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Thoughts and observations on an ugly pre-season game:

Really bad offense. Yeah, it was dreadful, but this is no time to panic. It was a short week and the Jets did very little in the way of game planning for the Carolina Panthers -- at least that was the buzz in the locker room. So we'll give them the benefit of the doubt, for now. One more stinker, though, and we will have an issue.

Sanchez growing pains. Mark Sanchez almost threw an interception on the Jets' first possession; that would've been two weeks in a row. That is troubling. Sanchez was out of sync. His ball placement on screen passes was off the mark, and he admitted he should've done a better job of unloading the ball instead of taking those two sacks. This was a step back, but don't put too much emphasis on one bad pre-season performance.

Opportunistic special teams. A week ago, the Jets blocked a punt. This week, the special teams produced three takeaways, almost unheard of. Were they great plays by the Jets' coverage units or lousy jobs by the Panthers' return specialists? Probably more of the latter, but the Jets can be confident in knowing their special teams have big-play potential.

In the Nick of Time. PK Nick Folk all but locked up the kicking job, making field goals of 43, 36 and 49 yards. He was 3-for-3. Folk is proving that last season's train wreck with the Dallas Cowboys was injury-related (a surgically repaired hip) and not due to an erosion of his Pro Bowl skills.

Can't blame the defense. Ryan praised his defense, especially his backups -- the same group that got roughed up last week against the New York Giants. Two of last week's goats, Dwight Lowery and Drew Coleman, came back with strong performances. Lowery made two pass break-ups and Coleman made the game-saving interceptions. Ryan said he challenged the No. 2 group. Consider the challenge met.

VG is OK. Strange, but true: Vernon Gholson posted a team-high five tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. Give him credit; he was aggressive at the point of attack, shed his blocks well and made a couple of hustle plays. They will need Gholston to contribute on the D-line now that Ropati Pitoitua (Achilles' tendon) is out for the season.

Praise for Washington. Even though he lost a fumble inside the Panthers' 10, RB Chauncey Washington (eight carries for 19 yards) received praise from Ryan. Washington, resembling a poor man's Shonn Greene on a couple of runs, showed power and some burst. He's a bubble player who now has to be considered a legitimate candidate.

Busy leg. P Steve Weatherford may need a couple of days off. He punted 11 times for 481 yards. The Panthers punted nine times for 458 yards. More than 900 yards in punting. Oh, brother.

Crown the left guard. Let's face it, the so-called battle between Matt Slauson and rookie Vladimir Ducasse is over. For the second straight game, Slauson took all the first-team reps. Ducasse is struggling at left guard, a new position. Slauson got beat once on a pass rush, according to Ryan, but the job belongs to him.

A backup QB controversy? Mark Brunell's numbers after two games -- 4-for-10, 16 yards. Face it, Kellen Clemens has outplayed Brunell, but Ryan appears set on Brunell as his No. 2 QB. Does that make you feel safe and protected? Didn't think so.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rookie Joe McKnight, criticized by the Jets' coaches in the latest episode of "Hard Knocks," admitted after Saturday night's win that he was "(ticked) off" by the way he was portrayed in the show and used it as motivation.

"I didn't like the feedback I got," McKnight said after the 9-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. "I wanted to come out on the attack and change the perception."

In the show, McKnight received an earful from his coaches, who got on him for not focusing on details and for using too much of a finesse running style. McKnight said he didn't watch the show (does anybody believe him?), but he got the message loud and clear.

McKnight, a fourth-round pick, ran with more authority than last week. Instead of dancing in the backfield, he took more of a north-south approach and tried to hammer it between the tackles. His numbers weren't great (11 carries for 28 yards) and he did lose a fumble on a questionable call, but at least he showed some spunk. He also had a 67-yard punt return, showing his open-field speed.

"It was good that he said it," McKnight said of Rex Ryan's criticism. "It motivated me. It kind of (ticked) me off a little, not at him, but myself."

P.S.: The man he's trying to replace, Leon Washington, scored a touchdown Saturday night for the Seattle Seahawks -- his first game since breaking his leg last October.

Rex Ryan's post game press conference after the preseason win over the Carolina Panthers.

 

1050's Don La Greca and Ray Lucas with post-game analysis and highlights

 

Backup DE Ropati Pitoitua, a promising young player whom the Jets were counting on to provide depth on the defensive line, tore an Achilles' tendon Saturday night and will be lost for the season.

This creates a depth issue for the Jets, who opted not to re-sign veteran DE Marques Douglas, who landed with the Miami Dolphins. Beyond their top four -- Shaun Ellis, Kris Jenkins, Mike DeVito and Sione Pouha -- the Jets have Vernon Gholston, Matt Kroul, Rod Wright, Jason Lamb and Martin Tevaseu.

In other words, they have issues. Did someone say Adalius Thomas? The former New England Patriot and Baltimore Raven, a Rex Ryan favorite from their years in Baltimore, still is looking for a team. Thomas is an outside linebacker, but he has the versatility to play defensive end in certain packages.

The Jets, playing one of their worst offensive games in recent memory, managed to outlast the Carolina Panthers, 9-3, at Bank of America Stadium. Quickie thoughts on the fourth quarter:

Assessing the No. 2 QB situation. Kellen Clemens began the night as the likely odd-man out on the quarterback depth chart, but how can they trade or cut him now? Mark Brunell, handed the No. 2 job by Rex Ryan, was terrible. Clemens (4-for-6, 32 yards) didn't light it up, either, but at least he moved the offense. Kevin O'Connell came in with nine minutes left in the game, and he picked up where he left off last week -- and that's not a compliment. His first pass hit a Panthers defensive lineman in the arm pit for an incompletion, symbolic of the Jets' night.

McKnight rallies. I dumped on Joe McKnight in the third-quarter analysis, but he redeemed himself, somewhat, with a 67-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. It was lousy coverage by the Panthers' punt-coverage unit -- a brutal night by the Carolina special teams -- but McKnight showed on that one play why the Jets drafted him in the fourth round. When he's in the open field, he's dangerous. It's the other stuff he needs to work on.

Washington slept here. Coming off an impressive end to the third quarter, fourth-string RB Chauncey Washington gave it all away, fumbling on a carry from the Panthers' 9-yard line. That simply can't happen. Nothing is more damaging than a turnover in the red zone. No one really stepped up in the running-back competition. Washington is competing with Danny Woodhead and McKnight for spots behind LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene and rookie John Conner. Graybeard fullback Tony Richardson no longer is a lock to make the team.

Some quickie thoughts on the third quarter of quite possibly the worst pre-season game ever played (kidding ... maybe):

Clemens to the rescue? Not exactly, but Kellen Clemens (4-for-5, 32 yards) moved the offense better than Mark Sanchez and Mark Brunell. He was under seige at times, but he maintained his poise and was able to do a little dinking and dunking. His best play was a 20-yard completion to rookie TE Jeff Cumberland, who made a rolling catch.

Which former USC back is better? Rookie Joe McKnight, coming off a tough debut and a week in which he was roughed up by his coaches on "Hard Knocks," ran with more authority than last week. But -- and this is a big 'but' -- he lost a fumble on a 5-yard run up the middle. He'll never see the field if he puts the ball on the ground. McKnight was upstaged by another USC alum, Chauncey Washington, who ran for 20 yards on his first four carries. He packs more of a wallop than McKnight, who is all finesse. Washington, an afterthought in the running-back competition, made a case for a roster spot.

Gholston flashes. This is what an opposing scout told me before the game about Rex Ryan raving about Vernon Gholston's inspired play in practice: "I want to see it in a game." Well, Gholston played with some fire, showing an improved ability to shed blocks at the point of attack. The change to the defensive line appers to suit him. He did most of it against the Panthers' backups, but they were baby steps.

Quick thoughts on the second quarter:

What's that smell? The offense. Mark Brunell (3-for-7, 2 yards), who replaced Mark Sanchez at the start of the second quarter, was horrible in his first extended outing. Four series, no first downs. He looked tentative in the pocket, misfiring on short routes. Incredibly, the Jets finished the half with minus-1 yards in net passing. Is that possible? To be fair, the Jets played the second quarter with their second unit, while Panthers coach John Fox played his defensive starters the entire half. But that's no excuse for the "Romper Room" effort. You think Rex Ryan is second-guessing his decision to hand the No. 2 QB job to Brunell? I wonder.

Jason Taylor on D. After playing only 10 plays last week, Taylor played the entire second quarter. He was used in different spots on defense, lining up at left end and right end in a three-point stance. On at least one play, he dropped into coverage from a three-point stance. Frankly, he looked a bit tentative, but old war horses like Taylor are just looking to get out of these games healthy.

Big night for the defense. Ryan won't be able to complain about his No. 2 defense, which stunk it up last week. Playing against the Panthers' first unit, the backups pitched a shutout against Matt Moore & Co. OLB Jamaal Westerman recorded a sack, DE Vernon Gholston beat a block and made a nice tackle, rookie CB Kyle Wilson tackled agressively on short routes and CB Dwight Lowery registered his second pass break-up. The defense will escape Ryan's wrath. The offense? No way.

Quick thoughts on the first quarter:

Offensive struggles. The passing game was out of sync, as QB Mark Sanchez (5-for-10, 12 yards) was off his game. In particular, the screen game was awful. The timing between Sanchez, the line and the backs was way off. The Jets took a 6-0 lead on two FGs by Nick Folk, but it came on three giveaways by the Panthers.

Pass protection leaks. The Jets allowed two sacks, one by LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and one by TE Ben Hartsock. Ferguson was beaten to the inside by DE Everette Brown, who had both sacks. It looked as if Ferguson may have been expecting inside help from LG Matt Slauson, who is making only his second start. Does that happen with Alan Faneca at left guard? Hmmm.

Defense sharp. The first unit was impressive, with one interception (S Jim Leonhard) and one sack (Leonhard). The starters pitched a shutout against the Matt Moore-led offense. There were a couple of miscommunications in the secondary that resulted in two completions, including a 26-yarder, but no major gaffes.

The Jets' starting lineup on offense:

QB Mark Sanchez
RB Shonn Greene
LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson
LG Matt Slauson
C Nick Mangold
RG Brandon Moore
RT Damien Woody
TE Dustin Keller
TE Ben Hartsock
WR Jerricho Cotchery
WR Braylon Edwards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Here is the New York Jets' starting lineup on defense:

DE Shaun Ellis
DT Sione Pouha
NT Kris Kenkins
ILB David Harris
ILB Bart Scott
OLB Bryan Thomas
OLB Calvin Pace
CB Antonio Cromartie
CB Kyle Wilson
S Jim Leonhard
S Brodney Pool

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- One thing about pre-season games: They're always well-attended by NFL scouts. Generally speaking, the scouts have two objectives: Evaluating "bubble" players and gathering intel for an upcoming game.

At Saturday night's New York Jets-Carolina Panthers game, 12 teams are represented with a scout, including scouts from the Jets' first five opponents. Here's the list:

Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
New York Giants
Oakland Raiders

CHARLOTTE -- Pre-game thoughts on Saturday night’s pre-season game, New York Jets at Carolina Panthers:

1. Rex Ryan says he wants to see better play from his backups. I say, “Relax, coach.” There are 29 or 30 other teams looking for better play from their starters.

2. Mark Sanchez responded nicely last week after that early interception, receiving plenty of pats on the back, but let’s not ignore that mistake. It was straight out of last season, as he forced a ball into double coverage and cost his team seven points. Sanchez will play only a quarter against the Panthers; let’s see if he can avoid any killer mistakes.

3. Speaking of Sanchez, that scene in “Hard Knocks” – ignoring QB coach Matt Cavanaugh as he unpacks his knapsack – doesn’t help his image. He comes across as pouty, and it was uncomfortable to watch. You half expected him to cover his ears and start repeating, “Na, na, na, na!” Let's give him a break and say he was having a bad day.

4. This will be a key outing for QB Mark Brunell, who was handed the No. 2 job after a competition that was over before it began. That tells us what the coaching staff thinks of Kellen Clemens, who, by the way, played well last week. If Brunell has a bad game, how can the Jets consider trading Clemens?

5. Too bad Panthers WR Steve Smith, coming back from a broken arm, is unlikely to play. I’d like to see rookie CB Kyle Wilson in man-to-man on Smith, one of the best in the business. Wilson was targeted only twice by the New York Giants, allowing a short completion. It’s not much to go on.

6. The Jets-Darrelle Revis staredown is starting to reach the, “Who’s going to blink?” stage. Unless he reports by Tuesday, there’s little chance he will play against the Washington Redskins next Friday – the most important pre-season game because the starters play about three quarters. The final game is a glorified walk-through, at Philadelphia, hardly the ideal tune up. In other words, the preseason is going ... going ... almost gone.

7. Subsplot to the Revis negotiations: Revis’ uncle and confidante, former NFL defensive lineman Sean Gilbert, lives in the Charlotte area. Hmmm.

8. Young players I’ll be watching: Wilson, RB Joe McKnight, FB John Conner, LG Matt Slauson and LG Vladimir Ducasse.

9. Older players I’ll be watching: Brunell, WR Laveranues Coles, DE Vernon Gholston, OLB Jason Taylor, PK Nick Folk and S Brodney Pool.

The New York Jets believe they landed a treasure by trading for CB Antonio Cromartie. The Chargers considered him trash and, as far as they're concerned, it's good riddance.

A couple of Chargers defensive backs, quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune, dumped on Cromartie, whose aversion to contact apparently ticked off many in the San Diego locker room. Here's S Eric Weddle:

“Me and Cro had conflicts. That’s just the way it is.”

With Cromartie gone, Weddle said, "It’s refreshing. I can’t tell you how nice it is to come to work every day and not have that in the room and just knowing everyone is on the same page, everyone is behind each other.”

Even Quentin Jammer, one of Cromartie's friends, sounded glad he's gone.

“We all know there were guys in the locker room who didn't like him,” Jammer told the newspaper. “He didn't like them. We don't have to deal with that now."

Jammer added, “It’s easier for me now... I tried my best to put out fires, tried to keep the room intact, but it was too much.”

When you're best friend leaks on you, wow, that's rough.

Positives and negatives from the New York Jets' training camp in Cortland, N.Y.:

POSITIVES:

1. No significant injuries. C Nick Mangold missed the pre-season opener with a headache, the lingering effect of a blow to the head in practice, but there were no other noteworthy injuries to starters. That is the No. 1 goal of every team in the preseason: Stay as healthy as possible.

2. QB Mark Sanchez developed as a leader and displayed a greater command of the offense.

3. The main newcomers on offense, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and WR Santonio Holmes, made a seamless transition into the system.

4. CB Antonio Cromartie won't make anybody forget Darrelle Revis, but he flashed terrific coverage skills.

5. NT Kris Jenkins is healthy, in shape and motivated -- a scary combination for opposing offenses.

6. Two of the four draft picks, CB Kyle Wilson and FB John Conner, showed they can be immediate contributors. Wilson might have to start, depending on Revis' situation. Conner might unseat incumbent Tony Richardson.

7. PK Nick Folk didn't implode.

NEGATIVES

1. No Revis.

2. No Revis.

3. Matt Slauson emerged as the clear leader at left guard, but he didn't receive much push from rookie Vladimir Ducasse, who is swimming.

4. Rookie RB Joe McKnight lived down to his college reputation -- a finesse runner between the tackles and, at times, difficult to coach.

5. Veteran pass rusher Jason Taylor didn't show much at all, but most folks around the team suspect he's pacing himself through the preseason.

6. The No. 2 defense, especially the secondary, was lit up by the New York Giants.