Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 NY Post REAL MEN OF 'GENIUS ONLY BETTER PLAYERS CAN IMPROVE ERIC'S ANSWERS Eric Mangini October 21, 2007 -- YOU take what the defense gives you, Eric Mangini said three different ways this week, without saying much of anything at all. Asked about the pass-run balance that, thanks to 130 Thomas Jones yards, was greatly improved last Sunday until the Jets needed 1 yard and didn't give him the ball, the coach said: "You always want a balance, but don't attack strength for the sake of chalking up a number. You want to evaluate weakness and attack that." Queried whether his offensive line can enable Jones to run 20-25 times a game, Mangini answered, "It's different each week because of the schemes. You have to do a good job of adjusting." Pressed about a pass rush that seems worse than a year ago, even if the numbers show it down so far by only three sacks, Mangini replied, "It depends on types of protections they are running, the volume of blitzes versus those protections. There's a lot of variables." There are few variables to the coach's answers, non-answers that played a lot better on the way to 10-6 than they do on the way to 6-10. Mangini is the same coach now he was a year ago, merely playing a harder schedule consisting of more teams better aware of the Jets' schemes. In 2006, those schemes were their strength more than were their players. Mangini is resisting an inevitable quarterback change because, for lack of a game-breaker, thinking their way down the field is what the Jets do. Chad Pennington remains more capable of doing that than Kellen Clemens, at least at this stage. And Mangini is not ready to begin 2008 when 2007 is not half over. "We're always going to play the players that give us the best chance to win and I feel Chad gives us the best chance to win," the coach recited when asked if there were mitigating reasons, such as fear of sending a message he was writing off the season, or bailing too fast on the respected team leader. Another loss today in Cincinnati and perhaps Clemens starts against the Bills next Sunday. But our guess is still not. Turning the team over to a raw quarterback is a hair-brained scheme not to the taste of a coach who, by sticking to a 3-4 defense when he has better 4-3 personnel, continues to show he is all about the scheme, not the players. Now, if he had some more good ones, perhaps Mangini would be a different coach. But the roster that he coached up to 10-6 a year ago has been upgraded by Jones, not Reggie Bush, and by Darrelle Revis, not Deion Sanders. The Jets have a strong corps of receivers but no Randy Moss to help open up the underbelly for the out throws that Pennington had less trouble making a year ago on two good ankles. The Jets have decent front-seven personnel, but no outside pass rush like the one driving the Giants back toward the playoffs. It gets harder when opponents know better what you're doing. Also, when failures inside the 5 yard line cause cranky players being pushed harder than ever during practice to question whether you still know what you're doing. Unlike the Falcon foofs who challenge Bobby Petrino then drop passes, Chris Baker catches everything thrown toward him. A good and underutilized soldier, he earned better than a private admonishment for publicly questioning obviously poor play selection. And Mangini would earn a vote of confidence from his team if more passes were thrown Baker's way. It wasn't Mangini's playing career at Wesleyan or his Bill Belichick-tied resume that caused players to buy into 10-6 a year ago. It was decisions that mostly worked. Inevitably, they aren't working as well the second time around. And won't until the Jets get a guy or two who can line up and take what he wants, the hell with what opponents are trying to give them. jay.greenberg@nypost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 NY Post REAL MEN OF 'GENIUS ONLY BETTER PLAYERS CAN IMPROVE ERIC'S ANSWERS Eric Mangini October 21, 2007 -- YOU take what the defense gives you, Eric Mangini said three different ways this week, without saying much of anything at all. Asked about the pass-run balance that, thanks to 130 Thomas Jones yards, was greatly improved last Sunday until the Jets needed 1 yard and didn't give him the ball, the coach said: "You always want a balance, but don't attack strength for the sake of chalking up a number. You want to evaluate weakness and attack that." Queried whether his offensive line can enable Jones to run 20-25 times a game, Mangini answered, "It's different each week because of the schemes. You have to do a good job of adjusting." Pressed about a pass rush that seems worse than a year ago, even if the numbers show it down so far by only three sacks, Mangini replied, "It depends on types of protections they are running, the volume of blitzes versus those protections. There's a lot of variables." There are few variables to the coach's answers, non-answers that played a lot better on the way to 10-6 than they do on the way to 6-10. Mangini is the same coach now he was a year ago, merely playing a harder schedule consisting of more teams better aware of the Jets' schemes. In 2006, those schemes were their strength more than were their players. Mangini is resisting an inevitable quarterback change because, for lack of a game-breaker, thinking their way down the field is what the Jets do. Chad Pennington remains more capable of doing that than Kellen Clemens, at least at this stage. And Mangini is not ready to begin 2008 when 2007 is not half over. "We're always going to play the players that give us the best chance to win and I feel Chad gives us the best chance to win," the coach recited when asked if there were mitigating reasons, such as fear of sending a message he was writing off the season, or bailing too fast on the respected team leader. Another loss today in Cincinnati and perhaps Clemens starts against the Bills next Sunday. But our guess is still not. Turning the team over to a raw quarterback is a hair-brained scheme not to the taste of a coach who, by sticking to a 3-4 defense when he has better 4-3 personnel, continues to show he is all about the scheme, not the players. Now, if he had some more good ones, perhaps Mangini would be a different coach. But the roster that he coached up to 10-6 a year ago has been upgraded by Jones, not Reggie Bush, and by Darrelle Revis, not Deion Sanders. The Jets have a strong corps of receivers but no Randy Moss to help open up the underbelly for the out throws that Pennington had less trouble making a year ago on two good ankles. The Jets have decent front-seven personnel, but no outside pass rush like the one driving the Giants back toward the playoffs. It gets harder when opponents know better what you're doing. Also, when failures inside the 5 yard line cause cranky players being pushed harder than ever during practice to question whether you still know what you're doing. Unlike the Falcon foofs who challenge Bobby Petrino then drop passes, Chris Baker catches everything thrown toward him. A good and underutilized soldier, he earned better than a private admonishment for publicly questioning obviously poor play selection. And Mangini would earn a vote of confidence from his team if more passes were thrown Baker's way. It wasn't Mangini's playing career at Wesleyan or his Bill Belichick-tied resume that caused players to buy into 10-6 a year ago. It was decisions that mostly worked. Inevitably, they aren't working as well the second time around. And won't until the Jets get a guy or two who can line up and take what he wants, the hell with what opponents are trying to give them. jay.greenberg@nypost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serphnx Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Terrible. If Chad really does give us the best chance to win, then Kellen Clemens and this team are not NFL caliber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CRASH LANDING IN CINCINNATI GAG GREEN COUGHS UP LEAD VS. BENGALS By MARK CANNIZZARO MY FEAR WATSON: Kenny Watson carved up the Jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serphnx Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Terrible. If Chad really does give us the best chance to win, then Kellen Clemens and this team are not NFL caliber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CRASH LANDING IN CINCINNATI GAG GREEN COUGHS UP LEAD VS. BENGALS By MARK CANNIZZARO MY FEAR WATSON: Kenny Watson carved up the Jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 DYSON A SECONDARY CONCERN By MARK CANNIZZARO October 22, 2007 -- CINCINNATI - Eric Mangini shook things up with some surprise moves in the secondary yesterday. Cornerback Andre Dyson was left off the active list as a healthy scratch, a clear message from Mangini after two consecutive games in which Dyson was a major culprit with game-changing missed tackles. Sound Off: Tell Us What You Think Dyson missed a blatant tackle in single coverage against Giants WR Plaxico Burress, and he was in on the missed tackle on Eagles WR Kevin Curtis. Both resulted in long TDs. Starting CB David Barrett was replaced in the starting lineup by Hank Poteat, who yesterday picked off his second pass in two weeks. Starting safety Erik Coleman was also replaced to start the game by Abram Elam, who made his first career start. Elam was yanked from the game after a personal foul penalty in the fourth quarter. * The Jets were without starting TE Chris Baker, who was left back in New York with a back injury he suffered last week against the Eagles. Sean Ryan started and caught a 22-yard pass on the first drive of the game. * Jets LB Bryan Thomas, who had 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 DYSON A SECONDARY CONCERN By MARK CANNIZZARO October 22, 2007 -- CINCINNATI - Eric Mangini shook things up with some surprise moves in the secondary yesterday. Cornerback Andre Dyson was left off the active list as a healthy scratch, a clear message from Mangini after two consecutive games in which Dyson was a major culprit with game-changing missed tackles. Sound Off: Tell Us What You Think Dyson missed a blatant tackle in single coverage against Giants WR Plaxico Burress, and he was in on the missed tackle on Eagles WR Kevin Curtis. Both resulted in long TDs. Starting CB David Barrett was replaced in the starting lineup by Hank Poteat, who yesterday picked off his second pass in two weeks. Starting safety Erik Coleman was also replaced to start the game by Abram Elam, who made his first career start. Elam was yanked from the game after a personal foul penalty in the fourth quarter. * The Jets were without starting TE Chris Baker, who was left back in New York with a back injury he suffered last week against the Eagles. Sean Ryan started and caught a 22-yard pass on the first drive of the game. * Jets LB Bryan Thomas, who had 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 CAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 CAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - It was on the third play of the Jets' first series that Chad Pennington had his Captain Ahab moment. Before the game there had been a TV report that Eric Mangini had informed the quarterback he would get a quick hook if he got off to a shaky start. So what does Pennington do on that third play? He throws a 57-yard touchdown pass to Laveranues Coles. The pass traveled about 45 yards in the air - the first time this season that Pennington has air-mailed anything over 30 yards. Like the pursuer of Moby Dick, Pennington seemed to be saying to all those who were ushering in his demise, "From hell's heart I stab at thee!" "I truly did enjoy that," Pennington said. "It put a smile on my face." It was the only feel-good moment for Pennington in a game that spiraled out of control in the second half and found the Jets on the bad end of a 38-31 defeat to the NFL's most dysfunctional team - the Bengals (2-4). Pennington will have to nurture the warm glow of that bomb to Coles for a while because he is probably out as the starting quarterback. At 1-6 there is no season to salvage. Why not unwrap the future and see what Kellen Clemens has to offer? After the game there was no ringing endorsement from Mangini. Mangini, seething about the second-half ineptitude of his team, said he would have to look at the film and review everything and everyone, including himself. You know the coach is not going to demote himself. It doesn't work like that in the NFL. "It's the nature of the business. When a team is struggling the first guy that people look at is the quarterback," Pennington said, sounding like a man who has accepted his fate. Mangini would not confirm or deny he told Pennington that he was on a short leash before yesterday's game. Pennington said that conversation never occurred. But Pennington has been around long enough to have a feel for these things. That's why he started out so hot. Pennington, who was 20-of-31 for 272 yards, three TDs and one interception, guided the Jets to scores on their first five possessions, staking them to a 20-10 halftime lead. It wasn't enough. "Anytime the offense gives you 23 points a game you should be able to stop them (the other team) and win the game," said linebacker Jonathan Vilma. The Jets' defense sprung a leak and a running back named Kenny (Rip Van) Watson, who had been sleeping since 2002, awoke and trampled the visitors, rushing for 130 yards and three TDs on 31 carries. His last 100-yard rushing game came as a Redskin in a game against Seattle (110 yards) five years ago. Pennington made two costly errors in the fourth quarter. He and Nick Mangold had a miscommunication and the center snapped the ball before Pennington expected it in the shotgun. The Bengals recovered and Watson converted the turnover into a 2-yard TD run to give the Bengals a 31-23 lead. Then Pennington left a pass short to the outside for Coles and it was intercepted by cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who returned it 42 yards for a TD to make it 38-23. The inexplicable thing for Mangini and the Jets is that this is virtually the same team as last season, except at running back, where they traded with the Super Bowl Bears to bring in Thomas Jones. So why the disastrous turn of events? Fatigue. Mangini said he was tired of giving the same speech, tired of playing one half. Tired. Tired. Tired. Well, what about his team? Doesn't he think it's tired, too? Pennington said the Jets work harder than anybody in the NFL to prepare each week. Every good jockey knows when to go to the whip and when not to. Maybe Mangini ought to ease up. At 1-6 and going nowhere fast, it couldn't hurt. Whatever Mangini and his coaches decide to do it's probably too late for Pennington, who has been a good soldier for the Jets during his tenure. Pennington said he will not allow himself to contemplate being benched. He still thinks that he can get the job done. He still believes that he is the man to help the Jets turn around their fortunes. But he's not investing his emotions in his future role with the team. "Some things have happened that I could control and some things have happened that I couldn't control," Pennington said. "I play it right down the middle." tsmith@nydailynews.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - It was on the third play of the Jets' first series that Chad Pennington had his Captain Ahab moment. Before the game there had been a TV report that Eric Mangini had informed the quarterback he would get a quick hook if he got off to a shaky start. So what does Pennington do on that third play? He throws a 57-yard touchdown pass to Laveranues Coles. The pass traveled about 45 yards in the air - the first time this season that Pennington has air-mailed anything over 30 yards. Like the pursuer of Moby Dick, Pennington seemed to be saying to all those who were ushering in his demise, "From hell's heart I stab at thee!" "I truly did enjoy that," Pennington said. "It put a smile on my face." It was the only feel-good moment for Pennington in a game that spiraled out of control in the second half and found the Jets on the bad end of a 38-31 defeat to the NFL's most dysfunctional team - the Bengals (2-4). Pennington will have to nurture the warm glow of that bomb to Coles for a while because he is probably out as the starting quarterback. At 1-6 there is no season to salvage. Why not unwrap the future and see what Kellen Clemens has to offer? After the game there was no ringing endorsement from Mangini. Mangini, seething about the second-half ineptitude of his team, said he would have to look at the film and review everything and everyone, including himself. You know the coach is not going to demote himself. It doesn't work like that in the NFL. "It's the nature of the business. When a team is struggling the first guy that people look at is the quarterback," Pennington said, sounding like a man who has accepted his fate. Mangini would not confirm or deny he told Pennington that he was on a short leash before yesterday's game. Pennington said that conversation never occurred. But Pennington has been around long enough to have a feel for these things. That's why he started out so hot. Pennington, who was 20-of-31 for 272 yards, three TDs and one interception, guided the Jets to scores on their first five possessions, staking them to a 20-10 halftime lead. It wasn't enough. "Anytime the offense gives you 23 points a game you should be able to stop them (the other team) and win the game," said linebacker Jonathan Vilma. The Jets' defense sprung a leak and a running back named Kenny (Rip Van) Watson, who had been sleeping since 2002, awoke and trampled the visitors, rushing for 130 yards and three TDs on 31 carries. His last 100-yard rushing game came as a Redskin in a game against Seattle (110 yards) five years ago. Pennington made two costly errors in the fourth quarter. He and Nick Mangold had a miscommunication and the center snapped the ball before Pennington expected it in the shotgun. The Bengals recovered and Watson converted the turnover into a 2-yard TD run to give the Bengals a 31-23 lead. Then Pennington left a pass short to the outside for Coles and it was intercepted by cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who returned it 42 yards for a TD to make it 38-23. The inexplicable thing for Mangini and the Jets is that this is virtually the same team as last season, except at running back, where they traded with the Super Bowl Bears to bring in Thomas Jones. So why the disastrous turn of events? Fatigue. Mangini said he was tired of giving the same speech, tired of playing one half. Tired. Tired. Tired. Well, what about his team? Doesn't he think it's tired, too? Pennington said the Jets work harder than anybody in the NFL to prepare each week. Every good jockey knows when to go to the whip and when not to. Maybe Mangini ought to ease up. At 1-6 and going nowhere fast, it couldn't hurt. Whatever Mangini and his coaches decide to do it's probably too late for Pennington, who has been a good soldier for the Jets during his tenure. Pennington said he will not allow himself to contemplate being benched. He still thinks that he can get the job done. He still believes that he is the man to help the Jets turn around their fortunes. But he's not investing his emotions in his future role with the team. "Some things have happened that I could control and some things have happened that I couldn't control," Pennington said. "I play it right down the middle." tsmith@nydailynews.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets blow lead to Bengals; Pennington likely bench-bound BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Monday, October 22nd 2007, 4:00 AM After a second half in Cincy, Chad Pennington might be sacked as Jets' starting quarterback. Thomas Jones manages just 67 yards on the ground. CINCINNATI - The Jets lost another game and Chad Pennington lost his biggest supporter yesterday, a staggering blow to his reign as the starting quarterback. For the first time since his job security became an issue three weeks ago, Pennington didn't receive a public vote of confidence last night from a seething Eric Mangini, who put the entire team on notice after a ghastly 38-31 loss to the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Instead of declaring, "Chad is the starting quarterback," as he has done so many times, Mangini resorted to the time-tested, kiss-of-death: "I'll have to watch the tape." When the coach waffles, it usually means the incumbent is toast. Translation: There's a good chance Kellen Clemens will be under center when the reeling Jets (1-6) face the Bills Sunday at the Meadowlands. The Jets dropped their fourth straight, and Mangini sounded fed up with everything. So did the players. Pennington's mood varied from defiance ("I'm confident I can help us win") to resignation. He responded to questions as if he already knew his fate. "I'm not going to blink one way or the other," he said, adding, "It doesn't even faze me whether or not I'm going to be the quarterback next week." Pennington knew before yesterday that his job was in jeopardy. Although he refuted an ESPN report that said he had been told by Mangini that he was on a short leash - the coach danced around the subject - a team source indicated the quarterbacks were made aware of a potential change. As it turned out, Pennington (20-for-31, 272 yards, three TDs) played well until the final minute, when he threw an interception that was returned 42 yards for a game-clinching touchdown by Johnathan Joseph. It was Pennington's seventh interception in the last four games and it overshadowed a terrific start. He had staked the Jets to a 23-10 lead in the third quarter, opening the game with a 57-yard scoring strike to Laveranues Coles. The pass traveled 45 yards in the air, by far his longest attempt of the season, a statement to his critics that say he can't throw deep. "That was fun," he said, admitting it put a smile on his face. The Jets controlled the soft, undisciplined Bengals (2-4) for 41 minutes, scoring on their first five possessions, but they collapsed in the fourth. They committed three killer penalties (two pass-interference calls on rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis), lost their first fumble of the season on a botched shotgun snap by Nick Mangold and turned a backup running back (Kenny Watson) into a hero. Watson, starting for the injured Rudi Johnson, rushed for a career-high 130 yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals snapped a four-game losing streak. The final 19 minutes were the Jets' worst stretch of football in an ugly season as they allowed 28 unanswered points before a garbage-time touchdown pass from Pennington to Jerricho Cotchery in the final seconds. That could have been Pennington's last pass as the Jets' starter. Mangini, the poker-faced coach, was red-hot. He said he is planning to evaluate the entire organization, top to bottom. The secondary got hit yesterday - he benched Eric Smith and Andre Dyson - and now the entire team is on alert. "I told the team I'm tired of giving the same speech," he said, his words coated with disgust. "It's just not good enough. It's not good enough coaching on my part. It's not good enough by the assistant coaches. It's not good enough by the players. "It should hurt. It should hurt deeply," he continued. "We're going to find out about the character of every single person in that locker room - coaches, players, everybody." Mangini, whose career record slipped under .500 at 11-12, said he was tired of the team's "Jekyll-and-Hyde approach." They have been outscored in the fourth quarter, 73-35 - a sign of a bad team. "(Mangini's) mood describes everybody's mood," Cotchery said. "We're 1-6, and it's the same story every week. We've done everything possible to hurt ourselves. The frustration is reaching another level." Said Pennington: "It cuts to the bone and it hurts." The Jets were so concerned with Carson Palmer (14-for-21, 226 yards) and his two big-play receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, that they dared the Bengals to run the ball. Watson made them look silly on numerous occasions. Pennington and Coles (eight catches for 133 yards, two TDs) were clicking early, but the Jets got away from the passing game. They went up 23-10 on their first drive of the second half, but turned cold. It wasn't just Pennington's fault. Ben Graham shanked a 20-yard punt. Mangold snapped the ball too soon, hitting an unsuspecting Pennington in the right leg. That enraged Mangini. "These guys have probably taken 2,000 snaps together," he fumed. Then came the penalties. Aside from Revis, safety Abram Elam, a surprise starter, committed a senseless unnecessary-roughness penalty. Basically, the Jets morphed into the Bengals. They turned stupid. Now their smartest player - Pennington - could pay with his job. "We'll see on Wednesday," said Pennington, who sounded like a man who knows his time is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets blow lead to Bengals; Pennington likely bench-bound BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Monday, October 22nd 2007, 4:00 AM After a second half in Cincy, Chad Pennington might be sacked as Jets' starting quarterback. Thomas Jones manages just 67 yards on the ground. CINCINNATI - The Jets lost another game and Chad Pennington lost his biggest supporter yesterday, a staggering blow to his reign as the starting quarterback. For the first time since his job security became an issue three weeks ago, Pennington didn't receive a public vote of confidence last night from a seething Eric Mangini, who put the entire team on notice after a ghastly 38-31 loss to the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Instead of declaring, "Chad is the starting quarterback," as he has done so many times, Mangini resorted to the time-tested, kiss-of-death: "I'll have to watch the tape." When the coach waffles, it usually means the incumbent is toast. Translation: There's a good chance Kellen Clemens will be under center when the reeling Jets (1-6) face the Bills Sunday at the Meadowlands. The Jets dropped their fourth straight, and Mangini sounded fed up with everything. So did the players. Pennington's mood varied from defiance ("I'm confident I can help us win") to resignation. He responded to questions as if he already knew his fate. "I'm not going to blink one way or the other," he said, adding, "It doesn't even faze me whether or not I'm going to be the quarterback next week." Pennington knew before yesterday that his job was in jeopardy. Although he refuted an ESPN report that said he had been told by Mangini that he was on a short leash - the coach danced around the subject - a team source indicated the quarterbacks were made aware of a potential change. As it turned out, Pennington (20-for-31, 272 yards, three TDs) played well until the final minute, when he threw an interception that was returned 42 yards for a game-clinching touchdown by Johnathan Joseph. It was Pennington's seventh interception in the last four games and it overshadowed a terrific start. He had staked the Jets to a 23-10 lead in the third quarter, opening the game with a 57-yard scoring strike to Laveranues Coles. The pass traveled 45 yards in the air, by far his longest attempt of the season, a statement to his critics that say he can't throw deep. "That was fun," he said, admitting it put a smile on his face. The Jets controlled the soft, undisciplined Bengals (2-4) for 41 minutes, scoring on their first five possessions, but they collapsed in the fourth. They committed three killer penalties (two pass-interference calls on rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis), lost their first fumble of the season on a botched shotgun snap by Nick Mangold and turned a backup running back (Kenny Watson) into a hero. Watson, starting for the injured Rudi Johnson, rushed for a career-high 130 yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals snapped a four-game losing streak. The final 19 minutes were the Jets' worst stretch of football in an ugly season as they allowed 28 unanswered points before a garbage-time touchdown pass from Pennington to Jerricho Cotchery in the final seconds. That could have been Pennington's last pass as the Jets' starter. Mangini, the poker-faced coach, was red-hot. He said he is planning to evaluate the entire organization, top to bottom. The secondary got hit yesterday - he benched Eric Smith and Andre Dyson - and now the entire team is on alert. "I told the team I'm tired of giving the same speech," he said, his words coated with disgust. "It's just not good enough. It's not good enough coaching on my part. It's not good enough by the assistant coaches. It's not good enough by the players. "It should hurt. It should hurt deeply," he continued. "We're going to find out about the character of every single person in that locker room - coaches, players, everybody." Mangini, whose career record slipped under .500 at 11-12, said he was tired of the team's "Jekyll-and-Hyde approach." They have been outscored in the fourth quarter, 73-35 - a sign of a bad team. "(Mangini's) mood describes everybody's mood," Cotchery said. "We're 1-6, and it's the same story every week. We've done everything possible to hurt ourselves. The frustration is reaching another level." Said Pennington: "It cuts to the bone and it hurts." The Jets were so concerned with Carson Palmer (14-for-21, 226 yards) and his two big-play receivers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, that they dared the Bengals to run the ball. Watson made them look silly on numerous occasions. Pennington and Coles (eight catches for 133 yards, two TDs) were clicking early, but the Jets got away from the passing game. They went up 23-10 on their first drive of the second half, but turned cold. It wasn't just Pennington's fault. Ben Graham shanked a 20-yard punt. Mangold snapped the ball too soon, hitting an unsuspecting Pennington in the right leg. That enraged Mangini. "These guys have probably taken 2,000 snaps together," he fumed. Then came the penalties. Aside from Revis, safety Abram Elam, a surprise starter, committed a senseless unnecessary-roughness penalty. Basically, the Jets morphed into the Bengals. They turned stupid. Now their smartest player - Pennington - could pay with his job. "We'll see on Wednesday," said Pennington, who sounded like a man who knows his time is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Shaun Ellis didn't have much to say after yesterday's 38-31 loss to the Bengals, but the few words he managed captured everything. "This loss is solely on the defense," the veteran defensive end said. "We didn't do a good job. We haven't done a good job all year." And that, folks, is one of the mysteries of the Jets' miserable season. On paper, the defense is better than last season, but it got pushed around by a team that began the day 28th in rushing offense. The Jets were embarrassed, as they allowed a backup - Kenny Watson - to run for a career-high 130 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, Eric Mangini strongly suggested that lineup changes might be forthcoming. To which linebacker Jonathan Vilma replied, "There are only so many changes you can make. The trading deadline passed last week." Vilma was tight-lipped. At one point, he was humming in front of his locker. Asked why, Vilma said he was humming in lieu of speaking his mind, afraid of saying inflamatory. The Jets were ranked 28th in total defense at the start of the day. Barring a turnaround, coordinator Bob Sutton could be the scapegoat at the end of the season. It's hard to imagine Mangini standing pat. Mangini made three significant changes in the secondary, benching safety Eric Smith and nickel back Andre Dyson (a healthy scratch) and demoting David Barrett to nickelback. Hank Poteat and Abram Elam started for Barrett and Smith, respectively. Yesterday, the problem wasn't the secondary, as the Jets held Carson Palmer to 226 yards and a touchdown and limited the prolific receiving tandem of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a combined seven catches for 145 yards. The Jets keyed on the Bengals' dangerous passing game, leaving only seven in the box to stop the run. It seemed like a smart strategy, but Watson had a field day. Mangini said he tried to adjust, using an eight-man front, but it left Barrett in single coverage on Chad Johnson's 56-yard reception. "They can kill you very quickly," Mangini said. Instead, the Jets died a slow death. No one in the front seven was a factor. The worst was linebacker Victor Hobson, who was credited with zero tackles. Clearly, many players don't like Mangini's 3-4 scheme, but this goes beyond scheme. The lack of speed is glaring. They also don't have enough size up front to play a two-gap system. Now there could be changes. "When you're 1-6," safety Kerry Rhodes said, "you can't expect things to stay the same." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Shaun Ellis didn't have much to say after yesterday's 38-31 loss to the Bengals, but the few words he managed captured everything. "This loss is solely on the defense," the veteran defensive end said. "We didn't do a good job. We haven't done a good job all year." And that, folks, is one of the mysteries of the Jets' miserable season. On paper, the defense is better than last season, but it got pushed around by a team that began the day 28th in rushing offense. The Jets were embarrassed, as they allowed a backup - Kenny Watson - to run for a career-high 130 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, Eric Mangini strongly suggested that lineup changes might be forthcoming. To which linebacker Jonathan Vilma replied, "There are only so many changes you can make. The trading deadline passed last week." Vilma was tight-lipped. At one point, he was humming in front of his locker. Asked why, Vilma said he was humming in lieu of speaking his mind, afraid of saying inflamatory. The Jets were ranked 28th in total defense at the start of the day. Barring a turnaround, coordinator Bob Sutton could be the scapegoat at the end of the season. It's hard to imagine Mangini standing pat. Mangini made three significant changes in the secondary, benching safety Eric Smith and nickel back Andre Dyson (a healthy scratch) and demoting David Barrett to nickelback. Hank Poteat and Abram Elam started for Barrett and Smith, respectively. Yesterday, the problem wasn't the secondary, as the Jets held Carson Palmer to 226 yards and a touchdown and limited the prolific receiving tandem of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a combined seven catches for 145 yards. The Jets keyed on the Bengals' dangerous passing game, leaving only seven in the box to stop the run. It seemed like a smart strategy, but Watson had a field day. Mangini said he tried to adjust, using an eight-man front, but it left Barrett in single coverage on Chad Johnson's 56-yard reception. "They can kill you very quickly," Mangini said. Instead, the Jets died a slow death. No one in the front seven was a factor. The worst was linebacker Victor Hobson, who was credited with zero tackles. Clearly, many players don't like Mangini's 3-4 scheme, but this goes beyond scheme. The lack of speed is glaring. They also don't have enough size up front to play a two-gap system. Now there could be changes. "When you're 1-6," safety Kerry Rhodes said, "you can't expect things to stay the same." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Darrelle Revis was involved in three huge plays yesterday in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Jets, their prized rookie cornerback was on the wrong end of all three in the 38-31 loss to the Bengals. In his worst game as a pro, Revis committed two pass interference penalties for 34 yards, both on critical third downs. The first penalty, on a third-and-11 from the Jets' 24, sparked the Bengals' comeback. Revis also was in the middle of a controversial play, a 7-yard reception by WR Glenn Holt at the Jets' 28. Holt had trouble securing the pass, and Revis seemed to rip it out of his hands. It was ruled a "simultaneous catch" on the field. Eric Mangini challenged the play, and the call was upheld. Five plays later, the Bengals scored a touchdown to make it 31-23. "I had the ball in my hand," said Revis, incredulous that he wasn't rewarded with an interception. "He got the ball and I snatched it away from him as he was falling to the ground." POISON PENN? Mangini refused to comment directly on an ESPN report that said he told QB Chad Pennington he was on a short leash going into the game. Mangini was given ample opportunities to dismiss the report, but he never did, saying he didn't want to comment on "internal conversations" with a player. Pennington said he was "never told I was on a short leash." Nevertheless, the quarterbacks were apprised of a potential change. CAR CRASH: Bengals QB Carson Palmer, who suffered a major knee injury two years ago in the playoffs, screamed an obscenity at Kerry Rhodes after Rhodes crashed into his knee on a safety blitz in the fourth quarter. Palmer wasn't injured. LOSIN' IT: The Jets lost their first fumble of the season - a botched shotgun snap by Nick Mangold. He snapped the ball before Pennington was ready, hitting the quarterback in the right leg. The Bengals recovered, fueling their big fourth quarter. "A miscommunication," said Mangold, taking responsibility for the mistake. LONG & STRONG: Pennington's 57-yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles was the Jets' longest pass play of the season. It was Pennington's first attempt over 30 yards. ... The Jets scored a TD on their opening drive for the first time. ... LB Jonathan Vilma spent time in the second half on the bench - a rarity. He shuttled in and out, splitting time with rookie David Harris and Eric Barton. It was only the second time in Vilma's career that he had missed action. In Week 4 at Buffalo, he was removed for a handful of plays. ... Coles caught a season-high 133 yards on eight receptions. ... TE Sean Ryan started for the injured Chris Baker (back) and made two receptions for 46 yards.- Rich Cimini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Darrelle Revis was involved in three huge plays yesterday in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Jets, their prized rookie cornerback was on the wrong end of all three in the 38-31 loss to the Bengals. In his worst game as a pro, Revis committed two pass interference penalties for 34 yards, both on critical third downs. The first penalty, on a third-and-11 from the Jets' 24, sparked the Bengals' comeback. Revis also was in the middle of a controversial play, a 7-yard reception by WR Glenn Holt at the Jets' 28. Holt had trouble securing the pass, and Revis seemed to rip it out of his hands. It was ruled a "simultaneous catch" on the field. Eric Mangini challenged the play, and the call was upheld. Five plays later, the Bengals scored a touchdown to make it 31-23. "I had the ball in my hand," said Revis, incredulous that he wasn't rewarded with an interception. "He got the ball and I snatched it away from him as he was falling to the ground." POISON PENN? Mangini refused to comment directly on an ESPN report that said he told QB Chad Pennington he was on a short leash going into the game. Mangini was given ample opportunities to dismiss the report, but he never did, saying he didn't want to comment on "internal conversations" with a player. Pennington said he was "never told I was on a short leash." Nevertheless, the quarterbacks were apprised of a potential change. CAR CRASH: Bengals QB Carson Palmer, who suffered a major knee injury two years ago in the playoffs, screamed an obscenity at Kerry Rhodes after Rhodes crashed into his knee on a safety blitz in the fourth quarter. Palmer wasn't injured. LOSIN' IT: The Jets lost their first fumble of the season - a botched shotgun snap by Nick Mangold. He snapped the ball before Pennington was ready, hitting the quarterback in the right leg. The Bengals recovered, fueling their big fourth quarter. "A miscommunication," said Mangold, taking responsibility for the mistake. LONG & STRONG: Pennington's 57-yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles was the Jets' longest pass play of the season. It was Pennington's first attempt over 30 yards. ... The Jets scored a TD on their opening drive for the first time. ... LB Jonathan Vilma spent time in the second half on the bench - a rarity. He shuttled in and out, splitting time with rookie David Harris and Eric Barton. It was only the second time in Vilma's career that he had missed action. In Week 4 at Buffalo, he was removed for a handful of plays. ... Coles caught a season-high 133 yards on eight receptions. ... TE Sean Ryan started for the injured Chris Baker (back) and made two receptions for 46 yards.- Rich Cimini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Andre Dyson Has New Home in Doghouse Andre Dyson, say hello to the doghouse. You could be there a while. The veteran cornerback, guilty of two missed tackles that went for touchdowns in the last two games, was a healthy scratch in today's game in Cincinnati. At the rate Dyson is slipping, he might be headed for the witness-protection program. He was injured in training camp, lost his starting job to rookie Darrelle Revis and now this. Hank Poteat likely will move up to the nickel-back role. I suspect the Jets tried to deal Dyson before last Tuesday's trading deadline. The other inactives: QB Marques Tuiasosopo WR David Clowney OL Will Montgomery DE Mike Devito OL Jacob Bender TE Jason Pociask TE Chris Baker As you know, Baker was scratched Saturday because of a bad back. Posted by Rich Cimini at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Andre Dyson Has New Home in Doghouse Andre Dyson, say hello to the doghouse. You could be there a while. The veteran cornerback, guilty of two missed tackles that went for touchdowns in the last two games, was a healthy scratch in today's game in Cincinnati. At the rate Dyson is slipping, he might be headed for the witness-protection program. He was injured in training camp, lost his starting job to rookie Darrelle Revis and now this. Hank Poteat likely will move up to the nickel-back role. I suspect the Jets tried to deal Dyson before last Tuesday's trading deadline. The other inactives: QB Marques Tuiasosopo WR David Clowney OL Will Montgomery DE Mike Devito OL Jacob Bender TE Jason Pociask TE Chris Baker As you know, Baker was scratched Saturday because of a bad back. Posted by Rich Cimini at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets' coach mum on Chad after loss Monday, October 22, 2007 By J.P. PELZMAN STAFF WRITER CINCINNATI -- Chad Pennington was in the shotgun, directing traffic, trying to get all of his offensive teammates in the right position. Nick Mangold snapped the ball before Pennington was ready, and it hit the quarterback just below his stomach. Cincinnati's Domata Peko recovered the ball in the resulting scrum, and seven plays later, Cincinnati had another touchdown. Just another low blow in a season full of them for both Pennington and the Jets. Cincinnati (2-4) scored 28 straight second-half points and rallied for a 38-31 victory over the Jets at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Jets (1-6). Afterward, a stern Eric Mangini said, "I'm tired of giving the same speech" and he indeed varied his routine a little bit. Instead of the staunch support he had given Pennington throughout the Jets' skid, he was evasive when asked about Pennington's job status. "I'll have to watch the tape to evaluate that," Mangini said. "I will watch the tape and personally evaluate every player on this team. ... I'm going to look at the film. I'm going to assess every situation with coaches and players." Odd, considering that Pennington had his best game during the Jets' skid. He threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, although his lone interception was brought back for a 42-yard touchdown by Johnathan Joseph, with 37 seconds to go, giving the Bengals a 38-23 lead. An Internet report before the game indicated that Pennington had been told by Mangini that he was on a "short leash" as far as his job security. Mangini refused to address the matter, saying more than once that conversations between him and his players are "internal matters." Pennington denied it, saying, "nothing was ever said. Those type of [comments] don't even sound like Coach." Short leash? In the first quarter, Pennington appeared to have one pass on a long string, connecting perfectly with Laveranues Coles for a 57-yard touchdown on a ball that covered at least 45 yards through the air, showing off his oft-criticized arm strength. "It was fun," Pennington said. "I did really enjoy it. It put a big smile on my face. But it was all for naught." As were the rest of the Jets' 342 yards of total offense, thanks to a Cincinnati offense that pounded the Jets into submission on the ground. Mangini admitted that the defensive focus was on stopping the two-headed receiving monster of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Thus, the Jets were reluctant to put eight men in the box, especially with starting running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring) out. But backup Kenny Watson, in his sixth season, rushed for 130 yards on 31 carries as the Bengals totaled 177 yards on the ground. Watson tied his career total for rushing touchdowns with three. His 1-yarder with 13:31 left gave the Bengals a 24-23 lead, and his 2-yarder with 6:09 to go gave Cincinnati a 31-23 advantage, finishing the drive set up by the Jets' bungled shotgun snap. "The loss is all on the defense," defensive end Shaun Ellis said. "When you get a lead, you've got to keep it, and we didn't do a good job of that." "You've got to be able to stop them," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said in a low voice, "and we didn't do that." Tellingly, Vilma also said, "I can't really say how I feel. ... You guys [reporters] will take it and run with it." That seemed to be a thinly-veiled reference to comments made by tight end Chris Baker after the loss to the Eagles, in which he was critical of the Jets' play-calling. Baker didn't make the trip to Cincinnati because of a back injury, but his comments obviously didn't sit well with Mangini. Still, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery doesn't think the team will fracture. "It hasn't happened yet," Cotchery said. "If it hasn't happened yet, with all we've been through, I don't expect it to happen." "Our only chance to turn this situation around," Mangini said, "is by sticking together and working through these issues together. That's the only way. That's our only chance." E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets' coach mum on Chad after loss Monday, October 22, 2007 By J.P. PELZMAN STAFF WRITER CINCINNATI -- Chad Pennington was in the shotgun, directing traffic, trying to get all of his offensive teammates in the right position. Nick Mangold snapped the ball before Pennington was ready, and it hit the quarterback just below his stomach. Cincinnati's Domata Peko recovered the ball in the resulting scrum, and seven plays later, Cincinnati had another touchdown. Just another low blow in a season full of them for both Pennington and the Jets. Cincinnati (2-4) scored 28 straight second-half points and rallied for a 38-31 victory over the Jets at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Jets (1-6). Afterward, a stern Eric Mangini said, "I'm tired of giving the same speech" and he indeed varied his routine a little bit. Instead of the staunch support he had given Pennington throughout the Jets' skid, he was evasive when asked about Pennington's job status. "I'll have to watch the tape to evaluate that," Mangini said. "I will watch the tape and personally evaluate every player on this team. ... I'm going to look at the film. I'm going to assess every situation with coaches and players." Odd, considering that Pennington had his best game during the Jets' skid. He threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, although his lone interception was brought back for a 42-yard touchdown by Johnathan Joseph, with 37 seconds to go, giving the Bengals a 38-23 lead. An Internet report before the game indicated that Pennington had been told by Mangini that he was on a "short leash" as far as his job security. Mangini refused to address the matter, saying more than once that conversations between him and his players are "internal matters." Pennington denied it, saying, "nothing was ever said. Those type of [comments] don't even sound like Coach." Short leash? In the first quarter, Pennington appeared to have one pass on a long string, connecting perfectly with Laveranues Coles for a 57-yard touchdown on a ball that covered at least 45 yards through the air, showing off his oft-criticized arm strength. "It was fun," Pennington said. "I did really enjoy it. It put a big smile on my face. But it was all for naught." As were the rest of the Jets' 342 yards of total offense, thanks to a Cincinnati offense that pounded the Jets into submission on the ground. Mangini admitted that the defensive focus was on stopping the two-headed receiving monster of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Thus, the Jets were reluctant to put eight men in the box, especially with starting running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring) out. But backup Kenny Watson, in his sixth season, rushed for 130 yards on 31 carries as the Bengals totaled 177 yards on the ground. Watson tied his career total for rushing touchdowns with three. His 1-yarder with 13:31 left gave the Bengals a 24-23 lead, and his 2-yarder with 6:09 to go gave Cincinnati a 31-23 advantage, finishing the drive set up by the Jets' bungled shotgun snap. "The loss is all on the defense," defensive end Shaun Ellis said. "When you get a lead, you've got to keep it, and we didn't do a good job of that." "You've got to be able to stop them," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said in a low voice, "and we didn't do that." Tellingly, Vilma also said, "I can't really say how I feel. ... You guys [reporters] will take it and run with it." That seemed to be a thinly-veiled reference to comments made by tight end Chris Baker after the loss to the Eagles, in which he was critical of the Jets' play-calling. Baker didn't make the trip to Cincinnati because of a back injury, but his comments obviously didn't sit well with Mangini. Still, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery doesn't think the team will fracture. "It hasn't happened yet," Cotchery said. "If it hasn't happened yet, with all we've been through, I don't expect it to happen." "Our only chance to turn this situation around," Mangini said, "is by sticking together and working through these issues together. That's the only way. That's our only chance." E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 GRADING THE JETS By Tom Rock October 22, 2007 OFFENSE C Scoring on the first five possessions was impressive. Settling for three field goals each of the three times the Jets drove into the red zone took a bit of the shine off that success, however. Chad Pennington, playing with the guillotine blade dangling above his career, didn't play like a man who could lose his starting job. He completed 20 of 31 for 272 yards, including a deep 57-yarder to Laveranues Coles on the third play of the game. But Thomas Jones was a no-show and couldn't provide an encore to last week's 130-yard performance, and turnovers (a fumble and an interception) led to 14 Bengals points. DEFENSE D- Well, they almost stopped Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Together the league's most successful receiving duo had seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. What they couldn't do was stop Kenny Watson and the Bengals' running game. The Bengals played the patience card in the third quarter, well aware that the Jets would not be able to stop them on the ground. They were right. Penalties, such as the second pass interference against Darrelle Revis and the unsportsmanlike against overzealous Abram Elam, were badly timed. SPECIAL TEAMS D One kick turned everything. That would be the shanked punt off the left foot of Ben Graham that drifted to the Bengals' sideline. The result was a 20-yard punt that gave the Bengals the ball at their own 43 and led to the go-ahead touchdown. Graham had a little redemption later when he launched a 58-yarder, but the damage was done. Mike Nugent was solid, kicking three field goals in front of his hometown crowd. He'd missed a field goal in each of the past three games before going 3-for-3 yesterday. Leon Washington averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return, well below his league-leading 36.4 average. COACHING D On defense, the Jets were so concerned with stopping the pass that they couldn't adjust to stop the run when Watson started to plow through them. Mangini said changes are coming to the way the defense is coached, and that could mean the end for coordinator Bob Sutton. Offensively, the Jets once again forgot that Thomas Jones is on the team late in the game. He wasn't all that effective when he did carry the ball (3.4 yards per carry), but the staff has a habit of stuffing Jones in the corner when the team needs him the most. Mangini will push the team harder this week, but that full-speed-ahead mentality may fracture the Jets rather than mend them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 GRADING THE JETS By Tom Rock October 22, 2007 OFFENSE C Scoring on the first five possessions was impressive. Settling for three field goals each of the three times the Jets drove into the red zone took a bit of the shine off that success, however. Chad Pennington, playing with the guillotine blade dangling above his career, didn't play like a man who could lose his starting job. He completed 20 of 31 for 272 yards, including a deep 57-yarder to Laveranues Coles on the third play of the game. But Thomas Jones was a no-show and couldn't provide an encore to last week's 130-yard performance, and turnovers (a fumble and an interception) led to 14 Bengals points. DEFENSE D- Well, they almost stopped Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Together the league's most successful receiving duo had seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. What they couldn't do was stop Kenny Watson and the Bengals' running game. The Bengals played the patience card in the third quarter, well aware that the Jets would not be able to stop them on the ground. They were right. Penalties, such as the second pass interference against Darrelle Revis and the unsportsmanlike against overzealous Abram Elam, were badly timed. SPECIAL TEAMS D One kick turned everything. That would be the shanked punt off the left foot of Ben Graham that drifted to the Bengals' sideline. The result was a 20-yard punt that gave the Bengals the ball at their own 43 and led to the go-ahead touchdown. Graham had a little redemption later when he launched a 58-yarder, but the damage was done. Mike Nugent was solid, kicking three field goals in front of his hometown crowd. He'd missed a field goal in each of the past three games before going 3-for-3 yesterday. Leon Washington averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return, well below his league-leading 36.4 average. COACHING D On defense, the Jets were so concerned with stopping the pass that they couldn't adjust to stop the run when Watson started to plow through them. Mangini said changes are coming to the way the defense is coached, and that could mean the end for coordinator Bob Sutton. Offensively, the Jets once again forgot that Thomas Jones is on the team late in the game. He wasn't all that effective when he did carry the ball (3.4 yards per carry), but the staff has a habit of stuffing Jones in the corner when the team needs him the most. Mangini will push the team harder this week, but that full-speed-ahead mentality may fracture the Jets rather than mend them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Chad is still left hanging BY SHAUN POWELL | shaun.powell@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Given the weirdness of the Jets' season so far, it would make sense for Chad Pennington to lose his starting quarterback job right after playing his best game, all things considered. Pennington looked sharp through much of the 38-31 loss to the Bengals yesterday and even threw a 57-yard touchdown pass, his first of three scoring passes, on the Jets' third play from scrimmage. Still, the Jets lost the game and fell to 1-6, and the rumblings of change began humming almost immediately. Coach Eric Mangini refused to name Pennington the starter next week against the Bills, which was revealing in itself. After previous defeats this season, Mangini waved off suggestions of a switch to Kellen Clemens and appointed Pennington the starter. Well, Mangini wasn't so quick this time. "I am going to look at the film," he said. Therefore, change is possible? "I will have to watch the tape to evaluate that," he repeated. Compounding matters was a report that Mangini told Pennington during a meeting last week that the quarterback was on a short leash, which was refuted by Pennington. "That never happened," Pennington said. Well, if a change is being debated, Mangini will weigh two factors. One is the Jets' record; that works against Pennington. The other is tape of the Bengals game, in which Mangini might conclude that Pennington hardly was the reason the Jets lost their fourth straight. His pass to Coles was a rare deep toss for Pennington, but a perfect one nonetheless. It caught the Bengals by surprise; they obviously read the scouting reports on Pennington's lack of arm strength. "It was fun," Pennington said. "It put a big smile on my face. I can make every throw that our coaches ask me to make." The rest of the game featured more of the usual Pennington-type performance, with short and accurate passes helping him run up 272 yards passing and helping the Jets take a 23-10 lead. The only real blemish came when Pennington threw a weak sideline pass that was intercepted by Johnathan Joseph and returned for a late fourth-quarter touchdown after Laveranues Coles fell on the play. By then, the Jets were in catch-up mode because the defense couldn't stop the Cincinnati run or keep the Bengals from capitalizing on Jets mistakes. One of the biggest came when Pennington, while calling signals from the shotgun, had a miscommunication with center Nick Mangold, who snapped the ball early. The ensuing fumble, Pennington said, was "an example of the whole season." Curiously, Pennington responded wearily to questions about his job. "You know, I'm past that. I'm over that," he said. "It doesn't even faze me anymore. I just don't have a concern whether I'll be a starter. Whatever happens happens. My approach and effort will never change. When my number is called, I'm going to lay it on the line. "I feel confident I can help us win. I feel, as quarterback, that I bring something to the table." If Pennington is losing the support of the locker room, it doesn't show. At least not publicly. Coles, perhaps Pennington's biggest supporter, said: "It's not just Chad. Anybody who knows football knows that. We're all pretty bad right now." Whether a bad team can be changed at the switch of a quarterback awaits Mangini's call. More articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Chad is still left hanging BY SHAUN POWELL | shaun.powell@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Given the weirdness of the Jets' season so far, it would make sense for Chad Pennington to lose his starting quarterback job right after playing his best game, all things considered. Pennington looked sharp through much of the 38-31 loss to the Bengals yesterday and even threw a 57-yard touchdown pass, his first of three scoring passes, on the Jets' third play from scrimmage. Still, the Jets lost the game and fell to 1-6, and the rumblings of change began humming almost immediately. Coach Eric Mangini refused to name Pennington the starter next week against the Bills, which was revealing in itself. After previous defeats this season, Mangini waved off suggestions of a switch to Kellen Clemens and appointed Pennington the starter. Well, Mangini wasn't so quick this time. "I am going to look at the film," he said. Therefore, change is possible? "I will have to watch the tape to evaluate that," he repeated. Compounding matters was a report that Mangini told Pennington during a meeting last week that the quarterback was on a short leash, which was refuted by Pennington. "That never happened," Pennington said. Well, if a change is being debated, Mangini will weigh two factors. One is the Jets' record; that works against Pennington. The other is tape of the Bengals game, in which Mangini might conclude that Pennington hardly was the reason the Jets lost their fourth straight. His pass to Coles was a rare deep toss for Pennington, but a perfect one nonetheless. It caught the Bengals by surprise; they obviously read the scouting reports on Pennington's lack of arm strength. "It was fun," Pennington said. "It put a big smile on my face. I can make every throw that our coaches ask me to make." The rest of the game featured more of the usual Pennington-type performance, with short and accurate passes helping him run up 272 yards passing and helping the Jets take a 23-10 lead. The only real blemish came when Pennington threw a weak sideline pass that was intercepted by Johnathan Joseph and returned for a late fourth-quarter touchdown after Laveranues Coles fell on the play. By then, the Jets were in catch-up mode because the defense couldn't stop the Cincinnati run or keep the Bengals from capitalizing on Jets mistakes. One of the biggest came when Pennington, while calling signals from the shotgun, had a miscommunication with center Nick Mangold, who snapped the ball early. The ensuing fumble, Pennington said, was "an example of the whole season." Curiously, Pennington responded wearily to questions about his job. "You know, I'm past that. I'm over that," he said. "It doesn't even faze me anymore. I just don't have a concern whether I'll be a starter. Whatever happens happens. My approach and effort will never change. When my number is called, I'm going to lay it on the line. "I feel confident I can help us win. I feel, as quarterback, that I bring something to the table." If Pennington is losing the support of the locker room, it doesn't show. At least not publicly. Coles, perhaps Pennington's biggest supporter, said: "It's not just Chad. Anybody who knows football knows that. We're all pretty bad right now." Whether a bad team can be changed at the switch of a quarterback awaits Mangini's call. More articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets can't stop Bengals backup RB Watson BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 Who the heck is Kenny Watson? He's the Bengals' backup running back who stepped in to relieve Rudi Johnson (hamstring) and wound up running for a career-high 130 yards on a career-high 31 carries against a Jets defense so consumed with stopping the pass that it couldn't stop the run. The sixth-year player had three career rushing TDs entering the game and three in this game. Where the heck was Thomas Jones? Ineffective and underutilized again, Jones had 67 yards on 19 carries and had only four carries after the Jets took what should have been a comfortable 23-10 lead early in the third quarter. What happened on the botched snap? A glaring miscue, one that may have ruined the homecoming of Nick Mangold, who grew up in nearby Centerville. "There was a miscommunication on what we were going on and he wasn't ready for it," Mangold said of his snap in the third quarter that hit Chad Pennington in the midsection and resulted in a lost fumble. It is the first lost fumble of the season by the Jets. Will we see any more of Abram Elam? Elam got the start at safety, ahead of Erik Coleman and Eric Smith, and played well until he whiffed on a tackle while blitzing late in the third quarter, allowing a third-and-2 run that should have gone for a loss to become a first-down carry on a touchdown drive. Later in the fourth quarter, he was flagged for unsportmanlike conduct when he tried to strip the ball away from an already tackled Watson. He did not return to the field. Who's the Jets' most dangerous defensive weapon? Believe it or not, right now it's Hank Poteat. The seventh-year cornerback made his first career interception last week (which led to a field goal) and doubled his total yesterday when he wrangled a second-quarter pass from T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Again, however, the Jets were unable to turn the turnover into a touchdown. Eric Mangini said changes are coming. What does that mean exactly? The obvious one is at quarterback, where Pennington's immediate future will be determined early this week. But he also hinted that other changes will be made, including some to the coaching staff. There's a chance that Mangini will take over the defensive play-calling from coordinator Bob Sutton, whose unit allowed 177 rushing yards to a team that entered the game averaging 82.2. Any Anthony Schlegel sightings? Yes. The former Jets third-round pick who was sent packing in preseason had four tackles. It was his third straight start at middle linebacker for the depleted Bengals. Another former NY LB, Dhani Jones, also had four total tackles. JETS OVERTIME SECOND GUESS On third-and-2 from Cincinnati's 17-yard line early in the second quarter and a chance to put the Bengals away, the Jets again went to the fade pass from Chad Pennington to Laveranues Coles and had to settle for a field goal that made it 13-3. They ran a similar play on fourth-and-1 from the 4 at the end of last week and that didn't work, either. UNSUNG HERO Sean Ryan The Jets tight end, playing for injured starter Chris Baker, caught a career-high three passes for 46 yards, including a 22-yarder on the first offensive play of the game and another 22-yarder on the first play of the second half. Ryan entered the game with six receptions in his four-year career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets can't stop Bengals backup RB Watson BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 Who the heck is Kenny Watson? He's the Bengals' backup running back who stepped in to relieve Rudi Johnson (hamstring) and wound up running for a career-high 130 yards on a career-high 31 carries against a Jets defense so consumed with stopping the pass that it couldn't stop the run. The sixth-year player had three career rushing TDs entering the game and three in this game. Where the heck was Thomas Jones? Ineffective and underutilized again, Jones had 67 yards on 19 carries and had only four carries after the Jets took what should have been a comfortable 23-10 lead early in the third quarter. What happened on the botched snap? A glaring miscue, one that may have ruined the homecoming of Nick Mangold, who grew up in nearby Centerville. "There was a miscommunication on what we were going on and he wasn't ready for it," Mangold said of his snap in the third quarter that hit Chad Pennington in the midsection and resulted in a lost fumble. It is the first lost fumble of the season by the Jets. Will we see any more of Abram Elam? Elam got the start at safety, ahead of Erik Coleman and Eric Smith, and played well until he whiffed on a tackle while blitzing late in the third quarter, allowing a third-and-2 run that should have gone for a loss to become a first-down carry on a touchdown drive. Later in the fourth quarter, he was flagged for unsportmanlike conduct when he tried to strip the ball away from an already tackled Watson. He did not return to the field. Who's the Jets' most dangerous defensive weapon? Believe it or not, right now it's Hank Poteat. The seventh-year cornerback made his first career interception last week (which led to a field goal) and doubled his total yesterday when he wrangled a second-quarter pass from T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Again, however, the Jets were unable to turn the turnover into a touchdown. Eric Mangini said changes are coming. What does that mean exactly? The obvious one is at quarterback, where Pennington's immediate future will be determined early this week. But he also hinted that other changes will be made, including some to the coaching staff. There's a chance that Mangini will take over the defensive play-calling from coordinator Bob Sutton, whose unit allowed 177 rushing yards to a team that entered the game averaging 82.2. Any Anthony Schlegel sightings? Yes. The former Jets third-round pick who was sent packing in preseason had four tackles. It was his third straight start at middle linebacker for the depleted Bengals. Another former NY LB, Dhani Jones, also had four total tackles. JETS OVERTIME SECOND GUESS On third-and-2 from Cincinnati's 17-yard line early in the second quarter and a chance to put the Bengals away, the Jets again went to the fade pass from Chad Pennington to Laveranues Coles and had to settle for a field goal that made it 13-3. They ran a similar play on fourth-and-1 from the 4 at the end of last week and that didn't work, either. UNSUNG HERO Sean Ryan The Jets tight end, playing for injured starter Chris Baker, caught a career-high three passes for 46 yards, including a 22-yarder on the first offensive play of the game and another 22-yarder on the first play of the second half. Ryan entered the game with six receptions in his four-year career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets rookie CB Revis can't get a break BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Darrelle Revis is still looking for his first interception of the season. Oddly enough, he had half a pick yesterday. Early in the fourth quarter, the rookie cornerback converged with Bengals receiver Glenn Holt at the finishing point of a 7-yard pass from Carson Palmer. When officials ruled the play a "simultaneous catch" - a ruling that stood after the Jets challenged the call on the field - the reception was, by rule, awarded to the offensive player. "I had the ball in my hands," an incredulous Revis said. "How's he going to have it when both of us, we got the ball and I slashed it from him and we're falling to the ground and the ball is in my hands?" It was one of three second-half plays by Revis on which a call went against him and ushered the Bengals toward the end zone. There was a pass-interference call against Revis on what appeared to be a clean breakup of a third-and-11 pass to Holt (touchdown four plays later) and another more blatant pass interference, again while covering Holt, this time allowing the Bengals to convert a third-and-8 (and score a TD two plays later). The Bengals wound up scoring four plays after the simultaneous reception. "I don't think it was a flag," Revis said of the first penalty against him, in which he deflected the pass with his left hand along the sideline. "I thought it was a great play. I didn't touch the dude at all." Eric Mangini seemed to concur, calling it a "tough, tough call." The second penalty, however, was inexcusable. Palmer floated a timing pass to Holt, and Revis, his back to the ball, crashed face-to-face into the receiver. "It could have been played better," the rookie said. "As soon as I came off to the sideline, coach Mangini came up to me and told me what I should have done and that I should have played the ball better." Mangini, who was a defensive backs coach with the Patriots, said the play there is to turn back into the ball and play the ball. "It's important that we do a better job of teaching them how to play underthrown balls," Mangini said. Revis, who has been very solid as a starting cornerback since his first game, continued to have difficulty covering slot receivers such as Holt. He missed most of training camp, and although that squandered opportunity did not immediately slow his production, it has come into light in recent games as his responsibilities have grown. "You can't do that," Revis said bluntly of his second interference penalty, hoping to gain experience from the mistake. "I was in the situation and I know that now." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets rookie CB Revis can't get a break BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - Darrelle Revis is still looking for his first interception of the season. Oddly enough, he had half a pick yesterday. Early in the fourth quarter, the rookie cornerback converged with Bengals receiver Glenn Holt at the finishing point of a 7-yard pass from Carson Palmer. When officials ruled the play a "simultaneous catch" - a ruling that stood after the Jets challenged the call on the field - the reception was, by rule, awarded to the offensive player. "I had the ball in my hands," an incredulous Revis said. "How's he going to have it when both of us, we got the ball and I slashed it from him and we're falling to the ground and the ball is in my hands?" It was one of three second-half plays by Revis on which a call went against him and ushered the Bengals toward the end zone. There was a pass-interference call against Revis on what appeared to be a clean breakup of a third-and-11 pass to Holt (touchdown four plays later) and another more blatant pass interference, again while covering Holt, this time allowing the Bengals to convert a third-and-8 (and score a TD two plays later). The Bengals wound up scoring four plays after the simultaneous reception. "I don't think it was a flag," Revis said of the first penalty against him, in which he deflected the pass with his left hand along the sideline. "I thought it was a great play. I didn't touch the dude at all." Eric Mangini seemed to concur, calling it a "tough, tough call." The second penalty, however, was inexcusable. Palmer floated a timing pass to Holt, and Revis, his back to the ball, crashed face-to-face into the receiver. "It could have been played better," the rookie said. "As soon as I came off to the sideline, coach Mangini came up to me and told me what I should have done and that I should have played the ball better." Mangini, who was a defensive backs coach with the Patriots, said the play there is to turn back into the ball and play the ball. "It's important that we do a better job of teaching them how to play underthrown balls," Mangini said. Revis, who has been very solid as a starting cornerback since his first game, continued to have difficulty covering slot receivers such as Holt. He missed most of training camp, and although that squandered opportunity did not immediately slow his production, it has come into light in recent games as his responsibilities have grown. "You can't do that," Revis said bluntly of his second interference penalty, hoping to gain experience from the mistake. "I was in the situation and I know that now." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets squander lead in second half to Bengals BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - There was fire in Eric Mangini's eyes and a rumble in his voice when the usually staid Jets coach emerged from the postgame locker room yesterday. He offered no excuses for the team's performance. He created no silver lining, no "almost there" optimism. Instead, he promised to bring change - on the field as well as the sideline. "I'm just tired of giving the same speech," Mangini said, referring to his familiar routine about consistency and playing a full game, one that would have been just as appropriate as redundant in a 38-31 loss in which the Bengals erased a 13-point third-quarter deficit with 28 straight points. "It's just not good enough." Mangini insisted changes could be coming swiftly for the Jets. But now that they're 1-6, with the same number of losses they had all of last year, it might be too late for any of them to salvage the season. For the first time, that challenge included quarterback Chad Pennington, whose status as the starter had always been quickly reinforced by Mangini. Yesterday, he did not issue the standard "Chad's the starter" stamp. Instead, he said, he will look at the video. "We're going to find out about the character of every single one in that locker room," Mangini growled in what is as close to a tirade as he's produced in his nearly two years as Jets coach. It's no coincidence that it occured at easily the team's lowest point in that tenure. The Jets have not been 1-6 since 1999, the year quarterback Vinny Testaverde went down with an Achilles injury in the opener and the team spent the remainder of the season seeking a replacement. These Jets are healthy, which might be more of a condemnation than a blessing. Victory seemed in hand for the Jets, who scored on their first five possessions. They led 20-10 at halftime after a pair of long touchdown passes from Pennington to Laveranues Coles (one a deep pass for 57 yards on the third offensive snap and the other a short pass that Coles turned upfield for a 36-yard score). Mike Nugent's third field goal, a 43-yarder, made it 23-10 with 11:15 left in the third quarter. That's when the Bengals (2-4), known for their dynamic passing game, threw a changeup at the Jets and started pounding the ball on the ground. Kenny Watson, playing in place of injured Rudi Johnson, picked up 55 rushing yards in a 76-yard drive helped by a pass-interference call against Darrelle Revis. Carson Palmer's short pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh made it 23-17 with 3:41 left in the third. "We were just in another world," Jerricho Cotchery said. "After that, it was just downhill. We couldn't find the groove again." The Jets then went three-and-out, Ben Graham shanked a punt that gave the Bengals the ball near midfield, and Cincinnati marched down a short field to take the lead for good. Revis again was nailed for pass interference (a far more blatant instance) and Watson scored on a 1-yard run as the Bengals took a 24-23 lead. "Defense lost the game," Shaun Ellis said. "Offense, they gave us the lead. Defense is supposed to keep the lead ... We didn't do a good job. We haven't done a good job all year." Still, the Jets had a chance to regain their composure. Pennington ducked a sack on third-and-5 and scrambled for a first down, diving across the marker. He also took a hit to the head that was flagged as a personal foul against the Bengals, moving the Jets to midfield. But on third-and-8, an ill-timed shotgun snap from Nick Mangold hit Pennington in the most ill-suited of places. The fumble was recovered by Domata Peko, and the Bengals piled it on. Watson scored on a 2-yard run to make it 31-23 and Johnathan Joseph returned an interception 42 yards to make it 38-23 with 37 seconds left. The Jets added a 32-yard TD pass from Pennington to Cotchery and two-point conversion pass to Leon Washington at the final gun. It was a game in which you knew one of the underachieving teams would have to look itself in the postgame mirror and ask "How'd we lose to these guys?" And it was the Jets whose reflection came back with the difficult answers. Sunday Bills at Jets 4:05 p.m. TV: Ch. 2 Radio: WABC (770), WEPN (1050) More articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets squander lead in second half to Bengals BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com October 22, 2007 CINCINNATI - There was fire in Eric Mangini's eyes and a rumble in his voice when the usually staid Jets coach emerged from the postgame locker room yesterday. He offered no excuses for the team's performance. He created no silver lining, no "almost there" optimism. Instead, he promised to bring change - on the field as well as the sideline. "I'm just tired of giving the same speech," Mangini said, referring to his familiar routine about consistency and playing a full game, one that would have been just as appropriate as redundant in a 38-31 loss in which the Bengals erased a 13-point third-quarter deficit with 28 straight points. "It's just not good enough." Mangini insisted changes could be coming swiftly for the Jets. But now that they're 1-6, with the same number of losses they had all of last year, it might be too late for any of them to salvage the season. For the first time, that challenge included quarterback Chad Pennington, whose status as the starter had always been quickly reinforced by Mangini. Yesterday, he did not issue the standard "Chad's the starter" stamp. Instead, he said, he will look at the video. "We're going to find out about the character of every single one in that locker room," Mangini growled in what is as close to a tirade as he's produced in his nearly two years as Jets coach. It's no coincidence that it occured at easily the team's lowest point in that tenure. The Jets have not been 1-6 since 1999, the year quarterback Vinny Testaverde went down with an Achilles injury in the opener and the team spent the remainder of the season seeking a replacement. These Jets are healthy, which might be more of a condemnation than a blessing. Victory seemed in hand for the Jets, who scored on their first five possessions. They led 20-10 at halftime after a pair of long touchdown passes from Pennington to Laveranues Coles (one a deep pass for 57 yards on the third offensive snap and the other a short pass that Coles turned upfield for a 36-yard score). Mike Nugent's third field goal, a 43-yarder, made it 23-10 with 11:15 left in the third quarter. That's when the Bengals (2-4), known for their dynamic passing game, threw a changeup at the Jets and started pounding the ball on the ground. Kenny Watson, playing in place of injured Rudi Johnson, picked up 55 rushing yards in a 76-yard drive helped by a pass-interference call against Darrelle Revis. Carson Palmer's short pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh made it 23-17 with 3:41 left in the third. "We were just in another world," Jerricho Cotchery said. "After that, it was just downhill. We couldn't find the groove again." The Jets then went three-and-out, Ben Graham shanked a punt that gave the Bengals the ball near midfield, and Cincinnati marched down a short field to take the lead for good. Revis again was nailed for pass interference (a far more blatant instance) and Watson scored on a 1-yard run as the Bengals took a 24-23 lead. "Defense lost the game," Shaun Ellis said. "Offense, they gave us the lead. Defense is supposed to keep the lead ... We didn't do a good job. We haven't done a good job all year." Still, the Jets had a chance to regain their composure. Pennington ducked a sack on third-and-5 and scrambled for a first down, diving across the marker. He also took a hit to the head that was flagged as a personal foul against the Bengals, moving the Jets to midfield. But on third-and-8, an ill-timed shotgun snap from Nick Mangold hit Pennington in the most ill-suited of places. The fumble was recovered by Domata Peko, and the Bengals piled it on. Watson scored on a 2-yard run to make it 31-23 and Johnathan Joseph returned an interception 42 yards to make it 38-23 with 37 seconds left. The Jets added a 32-yard TD pass from Pennington to Cotchery and two-point conversion pass to Leon Washington at the final gun. It was a game in which you knew one of the underachieving teams would have to look itself in the postgame mirror and ask "How'd we lose to these guys?" And it was the Jets whose reflection came back with the difficult answers. Sunday Bills at Jets 4:05 p.m. TV: Ch. 2 Radio: WABC (770), WEPN (1050) More articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Jets Crumble Again Posted by Bob Bullock October 21, 2007 8:54PM Categories: Games Another horrible second-half of football by the Jets, allowing 28 unanswered points to the Bengals. The 38-31 loss now drops the team to 1-6. This team is now officially a pathetic mess. I can't really pin any blame on Chad Pennington this week, although he did throw yet another fourth quarter interception that ended in a touchdown. He made some plays in the game, just not enough to win. The blame for this loss though, goes to a defense that can't stop the run. This unit is allowing 138 yards per game rushing. Today, they made another average running back look like a hall-of-famer. This time it was Kenny Watson, who ran for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Gang Green excuse for a defense. The Bengals stuffed the ball down their throat the entire game and this unit could do nothing to stop it. Again the coaching staff has to be blamed for not making any second-half adjustments. This is the third straight game the team has failed to make the necessary adjustments after the intermission. The Jets are getting dominated in the locker room and the results are painfully obvious on the field. It's been a long time since I felt this team had no hope. I'm starting to get that sick feeling once again. That is just one more reason that Kellen Clemens needs to start playing immediately. We need to see something that will give us hope for the future of this team. I no longer feel secure about the coaching staff that is currently in place. Especially when the team is constantly crumbling down the stretch of games. I need something to hang my hat on when I look to the future. We need to see Clemens play now! Quite honestly there is nothing else that I need to see this year. It is a gigantic step backwards for this organization, the 2007 season, so getting Clemens the playing time will at least accomplish something. A future that looked so bright after 2006 has suddenly turned black. Coach Mangini needs to use these last nine games to figure out what changes he has to make. It is obvious that either he is playing the wrong scheme or has the wrong players in place. If he refuses to adapt to the players he has, he had better make sure the right players get here by next season. Year two of the Tangini regime has been nothing short of a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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