CANNIZZARO = complete idiot

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01102007/sports/jets/green_blueprint_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

GREEN BLUEPRINT

January 10, 2007 -- WHEN Eric Mangini stood before his players for the final time of the 2006 season Monday morning, he thanked them for their effort and commitment.

Quickly after that, Mangini smartly warned his players that just because they got to the postseason this season doesn't win them a single game on the 2007 schedule.

"We need to collectively understand we're no longer 10-6, we're no longer in the first round of the playoffs," Mangini said. "Where we are right now is we're back to a clean slate. Each season is its own unique season.

"It's not a function of just picking up where you left off. That's got to be our position and the way that we view things moving forward. It's 0-0. We now control what happens based on the things that we do."

Good for Mangini for telling his players that. His words ring true, and they're words that some coaches don't have the smarts to tell their players.

A number of players lived through the crash from the lofty expectations of 2004-05, when they went from coming within a 43-yard Doug Brien field goal of the AFC title game in the 2004 season to going 4-12 in 2005, the season Chad Pennington was shelved with his second shoulder injury in a year.

"Each season is its own stand-alone entity," linebacker Matt Chatham said. "There's no such thing as momentum in the NFL. We just have to take what we've learned and continue to apply it all over again."

That said, here's the Post's five-part plan to send the Jets deeper into the postseason in the 2007 season and perhaps - dare we say? - to the Super Bowl:

* Anoint Chad Pennington as his starting QB. Mangini made a rare coaching mistake on Monday when he declined to name Pennington his starter in '07. He did gush about Pennington, and he probably knows Pennington will be his man next season, but Mangini wanted to stay consistent to one of his "core" beliefs, which is competition at all positions. In this case, he should have strayed from the core and thrown Pennington a scrap. This is Pennington's team. For the rest of the players to know that is good for team chemistry. For Pennington to know that is good for his confidence.

* Find a legitimate feature running back. The three-headed back-by-committee program isn't ideal and it rarely works. The best backs need to touch the ball and get into a rhythm. The Jets should take a long look at San Diego restricted free agent Michael Turner or try to get a top back in the draft. An interesting possibility on draft day, where the Jets pick 25th, is Cal's Marshawn Lynch, a junior who announced Monday he's coming out early. Lynch, who rushed for 1,245 yards and a 6.1-yard average this season, would be a steal if he's there at No. 25.

* Find a pass rusher for the defensive line. Easier said than done, yes, but the 10 sacks the line produced this season aren't enough. Kimo von Oelhoffen, for example, started 16 games and had 28 tackles with one sack. That isn't enough production.

* Spend some of the $28 million or so they'll be under the salary cap and steal cornerback Asante Samuel (10 interceptions this season and a pick of Pennington in the playoffs) from the Patriots. That might erase the hug from Bill Belichick to Mangini next season. The Patriots are notoriously cheap when it comes to giving their own players big contracts (see: Adam Vinatieri, David Givens, Deion Branch, etc.).

* Bring the tight end back as a weapon. Brian Schottenheimer saw first-hand what Antonio Gates did in San Diego. Why not utilize Chris Baker's terrific hands and playmaking ability? Teams are always trying to take Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery away, so throw the ball to Baker, who'll often have a mismatch on him.

All but one of these points are dumb.

1) Chad. Mangini is doing this absolutely right. Nobody who throws 17 TD's-16 INT's (and had a BUNCH more int's flat-out dropped) gets an automatic shoe-in for the starting job next year. Mangini knows that the gameplan is limited by Chad's arm. To go into the season saying, "As head coach I vow to limit the offensive playcalling for the duration of the 2007 season," is underestimating what a football team might be capable of without the fear-of-worse syndrome.

2) RBBC. I am on board with upgrading the position. But to suggest that only having a single feature-back, and that having a RBBC rarely works is about the dumbest thing I've heard and sounds like the opinion of someone trying to build a fantasy football championship team rather than an NFL championship team. RBBC was used by three of the past 4 superbowl winners: 2005 Steelers, 2003 Patriots, 2002 Bucs. And if New England, New Orleans, Chicago, or Indy win the superbowl this year, it will be 4 of the past 5 superbowl winners.

3) Pass-rushing DE. Sure the front-3 need to get more pressure. But that doesn't mean we go out and seek a "pass-rusher" for the defensive line. Anyone who says that simply doesn't understand football or the 3-4 defense.

4) Get Baker more involved as a receiver. I would like to see the TE more in passing, but when your OL is below-average in running, he needs to stay in to help block & can't help in disguising the play as a possible pass. Every team will know when you're running/passing if every run the TE stays in & every pass the TE lines up a little wider as a receiver. SD, who he mentions, has a top-notch OL and blocking FB and has the luxury of not keeping Gates in to block (not that he's a very good blocker anyway). It also over-simplifies the game with the notion of "just throw it to the TE" as though Baker (who I do like) is open at will on every pass play. Antonio Gates gets open a lot because he's Antonio Gates. Same with Gonzalez, Shockey, and the other playmaker TE's. It's not because they play the TE position or simple strategy that these things happen. It would make as much sense to suggest Pennington start throwing 20-yard out's on a rope because it works for Tom Brady & Carson Palmer.

His 1 other point I agree with, but it's hardly controversial to suggest the Jets use some of their $30M in cap room to acquire a ready-now, available, top FA corner, at a glaring area of need.

The rest, most glaringly the bit about a pass-rushing DE, just displays Cannizzaro's a lack of understanding of the game and/or the team he covers on a daily basis.

He should go back to smoking Herm's Kool-Aid.

[Scott Dierking]

Moderator-From the word moderate, which means to lessen the tension.

[nj meadowlands]

To be honest, unless there was a follow up press conference, I think EVERYONE misinterpreted Mangini on Chad. I think he DID in fact hint that Chad was the starter for next season.

[stormshadow19]

By a feature back, does he mean 51% of the carries? Or 90% of the carries? Cause, 90% would be down right dumb. I'd much rather have two or three backs (using the Michigan formula, except, more sucess in the post season/bowl season) split carries. Of course, one back would get the lion's share (60% of the carries), the two back would get 35%, and the three back would get that other 5%. If Chad's arm is really that bad... I'd almost consider a three back formation. Not that it ever works in the NFL, but it'd be worth trying. And the QB position needs to be upgraded. But, we all know that.

[Sperm Edwards]

Moderator-From the word moderate, which means to lessen the tension.

I thought it meant "avoiding extremes of behavior or expression" lol

And that is just what I do here.

[Boozer76]

I disagree with point 1 regarding Chad. Keeping it an open competition forces competitiveness, and Chad has not flat out earned the right to be the starter.

Point 2 I do agree with. we need a feature back to allow Leon to take on a role such as kevin Faulk. Dillon gets alot of carries in NE, burt rest assured it will be Maroney's job soon enough and he'll be very good. We need the same thing here.

Point 3 I disagree with. We must replace Von Oldfarten, but it does not necessarily mean we need a pass rush specialist. We just need someone who can force the action and make plays.

Point 4 I agree with, a great cover corner would be crucial, and we have the money to get one. Spend it wisely though!!

Point 5 I agree with in principal. Baker is no A Gates in the passing game. Not even close. We need to shore up the OL to allow us to draft a legitimate receiving TE. By shoring up the OL, we would not require the TE to stay in for blocking duties. Baker makes a very good blocking TE and occasional receiver, but we need a weapon at TE. To utilize that weapon we need to shore up the right side of the OL. By keeping Baker as well it keeps us from being obvious when he is in. D's can't load up on the run because Baker is adequate in pass catching duties as well. But we need a quicker TE for exclusive receiving duties.

[nj meadowlands]

Who was it that wanted to know how to get banned from JI?

Post the title of this thread in any topic... lol

[Sperm Edwards]

I wasn't disagreeing with bringing in a better RB or bringing in competition at the position, which it seems is what Mangini does at every position. It was a disagreement with the idea that RBBC rarely works. He still thinks running Martin for 20-25x per game would've worked eventually if we'd only tried it for another 7-8 years.

[BP]

* Anoint Chad Pennington as his starting QB. Mangini made a rare coaching mistake on Monday when he declined to name Pennington his starter in '07. He did gush about Pennington, and he probably knows Pennington will be his man next season, but Mangini wanted to stay consistent to one of his "core" beliefs, which is competition at all positions. In this case, he should have strayed from the core and thrown Pennington a scrap. This is Pennington's team. For the rest of the players to know that is good for team chemistry. For Pennington to know that is good for his confidence.

I like the open competition..I think it's a good thing..it makes the player become a better player,and it should be an open competition to the whole team unless you have a HOF QB of course..which we do not have..that said..I disagree with the above mentioned ''idea to do the right thing''

[Sperm Edwards]

For Pennington to know that is good for his confidence.

He's worried about the confidence of a 31 year-old man? Of anyone's criticism of Chad's abilities, I don't think anyone believes Chad is some mental midget who needs a Stuart Smalley daily affirmation.

[GLH222]

Between Mike C and Jay Greenberg, the post tandem continues to mention RB's that arent viable options. In fact, until I e-mailed Greenberg yesterday, he didnt know what calvin johnson was a WR! Unless they trade down, which I dont see happening given there cap room and 2nd round order. By the time the jets pick, both Marshawyn Lynch and Adrien Peterson will already be back at their hotel counting their money and scheduling there first trip to Vegas with 125 of their closest friends.....unless the post tandem starts talking Bush or somthing logical, Im switching to the Daily News.

[Jet27]

All but one of these points are dumb.

1) Chad. Mangini is doing this absolutely right. Nobody who throws 17 TD's-16 INT's (and had a BUNCH more int's flat-out dropped) gets an automatic shoe-in for the starting job next year. Mangini knows that the gameplan is limited by Chad's arm. To go into the season saying, "As head coach I vow to limit the offensive playcalling for the duration of the 2007 season," is underestimating what a football team might be capable of without the fear-of-worse syndrome.

2) RBBC. I am on board with upgrading the position. But to suggest that only having a single feature-back, and that having a RBBC rarely works is about the dumbest thing I've heard and sounds like the opinion of someone trying to build a fantasy football championship team rather than an NFL championship team. RBBC was used by three of the past 4 superbowl winners: 2005 Steelers, 2003 Patriots, 2002 Bucs. And if New England, New Orleans, Chicago, or Indy win the superbowl this year, it will be 4 of the past 5 superbowl winners.

3) Pass-rushing DE. Sure the front-3 need to get more pressure. But that doesn't mean we go out and seek a "pass-rusher" for the defensive line. Anyone who says that simply doesn't understand football or the 3-4 defense.

4) Get Baker more involved as a receiver. I would like to see the TE more in passing, but when your OL is below-average in running, he needs to stay in to help block & can't help in disguising the play as a possible pass. Every team will know when you're running/passing if every run the TE stays in & every pass the TE lines up a little wider as a receiver. SD, who he mentions, has a top-notch OL and blocking FB and has the luxury of not keeping Gates in to block (not that he's a very good blocker anyway). It also over-simplifies the game with the notion of "just throw it to the TE" as though Baker (who I do like) is open at will on every pass play. Antonio Gates gets open a lot because he's Antonio Gates. Same with Gonzalez, Shockey, and the other playmaker TE's. It's not because they play the TE position or simple strategy that these things happen. It would make as much sense to suggest Pennington start throwing 20-yard out's on a rope because it works for Tom Brady & Carson Palmer.

His 1 other point I agree with, but it's hardly controversial to suggest the Jets use some of their $30M in cap room to acquire a ready-now, available, top FA corner, at a glaring area of need.

The rest, most glaringly the bit about a pass-rushing DE, just displays Cannizzaro's a lack of understanding of the game and/or the team he covers on a daily basis.

He should go back to smoking Herm's Kool-Aid.

SP...I agree with your comments, it's sound football logic, as opposed to some pie in the sky stuff with regards to Chad.....