from PFT : Thu Sep-06-07 07:21 PM JETS HAVE GLARING HOLE ON LEFT SIDE OF THE LINE On Sunday, Jets G.M. Mike Tannenbaum will likely be cringing with every snap that the offense takes, hoping that former I-AA lineman Jacob Bender or previously unwanted Ohio State product Adrien Clarke don't get thrown into the backfield from the position previously occupied by Pete Kendall. Tannenbaum and company opted to play the tough guy with Kendall, refusing to give him a $1 million raise in 2007 despite an alleged promise to re-adjust a deal that Kendall revised last year at the team's behest. The veteran was a disruption during training camp and the preseason, eventually prompting the team to trade him.And while the move solved the problem of having a pissed-off Pete Kendall in the building, there's now a glaring hole on the left side of the line, between 2006 first-round center Nick Mangold and 2006 first-round tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Bender, who last year at this time was playing for Nicholls State (which we think is in the U.S.), reportedly will get the start. But the Jets' online depth chart shows Clarke as the No. 1 left guard. Either way, there's a chance that a huge leak will be sprung when the Pats come to town on Sunday -- and that quarterback Chad Pennington could be drowned by the ensuing sea of silver helmets.
Tannenbaum and Mangini must know something we don't know about Bender's ability. Otherwise they've sacrificed the 2007 season over being too obstinate to settle the Kendall situation to both sides satisfaction. Tannenbaum was imho a top G.M. but to let this Kendall situation to fester all offseason and erupt in to "he said she said" is just stupid. Hopefully Bender can adapt quickly to the NFL otherwise Clemens may be the starting QB next week as Chad recovers in a ICU somewhere.
...or....maybe Clemens taking over is the "un-official plan"... It's hard to care about protecting your QB when you like the guy behind him even better.
does he yell "please dont kill my QB"? because even without seymore the pats are gonna be left side blitzing mad on sunday!
I wouldn't put it passed Belli that he pressures from the right side instead of the left side.. I would imagine the Jets will slide protect to the left to help the young lad out.. Then BOOM weak side "Engage 8" blitz.. :up: Carry On..
This business over the OL will either turn out to be calculating mad genius, or among the greatest blunders in NFL management. I'm holding my breath and crossing my fingers for the former. Hopefully we will just have some minor growing pains for a few games.
It is what is is. If we had signed someone earlier this week, it's not as if they'd have walked in knowing the game plan. If we had paid Kendall, we'd have set a bad example for how we deal with contracts. This is a mostly young team and that's something we can ill afford to do. Beating the Patriots has far more to do with how our defense responds and how well we run the ball. I'm not worried about Bender in the run game. -X-
Pretty sure I said this earlier in the week. I called it a double bluff. I then postulated on a double double bluff where knowing Mangini will anticipate the double bluff he attacks the left side anyway. Or the double double double bluff where he...you know.
Now there's some sound gameplanning. Get your starting QB injured so you avoid having to make the messy announcement that you're elevating the 2nd stringer. Then you go through the season with a 2nd year QB starting and Tui as your number 2, all the while throwing the money down the drain that you paid to Chad. Meanwhile, you throw Clemens behind the exact same line, making it even more likely that you'll end up having to start Tui at some point during the season. I guess the "unofficial" plan must be to eventually get Brad Smith in there as the starter. That's much more likely than Mangini thinking that Bender will actually be able to play.
I think this CS would have Clemens in there if they wanted him in there and wouldn't resort to any gimmicks.
It is amazing how all of a sudden Kendall is a lost Pro Bowler. He was OK. Not great not bad. He was a cancer to this team and brough down team chemistry. He needed to go, and the team is MUCH better off without him. Bender will have some growing pains. So what? He has a much higher ceiling than Kendall would ever have. I don't see why people and writers cannot move on from this. It was the correct move and not a "blunder" by Tanny.
Yes, and we will ride on a magic carpet to the Super Bowl, and we'll all get 72 virgins and champ will have to change his signature.
a left guard is only as good as the center and LT he is playing next to, i am sure mangini knows what he is doing, plus i hear bender has outstanding getting off the ball ability
