weak inside), Sam (strong outside) and Will (weak outside). Under Rex Ryan, the corresponding positions were Mike, Will, Sam and Rush. The inside and outside positions are so different they have different coaches and different meeting rooms.

 

9. Bryce is right: If Bryce Petty doesn't make it in the NFL, it won't be because of his arm strength. The rookie's arm is plenty strong. The toughest transition for him will be adjusting to the multiple looks on defense. At Baylor, he saw a lot of vanilla coverages because of their no-huddle, up-tempo offense. The fast pace forced defenses to keep it simple because there wasn't much pre-snap opportunity to make exotic calls. But now it's a whole new world for Petty and quarterbacks from spread offenses.

 

10. Hoodie out of control: Belichick is something else. He kept Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler off the practice field for two weeks because he showed up late for a voluntary workout. Not only did he defy the collective bargaining agreement, but Belichick showed his cold-blooded side. Instead of penalizing Butler, he should be embracing him. His game-saving interception rescued Belichick from an endless amount of criticism. His failure to use a timeout with about a minute left was a horrible decision. If it weren't for Butler, he'd be dealing with the negative fallout, not Pete Carroll.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51914/trying-to-predict-future-of-disgruntled-jets-de-mo-wilkerson

[kelly]

The New York Jets came close to adding a new tight end.

 

They were one of 10 teams late last week to submit a waiver claim for Tim Wright, according to ESPN Insider Field Yates. Wright was surprisingly released by the New England Patriots. He ended up reuniting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have the No. 1 waiver priority. If the Bucs had passed on Wright, he would've landed with the Jets, who were next in the pecking order among the 10 teams.The interest in Wright may indicate some concern with the tight end position. Jace Amaro missed last week's minicamp with a back injury (not serious, according to coach Todd Bowles) and Zach Sudfeld suffered a potentially severe knee injury. The Jets are being curiously quiet about Sudfeld. Bowles acknowledged last week it probably was more than a minor injury based on the fact Sudfeld required testing, but since then ... crickets.

 

Projected starter Jeff Cumberland was a busy man in minicamp, getting most of the reps. The only other tight end on the roster is undrafted rookie Wes Saxton, who also missed time with an injury.It's important to note that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has two tight end positions in his offense -- the traditional, in-line tight end and an H-Back. Amaro is expected to fill the H-Back role. Wright would've been an ideal H-Back. He's known for his receiving skills, having compiled 80 receptions and 11 touchdowns in two seasons. He's a minimum-salary player with some talent, which explains why so many teams were interested.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51937/tight-end-problems-jets-wanted-former-patriot-tim-wright

[kelly]

Jets players, fans want second act from 'Fireman Ed'

 

 -- From Quincy Enunwa's IPhone screen to hopefully once again on the big screen at MetLife Stadium.

 

There's a hope among Jets fans that famed fan “Fireman Ed” will make a return this year as the leader of the “J-E-T-S!” chant as the once face of the franchise has been missing from his once prominent role on gameday. For years Ed Anzalone, a retired New York City firefighter, was a renowned personality at the Meadowlands as he was the ringleader of the Jets fanbase, his shaved head and steely eyes glaring into a camera as he would whip the stadium into a frenzy. But Anzalone retired three years ago due to threats received at the stadium from people who associated him as an extension of the franchise and not just a fellow fan. Earlier this year, however, he hinted that a comeback might be in the making and two weeks ago at a charity event for Muhammad Wilkerson's organization, Anzalone led several hundred fans in attendance in the chant.

 

The moment was captured by second year Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, who filmed Anzalone's theatrics on his cell phone then posted the video to his Instagram account. Enunwa recognized Anzalone's face from having seen it on television before but wasn't sure if it was, in fact, the tried and true “Fireman Ed.”His hunch was later confirmed by Jets fans.“I think any football fan for a longtime knows who he is,” Enunwa told Metro last week. “But when you see him in person, you're not sure. Just like people, when they see us out in person, they don't always recognize us.”The Jets’ young wide receiver was impressed with how Anzalone was able to whip the offseason fanbase back into it's glory, this after seeing it firsthand at the bowling alley.Anzalone calls it the greatest chant in professional sports and when he leads it, it really is goosebump stuff.

 

Since he was forced to leave his role as 'Fireman Ed' due to the threats, he has continued to go to games and hopes that a younger fan will take up the mantle and lead the chant. But the Jets have struggled to find an adequate replacement, someone with the same moxie as Anzalone. It is clear that, at least right now, if the Jets want a good atmosphere at MetLife Stadium they'll need to recruit Anzalone back.“It kind of gets you ready for the season, it's early but it gets you in the mood,” Enunwa said. “I think it'll definitely put the fans into the game more [if he comes back]. Us doing well wouldn't hurt. Having 'Fireman Ed' out there though would definitely help.”

 

There is even a website, BringBackEd.com with an online petition imploring Anzalone to make a comeback. With optimism high around the Jets following their strong offseason as well as a good haul from the NFL Draft, Anzalone's return would only add optimism to a fanbase that is all too familiar with suffering.And while Enunwa is just beginning his education on “Fireman Ed,” he said he wouldn't mind running out of the tunnel come Week 1 with Anzalone leading the chant.“Anybody who can incite the crowd at a bowling alley like that, well, imagine what he can do with a stadium full of people?” Enunwa said. “That'd be awesome to have that.”

 

> http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/jets-players-fans-want-second-act-from-fireman-ed/zsJofo---ZmHwEpJ6Dt3OA/