Jets news 10/8 NY POST

[Kentucky Jet]

DON'T BENCH CHAD

QB IS NOT THE JETS' ONLY PROBLEM October 8, 2007 -- THERE are sure to be callers to the sports talks shows today demanding Kellen Clemens replace Chad Pennington as the Jets' starting quarterback. They'll say Pennington's three costly interceptions in yesterday's 35-24 loss to the Giants are the reasons why they are 1-4 with barely a playoff pulse.

Stretch back to last week's loss at Buffalo and Pennington has thrown five interceptions in the two defeats, strengthening the argument of those wanting Clemens to try and save the season. If only fixing the Jets were that simple.

No doubt if Pennington's play doesn't improve, and quickly, coach Eric Mangini may turn to Clemens, a second-year player with one NFL start. But quarterback play isn't the only thing haunting a Jets team that blew a 17-7 lead in handing back a game the Giants tried to give them.

The Giants couldn't have been more generous, dropping a fumble that was returned for a Jets touchdown, breaking down on special teams during Leon Washington's 98-yard kickoff return for another score, and throwing an interception just before halftime that gift-wrapped another three points for the Jets.

But in the second half, "it just fell apart," Pennington said.

He could thank a defense that forgot how to tackle. Brandon Jacobs, the Giants' plow horse of a running back, barreled for 74 of his 100 rushing yards in the final two quarters, highlighted by a 19-yard TD run that trimmed the Jets lead to 17-14.

Plaxico Burress caught a short pass from Eli Manning midway through the fourth quarter and stiff-armed defensive back Andre Dyson, who lost his grip. Burress escaped and ran free down the sideline for a 53-yard touchdown that gave the Giants their first lead at 28-24.

"There was a lot of tackling with yards after the contact that shouldn't be there," Mangini said, stating the obvious.

Neither can you blame Pennington for a running game that produced 55 yards and a paltry 2.2 yards per carry average. Thomas Jones was signed by the Jets to pick up where Curtis Martin left off, but he had 36 yards on 13 carries. The Jets' offensive line did a good job of pass protection, allowing one sack, but the run-blocking was spotty at best even though Mangini insisted, "there are plenty of holes we can do a better job of hitting."

Let's face it. The Jets are a mess right now, a collective mess, including Pennington. The second interception was the first of two by rookie Aaron Ross. Pennington thought he had one-on-one coverage against Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone and lofted a floater only to have Ross come over and make the grab.

The third interception was a killer. On second-and-five from the Jets 39, Pennington threw a pass over the middle that was behind Cotchery, but perfect for Ross, who returned the theft 43 yards for the Giants' final touchdown.

Pennington, looking as despondent as ever, blamed himself, saying his last two interceptions "changed the game" at a time when his team was starting to play better in all three phases.

"We just didn't finish," said Pennington, who completed 21 of 36 for 229 yards. "We're all frustrated. I know fans are frustrated. I'd be frustrated if I was a fan."

At 1-4, the Jets look finished. A few more damaging performances and Pennington could be finished, too. But starting Clemens right now isn't the fix the Jets need.

It's not that simple. The defense needs to grow teeth and the running game must become more of a factor. The quarterback has to keep from making a bad situation even worse.

george.willis@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

DEFENSE FAILS GANG GREEN

By MARK CANNIZZARO

October 8, 2007 -- Several Jets defensive players were seething after allowing 28 points to the Giants in the second half of yesterday's 35-24 loss.

The Jets, who had leads of 17-7 at halftime and 24-14 in the third quarter, held the Giants to 67 yards of offense and five first downs in the first half.

In the second half, the Giants had 279 yards in total offense and 16 first downs. They controlled the ball 21:15 to 9:45 for the Jets in the second half.

"That doesn't sit well at all, especially after playing that well in the first half," LB Victor Hobson said.

"We have to find out in a hurry what it is we have to get done and correct it and go," LB Jonathan Vilma, who had an interception, said.

Asked about the Jets' 1-4 hole, Hobson said, "Wherever we are, we did it to ourselves. We don't have anyone but ourselves to blame."

Since 1990, 85 teams have started 1-4 and five have made the playoffs.

*

The highlight of the game for the Jets was a 98-yard kickoff return by Leon Washington, his second of the season. It gave the Jets a 24-14 lead in the third quarter. . . . WR Brad Smith scored his first NFL TD on a 16-yard Chad Pennington pass late in the second quarter. The TD for Pennington (21-of-36, 229 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs) was the 78th of his career and moved him past Vinny Testaverde for fourth place in Jets history.

*

Jets kicker Mike Nugent missed a 42-yard FG attempt in the first quarter. That comes a week after he missed a 37-yarder in Buffalo. He later made a 47-yard FG as time ran out in the first half.

[Kentucky Jet]

PENN'S PICKS SINK JETS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

LISTEN UP: Chad Pennington barks signals at his offensive line during the first quarter of the Jets' 35-24 loss to the Giants yesterday at the Meadowlands.October 8, 2007 -- Sitting as still as a statue with a white towel draped over his head, Chad Pennington was a living portrait of utter dejection, slumped in a chair in front of his locker, staring ahead blankly.

For some 15 minutes following the Jets' exasperating 35-24 loss to the Giants yesterday at Giants Stadium, Pennington sat motionless before his locker stall, undoubtedly playing the three debilitating, game-changing interceptions he threw over and over and over in his mind.

At one point, Jets receiver Laveranues Coles approached Pennington from behind and put his arms around him in an effort to console him, probably telling him it wasn't his fault the Jets lost the game, that everyone was responsible.

Indeed, the Jets did plenty of bad things en route to their fourth loss in five games this season. They still cannot stop the run with any consistency (they yielded 188 yards and two TDs yesterday). The offseason trade for Thomas Jones seems like a rumor considering how utterly invisible he's been (13 carries, 36 yards yesterday) and how completely ineffective their running game has been.

Regardless of whatever encouraging words Coles and his other teammates had for him, Pennington knows the truth. He knows he, more than anyone else, cost the Jets this game.

The status of the starting quarterback is always a touchy topic on any team, particularly with this one because there are so many positive things that Pennington brings to the Jets.

But, based on the difficulty the Jets' offense is having getting the ball into the end zone (one offensive TD yesterday) and based on the five harmful interceptions Pennington has thrown in the last two games, deciding on whether it's time to take a look at Kellen Clemens in Pennington's place has to at least be in the conversation as Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer look at the tapes of this latest loss.

Mangini was resolute after the game when asked if he was going to consider a quarterback change, saying without a trace of hesitation, "Chad is the starting quarterback."

Talk of benching Pennington is a delicate topic, because he's such a stand-up player, always there to face the music however unpleasant the tunes are during difficult times. He, too, offers so many traits you want in your starter - he's smart, tough and resilient.

But, the Jets lost a game in which they scored a defensive touchdown (a Kerry Rhodes forced fumble and TD return for a 7-0 lead), in which they scored on a kickoff return (a 98-yarder by Leon Washington) and in which their offensive line protection was the best it's been all season, allowing one sack to a Giants defense that had 12 last week.

That's inexcusable. Bill Parcells used to cull statistics on games in which a team scores a TD on defense and special teams and teams that have one of each of those things in a game win something like 95 percent of the time.

The Jets lost yesterday because of Pennington's three interceptions.

On the first one, Giants' cornerback Sam Madison read Pennington like a children's book and jumped Jerricho Cotchery's route to end a drive in Giants' territory.

On the second one, Pennington was fooled by a Giants' defensive look and heaved a wounded duck toward Cotchery near the Giants' goal line, where rookie cornerback Aaron Ross could have called for a fair catch it was so easy.

The third one came with the Jets trailing 28-24 and driving. This time, Pennington threw behind Cotchery and Ross pounced, returning it 43 yards for a TD and the 35-24 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game.

"It makes you sick to your stomach . . . two plays . . . you take two plays and it just ruins the whole day," Pennington said.

"It's never about one person," Mangini said. "It's never about one person."

Yes, but the Jets, with their season on the brink of irrelevance, are fast approaching a time when Mangini is going to have to make a difficult decision at quarterback.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

By JOHN BRANCH

Published: October 8, 2007

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 7

[Kentucky Jet]

After just five games and barely into October, there is only one football season left in New York.

About 50 yards separate the Giants' and Jets' locker rooms, but the difference in their mood and perspective was miles apart yesterday after the Giants' 35-24 victory dropped the Jets to 1-4, virtually eliminating them from playoff contention in the tough AFC.

In the Jets' room, they have a quarterback controversy about to explode. Chad Pennington, who threw two game-changing fourth quarter interceptions to Giants rookie Aaron Ross, sat for 30 minutes at his locker with his back to the room. He didn't have to look over his shoulder to see Kellen Clemens, whose time is coming soon. Clemens was standing right next to him.

Pennington says he's not worried about losing his job. "I don't have any concern," he said. "My whole concern is me - what can I do to get better and become a better quarterback."

The Giants' room was loud and confident after they wiped out two 10-point second-half deficits to win their third in a row after losing their first two. "Just three weeks ago we were 0-2 and at the bottom of the earth and everybody was stepping on us," linebacker Antonio Pierce said.

Eric Mangini didn't hesitate in saying Pennington is still his starter. But clearly the leash is getting shorter. Remember, Mangini inherited Pennington but drafted Clemens.

Pennington deserves one more start and if the Jets don't beat the Eagles next week, Mangini might as well turn things over to Clemens to see what he's got.

After the Jets made the playoffs in Mangini's first year, this has been a season of regression. They did make the playoffs in 2002 after starting 1-4, but it was Herm Edwards' switch from Vinny Testaverde to Pennington that energized the team. Mangini might decide the only way to try to get his team going is to make a quarterback change.

Pennington always has been able to overcome his lack of a cannon with his brain. But he outsmarted himself yesterday.

He never should have thrown the ball from the Giants' 23 that was picked off by Ross - who was benched until the second half for violating a team rule - near the goal line early in the fourth quarter. Pennington was under duress and unloaded the ball, misreading the coverage. He was crushed by Giants safety James Butler after he released the pass, but no flag was thrown.

The Giants converted that into their first lead of the game at 28-24 with just under eight minutes left when Eli Manning threw a six-yard pass that Plaxico Burress turned into a 53-yard TD when he wasted Kevin Dyson with a stiff arm. Two series later, Ross jumped a route by Jerricho Cotchery after faking a blitz and put the game away with a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown.

After tying the NFL record with 12 sacks last week against Philadelphia, the Giants got to Pennington just once and it didn't come until Osi Umenyiora got him with three minutes left. Still, there was enough pressure to force Pennington into uncharacteristic mistakes in the second half.

"We weren't able to get a lot of sacks, but we definitely made him rush throws," defensive end/tackle Justin Tuck said.

Was Tuck surprised at the type of picks Pennington threw in the second half?

"Yeah, because he doesn't make mistakes like that," he said.

It was an entertaining three hours that told us a few things about the Giants and Jets:

When the Giants get it going on the ground, they are impossible to stop. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward ran right through the Jets' 3-4 defense for a combined 156 yards. If anything, Tom Coughlin got away from the run too much.

The Jets just can't run the ball. They gave Thomas Jones a four-year, $20 million contract including $12 million guaranteed, but he's been a huge disappointment. He had 13 carries for only 36 yards yesterday. His longest run was seven yards. He is averaging only 58 yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry.

Who needs practice? Plaxico Burress' ankle injury precludes him from practicing, but he didn't look like he needed it on his TD run. He even high-stepped it into the end zone.

The lack of a pass rush has made it very difficult on the Jets' secondary. They didn't get to Manning once and have only three sacks in five games.

The biggest issue right now is how much longer Mangini will stick with Pennington. Is Mangini going through a sophomore jinx? Take away those two picks to Ross yesterday and Pennington threw the ball well. But his ability to always throw to the right place is what has allowed the Jets to always make the playoffs when he's healthy.

But things are changing now for Pennington. He is getting his team in trouble.

He took this loss and his two bad throws to heart. "It makes you sick to your stomach, really," he said.

That's why one season is alive and the other is all but over.

[Kentucky Jet]

Chad Pennington may lose grip as starting QB

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Monday, October 8th 2007, 4:00 AM

Chad Pennington sat in front of his locker for about 30 minutes after the game, a white towel draped over his head. Laveranues Coles walked by, patted his buddy on the back and whispered something into his ear. Pennington, still in full uniform, didn't move. He was despondent.

"It's frustrating, believe me," the Jets' quarterback would say later, struggling to turn whispers into words. "It makes you sick to your stomach."

Pass out the barf bags; it's going to be a bumpy ride.

The Jets may have ruined their season with yesterday's 35-24 loss to the Giants at the Meadowlands, where they blew a 24-14 lead in the final 15-plus minutes. There were many reasons for the collapse, namely porous defense and ill-timed penalties, but Pennington was the central figure in the meltdown.

For the first time in his five-plus seasons as the Jets' starter, Pennington's status is a legitimate issue. He threw three interceptions, including Aaron Ross' 43-yard return for a game-clinching touchdown with 3:15 remaining in the game.

Pennington's interception total ballooned to five in the last two games (actually, five in the last five quarters), the worst two-game total in his career.

Is it time for Kellen Clemens? Not yet, according to Eric Mangini, who tried to defuse the burgeoning quarterback controversy. "Chad is the starting quarterback," said Mangini, who blamed Pennington for only one of the three interceptions.

Asked if his confidence in Pennington is waning, Mangini gave a quick "no," adding, "What I'm looking for now is a consistent, four-quarter effort by the whole team."

The Jets are 1-4, and their once-promising season is running away faster than Leon Washington on a kickoff return. If the outlook doesn't improve, Mangini will be tempted to turn to Clemens, who showed promise in his Week 2 start for the injured Pennington.

If Pennington (21-for-36, 229 yards) is committing turnovers, his value to the team is greatly diminished because he doesn't have the quick-strike ability to atone for his mistakes. His second and third interceptions, both by Ross, cost the Jets 10 points; they were in field-goal range on Ross' first pick. Conversely, Pennington drove the Jets to only seven points, a 93-yard possession that ended with his 16-yard scoring pass to Brad Smith in the second quarter.

The rest of the scoring came from special teams (Washington's 98-yard kickoff return, his second in three weeks) and defense (Kerry Rhodes' 11-yard fumble return). It's pretty hard to lose when you get two touchdown returns, but the Jets found a way, surrendering 21 unanswered points. "They came out swinging harder than we did in the second half," linebacker Victor Hobson said of the Giants, who could've been buried by halftime if the Jets had shown any killer instinct.

The Jets were ahead, 24-21, at the start of the fourth quarter, driving toward another score. But, on a first down from the Giants' 23, Pennington threw a floater off his back foot into double coverage. Ross made the interception at the 2, the end-result of a cat-and-mouse game that went the Giants' way.

The Giants showed blitz before the snap, prompting Pennington to change the play. He thought Coles was going to be in single coverage against Ross, but the Giants called an audible. Pennington didn't have time to switch the play again. They still blitzed - safety James Butler smacked Pennington - but they switched to soft coverage instead of man-to-man. Ross was lurking near the goal line and made the play.

So much for dropping the hammer. "That would've taken the life out of them," said Jerricho Cotchery, the intended receiver.

"I'm sure he'd like to have that one back," Mangini said of Pennington.

The Jets fell behind, 28-24, when cornerback Andre Dyson did his best impersonation of a Cleveland gnat, getting swatted by Plaxico Burress' stiff arm on a 53-yard scoring play. Still, the Jets had a chance. But, from the Jets' 39, Ross jumped a short route to Cotchery and made his second interception.

Pennington scoffed at the notion that he misread the play, claiming he simply "threw behind" Cotchery against a basic Cover-2 defense. But there's no question the Giants, not afraid of getting beat deep by Pennington, were jumping pass routes.

"It just fell apart at the end," said Pennington, lamenting that he let two plays "ruin the whole thing."

Pennington, on third down, hit seven of eight for 111 yards, including two brilliant grabs by Coles.

Pennington said there were "some big-time downfield completions," claiming he sensed improvement in his game as the afternoon progressed. He sounded like a young quarterback, trying to impress his coaches. Or maybe he's concerned about losing his job. "I don't have any concern (about that)," he said. "My concern is me, what I can do to get better."

The clock is ticking.

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets face long odds to make playoff run

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Monday, October 8th 2007, 4:00 AM

Sitting at 1-4, the Jets shouldn't be thinking that far down the road, but they can take solace in knowing a recovery from 1-4 is possible. Since 1990, when the current playoff format went into effect, five teams have rebounded from 1-4 to make the postseason:

The 1992 Chargers, 1993 Oilers, 2002 Jets, 2002 Titans and 2004 Packers.

But that's only five of 85 teams that began 1-4. It's bleak.

"There are only so many more times we can say, 'We have time, we have time,'" LB Jonathan Vilma said. "We have to start getting after it. We have to figure out what's going on."

The Jets can't get the offense and defense clicking at the same time. In the last two games, the offense has produced only three touchdowns.

"Sometimes it gets frustrating when you don't put up the point you think you should," RT Anthony Clement said.

JONES JETS: Is Thomas Jones' frustration building? He was held to 36 yards on 13 carries, and he didn't stick around to talk about it. His locker was cleaned out before the media were allowed in the locker room.

In five games, Jones has only 290 yards, a paltry 71 in the last two games.

SIGNAL TROUBLE: Opponents could be catching on to the Jets' no-huddle. Giants LB Antonio Pierce said QB Chad Pennington spends so much time at the line, barking signals, that he was able to figure out what they were doing. On at least two occasions, Pierce recognized a call and tipped off his linemen before the snap.

"A little birdie told me something," Pierce said. "I can hear everything (the Jets) say. That's legal. Like I said, I had a little birdie tell me something and the little birdie was right."

WASHED AWAY: Lost in the defeat was Leon Washington's 98-yard kickoff return, his second touchdown from that distance in three weeks.

Thanks to blocks by Chris Baker and Brad Smith, Washington broke through a gaping hole in the middle of the Giants' coverage unit, giving the Jets a 24-14 lead in the third quarter.

"With a return like that, you try to gain momentum and put it back on your side," Washington said. "You'll get it for a split second - and we got it - and then we lost it again."

LINE UP: The pass protection, led by tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Anthony Clement, was terrific. The Jets allowed only one sack to a defense that tied an NFL record last week with 12, and it didn't occur until late in the game, when Ferguson was victimized by Osi Umenyiora. Clement neutralized DE Michael Strahan (three tackles).

OUCH: C Nick Mangold banged his right knee and missed three snaps before returning. ... FB Darian Barnes suffered an upper-leg injury and left the game.

[Kentucky Jet]

Everyone will be picking apart Jets' Pennington

Bob Glauber

October 8, 2007

Chad Pennington, you are officially on notice: Another performance like this, and it is over.

Memo to Kellen Clemens: Keep the arm loose, kid. It's almost time.

Pennington has left Jets coach Eric Mangini no other choice than to at least consider the possibility of a quarterback change. Even though Mangini proclaimed that Pennington still is the starter shortly after his woeful effort in yesterday's 35-24 loss to the Giants, the coach surely must realize that time is growing short.

At 1-4, and with Pennington having thrown five interceptions the last two weeks, there may be no other choice than to look elsewhere for the answer at the sport's most important position.

One more bad game next week against the Eagles, and that is it. Hey, one more bad half might be enough to prompt Mangini to look for some kind of spark to get his team out of this early-season funk. With the season rapidly spiraling out of control - or is it already over? - Pennington is perilously close to playing his way out of the job he's held since 2002.

A significant portion of the Jets' fan base no doubt would like to see Mangini pull the plug on Pennington immediately. Rest assured they will be flooding the airwaves on talk shows today demanding such a move. But Pennington has built up enough capital with his incredible will to win that he deserves at least one more shot to battle his way through his current malaise.

Besides, once you tell Pennington he no longer is your quarterback, the option of going back to him is off the table. If you are going to go with Clemens, you are going do it for the foreseeable future. This is no practice run in which you change your mind and stick Pennington back in there.

When asked about Pennington's situation after yesterday's debacle, Mangini said, "Chad is the starting quarterback."

But Mangini cannot continue to stick with a quarterback who continues to throw interceptions in critical situations.

Pennington has thrown three or more picks in a game only four times in his career. But with five in back-to-back losses to the Bills and Giants, it is perilously close to becoming a trend. A trend that cannot - and must not - continue indefinitely.

"I don't have any concern," Pennington said when I asked about his job security. "My whole concern is me and what I can do to get better and become a better quarterback."

Believe it or not, he saw positives yesterday. "I see plays out there where I really see myself making improvement throwing the ball down the field," he said. "We had some big-time down-the-field completions. Then you take two plays, and it just ruins the whole day. That's what it boils down to."

The two that really killed the Jets yesterday: Pennington's pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery that was picked off by rookie corner Aaron Ross at the Giants' 2 early in the fourth quarter, and his pick late in the quarter that was returned 43 yards by Ross for a touchdown. On the latter, the Jets were driving for what could have been the go-ahead touchdown; instead, it turned into the game-clinching score for the Giants.

It might end up being the interception that ultimately signaled the end of Pennington's run with the Jets.

On the first interception, Pennington thought he had the Giants' defense figured out when he switched to a "hot" read. The Giants were showing blitz, and Pennington checked off to a three-step drop and a fade route to Cotchery. The Giants did blitz, but not the way Pennington expected. They sent safety James Butler in from the right but had the other defensive backs drop into a cover-2. It was too late for Pennington to recover, and his pass was picked off just in front of the end zone.

On the second, he threw behind Cotchery and Ross jumped the route, stepped in front and had clear sailing to the end zone.

"It's frustrating, and believe me, it makes you sick to your stomach," Pennington said.

Pennington's teammates were quick to point the blame elsewhere. Laveranues Coles even took responsibility for the loss. But there was no disguising the reality: This one was on the quarterback.

Now he's running out of second chances. There might be only one more.

Low ratings

Chad Pennington's quarterback rating of 51.7 aginst the Giants yesterday was the sixth-worst of any game he has started. His worst statistical efforts:

Rating Date Opp. Att. Comp. Pct. Yds. TD INT Result

21.1 10-29-06 at Cleveland 28 11 39.3 108 0 2 L, 20-13

28.9 10-8-06 at Jacksonville 17 10 58.8 71 0 3 L, 41-0

31.2 12-20-03 New England 43 24 55.8 229 0 5 L, 21-16

33.6 12-12-04 at Pittsburgh 31 17 54.8 189 0 3 L, 17-6

42.8 11-19-06 Chicago 35 19 54.3 162 0 2 L, 10-0

51.7 Yesterday Giants 36 21 58.3 229 1 3 L, 35-24

[Kentucky Jet]

Miscues Weigh Heavily on a Grim Pennington

By KAREN CROUSE

Published: October 8, 2007

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 7

[Kentucky Jet]

Chad's play? Take your pick

Monday, October 08, 2007

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

Quarterback Chad Pennington sat at his locker stall, legs crossed and ankles still taped, alone with his thoughts nearly a half-hour after yesterday's game. Dressed in a short-sleeve Jets green T-shirt, a second sleeveless white shirt and gray shorts, he stared blankly into his cubicle.

Perhaps he was looking for answers.

Pennington, once hailed as the next Joe Montana, was almost single-handedly responsible for a loss for the second consecutive week -- and he knew it. He threw three interceptions in the Jets' 35-24 loss to the Giants yesterday at Giants Stadium, and has five picks in the past two weeks. All, it seems, have come at the most inopportune time.

"Any time you lose, it's disappointing. And how we lost is extremely disappointing," said Pennington, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown as the Jets fell to 1-4. "Every time we lose, I feel this way. I try my best to hide it."

Two of Pennington's three interceptions came in Giants territory with the Jets threatening to score. And the third was returned 43 yards for a touchdown by rookie cornerback Aaron Ross, who had the first two interceptions of his career and sealed the Jets' fate with 3:15 left to play and the Jets driving for a go-ahead touchdown.

Two weeks ago, Pennington threw an interception in the closing seconds as the Jets were driving for a game-tying field goal in a 17-14 loss to the Bills in Buffalo.

Yesterday, the Jets offense, successful on nine of 15 third-down conversions, accounted for only seven points. The defense scored a touchdown on an 11-yard fumble return by safety Kerry Rhodes in the first quarter, and an interception by linebacker Jonathan Vilma set up a field goal just before the half. Kick returner Leon Washington returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD, his second 98-yard return for a score this season.

Pennington, who enjoyed rock-solid protection (one sack late in the game) against a Giants defensive line that tied an NFL record a week ago with 12 sacks, is in perhaps the worst slump of his eight-year career. And with strong-armed backup Kellen Clemens looming, Pennington's days as the Jets' starter might be nearing an end.

"Chad is the starting quarterback," coach Eric Mangini said after the game, without hesitation in expectation of the question.

Oddly, Pennington threw the ball better than he did last week, when he dinked and dunked his way to a career-high 32 completions against the Bills. Despite not mounting much of a running game -- Thomas Jones was invisible again (13 carries, 36 yards) and bolted from the locker room without comment before the media arrived -- the Jets moved the ball between the 20s.

"I see plays out there where I really see myself making improvement throwing the ball down he field," Pennington said. "We had some big-time down-the-field completions today. Then you take two plays and it just ruins the whole day. That's what it boils down to. ... That's probably the most disappointing thing."

Although Pennington had some zip on the ball yesterday, his lack of arm strength is now being coupled with poor decision-making -- a recipe for disaster. He threw into coverage on each of his interceptions yesterday, and on three of his five interceptions the past two games opposing defensive backs have jumped the route because they don't fear Pennington beating them deep.

"We knew that he throws a light ball so we just had to go up there and attack it, and we did," said Giants cornerback Sam Madison, who had the other interception.

Pennington's final interception was the killer. Trailing 28-24 with 3:28 left to play, the Jets faced a second-and-five from their 39-yard line. Pennington tried to hit Jerricho Cotchery on a comeback route. He threw the ball slightly behind Cotchery, and Ross, who had faked a blitz and then dropped back into coverage, jumped the route and took it to the house, racing untouched down the left sideline for a 43-yard touchdown.

"It frustrating," said Pennington, who has six touchdowns and five interceptions this season. "It makes you sick to your stomach. But that's the game of football. In the NFL, every quarterback for the most part goes through these situations (when) things aren't going your way. You just have to fight through it."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at

dhutchinson@starledger.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets' Jones has been invisible

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

October 8, 2007

Did the Jets really trade for Thomas Jones?

Yes, though the 1,200-yard rusher they thought they were getting has yet to arrive. For the fourth game in five as a Jet, Jones put up disappointing numbers. Yesterday, he had 36 yards on 13 carries. Jones already had dressed and left the locker room by the time the media entered, a fairly obvious sign that he is frustrated with either his performance or the way he is being used. Or both.

Can a 1-4 team still make the playoffs?

Sure. Anything is possible. But since the playoff format was rejiggered in 1990, there have been 85 teams that started out 1-4, and five of them turned things around to make the postseason. One of them was the 2002 Jets, who were sparked by a change at quarterback when a young Chad Pennington relieved Vinny Testaverde.

How did the Jets do protecting their quarterback?

Remarkably well, considering the Giants were coming off that 12-sack performance against the Eagles. Pennington had time on most of his throws and was sacked only once, by Osi Umenyiora late in the game. "It was mostly technique and a little bit of scheming," right tackle Anthony Clement said. Of course, the Jets might have focused too much on pass-blocking, given that the running game totaled only 55 yards and one of the longest rushes was a 4-yard sneak by Pennington on third-and-3.

What's up with Mike Nugent?

The Jets' kicker missed a second straight field-goal attempt going back to last week when he drove his 42-yarder wide left late in the first quarter. He hit a 47-yarder to end the second quarter, but his sudden shakiness after a long stretch of consistency could be a problem for a Jets offense that struggles to score touchdowns and has to settle for field goals.

How did Wade Smith do in his brief appearance?

Not very well. Upon replacing Nick Mangold, the backup center botched his first snap, hiking the ball early and drilling a surprised Pennington in the hip for a fumble. He lasted just one more play before Mangold returned.

Will the Jets ever go for it on fourth-and-1?

For the second straight week, the Jets punted on an early drive in which they faced fourth-and-1 and took a delay-of-game penalty. This time, the Jets unsuccessfully tried to draw the Giants offside.

[Kentucky Jet]

Like game, year looks half-empty

Meltdown in final two periods has Jets searching for answers

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

October 8, 2007

Jonathan Vilma stood in front of his locker after yesterday's game and began to reassemble himself for civilized life. First the slacks and shoes went on, followed by the shirt and vest. Then he stretched his chin in the air, gave his neck an uncomfortable wrench and tightened his tie.

"There's only so many more times we can say 'we have time, we have time,' " the Jets linebacker and defensive captain said as the noose on this 2007 season continued to tighten like the slipknot on Vilma's tie. "We have to start really getting after it and figure out what's going on."

What's going on is that last year's 10-win season, last year's playoff appearance, last year's discipline and timely performance are starting to seem more like an anomaly. The Jets lost a second straight game for the second time this season, dropped to the nearly-impossible-to-climb-out-of ditch of 1-4, and have yet to play a full game that can be pinned up as an example of what needs to be done.

In yesterday's 35-24 loss to the Giants, the Jets showed flashes of their potential, and with a 10-point lead in the third quarter, they seemed ready to correct their bearing.

But two more fourth-quarter interceptions by Chad Pennington (who had two costly picks in the final frame of last week's loss to Buffalo) and a 98-yard go-ahead drive by the Giants in which the Jets committed two penalties and displayed poor tackling sabotaged that optimism.

"We were starting to play better and complement each other as a team in all three phases," Pennington said. But it was hard even for Pennington, who usually can see the bright side of an eclipse, to overlook the blatant mistakes that cost the Jets this game and might have sunk their season before it left the slip.

"It just fell apart at the end," he said.

Both of Pennington's late interceptions yesterday were by Aaron Ross, the rookie cornerback over whom the Jets selected Darrelle Revis in the first round of April's draft. The first came as Pennington threw an ill-advised leaping pass, trying to Favre the ball a good 30 yards to Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone. The second interception also came on a pass to Cotchery and was returned 43 yards for a game-sealing touchdown that made it 35-24.

The first Ross interception pinned the Giants at their 2. But the home team went 98 yards in only eight plays and 4:31, nudged along by an illegal- contact penalty against Andre Dyson and a horse-collaring penalty against David Harris.

Then Dyson missed tackling Plaxico Burress twice along the sideline on a short pass that morphed into a 53-yard touchdown reception. Dyson tried to go high against Burress, to whom he yielded seven inches and nearly 50 pounds, before bouncing off a stiff-arm. He then tried to dive at the receiver's legs but found the same lack of success low.

"If I did it again I would do everything the same," Dyson said, "except for getting him down, obviously."

There was a lot of that thinking in the locker room as the Jets tried to put their puzzle together, only to find a handful of distorted pieces.

The defense played well in the first half, scoring when Kerry Rhodes stripped the ball from Brandon Jacobs and picked it up on the run with one hand the way a speedskater touches the ice on a sharp turn. Vilma, who was in on the tackle during that forced fumble, also intercepted a pass late in the second quarter that led to a 47-yard field goal by Mike Nugent (who'd missed a 42-yarder earlier). Eli Manning had a passer rating of 0.0 at the break.

And even after the Giants scored on the first drive of the second half to close the gap to three points, Leon Washington returned the kickoff 98 yards up the middle to re-establish the double-digit lead. But none of it stuck.

"As much as the first half was positive," coach Eric Mangini said, "in the second half we just could not get going."

The only thing going in the second half were the Jets' playoff hopes. And it might be too late to get them back.

Sunday

Eagles at Jets

1 p.m.

TV: Ch. 5

Radio: WABC (770), WEPN

(1050), WRCN (103.9)

[Kentucky Jet]

Ashley Fox | Eagles in better spot than the woeful Jets

By Ashley Fox

Inquirer Columnist

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - So, you ask, what's worse than spending an idle weekend stewing about a 1-3 record? Dropping to 1-4.

In other words, as bad as the Eagles have it right now with one win to their name, at least they're not the New York Jets, who yesterday dropped a game they should have won to their would-be rivals, the New York Giants.

After the crushing 35-24 loss, the Jets were inconsolable. The locker room was nearly silent. Jonathan Vilma sat shirtless, with his head in his hands. For a long time, Chad Pennington had his feet propped up on his locker, still wearing a green undershirt, his hair drenched in sweat.

Like the rest of the Jets, Pennington simply couldn't believe, after all that had gone right in the first half, that so much could go so wrong in the second. He couldn't believe that, here, with the Eagles up next, the Jets were 1-4. One and four.

"It's frustrating," said Pennington, who threw three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter that led to Giants touchdowns. "Believe me, it makes you sick to your stomach, really."

It should. For the first time all season, the Jets had gotten contributions from all three phases of the game. Kerry Rhodes got the Jets on the board by stripping Brandon Jacobs in the first quarter and running 11 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Pennington found Brad Smith alone in the end zone on a 16-yard pass with Kevin Dockery turned around for the Jets' second touchdown. After the defense gave them the ball right back, the Jets kicked a 47-yard field goal for a 17-7 halftime lead.

Even into the third quarter, things looked OK. The Giants scored on their opening drive of the second half, but Leon Washington took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and 24-14 lead. It was the last time the Jets would score.

Mistake after mistake ensued. One of the Jets' problems this season has been missed tackles, and again yesterday that was the case. Andre Dyson had his hands all over Plaxico Burress after Burress caught an Eli Manning pass, and still Burress streaked 53 yards into the end zone to give the Giants a 28-24 lead.

Penalties were a killer, too. The Jets only had six - half of the Eagles' total against the Giants, mind you - but two came on the Giants' go-ahead drive. One was an illegal-contact call against Dyson, the other a 15-yard unnecessary-roughness call against David Harris for a horse-collar tackle on Derrick Ward.

And yet again, the Jets were unable to run the ball. They entered the game 28th in the league in rushing with an average of 82.5 yards per game, better only than the Saints, Chiefs, Lions and Packers. Yesterday, they eked out 55 yards on 25 carries - an average of a measly 2.2 yards per carry. Not good. Certainly not good enough.

Given his team's thorough collapse, Jets head coach Eric Mangini refused to target anyone specifically for blame. He targeted everyone, from the coaches on down. It's all about consistency, the second-year head coach said, and the Jets haven't shown any this year.

"We can't be a fourth-quarter team," he said. "We can't be a first-quarter team. We can't be a first-half team, or a second-half team. We've got to string it together."

Despite throwing five picks in the last two games, Pennington, apparently, will hold on to his starting job for another week. Mangini curtly dismissed a question about whether he would turn to second-year Kellen Clemens, the Jets' second-round draft pick in 2006 out of Oregon.

"It's never about one person," Mangini said.

A minute later, he added: "Chad's the starting quarterback."

Of course, coaches have been known to change their minds.

"I don't have any concern," Pennington said. "My whole concern is me - what I can do to get better and become a better quarterback. I see plays out there where I really see myself making improvement throwing the ball down the field. We had some big-time, down-the-field completions today, some tight spots, guys making plays, going up and catching the ball for us. And then you take two plays, and it just ruins the whole day. That's what it boils down to."

Pennington was asked after the 1 p.m. start how he would spend his evening. "It won't be fun, I know that," he said. "I'm not looking forward to it."

Imagine how the 1-3 Eagles have felt, spending an entire week after their loss to the Giants.

That seemed bad enough, but it can always be worse. You could be 1-4 in the AFC, in the cellar of the division that the Patriots own. You could be on the verge of losing hope.

No doubt 1-3 is bad, but 1-4 is worse. Just ask the Jets.

[Kentucky Jet]

GRADING THE JETS

BY TOM ROCK

October 8, 2007

OFFENSE

D Here's a stat that will show how inefficient the Jets are: They converted 9 of 15 third-down attempts but had only one offensive touchdown. Here's another: They had their longest scoring drive of the year (93 yards) and their shortest (minus-2) on back-to-back possessions. Chad Pennington had another decent statline until you get to the interceptions column where he had three. The running game didn't have a chance to turn the ball over since Thomas Jones had only 13 carries with just three in second half.

DEFENSE

C- Kerry Rhodes had a fumble return for a touchdown and Jonathan Vilma had his first interception in almost a year. David Harris does some things very well and is great at sniffing out screens and draws, but he gets manhandled on runs up the middle too often. Eric Smith, playing for Erik Coleman (concussion), had 7 tackles and a pass breakup. While allowing a 98-yard drive is bad, allowing one in which the opposition takes the lead for the first time is unforgivable. Andre Dyson must tackle Plaxico Burress.

SPECIAL TEAMS

C Leon Washington busted his second kickoff return for a touchdown since taking over for Justin Miller, and he nearly had his third but was tripped up at the 38. He had 155 yards in kickoff returns, but he's still shaky and shows questionable judgment returning punts. Mike Nugent made only one of two field goals. Ben Graham put two of his four punts inside the 20, and the Jets didn't allow much of a return game. Brad Smith made a sweet tackle under Graham's first punt and also nearly broke a kickoff return.

COACHING

D Offensively the Jets started to do the things that made them successful last year. They employed a direct snap to Washington that was helped by a decoying Pennington, they utilized Brad Smith as a quarterback, and jostled the Giants with their no-huddle. After they took the lead, though, they went back to convention. Jones must touch the ball more in the second half. Defensively they allowed 28 second-half points. This year opponents have outscored them 87-48 in the second half, 52-24 in the fourth quarter.

[Kentucky Jet]

JETS

Chad to blame for Jets' loss

Monday, October 8, 2007

By J.P. PELZMAN

STAFF WRITER

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Chad Pennington had unbuckled both chin straps and taken off his helmet before he was halfway off the field after Aaron Ross' clinching touchdown on an interception return Sunday.

At that moment, the sideline must have looked a long way away. About as far off as the playoffs appear to the Jets right about now.

Pennington threw three interceptions, two to Ross, including one that he returned 43 yards for a touchdown in the Giants' 35-24 victory over the Jets (1-4) at Giants Stadium. It was the fourth time in his career Pennington has thrown three or more interceptions in a game, and the first time since a 41-0 loss to Jacksonville a year ago today when he threw three picks.

Since the NFL playoffs expanded to a 12-team format in 1990, only five teams have started 1-4 and made the playoffs, including the Jets in 2002.

Pennington (21-for-36, 229 yards, one touchdown) tried to look at the positives, but was disappointed with himself because of the mistakes.

FAST FACTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bottom line: Without an effective running game, the Jets are asking Chad Pennington to carry the entire offensive load. It's not working.

Best move: With a fourth-and-1 at the Giants' 49, Eric Mangini took a delay of game penalty and punted, pinning the Giants at their 8. The Jets scored three plays later on Kerry Rhodes' fumble return.

What was he thinking?Chad Pennington threw off his back foot into double coverage and Aaron Ross intercepted at the Giants' 2-yard-line.

Bright spot: Leon Washington had his second kickoff-return touchdown in three games, as his 98-yard third-quarter TD gave the Jets a 24-14 lead.

Look ahead: The Jets host Philadelphia (1-3), which had a bye this week. The Eagles also are trying to turn around what has been a disappointing season.

*

"I saw improvement in me as a quarterback," he said, "with being able to make some throws down the field and stepping up [in the pocket] with confidence and making some good throws. Then two plays just ruined the whole thing."

Pennington's long trudge to the visitors' sideline wasn't made any easier by the fact that he has thrown five interceptions in the last two games, both Jets' losses. When the Jets return to the home sideline against Philadelphia on Sunday, their fans could be clamoring for backup Kellen Clemens.

But coach Eric Mangini isn't joining that chorus. When asked, Mangini said that Pennington is his quarterback. When asked if he was concerned about him, he replied, "no."

But there are reasons for concern, although Pennington certainly isn't the only problem. The lack of an effective running game -- the Jets averaged 2.2 yards on 25 carries -- has taken the play-action pass out of the Jets' repertoire and allowed opposing secondaries to cover the Jets' receivers more tightly.

All three of Pennington's interceptions were intended for Jerricho Cotchery, and twice Giants' cornerbacks jumped the routes. Sam Madison did that when he picked off Pennington at the Giants' 31 in the second quarter to end a promising drive.

Aaron Ross, who sat out the first half because of disciplinary reasons, intercepted Pennington on a first-down pass from the Giants' 23. Pennington read press coverage before the snap, but the Giants dropped back into a soft zone and Cotchery was double-covered near the end zone. Ross jumped a short comeback route for his clinching touchdown.

"He made a good play," Cotchery said, "but you have to try to do anything in your power to prevent the interception. I don't care if it's pass interference. ... I know I have to play better."

"You can't blame Chad for anything," said wideout Laveranues Coles. "We lose as a team. If you're trying to point the finger, it's definitely not him."

That was the kind of staunch defense the Jets had on the field in the first half, but it evaporated in the second half, just like their 10-point lead as the Jets allowed 277 yards after halftime. Most glaring was Plaxico Burress' go-ahead 53-yard touchdown catch, on which he stiff-armed Andre Dyson twice and stayed inbounds.

"I didn't think there was any way he was getting out of there," Dyson said. "He was so close to the sideline. I thought it was going to be an easy tackle."

But nothing is easy for the Jets these days.

E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com

[Sperm Edwards]

BY RICH CIMINI

"The rest of the scoring came from special teams (Washington's 98-yard kickoff return, his second in three weeks) and defense (Kerry Rhodes' 11-yard fumble return). It's pretty hard to lose when you get two touchdown returns, but the Jets found a way

Pffft...You'd think this was the first time Pennington did this. It's like his 2nd time in his last two dozen games that we lost despite the special teams & defense each spotting the offense two touchdowns.

But let's find more excuses excuses excuses excuses...