The Mangini era begins for Jets, with lots of question marks

NFL 2006: The Mangini era begins for Jets, with lots of question marks

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer
September 6, 2006

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Eric Mangini knows he's no magician or miracle worker. He made no promises of a quick turnaround when he was introduced as the head coach of the New York Jets in January.

The fresh-faced 35-year-old Mangini used phrases like "building a culture" and "long-term commitment" and said the Jets' hopeful rise to NFL dominance would be a process.

Nearly nine months later, the Jets enter the regular season as a true work-in-progress, with lots of questions -- and very few answers.

"Each week, it's just got to be about that meeting, that practice, that opponent and the things that we have to do to beat that opponent," Mangini said the week before the opener at Tennessee. "And not worry about Week 2, not worry about Week 16, not worry about the preseason, but just focus on the things we need to do to win."

Mangini knows plenty about that, having been part of three Super Bowl teams with New England under Bill Belichick. He was also an assistant under Bill Parcells for three years with the Jets. Now Mangini replaces Herman Edwards, who went to Kansas City following a dismal 4-12 final season with New York.

"I know what he's about and I know what he's trying to get done," said defensive end Bobby Hamilton, a former Patriot in his second tour with the Jets. "When you have a coach like that, you will go to battle for him."

Mangini's first order of business was to change the attitude of the team. By all accounts, he ran a tough training camp and veterans received no special treatment -- a departure from the way things were done under Edwards. Mangini also demanded all his players know the playbook, on offense and defense, and quizzed them periodically.

"I've filled a lot more notebooks in a couple of months here than I did in college," rookie running back Leon Washington said. "So, that says a lot."

But the question remains: Does Mangini have enough talent to turn things around -- even slightly -- this season?

Quarterback Chad Pennington is back as the starter, but is coming off a second consecutive rotator cuff operation. He looked adequate in the preseason, beating out Patrick Ramsey, the now-traded Brooks Bollinger and rookie Kellen Clemens for the job, and proving his right arm was healthy again.

"I guess you could say the feel good story is kind of over now," Pennington said. "It's about winning games and making sure we're doing everything necessary to help us win."

That might be tough, especially without Curtis Martin in the backfield for at least the first six games. The NFL's No. 4 career rusher will start the year on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a knee injury.

In Martin's place, Mangini and new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer plan to use newly acquired Kevan Barlow, a former 1,000-yard rusher with San Francisco, along with Cedric Houston, Derrick Blaylock and Washington. Whether any -- or all combined -- can come close to producing the numbers Martin did in his first eight seasons with the Jets remains to be seen.

"It's going to be different not seeing No. 28," Pennington said. "But at the same time, a lot of guys will get an opportunity here to prove themselves, take advantage of the opportunity and have fun playing this game. So, there's two sides of it."

With an unclear running back situation and a lack of game-breaking wide receivers -- Laveranues Coles is the only one of the bunch who's ever had at least 70 catches and 1,000 yards receiving -- scoring could be a tough task. The Jets tried to acquire Deion Branch from New England, offering a second-round draft pick for the former Super Bowl MVP, but the Patriots turned down the proposal.

New York scored 57 points in four preseason games, and hardly struck fear in opposing defenses.

"It will come," Blaylock said. "We're working to get better in areas. We'll get it fixed."

The Jets also revamped an aging offensive line, using their two first-round draft picks on big tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold -- and both open the season as starters.

"You can always say you're prepared, but until you get there, you don't know," the long-haired Mangold said.

On defense, Mangini and new coordinator Bob Sutton installed a 3-4 alignment, a risky move considering Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma excelled in the 4-3 in his first two pro seasons. There are questions whether the Jets even have the right personnel or depth to successfully run the 3-4.

"We've been in it since May, in minicamp," Vilma said. "We've been improving. The last three (preseason) games, there was steady improvement."

Veteran linemen Shaun Ellis and Dewayne Robertson are back, and former Steelers defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen was added to the mix up front, along with Hamilton, former Vikings defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and Seahawks tackle Rashad Moore.

"I know these guys are going to put their hard work in and they're tired of losing, too," Hamilton said. "We're trying to work with each other and try to get it done and put it all together."

Updated on Wednesday, Sep 6, 2006 3:20 am EDT

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