Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061025/SPORTS01/610250368/1108 Momentum on Jets' side By ANDREW GROSS THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: October 25, 2006) Momentum can't be underestimated in the NFL. So even if the Jets' last two opponents have been underwhelming, there's no way to underplay the importance of the victories. Especially since the Jets (4-3), who are at Cleveland (1-5) Sunday, never put together back-to-back wins last season. Their last two victims, the Lions and Dolphins, are both 1-6. But that's nitpicking. "Oh, man, it's great," Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas said. "We didn't do that last year? I don't want to speak on last year. It's a new coaching staff. That's in the past, we're moving forward. But to get two wins in a row? We have to continue to build and build and build." That, of course, is always the goal. But unlike so many other wasted Jets seasons, things seem to be moving in the right direction under first-year coach Eric Mangini. "You can't let yourself be satisfied," safety Erik Coleman said. "You have to try to keep getting wins, keep stacking them up." Here's what the momentum will build to if the Jets beat the Browns: They'll be 5-3 heading into their bye week. Suddenly the postseason, something nobody but the players thought the Jets were capable of this season, becomes a real factor. On the other hand, the players still remember all the playoff talk prior to last season. The Jets went 10-6 in 2004 and were a Doug Brien field goal away from reaching the AFC championship game. Then came the 4-12 collapse in the final season under Herman Edwards. "We don't want to think ahead like that because of last year," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "We were coming off a nice year in '04, we kind of looked ahead and thought, 'We can go farther this year in the playoffs.' We definitely know we don't want to look ahead anymore. Once you get to a point in the season and you know you can't turn back and things go bad, you start panicking. You start going into panic mode." Part of what happened last season was injury-based. Quarterback Chad Pennington and his backup, Jay Fiedler, missed the last 13 games. Running back Curtis Martin missed the last four and is still on the physically-unable-to-perform list. But a large reason why the Jets believe they now have genuine momentum, instead of false hope brought on by beating two weak opponents, is their running game finally seems to be effective. Rookie Leon Washington rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions, his second 100-yard game in three weeks. "With all due respect to Curtis, I think we'll be able to run the ball the rest of the year," said running back Kevan Barlow, who added 49 yards against Detroit. "I just think it was a matter of time. We've got two young bucks up there (rookie center Nick Mangold and rookie left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson) and some old-school guys. I think it's a matter of time getting the chemistry and camaraderie down." Notes: Washington was nominated for the NFL rookie of the week and FedEx ground player of the week honors. ... Maurice Carthon, the former Giants running back, on Monday night resigned as the Browns' offensive coordinator. Offensive-line coach Jeff Davidson will replace Carthon. ... Former Jets defensive end John Abraham, who has played in only two games this season for the Falcons, will undergo surgery to repair a torn lower abdominal muscle and miss another 3-4 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1161765295260920.xml&coll=2 Tony Grossi scouts the Jets Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Browns vs. New York Jets, Sunday 4:15 p.m. in Cleveland Browns Stadium, WOIO Ch. 19. Record: 4-3. Last game: Defeated Detroit Lions, 31-24, in Giants Stadium. Coach: Eric Mangini, 4-3, first year. Series record: Browns lead, 10-7. Last meeting: Jets won, 10-7, Nov. 21, 2004, in Cleveland. In Butch Davis’ next-to-last game as coach, the Browns blew a 7-0 lead at home to a team quarterbacked by Quincy Carter. League rankings: Offense is 19th (13th rushing, 23rd passing), defense is 30th (28th rushing, 26th passing) and turnover differential is plus-2. Injury report: CB Andre Dyson (headache) left the last game. The Jets routinely list up to 20 players on their weekly report. Offensive overview Watching this offense, you’d never guess the team’s coordinator was Marty Schottenheimer’s son. Brian Schottenheimer played quarterback for Steve Spurrier at Florida, and he brought Spurrier’s creativity and verve to the Jets. He borrowed the Chargers’ offense as his base system and sprinkles in some innovations that make them unpredictable and fun to watch. They use a controlled no-huddle about half the time. They also run a lot of gadget plays — many involving multitalented rookie Brad Smith, a converted quarterback from Missouri who has run and caught the ball but not yet thrown it. Quarterback Chad Pennington has been steady throwing the ball underneath and limiting his errors. Mangini has effectively used a two-man running back committee of Kevan Barlow and rookie Leon Washington. Defensive overview This is the area of Mangini’s expertise but also the unit undergoing the most growing pains until he loads up with more players to fit in the 3-4 scheme. Without a lot of talent here, Mangini tries to play a very conservative style, blitzing little and keeping safeties deep to guard against big plays. The Jets can’t stop the run, giving up 4.5 yards a rush and 12 touchdowns on the ground, and can’t mount a pass rush. They’ve given up 74 points in the fourth quarter as opponents have run the hurry-up to make up deficits. No team yet has attacked them this way from the beginning — but it makes a lot of sense to do so. Mangini will fill in his defense over time. For now, the main players of note are linebacker Jonathan Vilma and safety Kerry Rhodes. Special-teams overview Kicker Mike Nugent survived a shaky first game in which he missed two field goals of less than 35 yards and an extra point. He has since made four field goals in row — none longer than 42 yards. Punter Ben Graham, of Australia, has solid averages of 44.3 gross and 37.5 net. Return specialist Justin Miller is a breakaway threat on kickoffs, averaging 28 yards a return, including a 103-yard touchdown. Players to watch * WR Laveranues Coles: The speedy wideout leads the team with 42 catches for 566 yards and is tied for tops with three touchdown catches. * S Kerry Rhodes: A fourth-round steal in 2005, the Louisville product has started every game of his NFL career. He leads the team with three sacks and is second with two interceptions. * QB Chad Pennington: Coming back from his second rotator cuff surgery, he has been accurate (65.8 completion percentage) and resourceful in managing the offense. He has an excellent career touchdown-tointerception ratio of 64 to 36. Small world Jets coach Eric Mangini got his NFL start with the Browns under Bill Belichick in 1995. . . . Jets defensive line coach Denny Marcin is a Cleveland native and was head coach at St. Edward High School in 1972 and ’73. . . . Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum was a Browns player personnel assistant in 1995. — Tony Grossi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/464953p-391231c.html Jets taking off While Browns head down By RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Romeo Crennel is facing tough times in Cleveland, far removed from Super days with Bill Belichick. They cleaned house after a 4-12 season. They hired a bright, young general manager. They plucked the ripest piece of fruit from the Bill Belichick coaching tree. They instilled a Patriots-like philosophy in their organization. You know that team: It's the Jets, one of the surprises in the NFL. But, wait, it's also the Browns, who might be the worst team in the league. The Jets and Browns face each other Sunday in Cleveland, making this an ideal week to examine how two teams can follow the same rebuilding formula and come out with dramatically different results. Under GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini, the Jets (4-3) are reaping the benefits of shrewd personnel moves and non-moves, for that matter. In 1-1/2seasons under GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel, the Browns (7-15 in that span) have made some questionable decisions and have been devastated by key injuries. So, yes, luck has a lot do with it. So far, the Jets has been lucky and good. Consider how some of their biggest decisions have turned out: Some new regimes would've started fresh at quarterback, but the Jets decided to retain Chad Pennington, surgically repaired shoulder and all. Pennington, healthy for a change, has reestablished himself as one of the NFL's top game managers. Without his smarts, the Jets wouldn't be able to run Brian Schottenheimer's complex no-huddle attack. "He's the real deal, a real football player," said an opposing scout who attended Sunday's win over the Lions. "He gets the ball where it needs to be." Mangini's top choice for offensive coordinator was Browns offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, an old buddy from New England, but the Browns refused to let him out of his contract. Mangini wound up hiring Schottenheimer. Meanwhile, the Browns' offense is so bad that coordinator Maurice Carthon resigned under pressure yesterday. The new play-caller? Davidson. The Jets decided to cut bait with defensive end John Abraham, trading him to the Falcons for a first-round pick (center Nick Mangold). It wasn't a popular move, but the Jets didn't want to pay big bucks to a player with an injury-plagued past and character issues. Abraham, who already has missed four games with an abdominal injury, will require surgery that will keep him out another three to four weeks, the Falcons announced yesterday. You think Atlanta is second-guessing its $15 million investment? The Jets called off the Lee Suggs trade when he flunked their physical. They, in turn, traded for running back Kevan Barlow, a decent addition. Suggs went back to his old team, the Browns, who eventually got rid of him. Presently, he's unemployed. Add up all the moves, and you can see there's a fine line between success and failure. Between the Jets and Browns. ON THE RUN: Leon Washington is the toast of the town after his 129-yard rushing performance, the best in 42years by a Jets rookie, but let's not get carried away. Some perspective, please. "I think he has a future, but I came from the Bill Parcells era," Curtis Martin said in a recent interview. "When I had my first good game as a rookie (in 1995), Parcells started calling me, 'One-Game Wonder.' He was right. You have to do it year after year after year. "I definitely think Leon has all the equipment to be a good back in the NFL," Martin added. "But most runners in the NFL have the ability. The true test is the consistency." One aspect to Washington's game is his power. For a small back (5-8), he breaks tackles. Before last weekend, he was fifth in the league in yards-after-contact with an average of 2.59 per carry, according to STATS, Inc. The Clipboard HOT SEAT: Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. The Jets are on pace to allow 395 points, which would be their highest since 1996. X'S and O'S: The Jets use the no-huddle approximately 50% of the time, and they do it with very few glitches. WHISPERS: Leon Washington, Brad Smith and D'Brickashaw Ferguson get most of the pub, but team insiders feel the steadiest rookie has been C Nick Mangold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/464954p-391244c.html Dewayne rates at MLB Dewayne Robertson is making progress at nose tackle. An opposing coach had this to say about him: "He's trying to learn how to be a two-gap nose tackle and, like a lot of guys, they struggle when they have to change. But he's a very talented individual. If he works at it, and adjusts, they'll have themselves a good nose tackle." ... DE Shaun Ellis has gone sackless in 13 of his last 14 games, the exception being a two-sack game against the Colts in Week 4. Rich Cimini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDk5NzEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 Mistake by the lake: Browns' offense Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Maurice Carthon handed in his resignation as Cleveland's offensive coordinator to head coach Romeo Crennel this week. The development is at once current events for the Jets, who play the Browns on Sunday, and Gang Green ancient history. Check out Bill Parcells' first Jets staff in 1997. There were five head-coaches-to-be in those meeting rooms, among them Bill Belichick, Charlie Weis, Al Groh and Crennel. Carthon was there, too, and he was an up-and-comer -- Tuna said so. The former Giants and Generals fullback coached on Parcells' Patriots, then came with him to Weeb Ewbank Hall. Parcells even touted Carthon as the next hot NFL minority head-coaching candidate. Heady stuff for the humble young man who combined the big shoulders of his Chicago childhood with the folksiness of his Arkansas State days. Parcells' policy of severely restricting media access to his assistants didn't do Carthon any favors, but "Mo" worked his way up the NFL ladder. When Terry Bradway was hired as the Jets' general manager in 2001, Carthon interviewed for the coaching position vacated after Groh's one-year stand. So did Ted Cottrell, Dom Capers and the ultimate winner, Herm Edwards. Carthon moved on to Detroit, rejoined Parcells in Dallas, then reunited with his close friend "Rac" (Crennel's nickname, from his monogram) on his first Browns' staff last season. Maybe Carthon reached his level of incompetence. Or maybe Cleveland, like Arizona and Detroit, is a gridiron cemetery where coaching careers go to die. Either way, things immediately spiraled downward. Veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer bolted for San Francisco after clashing with Carthon over schemes and game plans. Tight end Kellen Winslow was openly critical of his coordinator following the Week 2 loss at Cincinnati. Other players grumbled and the Dawg Pound howled. The numbers helped seal Carthon's fate. The Browns finished as the NFL's lowest-scoring team last year. And this week, they have sunk to 32nd in the league in total yards, a last-place distinction they last held in 2001. The fifth future head coach on that Parcells staff of yore was, of course, Eric Mangini, a quality control assistant then, the Jets' wunderkind first-year boss now. He surely has private feelings for Carthon, but he surely will say something today similar to what he said when asked last week about Ravens coach Brian Billick firing his offensive coordinator, Jim Fassel. "I had nothing to do with that situation," Mangini said. "I'm just focused on us." But this week, focusing on the Jets in a way is focusing on the Carthon situation. Crennel's new coordinator is Jeff Davidson (whom Mangini wanted to interview in February, but the Browns signed him to a long-term deal, so he moved on to Brian Schottenheimer). Maybe Davidson will be brilliant, but he's inherited a mess. QB Charlie Frye is turnover- and sack-prone. Reuben Droughns has gone from a 1,200-yard back last year to a 3.2-yards-per-carry back. Winslow finally is playing -- and averaging 9.6 yards per catch. Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum can't help but feel sympathy for Mo and Rac. They also can't help but smell the blood in the water coming from the direction of Lake Erie. E-mail: lange@northjersey.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDk5NDQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 Jets looking forward Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Early line Browns by 2 The only time the teams have met in Cleveland Browns Stadium was in 2004, when the Jets won a pick 'em game, 10-7. In two seasons under Romeo Crennel, Cleveland is 4-7 (5-6 vs. the spread) at home and 7-15 (10-11-1 vs. the spread) overall. The last time the Jets were larger underdogs to a team with three fewer wins was in 2000, when they were 6-1, but were 3½-point 'dogs at Buffalo (3-4). The Bills won, 23-20. On the hot seat The red-zone defense It's been red-iculous. The Jets have given up NFL highs of 153 points and 19 touchdowns on drives inside their 20, and opponents have scored on 19 straight RZ opportunities (14 TDs, five FGs). And the one thing the Brownies have done reasonably well is score red-zone TDs -- QB Charlie Frye has passed for five (including two each to 6-foot-5 WR Joe Jurevicius and 6-4 TE Kellen Winslow) and run in three himself. Game plan This is a running game. Extend the Leon Washington-Kevan Barlow beachhead vs. Detroit against Cleveland's 29th-ranked run defense, and make a stand vs. RB Reuben Droughns -- the Browns are 31st in run offense (68.2 yards per game, 3.1 per carry). Press that new first-quarter advantage, now that Cleveland is the only NFL team without an opening-period TD. Take the ball away, since the Browns have 17 turnovers and are the only team to have a minus TO margin every game. -- Randy Lange Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spjchalk254947340oct25,0,3437869.column?coll=ny-jets-print JETS CHALK TALK Rookies catch on faster than expected Tom Rock October 25, 2006 Maybe one of the reasons we have yet to see the Same Old Jets is that there aren't as many Old Jets on the field. The team is thick with rookie contributions from the obvious (Leon Washington's emergence at running back) to the noteworthy (first-round picks D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold starting on the offensive line) to the more subtle (Drew Coleman and Eric Smith increasing their playing time in the secondary). It usually takes about three years to judge a draft class, but three months after training camp opened, the 2006 group is already paying more dividends than anyone could have expected. The Jets selected 10 players in April. Four started on Sunday against the Lions. Six played significant roles in the victory. That's a lot of new blood - "It's certainly not the norm," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said - and the Jets have shown they are willing to infuse it. "You look around the league and certain players aren't playing yet or they are still learning the system," Tannenbaum said, adding that the coaching staff has done well in teaching the young players and, to a certain extent, adapting the playbook around them. "Eric [Mangini] and I are strongly committed to playing the best players. We go by what we see. I think that environment of competition brings out the best in everybody." Washington fits into that category. He has the only two 100-yard rushing games for the Jets this season, exploded for 129 yards against the Lions, and is on the verge of becoming the every-down running back the Jets needed to replace Curtis Martin. Brad Smith is another, a quarterback at Missouri who has become the rabbit that gets pulled from the hat when coordinator Brian Schottenheimer wants to play magician. Smith can play any of three offensive positions and also has developed into a strong special-teams player. Washington was the 117th overall pick in the draft. Smith was 103. Coleman, a converted receiver out of TCU, was the 189th pick. He turned out to be one of the key players as the Jets held the NFL's leading receiver, Roy Williams, to two catches on Sunday. The deeper picks were not as prominent when the season opened, but as the Jets approach the midway point in the season and are on the verge of going two games over .500 for the first time since 2004, they are becoming important cogs. The two first-day draft picks that have yet to pay off for the Jets are quarterback Kellen Clemens and linebacker Anthony Schlegel. The Jets are thrilled that they have not needed to put Clemens in the spotlight because it means Chad Pennington has remained healthy. That leaves Schlegel, who has been inactive for the first seven weeks after being selected in the third round, as the only early disappointment. Tannenbaum said he is more pleased with the system than the players when reflecting on last spring's draft. "What I'm most proud of is that, from an organizational approach, we're all on the same page," he said. "Our scouts at TCU and Missouri and Florida State, they all know what we're looking for." That's how franchises such as the Patriots, Broncos and Steelers became perennial powers in an environment of parity designed to discourage such continued success. The Jets aren't in that echelon yet, but a few more drafts like this one and they could be on their way. Storylines On the nose Jets coach Eric Mangini named Dewayne Robertson the team's defensive player of the week, a hint that the fourth-year player and former No. 1 draft pick is starting to find his footing at nose tackle. Robertson had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble and was one of the few Jets able to get close to Lions quarterback Jon Kitna. Mangini said Robertson is working on technique at the position to fend off double-teams. "He's a powerful guy, he's a strong guy, he's got good quickness and he's marrying that with good hand placement, good footwork," Mangini said. "And all that natural ability combined with the technique work that he's doing is making him more and more productive each week." Wherefore art thou? So much was made about Mangini facing mentor Bill Belichick when the Jets played the Patriots in September. In many ways, though, this is truly the week when the pupil faces the professor. Mangini worked directly under Browns coach Romeo Crennel when the two were in New England, as well as when they were with the Jets. And unlike his relationship with Belichick, which evaporated once Mangini took the Jets job, his friendship with Crennel remains fairly intact. "[Crennel] is such an unbelievable guy," Mangini said, adding that they have spoken often during this season. "He's just a really good teacher and friend." No Mo' Mo The Browns' sluggish offense could be an even easier target for the Jets' defense after offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon resigned yesterday. Jeff Davidson, offensive line coach the past two seasons, will replace him. Davidson, who coached at New England for eight years, was a candidate for the Jets' offensive coordinator job when Mangini took over last winter. That job went to Brian Schottenheimer, and Davidson was given the title of assistant head coach with the Browns. Cleveland is at or near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive category, including yards per game (last with 245.2), rushing yards per game (next to last, 68.2) and scoring (26th at 14.7). Statlines Leon Washington was the 117th overall pick in this spring's NFL draft and the 10th running back selected. Here's how the Jets rookie stacks up against players who were picked ahead of him and have appeared in at least six games and carried the ball at least 40 times: Player, team Overall Rush Yards TDs draft attempts per carry Reggie Bush, Saints 2 65 3.0 0 Laurence Maroney, Patriots 21 86 4.2 3 Joseph Addai, Colts 30 70 5.1 1 Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars 60 41 4.6 3 Leon Washington, Jets 117 71 4.9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spbriefs254947331oct25,0,2773321.story?coll=ny-jets-print Briefs Compiled from wire reports October 25, 2006 SURGERY SIDELINES EX-JET ABRAHAM AGAIN. Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham will miss three to four weeks after surgery yesterday to repair a torn lower abdominal muscle. The Falcons did not release details on the procedure, but coach Jim Mora said the torn muscle "is related to but not solely linked to" the groin injury that has limited the oft-injured three-time Pro Bowler to only two games this season. Abraham, acquired from the Jets during the offseason for a first-round draft pick, was named NFC defensive player of the week in the season opener, a 20-6 win at Carolina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spbest244946260oct24,0,1755841.column?coll=ny-jets-print No penalty for these flags Who were those fetching young women TV cameras caught on the sideline during the Jets-Lions game? Were they, gasp ... cheerleaders? Nope. "They're flag carriers," said Ron Colangelo, the Jets' VP of public relations. Oh. It turns out the eight-women "Jets Flag Crew" debuted Oct. 15 against the Dolphins, and it features several current or former dancers for the Islanders and/or Dragons. In most of Football America, this would be no big deal. But the Giants never have had cheerleaders and the Jets have not for decades. So adding flag-wavers, whether or not they are a subtle bridge to a future of short shorts and bikini tops, is big news here. Colangelo said the idea was to promote crowd response and excitement, and that it has received mostly positive reviews from fans. "We're trying to continually be progressive in our approach," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/sports/football/25crennel.html?_r=1&ref=football&oref=slogin On the Defensive in Cleveland By CLIFTON BROWN BEREA, Ohio, Oct. 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.nypost.com/seven/10252006/sports/jets/this_team_not_same_old_jets_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm THIS TEAM NOT SAME OLD JETS By MARK CANNIZZARO October 25, 2006 -- THIS is the spot where your father's Jets made such an annoying habit of falling flat on their facemasks - when a little bit of prosperity crept into their lives. That's what makes this such a compelling week for Eric Mangini's Jets. These Jets, with their 4-3 start, have forced themselves into the conversation as one of the big stories in the NFL. They've already equaled their win total from a year ago. They've won two in a row since being waxed 41-0 by the Jaguars. Their quarterback is the leading candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. They have infused some dynamic young talent onto the roster. Now they play the 1-5 Browns. A layup for the Jets, right? Well, if you base your perceptions on the Jets' history, this would qualify as a danger game, one they'd lose because they were supposed to win. But the guess here is Mangini will have them prepared for the pitfalls that have swallowed past Jet squads. The guess here is the Jets go into Cleveland and take care of business, winning with little doubt as opposed to playing cautiously against what is definitely a wounded animal. "How will we handle success?" Jet guard Pete Kendall asked. "We've responded well to adversity on a couple of occasions. Let's see how we handle success." The Jets' pattern this season has been to take care of teams they're supposed to beat - Titans, Bills, Dolphins, Lions. The Browns represent the third consecutive one-win team the Jets have played. Don't penalize the Jets for that. You play who's on your schedule. Asked how significant being 5-3 at the midway point would be, Kendall said: "Considering that's the best we can be at this point, it's very important." Kendall, who's been stung in his career by underachieving losses, threw caution to the locker room when he pointed out some of the upsets from Sunday. "Look at Houston giving Jacksonville fits and Jacksonville ran us out of the gym," he said. "You know the saying, 'On any given Sunday...' One thing this team can't afford to do is to be looking at that schedule and saying, 'This one, this one, this one.' Our approach has been to go week to week. And it's worked." Chad Pennington said he didn't think looking ahead would be possible under Mangini. "I don't think [Mangini] will allow us to do that, and I don't think the players would do that," the QB said. "Hopefully we can get to 5-3 after a two-game losing streak [to the Colts and Jaguars] and put together a three-game winning streak. That would be huge." It would be huge because, after the bye week next week, the Jets face the 5-1 Patriots in New England and the 6-0 Bears at home. The Jets haven't beaten a team with a winning record. That's why it's so critical for them to beat the teams they're supposed to beat. * Jet rookie RB Leon Washington, who rushed for 129 yards and two TDs on 20 carries Sunday, has been nominated for two honors - the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Player of the Week and the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Fans can vote for Washington on Fedexfootball.com from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Thursday. They can also vote on NFL.com until Thursday. mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1161754506171420.xml&coll=1 Barlow emerges as team guy in RB tandem Wednesday, October 25, 2006 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff RB Kevan Barlow came to the Jets from the 49ers in August with a reputation as an outspoken malcontent and a player who stopped running hard after pocketing $8 million in guaranteed money following a breakout season in 2003. And Barlow did nothing to dispel that reputation when he compared his former coach, the 49ers' Mike Nolan, to Adolf Hitler two days after being traded to the Jets. But since his arrival, Barlow, acquired for a fourth-round pick, has been a model citizen on and off the field and has drawn repeated praise from coach Eric Mangini for his toughness and work ethic. Barlow has been the consummate team player. That was never more evident than following the Jets' 31-24 victory over the Lions last Sunday in which rookie Leon Washington rushed for a career-high 129 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as the Jets rolled up a season-high 211 yards rushing. Barlow finished with 49 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. "Leon is doing a great job when he's out there. He carried the load today," said Barlow after the game. "We got the win. That's all that matters. I'm glad I contributed somewhat." The Jets' tag-team approach of Barlow and Washington has been a shock to Barlow's system but he's not complaining. In San Francisco, he started the past two seasons, and in 2003 rushed for 1,024 yards and six touchdowns. It was thought he'd be the Jets' featured back this season, replacing the injured Curtis Martin. Instead, Barlow has been asked to get the tough yards -- he has five short-yardage touchdowns while rushing for 236 yards on 79 carries -- and Washington has emerged as the speed guy. Early in the season, Barlow, 6-1, 234 pounds, took a pounding as the offensive line struggled in the running game. Again, he didn't utter a negative word. "I've never really switched backs like this before but it's a situation where I've learned to accept it," said Barlow, who has also had to adjust to a lot of one-back formations. "That's the way it's going to be and it's helping us win games and we're productive that way. "It's just a thing where when I get out there, I'm going to have to take advantage of my opportunities as much as I can. One week I might get the most carries and the next week, Leon might get the most carries. That's fine. It's working." NEXT OPPONENT The Browns (1-5), who rank last in the NFL in total offense (245.2 yards per game), accepted the resignation of offensive coordinator and former Giants FB Maurice Carthon yesterday. Carthon had been under fire all season and the Browns had just 165 yards total offense in a 17-7 loss to Denver last week despite having a bye week to prepare. QB Charlie Frye has completed 61.7 percent of his passes but has thrown 10 interceptions versus six touchdowns and his passer rating is 67.4. TE Kellen Winslow (team-high 33 catches for 317 yards and two TDs) has recovered nicely from his career-threatening motorcycle accident and WR Braylon Edwards has skills (22-357-1). Neither was happy with Carthon. Cleveland was decimated by the loss of C LeCharles Bentley (knee) for the season on the first day of training camp. Defensively, NT Ted Washington and DE Willie McGinest are looking old. The Browns rank 22nd in total defense and 29th against the run, which is unheard of for a 3-4 defense with the 6-5, 365-pound Washington as the anchor. Cleveland has allowed 100 rushing yards or more in 10 of its past 11 games and its secondary has been racked by injuries. DECISIONS, DECISIONS With former Jets DE John Abraham having missed five of the Falcons' first six games and now facing abdominal surgery, it appears the Jets made the right decision not to sign him to a long-term deal, although they don't have much of a pass rush without him. ... QB Chad Pennington, who took a $6 million pay cut this past off-season, seems to be well on his way to earning all of his money back mainly via playing-time incentives. ... CB Andre Dyson, who has a team-high three interceptions and helped shut down the Lions' Roy Williams last Sunday, is shaping up as one of the team's best free-agent signings since C Kevin Mawae and RB Curtis Martin in 1998. ... RB Cedric Houston (hyperextended left knee) is close to returning but the Jets will likely hold him out against the Browns with the bye week following that game. STORY LINE Jets coach Eric Mangini is going against his good friend, Romeo Crennel, who is having major problems in his second season in Cleveland. The Jets are looking for their third straight victory as they head into their bye. The Browns are just trying to find the end zone. Both teams play a 3-4 defense. INJURIES Jets -- RB Cedric Houston (knee), C/T Trey Teague (ankle) and CB David Barrett (hip) are banged up. Browns -- CBs Gary Baxter (knee) and Daylon McCutcheon (knee) and C LeCharles Bentley (knee) are out. CB Leigh Bodden (ankle) and QB Charlie Frye (concussion) are hurting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6093488 Surviving the chaos and the upsets in Week 7 were the New York Jets. I stand corrected. I mean the 4-3 New York Jets. Call it another taking-care-of-business win for Eric Mangini's club, 31-24 over the Lions. The Jets have won two straight since the shutout in Jacksonville. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum rightly gives all the credit to his first year head coach. Tannenbaum told me after the game, "It really starts with our head coach and the tone he set. The Monday after the Jacksonville game, it was all over. It was on to Miami. Coach started that mindset. We had a game plan and executed. This week it was about stopping Roy Williams, containing Eddie Drummond on special teams, and it was a true team win with solid play on offense, defense, and special teams." Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had a fantastic game plan. With tackles Shaun Rogers and Shaun Cody out, Schottenheimer rammed rookie Leon Washington down Detroit's throat. Washington, running behind Pete Kendall and the very solid Jets offensive line, scored 2 touchdowns and showed off both his speed and power en route to 129 rushing yards on 20 carries. Forget Kevan Barlow; the former FSU product and Tannenbaum's gem of a fourth-round pick is the answer for the Jets at the running back position. The Jets, under the direction of Mangini, and following the on field leadership and heady play of Chad Pennington, are quietly putting together a strong season, filled with countless examples of toughness and clutch play. The Jets could be 5-3 heading into their Week 9 bye week if they win this weekend in Cleveland. And the Browns just axed offensive coordinator Mo Carthon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 http://blogs.trb.com/sports/football/jets/blog/2006/10/give_chad_a_hand.html Give Chad a Hand By Tom Rock Chad Pennington walked into the interview room with a bandage on his right hand, but it actually took reporters a few minutes to ask him about it. Cimini brought it up, but only after the TV gang had rattled off their pre-scripted commentaries in the form of questions. I was willing to see how long it would take before anyone asked. I’m guessing Cimini was playing a similar game of chicken. Anyway, Chad said the wrap was due to a turf burn he took on his hand when he ran for a first down in the game on Sunday. I hope he’s not fined for discussing his injury. An hour later when the players were on the field for practice, Pennington seemed to be throwing fine and had lost the bandage. No doubt he’ll still be on the injury report that comes out later this afternoon. I heard it snowed in Cleveland this week, and there’s a chance of snow for Sunday. Plus, there’s daylight savings this weekend. Anytime I get to spend an extra hour in Cleveland is just a bonus. I may do the tour they give at the childhood home of Erik Boland. Browns QB Charlie Frye was on the conference call today. He’s a better quarterback than a quote. Though he was understandably downtrodden after Maurice Carthon resigned or was fired or whatever they decide happened to him. He was talking about the fans at one point and someone asked if he had heard from Drew Carey. The blank look was evident even through the speakerphone. I saw one line where the Jets are a 1.5 point underdog this weekend. Has anyone seen the Browns play this season? They have a little bit of talent in the front defensive seven, but the secondary can be exploited and the offense is terrible. Expect big things from Chad and the WR boys, even if the QB has to play with a wrap on his throwing hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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