Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 BY RICH CIMINI Mother nature may boost the JETS DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM Hill/AP It was a fun day in the snow Thursday in East Hartford, Connecticut. New England may get a mixture of snow, wind and rain on Sunday when the Jets visit the Pats. Eric Mangini has spent the last four days trying to figure out ways to slow down one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. He has a few good men, guys named Rhodes and Harris and Revis, but the coach's best defender could be an old gal named Mother Nature. The weather forecast for Sunday in Foxborough is calling for snow, rain and wind, a wintry combination that could cause problems for Tom Brady & Co. Ordinarily, that kind of weather isn't conducive to downfield passing (or outdoor videotaping, just in case either team wants to give it another try), so maybe the Jets do have a chance in what is being billed as the mismatch of the decade (at least until the winless Dolphins visit New England next week). One former coach, familiar with the personnel on both teams, said the winter weather could be "the great equalizer." When one Jets player was told the forecast, his reply was, "Sweet." He didn't want his name used, lest he upset Mangini, who wants his players to rely on schemes, not snow. But let's face it: The Jets (3-10) won't be crying if southeastern Massachusetts turns into one giant snow globe. In theory, that will force the undefeated Patriots to rely on their running game, an afterthought through 13games. "If you look at (the weather), it could be more of a pound-it game," said Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. The Patriots' leading rusher, Laurence Maroney, has carried the ball only 37 times in the last four games. New England is averaging only 114 rushing yards per game, a mediocre 4.0 per attempt. The Pats use handoffs as change-of-pace plays between Brady's touchdown passes. For the record, the Patriots are 9-0 in snow games in Foxborough, including 5-0 under Brady. He attempted more than 30passes in four of those games, including a remarkable 32-for-52 performance in the infamous "Tuck-Rule Game" in January 2002 against the Raiders. But this is a different New England team, one that is built around receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth and its wide-open passing attack. And the elements can have a major impact. On a slow and muddy grass field last November in Foxborough, the Jets stunned the Patriots. After that game, the Patriots ripped out the grass, replacing it with artificial turf. "In bad weather, your awareness and concentration have to go up," Brady said. "You can't take anything for granted - the snap, handoffs to the running back. It could be difficult to throw the ball downfield." Music to the Jets' ears, which means they could be humming, "Let it snow, let it snow." GOT YER BACK: Rhodes offered some strong words in defense of Mangini, who is being painted by some as the villain in SpyGate. Said Rhodes: "If they think he's a cheater or whatever the situation is, they think about us the same way. That's how we feel about it and we're going to come out and fight for him. We're going to fight to the end."... WRs Laveranues Coles (ankle) and Jerricho Cotchery (finger) were limited again in practice, but both are expected to play. ...The Jets practiced outside in the sleet and snow. Most players were bundled up, but RB Thomas Jones actually practiced in shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 OFFSEASON QUITE A CATCH FOR PATS By MARK CANNIZZARO December 14, 2007 -- When news of the Patriots' brilliant offseason acquisition of Randy Moss became public, the Jets players took notice as they watched, from afar, their AFC East rival become stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 BILL COMES DUE BELICHICK THIRSTING FOR P AY BACK VS. ERIC THE RAT By JUSTIN TERRANOVA Bill Belichick, outed as a video spy back in Week 1 by... December 14, 2007 -- The 4-9 Ravens were 19-point underdogs and were a fourth-down stop away from taking down the Patriots two weeks ago. New England was laying 24 to the 5-8 Eagles three weeks back, and Philly was driving for the go-ahead score in the final minutes before A.J. Feeley was picked off in the end zone. The sight of those two mediocre teams playing David to the Patriots' Goliath might give Jet fans hope heading into their bad-blood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Brady-to-Moss creates chaos all over the field Friday, December 14, 2007 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The play was a snapshot of the Patriots' season and a prelude to the type of year quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss would have. In the season opener against the Jets, Brady had enough time in the pocket to play Madden NFL '08, then connected with a streaking Moss on a 51-yard, third-quarter touchdown pass on which Moss got behind three Jets defenders. The moral of the story? Give Brady -- or nearly any NFL quarterback -- that much time and he'll make you pay. The difference is, most quarterbacks make you pay with a first down. With Brady, it costs you a touchdown. This season, Brady has thrown 45 touchdowns (19 to Moss) and just five interceptions. The Patriots have scored an NFL-high 503 points. "I see what you see, he's just sitting back there picking teams apart," said Jets nose tackle C.J. Mosely, who has 2 1/2 sacks in the past four games. "He's doing any and everything he wants. We need to do something to get him off his game." Blitzing and getting in Brady's face is the key to having any success against the Patriots, especially with their revamped receiving corps that includes Moss, Wes Welker (93 catches, 974 yards, eight TDs) and Donte' Stallworth (41-640-3). Holdover tight end Ben Watson (32 receptions, six TDs) and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney (29 receptions, four TDs) have also chipped in. Brady has been sacked only 16 times. Last season, the Jets notched eight sacks in their two regular-season meetings against the Pats, losing 24-17 at Giants Stadium and winning 17-14 in New England. In their playoff matchup, the Jets got to Brady only once and the Patriots won, 37-16 This season, the Jets didn't record a sack -- or seemingly get near Brady -- in the Patriots' 38-14 victory in the "Spygate" game. It'll be a rerun of the same movie if the Jets don't pressure Brady in Sunday's rematch at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots (13-0) have had two real scares this season, getting by the Eagles, 31-28, and Ravens, 27-24. Both teams managed to pressure Brady, finishing with three sacks in each game. Philadelphia did a good job disguising its blitzes. Baltimore got pressure with its front four and disrupted routes by getting physical with the Patriots' receivers. "I think the first game you didn't know what to expect," Jets linebacker David Bowens said. "I don't think Moss played the whole preseason. Now, it's a lot different. We have a lot of tape on them. We've seen how other teams have gotten pressure." Just blitzing isn't necessarily the answer. The Patriots like to use a lot of four wideout sets, and opponents almost have to double-team Moss and/or Welker, which takes away from the ability to blitz. Thus, teams must often rush just three against the Patriots' five. And when teams do blitz, Brady tends to gets the ball off quickly or the Patriots max protect. "The receivers require more than one person to cover them," Jets safety Eric Smith said. "It takes away from the amount of people you can bring (on blitzes). And then when you try to overload them, they just get it off quick. They (Moss, Welker and the Patriots' receivers) take up a lot of your defensive focus. You have to put a lot of it on them." Notes: Several Jets players quietly defended coach Eric Mangini for the criticism he is taking for turning in Patriots coach Bill Belichick in the "Spygate" incident, and the recent flap over the Jets' videotaping the playoff game against New England last year. "If you don't have your coaches back, why are you here?" said S Kerry Rhodes. After beating the Patriots in New England last season, several Jets players said they were angered by the disrespect Belichick had shown Mangini.... This week Rhodes has been a bit miffed by comments like, "The Patriots are going to score 70 points," and, "They could probably beat both the Jets and Dolphins in a two-hour span."... The Jets practiced outside in the sleet and snow yesterday, a good dress rehearsal for Sunday's anticipated winter mix. Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@starledger.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Jets Feel They Can Beat Patriots, Even if Oddsmakers Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 NFL Insider Adam Schein (Sirius NFL Radio; FoxSports.com) is a familiar face to Jets fans, appearing weekly with former Jets QB Ray Lucas and host Brian Custer on SNY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 ON PRO FOOTBALL Spygate chill lingers on Drama in Jets, Patriots rematch centers around Mangini, Belichick By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle The question is not if the Patriots will defeat the Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday but how much Bill Belichick will run up the score to get revenge against Eric Mangini for initiating the Spygate controversy after the first game of the season, a 38-14 New England victory at Giants Stadium. What's interesting about the controversy is the players have nothing to do with it. It's about Belichick and his former prot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Snow could help Jets slow down Patriots' offense BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com December 14, 2007 Forget the point spread. The new concern is the over-under. As in: How much snow will be on the ground when the Jets and Patriots play Sunday afternoon? Forecasts call for anywhere from 3 inches to a foot of wintry mix to show up in Foxborough around game time, courtesy of a prowling nor'easter. Although most Jets players issued the standard line about both teams having to deal with the elements, there were a few who enjoyed the idea of having Mother Nature on their side while they try to slow the Patriots' prolific passing game. What no team has been able to accomplish this season - and what the Jets seem just as unlikely to do without help falling from the heavens - is to curtail Tom Brady and Randy Moss and any of the other half-dozen superstars the Patriots rotate in and out of the end zone. But a snowy day could neutralize some of that offensive power. "It slows you down a little bit," safety Kerry Rhodes said of rain and snow. "You look at it that way and it may be more of a pounding game. But they can run the ball, too." Yes, but that's not as scary. The Patriots rank 14th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 113.7 yards per game. But they also have 13 rushing touchdowns. Yesterday the Jets practiced in the freezing rain and snow, and some players got into a snowball fight while stretching. Athough some players may have been muttering nasties under their breath (which was visible), Jets coach Eric Mangini is fond of such conditions. "It's fun to play in those things," he said, recalling weather-affected games during his New England tenure such as the playoff game against the Raiders that introduced the world to the tuck rule. Linebacker Bryan Thomas said that although both sides of the ball have to handle the elements, usually the offense changes its game plan because of them. "Weather does make a difference," he said. Fellow linebacker Brad Kassel said he likes playing in inclement weather. "You know they're going to run the ball more, and I enjoy playing the run," he said. "It depends on what type of player you are, I guess." Rhodes relies on speed and agility to make plays, so he'd be a little more handcuffed by snow and ice than a player on the front seven. Plus, he hinted, he'd rather not give the Patriots any excuses. You know, just in case. "I want them to do what they do and we do what we do," he said, "and we'll see what happens." Notes & quotes: Rhodes said he's heard about the Patriots players having their coach's back, and he said they weren't the only ones. "Well, we feel the same way," he said of the Jets wanting to perform for Mangini. "We believe in him, he's our guy and we're going to stick with him whatever situation he's in. If they think he's a cheater, or whatever the situation is, then they think about us the same way. That's how we feel about it and we're going to come out and fight for him." It was pointed out that Mangini probably would not approve of that approach, and Rhodes agreed. "That's why it's not going to be said [by other players], but I'm one of the guys who will say what I feel." ... WR Laveranues Coles said his reaction when he heard the Patriots traded for Moss in April was "Oh four-letter-word" ... Mangini said he won't make any particular reference to the Patriots' perfect record while addressing the team. "It's hard for me to imagine anybody in the United States doesn't know where they are," Mangini said. "I think everybody's got it." ... The Pats practiced yesterday after not practicing Wednesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Patriots show a weakness on defense Friday, December 14, 2007 BY KEVIN MANAHAN Star-Ledger Staff FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Already, the snow was swirling around Gillette Stadium, and linebacker Junior Seau, warm and toasty in the locker room before practice, was anxious about the return commute to his Boston home. In Hawaii, where he lives, and San Diego, where he played most of his career, it snows ... oh, never. So, Seau had never driven in a snowstorm. "I'm a little nervous," he said. "I'm getting some tips from the guys on what to do when the car swerves. Hopefully, Coach Belichick will let us out early. But I've never had to drive in it before." Here's something else that's relatively new to the New England Patriots linebacker: Back-to-back 100-yard games by opposing running backs. Over the past two weeks, the Patriots' front seven have left bigger gaps than Michael Strahan's front teeth. Ravens running back Willis McGahee sliced through the Unbeatens for 138 yards and a touchdown. And last week, while the Patriots were flea-flickering their way to a 13-0 record and cutting Anthony Smith's vocal chords, nobody noticed that Steelers back Willie Parker gained 124 yards. Ask coach Bill Belichick why this has happened, and you get a simplistic answer: "We've played some good running teams, and we haven't played as well as we'd like to play. There's certainly room for improvement." But are there specific reasons why the defense has been vulnerable? "Haven't coached good enough. Haven't played good enough," he said. Uh, that's general. Anything specific? "No, that's the reason. I just gave it," Belichick said. "It's a combination of things. We just haven't done a good job -- coaching or playing." Good thing Seau didn't ask Belichick for advice on how to drive in snow. The answer would have been "Turn the key, step on the accelerator." But here's a memo to Thomas Jones, the Jets' starting running back: There has been a common thread to the running success against the Patriots -- cutbacks. And if the field is slippery Sunday, when another snowstorm is expected, change of direction might be more effective then usual. Jones has only four 100-yard games this season, but two have come in the past month. With wind and snow and a quarterback who hasn't started against the Patriots, the bulk of the Jets' offense might be Jones pounding the ball inside and slippery Leon Washington nimbly testing the edges. "We need to do a better job filling the gaps," Seau said. "Until we do that, teams, like the Jets, are going to keep running on us." Seau thinks the Jets, and other teams who watch the footage of McGahee and Parker, will be convinced the Patriots are soft against the run. "They have to look at that," Seau said. "The stats are out there." But one of those totals might be a misleading number, safety Rodney Harrison said. McGahee, he admits, "shredded us." But Parker's runs "weren't really significant in the score of the game. We were probably playing pass most of the time against the Steelers." Besides, Harrison said, "at the end of the day, it's a 'W.' If they run the ball for a thousand yards against us and we win, we go home winners and they go home losers." Still, the Patriots' defense -- fourth overall in the NFL and 13th against the run -- is not the feared unit of the past. The unstoppable offense -- which has outscored the opposition 117-34 in the first quarter this season -- has bullied many opponents out of the running attack, thus protecting the soft underbelly. But stopping the run isn't the only problem. Let's remember that two teams headed nowhere -- the Eagles and Ravens -- almost ruined the Patriots' dream season, both with backup quarterbacks. The Patriots miss linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, a playmaker on injured reserve. Seau, 39 next month, and Tedy Bruschi, 34, are veteran linebackers who are playing more snaps than expected. They could wear out. Plus, the Patriots aren't that good in the red zone. By holding the Steelers without a red-zone touchdown in a 34-13 victory, the Pats moved to 31st in the league in red-zone defense. Only the winless Dolphins are worse. The Patriots have allowed 20 TDs in 31 possessions (64.5 percent). But, then again, with an offense that has scored 56, 52, 49 and 48 points in routs, who cares? "We're still pretty good on defense," Harrison said. "We struggled with tackling during the middle of the season, but we're getting better. We did better with our assignments against Pittsburgh, even though (Parker) ran for (more than) 100 yards. We'll just keep getting better." Like Seau driving his Escalade in the snow. Kevin Manahan may be reached at kmanahan@starledger.com CONTINUED 1 | 2 Next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kentucky Jet Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 By J.P. Pelzman STAFF WRITER Coach Eric Mangini confirmed Wednesday that a Jets' employee was removed from the area behind one of the end zones at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, where he had been filming the playoff game between the teams in January. But Mangini said the filming was something the Jets do at every road game. They film from behind both end zones so that they can have video of the game with their players lined up in the foreground, both on offense and defense. He said they were not taping signals by the Patriots' coaches, and that New England had given permission to do so before both games between the teams at Foxboro, Mass., last season. "I don't know," Mangini said when asked why the Patriots did an about-face. "We had asked for permission It was granted and then that changed, and we respect their decision. It's their stadium." The Jets didn't ask if they could film from those locations Sunday. "Just didn't look to get permission," Mangini said. "Didn't think it would be granted." New England coach Bill Belichick declined to talk about the situation. "There are a lot of things that have happened in the past," he said, "but I'm not concerned about any of them." Snow Bowl? Early forecasts are calling for heavy snow in New England on Saturday night and/or Sunday. The Jets-Patriots game will start at 1 p.m. "If it's snowing, you make the necessary adjustments," quarterback Kellen Clemens said. "You make sure you've got a good grip on the ball before you throw it. You try to ensure things like the center-quarterback exchange, any time you're handing it off to a running back. But ultimately you try not to let it affect you. You're aware of it, and you take it into account, but you try not to let it affect you to the point where it rattles you or maybe it takes you away from your game." "Usually teams go to more of a running game [in slippery conditions],'' cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "I still think they'll pass as well because they've got so many weapons. But usually a team will try to pound you [on the ground] when it's raining or snowing." * * * Chat not their strong suit Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick are always in lockdown mode with the media. Here's a sample of some of their Wednesday quotes: Mangini On the large point spread: "I don't bet on football games, so it's not really affecting me." On whether this game is personal: "This game is exactly the same as every other game." On the Patriots' illegal videotaping during the first meeting: "It's a league issue, it's in the past." Belichick On his relationship with Mangini: "I've spoken about my relationship with Eric before. I don't think there's any need to go back through that again." On the chance to go undefeated: "Right now, we're trying to win one game against the Jets. None of the other games matter." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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