The Boone Docks

Rod Boone out at The Fort today. Very little in the way of fresh news, but here's what we've got.

-* S Eric Smith (head) and LB David Harris (groin) were participating in the portion of practice that was open to the media, but we won't know what their status is and how much they actually did practice until we get the practice report later today.

(Updated, 4:35 p.m.:) We have the report and Smith and Harris were limited and are listed as questionable.

The rest of the injury report is as follows: Probable -- Laveranues Coles (thigh), Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder), Shaun Ellis (back), Bubba Franks (hip), Dwight Lowery (thigh), Brad Smith (shoulder), Jason Trusnik (knee), Mike Nugent (thigh).

-* Speaking of Nugent, it's widely assumed Jay Feely will handle the placekicking duties until he has a few hiccups, but coach Eric Mangini didn't divulge who he'll go with Sunday.

"I make that decision at the end of the week," he said before practice. "We do some more kicking today and we will look at the body of work throughout the week."

-* Don't think the Jets are getting too full of themselves. Thomas Jones was asked the old "letdown" question, something that's surely on the minds of Jets fans because their team is coming off a big win over the previously undefeated Titans. The Broncos, as many of you are aware, lost to the pitiful Raiders -- in Denver.

"We've got a lot of football left and we've got a lot of leadership on this team," Jones said. "Where we were last year at 4-12 at the end of the season, we are in no place to look ahead, we're are in no position to look past anybody. We are thankful for the season that we are having so far and we are just going to continue our success and take it one game at a time."

-* Jones on the what's been the biggest reason for the improved production of the revamped offensive line: "Just playing together," he said, "developing chemistry and understanding how the next guy plays. It takes a little bit of time to develop that chemistry. But these guys, they bought in and have had great success in their past through their careers. D'Brickashaw and Nick Mangold have done a great job learning from these guys and stepping up and making sure that they are doing their job."

-* Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on Jones: "With T.J., he's an excellent runner. I think from the time this season started, he had a sense of confidence. He felt really good about where we were, again, his second year in the system. His camaraderie, his relationship with the offensive line grew, obviously. He's made some really tough yards. I think the credit I give him is just his production of getting the ball in the end zone has been terrific. It's been some finished runs, where everything hasn't always been blocked perfectly, but he's lowered his pads down on the goal line."

-* Mangini on Lowery's struggles: "When you line up at that corner position, your struggles are well documented. They are highlighted. If you show any sign of having difficulty, then it's emphasized by every team that you face. The great thing about Dwight, is he's internalizing those things and it's really important for him to get it fixed. He's always done that throughout the course of his career. That's why he's become a good player. That's why he's in the position he's in. When there is something that he feels he needs to get fixed, he wants to go out and get it fixed. He wants to get it fixed in a hurry. He wants the answers and he's going to work at it."

-* Mangini on the mobility of Broncos' gunslinger Jay Cutler, who earlier this season pronounced he has a stronger arm than legendary Denver QB John Elway: "He makes a lot of plays on the run. He makes a lot of really athletic, defensive players miss. There has been several examples in individual games where they may have a free blitz or it looks like he's going to get sacked, [and] he makes guys miss, rolls out of the pocket and reads something big down the field. With his arm strength, everything is a possibility. It's not like he can elude the rush and only throw something 15-20 yards. It can go 60 as easily as it can go three."

-* Lastly, in conjunction with Burgdorff Realtors ERA and A-1 First Class-Viking Moving and Storage, the Jets will be hosting a coat drive Sunday to benefit Jersey Cares. The Jets are asking fans to ideally bring in new coats, but gently used coats are welcome as well. Coats will be collected at all gates. Last year's drive saw more than 31,000 coats donated.

That's about it. I now send you back to your regular-scheduled blogger.