New York Jets: Bill Belichick
Sunday notes: The Sanchez-Tebow myth
May, 20, 2012
May 20
5:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:
1. MARKED MAN: This notion that the Jets are setting up Mark Sanchez to fail because they want Tim Tebow to be the starting quarterback is total bunk. (One talking head actually suggested "the fix is in.") To paraphrase Wes Welker, the Jets have 20 million reasons to root for Sanchez -- the $20.5 million he's guaranteed in 2012 and 2013. Like they say in the old mob movies, just follow the money. That's how it works in professional sports. Why would the Jets want Sanchez, the handpicked QB of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, to crash and burn? Yeah, the coaches and players are talking up Tebow (Darrelle Revis was in full gush), but it's just hot air in May. Here's the thing about players: They'll back whichever QB gives them the best chance to win. Right now, that's Sanchez. The organization hopes it stays that way.
2. DECISIONS, DECISIONS: QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, in an interview with the New York Daily News, said most of Sanchez's 18 interceptions last season resulted from poor decisions. No kidding. Check out this stat: Over the last three seasons, Sanchez has thrown 38 interceptions when facing four or fewer rushers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The bloated total, tied with Drew Brees for most in the league, suggests that, yes, he makes bad decisions when opponents use a standard rush and drop at least seven into coverage. By the way, Brees has 62 more TD passes than Sanchez against such pressure.
3. RINGING THE BELL: The Jets envision newly-signed safety Yeremiah Bell as a starter, meaning a Bell-LaRon Landry safety tandem. Here's the concern with that pairing: Both players are new to Ryan's defensive system, which is mentally challenging for the safeties. You need a cerebral player back there to make calls, and you could have the blind leading the blind with Bell and Landry. That's why Jim Leonhard was always so valuable; he knew how to get everybody lined up.
4. RUN, JOEY, RUN: Joey Clinkscales decided to leave his post as the head of college scouting, in part, because he was frustrated he wasn't given a bigger say on draft picks, according to a league source. He let his contract expire and took a job as the Raiders' director of player personnel -- maybe not a lateral move, but not a significant advancement, either. I hear the Jets, perhaps trying to convince him to stay, gave him a bigger say in the recent draft. Obviously, that didn't do the trick.
5. THE NEW GUY: The Jets hired Midwest scout Jeff Bauer to replace Clinkscales. Interesting background: He was a high-school coach in the Kansas City area and his backup QB was Mike Bradway, son of then-Chiefs executive Terry Bradway, according to the Des Moines Register. Bauer and the elder Bradway became friendly. A short time later, in 2001, Bradway was hired as the Jets' GM and he wound up hiring Bauer as the Midwest scout. Bradway remains with the Jets as a senior personnel executive. Bauer's glowing scouting report on RB Shonn Greene was one of the reasons why they drafted him in 2009.
6. MY TURN: I see that former Jets punter Steve Weatherford called me out on Twitter, claiming it was out of context to say he "ripped" Sanchez. I like Weatherford -- I wrote a glowing profile of him a few days before the Giants' Super Bowl win -- but this is a classic case of an athlete making a stink about the headline instead of owning up to his quotes below the headline. There's no doubt that Weatherford was critical of Sanchez's maturity level. That's the real story, not the headline.
7. MARSHALL PLAN: Because of Tony Sparano's background with the Dolphins, the Jets have been watching some Miami tape in an effort to learn his system. Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill has spent a lot of time studying ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall, another big-bodied wideout. Hopefully, Hill doesn't try to emulate Marshall's lack of balance along the sideline.
8. ROGER THAT: I'm dating myself here, but offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo's effusive defense of right tackle Wayne Hunter reminded of a long-ago quote from a long-forgotten Jets assistant. If you didn't catch it, DeGuglielmo said of Hunter, "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle." Back in '87 or '88, running backs coach Bobby Hammond was peppered with questions about the struggling Roger Vick, a No. 1 pick in '87. Hammond got fired up and said he'd "go to my grave" believing Vick would be a top back. That was a swing and a big miss; we're talking a Dave Kingman miss.
9. THE POWER OF BILL: Welker wouldn't make a good agent. He told reporters his contract negotiations have "actually gotten worse," and suddenly there's a story in the Boston Globe saying those comments weren't well-received in the Belichick bunker. So Welker backtracked, saying it was "probably a bad choice of words" and insisting he's happy with his franchise tag. At least he didn't say they were taken out of context; give him credit for that.
10. TALL TALE: 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told a radio program that Michael Crabtree has "the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver." Wow, and they say Rex Ryan is prone to hyperbole.
1. MARKED MAN: This notion that the Jets are setting up Mark Sanchez to fail because they want Tim Tebow to be the starting quarterback is total bunk. (One talking head actually suggested "the fix is in.") To paraphrase Wes Welker, the Jets have 20 million reasons to root for Sanchez -- the $20.5 million he's guaranteed in 2012 and 2013. Like they say in the old mob movies, just follow the money. That's how it works in professional sports. Why would the Jets want Sanchez, the handpicked QB of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, to crash and burn? Yeah, the coaches and players are talking up Tebow (Darrelle Revis was in full gush), but it's just hot air in May. Here's the thing about players: They'll back whichever QB gives them the best chance to win. Right now, that's Sanchez. The organization hopes it stays that way.
2. DECISIONS, DECISIONS: QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, in an interview with the New York Daily News, said most of Sanchez's 18 interceptions last season resulted from poor decisions. No kidding. Check out this stat: Over the last three seasons, Sanchez has thrown 38 interceptions when facing four or fewer rushers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The bloated total, tied with Drew Brees for most in the league, suggests that, yes, he makes bad decisions when opponents use a standard rush and drop at least seven into coverage. By the way, Brees has 62 more TD passes than Sanchez against such pressure.
3. RINGING THE BELL: The Jets envision newly-signed safety Yeremiah Bell as a starter, meaning a Bell-LaRon Landry safety tandem. Here's the concern with that pairing: Both players are new to Ryan's defensive system, which is mentally challenging for the safeties. You need a cerebral player back there to make calls, and you could have the blind leading the blind with Bell and Landry. That's why Jim Leonhard was always so valuable; he knew how to get everybody lined up.
4. RUN, JOEY, RUN: Joey Clinkscales decided to leave his post as the head of college scouting, in part, because he was frustrated he wasn't given a bigger say on draft picks, according to a league source. He let his contract expire and took a job as the Raiders' director of player personnel -- maybe not a lateral move, but not a significant advancement, either. I hear the Jets, perhaps trying to convince him to stay, gave him a bigger say in the recent draft. Obviously, that didn't do the trick.
5. THE NEW GUY: The Jets hired Midwest scout Jeff Bauer to replace Clinkscales. Interesting background: He was a high-school coach in the Kansas City area and his backup QB was Mike Bradway, son of then-Chiefs executive Terry Bradway, according to the Des Moines Register. Bauer and the elder Bradway became friendly. A short time later, in 2001, Bradway was hired as the Jets' GM and he wound up hiring Bauer as the Midwest scout. Bradway remains with the Jets as a senior personnel executive. Bauer's glowing scouting report on RB Shonn Greene was one of the reasons why they drafted him in 2009.
6. MY TURN: I see that former Jets punter Steve Weatherford called me out on Twitter, claiming it was out of context to say he "ripped" Sanchez. I like Weatherford -- I wrote a glowing profile of him a few days before the Giants' Super Bowl win -- but this is a classic case of an athlete making a stink about the headline instead of owning up to his quotes below the headline. There's no doubt that Weatherford was critical of Sanchez's maturity level. That's the real story, not the headline.
7. MARSHALL PLAN: Because of Tony Sparano's background with the Dolphins, the Jets have been watching some Miami tape in an effort to learn his system. Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill has spent a lot of time studying ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall, another big-bodied wideout. Hopefully, Hill doesn't try to emulate Marshall's lack of balance along the sideline.
8. ROGER THAT: I'm dating myself here, but offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo's effusive defense of right tackle Wayne Hunter reminded of a long-ago quote from a long-forgotten Jets assistant. If you didn't catch it, DeGuglielmo said of Hunter, "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle." Back in '87 or '88, running backs coach Bobby Hammond was peppered with questions about the struggling Roger Vick, a No. 1 pick in '87. Hammond got fired up and said he'd "go to my grave" believing Vick would be a top back. That was a swing and a big miss; we're talking a Dave Kingman miss.
9. THE POWER OF BILL: Welker wouldn't make a good agent. He told reporters his contract negotiations have "actually gotten worse," and suddenly there's a story in the Boston Globe saying those comments weren't well-received in the Belichick bunker. So Welker backtracked, saying it was "probably a bad choice of words" and insisting he's happy with his franchise tag. At least he didn't say they were taken out of context; give him credit for that.
10. TALL TALE: 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told a radio program that Michael Crabtree has "the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver." Wow, and they say Rex Ryan is prone to hyperbole.
Sunday notes: Can Sanchez handle it?
May, 13, 2012
May 13
5:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:
1. COVERING SAN-BOW: I've covered a lot of backup QBs, from Pat Ryan to Bubby Brister to Mark Brunell, but I've never seen one draw as much media attention in the locker room as Tim Tebow did during Thursday's media period. It was almost surreal. The Jets are used to the spotlight, but one player shook his head and told me, "It's going to be an interesting year."
Mark Sanchez, in a radio interview the next day, acknowledged the crowd around his locker was smaller than usual -- and he thinks that might be a good thing if it continues that way.
"He can take pressure off you, as weird as that may be," Sanchez said of Tebow.
Huh? Sanchez speaks to the media only 30 minutes per week -- tops -- always drawing the most reporters. If he thinks that's pressure, you wonder how he'll respond when the pressure gauge starts climbing, when he and Tebow start playing for real.
2. BABY STEPS: Tebow told reporters Thursday that he's been practicing exclusively at quarterback -- no Wildcat -- prompting conspiracy theorists to conclude that it's the Jets' secret intention to use him only at QB (to take Sanchez's job), and that the Wildcat plan is nothing but a ruse.
That is ridiculous. Hello? The Jets are learning a new offense. They have to learn the basics of the offense before they can start running gadget plays -- and that goes double for Tebow.
3. DRAFT HINDSIGHT: Turns out the Seahawks' surprising choice of DE/OLB Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick did force the Jets (16) to change their plans -- according to the NFL Network, that is. A report said they had a deal worked out with the Steelers (24), who wanted to trade up for G David DeCastro, but the Jets decided not to do it when Irvin was picked. They would've traded down if Irvin and DE Quinton Coples had been on the board, increasing the likelihood they'd get one of them at 24.
In retrospect, based on the players chosen from 17 to 23, the Jets probably would've had Irvin or Coples -- plus third- and fourth-round picks from the Steelers (an educated guess on the trade compensation). If Irvin and Coples were gone, the Jets could've had WR Stephen Hill, whom they said was rated just below Coples. They got Hill in the second, but it cost them two picks to move up.
GM Mike Tannenbaum, speaking to reporters Saturday during an event at MetLife Stadium, declined to comment on the reported Steelers trade that fell through, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. It's easy to read between the lines.
4. STURDY LIKE A BRICK: Of the top four picks in the 2006 draft, only one remains with his original team -- LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (No. 4). The Jets could've gone a few different ways in that draft, but it's a credit to Tannenbaum that he got a foundation player. Interestingly, the top three picks are now in the AFC East -- DE Mario Williams (Bills), RB Reggie Bush (Dolphins) and QB Vince Young (Bills), who signed Friday.
5. NEW LEADER: The Jets' defensive linemen are raving about new position coach Karl Dunbar, who was fired by the Vikings. Dunbar had an advantage over his predecessor the moment he walked in the door: He actually played the position and coached it. The previous D-line coach, Mark Carrier, was a former secondary coach who played safety; it made no sense to have him coach the D-Line.
Dunbar already has taught the players a couple of pass-rushing tricks, including the long-arm technique. It's almost like a running back's straight arm, a way to create separation from the blocker. DE Mike DeVito told me it "allows you to read what the offensive lineman is doing. ... It's a great move. He's got a bunch of stuff like that."
Wonder how the long-arm technique would've worked with South Carolina pass rusher Melvin Ingram, whose arms measured only 31.5 inches at the combine -- a perceived shortcoming (no pun intended) that may have hurt his draft stock. The Jets bypassed Ingram with the 16th pick to take DE Quinton Coples (33.25-inch arms).
6. KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Several offensive players said new coordinator Tony Sparano uses play calls that consist of less verbiage than his predecessor, Brian Schottenheimer. After the season, Rex Ryan remarked that Schottenheimer's terminology was too confusing. Sparano definitely has made an early impact: He's a meat-and-potatoes coach and doesn't stand for any ... well, meat heads. As TE Dustin Keller said, "His coaching style is almost like college -- in your face." Linemen usually like that kind of law-and-order mentality; skill-position players -- the divas -- are less apt to embrace it.
7. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: RG Brandon Moore told me it's not unusual to walk into the team cafeteria for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and see a bunch of offensive playbooks open, players studying or quizzing each other on the new system. Said Moore: "Sometimes you feel like a rookie again."
8. TEAM WANTED: So, Plaxico Burress, how's free agency going so far?
9. PAYING RESPECTS: Say what you want about Patriots coach Bill Belichick -- Darrelle Revis said plenty the other day -- but give him credit for this: He attended Junior Seau's private wake Thursday night in San Diego and flew back for his team's rookie minicamp Friday morning. Seau finished his legendary career with the Patriots, 2006 to 2009.
10. PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE: It sounds like the Browns think they drafted the next Jim Brown, the way the coaches are gushing about first-round pick Trent Richardson. He's very good, no doubt, but can we wait until he puts pads on before we anoint him?
1. COVERING SAN-BOW: I've covered a lot of backup QBs, from Pat Ryan to Bubby Brister to Mark Brunell, but I've never seen one draw as much media attention in the locker room as Tim Tebow did during Thursday's media period. It was almost surreal. The Jets are used to the spotlight, but one player shook his head and told me, "It's going to be an interesting year."
Mark Sanchez, in a radio interview the next day, acknowledged the crowd around his locker was smaller than usual -- and he thinks that might be a good thing if it continues that way.
"He can take pressure off you, as weird as that may be," Sanchez said of Tebow.
AP Photo/Julio CortezTim Tebow drew a crowd in the Jets' locker room.
2. BABY STEPS: Tebow told reporters Thursday that he's been practicing exclusively at quarterback -- no Wildcat -- prompting conspiracy theorists to conclude that it's the Jets' secret intention to use him only at QB (to take Sanchez's job), and that the Wildcat plan is nothing but a ruse.
That is ridiculous. Hello? The Jets are learning a new offense. They have to learn the basics of the offense before they can start running gadget plays -- and that goes double for Tebow.
3. DRAFT HINDSIGHT: Turns out the Seahawks' surprising choice of DE/OLB Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick did force the Jets (16) to change their plans -- according to the NFL Network, that is. A report said they had a deal worked out with the Steelers (24), who wanted to trade up for G David DeCastro, but the Jets decided not to do it when Irvin was picked. They would've traded down if Irvin and DE Quinton Coples had been on the board, increasing the likelihood they'd get one of them at 24.
In retrospect, based on the players chosen from 17 to 23, the Jets probably would've had Irvin or Coples -- plus third- and fourth-round picks from the Steelers (an educated guess on the trade compensation). If Irvin and Coples were gone, the Jets could've had WR Stephen Hill, whom they said was rated just below Coples. They got Hill in the second, but it cost them two picks to move up.
GM Mike Tannenbaum, speaking to reporters Saturday during an event at MetLife Stadium, declined to comment on the reported Steelers trade that fell through, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. It's easy to read between the lines.
4. STURDY LIKE A BRICK: Of the top four picks in the 2006 draft, only one remains with his original team -- LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (No. 4). The Jets could've gone a few different ways in that draft, but it's a credit to Tannenbaum that he got a foundation player. Interestingly, the top three picks are now in the AFC East -- DE Mario Williams (Bills), RB Reggie Bush (Dolphins) and QB Vince Young (Bills), who signed Friday.
5. NEW LEADER: The Jets' defensive linemen are raving about new position coach Karl Dunbar, who was fired by the Vikings. Dunbar had an advantage over his predecessor the moment he walked in the door: He actually played the position and coached it. The previous D-line coach, Mark Carrier, was a former secondary coach who played safety; it made no sense to have him coach the D-Line.
Dunbar already has taught the players a couple of pass-rushing tricks, including the long-arm technique. It's almost like a running back's straight arm, a way to create separation from the blocker. DE Mike DeVito told me it "allows you to read what the offensive lineman is doing. ... It's a great move. He's got a bunch of stuff like that."
Wonder how the long-arm technique would've worked with South Carolina pass rusher Melvin Ingram, whose arms measured only 31.5 inches at the combine -- a perceived shortcoming (no pun intended) that may have hurt his draft stock. The Jets bypassed Ingram with the 16th pick to take DE Quinton Coples (33.25-inch arms).
6. KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Several offensive players said new coordinator Tony Sparano uses play calls that consist of less verbiage than his predecessor, Brian Schottenheimer. After the season, Rex Ryan remarked that Schottenheimer's terminology was too confusing. Sparano definitely has made an early impact: He's a meat-and-potatoes coach and doesn't stand for any ... well, meat heads. As TE Dustin Keller said, "His coaching style is almost like college -- in your face." Linemen usually like that kind of law-and-order mentality; skill-position players -- the divas -- are less apt to embrace it.
7. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: RG Brandon Moore told me it's not unusual to walk into the team cafeteria for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and see a bunch of offensive playbooks open, players studying or quizzing each other on the new system. Said Moore: "Sometimes you feel like a rookie again."
8. TEAM WANTED: So, Plaxico Burress, how's free agency going so far?
9. PAYING RESPECTS: Say what you want about Patriots coach Bill Belichick -- Darrelle Revis said plenty the other day -- but give him credit for this: He attended Junior Seau's private wake Thursday night in San Diego and flew back for his team's rookie minicamp Friday morning. Seau finished his legendary career with the Patriots, 2006 to 2009.
10. PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE: It sounds like the Browns think they drafted the next Jim Brown, the way the coaches are gushing about first-round pick Trent Richardson. He's very good, no doubt, but can we wait until he puts pads on before we anoint him?
Gholston's impact on Jets draft prep
April, 22, 2012
Apr 22
5:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:
1. The Gholston factor. The Jets say they learned a hard lesson from the Vernon Gholston debacle in 2008, one they will apply to the evaluation of DE/OLB hybrids in the upcoming draft. They drafted Gholston, a DE at Ohio State, to play OLB in their 3-4 system. They knew his football instincts were suspect, but they figured he'd be able to overcome the deficiency with his size and speed. They were wrong, as wrong as you can be about a player. This year, the scouting department placed a much greater emphasis on instinct during the grading process. Joey Clinkscales, VP of college scouting, claimed they won't be "gun shy" about picking a DE/OLB projection.
2. Drive a hybrid. The draftboard is filled with DE/OLB 'tweeners. In fact, seven of the eight OLBs on the Jets' board were DEs in college, the exception probably being Courtney Upshaw (Alabama). The Jets had better be confident in their grading system, because there are several hybrids that will be considered in the first and second round -- Melvin Ingram (South Carolina), Whitney Mercilus (Illinois), Andre Branch (Clemson), Chandler Jones (Syracuse) and Nick Perry (USC). When making the DE/OLB projection, athleticism, arm length and intelligence also are weighed heavily, according to Clinkscales.
3. Round 1 game plan. Here's what I expect the Jets to do Thursday night in the first round: A. Explore the possibility of trading way up for Alabama RB Trent Richardson; B. Explore the possibility of trading up a few spots for Ingram; C. Remain at No. 16 and take the best available player. They prefer a pass-rushing OLB, but could settle for a S (Alabama's Mark Barron), a DLM (Memphis' Dontari Poe) or a WR (Notre Dame's Michael Floyd).
4. Tony's Time. When a team installs a new offensive or defensive system, it has to tweak its player-evaluation system. You don't want to draft a square-peg player for a round-hole system. Soon after hiring O.C. Tony Sparano, the scouting department asked him to list what he considers the four critical factors at each position on offense. Armed with that info, the scouts did their thing, trying to find players that fit Sparano's system.
5. Strange, but true. During his pre-draft news conference, and later during a Q&A teleconference with season-ticket holders, Tannenbaum mentioned backup LG Caleb Schlauderaff no fewer than seven times. He got more mentions than that Tebow guy. What's up with that? Maybe Tannenbaum just likes the sound of Schlauderaff. I mean, who doesn't? Or maybe he's blowing smoke and is planning to take Stanford G David DeCastro.
6. Jets vs. Revis, III. The Darrelle Revis contract situation bears watching after the draft. It's sure to produce some sharply divided opinions. Pro-Revis: He's the best corner in football, maybe the best defensive player, and is underpaid with a combined $13.5 million over the next two seasons. Anti-Revis: He already has made $47.5 million in five years, exceeding his rookie contract by $11.5 million. He received a six-year, $36 million rookie deal, but the two sides re-negotiated two years ago, with Revis getting a $25 million sweetener on a one-year extension.
7. Oh, brother. If the Jets don't draft Chandler Jones, maybe they should look into signing his brother. Jon (Bones) Jones, 24, is the UFC light-heavyweight champion. He's 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. They could make him an OLB and have him cover former rugby star-turned-TE Hayden Smith.
8. Buzzzz. How can any self-respecting Steelers fan look at their team's new throwback jerseys and not laugh? Or cringe? They remind me of the "Bad News Bees" sketch on the old Saturday Night Live.
9. Go ahead, mock me. My current half-mock (and I reserve the right to change my mind): 1. Colts -- Andrew Luck, 2. Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, 3. Vikings -- Morris Claiborne, 4. Browns -- Trent Richardson, 5. Bucs -- Matt Kalil, 6. Rams -- Fletcher Cox, 7. Jaguars -- Justin Blackmon, 8. Dolphins -- Ryan Tannehill, 9. Panthers -- Stephon Gilmore, 10. Bills -- Michael Floyd, 11. Chiefs -- Luke Kuechly, 12. Seahawks -- Quinton Coples, 13. Cards -- David DeCastro, 14. Cowboys -- Mark Barron, 15. Eagles -- Dontari Poe, 16. Jets -- Melvin Ingram.
10. Different strokes. On Saturday, I wrote a piece on the Jets' draft room -- specifically, the people in the room (a total of 13) and how they make decisions. GM Mike Tannenbaum appreciates input from everyone. Not surprisingly, the Patriots have a different approach. The NFL Network's Mike Lombardi, who used to work with Bill Belichick, described the Belichick way (quote courtesy of ESPNBoston.com): "The draft room will be very small. ... It will only be four people. Belichick's big thing is that he's not looking for more opinions, he's looking for right opinions. The scouts do their job, which is prepare him for the draft, then ... there is only one decision-maker in New England. He doesn't want any confusion on draft day."
1. The Gholston factor. The Jets say they learned a hard lesson from the Vernon Gholston debacle in 2008, one they will apply to the evaluation of DE/OLB hybrids in the upcoming draft. They drafted Gholston, a DE at Ohio State, to play OLB in their 3-4 system. They knew his football instincts were suspect, but they figured he'd be able to overcome the deficiency with his size and speed. They were wrong, as wrong as you can be about a player. This year, the scouting department placed a much greater emphasis on instinct during the grading process. Joey Clinkscales, VP of college scouting, claimed they won't be "gun shy" about picking a DE/OLB projection.
2. Drive a hybrid. The draftboard is filled with DE/OLB 'tweeners. In fact, seven of the eight OLBs on the Jets' board were DEs in college, the exception probably being Courtney Upshaw (Alabama). The Jets had better be confident in their grading system, because there are several hybrids that will be considered in the first and second round -- Melvin Ingram (South Carolina), Whitney Mercilus (Illinois), Andre Branch (Clemson), Chandler Jones (Syracuse) and Nick Perry (USC). When making the DE/OLB projection, athleticism, arm length and intelligence also are weighed heavily, according to Clinkscales.
3. Round 1 game plan. Here's what I expect the Jets to do Thursday night in the first round: A. Explore the possibility of trading way up for Alabama RB Trent Richardson; B. Explore the possibility of trading up a few spots for Ingram; C. Remain at No. 16 and take the best available player. They prefer a pass-rushing OLB, but could settle for a S (Alabama's Mark Barron), a DLM (Memphis' Dontari Poe) or a WR (Notre Dame's Michael Floyd).
4. Tony's Time. When a team installs a new offensive or defensive system, it has to tweak its player-evaluation system. You don't want to draft a square-peg player for a round-hole system. Soon after hiring O.C. Tony Sparano, the scouting department asked him to list what he considers the four critical factors at each position on offense. Armed with that info, the scouts did their thing, trying to find players that fit Sparano's system.
5. Strange, but true. During his pre-draft news conference, and later during a Q&A teleconference with season-ticket holders, Tannenbaum mentioned backup LG Caleb Schlauderaff no fewer than seven times. He got more mentions than that Tebow guy. What's up with that? Maybe Tannenbaum just likes the sound of Schlauderaff. I mean, who doesn't? Or maybe he's blowing smoke and is planning to take Stanford G David DeCastro.
6. Jets vs. Revis, III. The Darrelle Revis contract situation bears watching after the draft. It's sure to produce some sharply divided opinions. Pro-Revis: He's the best corner in football, maybe the best defensive player, and is underpaid with a combined $13.5 million over the next two seasons. Anti-Revis: He already has made $47.5 million in five years, exceeding his rookie contract by $11.5 million. He received a six-year, $36 million rookie deal, but the two sides re-negotiated two years ago, with Revis getting a $25 million sweetener on a one-year extension.
7. Oh, brother. If the Jets don't draft Chandler Jones, maybe they should look into signing his brother. Jon (Bones) Jones, 24, is the UFC light-heavyweight champion. He's 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. They could make him an OLB and have him cover former rugby star-turned-TE Hayden Smith.
8. Buzzzz. How can any self-respecting Steelers fan look at their team's new throwback jerseys and not laugh? Or cringe? They remind me of the "Bad News Bees" sketch on the old Saturday Night Live.
9. Go ahead, mock me. My current half-mock (and I reserve the right to change my mind): 1. Colts -- Andrew Luck, 2. Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, 3. Vikings -- Morris Claiborne, 4. Browns -- Trent Richardson, 5. Bucs -- Matt Kalil, 6. Rams -- Fletcher Cox, 7. Jaguars -- Justin Blackmon, 8. Dolphins -- Ryan Tannehill, 9. Panthers -- Stephon Gilmore, 10. Bills -- Michael Floyd, 11. Chiefs -- Luke Kuechly, 12. Seahawks -- Quinton Coples, 13. Cards -- David DeCastro, 14. Cowboys -- Mark Barron, 15. Eagles -- Dontari Poe, 16. Jets -- Melvin Ingram.
10. Different strokes. On Saturday, I wrote a piece on the Jets' draft room -- specifically, the people in the room (a total of 13) and how they make decisions. GM Mike Tannenbaum appreciates input from everyone. Not surprisingly, the Patriots have a different approach. The NFL Network's Mike Lombardi, who used to work with Bill Belichick, described the Belichick way (quote courtesy of ESPNBoston.com): "The draft room will be very small. ... It will only be four people. Belichick's big thing is that he's not looking for more opinions, he's looking for right opinions. The scouts do their job, which is prepare him for the draft, then ... there is only one decision-maker in New England. He doesn't want any confusion on draft day."
Five games that will decide the season
April, 17, 2012
Apr 17
9:12
PM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Every season includes pressure points, games that swing the season in one direction or another. After studying the Jets' 2012 schedule, released Tuesday night, we've identified five key games:
Week 1: Bills at Jets, 1 p.m.
Considering the way last season ended, the Jets need to start with a positive, team-unifying victory. So the NFL schedule maker provided a little help, giving the Jets their third straight season opener at home. That they face the Bills, a team they've beaten five straight times, doesn't hurt. Because of a tough early schedule, this is almost a must-win for the Jets. It's a chance to establish their identity, show the world how they're going to use Tim Tebow and deliver a statement to the AFC East's up-and-coming team.
Week 5: Texans at Jets, 8:30 p.m.
The Texans think their hot stuff, coming off the most successful season in franchise history. They're a trendy Super Bowl pick in 2012, and they'll be coming to MetLife Stadium with a Texas-sized chip on their shoulder. Why? The Jets have owned the all-time series -- 5-0. They've won blowouts, and they've won with miracle finishes. This game is a chance for the Jets to maintain their superiority over a talented, almost-elite team in the AFC.
Week 7: Jets at Patriots, 4:15 p.m.
After beating the Patriots in two out of three games in 2010, including the playoffs, the Jets were so cocky at the start of last season that Rex Ryan publicly challenged other teams to beat Tom Brady & Co. It was as if he was saying, "Hey, we can't do it by ourselves." Well, the words came back to haunt Ryan. The Jets got spanked twice last season, increasing the gap in the AFC East. Well, here's their first chance for a little get-back. If the you want rule the division, you have to knock off the champs.
Week 11: Patriots at Jets, 8:20 p.m.
The Jets will play on Thanksgiving for the third time since 2007. What could be better on a holiday than Bill Belichick and Ryan, Brady and Sanchez (or maybe Tebow?) and a whole lot of bad blood between the two rivals? If the Jets are as good as they think they'll be, this game will have huge implications in the standins. The Jets were embarrassed at home last season by the Patriots, who killed them with TE Rob Gronkowski. The Jets signed S LaRon Landry, in part, to neutralize the big fella.
Week 14: Jets at Titans, 8:30 p.m.
This is a Monday night in Nashville, the first of back-to-back prime-time games for the Jets. The Titans, on the rise under Mike Munchak, have one of the elite players in the league, RB Chris Johnson. This figures to be a physical game between two teams that want to run the ball, and a couple of teams that should be contenders in the AFC. The Jets have taken five of the last six in this rivalry.
Bill Belichick has been called worse.
But it certainly caught Rob Gronkowski off guard on SportsCenter on Wednesday when Darrelle Revis called the Patriots coach "a jerk" during a word-association segment.
"Wow. I wasn't expecting that one," a flustered Gronkowski said.
Revis quickly explained his reasoning.
"Just some of the comments he says about the Jets," Revis said.
Gronkowski called Jets coach Rex Ryan an "entertainer."
Even though Revis got in the first punch, Gronkowski came back with a counter.
After Revis called Tim Tebow "a competitor," Gronkowski said, "starting quarterback for the Jets."
"That's a good one," Revis said.
Wonder if Mark Sanchez was watching.
At the end of what felt like an awkward segment, Revis called Gronkowski "a beast," while the Patriots tight end called Revis "the best corner in the NFL."
Sunday notes: Jets will pass on Mario
February, 19, 2012
Feb 19
5:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Thoughts and observations on the Jets and other NFL stuff:
1. The Jets chased the most coveted free agent last offseason, ultimately losing CB Nnamdi Asomugha to the Eagles. The No. 1 prize in the upcoming free-agent market is Texans DE/OLB Mario Williams, who could land the richest contract in history for a defensive player. Even though the Jets have a glaring need for a 3-4 OLB, they are expected to sit out the Williams sweepstakes. The primary reason is cap room. As of last week, they had less than $500,000 in projected cap space. They can create room by restructuring bloated contracts and cutting players -- and they probably will -- but they evidently prefer to use the money to address several needs instead of putting all their eggs in the Williams basket.
2. There's also some question about whether Williams can be a 3-4 OLB. He debuted in that role last season, switching to a stand-up position in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme. He showed promise (five sacks in four-plus games), but it was short-lived because of a torn pectoral muscle. We're talking about only 225 snaps, including just 17 plays in which he dropped into pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. The Jets use their OLBs in pass coverage roughly 20 percent of the time, so there would be some adjustment.
3. Of course, the Jets could be saving their money on the off chance that Peyton Manning calls and says, "Hey, Rex, I wanna be a Jet." It's highly unlikely, but ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, in a piece for SportsCenter, lists the Jets among the four likeliest destinations for Manning (assuming he's released by the Colts). He also names the Dolphins, Redskins and Cards, with the Dolphins the current favorite, in his view. Schefter mentions the Jets' tight cap situation and relationship with Mark Sanchez as factors that would prevent them from landing Manning.
4. Imagine if Manning landed in Miami; what a division. The Jets would have to face two of the greatest quarterbacks in history twice a year. Sorry, Bills fans, we're not talking about Ryan Fitzpatrick.
5. The Jets are bucking a leaguewide trend by having an offensive coordinator whose area of expertise is the offensive line. Tony Sparano is one of only four OCs in that category, but he stands alone in this respect: The other three are working for offensive-minded head coaches. They are Rick Dennison (Texans), Hal Hunter (Chargers) and former Jets OL coach Bill Callahan (Cowboys). Sparano works for a defensive-minded coach, meaning he's the "head coach" of the offense. In this air-it-out era, teams prefer coordinators with passing backgrounds -- mostly former QBs and WRs coaches. The Jets are going the other way.
6. Randy Moss to the Jets? Now that would be Linsanity, sans the L.
7. Former New York QBs, Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason, who spoke at a Long Island business luncheon Wednesday, defended Sanchez. Simms believes Sanchez has received unfair criticism from impatient media and fans. He said it's nuts to say Sanchez should be replaced. "When I hear this about Mark Sanchez, it's insane, it really is," Simms said. "It drives me crazy." Esiason said Sanchez has potential for "greatness." Wait a second; this is the same Esiason who recently compared Sanchez's pocket demeanor to that of a nervous chihuahua.
8. In case you're wondering, Santonio Holmes hasn't responded (at least not via twitter) to Sanchez's Valentine request -- not as of Saturday evening, anyway. It was a cute, seemingly all-in-fun gesture by Sanchez, but you have to wonder if Holmes took it the same way. LG Matt Slauson had some fun with it. Slauson, joking with reporters at the WrestleMania announcement the other day, said he was "expecting a card and a big, old stuffed teddy bear" from his QB.
9. On Wednesday, the NFL will converge on Indianapolis for the second time in a month. This time, it's the scouting combine. Media coverage of the combine has grown so much that just about everything is orchestrated by the NFL, which is good and bad. In the old days, things were more relaxed than now. I remember interviewing Bill Belichick in his hotel room during the brief period in 1997 when he was the Jets' HC. Those were the days.
10. I think it's going to be fascinating to see how former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano fares with the Bucs. He's not exactly putting together a "Who's Who" of assisant coaches. Bill Sheridan as defensive coordinator? No doubt, some Giants players are chuckling to themselves.
1. The Jets chased the most coveted free agent last offseason, ultimately losing CB Nnamdi Asomugha to the Eagles. The No. 1 prize in the upcoming free-agent market is Texans DE/OLB Mario Williams, who could land the richest contract in history for a defensive player. Even though the Jets have a glaring need for a 3-4 OLB, they are expected to sit out the Williams sweepstakes. The primary reason is cap room. As of last week, they had less than $500,000 in projected cap space. They can create room by restructuring bloated contracts and cutting players -- and they probably will -- but they evidently prefer to use the money to address several needs instead of putting all their eggs in the Williams basket.
2. There's also some question about whether Williams can be a 3-4 OLB. He debuted in that role last season, switching to a stand-up position in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme. He showed promise (five sacks in four-plus games), but it was short-lived because of a torn pectoral muscle. We're talking about only 225 snaps, including just 17 plays in which he dropped into pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. The Jets use their OLBs in pass coverage roughly 20 percent of the time, so there would be some adjustment.
3. Of course, the Jets could be saving their money on the off chance that Peyton Manning calls and says, "Hey, Rex, I wanna be a Jet." It's highly unlikely, but ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, in a piece for SportsCenter, lists the Jets among the four likeliest destinations for Manning (assuming he's released by the Colts). He also names the Dolphins, Redskins and Cards, with the Dolphins the current favorite, in his view. Schefter mentions the Jets' tight cap situation and relationship with Mark Sanchez as factors that would prevent them from landing Manning.
4. Imagine if Manning landed in Miami; what a division. The Jets would have to face two of the greatest quarterbacks in history twice a year. Sorry, Bills fans, we're not talking about Ryan Fitzpatrick.
5. The Jets are bucking a leaguewide trend by having an offensive coordinator whose area of expertise is the offensive line. Tony Sparano is one of only four OCs in that category, but he stands alone in this respect: The other three are working for offensive-minded head coaches. They are Rick Dennison (Texans), Hal Hunter (Chargers) and former Jets OL coach Bill Callahan (Cowboys). Sparano works for a defensive-minded coach, meaning he's the "head coach" of the offense. In this air-it-out era, teams prefer coordinators with passing backgrounds -- mostly former QBs and WRs coaches. The Jets are going the other way.
6. Randy Moss to the Jets? Now that would be Linsanity, sans the L.
7. Former New York QBs, Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason, who spoke at a Long Island business luncheon Wednesday, defended Sanchez. Simms believes Sanchez has received unfair criticism from impatient media and fans. He said it's nuts to say Sanchez should be replaced. "When I hear this about Mark Sanchez, it's insane, it really is," Simms said. "It drives me crazy." Esiason said Sanchez has potential for "greatness." Wait a second; this is the same Esiason who recently compared Sanchez's pocket demeanor to that of a nervous chihuahua.
8. In case you're wondering, Santonio Holmes hasn't responded (at least not via twitter) to Sanchez's Valentine request -- not as of Saturday evening, anyway. It was a cute, seemingly all-in-fun gesture by Sanchez, but you have to wonder if Holmes took it the same way. LG Matt Slauson had some fun with it. Slauson, joking with reporters at the WrestleMania announcement the other day, said he was "expecting a card and a big, old stuffed teddy bear" from his QB.
9. On Wednesday, the NFL will converge on Indianapolis for the second time in a month. This time, it's the scouting combine. Media coverage of the combine has grown so much that just about everything is orchestrated by the NFL, which is good and bad. In the old days, things were more relaxed than now. I remember interviewing Bill Belichick in his hotel room during the brief period in 1997 when he was the Jets' HC. Those were the days.
10. I think it's going to be fascinating to see how former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano fares with the Bucs. He's not exactly putting together a "Who's Who" of assisant coaches. Bill Sheridan as defensive coordinator? No doubt, some Giants players are chuckling to themselves.
Sunday notes: Dealing with cap issues
February, 12, 2012
Feb 12
5:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Thoughts and observations on our first Sunday without a football season:
1. The new league year begins in a month and, as usual, the Jets have some cap issues. Get this: Their 10 highest-paid players will count $90 million toward the 2012 salary cap, which is projected in the $120 million to $128 million range. Break out the shoe horn. Right now, the Jets have about $128 million committed to the cap, so they will have to do some trimming. In case you're wondering, the top 10 are Mark Sanchez, David Harris, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Darrelle Revis, Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Calvin Pace, Bart Scott, Nick Mangold and Brandon Moore.
2. A lot of fans are up in arms over the decision to guarantee RT Wayne Hunter's $2.45 million salary. It seems like a head scratcher, but here's what the Jets could be thinking: The free-agent market has slim pickings and, even if they replace him with a high draft choice, they'll still need an insurance policy -- and you're not going to find a decent insurance policy for less than $2.45 million. Plus, keep in mind that Hunter didn't receive a signing bonus last offseason with his new contract, so it's not like they've made a huge investment. Hey, I'm just trying to come up with possible reasons here.
3. ... And another thing: It would've looked bad, real bad, if they had dumped Hunter the same week they guaranteed Fort Knox to Holmes. Remember, Hunter was the guy who called out Holmes in the huddle on that fateful day in Miami, standing up to a player many had felt quit. As ESPNNewYork.com's Jane McManus reported at the time, Hunter screamed at Holmes, "If you don’t f------ want to play, get your a-- the f--- out!” If the Jets told Hunter to get out, it would've sent a bad message.
4. Some bookkeeping: Several players, with escalators in the final year of their contracts, received salary bumps for 2012: Dustin Keller ($2 million raise) is up to $3.05 million, Mike DeVito ($300,000) is up to $2.26 million and Matt Slauson ($740,000) is up to $1.3 million and Shonn Greene ($50,000) is up to $615,000. This is pretty standard stuff.
5. As for these rumors the Jets might try to trade Keller because his blocking isn't good enough to fit in Tony Sparano's scheme ... please. It would make no sense to unload Sanchez's security blanket. Keller is a very good receiver. Figure out a way to use him.
6. Bill Belichick is taking too much grief for the Mario Manningham catch. Yeah, he implored his defense to make Eli Manning throw it to Manningham -- the coach was miked by NFL Films -- but that was the right strategy: Force the opponent to go to its No. 3 WR, not its No. 1 or No. 2. The Patriots got burned because Manning made the perfect throw and Manningham made a sensational catch, but Belichick played the right percentages.
7. Belichick's big mistake was letting the Giants score one play too late. He should've done it on the play before Ahmad Bradshaw's 6-yard TD run. The Patriots would've had the ball with 1:04 left and two timeouts instead of :57 and one timeout. Big difference.
8. A few days before the Super Bowl, I wrote a column calling Tom Brady an "average" post-season quarterback since winning his third Super Bowl. That wasn't received too well in Patriot Nation, but facts are facts: Since winning his first 10 post-season games, Brady is 6-6, with 26 TD passes and 17 interceptions. His fourth-quarter numbers from his last two Super Bowls: 16-for-33, 155 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He failed both times to rally his team on his final possession.
Brady's worst moment was throwing off-target to a wide-open Wes Welker. Yes, Welker had both hands on the ball and should've made the catch, but it would've been a lot easier if Brady hadn't choked. It was akin to missing a three-foot putt. The game came down to two throws: Brady missed an open receiver from 23 yards, Manning was on the money to Manningham from 38.
9. Kudos to former Jets QB Erik Ainge, who has started his own football academy in Knoxville -- the Ainge Academy. The former Tennessee standout, basically thrown out of the NFL because of drug and alcohol problems, is trying to give back. He has a powerful story to tell, and he wants to help kids avoid the same mistakes he made. Good for him.
10. Former Jets and Dolphins QB Chad Pennington, in an interview with the Palm Beach Post, all but acknowledged he's ready to retire. He's always had a passion for coaching; wouldn't be interesting if he reunited with Sparano on the Jets? Pennington had this to say about Dolphins QB Chad Henne, a free agent: "For Chad, the best thing is a change of scenery. It was for me after eight years in New York." I wouldn't be shocked if the Jets make a play for Henne.
1. The new league year begins in a month and, as usual, the Jets have some cap issues. Get this: Their 10 highest-paid players will count $90 million toward the 2012 salary cap, which is projected in the $120 million to $128 million range. Break out the shoe horn. Right now, the Jets have about $128 million committed to the cap, so they will have to do some trimming. In case you're wondering, the top 10 are Mark Sanchez, David Harris, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Darrelle Revis, Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Calvin Pace, Bart Scott, Nick Mangold and Brandon Moore.
2. A lot of fans are up in arms over the decision to guarantee RT Wayne Hunter's $2.45 million salary. It seems like a head scratcher, but here's what the Jets could be thinking: The free-agent market has slim pickings and, even if they replace him with a high draft choice, they'll still need an insurance policy -- and you're not going to find a decent insurance policy for less than $2.45 million. Plus, keep in mind that Hunter didn't receive a signing bonus last offseason with his new contract, so it's not like they've made a huge investment. Hey, I'm just trying to come up with possible reasons here.
3. ... And another thing: It would've looked bad, real bad, if they had dumped Hunter the same week they guaranteed Fort Knox to Holmes. Remember, Hunter was the guy who called out Holmes in the huddle on that fateful day in Miami, standing up to a player many had felt quit. As ESPNNewYork.com's Jane McManus reported at the time, Hunter screamed at Holmes, "If you don’t f------ want to play, get your a-- the f--- out!” If the Jets told Hunter to get out, it would've sent a bad message.
4. Some bookkeeping: Several players, with escalators in the final year of their contracts, received salary bumps for 2012: Dustin Keller ($2 million raise) is up to $3.05 million, Mike DeVito ($300,000) is up to $2.26 million and Matt Slauson ($740,000) is up to $1.3 million and Shonn Greene ($50,000) is up to $615,000. This is pretty standard stuff.
5. As for these rumors the Jets might try to trade Keller because his blocking isn't good enough to fit in Tony Sparano's scheme ... please. It would make no sense to unload Sanchez's security blanket. Keller is a very good receiver. Figure out a way to use him.
6. Bill Belichick is taking too much grief for the Mario Manningham catch. Yeah, he implored his defense to make Eli Manning throw it to Manningham -- the coach was miked by NFL Films -- but that was the right strategy: Force the opponent to go to its No. 3 WR, not its No. 1 or No. 2. The Patriots got burned because Manning made the perfect throw and Manningham made a sensational catch, but Belichick played the right percentages.
7. Belichick's big mistake was letting the Giants score one play too late. He should've done it on the play before Ahmad Bradshaw's 6-yard TD run. The Patriots would've had the ball with 1:04 left and two timeouts instead of :57 and one timeout. Big difference.
8. A few days before the Super Bowl, I wrote a column calling Tom Brady an "average" post-season quarterback since winning his third Super Bowl. That wasn't received too well in Patriot Nation, but facts are facts: Since winning his first 10 post-season games, Brady is 6-6, with 26 TD passes and 17 interceptions. His fourth-quarter numbers from his last two Super Bowls: 16-for-33, 155 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He failed both times to rally his team on his final possession.
Brady's worst moment was throwing off-target to a wide-open Wes Welker. Yes, Welker had both hands on the ball and should've made the catch, but it would've been a lot easier if Brady hadn't choked. It was akin to missing a three-foot putt. The game came down to two throws: Brady missed an open receiver from 23 yards, Manning was on the money to Manningham from 38.
9. Kudos to former Jets QB Erik Ainge, who has started his own football academy in Knoxville -- the Ainge Academy. The former Tennessee standout, basically thrown out of the NFL because of drug and alcohol problems, is trying to give back. He has a powerful story to tell, and he wants to help kids avoid the same mistakes he made. Good for him.
10. Former Jets and Dolphins QB Chad Pennington, in an interview with the Palm Beach Post, all but acknowledged he's ready to retire. He's always had a passion for coaching; wouldn't be interesting if he reunited with Sparano on the Jets? Pennington had this to say about Dolphins QB Chad Henne, a free agent: "For Chad, the best thing is a change of scenery. It was for me after eight years in New York." I wouldn't be shocked if the Jets make a play for Henne.
Six lessons Jets can learn from Super Bowl
February, 7, 2012
Feb 7
12:13
PM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Tough day for the Jets. New York City is picking up confetti from the Giants’ victory parade. The Jets? Well, they're still picking up the pieces from a shattered season.
But, hey, life is a learning experience, and the Jets can learn plenty from Super Bowl XLVI. Six things they can take away from it:
1. You need a franchise quarterback. There are rare exceptions, of course, but the reality is you need an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Unless they’re lying through their teeth, the Jets believe they have that guy in Mark Sanchez. We’ll find out the truth in about a month, when Peyton Manning is expected to become available.
2. Pass rush is important. Because it's a passing league, you need to have the ability to put the quarterback on the ground. Once again, the Giants proved that it’s vital to have pressure players. Instead of trying to manufacture a pass rush with scheme, the Jets need to bring in some horses. They've ignored this for too long.
3. Chemistry is key. The prevailing theme in the Giants’ locker room late Sunday night was team unity, how their belief in one another helped them navigate a turbulent season. The Giants were 7-7, and everybody wanted Tom Coughlin’s head on a platter, but the team never succumbed to the adversity. The Jets, who did, have a lot of work to do in this area.
4. Depth isn’t a luxury, it’s a must. Both the Giants and Patriots suffered a number of injuries throughout the season, but they kept it together, in many cases with no-name players. The Jets, now paying for having traded away so many draft choices over the years, have depth issues at quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker and safety.
5. Continuity is big. Eli Manning has been in the same offensive system his entire career. For the most part, so has Tom Brady. Both teams have a system that works, and they know how to find players to fit the system. The Jets have that on defense, but not on offense – and they won’t anytime soon. They’re starting over with a new coordinator, Tony Sparano, and a new system.
6. Strong leadership is essential. You may not like their styles, but Coughlin and Bill Belichick have a style, an unwavering philosophy on how to lead their respective teams. Rex Ryan still is finding himself, conceding he needs to tweak his approach. Ryan deserves some slack because he’s a lot less experienced than Coughlin and Belichick, both of whom are in their second head-coaching job, but it’s time for Ryan to settle in and chart a course for the Jets.
But, hey, life is a learning experience, and the Jets can learn plenty from Super Bowl XLVI. Six things they can take away from it:
1. You need a franchise quarterback. There are rare exceptions, of course, but the reality is you need an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Unless they’re lying through their teeth, the Jets believe they have that guy in Mark Sanchez. We’ll find out the truth in about a month, when Peyton Manning is expected to become available.
2. Pass rush is important. Because it's a passing league, you need to have the ability to put the quarterback on the ground. Once again, the Giants proved that it’s vital to have pressure players. Instead of trying to manufacture a pass rush with scheme, the Jets need to bring in some horses. They've ignored this for too long.
3. Chemistry is key. The prevailing theme in the Giants’ locker room late Sunday night was team unity, how their belief in one another helped them navigate a turbulent season. The Giants were 7-7, and everybody wanted Tom Coughlin’s head on a platter, but the team never succumbed to the adversity. The Jets, who did, have a lot of work to do in this area.
4. Depth isn’t a luxury, it’s a must. Both the Giants and Patriots suffered a number of injuries throughout the season, but they kept it together, in many cases with no-name players. The Jets, now paying for having traded away so many draft choices over the years, have depth issues at quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker and safety.
5. Continuity is big. Eli Manning has been in the same offensive system his entire career. For the most part, so has Tom Brady. Both teams have a system that works, and they know how to find players to fit the system. The Jets have that on defense, but not on offense – and they won’t anytime soon. They’re starting over with a new coordinator, Tony Sparano, and a new system.
6. Strong leadership is essential. You may not like their styles, but Coughlin and Bill Belichick have a style, an unwavering philosophy on how to lead their respective teams. Rex Ryan still is finding himself, conceding he needs to tweak his approach. Ryan deserves some slack because he’s a lot less experienced than Coughlin and Belichick, both of whom are in their second head-coaching job, but it’s time for Ryan to settle in and chart a course for the Jets.
Super Sunday notes: A Jets thaw?
February, 5, 2012
Feb 5
10:30
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Thoughts and observations, the Super Bowl XLVI edition:
1. Santonio Holmes tweeted this Saturday night: "@Mark_Sanchez @Pouha91 Hope your getting as antsy as me for the 2012-13 season to start. One more day til we start to make that journey." This came one day after Rex Ryan told me Sanchez and Holmes are planning some sort of extended sit-down, maybe a weekend retreat. (Why do I keep having images of Vince Vaughn?) These are certainly positive developments for the Jets' fractured locker room. But I wonder: Holmes' tweet wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that his $7.75 million guarantee jumps to $15 million if he's still on the roster after Wednesday, would it?
2. Ryan told reporters Saturday night he will take a more active role in the defense. In other words, he'll be calling plays again.
3. Curiously, the Jets haven't made any official announcements regarding the holdovers from the previous offensive staff -- i.e. QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, who's still under contract. They expressed interest in former Dolphins O.C. Brian Daboll (see: Tony Sparano connection), but Daboll just landed the same gig with the Chiefs. I'm hearing Karl Dorrell is a possibility for the QBs coach job, another Sparano guy. Sources say Sparano wants to bring in his own guy, which is understandable, but Ryan prefers to keep Cavanaugh. The coaches return Monday from vacation. The Jets need to firm this up because it's unfair to keep Cavanaugh floating in limbo -- if, in fact, he hasn't been informed of his status.
4. Interesting that former Jets P Steve Weatherford, now with the Giants, wears ear plugs when he punts. I know what you're thinking: He started doing that so he wouldn't have to hear Mike Westhoff barking at him. Not true. Weatherford's close friend, K John Carney, introduced him to the idea.
5. Congratulations to Curtis Martin on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My favorite Martin memory: Dec. 14, 2003 at Giants Stadium. In a driving snowstorm, Martin rushed 30 times for 174 yards. Everybody else was slipping and sliding, but Martin seemed to be on air, gliding. GM Mike Tannenbaum has a picture of Martin, parting the snowflakes, hanging in his office.
6. The life of a quarterback: After the season, Sanchez underwent precautionary MRIs on his ankles, knees and shoulders. Everything apparently checked out OK.
7. The Giants were very Jets-like during the run-up to the Super Bowl, with a handful of rather bold statements. I asked the King of Bold, Rex Ryan, if he had a comment on the Giants' bravado. He laughed and said he wasn't aware of the comments because he was in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl.
8. On Friday, I wrote a story about how the Giants discovered Victor Cruz at UMass, noting how college scout Chris Pettit did most of the leg work. Whitey Walsh, the longtime Giants scout now retired, also was involved. He used to run the Giants' local Pro Day at Giants Stadium. Walsh is in Indianapolis for the game, which is fitting.
9. Here's my opinion of Plaxico Burress: He did what he did for 12 games ... and disappeared.
10. Prediction: I'll stick with my initital feeling about the game -- a Giants victory, 31-27. I must admit, though, I'd be concerned about the vibe around the Giants. Too chatty. Bill Belichick is a master at using slights -- or perceived slights -- to his advantage.
Years ago, before the Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl, there was a report about how the city of Philadelphia already had planned a victory parade. Belichick read the exact parade route to his players, according to former Patriot-turned-ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi. Belichick once told me that, during the run-up to the Giants-Bills Super Bowl in 1991, they took a newspaper photo of Bruce Smith, getting fitted for a ring at a jewelry store, and posted it in their meeting room.
You can bet copies of the Giants' website faux pas -- the "Congratulations, Super Bowl Champions!" page that appeared briefly Saturday night -- will be displayed prominently in the Patriots' inner sanctum.
But I'll stick with the Giants.
1. Santonio Holmes tweeted this Saturday night: "@Mark_Sanchez @Pouha91 Hope your getting as antsy as me for the 2012-13 season to start. One more day til we start to make that journey." This came one day after Rex Ryan told me Sanchez and Holmes are planning some sort of extended sit-down, maybe a weekend retreat. (Why do I keep having images of Vince Vaughn?) These are certainly positive developments for the Jets' fractured locker room. But I wonder: Holmes' tweet wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that his $7.75 million guarantee jumps to $15 million if he's still on the roster after Wednesday, would it?
2. Ryan told reporters Saturday night he will take a more active role in the defense. In other words, he'll be calling plays again.
3. Curiously, the Jets haven't made any official announcements regarding the holdovers from the previous offensive staff -- i.e. QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, who's still under contract. They expressed interest in former Dolphins O.C. Brian Daboll (see: Tony Sparano connection), but Daboll just landed the same gig with the Chiefs. I'm hearing Karl Dorrell is a possibility for the QBs coach job, another Sparano guy. Sources say Sparano wants to bring in his own guy, which is understandable, but Ryan prefers to keep Cavanaugh. The coaches return Monday from vacation. The Jets need to firm this up because it's unfair to keep Cavanaugh floating in limbo -- if, in fact, he hasn't been informed of his status.
4. Interesting that former Jets P Steve Weatherford, now with the Giants, wears ear plugs when he punts. I know what you're thinking: He started doing that so he wouldn't have to hear Mike Westhoff barking at him. Not true. Weatherford's close friend, K John Carney, introduced him to the idea.
5. Congratulations to Curtis Martin on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My favorite Martin memory: Dec. 14, 2003 at Giants Stadium. In a driving snowstorm, Martin rushed 30 times for 174 yards. Everybody else was slipping and sliding, but Martin seemed to be on air, gliding. GM Mike Tannenbaum has a picture of Martin, parting the snowflakes, hanging in his office.
6. The life of a quarterback: After the season, Sanchez underwent precautionary MRIs on his ankles, knees and shoulders. Everything apparently checked out OK.
7. The Giants were very Jets-like during the run-up to the Super Bowl, with a handful of rather bold statements. I asked the King of Bold, Rex Ryan, if he had a comment on the Giants' bravado. He laughed and said he wasn't aware of the comments because he was in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl.
8. On Friday, I wrote a story about how the Giants discovered Victor Cruz at UMass, noting how college scout Chris Pettit did most of the leg work. Whitey Walsh, the longtime Giants scout now retired, also was involved. He used to run the Giants' local Pro Day at Giants Stadium. Walsh is in Indianapolis for the game, which is fitting.
9. Here's my opinion of Plaxico Burress: He did what he did for 12 games ... and disappeared.
10. Prediction: I'll stick with my initital feeling about the game -- a Giants victory, 31-27. I must admit, though, I'd be concerned about the vibe around the Giants. Too chatty. Bill Belichick is a master at using slights -- or perceived slights -- to his advantage.
Years ago, before the Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl, there was a report about how the city of Philadelphia already had planned a victory parade. Belichick read the exact parade route to his players, according to former Patriot-turned-ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi. Belichick once told me that, during the run-up to the Giants-Bills Super Bowl in 1991, they took a newspaper photo of Bruce Smith, getting fitted for a ring at a jewelry store, and posted it in their meeting room.
You can bet copies of the Giants' website faux pas -- the "Congratulations, Super Bowl Champions!" page that appeared briefly Saturday night -- will be displayed prominently in the Patriots' inner sanctum.
But I'll stick with the Giants.
Poll Skewing Alert: Vote against Belichick
January, 30, 2012
Jan 30
4:55
PM ET
By ESPNNewYork.com Staff
Attention, Giants and Jets fans -- Tom Coughlin needs your help.
Today's Hot Button debate on ESPN.com pits TC vs. BB, as in Bill Belichick, as in the former HC of the NYJ.
You can vote for Coughlin vs. Belichick in the ESPNNewYork.com home page poll, or by following this link to the Hot Button feature.
Vote early, vote often, and send this to all your friends. At the moment, Belichick has 78% of the vote. Let's see what Blue and Green can do.
Today's Hot Button debate on ESPN.com pits TC vs. BB, as in Bill Belichick, as in the former HC of the NYJ.
You can vote for Coughlin vs. Belichick in the ESPNNewYork.com home page poll, or by following this link to the Hot Button feature.
Vote early, vote often, and send this to all your friends. At the moment, Belichick has 78% of the vote. Let's see what Blue and Green can do.
Thoughts and observations after reviewing the tape of Sunday night's 37-16 loss to the Patriots:
SCHOTT IN THE DARK: This performance will be a stain on Brian Schottenheimer's record, which will be reviewed after the season. The Patriots, the lowest-ranked defense in the league, used a makeshift lineup and still had their way with the Jets.
Bill Belichick started two undrafted rookies, S Sterling Moore (who never played safety) and LB Jeff Tarpinian -- neither of whom had played A SINGLE DEFENSIVE SNAP before this game. Moore, a cornerback, appeared in his first game after being called up from the practice squad. In the second quarter, they lost CB Devin McCourty (shoulder) and replaced him with Antwaun Molden, a Texans castoff.
This would be like the Jets having to use S Tracy Wilson (practice squad), LB Nick Bellore and CB Ellis Lankster in prominent roles.
Incredibly, the Jets failed to exploit the patchwork unit. Schottenheimer should've used motions and shifts to create confusion for the untested players, but there was very little of that. The formations remained static. They should've used bunch formations, the way the Patriots did to the Jets' defense, but everything was pretty vanilla. This reminded me of the next-to-last game of the '08 season, when the Jets did nothing against a Seattle offensive line that played all backups -- the game that ultimately cost Eric Mangini his job.
NO PROTECTION: The Jets allowed five sacks. Yeah, that's bad, but it's how they happened that's alarming. Three sacks were four-man rushes and one was a three-man rush. It was nothing exotic, the Patriots just won their one-on-one matchups. QB Mark Sanchez showed no pocket presence whatsoever and contributed to at least two of three sacks.
A review of the sacks.
1. Andre Carter, minus-7: The Patriots rushed four, the Jets protected with six. The Jets were in shotgun, empty backfield. TE Matt Mulligan was assigned to Carter, a bad matchup, and he got beat on an outside rush. Instead of stepping up, Sanchez slid into Carter's path.
2. Carter, minus-8: The Patriots rushed five, the Jets protected with five. Sanchez failed to recognize the front and adjust, and Carter came free, unblocked. Once again, the Jets were in shotgun/empty.
3. Carter/Mark Anderson, minus-9: The Patriots showed a double-slot blitz, but rushed only four. Sanchez, in shotgun, seemed hesitant in his pre-snap read. The Patriots stunted, and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and RT Wayne Hunter each got beat.
4. Carter, minus-6. The Patriots rushed four, the Jets protected with five. Again, they were in shotgun. Carter beat Ferguson.
5. Carter, minus-8. This wasn't good -- a three-man rush vs. a five-man protection. Ferguson actually did a decent job on Carter, but Sanchez held the ball too long and scrambled into Carter. Bad pocket presence.
The Patriots played a coverage-based scheme and it neutralized the Jets. In fact, all of Carter's sacks came with six or fewer men in the box -- the most sacks by any player over the last two seasons with six or less in the box, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
SO MUCH FOR GROUND & POUND: The Jets' players and coaches talked all week about how they weren't going to deviate from their run-oriented approach just because the Patriots had the 32nd-ranked pass defense. Ah, but they threw us a curve ball.
The Jets came out throwing on their first possession, going to the air on five of seven plays. They did it on the second drive, too, employing a seldom-used personnel package -- 2 RBs, 0 TEs, 3 WRs. They had the Patriots off balance, but the Jets bailed out as soon as the second drive ended with a sack. After that, it was back to Ground & Pound.
NO-HUDDLE, NO ANSWERS: The Jets reacted to the Patriots' no-huddle as if they had never seen it before. It's a New England staple, and the Jets should've been prepared. They weren't, as Tom Brady went 5-for-5 for 65 yards and one TD in the no-huddle, according to ESPN Stats. The Patriots went no-huddle on 15 of their 67 plays, accounting for 105 total yards.
The Jets were paralyzed because they rely heavily on substitution and the ability to make pre-snap checks. They also confused the Jets with several bunch formations, a great way to counter a team that plays a lot of man-to-man coverage. No doubt, future opponents will go to school on that, hoping to create similar issues.
HOT BRADY: Brady put on a clinic in the second half, completing 14-for-17 for 135 yards, two TDs. He picked on everybody not named Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Smart cookie, Brady. Here's a breakdown of the second-half completions/burn victims:
S Eric Smith -- Four receptions for 46 yards
CB Kyle Wilson -- Four for 44, including a TD
DB Donald Strickland -- Two for 11, including a TD
Others -- Four for 33.
LESS BLITZING: In their previous two home wins over Brady, Ryan blitzed at least one DB a total of 42 times -- and the Jets won both games. This time, there were only 14 blitzes by DBs -- and Brady tore them apart. He completed 10 of 14 passes, averaging 9.2 per attempt, with one TD, per ESPN Stats.
NO TRAFFIC JAM: At 6-foot-6, TE Rob Gronkowski is a tough cover -- we get it -- but the Jets didn't do a good job of making it hard for him. On both his TDs, they gave him a free release, allowing him to get into his pass route with no difficulty. On the first TD, he beat Smith on a post route. On the second TD, Smith blitzed Brady from the blindside, and almost got there, but Brady made a great read, spotting Strickland on Gronk. No contest.
ON THE FLIP SIDE: The Patriots did a great job of jamming TE Dustin Keller. On Sanchez's second INT, returned for a TD by Rob Ninkovich, Keller was doubled at the line and knocked to the ground by LB Tracy White, another bottom-of-the-depth chart player. Sanchez, looking for Keller, turned his focus to LaDainian Tomlinson and ... well, you saw what happened.
SCHOTT IN THE DARK: This performance will be a stain on Brian Schottenheimer's record, which will be reviewed after the season. The Patriots, the lowest-ranked defense in the league, used a makeshift lineup and still had their way with the Jets.
Bill Belichick started two undrafted rookies, S Sterling Moore (who never played safety) and LB Jeff Tarpinian -- neither of whom had played A SINGLE DEFENSIVE SNAP before this game. Moore, a cornerback, appeared in his first game after being called up from the practice squad. In the second quarter, they lost CB Devin McCourty (shoulder) and replaced him with Antwaun Molden, a Texans castoff.
This would be like the Jets having to use S Tracy Wilson (practice squad), LB Nick Bellore and CB Ellis Lankster in prominent roles.
Incredibly, the Jets failed to exploit the patchwork unit. Schottenheimer should've used motions and shifts to create confusion for the untested players, but there was very little of that. The formations remained static. They should've used bunch formations, the way the Patriots did to the Jets' defense, but everything was pretty vanilla. This reminded me of the next-to-last game of the '08 season, when the Jets did nothing against a Seattle offensive line that played all backups -- the game that ultimately cost Eric Mangini his job.
NO PROTECTION: The Jets allowed five sacks. Yeah, that's bad, but it's how they happened that's alarming. Three sacks were four-man rushes and one was a three-man rush. It was nothing exotic, the Patriots just won their one-on-one matchups. QB Mark Sanchez showed no pocket presence whatsoever and contributed to at least two of three sacks.
A review of the sacks.
1. Andre Carter, minus-7: The Patriots rushed four, the Jets protected with six. The Jets were in shotgun, empty backfield. TE Matt Mulligan was assigned to Carter, a bad matchup, and he got beat on an outside rush. Instead of stepping up, Sanchez slid into Carter's path.
2. Carter, minus-8: The Patriots rushed five, the Jets protected with five. Sanchez failed to recognize the front and adjust, and Carter came free, unblocked. Once again, the Jets were in shotgun/empty.
3. Carter/Mark Anderson, minus-9: The Patriots showed a double-slot blitz, but rushed only four. Sanchez, in shotgun, seemed hesitant in his pre-snap read. The Patriots stunted, and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and RT Wayne Hunter each got beat.
4. Carter, minus-6. The Patriots rushed four, the Jets protected with five. Again, they were in shotgun. Carter beat Ferguson.
5. Carter, minus-8. This wasn't good -- a three-man rush vs. a five-man protection. Ferguson actually did a decent job on Carter, but Sanchez held the ball too long and scrambled into Carter. Bad pocket presence.
The Patriots played a coverage-based scheme and it neutralized the Jets. In fact, all of Carter's sacks came with six or fewer men in the box -- the most sacks by any player over the last two seasons with six or less in the box, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
SO MUCH FOR GROUND & POUND: The Jets' players and coaches talked all week about how they weren't going to deviate from their run-oriented approach just because the Patriots had the 32nd-ranked pass defense. Ah, but they threw us a curve ball.
The Jets came out throwing on their first possession, going to the air on five of seven plays. They did it on the second drive, too, employing a seldom-used personnel package -- 2 RBs, 0 TEs, 3 WRs. They had the Patriots off balance, but the Jets bailed out as soon as the second drive ended with a sack. After that, it was back to Ground & Pound.
NO-HUDDLE, NO ANSWERS: The Jets reacted to the Patriots' no-huddle as if they had never seen it before. It's a New England staple, and the Jets should've been prepared. They weren't, as Tom Brady went 5-for-5 for 65 yards and one TD in the no-huddle, according to ESPN Stats. The Patriots went no-huddle on 15 of their 67 plays, accounting for 105 total yards.
The Jets were paralyzed because they rely heavily on substitution and the ability to make pre-snap checks. They also confused the Jets with several bunch formations, a great way to counter a team that plays a lot of man-to-man coverage. No doubt, future opponents will go to school on that, hoping to create similar issues.
HOT BRADY: Brady put on a clinic in the second half, completing 14-for-17 for 135 yards, two TDs. He picked on everybody not named Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Smart cookie, Brady. Here's a breakdown of the second-half completions/burn victims:
S Eric Smith -- Four receptions for 46 yards
CB Kyle Wilson -- Four for 44, including a TD
DB Donald Strickland -- Two for 11, including a TD
Others -- Four for 33.
LESS BLITZING: In their previous two home wins over Brady, Ryan blitzed at least one DB a total of 42 times -- and the Jets won both games. This time, there were only 14 blitzes by DBs -- and Brady tore them apart. He completed 10 of 14 passes, averaging 9.2 per attempt, with one TD, per ESPN Stats.
NO TRAFFIC JAM: At 6-foot-6, TE Rob Gronkowski is a tough cover -- we get it -- but the Jets didn't do a good job of making it hard for him. On both his TDs, they gave him a free release, allowing him to get into his pass route with no difficulty. On the first TD, he beat Smith on a post route. On the second TD, Smith blitzed Brady from the blindside, and almost got there, but Brady made a great read, spotting Strickland on Gronk. No contest.
ON THE FLIP SIDE: The Patriots did a great job of jamming TE Dustin Keller. On Sanchez's second INT, returned for a TD by Rob Ninkovich, Keller was doubled at the line and knocked to the ground by LB Tracy White, another bottom-of-the-depth chart player. Sanchez, looking for Keller, turned his focus to LaDainian Tomlinson and ... well, you saw what happened.
Ryan discusses Belichick, Sandler
November, 13, 2011
11/13/11
4:11
PM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
During the run-up to Sunday night's game, Rex Ryan sat down with NBC's Bob Costas. Here's an excerpt, courtesy of NBC Sports:
COSTAS: You’re in this movie with Adam Sandler. Not only are you in the movie, but you play a character, who is kind of a sleazy lawyer and a crazy Patriots fan with a Bill Belichick bobble head on his desk.
RYAN: That’s the facts. I tried like crazy, studied my lines like crazy, just so they’re not having to retake something just because of me.
COSTAS: How would you describe your acting?
RYAN: Not very good. I’m not Robert DeNiro, that’s for sure.
COSTAS: Do you think Belichick will like the scene?
RYAN: Oh yeah, no doubt. I think the funny thing about Belichick is, he’s a great guy and he’s funny. He’s somebody you’d like to drink a beer with and all that. He’s more normal outside of football than he is (inside it). His football persona is what it is and it should be. He’s looked at this way. But outside of the game, he’s just like you and I.
COSTAS on the Jets losing streak earlier this year: Do you ever look in the mirror and say, Rex, you screwed up?
RYAN: I do that anyway. I have a ton of confidence, there’s no question about it, but sure, I go back and, ‘Oh, God. I wish I had this play to do over. I shouldn’t have done this.’ But I’m growing as a head coach in this league. It’s only my third year and obviously I’ll be better next year than I am this year and I’ll be better five years from now. I’m trying to work on an extension (joking).
COSTAS: (laughing) You listening Mr. (Woody) Johnson?
COSTAS: So if somebody says to you, you’re going to have another five or six years as an NFL head coach, you’re going to win a couple of Super Bowls and then it’s going to end for whatever reason, or, you can have a 20-year run and the highest winning percentage in the game, constantly make the playoffs but never win a Super Bowl. Which of those two do you take?
RYAN: I’ll take number one. I want to win championships. One time I want to sit back and say, you know what, we were the very best. We’re world champions. If I win it this year and for whatever reason say you know what that’s it, I’ll be satisfied.
COSTAS: You’re in this movie with Adam Sandler. Not only are you in the movie, but you play a character, who is kind of a sleazy lawyer and a crazy Patriots fan with a Bill Belichick bobble head on his desk.
RYAN: That’s the facts. I tried like crazy, studied my lines like crazy, just so they’re not having to retake something just because of me.
COSTAS: How would you describe your acting?
RYAN: Not very good. I’m not Robert DeNiro, that’s for sure.
COSTAS: Do you think Belichick will like the scene?
RYAN: Oh yeah, no doubt. I think the funny thing about Belichick is, he’s a great guy and he’s funny. He’s somebody you’d like to drink a beer with and all that. He’s more normal outside of football than he is (inside it). His football persona is what it is and it should be. He’s looked at this way. But outside of the game, he’s just like you and I.
COSTAS on the Jets losing streak earlier this year: Do you ever look in the mirror and say, Rex, you screwed up?
RYAN: I do that anyway. I have a ton of confidence, there’s no question about it, but sure, I go back and, ‘Oh, God. I wish I had this play to do over. I shouldn’t have done this.’ But I’m growing as a head coach in this league. It’s only my third year and obviously I’ll be better next year than I am this year and I’ll be better five years from now. I’m trying to work on an extension (joking).
COSTAS: (laughing) You listening Mr. (Woody) Johnson?
COSTAS: So if somebody says to you, you’re going to have another five or six years as an NFL head coach, you’re going to win a couple of Super Bowls and then it’s going to end for whatever reason, or, you can have a 20-year run and the highest winning percentage in the game, constantly make the playoffs but never win a Super Bowl. Which of those two do you take?
RYAN: I’ll take number one. I want to win championships. One time I want to sit back and say, you know what, we were the very best. We’re world champions. If I win it this year and for whatever reason say you know what that’s it, I’ll be satisfied.
Game day: This is the biggest
November, 13, 2011
11/13/11
6:00
AM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Sunday notes, thoughts and observations:
Rex Ryan compared it to Ali-Frazier. I'm calling Sunday night's showdown against the Patriots the biggest regular-season game of the Ryan era.
It's not a do-or-die game (like the '09 season finale against the Bengals), and it doesn't have December drama (last season against the Steelers), but this is bigger than the rest because of all it represents -- not to mention its impact on the AFC East standings.
The Jets have been talking for two-plus years about overtaking the Patriots. Well, now is their chance. Yes, they had a shot last Dec. 6, when both teams entered 9-2. The difference between then and now is, the Jets knew even if they lost last December, they'd still have a great shot to make the playoffs as a wild card.
The Patriots clobbered the Jets, 45-3, a loss that still haunts/drives them. (A player, unsolicited, mentioned it to me the other day, saying it still serves as a source of motivation.)
This time, with a 5-3 record, the Jets might not have that luxury of falling back on the wild card. They might have to win the division, and that's probably not going to happen if they lose. The Patriots are 5-3, but they've dropped two straight, showing signs of vulnerability.
The Jets fought their way back from a three-game losing streak for a night like this, a night that didn't seem possible a month ago. If they want to realize their goal of securing a home playoff game, this is a must.
My three biggest regular-season games of the Ryan era (40 games):
1. Jan. 3, 2010: In a win-and-they're-in game, the Jets crushed the Bengals, 37-0. Virtual playoff games are always big, but this was a honeymoon season for the Jets and, after the Curtis Painter gift from the previous week, was there any doubt they'd beat a Cincinnati team that rested many players?
2. Dec. 6, 2010: There was tremendous hype for what would become known as the Boston Massacre. The Jets were non-competitive and lost, 45-3, falling a game behind the Patriots in the standings.
3. Dec. 19, 2010: The Jets went to Pittsburgh with a two-game losing streak and QB Mark Sanchez was close to getting benched -- and the Jets responded with an impressive 22-17 win that all but sealed a wild-card berth.
BELICHICK LOOKS BACK ON JETS DEPARTURE: On Friday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about his stunning resignation as HC of the NYJ, back in January, 2000. That subject doesn't come up too often in Belichick's presence -- he'd rather talk about Eric Mangini than that chapter in his life -- so I thought you might appreciate the Q & A with a reporter.
Q: Was that the strangest press conference you've ever done?
BB: I don’t really rank them, but it wasn’t a great situation all the way around, with Bill [Parcells] resigning the day before and me resigning the day after that and all that. That’s all water under the bridge.
Q: Do you ever look back on that?
BB: No. Honestly, I don’t spend a lot of time looking back on that, no.
Q: It was good TV.
BB: At that point in time, that situation, I did what I felt like I needed to do and I don’t have any regrets about that. Certainly a lot of things could have been handled differently or whatever, but anyway. It doesn’t matter now.
Imagine how history would be different if Belichick had remained with the Jets.
CUTTING BAIT: GM Mike Tannenbaum took a lot of criticism for parting ways with several popular players before the season, but in case you haven't noticed, not one of them is making him look bad. One thing about Tannenbaum: He usually knows when to say when.
How ex-Jets are faring with their new teams (stats from NFL.com):
DE Shaun Ellis (Patriots) -- No sacks, no forced fumbles, seven tackles.
S James Ihedigbo (Patriots) -- No interceptions, no sacks, 30 tackles.
WR Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers) -- Four catches for 54 yards.
WR Braylon Edwards (49ers) -- Ten catches for 120 yards.
DE Jason Taylor (Dolphins) -- Two sacks, eight tackles.
CB Drew Coleman (Jaguars) -- One interception, one sack, 24 tackles.
S Dwight Lowery (Jaguars) -- Two interceptions, one sack, 22 tackles.
RT Damien Woody -- Retired.
NT Kris Jenkins -- Retired.
THE MASON FIASCO: Looks like the Jets aren't going to get that conditional seventh-round pick for WR Derrick Mason. The deal with the Texans was this: He needed to catch at least 33 passes over their final 11 games for the Jets to get the pick. So far, he has only five catches in four games. In other words, they traded him for the proverbial bag of balls. But it was a classic example of addition by subtraction, as the Jets are 3-0 since the trade.
THE CUT MAN: On Saturday, the Patriots announced the signing of S Ross Ventrone to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. This seemingly is worthy of just a line on the transactions wire, but take a closer look: Ventrone is a boomerang. Since January, he has been cut five times by the Patriots, but he keeps coming back. In what other profession could you get fired five times in less than a year, and re-hired each time by the same employer?
Rex Ryan compared it to Ali-Frazier. I'm calling Sunday night's showdown against the Patriots the biggest regular-season game of the Ryan era.
It's not a do-or-die game (like the '09 season finale against the Bengals), and it doesn't have December drama (last season against the Steelers), but this is bigger than the rest because of all it represents -- not to mention its impact on the AFC East standings.
The Jets have been talking for two-plus years about overtaking the Patriots. Well, now is their chance. Yes, they had a shot last Dec. 6, when both teams entered 9-2. The difference between then and now is, the Jets knew even if they lost last December, they'd still have a great shot to make the playoffs as a wild card.
The Patriots clobbered the Jets, 45-3, a loss that still haunts/drives them. (A player, unsolicited, mentioned it to me the other day, saying it still serves as a source of motivation.)
This time, with a 5-3 record, the Jets might not have that luxury of falling back on the wild card. They might have to win the division, and that's probably not going to happen if they lose. The Patriots are 5-3, but they've dropped two straight, showing signs of vulnerability.
The Jets fought their way back from a three-game losing streak for a night like this, a night that didn't seem possible a month ago. If they want to realize their goal of securing a home playoff game, this is a must.
My three biggest regular-season games of the Ryan era (40 games):
1. Jan. 3, 2010: In a win-and-they're-in game, the Jets crushed the Bengals, 37-0. Virtual playoff games are always big, but this was a honeymoon season for the Jets and, after the Curtis Painter gift from the previous week, was there any doubt they'd beat a Cincinnati team that rested many players?
2. Dec. 6, 2010: There was tremendous hype for what would become known as the Boston Massacre. The Jets were non-competitive and lost, 45-3, falling a game behind the Patriots in the standings.
3. Dec. 19, 2010: The Jets went to Pittsburgh with a two-game losing streak and QB Mark Sanchez was close to getting benched -- and the Jets responded with an impressive 22-17 win that all but sealed a wild-card berth.
BELICHICK LOOKS BACK ON JETS DEPARTURE: On Friday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about his stunning resignation as HC of the NYJ, back in January, 2000. That subject doesn't come up too often in Belichick's presence -- he'd rather talk about Eric Mangini than that chapter in his life -- so I thought you might appreciate the Q & A with a reporter.
Q: Was that the strangest press conference you've ever done?
BB: I don’t really rank them, but it wasn’t a great situation all the way around, with Bill [Parcells] resigning the day before and me resigning the day after that and all that. That’s all water under the bridge.
Q: Do you ever look back on that?
BB: No. Honestly, I don’t spend a lot of time looking back on that, no.
Q: It was good TV.
BB: At that point in time, that situation, I did what I felt like I needed to do and I don’t have any regrets about that. Certainly a lot of things could have been handled differently or whatever, but anyway. It doesn’t matter now.
Imagine how history would be different if Belichick had remained with the Jets.
CUTTING BAIT: GM Mike Tannenbaum took a lot of criticism for parting ways with several popular players before the season, but in case you haven't noticed, not one of them is making him look bad. One thing about Tannenbaum: He usually knows when to say when.
How ex-Jets are faring with their new teams (stats from NFL.com):
DE Shaun Ellis (Patriots) -- No sacks, no forced fumbles, seven tackles.
S James Ihedigbo (Patriots) -- No interceptions, no sacks, 30 tackles.
WR Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers) -- Four catches for 54 yards.
WR Braylon Edwards (49ers) -- Ten catches for 120 yards.
DE Jason Taylor (Dolphins) -- Two sacks, eight tackles.
CB Drew Coleman (Jaguars) -- One interception, one sack, 24 tackles.
S Dwight Lowery (Jaguars) -- Two interceptions, one sack, 22 tackles.
RT Damien Woody -- Retired.
NT Kris Jenkins -- Retired.
THE MASON FIASCO: Looks like the Jets aren't going to get that conditional seventh-round pick for WR Derrick Mason. The deal with the Texans was this: He needed to catch at least 33 passes over their final 11 games for the Jets to get the pick. So far, he has only five catches in four games. In other words, they traded him for the proverbial bag of balls. But it was a classic example of addition by subtraction, as the Jets are 3-0 since the trade.
THE CUT MAN: On Saturday, the Patriots announced the signing of S Ross Ventrone to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. This seemingly is worthy of just a line on the transactions wire, but take a closer look: Ventrone is a boomerang. Since January, he has been cut five times by the Patriots, but he keeps coming back. In what other profession could you get fired five times in less than a year, and re-hired each time by the same employer?
A low-key approach? Say it ain't so
November, 10, 2011
11/10/11
8:48
PM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
The run-up to a Jets-Patriots game usually means some old-fashioned trash talking from the Jets, but they've been rather subdued these last few days. They've been -- dare we say it? -- bland, reminiscent of the week leading into the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers.
Even Rex Ryan backed down Thursday. Asked if he sees this as Ryan vs. Bill Belichick, the theme he used last year, the Jets' coach said, "I don't feel that way as much. This one's about how much our team has improved."
That was downright Belichick-ian. Ryan also hasn't used any props this time. A few days before the previous meeting, he showed up a news conference wearing a blazer with a homemade "Hall of Fame" logo from his college, noting he had been selected into the school's Hall. That, he said, meant he was just like Belichick -- a Hall-of-Fame coach.
No fun and games this time, just business. What gives?
Players insisted that Ryan hasn't issued any edicts about zipping it, but there definitely was an unusual vibe in the locker room. It's possible the players, led by the team captains, decided amongst themselves to stay away from giving any bulletin-board fodder to the Patriots.
"We're just playing football," said CB Antonio Cromartie, who last season publicly ripped Tom Brady before the playoff game. "We're letting our play speak for itself."
Said LB Bart Scott: "Every year is a different vibe ... That's just the approach we're taking. Game day, we'll be ready to go."
Even Rex Ryan backed down Thursday. Asked if he sees this as Ryan vs. Bill Belichick, the theme he used last year, the Jets' coach said, "I don't feel that way as much. This one's about how much our team has improved."
That was downright Belichick-ian. Ryan also hasn't used any props this time. A few days before the previous meeting, he showed up a news conference wearing a blazer with a homemade "Hall of Fame" logo from his college, noting he had been selected into the school's Hall. That, he said, meant he was just like Belichick -- a Hall-of-Fame coach.
No fun and games this time, just business. What gives?
Players insisted that Ryan hasn't issued any edicts about zipping it, but there definitely was an unusual vibe in the locker room. It's possible the players, led by the team captains, decided amongst themselves to stay away from giving any bulletin-board fodder to the Patriots.
"We're just playing football," said CB Antonio Cromartie, who last season publicly ripped Tom Brady before the playoff game. "We're letting our play speak for itself."
Said LB Bart Scott: "Every year is a different vibe ... That's just the approach we're taking. Game day, we'll be ready to go."
In the middle of a call ... click!
November, 9, 2011
11/09/11
2:34
PM ET
By
Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com
Patriots WR Deion Branch was in the middle of a conference call with the New York media Wednesday, and he was answering a question about whether doubt is starting to creep into the locker room. In case you haven't heard, the Patriots have lost two straight and the sky is about to fall across New England.
"No doubts around here, and that's me being honest," Branch said. "We see in the film room what we're doing wrong."
Click! Line dead. Branch gone.
Did he pulled a Revis and hang up? Did the notoriously paranoid Bill Belichick pull the plug? No, it was a power outage in Florham Park, N.J., and it affected the Jets' facility and surrounding areas. (Now I know why the traffic lights were dark on the ride in.)
Branch was re-connected and he continued, with, "Like I said earlier, everything is still the same ..."
Yada, yada, yada.
There were no connection issues during Belichick's conference call with the New York media. Belichick doesn't give away too much, but he started off with a funny line. Asked about the challenge of preparing for a team they played only a few weeks ago, he said:
"It's one of those deals where they know that we know that we know that they know that we know," he said.
Get it?
Belichick didn't provide much insight into the decision to release DT Albert Haynesworth.
"Anytime you bring a player onto the team, you bring him onto the team with the expectation that it'll be a positive and productive thing for your team," he said. "Of course, that doesn't always happen. We know that. When you feel like it's time to move on, then you make that decision. That's basically where we feel like we are."
He probably knows that we know what he knows: Haynesworth is a chronic underachiever.
Belichick was asked about Rex Ryan's upcoming appearance in an Adam Sandler movie in which he plays a Patriots fan.
"I'll tell you, he'll have to do some acting on that one," Belichick cracked. "That's a new one. I'm sure it will be entertaining."
Asked if he ever had a movie offer to play a Jets fans, Belichick told the Boston media, "I was there for a couple of years (as a Jets assistant), so I was a Jets fan."
Five words you never thought you'd hear roll off Belichick's lips: I was a Jets fan.
"No doubts around here, and that's me being honest," Branch said. "We see in the film room what we're doing wrong."
Click! Line dead. Branch gone.
Did he pulled a Revis and hang up? Did the notoriously paranoid Bill Belichick pull the plug? No, it was a power outage in Florham Park, N.J., and it affected the Jets' facility and surrounding areas. (Now I know why the traffic lights were dark on the ride in.)
Branch was re-connected and he continued, with, "Like I said earlier, everything is still the same ..."
Yada, yada, yada.
There were no connection issues during Belichick's conference call with the New York media. Belichick doesn't give away too much, but he started off with a funny line. Asked about the challenge of preparing for a team they played only a few weeks ago, he said:
"It's one of those deals where they know that we know that we know that they know that we know," he said.
Get it?
Belichick didn't provide much insight into the decision to release DT Albert Haynesworth.
"Anytime you bring a player onto the team, you bring him onto the team with the expectation that it'll be a positive and productive thing for your team," he said. "Of course, that doesn't always happen. We know that. When you feel like it's time to move on, then you make that decision. That's basically where we feel like we are."
He probably knows that we know what he knows: Haynesworth is a chronic underachiever.
Belichick was asked about Rex Ryan's upcoming appearance in an Adam Sandler movie in which he plays a Patriots fan.
"I'll tell you, he'll have to do some acting on that one," Belichick cracked. "That's a new one. I'm sure it will be entertaining."
Asked if he ever had a movie offer to play a Jets fans, Belichick told the Boston media, "I was there for a couple of years (as a Jets assistant), so I was a Jets fan."
Five words you never thought you'd hear roll off Belichick's lips: I was a Jets fan.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Rich Cimini
Rich Cimini, longtime Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News and a Syracuse University graduate, now covers Gang Green for ESPNNewYork.com.
Jane McManus
Jane McManus has covered sports in the New York area since 1998, and began covering football just before Brett Favre's stint with the Jets. Her work has also appeared in Newsday, USA Today, The Journal News, The Cincinnati Enquirer and The New York Times.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mark Sanchez
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| RUSHING | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | ||||||||
| S. Greene | 253 | 1054 | 4.2 | 6 | ||||||||
| L. Tomlinson | 75 | 280 | 3.7 | 1 | ||||||||
| RECEIVING | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | ||||||||
| D. Keller | 65 | 815 | 12.5 | 5 | ||||||||
| S. Holmes | 51 | 654 | 12.8 | 8 | ||||||||