Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger Monday November 03, 2008, 11:34 PM JONES RETURNS TO HIS OLD FORM More and more, Jets running back Thomas Jones is looking like the franchise back who led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl XLI. The workmanlike Jones ranks second in the AFC and ninth in the NFL with 601 yards and five touchdowns on 134 carries (a healthy 4.5-yard average) this season. He also has 20 catches for 104 yards and a score. Last season the ninth-year pro has just one touchdown on 310 carries, rushing for 1,119 yards and a paltry 3.6-yard average. Scoring touchdowns "is what I'm used to," said Jones, who has 40 career rushing TDs. "Last year was definitely not what I was used to. It was a tough situation. As an offensive skill player, you want to score touchdowns. I came into this season more energetic and ready to go out there and score touchdowns and make plays and help us win." Mission accomplished. On Sunday, Jones rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and caught six passes for 38 yards. He had a 23-yard run and a key 1-yard reception for a first down on the Jets' game-sealing, 14-play, 65-yard march that chewed up 8 minutes, 41 seconds. "We knew we had to run the clock down," Jones said Monday. "We were able to get some decent runs. ... We have one of the best offensive lines in the league in my opinion. Our fullback, Tony Richardson, is a great fullback. I'm really happy and blessed to be playing with him. Any running back would love to be in this situation." SACK HAPPY The Jets rang up five more sacks against the Bills and now have 29, a number that matches their total of last season and is second in the league behind the Giants (30). The key? How about run-stuffing NT Kris Jenkins. Jenkins, a shockingly athletic 6-4, 360 pounds, has three sacks and six quarterback pressures this season. He had two sacks and three pressures versus the Bills with one pressure leading to S Abram Elam's 92-yard interception return for a TD. He also had five tackles to help limit the Bills to just 30 yards rushing. "We're able to stop the run," said DE Shaun Ellis, who has a team-high seven sacks. "You stop the run game, you're going to get sacks. Last year we didn't stop the run. Teams were just able to pound the ball on us. "Now teams are starting out with the run but realizing they can't sustain it. We know they have to pass." The Jets rank fourth in the league in run defense, allowing 76 yards per game. QUICK HITS -- Coach Eric Mangini said the Jets practice the heads-up play made by KR Leon Washington when he put one foot out of bounds and touched a kickoff near the sideline, meaning the ball was out of bounds by rule. It allowed the Jets to get the ball at the 40-yard line. Four plays later they scored a TD. -- During meetings on Saturday night, S Abram Elam was voted by his fellow defensive backs as the least likely to return an interception 99 yards for a touchdown. He nearly ran out of gas on his 92-yarder return against the Bills. "When I got to the sidelines I had to let them know," said Elam, adding that he first went to CB Justin Miller and DB coach Jerome Henderson because they razzed him the most. "I had a clear field in front of me and the last thing I wanted to do was get caught on national television." -- CB Darrelle Revis (NFL-high tying four interceptions) and NT Kris Jenkins (25 tackles, three sacks and six quarterback hurries) are making bids for the Pro Bowl. -- Mangini confirmed that rookie CB Dwight Lowery was benched against the Bills. Lowery has been overwhelmed in recent games because teams are staying away from Revis. Veteran David Barrett replaced Lowery. -- QB Brett Favre continues to have a sense of humor about his interceptions. After the Bills game, he said, "It's one of those games where we won the game and I didn't throw a touchdown pass -- at least to us." Bills CB Jabari Greer returned a Favre interception 42 yards for a TD. -- Mangini repeated that he has no second thoughts about declining an ineligible-man-downfield penalty that allowed the Bills to get a first down on a third-and-16 instead of attempting a 43-yard FG.
Poor rookie Lowery is getting picked on. Not his fault that Revis is so awesome that they are exposing him. The kid will be a good player, but he needs time. Let him play against Holt since he lost a step, I think he'll do ok.
