-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5619616 Times are a-changin' for the Jets Story Tools: Print Email Blog This FOXSports.com Posted: 40 minutes ago In our nine weekly nuggets, we look at the positive new approach for both the Jets and the Lions, why Seahawks fans are smiling, and just how foolish Ashley Lelie is acting. 1. Something pretty amazing happened at Jets mini-camp last week. The head coach was late for his scheduled press conference. Eric Mangini was too busy coaching. That would've never happen during the Herm Edwards regime, as the loquacious coach seemingly was more interested in legendary pressers than longer workouts, and practices were dubbed "Club Ed." Welcome to a wonderful new world for the Jets under Mangini and new general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Now, don't misinterpret. The Jets won't win eight games this year. But finally, there is a plan in place with savvy people making the key decisions. Tannenbaum and the Jets cleaned up during the draft. We documented that in our draft recap column. But what really needs to be hit home is the Jets new approach to picking ball players. In addition to skill and/or projection for success on the NFL level, the Jets put a major premium on leadership, smarts, and the interviews players conducted. Focusing on intangibles, in addition to talent, has paid major dividends for the Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, and Steelers. D'Brickashaw Ferguson is brilliant and has a great work ethic. Tannenbaum also liked that he played for former Jets coach Al Groh in college. Nick Mangold was a team leader, a true throw-back type of player, and excelled during interviews. Kellen Clemens wowed the Jets brass with his 2 ?-hour chalkboard session when he was grilled by the coaching staff. Anthony Schlegel enjoys boar hunting and is a scrappy linebacker. And Tannenbaum quipped that the folks in Columbia, Missouri might cry now that Brad Smith officially belongs to another team. Smith was a three-year team captain for the Tigers while shattering all sorts of school records at quarterback. And in talking to Tannenbaum this week, the first-year general manager made it clear that the rookies can start right away, as no Jet will be guaranteed playing time or a roster spot. Mangini will play the best players, regardless of contract or years of service. And that includes at quarterback. Chad Pennington is rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. He told reporters in New York last week he would be back for the season. Under no circumstance can the Jets count on him physically. And while Pennington was seemingly the favored son with the old regime, the new staff doesn't care what you did for the team two years ago, which is like a lifetime ago for the often-injured Pennington. Tannenbaum tells us he has been very impressed with Patrick Ramsey's commitment since the Jets traded for him. And he agreed with my philosophy on the quarterback that he needed a change of scenery. Ramsey is in a contract year and could be playing for his NFL future. That's a good thing for the Jets. The bet here is Ramsey wins the job and the very accurate Clemens is the starter in 2007. And we are also betting that the Jets are much smarter and disciplined team under Mangini. We are betting the Jets don't have clock management problems stemming from the sideline. We are betting that Tannebaum's free agency pickups that have Super Bowl experience, including Kimo von Oelhoffen, Andre Dyson, and Matt Chatham, make plays and most especially, lay the foundation for the future. The days of the entertaining pressers are gone. But the road back to respectability has officially begun.
The only thing I don't like about the article is that is says that the team will be more disciplined. Although there were certainly several clock mistakes by Herm, his teams were very diciplined. We had the least amount of penalties in the NFL during his tenure. Thats pretty disciplined. If Mangini can even come close to that I will be happy. I remember the Coslet and Kotite teams where it seem anytime we would build some momentum for a drive there would be a holding penalty or something else that would kill us. I think during those years we probably were just behind the Raiders for most penalties. Penalties are a very overlooked part of the game and I hope our recent history for not getting many continues.
I don't think that's what the writer meant by more disciplined. He more than likely meant that the players would be more disciplined in practice and in the weight room. There is no question our team was out of shape last year. With all of those injuries and players that slumped...Herm is the reason alot of guys were out of shape. Shaun Ellis and Dewayne Robertson are two guys I think got way out of shape and suffered dearly. Since when was Shaun Ellis a 2.5 sack a season guy?
Edwards did have a disciplined program at the beginning of his time with the Jets, but it struck me the Jets were getting killed their last season with a lot of bad penalties at critical moments, i.e. Ty Law sabotaging a successful defensive stuff with a third and long PI penalty. My sense is Edwards' laxness over the last couple of seasons began showing up on the field. Despite that, a lot of lazy TV commentators talked all through last season about the "least-penalized" Jets, which I sense was taking in the team during the whole of Edwards' reign, including the earlier seasons when he did run a disciplined program. I wonder if some number-cruncher could tell me if I'm right or not, like NYJunc. I suspect I am.
Solid article, thanks. :beer: Jets couldnt be doing better. Alot of people are having a hard time swallowing the new system. They think football is "plug and play", you put in nothing but all stars and big name players and everyone will do their part (look at the Yankees with what talent they have versus their record and you know what I'm talking about). Dont seem to realize we basically have a brand new team. Alot of new players, almost entirely new coaching staff. Its going to take time to smooth out all the wrinkles and get it right (I.E. next season in my eyes before it starts clicking right). But as the article said were headed in the right direction.
Who cares how many penalties we have if we're not making the playoffs? Or better yet, winning championships?
According to NFL.com, the Jets were the least penalized team (yards and total penalties) in 2003; the second least in 2004; and the fifth least penalized team in 2005 (with the seventh least penalty yards). Considering the number of backups that had to play last year, that's a much better ranking than I expected. Of course, if discipline is judged in completed C-QB exchanges.....
I think there was a huge indictment on Herm when John Lott quit the team as strength and conditioning coach. He wasn't getting the support from Herm, and went to go work for Crennel in Cleveland.
In 2004 the Jets led the league in fewest defensive penalties with 86 defensive penalties committed in 996 plays. In 2005 Jets finished 16th in fewest defensive penalties committed but had more chances since the defense was on the field more than in the previous year. In 1047 plays the Jets committed 115 penalties. Don't expect improvement with Mangini. In 2005 under Magini's leadership and game planning, the Patriots ranked 28th in fewest defensive penalties committed with more penalties than the Jets while having fewer plays. The Patriots committed 132 defensive penalties in 997 defensive lays. Only the Giants, Vikings, Cowboys and Broncos committed more defensive penalties than the Patriots. http://www.nfl.com/stats/teamsort/NFL/DEF-TOTAL/2005/regular?&_1:col_1=13
The least amount of penalties is not all that impressive in a very conservative system such as theirs. It's easy not to cross the edge when you're playing soft, like the Jets did during his tenure.
Bingo. Give this man a cigar. This "the Jets have been the least penalized team the last 4 years" is the biggest bunch of nonsense I have heard around here. BIG DEAL. Its like hiring a guy to run your company because he has kept urinal number 4 "really clean" the last 5 years. Does Edwards deserve credit for having the team commit less penalties then most teams? Sure...why not. When making my pros and cons list about his tenure here...I will slip that little puppy in at the top of the list for pro's...all by itself. EDIT: Oh..and by the way...excellent article. Its the only change many of us ever wanted anyway. Any Jet veteran showing up for camp this year with Camp Herm still on his mind should bring a brown bag...and not for eating his lunch..but for depositing it.
As far as penalties go, it depends on when and where. If you give up a few yards on a kickoff return it's not as bad as removing points from the board. When you are sitting at 3rd and short, take a yardage hit making it 3rd and long and then don't convert, it's much more significant.
See...now if you didnt defend Herm all the time..many of us would believe the above came all off the top of your head...instead of clicking like a mad man to try to prove your sanity.
Thanks for that information, RA. It bears out my theory that the Edwards low-penalty factor, while valid for much of his tenure, had become a thing of the past and a lazy trope for TV commentators by the 2005 season.
youre right about the all star thing..plus in baseball its easier to do than in football....so if it doesnt work in yankee land it DEFINITELY wouldnt work in football
