January

Jan. 8, 2009   

Jets intent on rectifying CB-by-numbers calamity

Give the Jets credit for this: They did virtually everything in their power to address their glaring deficiency at the cornerback spot opposite emerging star Darrelle Revis. In training camp, they believed that Justin Miller, an athletic dynamo coming off a serious knee injury, had rehabbed to the point that he was the answer. When they soured on him, they moved on to rookie Dwight Lowery, who looked the part early before fading in the second half of the season. They signed former first-round flameout Ahmad Carroll in hopes he could find the light in New York, and they lured back Ty Law for a half-year date. None did much to alleviate the problem, as evidenced by their 29th ranking in pass defense. In response, word we're hearing is that team brass won't be employing a CB-by-numbers approach in '09 and instead will be targeting a single top-flight corner this offseason.

December

Dec. 31, 2008   

Jets GM Tannenbaum retreats into self-preservation mode

The Jets liked Bill Cowher, and Cowher liked the Jets. Only there one was one problem: Cowher wasn't ready to return to the sideline just yet, stiff-arming the Jets' advances as he did to the Browns. Yet the manner in which the Jets approached Cowher is telling. Cowher had said that if there was any chance of his returning to the sideline in 2009, he'd require that team brass agree to his terms, including full control over player personnel, or at least handpicking his own appointment to run the player personnel department. Even though such a scenario would've undermined GM Mike Tannenbaum, he agreed to those stipulations, willing to accept a demotion. It's not so much that Tannenbaum was so smitten with Cowher, but rather that he realizes owner Woody Johnson cut him a break by keeping him on board, instead of canning him along with head coach Eric Mangini. Understandably, Tannenbaum is in full self-preservation mode.

Dec. 24, 2008   

Favre's future could hinge on Jets coaching situation

Updated at 10:10 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 29

Speculation as to what the future holds for Brett Favre is running amok. Believed to be the savior of the Jets’ franchise just a few months ago, Favre devolved into a caretaker of the offense on a good day, and the bane of the club when things weren’t clicking. His 39-year-old right arm failed him late in the year, and naturally there will be intrigue as to whether Favre decides to come back in 2009, the final year of his contract. But perhaps the more pertinent question is, “Will New York take him back?” The way we hear it, the answer could hinge on whether owner Woody Johnson keeps true to his word last offseason that he’s sticking with Eric Mangini in ’09 despite how badly the team played down the stretch. If Mangini remains in his post, there’s little chance the Jets terminate Favre’s deal. However, a new coach could result in a new quarterback, even if Favre wants to return.

Dec. 18, 2008   

Washington underutilized for sputtering Jets

Updated at 10:00 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 22

Seldom does a team’s starting running back get selected as a Pro Bowl starter and questions remain as to why its No. 2 back is playing so little. That’s the situation confronting the Jets. Behind the bullish style of Thomas Jones, Leon Washington has been relegated mostly to special teams recently, getting just seven carries the last four games, three of which were losses. That wouldn’t be considered a problem if the offense had been operating smoothly, but it simply hasn’t been up to par. Prior Week 16, of players with at least 60 carries, only the Patriots’ Kevin Faulk’s 6.2 yards per carry average exceeded Washington’s 5.9. Although there’s a school of thought that his size (5-8, 200 pounds) would make him ineffective in an expansive role, Washington has drawn comparisons in build and explosiveness to Maurice Jones-Drew, who has thrived in a more prominent role for the Jaguars.

Dec. 12, 2008   

Jets GM Tannenbaum's job on the line in final three games

Updated at 9:45 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 15

The Jets remain in the thick of the playoff race after beating the  Bills last weekend. But should their postseason bubble burst, word we’re hearing is that at least one person, if not multiple people, will pay the price. When the Jets splurged in free agency last offseason, there was a feeling that GM Mike Tannenbaum was gambling wildly, and the notion that he wagered his job is now crystallizing. There certainly have been both hits and misses in the offseason haul — Kris Jenkins is living up his contract, Damien Woody isn’t — but the overriding sentiment is that a postseason berth is ultimately the deciding factor in whether coaching and/or managerial changes are made. Owner Woody Johnson has given votes of confidence to Tannenbaum and head coach Eric Mangini in the past, but Tannenbaum likely will be scanning the classifieds if New York stays home this postseason.

Dec. 5, 2008   

Jets' sack slippage attributed to tactical shift

Apparently, the Jets don't subscribe to the theory that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. After ranking among the league leaders in sacks for most of the season, the Jets have steadily regressed in the pass-rushing department recently. Why? According to OLB Calvin Pace, it has more to do with scheme than execution. “We have been playing a little bit more coverage,” Pace said. “Obviously that is not my decision. That is more game plan. … It's not that we are getting blocked up; we have just been covering a bit more.” Word out of New York is that the coaching staff has determined that its secondary isn't an airtight unit and could use the linebackers' help. CB Dwight Lowery, who has epitomized enigma in making brilliant deflections followed by spells of rookie blunders, has absorbed much of the blame, as has a safety tandem that can lay the hammer but can get mixed up in coverage.

November

Nov. 26, 2008   

Rookie tight end peaking at right time for surging Jets

Updated at 8:30 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 1

Dustin Keller

It’s hard to fault Dustin Keller for the mistake he was making upon his arrival in New York. He knew his ability and he was fully aware that the Jets grabbed him with the 30th selection in the draft because of his sickening athleticism. He simply harnessed all his own expectations and those he knew the Jets had for him and ran with them — too hard.

“I was drafted because of my speed, and so I was doing things 100 miles per hour on every single route,” Keller told PFW.

The results didn’t come quickly, as Keller’s manic tempo held him back. Outside of a pair of touchdowns he scored in garbage time in Weeks Three and Four, Keller was toiling in obscurity on an offense trying to meld cohesion out of a host of talented newcomers. Among them was future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre, whose concerted effort to spend more time dissecting film with Keller can be largely credited with Keller’s dramatic increase in production of late. Of Keller’s 40 receptions and 460 receiving yards, 27 of those catches and 313 of those yards have come in the last four weeks.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from Brett is just letting the game slow down,” Keller said. “He’ll tell me which routes to go 100 percent full speed, and which ones to slow down on. I have a better feel for the game now. I’m able to see things more clearly.”

It’s no surprise that Keller’s emergence has coincided with three of the Jets’ four highest-scoring outings. A compact and muscular 6-2, 248 pounds, and boasting 4.53-second speed in the 40-yard dash — the fastest time by a tight end at the 2008 Scouting Combine — Keller has outfitted Favre with arguably the most physically imposing target the three-time MVP has had in his career.

But Keller is far from a finished product. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has stationed Keller mostly on the line, rather than in the slot or split out wide as numerous offenses are doing with athletic tight ends. As Keller develops further, a more varied role could be in the works.

“Occasionally I’ll line up in different situations to take advantage of coverage from linebackers and safeties,” Keller said. “I feel it’s a favorable matchup when I’m split out, and I know Brett feels the same way.”

Nov. 21, 2008   

Midseason acquisition Law up to task in New York

Updated at 9:50 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 24

The Jets believed that by signing Ty Law in midseason, they were getting a player who was ready to step immediately into an expansive role without needing much time to get acclimated to the defense, because of his familiarity in the system. They’ve gotten precisely that. Word we’re hearing out of New York is that Law performed admirably in his first game back with the Jets, playing 57 snaps vs. the Patriots in Week 11 while displaying nice physicality on the perimeter. In Week 12’s Jets win over the previously unbeaten Titans, Law bumped rookie CB Dwight Lowery out of the starting lineup. But the reality is that the “starter” title doesn’t much matter. The Jets operate out of the nickel and dime defenses so often that there’s a constant shuffling of defensive backs in and out of the lineup, a defensive trait of theirs that precipitated the acquisition of Law in the first place.

Nov. 14, 2008   

Free-agent acquisition Pacing Jets' improved pass rush, defense

In the wake of the Jets' nerve-rattling, overtime victory over the Patriots on Thursday, the defense didn't spend much time worrying about why it gave up 511 yards of offense. A shoddy performance, without doubt, but not one that made them question the legitimacy of a unit that deserves much of the credit for lifting the Jets to the top of the AFC East standings.

“New England made some plays and got a lot production out of screens and stuff,” OLB Calvin Pace told PFW on Friday. “I don't think that game is going to make us feel any less of ourselves as a defense.”

It's hard to find fault with Pace's assertion given the defense's overall body of work. A season after a defensive meltdown that nearly cost coordinator Bob Sutton his job, the Jets have proven that some fresh blood was all that was needed. Playing out of position as a 4-3 defensive end his first four years in Arizona, Pace parlayed a breakout 2007 campaign in his first year as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Arizona into a six-year, $42 million deal in the Big Apple, picking up where he left off in the desert. “A guy my size (6-4, 270 pounds) is a little too big to be playing a (traditional) linebacker role, but is a little too small to be playing down as an end on an every-down basis,” Pace said. “The 3-4 is perfect for me because you get all sorts of matchups that allow me to use my athleticism all over the field. It definitely has helped my career a lot.”

It's helped the Jets' defense, too. The philosophical basis of Sutton's defense is centered around versatility, which was something it had little of a season ago given its personnel limitations. The additions of Pace and superb NT Kris Jenkins has considerably opened up the defensive playbook, especially in terms of rushing the passer. After recording just 29 sacks in '07, the Jets' have taken down opposing quarterbacks 34 times in '08, four of which have come from Pace.

One of the few players who hasn't made his presence felt defensively is first-round pick Vernon Gholston. “This is a difficult scheme to pick up, but he's going to be fine,” Pace said. “I talk to him all the time and just tell him to watch and learn. In my opinion, he's actually in a great position because he's not just being thrown into the fire and being told, 'Go out there and be a savior.'”

Nov. 6, 2008   

PK Nugent's stubborn thigh injury handcuffing Jets

Updated at 9:20 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 10

Word out of New York is that the lingering thigh injury to PK Mike Nugent has put the Jets in a bind. The club’s second-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2005, Nugent has been sidelined since Week One. In his place, free-agent pickup Jay Feely has kicked with mixed results. He has had his bright moments, most notably a 52-yard cannon shot in Oakland in Week Seven to send the game into overtime, and he had a good outing in Week 10, connecting on all four FG attempts (including a 55-yarder). But his erratic accuracy has the club less than comfortable with him booting the ball. What’s troubling is that there’s little timetable for Nugent’s return, and the notion that he could be ready to go at any time has the club resistant to placing him on the season-ending injured-reserve list. But by keeping him on the 53-man roster, the Jets are essentially resigned to playing with a short-handed team while awaiting his potential return.

October

Oct. 30, 2008   

Mangini putting faith in embattled offensive coordinator Schottenheimer

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has come under a lot of heat for his seemingly senseless play-calling this season, from the media, the fans and even from his own players. Yet for all the flak he’s taking, we hear one person who remains firmly committed to him is head coach Eric Mangini. Handpicked by Mangini in 2006, Schottenheimer’s maintained a close relationship with his superior through the trying times, and, barring utter disaster, can be assured of remaining in his post in 2009. Ironically, it’s been the man in charge of orchestrating the much-improved defense that’s on thinner ice. Mangini was angling to replace defensive coordinator Bob Sutton with either Rob or Rex Ryan last offseason, and Mangini’s decision to take a more hands-on approach to the defense could mean that Sutton doesn’t have the job security of his beleaguered counterpart on offense.

Oct. 24, 2008   

Coles' concussion problems justify Jets for declining extension request

Veteran WR Laveranues Coles is a head case. Not that he can be blamed. No, this has nothing to do with the cold war waged between him and his club this offseason. Rather, it's about Coles suffering yet another concussion in Week Seven, his third concussion in less than two years. Although the Jets appeased Coles slightly this offseason when they agreed to guarantee him the $11 million he's due over the next two years, his latest head trauma has vindicated the club's decision not to grant him the long-term extension he was seeking. Even though the writing was on the wall beforehand, the notion that Coles is not in the team's plans beyond 2009 is now cemented even further. And given the Jets' high opinion of young talents Chansi Stuckey and David Clowney, it appears that the club might not need to look to the draft or free agency to find Coles' eventual replacement.

Oct. 17, 2008   

Jets mired in offensive identity crisis

This much is quite clear: With Brett Favre at quarterback, the Jets' offense is rolling better than it had been at any point last season behind Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. And yet, word we're hearing out of Jets headquarters is that the offense is very much still in the process of forging an identity. More specifically, there's a sense of confusion as to whether they're a running or passing team — and which they're better off being. As one source close to the club put it, “They know what they have (from a personnel perspective), they just aren't yet sure how to use them.”

At the root of the conundrum is the notion that the Favre acquisition changed the dynamic of their expected offensive game plan. Throughout the offseason, the Jets' spending spree was geared toward obtaining players who would enable them to play a run-heavy, smashmouth brand of offense. They invested heavily on the offensive line, shelling out $25.5 million to ORT Damien Woody and inking OLG Alan Faneca to a deal worth upward of $40 million with $21 million guaranteed, the richest deal ever for an offensive lineman. They also brought in FB Tony Richardson to serve as a running back escort. The thought process was, and continues to be, that Thomas Jones is the type of hard-nosed, physical back that's at his best wearing down defenses with a methodical, downhill running style. Yet Favre put a kink in the plans of centering the offense around Jones and the running game. After five games, only the Rams, Colts and Lions have had fewer running plays than the Jets.

On the other hand, the offense isn't as imaginative and multifaceted as many figured a Favre-led unit would be. Fast-twitch scatback Leon Washington, who was primed for a larger role after teasing with his ability in 2007, has been relegated to mostly special-teams work rather than having plays designed for him to create in space. WR Brad Smith, who was used in '07 in a similar fashion to the way the Dolphins use Ronnie Brown as a spot-duty shotgun quarterback in the “Wildcat” alignment, only has been asked to perform traditional WR duties.

The sentiment out of New York is that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is allowing the personnel to evolve naturally, rather than shove the players into one particular paradigm.

Oct. 10, 2008   

Jets OLB Gholston's slow start not without positives

Updated at 9:15 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 13

This isn’t the way the Jets envisioned first-round rookie OLB Vernon Gholston starting his career. Gholston, who’s playing outside linebacker after spending his collegiate career at Ohio State with his hand on the ground as a defensive end, has seen spot duty at linebacker thus far, as he has admitted to still not having a good feel for the position. However, there are a couple of silver linings. For one, he has been arguably the best special-teams performer on a team rife with kicking-game stars. He has come awfully close to blocking a couple of punts, and he has been reliable on the coverage teams. Additionally, he would have had to be an absolute OLB menace early on to overtake Bryan Thomas for the starting job opposite Calvin Pace. Thomas has made good on his offseason resolution to play with more of a sense of purpose following his lackluster 2007 campaign, as he already has recorded 4½ sacks.

Oct. 3, 2008   

Smith hitting hard, but falling short of expectation in Jets' secondary

The fact that S Eric Smith received a one-game suspension and $50,000 fine for his vicious hit on Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin wasn’t surprising. The fact that he was even on the field to lay the wood was the more surprising piece of news. The word we’re hearing from around the league is that third-year pro Abram Elam entered the offseason as the clear front-runner for the safety job. That notion was cemented even further when star SS Kerry Rhodes unveiled to PFW toward the start of training camp that Rhodes, Elam and CB Darrelle Revis would represent the core of their weekly film sessions at Rhodes’ house, sessions generally attended by the Jets' starting defensive backs. The way we hear it, Smith simply had the better training camp, but that fact that none of the safeties has proven an inspiring complement to Rhodes has coach Eric Mangini thinking hard about inserting converted CB David Barrett into the starting safety role opposite Rhodes.

September

Sept. 26, 2008   

Jets' roster makeup doesn't fit mold of most NFL teams

Many teams are handcuffed by the 53-man roster which prevents them from establishing the kind of depth they want at numerous positions, especially at physically demanding positions that require many bodies to ensure proper in-game rest. In one of the oddest personnel makeups in the league, New York boasts two punters, two placekickers and four quarterbacks. The standard for the heavy majority of teams is one kicker, one punter and either two or three quarterbacks. The Jets’ decision to carry four kickers-punters is not too surprising, considering that seemingly mild injuries have contributed to the decision. However, there’s a mild sense of confusion over why a team that clearly cannot afford positional luxuries would carry four quarterbacks. The thought is that New York does not want to give up hope on rookie QB Erik Ainge, despite his shoddy performance in training camp.

Sept. 19, 2008   

New defensive additions coming through for the Jets

The Jets knew they were gambling when they traded for NT Kris Jenkins and emptied the bank account to reel in free-agent OLB Calvin Pace in the offseason. Thus far, the duo has vindicated the front office about as well as could be hoped for. “Jenkins is just hungry,” a source close to the club says. “Where (former Jets NT) Dewayne (Robertson) would get pushed back, Jenkins isn’t just holding his ground, he’s penetrating.” Head coach Eric Mangini has gone so far as to call Jenkins the most athletic big man he has ever coached, as the ex-Panther has flashed the ability to chase running backs out of bounds on the lateral pursuit. Similar accolades could be given for Pace, who’s emerged as more than just the good edge rusher that some saw him as. On an emerging LB corps that features ILB David Harris, Pace has been a force in the season’s early going.

Sept. 13, 2008   

Jets rookie Lowery taking New York by storm

All the rookie excitement in Jets camp initially centered around OLB Vernon Gholston, but it has been lightly regarded fourth-round CB Dwight Lowery that has coaches talking. Although undersized, Lowery's outstanding ball skills and precocious poise have earned him a starting job that we hear will be very difficult for presumed starter Justin Miller to reclaim. Lowery’s addition to a secondary that already boasts emerging star Darrelle Revis is allowing S Kerry Rhodes to line up in multiple places to take advantage of his various talents. A season ago, Rhodes did very little blitzing, but with the coaches’ rapidly growing confidence in Lowery, having Rhodes crash in on the pocket could be a regular occurrence going forward.

Sept. 4, 2008   

Jets inspired by 'special' addition to coaching staff

The most unexpected addition to the Jets might be one of the most important, even though he won’t play a down for the team. But that’s the regard that the Jets have for special-teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, a man who came back from a complicated leg surgery stemming from a bout with cancer as well an anyone could have hoped for. “He’s a great model for some of those guys who sit out with a hangnail,” coach Eric Mangini said. “He really didn’t know whether he would be able to coach this year until just recently because he had to have clearance from his physician.” Westhoff helped mold the Jets into one of the league’s best special-teams units a year ago, but his return does complicate matters on the coaching staff. Mangini opted to retain Kevin O’Dea, who was brought in as Westhoff’s replacement, and O’Dea clearly has taken a back seat to Westhoff in making the special-teams calls.

August

Aug. 20, 2008   

Favre not the only Brett acing the QB test in New York

When the Jets traded for Brett Favre, one of the mild concerns they had was whether Kellen Clemens would be given enough opportunities to prove he could be the quarterback of the future whenever Favre retired. Pre-Favre, the theory was that if Clemens showed little progress this season, the team would likely take a quarterback high in the 2009 draft to groom for the future. Although it’s still incredibly early to declare anything definitively, there are some around the organization whispering that the future under center is already in place — and his name is Brett Ratliff. That’s how impressive the second-year undrafted player has been in camp and in the preseason. At 6-4 and 235 pounds, he clearly has the size, and the fact that he spent last year as a practice-squad receiver is testament to his athleticism. And lest people think that the Jets wouldn’t eventually give the reins of the offense to a player with such an undistinguished pedigree, remember that coach Eric Mangini is a leaf on the Bill Belichick branch of the Bill Parcells coaching tree. And who are the last two players those two, as head coaches, have anointed as franchise quarterbacks? For Parcells, an undrafted player named Tony Romo. For Belichick, a one-time sixth-round choice named Tom Brady.

Aug. 15, 2008   

Jets leaning toward Miller for starting CB duties

The Jets recently offered a not-so-subtle clue as to who their starting cornerback will be opposite Darrelle Revis. More specifically, they clued us in with who it won’t be — namely, David Barrett. Barrett has been engaged in a spirited battle for the job with a host of others, but he reportedly agreed to take a pay cut from $3.6 million to $2.4 million. In all likelihood, the team told him he’d be cut if he didn’t accept the pay reduction. Justin Miller appears to be in the pole position for the starting job that Barrett is seeking. The most athletic of the candidates, Miller is coming back from a blown-out knee that cost him all but two games of his 2007 season. The fourth-year player has impressed throughout the OTAs and training camp, but we hear the club wanted to see how he held up in an actual game before putting too much stock in his offseason performances. Still, there’s a logjam of adequate corners on the team.

Aug. 7, 2008   

Tight ends making big splash in Big Apple

From Mark Chmura to Bubba Franks to Donald Lee, Brett Favre has made a habit of using his tight ends extensively in the offense. The way we hear it, he'll be doing much of same in New York as he did in Green Bay. In the early stages of camp, the Jets' tight ends have been among the most consistent players on the field. The most spectacular has been Dustin Keller, who has been deployed in numerous capacities throughout the formations. And while Keller stands as the biggest vertical threat, the Jets are four-deep regarding tight ends they'd feel comfortable trotting out. With WR depth appearing a bit shaky, we hear that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is concocting ways to showcase two tight ends on a regular basis.

July

July 30, 2008   

Jets' QB struggles make Favre a more likely target

Word out of Jets camp is that the team has legitimately no clue who will be its starting quarterback this season. Thus far, Kellen Clemens and Chad Pennington have been wholly uninspiring, particularly Clemens. Sources indicate that Clemens has been miserable when it comes to reading the defense, a deficiency that has resulted in numerous interceptions. Pennington, while appearing to be recovered from the ankle injury that hampered him last season, has lacked zip on his passes, and there’s a concern that the offense will stay grounded and predictable if he’s at the controls. Their issues bring up the potential of Brett Favre coming to New York. It’s unclear as to whether there has been any talk between the team and Favre’s representatives, but we hear that the longer that Clemens and Pennington fail to impress on the practice field, the more the Jets will consider trading for the future Hall of Famer.

July 25, 2008   

Mangini shortens training-camp practice sessions

Jets coach Eric Mangini may have rubbed some of his players the wrong way the past two seasons with his authoritarian coaching and managerial style, but he’s scored some major points in the locker room with his decision to reduce the length of training-camp practices to two hours, considerably shorter than the league average. “Anytime you can do something to help the players save their legs, we definitely welcome that,” said WR Jerricho Cotchery. The way we hear it, Mangini’s decision was not designed to restore any fractured relationship with his players, but rather was a measure to ensure that the team stays healthy and vibrant before the preseason schedule opens on Aug. 7 at Cleveland. But this doesn’t mean that practices are any less structured. “Everything (in practice) is like clockwork,” ILB David Harris said. “Everything is scheduled, from water breaks to everything else. He’s got total control of everything and knows everything that’s going on.”

July 16, 2008   

Jenkins not the only nose tackle in Jets country

Most of the talk about the outlook for the Jets’ defensive line begins (and ends) with new NT Kris Jenkins, acquired via trade from Carolina. Yet the word we’re hearing out of New York is that his backup, Sione Pouha, will play a more significant role than many figured. Pouha came on strong in the second half of 2007, and at 6-3, 325 pounds, he has the size to hold up as a two-gapping nose tackle. Part of the problem for Jenkins, who’s immensely talented but inconsistent, is that he has often been out of shape and could get worn down, and Pouha’s presence will allow Jenkins requisite rest. However, the hope is that incentives written in Jenkins’ contract for keeping his weight down will serve as enough motivation to keep him from ballooning.

June

June 27, 2008   

Jets in no rush to throw rookie Gholston into the starting lineup

Vernon Gholston

There’s little argument that Jets rookie OLB Vernon Gholston has incredible physical skills. But the way we hear it, you should look elsewhere when trying to find the preseason favorite to walk away with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Word out of New York is that the Jets are planning on easing Gholston onto the field — starting him out as a pass-rushing specialist — rather than thrusting him into the starting lineup immediately. Eric Mangini, like former mentor Bill Belichick, ideally wants his young linebackers to learn the system before becoming an every-down fixture. He had to break from that philosophy last year with ILB David Harris, but Harris’ insertion into the starting lineup was more out of necessity. With free-agent acquisition Calvin Pace and holdover Bryan Thomas occupying the starting OLB spots, Mangini can afford to take it slowly with Gholston.

June 20, 2008   

Jets special-teams coach under the microscope

Although the bulk of the pressure to win is on coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum, the word we’re hearing out of New York is that new special-teams coordinator Kevin O’Dea is also faced with a considerable challenge. In replacing highly regarded Mike Westhoff — who has taken an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons — O’Dea not only will be charged with sustaining the Jets’ excellence in the return game, but is also expected to get more out of underachieving PK Mike Nugent and P Ben Graham. O’Dea, who comes over from Chicago where he was assistant special-teams coach, was targeted largely to aid Nugent and Graham, but that doesn’t mean he also won't bear the responsibility of keeping returners Leon Washington and Justin Miller operating at a Pro Bowl level. Even though Devin Hester ascended to unrivaled heights as a returner during O’Dea’s tenure with the Bears, O’Dea had little to do with his success.

June 6, 2008   

Baker fighting a battle he can't, and shouldn't, win

TE Chris Baker is back with the Jets, but he’s not happy about it. The disgruntled tight end had failed to show up for any of the team’s voluntary workouts, but he showed up Wednesday for the first day of minicamp, when a no-show would’ve garnered him a league-mandated fine. Baker, due to earn a reported $1.65 million annually over the next two seasons, ripped the team after practice, saying, among other things, that Jets management lied to him about a renegotiated deal. He also compared his situation to that of OG Pete Kendall in 2007, saying the team’s strong-arming of the veteran guard “basically tanked our season.” The irony in the situation, the way we hear it, is that Baker’s tantrum is the biggest distraction in Jets camp right now, not the team’s reluctance to pony up extra cash for him. Baker is wishing to be paid like an upper-echelon tight end, when the stark reality is that he isn’t one.

May

May 29, 2008   

Mangini rolling the dice with Jets' defensive personnel

Although his meticulously measured comments and overall persona fit squarely into the conservative category, Jets head coach Eric Mangini appears to be gambling with his defensive personnel, outfitting the unit with great athletes who come with questions. The acquisitions of NT Kris Jenkins and OLB Calvin Pace served as the first sign, as each is immensely talented but Jenkins comes equipped with weight and attitude concerns, and Pace has only one productive season to his credit. The second sign came with the first-round drafting of OLB Vernon Gholston, a college defensive end whose inspiring measurables and spurts of dominance were counterbalanced by concerns about inconsistency and the need to adapt to a new position. Most recently, Mangini has experimented with Justin Miller as the starting cornerback opposite Darrelle Revis in OTAs. Because of a severe knee injury that kept him shelved for the majority of 2007 and spotty play in his first two pro seasons of '05 and '06, Miller was largely an afterthought entering the offseason program. But as one of the fastest and most explosive players on the team, Miller has the physical tools that none of the corners contending for the open CB spot can match.

May 21, 2008   

Faneca off on right foot in New York; Jenkins solid but has ways to go

Although it’s awfully difficult to gauge much this early in a team’s offseason program, it appears as if OLG Alan Faneca has the early upper hand on NT Kris Jenkins in the “battle” to have the most significant impact of the Jets’ high-profile newcomers. Faneca, entering his first year with a new organization after spending his first 10 NFL seasons with the Steelers, has been pivotal in improving the chemistry on an offensive line that lacked cohesion in ’07. “I’ve seen (Alan) over time, the interaction in the weight room, the interaction with the young guys in the classroom, and I like that group as a whole,” coach Eric Mangini said. “Alan has seen a lot. He knows a lot of the tricks of the trade.” Jenkins, meanwhile, has impressed the coaches by quickly getting “into shape,” shedding an estimated 30 pounds from the 390-pound frame he lugged around his final season in Carolina. “He makes 360 look good, you know? I wish I could say the same,” Mangini quipped. But it’s safe to say Jenkins still has a ways to go. Additionally, Mangini admitted that it will take some time for Jenkins to become comfortable in playing a new position, although there’s little doubt that he should be an upgrade over departed NT Dewayne Robertson. Jenkins was primarily a one-gapping 4-3 defensive tackle in Carolina, but now he will be largely asked to man both “A” gaps in New York’s 3-4 scheme.

May 14, 2008   

Jets won't tolerate more plodding performances from RB Jones

Some saw the Jets’ decision not to draft a running back as evidence that the team is willing to give RB Thomas Jones a mulligan on his uninspiring first season in the Big Apple. The way we hear it, that’s not entirely accurate. Although he may well get a second chance at the starting job, the Jets are, in fact, peeved with Jones’ inability to get on track in ’07 — a season that netted him 1,119 yards on a whopping 310 carries (a dismal 3.6 average) and just a single touchdown — and are quite willing to give diminutive scatback Leon Washington and free-agent acquisition Jesse Chatman larger roles in the offense. However, it bears mentioning that the Jets should boast a considerably better run-blocking offensive line in ’08 after bringing aboard OLG Alan Faneca and ORT Damien Woody, and we hear there’s a strong feeling in Jets camp that Jones is their best option at running back when a strong line is in place. Jones is a tough runner to bring down when able to generate downhill momentum, whereas Washington, with his tremendous speed and wiggle, is more adept at creating on his own when his line fails to open consistent holes.

May 9, 2008   

Jets hold all the leverage in Baker 'negotiations'

While most in the Jets' organization embraced the first-round selection of TE Dustin Keller, one who was notably annoyed — to put it mildly — was starting TE Chris Baker. Baker is entering the third year of a four-year, $6.6 million contract and has publicly stated his desire for a raise. The way we hear it, there's no realistic possibility of his demands being met. By drafting Keller and signing free agent Bubba Franks to a one-year deal, the Jets have effectively negated all leverage that Baker had in the situation. Despite improving his receiving totals in each of his six NFL seasons, Baker is viewed as nothing more than a solid, all-around tight end, not the stretch-the-seam variety in vogue throughout the league. Therefore, it's also unrealistic to think that Baker will be traded. His value isn't great enough to warrant another organization parting with a draft pick for a slightly above-average player who's already proved himself as a malcontent. Because of these factors, we hear that there's little reason to think that Baker would hold out in training camp, as he realizes he'd be fined and have little chance of receiving his ultimate objective — more money.

April

April 23, 2008   

Jets' coordinators wind up the big winners of offseason shopping spree

Updated as of 8:00 a.m. EDT Monday, April 28

Although there are many who feel the Jets overspent on their barnstorming offseason haul, there’s little doubt that purely from a personnel standpoint, they’ve significantly upgraded their talent. And the word we’re hearing is that the two people who stand to benefit the most from the personnel windfall are offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. Both were outfitted with talented performers (OLG Alan Faneca, ORT Damien Woody, FB Tony Richardson and rookie TE Dustin Keller on offense; NT Kris Jenkins, OLB Calvin Pace and rookie OLB Vernon Gholston on defense) but are immune to the criticism that head coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum will surely receive should the acquisitions underperform. The newcomers are especially welcome, considering both coordinators have much on the line in ’08. Schottenheimer is viewed in league circles as an up-and-comer who figures to land head-coaching interviews after the season if his unit performs well — the Ravens were interested in him even after a lousy ’07 campaign — whereas Sutton likely needs the “D” to have a strong showing to keep his job. He surprisingly defied premonitions that he would be canned after ’07, but it’s doubtful Mangini will tolerate a second consecutive subpar defensive effort.

April 11, 2008   

Jets' secondary emerging as a formidable force

The Jets have made a host of headlining transactions this offseason, signing high-priced free agents Calvin Pace, Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, and trading for Kris Jenkins. Yet, in the eyes of those close to the team, the best move was Tuesday’s extension of SS Kerry Rhodes’ contract. Rhodes’ five-year, $33.5 million deal makes him one of the league’s top-earning safeties, a title which befits his status as an elite defensive back. It also further cements the Jets’ secondary as a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Second-year CB Darrelle Revis looks every bit a future Pro Bowler and young FS Abram Elam is a playmaking, albeit inconsistent, performer. But that’s not to say the Jets' secondary fortifications are done. In fact, the CB spot opposite Revis is in shaky hands. RB Darren McFadden and DE-OLB Vernon Gholston are the top candidates for the Jets to snag with the sixth selection, but if they’re able to trade down, a mid- to late-first-round corner is a distinct possibility. The Jets want to employ more man coverage in the secondary, a philosophy that will be made more feasible by upgrading the athleticism of their CB corps.

April 2, 2008   

Jets to stage open QB competition in training camp

It appears as if there will be a genuine battle in Jets training camp regarding who — Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens — will emerge as the starting quarterback. Clemens’ upside and youth makes him the favorite to land the job, although the notion that “it’s his to lose,” as has been speculated, seems to give him too much credit. While it seemed for a long time that Pennington would be shepherded out of town via trade, the signs now indicate that GM Mike Tannenbaum’s assertion at his season-ending press conference that Pennington would not be traded rings true. However, things could change after the draft. Should the Jets invest either their first- or second-round pick on a passer, Pennington’s status becomes murky, yet again. While they could opt to select Boston College’s Matt Ryan in the unlikely event he slips to the sixth slot in Round One, taking a passer in the second round (pick No. 36) seems to be the more likely scenario.

March

March 26, 2008   

Coles surprises by reporting to offseason workouts

After threatening to stay home from “voluntary” workouts, Jets WR Laveranues Coles made his first appearance at the offseason sessions on Monday. Coles has two years left on his current deal and was upset about the Jets rebuffing his request for an extension that would essentially keep him as a Jet for the remainder of his career, even though the Jets had already made the rare concession of guaranteeing him the final $11 million. So why did Coles change his mind and report to the workouts? The most likely reason is that the Jets and Coles had reached an agreement on an extension, although we were unable to confirm this belief as of this writing. But when looking at the situation, there aren't many other reasons to see why Coles would attend. He obviously harbored disdain toward coach Eric Mangini and the organization after labeling them “liars” last month for their failure to lock up him long term after they allegedly told him he'd be taken care of, and unlike holding out during training camp, Coles faces no fine if he were to skip the workouts.

March 19, 2008   

Broncos remain interested in Robertson despite injury concern

The fact that the Broncos remain interested in dealing for Jets DT Dewayne Robertson is just as indicative of their dire need at the position as it is a sign of what they see in him. At least, that's the word coming out of New York, where Jets sources don't see why teams would have much interest in him. Robertson's degenerative, bone-on-bone knee condition was at the root of the Jets' failure to finalize a deal last month with the Bengals and has kept other potential suitors from entertaining trade offers for the player who's been a chronic disappointment since being taken with the fourth overall selection in the 2003 draft. If the Jets are able to work out a deal with Denver, it won't be for more than a late-round draft pick. Still, Robertson, who's better-suited as a one-gap penetrating tackle than a two-gapping run plugger, should find better success running Bob Slowik's 4-3 system in Denver than Eric Mangini's 3-4 in New York. If the trade does fall through, Robertson will likely be cut before June, when the team owes him a $3 million roster bonus.

March 12, 2008   

Speculation varies as to motive behind Jets' offseason transactions

While it's owner Woody Johnson who signs the check, head coach Eric Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum are given almost unilateral control over the Jets' football operations. In the frenetic pace of the first few weeks of free agency, the Mangini-Tannenbaum duo took full advantage of their decision-making powers, executing more high-profile transactions than any other team. Opinions on the Jets' offseason haul are mixed. Some see the additions of talented players like OG Alan Faneca, OLB Calvin Pace, NT Kris Jenkins, OT Damien Woody and FB Tony Richardson as a clear sign that the Jets are on the way back up. Others criticize the decisions, arguing that the Jets are throwing exorbitant dollars at past-their-prime (or in the case of Pace, still unproven) players. Furthermore, many of the detractors believe that Mangini and Tannenbaum are looking for a quick fix, regardless of the long-term repercussions, with the rationale being that the duo feels they need a strong 2008 season to save their jobs.

March 7, 2008   

Free-agent acquisitions alter Jets' draft strategy

Word out of New York is that the Jets’ frenzied activity in free agency has shaken up their outlook on the upcoming draft. At season’s end, it appeared that the offensive and defensive lines were in need of the biggest overhaul. But after landing OG Alan Faneca, OT Damien Woody and NT Kris Jenkins (acquired in a trade with the Panthers), the lines are less-pressing concerns. The acquisitions are expected to have a particularly large impact on their first-round pick, No. 6 overall. We continue to hear that trading down is the Jets’ preferred action, but should they not find a willing partner, Arkansas RB Darren McFadden appears to be the leader for the spot, though off-field concerns could drop him. Another strong possibility is Ohio State OLB Vernon Gholston, who could replace Bryan Thomas and play on the opposite side of recently signed UFA OLB Calvin Pace. The irony in the situation is that all three were defensive ends in college. But Pace has adapted better to 3-4 outside linebacker than Thomas, and the league consensus is that Gholston projects better on the second level than as a down lineman.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Mangini sheds light on 3-4 evaluations

After a season in which the Jets’ 3-4 defense failed to hold up against the run, the need to upgrade their front-seven personnel is a glaring one. But the difficulty for the Jets — and all teams that run a base 3-4, for that matter — is that few colleges run that system, thereby forcing coaches and scouts to look outside the box (pun intended) when evaluating defensive linemen and linebackers. “You do look at some defensive ends and try to project how they look standing on their feet,” said Jets head coach Eric Mangini. “You try to look at plays where they have been dropping on a zone blitz or their workouts. … Through the interview process, (we find out if they) will be able to make the switch from being a guy who has his hand in the dirt, versus a guy standing up. And then some of the OLB types may have to move inside in the 3-4 system. … So there is some projecting there.”

Feb. 20, 2008   

Sutton defies premonitions, remains Jets' defensive coordinator

Perhaps the most surprising Jets development since the end of the season was the absence of an anticipated action. Namely, Bob Sutton remains defensive coordinator. It was widely believed that Sutton would be shown the door upon the conclusion of the Jets’ miserable 4-12 campaign, a record partially facilitated by the defense’s difficulties stopping the run and rushing the passer. However, the “D” quietly rounded into form over the final stretch of the season, and word out of New York is that head coach Eric Mangini would have had too difficult a time justifying the canning of Sutton, given the marked improvement. Additionally, Mangini has the ultimate say over the defense, and there remains some lingering suspicion that he realized it would be a copout to fire somebody for a performance that was more a result of his own doing.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Rumor of Samuel going to the Jets makes little sense

With an estimated $28 million in salary-cap space, the Jets are equipped to make a considerable splash in the free-agency pool. On the heels of a 4-12 season, they need to. With pressing needs on the offensive line, defensive line and linebacker, many of the marquee free-agent names — Titans DT Albert Haynesworth and Steelers OG Alan Faneca to name a couple — have surfaced around Jets camp. The latest name to hit the rumor mill is Patriots CB Asante Samuel. On the surface, it seems like a natural fit. With three secondary positions already in capable hands, the Jets appear to be one top-flight cornerback away from fielding one of the league’s top defensive backfields. Furthermore, head coach Eric Mangini has intimate knowledge of Samuel, having worked with him as both DB coach (2003-04) and defensive coordinator (2005) in New England. And, unlike most other star free agents, the Patriots are contractually barred from franchising him. However, there remains a lingering suspicion that Samuel has achieved his lofty status because the Pats’ scheme plays to his strengths. New England employs almost exclusively zone coverage, a scheme in which heady, instinctive cornerbacks can thrive even if they lack elite physical skills. Word out of New York is that Mangini is itching to institute more man coverage, and while there’s little doubt Samuel can be a serviceable man corner, the prospect of sinking boatloads of money into a player who has yet to prove he can be a standout in Mangini’s preferred system likely will convince the team to invest its money elsewhere.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Jets in the market for a good blocking tight end

It seems as though every team is looking for a fast, stretch-the-seam tight end these days. But while guys like Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow Jr. are at a premium, finding solid blockers among the NFL’s TE crop are easier to come by, and subsequently come with a reduced price tag. Word out of New York is that the Jets will look to beef up their TE corps this offseason without sacrificing too much of their salary-cap maneuverability. Free-agent TE Sean Ryan doesn’t offer much as a blocker or as a receiver, and the chances of him getting re-signed aren’t good. By adding another solid blocking tight end to line up opposite Chris Baker, the Jets will be able to utilize more twin TE-alignments than they were able to last season, with the hope of getting more production out of a running game that was listless for much of 2007. Solid offensive tackles come at a steeper price than blocking tight ends, so if the Jets are unable to bring in a substantial upgrade for uninspiring ORT Anthony Clement, a physical TE addition becomes even more important.