NY Jets News Articles- 10/ 5( Beat the Giants!

[Kentucky Jet]

PRESSURE BRINGS 'HOLE' NEW GAME

By MARK CANNIZZARO

October 5, 2007 -- A number of Jets veterans this week have cautioned their teammates not to get too caught up in the deepening hole the team finds itself in at 1-3 entering Sunday's game against the Giants.

For example, when it was suggested to receiver Jerricho Cotchery that the game is "make or break," he said, "We don't want to approach it like that. If we approach it like that then we'll be on pins and needles throughout the game.

"Anytime you're in a hole like we're in a hole, patience has to be there, because we have a good team. But we definitely don't want to be in a deeper hole."

Safety Kerry Rhodes said, "We know we can't make too many more mistakes or the season could be over. But we have to play with no pressure. You go out playing and trying not to make mistakes knowing that the margin for error is small and you're going to have some mess-ups.

"You've got to go out and be relaxed and trust what you did during the week (in practice) is going to work. If you're thinking too much you're going to get beat."

Linebacker Jonathan Vilma said, "You don't want to put unnecessary pressure on yourself or on the team, especially when you are in a situation like this, because you start doing things out of character.

"When you put that pressure on yourself, you go out there and try too hard and try to make too many plays, that's not healthy. You shouldn't put more pressure on yourself in this game because you will end up messing up more than helping the team."

Cornerback Andre Dyson has been telling teammates of his experience in 2002 in Tennessee, where the Titans started 1-3 and made it to the AFC Championship game. Those Titans and the 2002 Jets are two of the five teams since 1990 among the 83 who started 1-3 to make the playoffs.

*

Safety Erik Coleman has a concussion, Eric Mangini announced yesterday. Coleman didn't practice yesterday and his availability for Sunday's game is very much in doubt, meaning Eric Smith could replace him.

"We'll evaluate it," Mangini said. "We take concussions extremely seriously."

Mangini said the concussion "didn't manifest itself" until after the team returned home. Coleman played the entire game against the Bills.

*

Iiro Luoto, a practice squad TE from Finland, showed up in the locker room drawing funny looks from his teammates who were staring at his fresh Mohawk hair cut.

Vilma asked if Luoto lost a bet. "I hope so," Vilma said.

He didn't. Luoto said he and his roommate decided to do it together, but his roommate balked.

[Kentucky Jet]

MANGINI KEEPS COOL JUST LIKE WILLIE October 5, 2007 -- HIS team might be 1-3 and facing a Giants defense that recorded 12 sacks in its last game, but you never would know it by Eric Mangini's calm demeanor this week.

The sense of urgency should be obvious, but Mangini is sticking to his even-keel formula for success, which preaches "controlled focus, controlled emotion, controlled intensity" regardless of record and opponent.

"My emotions have been consistent when we've been winning and when we've been losing," Mangini insisted yesterday.

I couldn't help but think of Mets manager Willie Randolph when Mangini was explaining why he doesn't throw chairs or scream at players on the sidelines or approach Sunday's game against the Giants as if it's Armageddon.

Seems to me Mangini's philosophy is a lot like Randolph's, which is why the Jets coach should be ready to be labeled soft and not enough of a task-master should his team disappoint this season.

Randolph's managerial style is under attack because of the Mets' historic collapse. A seven-game lead in the NL East dissolved in two weeks, prompting some to call for Randolph's job.

Of course, no one was complaining last year when the Mets made the playoffs in his second managerial season and went all the way to a seventh game in the NLCS. But losing breeds scrutiny, and now some view the even-keel approach Randolph preaches as a liability.

That's nonsense of course. Mangini had the same approach in his first season as head coach, preaching the core principles and making preparation for an NFL game more cerebral than emotional. The Jets last year were a wild-card team without Mangini screaming or punching walls or putting players on notice.

The idea is to avoid the emotional roller coaster that can come during a 16-game season. Fans take that ride every week, exuberant one Sunday, frustrated the next. Mangini, like Randolph, tries to reduce the highs and lows to a manageable flat line.

Fans may have trouble understanding that, especially when you're 1-3. They want to feel the sense of urgency, they want to see it and hear it. It's the Giants, for pete sake, a must-win game for pride and postseason hopes.

That's why fans have trouble understanding why Randolph didn't knock over a table, curse out an umpire or jump on Jose Reyes during the Mets' slide. Fans want their players and coaches to be emotional just like they are. But like Randolph, you're only going to get so much from Mangini. The Jets like it that way.

What fans want are results. They want to see wins, which is why Randolph's style went from a perfect fit last year to being too soft this year. Mangini could be headed for the same scrutiny.

george.willis@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

REVIS READY FOR REPEAT

JETS ROOKIE CAUGHT IN PASSING LANE

By MARK CANNIZZARO

DARR-ELLE, DARR-ELLE: The Bills threw 11 passes last week at Jets rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis (24), who Sunday must deal with the Giants' passing attack.October 5, 2007 -- Based on the rapid-fire approach the Bills took last week peppering Darrelle Revis with passes, the Jets' rookie cornerback is expecting a busy afternoon Sunday against the Giants.

Bills rookie quarterback Trent Edwards threw so many passes Revis' way last Sunday at times it seemed Revis was the only guy on the Jets playing defense.

By late in the fourth quarter, 11 passes were thrown Revis' way, resulting in about 100 yards. That kind of action is enough to break a veteran, let alone a rookie laden with first-round-draft-pick expectations.

But on the final pass Revis had thrown on him, a roll-out to the right by Edwards, who was trying to connect with receiver Josh Reed on third-and-3 just inside the two-minute warning, Revis made the best play of his young NFL career.

He ripped the ball from Reed's arm before he could reel it in for what would have been a game-clinching first down with the Jets down to their final timeout.

The play forced a Buffalo punt and allowed the Jets' offense one more chance to tie or win the game. The offense stalled when Chad Pennington was picked off in the final seconds.

Revis' play stood as one of the few positives to come out of the 17-14 loss, and it boosts the Jets' hopes as they prepare to play the Giants on Sunday, when Revis will have to deal with Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey and Amani Toomer.

"That was a huge play in the game, a big-time play. A lot of people might not have made that play and he did," cornerback Andre Dyson said.

Linebacker Jonathan Vilma said, "That showed me he's a fighter."

Safety Kerry Rhodes said, "People are going to make plays against you, He's a rookie and he hasn't really seen it yet, but he got a good dose of it, a good taste of it last week. He got past the plays that happened and was able to bounce back and make a big play for us by not worrying about the past plays. That's the mentality you have to have."

One of Eric Mangini's mantras is: Forget the last play; no play is more important than the one you're playing right now. Mangini often talks about the "five-second rule."

Revis had a lot of moments in the Buffalo game that required use of that rule.

"At my high school, [we] had great coaches and I've been hearing that since then, that you've got to forget about the last play and go on to the next play," Revis said. "That's just something you've got to do as a DB."

Linebacker David Bowens said he wasn't surprised to see Revis bounce back.

"He never gets rattled," Bowens said. "He has a lot of poise. That comes from his background, coming from Alaquippa (Pa.), where he and Ty Law are friends. When I was in Florida in the offseason, Ty Law told me, 'This guy (Revis) is going to be good. I know him personally.' "

Revis, who was tested over and over again in the slot, where he plays in nickel (passing) situations, faces a tough task against the Giants, who often use Shockey as the slot receiver.

"I know he'll be in the slot," Revis said of the tight end. "He's a big guy. You've just got to get physical with him, too, play him tough. He's like a big wide receiver."

Playing the slot receiver is something new to Revis, who played mostly on the outside in college (Pittsburgh) and he said he's adjusting to it with each game.

"Some of it is you just have to experience it," Mangini said. "I know with my kids I'll say, 'Don't touch that, that's hot,' but they touch it, and then they figure out it's hot. Sometimes you've just got to touch the stove."

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Gini in a bottle:-- IF ERIC Mangini and Brian Schottenheimer are wondering if their honeymoon with Jets fans is over, they should log on to jetsinsider.com and peruse the message board. Can't repeat some of the comments, even in our feisty tabloid, but suffice to say there are some colorful criticisms of the 1-3 start, the decision to punt on the first series in Buffalo, the delay in switching from Chad Pennington to Kellen Clemens - and I think I even saw somebody use the word “Kotitian."

After two weeks, both the Jets and Giants were garbage. By halftime of Week 3, the Jets were back and Tom Coughlin was being fitted for a toe tag. Now the Jets are awful and the Giants are great. So the outlook changes quickly in New York. But should it?

This is a huge week for Mangini, Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, obviously, but they have responded before. This staff is 6-2 straight up after a loss, including signature wins last season at New England and at Minnesota.

The pick: Jets +31/2.

SAINTS (-3) over Panthers: Coming out of the bye, Sean Payton has had time to reflect on an 0-3 start and redesign the offense around Reggie Bush, with Deuce McAllister gone. Expect a big game from Drew Brees, and for Carolina's John Fox to hear Bill Cowher's name more and more.

Jaguars (-2) over CHIEFS: Turns out that opening-week loss said more about the Titans' toughness than the Jags' lack of it. Just ask the Broncos about that 18-play, 80-yard, 11-minute, 44-second TD drive.

REDSKINS (-31/2) over Lions: Can't take the Lions seriously as a potential 4-1 team, not with those 56 points allowed at Philadelphia on their resume. Interesting fact here is that these teams have met 20 times in D.C. since 1937, and the Lions have not won once.

TITANS (-81/2) over Falcons: Number's getting a little too high for comfort, because the Titans made their name as a scrappy underdog. However, all Vince Young does is cover spreads - 10 of the past 11 - and that's a good reason to ride this thoroughbred.

TEXANS (-5) over Dolphins: Matt Schaub will be licking his chops for a shot at a Miami defense that somehow allowed Daunte Culpepper to account for five TDs (two passing, three running) last week.

Seahawks (+6) over STEELERS: Dicey number because the Steelers will be fired up after their loss in Arizona, and a 7-10-point victory is reasonable. But we'll expect Matt Hasselbeck and the other key Seahawks will be out to avenge that Super Bowl XL hose job.

Browns (+161/2) over PATRIOTS: Those old coots from the '72 Dolphins should start their vigil now, because these Pats are coming after their perfect record. But after becoming the first NFL team to win its first four by 20-or-more points each, the Pats hit at least a little speed bump against the hot Browns, coached by Bill Belichick's buddy, Romeo Crennel.

RAMS (+31/2) over Cardinals: Who'd have thought the Rams would be 0-4 and more than a field goal 'dog at home to the Cardinals? St. Louis has to win eventually, and Gus Frerotte is a quality fill-in for injured Marc Bulger.

Buccaneers (+91/2) over COLTS: Good value at this number with the 3-1 Bucs against a Colts team that will be without Rob Morris and most likely missing Marvin Harrison, Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders. Jeff Garcia has yet to throw an INT, and that'll be a key to keeping this close.

BRONCOS (-1) over Chargers: If this is one of those “must-win" games for the Chargers, then last week's home gimme vs. KC was “can't lose," and Norv Turner figured out a way. Also, the Chargers haven't won in consecutive years in Denver since 1967-68 and have won four games there in the past 24 seasons.

Ravens (-31/2) over 49ERS: The Ravens' D will be spitting fire after a bad last five quarters vs. the Cards and Browns. Funny how Trent Dilfer, filling in for Alex Smith, picked this week to bury the hatchet with Brian Billick. Good luck with that, Trent.

PACKERS (-3) over Bears: Maybe it's true this is the trap line of the week, since the 4-0 Packers are giving no more than the standard three points for home field. But with all their injuries on defense, there's no reason to believe the Bears, who gave up 71 points the past two weeks against the Cowboys and Lions, will fare any better against Brett Favre under the lights at Lambeau.

MONDAY NIGHT

BILLS (+10) over Cowboys: Suspect the Bills are still who we thought they were before the Jets played down to their level last week. But it's almost unheard of to see a double-digit home 'dog on a Monday night, especially after a win, so here goes nothin'.

BEST BETS: Packers, Redskins, Seahawks.

LAST WEEK: 12-2.

BEST BETS: 2-1.

dblezow@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Revis Faces Tall Order Against the Giants

By NATHANIEL VINTON

Published: October 5, 2007

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Oct. 3

[Kentucky Jet]

Giants receivers tower Jets cornerbacks

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

8:21 PM EDT, October 4, 2007

There are a lot of things a cornerback can work on during the week to prepare for an opponent. He can develop better hand placement, pick up tendencies in film work, and even adjust to varying degrees of speed and quickness.

What he cannot do is grow 7 inches.

Too bad for the Jets defensive backs who will be covering the giant Giants on Sunday. Andre Dyson, who is 5-10, will be giving up almost a helmet in height when he is matched against 6-5 Plaxico Burress. David Barrett, who is just as tall as Dyson, will be looking up to stare down Amani Toomer, who is 6-3. Jets rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis is 5-11.

"Angles are the key," said Dyson, the only Jets cornerback with an interception this year. "If they are going to be taller than you, then they're going to have an advantage, and you have to take that advantage away by not putting yourself in a bad spot. It's not easy, but you try not to get yourself stuck too far underneath where they can just go up on top of you."

That, of course, is exactly what the Giants do. Eli Manning often will loft the ball and Burress or Toomer will run what is essentially an alley-oop. They'll use their basketball height for football effect. It's bad enough that the corners have to look up at the receivers when they are standing still on the line of scrimmage. Looking up at them as they soar for a reception that is physically impossible for you to cover must be .agonizing.

"That's just something you're going to do if you're 6-5," Barrett said of the jump balls. It was Barrett who found himself in solid position against 6-4 Randy Moss on several occasions on opening day only to have the Patriots receiver come down with the rebound, er, reception.

"There's no good way of playing it, no secret," Barrett said. "You just have to play through the pocket and try to get the ball out as cleanly as possible."

Burress has 19 receptions this year, six for touchdowns. Toomer also has 19 grabs.

Though they play the Giants every preseason, the Jets haven't had much of a first-hand look at Burress. The last time he played in a "real" game against the Jets was the 2004 AFC playoffs when he was with the Steelers. He had two receptions for 28 yards in that game. Barrett was on the Jets that year.

Jets coach Eric Mangini said he remembered the headaches of trying to cover Burress when he was a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator in New England.

"He's been a problem since he came into the league," Mangini said. "He does a nice job going up and timing the ball in the air and using his size and leaping ability. Some guys are big, but they can't quite time up the jump to go get the .football. He does a really good job .timing up the jump."

Dyson said height isn't an issue on high balls alone. Those big bodies work nicely as shields on shorter passes. He said Burress is among the tallest receivers he's covered and named Moss and Jacksonville's Matt Jones (listed at 6-6) as players who use their size to their .advantage the most.

"Every week every receiver is different," Dyson said. "You have to figure out what their strengths are, know what your strengths are, and balance that out."

This week the strength can be measured in inches. But Mangini said being shorter than the receivers will not work as an excuse if the corners come up short on their coverage.

"He's been effective against little corners and big corners," he said of Burress. "He's an equal opportunist that way."

More articles

[Kentucky Jet]

Concussion likely to sideline Jets safety Coleman

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

October 5, 2007

Safety Erik Coleman, the Jets' leading tackler, probably will miss Sunday's game with a concussion suffered in the loss to Buffalo. The Jets clarified his injury yesterday, saying it occurred Sunday, although Coleman did not show symptoms during the game and was not evaluated until Monday.

"We take concussions extremely seriously," coach Eric Mangini said. "He'll be out for practice and we'll see how it goes through the rest of the week."

Mangini said the Jets spent time during the offseason reviewing their protocol for dealing with concussions. Last year, Laveranues Coles suffered an apparent concussion against Miami but was cleared by the medical staff to return later that game as well as the next week.

Coleman was unavailable for comment. He'll probably be replaced by Eric Smith, who was pushing Coleman for the starting job in training camp before a right leg injury derailed his preseason.

Remembering Ward

Giants running back Derrick Ward wasn't around the Jets long enough to make much of an impression, but one player certainly recalls him.

"We spent a lot of time together," said receiver Jerricho Cotchery, Ward's roommate when they arrived as draft picks in the summer of 2004. Ward was selected in the seventh round by the Jets. Cotchery said he remembered the frustration of Ward, who was injured early in camp and did not make the opening day roster.

"They had to put him on the practice squad," Cotchery said, "and as soon as we did, the Giants got him."

Jet streams

The Jets released OL Mike Elgin from the practice squad and re-signed LB Jerry Mackey of Freeport ... QB Chad Pennington (ankle) again was listed as having limited participation in practice. Kellen Clemens took a few more reps than usual in the 30 minutes the media was allowed to watch.

[Kentucky Jet]

Predictably, Giants blowing smoke at Chad, Jets

BY ERIK BOLAND | erik.boland@newsday.com

October 5, 2007

You might have thought Sunday's opponent was Tom Brady and the Patriots rather than a 1-3 team whose fans have been clamoring for a quarterback change.

Talking up an opponent is as much a part of the NFL as injuries, and the Giants fulfilled their weekly duties yesterday, speaking in adulatory tones about Jets quarterback Chad Pennington.

"The first thing that jumps out at me is the quarterback has a rating and 70 percent completion percentage," coach Tom Coughlin said.

Pennington and his offense have been far from productive this season, ranking 28th in yards per game (283.3), 28th in rushing yards (82.5), 29th in rushing yards per attempt (3.2) and tied for 20th in points per game (18). Perhaps most significant for the recharged Giants defense, which recorded a record-tying 12 sacks against Philadelphia, including six by Osi Umenyiora, is that the Jets are tied for 25th for most sacks allowed (11).

But Pennington, who has been sacked six times - he sat out the loss to Baltimore with an injury and Kellen Clemens was sacked five times - concerns the Giants because of his ability to get rid of the ball quickly. The Jets, with a struggling offensive line and Pennington's suspect arm strength, rarely throw downfield, settling instead for short routes that can help offset the pass rush. Justin Tuck said it will be important to toss as many disruptions Pennington's way as possible.

"Batting down passes, blitzing off the edge," Tuck said. "Just showing him different looks. Disguising coverages a little better. A lot of little things to keep him off rhythm. You really don't have to sack him all the time. You can still be effective pass rushing without actually getting a sack. You just have to do those things. Making him throw faster than he wants to."

Michael Strahan said Pennington's ability to recognize coverages and schemes at the line of scrimmage also is a worry. Although the Jets have not scored many points, they rank third in the league in third-down percentage (49.1).

"Chad's a smart quarterback," Strahan said. "He knows where he's going with the ball basically before he gets it on third down; that's why he's been so successful. That's our challenge: first of all to get them in third down and stop the run, and secondly to stop something that they've been very good at."

Antonio Pierce added of Pennington, "You have to be savvy with him."

Pierce said because of the many slants and screens Jets receivers run, the play of the Giants' linebackers will be critical.

"Very key," Pierce said. "They throw a lot of short routes. They take their shots every once in a while, but for the most part, everything is between 10 and 15 yards. We're going to be keyed in. We need everyone executing their assignments."

No one did that better last week than Umenyiora, who gave an other-worldly performance in setting the team single-game sacks record. He abused Eagles backup left tackle Winston Justice and will match up with Jets tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a second-year player who has experienced his share of growing pains.

"He is a good player," Umenyiora said. "I have been up against him. I have seen what he has done these last couple of weeks to some of the premier defensive ends in the league, so it is going to be pretty interesting to see what happens when I get out there. I am just going to attack it the same way I attack every offensive lineman. Nothing different."

SCOUTING REPORT: NY JETS / NY GIANTS

An NFL scout analyzes the matchups for Jets vs. Giants

Giants running backs Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs vs. Jets inside linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton

Ward has better-than-average speed and good instincts on between-the-tackles runs ... Knows how to slip tackles well ... has good ability to see the hole and get to it ... good cutting ability ... not overpowering, so he can get worn down ... Jacobs a very upright runner and tends to get hit a lot; needs to keep his pads lower ... very good power ... must avoid temptation to run over people ... very good in short yardage.

Vilma a good tackler who uses leverage well ... occasionally overpowered by bigger runners ... good side-to-side speed and quickness ... plays well in space and drops back into coverage well ... still adjusting to the 3-4, and probably better suited to be MLB in 4-3 ... Barton occasionally will miss tackles ... decent in pass coverage but not exceptional ... good side-to-side speed and quickness ... solid in pass coverage, but average hands and doesn't intercept many passes.

Sunday: Jets at Giants, 1p.m. TV: Ch. 2. Radio: WABC (770), WEPN (1050), WFAN (660)

[Kentucky Jet]

No rest for the leery

Jets' offensive line knows it has tough task with Giants

Friday, October 05, 2007

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- While most of the talk this week has been about the matchup between Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, the Jets may have bigger problems on the other side of their offensive line.

That's where veteran right tackle Anthony Clement will square off against future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.

Clement, in his second season with the Jets, is in his 10th NFL season and sixth as a full-time starter. He was a second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 out of Louisiana-Lafayette. At 6-8, 320 pounds, he certainly looks the part of an NFL player.

By most standards, Clement has had an NFL career to cherish.

But Sunday against the Giants, Clement's 96 career starts will mean little when he faces Strahan and his 133 1/2 career sacks. Clement will feel more like an undrafted rookie free agent trying to make the roster in training camp.

"You always feel like you have something to prove going up against a guy like that, to show that you belong on the same field with him," Clement said yesterday. "We've always kind of traded off. He got me a few times and I got him a few times. That's really how it's always gone."

For the record, Clement has started three career games against Strahan, all with the Cardinals. Strahan went sackless in two of those games and notched 1 1/2 in a third.

The Jets (1-3) are facing a daunting task against the surging Giants (2-2), who bagged an NFL-record-tying 12 sacks -- a team-record six by Umenyiora -- in a 16-3 victory over the Eagles last Sunday.

In addition to Umenyiora, defensive end/linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka had three sacks, defensive end Justin Tuck had two and Strahan one. In many passing situations, all four players are on the field at the same time, with Kiwanuka given the freedom to rush the passer from anywhere.

"They (the Giants) have a lot of pass-rushers," Clement said. "You have to be able to move your feet. The thing about having so many defensive ends on the field at one time is it's a lot of speed."

Added right guard Brandon Moore: "It (four defensive ends) is working well for them. You get some individual matchups with defensive ends on inside guys and you let your athletes make plays. They're definitely playing to their strengths. ... (We) have to individually be on point. Every guy (the Giants) have can beat guys (one-on-one)."

Opposite Clement, Ferguson draws Umenyiora. Ferguson, the fourth pick overall in 2006, is coming off consecutive games in which he shut out Jason Taylor (Dolphins) and Aaron Schobel (Bills), two of the AFC's premier pass-rushers. He faced Umenyiora twice in the preseason.

"There's no vacation days for him," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "Just the life of a left tackle."

After yielding nine sacks in the first two games, including one in which quarterback Chad Pennington suffered a badly sprained ankle against the Patriots, the Jets offensive line has given up just one sack in each of the past two games.

Umenyiora and Strahan, however, give the Giants one of the best bookend pass-rush combinations in the NFL. The pair could force the Jets to max protect to help Clement and Ferguson. That would sometimes leave only two receivers in the pass pattern, which doesn't bode well for Pennington, who doesn't move well enough to escape the rush consistently.

The Giants, who have allowed just 20 points in their past two games, held a solid Eagles offense to just 190 yards total offense, 114 yards passing and 76 yards rushing. Philadelphia had scored 56 points the week before against the Lions.

"That was real impressive," Ferguson said of the Giants' defensive masterpiece against the Eagles. "It almost reminds me of Baltimore and their great defense. You really have to study these guys and take heed to the fact that they can do a lot of great things."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at

dhutchinson@starledger.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Erik Coleman has concussion, may not play vs. Giants

BY OHM YOUNGMISUK

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, October 5th 2007, 4:00 AM

Erik Coleman may miss Sunday's game against the Giants due to a concussion.

The Jets revealed yesterday that the safety suffered the injury during Sunday's loss to Buffalo but did not feel symptoms until Monday. The team first reported that Coleman was suffering from a "head" injury as of Wednesday.

"We take concussions extremely seriously," said Eric Mangini, who likely will start Eric Smith in place of Coleman against the Giants on Sunday. "We'll see how it goes through the rest of the week. This was something that actually developed after the game in terms of the symptoms and things like that."

Typically, Mangini does not divulge any details about injuries, according to his team policy. However, Mangini announced Coleman's injury at the start of his press conference yesterday. Concussions have been a hot button topic with the NFL in the past year with the controversy swirling over retired players and their struggles with the effects of multiple concussions suffered during their careers.

While the NFL does not require that teams list concussions on their injury reports - a source said the league did not tell the Jets to list Coleman's concussion - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has made concussions one of his primary focal points. Goodell held a concussion symposium over the summer in Chicago, which team physicians were required to attend in an attempt to further awareness of and research on concussions.

All teams are required to use baseline testing on healthy players to gauge how much a player is suffering from a concussion and when he can return to action. Goodell also instituted a whistle-blower program where players can report coaches who may be forcing players to play despite their suffering from concussive symptoms. Teams have their own protocols on how to treat concussions and when to let a player return to action. In Week 2, Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna suffered a concussion during the game against Minnesota but still returned later on after he and doctors determined that he was fit and feeling much better.

"I think (teams) are very interested in being very aggressive in treating athletes with injuries," said Dr. Mark Lovell, director of the University of Pittsburgh sports concussion program and consultant to the Steelers. "Everybody is definitely paying attention. You are hearing a lot more about it now because the league made it a specific focus on it this year."

While Coleman, who leads the team with 29 tackles, is the first Jet to suffer a concussion this season, the team is no stranger to head trauma.

Last Christmas, Laveranues Coles suffered a reported concussion after he absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit from Miami's Zach Thomas. While Coles returned to play in the second half of that game and later said he didn't remember much, the Jets never acknowledged that he had a concussion. And the team recently honored Wayne Chrebet, whose career ended in 2005 due to six documented concussions and what he estimates to be at least seven more undocumented concussions. Chrebet said there were numerous times when he had failed to tell the team's medical staff that he had suffered a concussion so he could play the following Sunday.

"The honest truth is, we're going to lie," the wide receiver said earlier this month. "I've lied about it, everybody's lied about it, whether it's a head, a knee or any type of injury."

Mangini said Coleman played throughout Sunday's game but showed no indication of having suffered a concussion. The coach could not recall any specific moment that Coleman might have injured himself. Coleman was not in the locker room during media availability yesterday, nor did he practice.

"It can certainly happen," Lovell said of a player showing symptoms of a concussion the morning after a game. "A concussion can come up and show up days after an injury. I don't know anything about that particular case. It is a tricky injury because sometimes it only shows up after the fact."

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets' Coleman may miss Sunday's game with concussion

(Original publication: October 5, 2007)

HEMPSTEAD - Eric Smith seemed on his way to securing a starting spot early in training camp. But the Jets' second-year safety hurt his right thigh Aug. 8, paving the way for longtime starter Erik Coleman to reclaim his position with the first unit.

Now, Smith might make his first NFL start Sunday against the Giants. The Jets announced yesterday Coleman had suffered a concussion in this past Sunday's 17-14 loss at Buffalo.

"He's got good size, so he can play down in the box as well," Jets coach Eric Mangini said of the 6-foot-1, 209-pound Smith. "One of the things we liked about him in college and last year was his ability to tackle effectively. And that gives you a good box presence but he also has above-average ball skills. You don't always find that combination."

Coleman missed his second straight practice yesterday, leaving his game status seriously in doubt.

Coleman, who has started 49 of 52 regular-season games in his four years with the Jets, played the entire game against the Bills. He was listed in Wednesday's player participation report as out with a head injury, but Mangini termed that a clerical error.

Mangini said the Jets have a protocol to determine whether players have suffered a concussion or are healthy enough to return to the game, but Coleman's symptoms did not arise until after the game and he did not report them to the team until Monday.

Smith seemed unaware of Coleman's status yesterday but said he was ready to take advantage of any opportunity.

"I feel like I made a lot of progress during training camp," said Smith, a third-round pick out of Michigan State. "It was real frustrating to have to sit out awhile and, right now, I'm still working back from it and trying to get back to where I was. Each week I'm feeling better and better."

Rashad Washington and ex-Cowboy Abram Elam could also step in for Coleman.

Andrew Gross

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets' Nugent driving kickoffs deeper after bulking up

By ANDREW GROSS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: October 5, 2007)

HEMPSTEAD - The shirt came off to reveal a muscular torso, particularly well sculpted over the shoulders and biceps. It's not necessarily the image one has of an NFL kicker, but an improvement the Jets' Mike Nugent insists was necessary.

"If you look at some of these guys, obviously kickers aren't big guys in this league," Nugent said yesterday. "(Adam) Vinatieri, (Olindo) Mare, they have some more size than me but they're not huge guys. So what are they doing that I'm not? It was mainly for kickoffs."

The third-year pro's improvement on the length of his kickoffs has been noticeable as the Jets (1-3) prepare for this week's crucial "road" game Sunday against the Giants (2-2).

Whereas the main knock on the 5-foot-9, 188-pound Nugent, who added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, was his lack of leg strength on kickoffs during his first two seasons, this year he's booted eight of his 16 kickoffs into the end zone, and that includes two onside kicks.

Unfortunately for the Jets, they haven't necessarily taken advantage of Nugent's new prowess, and those eight kicks into the end zone have brought just three touchbacks.

Opponents are averaging 35.5 yards per return, including an NFL-record 108-yarder by the Patriots' Ellis Hobbs in Week 1 and a 61-yard run by the Ravens' Yamon Figurs the following week.

The Giants are averaging 25.4 yards per return, and Reuben Droughns is averaging 24.6 yards since taking over for the fumble-prone Ahmad Bradshaw.

"Returners don't bring it out when it's 6 yards deep in the end zone, traditionally, and even if they do, it's a pretty good situation," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "It doesn't make any sense, it shouldn't work, but it does. I think that the progress he's made on kickoffs is excellent."

Nugent said it's just as crucial to kick it high as it is to kick it deep. His goal is to keep the ball in the air for four seconds and to get it inside the opponent's 5-yard line.

"But it gets to the point if you kick it 8, 9 yards deep, if you get it that deep and it's only 3.65 or 3.75 seconds, it's still a good ball because it's so deep," said Nugent, a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2005.

After chatting casually with fellow kickers such as Vinatieri and Mare on what he needed to do in the offseason to improve, Nugent embarked on an intensive offseason workout program targeting his whole body, not just his legs. He fell two pounds short of reaching his goal of 190 pounds.

His goal for next offseason is to bulk up to 195 pounds, which he believes would allow him to consistently kick balls inside the 2.

"I think a real important part of the offseason program is really being honest with yourself in terms of what your weaknesses are," Mangini said.

Nugent remains a reliable field-goal threat despite his 37-yard miss at the end of the first half of this past Sunday's 17-14 loss at Buffalo.

That snapped a string of 23 straight made field goals from within 50 yards. Nugent had made 19 straight field goals overall before missing a 52-yarder in a 20-13 loss at Baltimore in Week 2. Last season, Nugent went 24 of 27 even after missing 2 of 3 in Week 1 at Tennessee.

"I don't let one missed field goal influence the next one," Nugent said. "It's what you can do on your next one. That's what defines a kicker."

Even a well-defined kicker.

Note: The Jets released offensive linemen Mike Elgin from their practice squad and signed linebacker Jerry Mackey, whom they had traded to the Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft choice on Aug. 21. The Jets had originally signed Mackey on Aug. 4 after Tampa Bay cut him. Mackey is the great-nephew of Hall of Fame Colts tight end John Mackey.

Reach Andrew Gross at apgross@lohud.com and read his Jets blog at www.jets.lohudblogs.com.

[Kentucky Jet]

Giants' Red-Hot Defense Poised To Ground the Jets

Football

By SEAN LAHMAN

October 5, 2007

Chris McGrath / Getty

Chad Pennington and the Jets face a Giants' defense that recorded 12 sacks last week.

The NFL's only crosstown rivalry heats up this weekend, with the Giants hosting the Jets at the Meadowlands. There will be more than just bragging rights on the line. For each team, this game will answer the questions about whether last week's startling developments were flukes, or if they were statements about where each team stands. Does the Jets' stunning loss to Buffalo — with their injury-ravaged defense and their rookie quarterback — suggest that this team has regressed in coach Eric Mangini's second season? And what about the Giants, who made headlines by registering 12 sacks against the Eagles? Was that the result of a resurgent defense or simply an overmatched Philadelphia line? Sunday's game will go a long way towards answering both questions.

JETS (1–3) vs. GIANTS (2–2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL The biggest problem during the Jets' rough start has been their inability to get the running game going. After four games, Thomas Jones hasn't had a run over 12 yards and he still hasn't scored a touchdown. Opposing defenses have been stacking the line of scrimmage, bringing their safeties up to keep Jones and Leon Washington from breaking free. Much of the problem stems from the fact that the Jets haven't been throwing the ball downfield. Opposing defensive backs know that they don't have to worry about getting beat deep, so they can help stuff the run.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has focused on the short passing game, because it takes advantage of Pennington's strengths as a passer. The strategy also helps to compensate for the sometimes shaky pass protection. The Jets' offensive line surrendered nine sacks in the first two games, including the one that left Pennington with a gimpy ankle.

The Jets' offense has gotten better as a unit, allowing just one sack in each of the last two games. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson faced off against two of the league's elite pass rushers — Miami's Jason Taylor and Buffalo's Aaron Schobel — and did not allow a sack.

He'll have his hands full again this week with Giants' end Osi Umenyiora, who set a team record with six sacks against the Eagles last Sunday night. The Giants — who had managed just four sacks in their first three games — sacked Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb 12 times in that contest, tying the NFL single game record. In that game, the Giants experimented with using all four of their pass rushers at once, rather than using them in rotation. Along with starting ends Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, they brought in backup Justin Tuck, and used linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka as a down lineman. The result was an overwhelming attack, with pass rushers coming from different locations and different angles.

The strong play up front helped to relieve the pressure that had been crushing the Giants secondary. With the Giants' sack attack garnering all of the attention, few observers noticed the strong performance of rookie cornerback Aaron Ross. Making his first NFL start last week, Ross had five solo tackles, two pass deflections, and came close to registering a sack on a blitz.

Expect the Jets to challenge Ross and his fellow defensive backs. They can't afford to keep playing so conservatively on offense.

WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL While the Giants' defense has rebounded over the past two weeks, their offense has sagged. After throwing four touchdown passes in the opener, quarterback Eli Manning has just three scoring passes under his belt in the last three games, and has been picked off four times. Critics might be quick to conclude that it's simply the same sort of inconsistency that has plagued Manning throughout his career. But the film suggests that some of the blame falls on his receivers. There have been several dropped passes that should have been caught, and a blatant pass interference by a cornerback who was beat turned what would have been a 42-yard touchdown pass into a 32-yard penalty. Timing has also been off between Manning and Plaxico Burress, largely because an ankle injury has kept Burress from participating in practice for three weeks.

One thing that's sure to help the Giants is the return of running back Brandon Jacobs, who has been sidelined since spraining his knee in week one. While backup Derrick Ward has done a yeoman's job of carrying the ball in Jacobs' absence, he's not the same sort of power runner that coach Tom Coughlin prefers to build around. Now, though, the Giants find themselves with a pleasant problem: how to divvy up the carries between Ward and Jacobs. One possibility would be to switch the two depending on the situation. But the more likely scenario is simply to switch between the two, series by series, to keep both backs fresh throughout the game. There's nothing like a power runner with fresh legs in the fourth quarter.

The Jets have had mixed success defending against the run. They've held opponents to just 3.7 yards per carry and haven't allowed a running play of longer than 13 yards. At times, though, they have allowed their opponents to control the clock with their ground attacks.

More troubling has been the pass defense, which is ranked 27th overall. The Jets have registered just three sacks in four games, and the lack of pressure has allowed opposing quarterbacks to pick their secondary apart. That was never more apparent than last week in Buffalo, when rookie Trent Edwards completed 22 of 28 passes in his first NFL start. The Bills picked on rookie corner back Darrelle Revis, who was usually in man coverage against the slot receiver. Look for the Giants to take advantage by splitting tight end Jeremy Shockey out into the slot, either creating a mismatch, or forcing the Jets to leave Burress and Amani Toomer in single coverage.

KEYS TO THE GAME The Jets have to get their running game back on track, and to do that they'll need to find a way to better control the line of scrimmage. The Giants need to continue the strong performance from their front seven and control the pace of their game with their ground attack.

Lahman's Pick: Giants 23–17 ( this guy must be a communist!)

[Kentucky Jet]

IMO the giants will forget about TJ and Neon Leon in their quest to sack CHADWICK. He in turn will throw to them for nice yardgage, time after time. Baker will be kept in to help BRICK and it will be successful. I do not see ELI being a premier QB nor will he ever be. He gets rattled and I see a whole new BLITZ package designed just for him by Mangini & Sutton. Look for much more 4-3 in addition!

Look for big games from:

LEON and TJ

Chadwick- game ball on Offense

Cotchery

Coles

Brick

Pouha

Drob

Ellis

Vilma

Harris

Hobson

Revis will get the game ball on Defense!

We can and will beat the giants!

[Green DNA]

Gini in a bottle:-- IF ERIC Mangini and Brian Schottenheimer are wondering if their honeymoon with Jets fans is over, they should log on to jetsinsider.com and peruse the message board. Can't repeat some of the comments, even in our feisty tabloid, but suffice to say there are some colorful criticisms of the 1-3 start, the decision to punt on the first series in Buffalo, the delay in switching from Chad Pennington to Kellen Clemens - and I think I even saw somebody use the word “Kotitian."

Cannizzaro should maybe disclose his relationship with JI before giving a free plug in the NY Post. Seems like a little conflict of interest to me.

[JetCane]

Gini in a bottle:-- IF ERIC Mangini and Brian Schottenheimer are wondering if their honeymoon with Jets fans is over, they should log on to jetsinsider.com and peruse the message board. Can't repeat some of the comments, even in our feisty tabloid, but suffice to say there are some colorful criticisms of the 1-3 start, the decision to punt on the first series in Buffalo, the delay in switching from Chad Pennington to Kellen Clemens - and I think I even saw somebody use the word