Jets to call on Bowens for help Friday, November 7, 2008 BY J.P. PELZMAN-STAFF WRITER FLORHAM PARK ? Eric Mangini was asked Thursday about the spectacular performance of nose tackle Kris Jenkins and its effect on the Jets' rushing defense, ranked fourth in the NFL. True to form, he downplayed Jenkins' individual effect, instead crediting the defense as a whole. "I think Kris has been a very good addition to that, but I think the whole group has played better," Mangini said. "I believe the technique has gotten a lot better, [as well as] our fits [and] our understanding of how to play the different blocks. All of those things have improved. Kris has definitely played a key part in that. It's really a group situation." While the 360-pound Jenkins is almost a group unto himself, Mangini hopes his philosophy proves correct over the next few weeks, as the Jets will be without second-year linebacker David Harris, who had a surgical procedure on his injured left groin Wednesday, according to a source. Mangini wouldn't confirm or deny that Thursday, saying, "I really shared all I was going to share" about Harris' medical situation Wednesday. Harris is expected to miss two or three games, at least. Harris, who was injured against Kansas City and missed the Jets' win over Buffalo, has a team-leading 52 tackles. David Bowens started in his place against Buffalo and had four solo tackles, including a sack. Bowens will start again Sunday for the Jets (5-3) against St. Louis (2-6). "He did well," Mangini said of Bowens' performance against Buffalo. "He's never played any type of extended time [at inside linebacker]. That's a position change for him. He's gone from hand in the dirt to standing up outside, [then] sub [pass] rusher [and] now standing up inside." Bowens, in his 10th year in the NFL, started 15 games as a 4-3 defensive end for Miami in 2004, and started two games at outside linebacker for the Jets last season in his first year with the club. He moved to inside linebacker during training camp. "It's not like I haven't [started] before," Bowens said. "I did start at defensive end [before], so it's nothing new. It's just a different look and feel. It's not like the preseason when I played middle linebacker and I was in for a series here and there. Now it's the whole game." Bowens missed an assignment on the Bills' first offensive play when Marshawn Lynch took a screen pass 42 yards, but made no major mistakes after that. "I think I did OK," Bowens said. "In the first part of the game they hit us with some big plays. Once we went to the sideline and corrected it, it was OK." "We trust D-Bo," free safety Kerry Rhodes said. "He's doing a good job and he's also a smart guy." Although Bowens has seen a lot during his career, he was surprised to realize how much defensive play calls can change within one game. "We can have a particular defensive call in," he said, "and over the course of the game it changes three or four times, so that was a big adjustment for me. ... The way I prepare is there's no fall-off. I think we look at it as just a middle linebacker, not who it is. So the production that Dave [Harris] would have had, I expect the same." __________________
Bowens the true DE/OLB but last 2 weeks he's been ok at MLB but terrible in pass coverage which i figured but 10 tackles 1.5 Sacks that isn't bad at all.
The pass coverage is what Im worried about with him...the middle of field inside 10 yards is the killer with this team so far...even when Harris was playing. Hopefully its a team adjustment and it was made.
Easier said then done when your dime package features guys like Drew Coleman, Eric Smith and Poteat. It'd help if we could get more of a passrush on third down though; instead of just sending 3 guys.... It wasn't bad last week so we'll see how it goes.
If we keep Coleman and Smith off the field we should be fine, Barrett and Poteat are competent enough to not lose the game for us in the limited roles they'll play.
