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| | | | | | | | Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Jets not shy to try new things
Associated Press
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y -- So what's next for the New York Jets? A
triple reverse? A throwback to Vinny Testaverde? A drop kick field
goal?
Don't put anything past the Jets, who have used several unusual
plays this season, including two in Sunday's 34-17 victory at New
England.
|  | | Al Groh's approach has been far from conservative in 2000. |
The Jets aren't 5-1 and tied for the AFC East lead because of
trickery, but their offbeat approach hasn't hurt, either.
Already, they have scored touchdowns on a long pass to
cornerback Marcus Coleman at the end of the half against Buffalo,
and an option pass from Curtis Martin to Wayne Chrebet to beat
Tampa Bay. They've run a half-dozen reverses or end-arounds, using
wideouts Chrebet, Dedric Ward and rookies Laveraneus Coles and
Windrell Hayes to run.
At New England, on a fourth-and-2 from the Patriots 22, the Jets
lined up for a field goal. Linebacker Mo Lewis was in his usual
blocking spot until holder Tom Tupa moved behind center.
Most observers thought the Jets would try to draw the Patriots
offside. Instead, they snapped the ball, and Tupa, a quarterback as
well as a punter, pitched to Lewis. On the first carry of his
10-year career, Lewis ran a sweep right for a 3-yard gain.
Four plays later, in a more conventional manner, Martin ran in
from the 4, making it 21-10.
"I'm just a wild and crazy guy," coach Al Groh joked of the
abundance of unusual plays this season.
"It's part of looking for an edge, that is why you design it.
That was what we were looking for there, and it provided it for
us."
Groh, offensive coordinator Dan Henning and special teams coach
Mike Sweatman all are longtime NFL coaching veterans. They are not
mad scientists who stay up until the wee hours coming up with such
legerdemain.
During New York's bye week earlier this month, Groh and his
staff practiced the fake field goal. It wasn't with the Patriots or
any other opponent in mind.
"The idea was that a circumstance like that might come up some
time in a game, it might have been the 11th game," Groh said. "I
wouldn't say I kept it in the front of my mind, but it was
something we had not lost track of during the course of a game. We
looked for the opportunity where it might be worthwhile.
"The Lewis play was only worthwhile if it could create a
touchdown; otherwise, we might just kick the field goal. Once we
made that play, rather than kick the field goal, we were committed
to trying to get that touchdown. If it had come down to a
fourth-down play some time, we might have gone for it there, too."
Lewis didn't expect to be playing Martin's role in Sunday's game
- or any other in the near future. He is, after all, a fierce
tackler and defender, not a shifty runner.
"That was just something I thought they were going to hold in
the pocket," he said. "When they called it, I was shocked. I
said, `I got to get the first down.'
"It was fun, but I don't want to do it anymore."
He might not be asked to, but that hardly means the end of the
Jets' prestidigitation.
"At the moment they occur, they don't strike me as being fun,"
Groh said, "but just another step along the way of where we are
going. It's nice to think up an idea and have it properly executed
by the players."
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| AUDIO/VIDEO |
 New York's Al Groh wraps up the Jets' win over the Pats.
RealVideo: | 28.8
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