Getting back to work
Two themes from the Jets locker room today: the recent bye week was more of a chance to recharge mentally rather than physically – which makes sense as the bye came just four games into the season – and the Bengals aren’t nearly as bad as their record.
“I watched them yesterday and anytime you look at a team that played the Dallas Cowboys as tough as they did, I think…every game they’ve had, they’ve had tight games," Laveranues Coles said. "They’re just a scary team to play against whether they were 0-5 or 5-0, because they could just as well be 5-0 as they are 0-5. They’re a very good football team.”
Normally, talking up an 0-5 team sounds absurd, but Coles and his teammates who warned against overlooking the Bengals, weren’t stretching things. Carson Palmer has thrown the ball well at times this season and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho-Cinco-Johnson-Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious are yet another tough receiver combination for the Jets secondary to deal with.
“I’ll tell you what, our defense has their hands full,” Coles said. “They come off playing Anquan Boldin and [Larry] Fitzgerald and have to turn around and play Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. You have your work cut out for you. I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t ever want to be a defensive coordinator and have to face those two tandems back to back, that’s for sure.”
Rich Cimini of the Daily News asked Coles what he thought the outside perception of the Jets’ receivers is and if, given the unit’s breakout performance against the Cardinals, they might get noticed a bit more nationally. That led to the line of the day.
“They take notice of the old man, they don’t pay us [receivers] no attention,” Coles said with a laugh, gesturing toward Brett Favre’s locker which is next to his.
Moments earlier, Favre stood with the group of reporters surrounding Coles and asked a question that I didn’t hear but that Coles found funny. Must have been about getting on the same page or in sync…
* Sounds like Jay Feely will kick against the Bengals. Even though Mangini didn’t explicitly say it, his comments about Nugent’s progress didn’t leave much to the imagination.
“We’re hoping but, again, I don’t want to rush anything there and have a set-back that ends up being much longer than it should be,” Mangini said. “So we’re staying with the same path and I think it’s a good path, a good formula.”
* Based on reading the tea leaves, don’t expect to see David Clowney this weekend, either.
“Last week was the next step [in his recovery], and then moving into this week, see where he is,” Mangini said of Clowney. “And he’s got the red jersey on, so there is no contact with him. Don’t want to – want to make sure that part is okay before we would activate him.”
* In evaluating the 35-minutes of practice we saw, Justin Miller seem to be closer than the previously mentioned injured players. Miller worked some against the top-line receivers - beaten by Coles on a short out pattern - and didn’t seem limited.
* Jesse Chatman practiced today and Eric Smith was placed on the reserve/suspended list, pending his appeal, which will be heard tomorrow. In the unlikely event his appeal is successful and Smith is allowed to play Sunday, the Jets would have to make another roster move.
* Mangini on Brad Smith’s relative lack of involvement to this point in the season: “I’m still a huge Brad Smith fan; that hasn’t changed. It’s just there’s…again, this is a good situation. You have Jerricho, Laveranues, Bake (Chris Baker), Leon…down the line. There is a lot of different people, and I don’t want to force things for the sake of forcing them.”
* A brief aside: I’ve heard just about enough from solipsistic Cubs fans – including those in the media – about how miserable their sports existence is. Please. Stop. Not like they grew up in Cleveland or something.
The Jets are off tomorrow and back on the practice field Wednesday.
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Comments (23)
So the Jets have Jerricho and Cotchery, eh? Is he a multiple personality or something? Or was Mangini channeling Sarah Palin?
John Z, haha. Well done. Just to make sure, I rechecked that quote - as you know I'm prone to typos - but indeed that was exactly how Mangini said it. I guess I'll still edit one of those out, though. No need to make him look silly. I will have no comment on Palin...
Hey, Boland, I'm reposting my question below from the prior thread so it does not get buried. I'm hoping you may think it's worth comment. Thanks!
I'm curious about whether you have detercted any consensus regarding Smith's hit on Boldin. It seems that the local media, for the most part, agrees that the hit was more the result of circumstances than an intent to injure, and that the penalty is excessive. Do you agree?
Beyond the local media, however, I'm wondering if there is any consensus regarding severity and punishment. The reason I ask is I read the following comment in an article by an AP sportswriter named Bob Baum about the Cards win yesterday over the Bills (Link: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/moresports/30503744.html)
"With Boldin out as a result of the vicious helmet-to-helmet hit by the Jets’ Eric Smith, replacement Steve Breaston caught seven passes for 77 yards."
Boland, do you believe the comment above is representative of the prevailing sentiment of the media, either local or otherwise? I wonder whether this reporter even saw the hit in question to make such a misleading (in my opinion) characterization, and such a description makes it highly unlikely, in my opinion, that the NFL will reconsider either the suspension or the fine.
Great word! solipsistic, had to look it up. Is it solipsistic to believe that only the jets can loose to the 0 and 5 Begals????
Peter King defended smith in his column this morning.
My guess is the suspension is upheld, but the fine is reduced.
are-tee, I agree with you - reduced fine, one-game suspension upheld, though in truth if the league concludes the hit wasn't quite as bad as it originally decided, the suspension should be eliminated first.
JoeMusgo, I think most people (though not everyone), after viewing the play several times, saw the influence Kerry Rhodes had in bumping Boldin further in harm's way and making the hit worse than it would have been had that bump not happened. But Smith did lead with his helmet and regardless of intent, there was no way a stiff penalty wasn't going to be in the offing after Goodell's missive from a couple weeks ago.
I'm glad to see that Peter King is on the right side of this issue. That gives some hope that the NFL will at least reduce the fine and admit it reacted in knee-jerk fashion. However, it would not surprise me if the appeal is summarily dismissed, given the high handed way that I perceive the NFL has dealt with such issues in the recent past.
To me this is a test case for the NFL on whether they simply want to seize on the opportunity to make an example of Smith, or whether they want to honestly and fairly interpret and apply the rules. If they do not at least reduce the fine, the message to NFL officials is to throw the flag on any hit that appears to be helmet to helmet contact, regardless of any mitigating circumstances, which would be unfortunate.
Spread Shmead. Be a man and pick the winners!
Quote from Joe Musgo " the message to NFL officials is to throw the flag on any hit that appears to be helmet to helmet contact, regardless of any mitigating circumstances, which would be unfortunate."
I think that is exactly where the NFL is going here. This decision came down to fast, and IMO, wrong.
As far as Smith is concerned, I kind of hope he is suspended for one game. Not because he deserves it, but because he was also knocked out on the play, and could use a week off.
And a side benefit is we get to see if Elam can play. Think Smith may be Wally Pipped here.
I am very much in the minority, but I thought it was a reckless play leading with his helmet for no reason with the game out of reach. No, I dont think he did it intentionally, he is just not very good, got beat, and did not want to lose his job.
The new emphasis on the rule is leading with the helmet, and he certainly did that.
All that said, I also believe that if the identical hit was made by John Lynch on Brad Smith, no call, no fine, no suspension.
REPOSTED TO GET YOUR COMMENT:
ERIK BOLAND, YOU ARE THE BEST! I'm an old fart, and you bring pleasure into my otherwise dreary days. Keep up the good work.
Since this is an off-week, I'd like you to take the time to pick up a story line that you diligently kept us abreast of during the preseason, then dropped. I'm talking about a preposterous Jet quarterback situation, and who will be Brett Favre's successor.
The Jets dropped a promising receiver Marcus Henry, 6'4" , good hands, catches in traffic, etc. because of a lack of roster space. But the Jets are the only NFL team that carries FOUR QBs on its 53 man roster. It is ridiculous. Another needed player will soon be cut to make room for Jesse Chatman. But the Jets need four spots to house their quarterback stable. Right.
Any Jet fan who watched the four pre-season games, who believes what his eyes conveys to his brain, witnessed a truly outstanding showing by a back-up QB. I'm talking about Brett Ratliff, and I think his performances in those games gave him the highest QB rating of all the NFL's QBs in the preseason. He was fantastic! He totally overshadowed Kellen Clemens -- one of my close Jets friends claims Ratliff is "BRADY 2". To say Ratliff threw TD passes like Favre did against Arizona is but a slight exaggeration. He was that good.
Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated wrote that after witnessing Ratliff throw consecutive TD passes of something like 73 and 74 yards, Mangini and the Jet staff concluded that Ratliff will indeed be the Jets "post-Favre" QB - i.e., he is really QB#2, and better than Clemens.
But Brett Favre plays every game, so the #2 designation is not that meaningful at this time. The NFL insiders know about Ratliff, so he has to be kept on the roster. Mangini & Co also saw something in Erik Ainge that infatuated them in that last preseason game, so they don't want to expose him to the practice squad. What to do?
Erik, in a recent posting you wrote regarding Favre: "As for next year, I'd be shocked, surprised, stunned if this is more than a one-year thing."
QUESTION: IF YOU ARE RIGHT ON FAVRE, WHO DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE THE JETS QB IN 2009?
Erik, The league might erduce the amount of the fine but the suspension will stand pat. I want to see Elam play this week.He is a very agggressive player and i remember in last year Bengals game he was still learning and was hit with either a late hit and or caused a fumble or missed INT by hitting his own player. With all that said i think E.Smith is at best average and Elam has more upside and hope he has a good game and shows he deserves to play. About Brad well they can only get as so many players involved. LC,J-CO,Stuckey,Baker,Keller,Franks,TJ,Leon and now Chatman. Were does brad really fit in? Very good ST player and makes plays when they get him the ball. Good versatility player. Still say they are wasting a spot by keeping Ainge on the roster. He should've have been put on IR.
IRA, as you know I am an Elam fan, but why did he not get playing time over Barret and even Poteat the last few games?
I saw a big upside player who perhaps lacks the discipline required in this system, but who has a knack for flying to the ball and making plays, good and sometimes bad. Sometimes you need to let guys like this play and learn from their mistakes.
Reminds me of Nick Ferguson, a similar style safety that went on to have a nice career elsewhere.
Herm should've kept Ferguson instead of messing around with Garnes and Robinson. I think the problem the coaching staff sees with Elam is his questionable coverage skills and maybe lack of reading defenses. Otherwise i can't see any reason why Smith was handed the job over Elam. I like him and think he could be good if they give him a chance. Barrett started in SD over Elam because of hos CB skills and coverage skills. Guess they felt he was a better option at that time. It paid of early when Barrett had that INT for a TD. We will see what happens this week. Trust me on this one. They better keep an eye on A. Chatman this week. Do not get into another shootout like last years loss 38-31 in Cinny.Prediction Jets have their best running game in a long time. Jets 30 _Bengals 24
Ha 0-5 is NOTHING some years ago the mighty NYJs lost to the New Orleans Saints who were only 0-14 at that time!
Hey Erik, did you ever ask Tanny if Vilma played 85% and got re-signed, but it wasn't an extension, if that would still tigger the 2nd rounder?
Wayne 80, I agree with you on Elam. Besides Nick Ferguson, a couple of other guys who could not catch on with the Jets but have had good careers elsewhere would be Atari Bigby, who starts for the Packers and is an impact player, and Omar Stoutmire, who is still knocking around and has been a good player for the Giants, among others.
Neither Smith nor Barrett appear to be doing a very good job themselves of covering receivers. On that basis I don't understand the coaching staff's resistance to giving Elam a shot. With the way this defense if stopping the run and pressuring the QB, Elam, could sit back and put the fear into opposing receivers, with his thunderous hits.
Boland, any insight into what the coaching staff sees in Smith and Barrett that none of us can see? I know that's probably a rhetorical question....
TheFinn, thanks and I appreciate you reading the blog! If Favre doesn't come back next year, I think your training camp QB battle will be Kellen Clemens, entering the final year of his contract (assuming he's not extended between now and then) against Brett Ratliff. I agree to a point with your presumption that the Jets would like to see Ratliff win that job, but I have a tough time, based on a few preseason games, automatically saying he's better than Clemens. Could Clemens have done better this season with a revamped o-line? We'll probably never know. But, hey, let's get through this season first before looking ahead toward next July! Lots can happen to a football team in a year's time and usually does. But you asked for my prediction for 2009 and right now, on Oct. 7, I predict it to be Clemens. But reserve the right to change that at any time...Also, to be clear on something elsee you raised, Marcus Henry is on the practice squad so they technically didn't lose him, though you're right, he's not on the active roster.
dmb, I have to be honest, with all the stuff that's gone on the first four weeks, I have not asked Mike T. that question. In fact, I haven't talked to him since the end of training camp so thanks for the reminder on that issue.
JoeMusgo, with Smith it's simple: I was at every training camp practice and I'm not stretching things here, he had a great, great camp. And he's still a very good special teams player. I'm not ready throw him overboard yet because of a quiet first four games at receiver. As for Barrett, he's made a couple of plays at safety but he's blown some as well. Don't have a good answer for you on on that one.
Boland, I think you misunderstood me. When I posed the question asking for "any insight into what the coaching staff sees in Smith and Barrett that none of us can see" I was referring to Eric Smith, not Brad.
Regarding Brad, I agree completely. He is a terriffic special teams player and, if not for Stuckey's excellent play, I would have no problem at all with him getting reps at the #3 WR. I'm nowhere near ready to throw Brad overboard, either.
Thanks. Sorry to be a pest, and keep up the good work!
Erik, I firmly believe that the NFL should add a second bye week to each team's schedule. In so doing, two things are accomplished: it gives players another week to rest up and heal up as the season progresses; it lengthens the season by an additional week without the players having to play a seventeenth game. What say you?
Musgo, in part what the coaches see are the words "NY Jets 2007 third round draft pick" next to his name.
More than any other sport, football has a caste system, the higher you are drafted the more chances you get, especially from the team that went out on the limb to draft you.
Very tough for a free agent to get a fair shake, even if they outplay the draftee. Most times, injuries need to occur.
JoeMusgo, you're never a pest. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I think Wayne80 is pretty close with his answer to be honest. The Jets have shown they'll give undrafted free agents a chance here but certainly being a high draft pick gives you, as a player, more room for error.
Donal, the league experimented with that a little more than a decade ago and ended the experiment fairly quickly. I think the only way a second bye week would get added would be if there were additional regular season games. Players, by the way, wouldn't object to the second bye week, especially those on teams who had their byes early in the season.