How To Know If The Jets Can Beat The Falcons

Transcription

1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS August 22, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Ryan, Falcons starters sharp early in loss to Jets (Dennis Waszak)... 2 NEWSDAY... 3 Jets beat Falcons but starters struggle (Kimberley A. Martin)... 4 Mike Maccagnan's right-hand man: A cup of coffee (Kimberley A. Martin)... 5 Oday Aboushi, Jets guard, had 'small amount' of marijuana in car, cops say (Kimberley A. Martin)... 8 THE RECORD... 8 Jets starters struggle again in win over Falcons (J.P. Pelzman)... 8 NEW YORK TIMES Shaky Defense Creates Familiar Feeling for Jets (Zach Schonbrun) ESPN NEW YORK Leonard Williams opens his sack account with Jets (Rich Cimini) Jets beat Falcons, but Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. struggle in extended outing (Rich Cimini) New Jets QB Matt Flynn pockets a small guarantee -- $60,000 (Rich Cimini) Players under the spotlight for Jets' home debut (Rich Cimini) Jets hope to clean up mistakes after brutal preseason opener (Rich Cimini) Durell Eskridge, who once lived in car and dodged bullets, hopes to stick with Jets (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST Fitzpatrick-to-Marshall looks like fearsome connection already (Brian Costello) Leonard Williams is wrecking QBs and giving the Jets real hope (Brian Costello) Todd Bowles unloads on Jets terrible discipline (Brian Costello) Jets hit trifecta of terrible in alarming, deceiving win (Brian Costello) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Grading performances of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty in Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons (Darryl Slater) Brandon Marshall: Jets' offense 'definitely left a lot of meat on the bones' (Dom Consentino) Jets' Willie Colon says Leonard Williams reminds him of Richard Seymour (Darryl Slater) quick takeaways from Jets' victory over Atlanta Falcons (Dom Consentino) Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons: Analyzing Ryan Fitzpatrick's performance, under steady pressure (Darryl Slater) observations about Jets' first-team offense vs. Atlanta Falcons, as the starters sputter (Darryl Slater) observations from Jets' first-team defense's uninspired performance vs. Atlanta Falcons (Dom Consentino).. 28 Brandon Marshall playing 'best football' of his career, Jets receivers coach says (Dom Cosentino) P a g e

2 Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin says he was 'shocked' he didn't blow lots of assignments in preseason debut (Darryl Slater) Matt Flynn's Jets contract pretty much confirms he's a rental (Darryl Slater) Will Oday Aboushi's suspension open door for Dakota Dozier to make Jets' roster? (Darryl Slater) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets starters look rough again against Falcons in preseason game despite win (Seth Walder) Jets D gets another F during preseason game against Falcons (Manish Mehta) Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick sees more playing time, throws for 118 yards against Falcons (Seth Walder) METRO NEW YORK Oday Aboushi suspension the latest issue for Jets (Kristian Dyer) FRIDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Ryan, Falcons starters sharp early in loss to Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press August 22, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons' starting offense are already clicking. They just need the rest of their teammates to catch up before the regular season begins. Ryan was sharp for the second straight preseason game, leading Atlanta to touchdowns in both of his series before the New York Jets came back to beat the Falcons on Friday night. "He's really feeling it, in terms of his familiarity of the offense, where he has the ownership of it," coach Dan Quinn said. Ryan finished with a perfect quarterback rating while going 4 of 5 for 75 yards, including a 60-yard completion to fullback Collin Mooney, and a 2-yard touchdown toss to Leonard Hankerson. Rookie Terron Ward also had a 4-yard touchdown run for the Falcons (1-1) who carved up the Jets' touted starting defense. "The first drive was jump-started by the explosive play by Collin Mooney," Ryan said. "When you get going and you want to start fast, those plays help a lot. Then we did a great job of finding a way to punch it in in the red zone." Ryan was 6 of 6 with a TD pass to Julio Jones in his one series with the starters last week against Tennessee. Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets' starters sputtered until facing Falcons backups midway through the second quarter. New York (1-1) was sparked by the defense on a safety by first-round pick Leonard Williams; the former USC star has sacks. "He made two big plays," coach Todd Bowles said, "and kind of turned it around for everybody." Chris Ivory followed less than two minutes later with a 33-yard TD run, and Fitzpatrick found Brandon Marshall for a 2-point conversion that cut New York's deficit to Observations from the game: FITZ FITTING IN 2 P a g e

3 Fitzpatrick, who played just one series last week, finished 13 of 19 for 118 yards before being replaced by Bryce Petty late in the first half. "There's definitely some room to grow after that performance," Fitzpatrick said. Fitzpatrick is starting with Geno Smith out six to 10 weeks with a broken jaw after being punched last week by then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali. STARTING FAST Mooney took a short pass from Ryan on the Falcons' second play from scrimmage and outran linebacker Quinton Coples for a 60-yard gain that put the ball at the Jets 23. After Darrelle Revis was called for defensive holding, Ward ran it in from 4 yards to make it 7-0. The Jets went three-and-out on their next possession, and Devin Hester returned Ryan Quigley's punt 59 yards to the New York 4. Three plays later, Ryan found a wide-open Hankerson for a 2-yard score. YELLOW FLAGS The Jets were called for 10 penalties in the first half, and finished with 17. The Falcons were penalized just six times. BACKUP QBS T.J. Yates was 8 of 15 for 78 yards and an interception, while Sean Renfree was 10 of 14 for 94 yards as the two rotated throughout in the competition to back up Ryan. Yates also converted a 2-point conversion on a pass to Levine Toilolo early in the fourth quarter after Michael Ford's 1-yard TD run. Petty finished 12 of 19 for 168 yards, including a 13-yard TD pass to DeVier Posey late in the third quarter that put the Jets up OFFENSIVE DEFENSE Jamari Lattimore had a 37-yard interception return that set up Nick Folk's 29-yard field goal that put the Jets up with 3 seconds left in the half. Rontez Miles scooped up a fumble on a botched handoff by Renfree and returned it 57 yards for a score in the third quarter. INJURY UPDATE Falcons: WR Roddy White was scratched before the game with an elbow injury that is not believed to be serious. LB Derek Akunne left with an injured foot, while RB Evan Royster had an injury to his midsection. Jets: WR Jeremy Kerley, S Durell Eskridge and RB Daryl Richardson all suffered concussions. CB Dashaun Phillips injured a rib. WR Shaq Evans has a sprained back, while T Ben Ijalana left with a knee injury. NEWSDAY Quick hits from the Jets' second preseason game (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 22, No need to make any sweeping observations about a Jets preseason game featuring a first-year coach, a backup quarterback filling in for a punched-out starter and a defense still without its best lineman and 3 P a g e

4 using a vanilla game plan. So let's do this the right way and break it down into the kind of evaluations more reflective of the work-in-progress nature of this team. Best sign of the night for the Jets: rookie defensive end Leonard Williams. With Mo Wilkerson still sitting out with a hamstring tweak, which may be irritating coach Todd Bowles for how long it's keeping him out of practice, Williams took several steps forward in last night's victory over the Falcons at MetLife Stadium. He'll be seeing plenty of time in place of Sheldon Richardson, who will serve at least a four-game suspension (potentially longer because of his arrest in connection with a drag-racing incident in St. Louis last month). Williams had a sack for a safety on backup quarterback T.J. Yates in the second quarter. "Even some of the players and coaches came up to me and mentioned it, as well," Williams said of the energy he created off his sack for the safety. "They were saying, 'Thanks for the fire.' " Williams said he's learning to play with technique, using his hands more than simply relying on his brute strength. "In college, I got away with being bigger and faster than people," he said. "Now, everybody's big and fast and strong, so you really have to play with technique." Man, this kid can play. For those of you thinking that the Geno Smith knockout punch offered a silver lining of sorts because it meant Ryan Fitzpatrick would take over, consider this: After a lackluster preseason opener last week in Detroit, the 32-year-old journeyman wasn't much better in his second start. Fitzpatrick was 13-for-19 for 118 yards, but he had only four first downs in his first five possessions against the starters and seemed mostly content to settle for check-down passes. "I think it was an up-and-down performance," Fitzpatrick said. "I feel like I missed a few reads. There's definitely some room to grow." We'll note that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey won't show his hand in the preseason, but we're also under no illusions about Fitzpatrick's overall game. This will be Geno's team once he's ready to return. The Jets' defense was not so hot for the second week in a row: They were victimized by a pass in the right flat to fullback Collin Mooney, who turned it into a 60-yard rumble to set up the first touchdown. A specialteams gaffe on a punt return by Devin Hester (OK, so we've seen plenty of gaffes on Hester returns over the years) gave Atlanta the ball at the Jets' 4 on the next drive, and Matt Ryan hit Leonard Hankerson for a 2-yard touchdown pass that badly fooled the Jets' secondary. Plenty of cleanup work to be done by Bowles and his megabucks secondary featuring Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. Some good work from wide receiver Brandon Marshall: His best play was catching a short pass from Fitzpatrick and turning it into a 30-yard gain. Still not much action for veteran receiver Jeremy Kerley, as the Jets take a closer look at Quincy Enunwa: Kerley had two catches for 38 yards. Enunwa had one catch for 6 yards. Kerley suffered a concussion in the first half, and his status is uncertain. Still think there's a place for Kerley. A very reliable receiver and excellent locker room leader.bilal Powell had a nice run around left end that was called back on a holding penalty by Eric Decker. Powell flashed the kind of burst he had in Want a more definitive read on the Jets ahead? It'll come next Saturday against the Giants, when the starters play into the third quarter. Jets beat Falcons but starters struggle (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 22, P a g e

5 Here's what we know after 60 minutes of preseason play Friday night: the Jets' backups are better than the Falcons'. The Jets treated fans to an emotional roller coaster off head shakes and fist pumps in the preseason home opener. What began as a dismal outing for Todd Bowles' bunch ended up being a spirited contest once Atlanta's backups entered the game and the Jets came away with a win. "I think we started slow. A lot of penalties. Can't do that," said receiver Brandon Marshall, who had four catches for 62 yards. "But I really enjoyed watching the way we finished. Got a chance to get in the end zone and the twos came in and did a better job... It was a great start for us, but we definitely left a lot of meat on the bones." A victory is a victory, even in the preseason. But the somewhat troubling sign is that the Jets starters were outplayed for the second straight game. And somehow penalties and missed tackles -- remnants of the Rex Ryan era -- remain big issues. "You ain't going to win no ballgames having 17 penalties," Bowles said. "Effort was great, penalties were terrible... We're going to work our [butts] off on it and we'll go from there." Yes, the Jets scored 30 unanswered points. But there were plenty of miscues by their starters, particularly the defense. The Jets were flagged 10 times in the first half, the biggest culprit being backup tight end Kellen Davis (three). Starting quarterback Matt Ryan and the Falcons' special-teams unit easily sliced their way through the Jets' porous coverage. And the big plays fans had been waiting to see from Bowles' defense didn't take surface until Ryan and the rest of the starters had exited the game. The Jets starters played significantly more than they did in last week's exhibition game in Detroit. But the results were mixed. Mike Maccagnan's right-hand man: A cup of coffee (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 21, Mike Maccagnan scanned his office, knowing that time was of the essence. He couldn't risk his wife catching him in the act, so he quickly discarded the incriminating evidence and prepared for her arrival. He then played it cool, hoping she would be none the wiser. "I looked around my desk, and I had a couple cups of coffee and I quickly threw them out. I did, I did," the Jets general manager said with a laugh, recalling his wife's visit from their home in Houston to the team's practice facility last week. Coffee cups have become his Florham Park trademark, another distinctive feature to go along with his rimless eyeglasses, his easy-going demeanor and modulated tone. Wherever he is, coffee is by his side. Well, except last week, when the Mrs. came to visit. "When I was walking out to practice that day, I didn't have anything in my hand," he said during a sit-down interview with Newsday Thursday morning. "I think I grabbed a water or something." 5 P a g e

6 Maccagnan has been married to Betty for 21 years. They met while she was working and going to school part-time and he was a front-office executive for the since-disbanded Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. Betty's his biggest cheerleader and his health-conscious confidante. "She's the love of my life," Maccagnan proudly said. But there's one thing his true love would love to see him do away with: his excessive consumption of coffee. "We have Dunkin Donuts here -- on tap -- so that's really cool," Maccagnan said, smiling. A SCOUT'S BEST FRIEND His coffee-drinking habits were born out of necessity, a means to end for a longtime college scout on the road most of the year. Caffeine aided him on countless late-night drives across states, and it helped him stay up even longer as he typed up scouting reports. Now as a GM, he finds himself indulging more during stressful periods of the NFL season, like the draft and free agency. Betty's loving reminders to live a healthier lifestyle have become a recurring theme over the past two decades. But it's all in good fun. So how long has she been trying to get her husband to cut back on his caffeine intake? "Let's see, we've been married 21 years, so probably about 21 years -- nah, I'm just joking," said Maccagnan, the Texans' former director of college scouting. "Probably within the last year. She definitely wants me to do healthier things, in general." That, of course, is easier said than done. MAKE IT A DOUBLE Adjusting to life as a first-time GM isn't easy. But the past few weeks have presented issues Maccagnan never could have anticipated just seven months into the job. The organization is bracing for the expected fallout from Sheldon Richardson's recent arrest, which came on the heels of his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. But last week's locker-room incident in which Geno Smith got punched and had his jaw broken took the Jets' history of off-the-field drama to new heights. Maccagnan, however, has taken it all in stride. Clad in his typical training-camp attire -- a green collared Jets shirt, khaki shorts and white sneakers -- he took a seat at one of the circular white tables in the second-floor employee cafeteria at 1 Jets Drive. In his hand, of course, was a cup of coffee. His initials, "MM" and the word "skim" were written in red ink on the cup. "You're going to get me in so much trouble with my wife," he joked, noting that it's his first cup of the day. But he quickly admitted "it's a double" -- a skim latte with black coffee mixed in. His greenish eyes look fatigued, but he insisted he's fine. "Really?" he asked. "No, I'm just very comfortable and relaxed. I probably sleep about six hours a night, maybe less." He divulged that he has a cup of coffee with him "almost all the time." And though he rarely drinks it at home on the weekends, he estimated he has about "four, at the minimum, to 10 or 12" cups at at the office. "I'll have some crazy long days and I'll probably drink more," he said. 6 P a g e

7 He's tried other tricks, like opting for a green tea to break up his day. But glorious coffee remains his goto. "I drink a lot of lattes... Generally, I like it black if I don't have a latte." Occasionally, he'll try hazelnut coffee ("But not the syrup-flavor kind"). Any sugar? "No sugar. No sugar." Any java-inducing jitters? "I have very low blood pressure. Genetic, I guess. I think I probably drink so much it doesn't affect me. I mean, I don't feel it affecting me. I can have a cup of coffee at night and fall asleep no big deal." Energy drinks? "No, no, no. I am strictly coffee. That's my only vice." WARM PERSONALITY Every morning, a Jets staffer brings in coffee for several employees, Maccagnan included. Usually he arrives between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., but on this particular Thursday, he was running a bit behind schedule. His wife was due to arrive that afternoon. And when he got to the facility, his special treat was waiting for him on his desk. "A lot of people in the office get coffee, I don't want to make it sound like they just cater to me only," he said. Despite the power he wields behind closed doors, the Jets GM is down-to-earth, completely unassuming and alarmingly genial with the media. He puts on no airs, nor does he profess to know it all. And the mere thought of being viewed on a pedestal makes him extremely uncomfortable. "Somebody, very nicely, every once in a while, will put it on my desk if I'm running a little late," he said. "... I don't want to sound like a coffee dictator or something like that. I'm not like that. I'm very low maintenance." Maccagnan's coffee habits were "a running joke" in Houston, but it never piqued anyone's interest outside the Texans organization. But as the face of the Jets front office, he's a recognizable figure and the embodiment of a clean slate and a fresh start for the franchise. And, naturally, his affection for coffee has become fodder for worshipping Jets fans. He's easy to spot on the practice field each day -- just look for the tall guy with the white-colored coffee cup. And when he's making the rounds on the sidelines, engaging beat writers in earnest conversations about life, hobbies and music, he's doing so with a Cup o' Joe in hand. And when the Hightstown, New Jersey native turned 48 earlier this month, the Jets wished him a "Happy Birthday" on Twitter with a postcard featuring seven different snapshots of Maccagnan holding a cup of coffee -- including a side-by-side pose of him with "Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin after practice two weeks ago. But as confused as Maccagnan is by all the attention his coffee habits have garnered, he's amused nonetheless. After more than 20 minutes of chit-chatting in the employee cafeteria, however, another crisis has arisen. "It's a little cool," Maccagnan said, staring down at his coffee. 7 P a g e

8 But being the "eco-friendly" guy that he is, tossing out the lukewarm beverage isn't an option. Said Maccagnan: "I'll probably just add some regular coffee to it." Oday Aboushi, Jets guard, had 'small amount' of marijuana in car, cops say (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 21, The NFL announced on Thursday that Jets backup guard Oday Aboushi has been suspended without pay for the first game of the regular season for violating its substances abuse policy and program. According to a press release from the Morris Plains (N.J.) police department obtained by Newsday on Friday morning, police pulled over Aboushi at 8:39 p.m. on Jan. 10 for a motor violation. During the stop on Route 10 East, officers detected "the odor of burnt marijuana" coming from the player's black Cadillac Escalade. Aboushi, 24, was cooperative with officers and provided consent to search his vehicle, according to the release. Police then found "a small amount" of marijuana and suspected drug paraphernalia. The former fifth-round Jets draft pick in 2013 was then placed under arrest and taken to police headquarters for processing, according to the release. In addition to being charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Aboushi also was issued summons for driving while suspended, careless driving and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, the release said. Aboushi can continue participating in preseason practices and games, but won't be eligible to return to the active roster until Sept. 14, a day after the Jets' season opener against the Cleveland Browns. "I apologize for my actions and understand the repercussions," Aboushi said in a statement released by the team. "This is something I've learned from and I'm focused on moving forward." Said first-year coach Todd Bowles: "News like this is never welcome. We will support Oday as we continue with our preparations for the upcoming season." Aboushi's suspension is just the latest in a string of off-the-field incidents for the Jets. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The former defensive rookie of the year in 2013 and 2014 Pro Bowler is also expected to be penalized further by the NFL following his July 14 arrest in Missouri after a high-speed chase from police. Last week, starting quarterback Geno Smith was punched by former teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali in the locker room after a dispute over a $600 debt. Smith, who underwent surgery last Thursday, is expected to be out 6-10 weeks. THE RECORD Jets starters struggle again in win over Falcons (J.P. Pelzman) The Record August 21, P a g e

9 EAST RUTHERFORD The Jets defense got most of the hype during the off-season. But two games into the preseason, it looks anything but impregnable. Atlanta s first-string offense, led by Matt Ryan, scored touchdowns on each of its two possessions against the Jets starting defense Friday night at MetLife Stadium. But the Jets rallied for a victory against the Falcons reserves. The Jets starting offense had its glitches, too, and didn t get close to the end zone until Atlanta s starting defense had gone to the bench. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who took over the starting job when Geno Smith was injured last week, went 13-for-19 for 118 yards before being relieved by Bryce Petty with 6:27 left in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick threw a two-point conversion pass to Brandon Marshall. For the second straight game, the Jets starting defense allowed the other team s offense to move quickly down the field for a touchdown on its first possession. However, coach Todd Bowles indicated he wasn t worried, saying the Jets were victimized by a blown coverage and a miscommunication and that they cleaned up those problems as the game went on. The Jets managed only one first down on their opening possession, and were forced to punt. Atlanta then went 85 yards in six plays and scored on Terron Ward s 4-yard run around left end for a 7-0 lead. The big play in the drive was a 60-yard pass from Ryan to fullback Collin Mooney to the Jets 23 that was the blown coverage. On the play, outside linebacker Quinton Coples was attempting to cover Mooney in man, and failed miserably. Ryan was 2-for-3 for 72 yards on the drive. He and the Falcons also benefited from a penalty on third-and-7 from the 8, keeping the drive alive. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis was flagged for holding star wideout Julio Jones, giving the Falcons a first down at the 4. Ward scored on the next play. After the Jets offense went three-and-out on its next possession, the special teams sprung a leak. Devin Hester returned Ryan Quigley s punt 59 yards to the 4 before being knocked out of bounds by backup running back Bilal Powell. On third-and-goal, a communications mixup in the Jets secondary led to receiver Leonard Hankerson being wide-open on a slant for a 2-yard scoring pass from Ryan, putting Atlanta ahead Ryan then retired for the night. In the second quarter, first-round draft pick Leonard Williams easily beat his blocker and sacked T.J. Yates for a safety, cutting the deficit to After the free kick, Fitzpatrick and the first-team offense moved 73 yards in four plays against Atlanta s backup defenders for a touchdown. Fitzpatrick had a 30-yard completion to Marshall, and two plays later, Chris Ivory broke containment for a 33-yard touchdown run. Fullback Tommy Bohanon and left guard James Carpenter were among those who provided solid blocks on the play. The Jets went for two points, and got it easily on Fitzpatrick s slant pass to Marshall, who threw the ball into the stands to a young fan wearing his No. 15 jersey. I feel like, personally, I missed a few reads, Fitzpatrick said. There s a lot of things I think I can learn from and get better from. There s definitely some room to grow after that performance, but it was nice to get the touchdown at the end. BRIEFS: WR Jeremy Kerley suffered a concussion, Bowles said.... SS Calvin Pryor didn t play after missing practice during the week for personal reasons. Jaiquawn Jarrett started in his place. Sarah Thomas, the first non-replacement female NFL official, was the line judge. WR Shaq Evans, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, left the game with a back injury after Kerley was tackled and knocked into 9 P a g e

10 Evans while he was blocking a defender. Evans had one reception for 7 yards. ILB Jamari Lattimore, signed as a free agent from Green Bay in March, picked off Yates late in the second quarter and returned the interception 37 yards to the Atlanta 26. That set up Nick Folk s second field goal of the first half, a 29- yarder with three seconds left. Veteran TE Steve Maneri of Saddle Brook played after missing the preseason opener at Detroit. NEW YORK TIMES Shaky Defense Creates Familiar Feeling for Jets (Zach Schonbrun) New York Times August 21, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. It was still early in the game, a preseason game, the first one at MetLife Stadium this season, but already the boos were building. Already the Jets trailed by two scores. The offense was scuffling; the defense seemed hapless; even the special teams suffered. It looked all too familiar. The winds of change were supposed to blow through these parts this fall new coaching staff, new front office, several prized new acquisitions, even a new quarterback (for the moment). Through the first 20 or so minutes of preseason game No. 2, however, the air was recognizably stale. There were flashes of life from Ryan Fitzpatrick and the first-team offense, and two sacks (one a safety) by the hyped rookie lineman Leonard Williams. A 57-yard touchdown after a fumble recovery and a 41- yard interception return livened up the crowd. But the early performance of the team s vaunted defense and rejiggered offense in Friday s win kept the celebration subdued. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan needed only two drives to loosen up and get his practice in before his night was done, charging the Falcons downfield for 85 yards in six plays in the opening drive. He was helped by a 60-yard reception by the fullback Collin Mooney, who found open space in the flat and nobody ahead of him. Busted coverage, Jets Coach Todd Bowles griped. An insightful and occasionally amusing package of the sports journalism you need today, delivered to your inbox by New York Times reporters and editors. After an easy score, Atlanta put the ball only a few yards from the end zone again on its next possession, after a 59-yard punt return by the always-lethal Devin Hester. On third down, Leonard Hankerson caught a slant for a touchdown that left Antonio Cromartie in his wake. Broken communication, Bowles lamented. It was this, or that, and one miscue after the next for the first quarter and a half for the Jets, not the exuberant homecoming the team was expecting after an off-season that was hailed by pundits as one that had reshaped the franchise s future. They trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, and the Jets defense expected to be among the best in the N.F.L. this season was looking disjointed and vulnerable for a second straight game. After last week s 23-3 drubbing in Detroit, Bowles said the tackling needed to improve. The Lions had gathered 428 total yards, including 193 on the ground. But the eight days of practice in between did not translate into all the intended results. The tackling was a lot better, they played the run a lot better, Bowles said. We still got a ways to go. 10 P a g e

11 It was not just the defensive ineffectiveness. There was ample evidence of early sloppiness. The Jets Tommy Bohanon tackled a punt returner after he called for a fair catch (a 15-yard penalty); lineman James Carpenter wandered downfield; a call for holding on receiver Eric Decker nullified a 58-yard rush; two passes were blocked at the line of scrimmage; and a drop by Decker stalled the team s fifth drive. Altogether, the Jets were whistled for 10 first-half penalties, and 17 total, a head-spinning accumulation that Bowles attributed to immaturity and excessive aggression. You can t have 10 penalties in the first half and expect to win, guard Willie Colon said.bowles said: We learned something last week about tackling. Hopefully, we ll learn from the penalties this week. Hampered by penalties, the first-team offense looked sluggish behind Fitzpatrick, making his second start since taking over for Geno Smith. Chan Gailey, the new offensive coordinator, gave Fitzpatrick a bevy of opportunities to advance the football in the air, but the majority of his early throws were short dinks and safe dunks. We left a lot of meat on the bones, receiver Brandon Marshall said. It was not until the team s sixth drive, midway through the second quarter, that there were glimpses of potential, albeit against Atlanta s backups. Fitzpatrick connected with Marshall (four catches, 62 yards) for 30 yards along the sideline to Atlanta s 40. Then running back Chris Ivory faked a counter to the left and shot through a gaping hole on the right to open daylight for the 33-yard score. There s definitely some room to grow, said Fitzpatrick, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 118 yards. But it was nice getting the touchdown at the end. The score was punctuated by a 2-point conversation, Fitzpatrick to Marshall two newcomers who will no doubt loom large in the team s fate this season, a linkage that Jets fans can only hope will be repeated often in box scores and highlight clips. If not, the Jets results could be all too familiar. EXTRA POINTS Three Jets players left the game with concussions receiver Jeremy Kerley, safety Durell Eskridge and running back Daryl Richardson. Receiver Shaq Evans also left the game with a back sprain. ESPN NEW YORK Leonard Williams opens his sack account with Jets (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 22, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If there was one bright spot in the New York Jets second preseason game, it was rookie Leonard Williams. The sixth overall pick in the draft notched his first sack on Friday night. Better yet, it resulted in a safety and the Jets first two points of their win over the Atlanta Falcons. Williams wasn t done there. He later combined with Jason Babin on a second sack, and that s not all. Williams finished with five tackles, including another tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits -- in other words, he stuffed the stat sheet. 11 P a g e

12 Yes, both sacks came against the Falcons backups. But the performance was still very encouraging. "He had two big plays," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "You saw the big plays, but I gotta look at the film to see how he did on every other play. But he did make two big plays and kind of turned on the light for everybody." Things did look dark early when the Jets quickly fell behind But Williams flashed on the final play of the first quarter, tackling Atlanta running back Terron Ward for a 4-yard loss. Then early in the second quarter, with the Falcons facing a first-and-10 on their own 4-yard line, Williams was practically unblocked and took down T.J. Yates in the end zone. "I know preseason doesn t really count, and also it was like a wide-open sack. I think it was a missed assignment on their part," Williams said. "But it still felt great." After the ensuing free kick, the Jets needed just four plays to travel 73 yards for a touchdown. Chris Ivory ran the ball in from 33 yards away, and Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall for a two-point conversion. The Jets were suddenly within 14-10, and Bowles credited Williams for providing the spark. "I thought it woke the guys up a little bit," Bowles said. "He s playing with a lot of energy, and I think after that guys started playing." The Jets are counting on Williams to be a big part of their defense this season, especially now that Sheldon Richardson is suspended for at least the team's first four games. Williams has stepped immediately into a starting role at defensive end, and right guard Willie Colon had high praise for him after the game. "He s big, he s big-bodied. He s so young, he doesn t realize the potential he actually has," Colon said. "He has that Richard Seymour-type body, that prototype [body], and sky s the limit for the kid." Williams had 20 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at USC, but he's learning how to play at the next level -- and appears to be a quick study. "One thing that they ve been trying to help me work on, I come off the line and use my face mask a lot," Williams said. "They tell me all the time, I've got long arms and stuff like that. So just come off the line, and from the ground up just use my arms." Better yet, he sounds willing and eager to learn. "The biggest adjustment for me coming to the NFL is technique," Williams said. "In college I kind of got away with just being bigger than people and faster than people. But now everyone s big and fast and strong, so you really gotta play with technique."" Jets beat Falcons, but Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. struggle in extended outing (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York January 21, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick got his first extended playing time of the preseason, but the starting offense struggled in a victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night at MetLife Stadium. The Jets (1-1) also made big mistakes on defense and special teams. Team 12 P a g e

13 Tumult has a lot of work to do, but at least they gave Todd Bowles his first win by scoring 30 unanswered points after falling behind, QB depth chart: Fitzpatrick (13-for-19, 118 yards) led the first-team offense to only one touchdown in six possessions -- and the score came against the Falcons' backups. He was smart with the football, making short and safe throws -- often to his check-down receivers. It was a pass-heavy game plan, with a heavy dose of spread formations -- vintage Chan Gailey. Clearly, the passing game is a work in progress. The biggest positive? No turnovers. The play of the night -- Chris Ivory's 33-yard touchdown -- came on the ground. Newly signed quarterback Matt Flynn was in uniform, but he was strictly a spectator. If Geno Smith (broken jaw) was at the game, he remained out of sight. Rookie Bryce Petty replaced Fitzpatrick late in the second quarter. Maybe that dude could start: Backup linebacker Jamari Lattimore made one of the best defensive plays of the game, an open-field interception of TJ Yates. He showed wide-receiver hands and a little speed, too, returning it 37 yards. Lattimore won't supplant David Harris or Demario Davis at either of the inside linebacker spots, but he's a former starter (Green Bay Packers) who could do a credible job, if needed. Who got hurt? Backup tackle Ben Ijalana suffered a knee injury in the first half and didn't return. Ijalana has a history of knee injuries, so this bears watching. If the injury is serious, they'd have to look for a veteran backup because the current personnel is thin. Wide receiver Shaquelle Evans, who got a couple of plays with the starting offense, left with a back injury. A surprise player who looks amazing: Rookie quarterback Petty (12-for-19, 168 yards, one TD) rebounded nicely after a jittery debut last week. He did a better job of recognizing blitzes, showing more composure than last week. It was a night-and-day turnaround. Enough to be the No. 2 quarterback? Let's not go that far, but it was a nice step in his development. Rookie watch: After a quiet debut last week, No. 1 pick Leonard Williams made his first splash in the NFL, recording two sacks -- including a safety. He has terrific closing speed for a big man. He showed power, too, making his second sack on an inside stunt. He beat a backup lineman on both sacks, so let's not put him in Canton just yet, as Bill Parcells would say. Linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin had a couple of quarterback pressures. When it was starters vs. starters, the Jets looked : Not so hot. Again. In best-versus-best situations, the Jets have been outscored 24-3 in two games. You hate to put too much weight on preseason games, but you'd like to see significant improvement. That hasn't been the case. The Jets didn't perk up until quarterback Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons' starters were on the bench. One reason to freak out: The defense actually didn't look as bad as last week, but it's still learning Bowles' system. This time, the Jets were undermined by miscommunications in pass coverage. They allowed a 60- yard completion to a fullback because Quinton Coples, a 290-pound linebacker, was isolated in coverage -- and his closest help was in Hackensack. Later, they got burned on a blitz, with confusion in the secondary on who was supposed to cover the hot receiver. The result was a 2-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Hankerson. Oh, those penalty flags: There were plenty of them -- a total of 16 penalties for 110 yards. The costliest penalty was committed by Darrelle Revis, a third-down holding call on Julio Jones in the end zone. The Falcons scored on the next play. Many of the penalties came in the secondary, which has to annoy Bowles, a former safety. Kellen Davis, trying to make the team as a backup tight end, hurt his chances with three penalties. Finally, decent depth: The Jets' backups were superior to the Falcons' backups, an indication the roster depth has improved since last year. Wide receiver DeVier Posey (13-yard touchdown), safety Rontez Miles 13 P a g e

14 (57-yard fumble return for a touchdown) and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (two catches) were among the standout backups. New Jets QB Matt Flynn pockets a small guarantee -- $60,000 (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 21, EAST RUTHFORD, N.J. -- If newly signed quarterback Matt Flynn doesn't make the New York Jets' openingday roster, he won't walk away empty handed. As part of the one-year contract he signed on Wednesday, Flynn received a $60,000 signing bonus, according to ESPN data. The rest of the contract -- an $870,000 base salary -- isn't guaranteed. The Jets are hopeful that Flynn will recover from his hamstring injury, absorb the offense and perform well enough to justify a roster spot. If their plan falls through, he'll get $60,000 for less than three weeks on the job -- not bad, huh? Once the season begins, he'll be paid on a weekly basis -- $51,176 per game. If Flynn is released when Geno Smith returns from his broken jaw -- they're saying he'll be sidelined four games -- he'll pocket about $265,000. The price of quarterback insurance. Players under the spotlight for Jets' home debut (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 21, Some players worth watching on Friday night, when the New York Jets host the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium: 1. Jeremy Kerley/Quincy Enunwa: This has developed into the most intriguing positional battle in training camp. Enunwa appears to be ahead of Kerley as the No. 3 wide receiver -- who saw that coming? -- but Todd Bowles has said that the competition is ongoing. Kerley played 23 snaps in last week's game, more than any receiver -- all with the backups. He could get some time with the starters in four-receiver sets. 2. Leonard Williams: The Jets' No. 1 pick was disappointed he didn't play more last week (only 13 snaps). It was a bit of a surprise, but it was a case of Bowles wanting to protect him from injury. With Sheldon Richardson's suspension looming, the Jets are counting on their rookie defensive end -- a lot. His snap count should double, considering the starters are expected to play about a half. Prediction: Williams makes his first "wow" play. 3. James Carpenter: This is strictly injury-related. He "tweaked" an ankle on Wednesday (Bowles' word) and didn't finish practice. If they decide to play it safe and sit Carpenter, the starting left guard will be... Dakota Dozier? Oh, boy. They also have Oday Aboushi, who has more experience than Dozier, but Aboushi is facing a one-game suspension, so it doesn't make much sense from a football standpoint to give him 14 P a g e

15 the reps with the starters. On the flip side, there's the health standpoint -- as in, keeping Ryan Fitzpatrick healthy. Jets hope to clean up mistakes after brutal preseason opener (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 21, 2015 A not-so-bold prediction: The New York Jets will play better Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons than they did last week in the preseason opener -- a 23-3 loss to the Detroit Lions in which they were outgained by a 3-to-1 margin. It has to get better. Some of the storylines at MetLife Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET kickoff): 1. Extending Fitz: The Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense had only nine plays in the opener (six runs, three passes), so the chemistry experiment still is in the preliminary stages. Fitzpatrick knows the offense better than anyone not named Chan Gailey, but he has to get comfortable with the players around him. He'll have about five quarters (two this week, three next week) to get that accomplished before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Look for Gailey to spread the field this week, getting more receivers on the field as he tries to ratchet up the passing attack. 2. Emphasis on tackling: Todd Bowles, disappointed by the shoddy tackling against the Lions, made it a priority during the week. The defense responded with an intense, almost chippy attitude on the practice field. Another sub-par performance would raise eyebrows, considering the high expectations for the unit. Bowles vowed to get it fixed. There will be a shortage of bodies on the defensive line. With Muhammad Wilkerson (hamstring) and Ronald Talley (groin) nursing injuries, Stephen Bowen will get the start alongside Damon Harrison and rookie Leonard Williams. Sheldon Richardson, relegated to backup duty as he serves his pre-suspension penance, could see time with the starters. 3. Spotlight on Cro: Frankly, I think this Antonio Cromartie/slump story is being blown out of proportion. Yeah, he's had a few hiccups in camp, but he's a proven veteran. The Jets have bigger problems than worrying about Cromartie, who believes his slow start can be attributed to experimenting with different techniques in practice. He deserves the benefit of the doubt, but, of course, we'll keep an eye on him anyway. Matt Ryan & Co. can provide a stiff test for the pass defense. 4. Sorting out the receivers: After Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall, the Jets don't have much clarity with regard to roles. Quincy Enunwa is getting a great chance to be the No. 3, but Jeremy Kerley still is a factor. Kerley, perhaps motivated by his slip on the depth chart, responded with an excellent week of practice. The coaches also hope to see some separation among the next tier of players -- namely Shaquelle Evans, DeVier Posey, T.J. Graham, Walter Powell and Saalim Hakim. Durell Eskridge, who once lived in car and dodged bullets, hopes to stick with Jets (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 21, P a g e

16 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In Miami, it was known as the Liberty City Massacre. On Jan. 23, 2009, a masked man with an AK-47 assault rifle walked up to a street dice game and opened fire, filling the Miami night with bullets. There were about a dozen people on the sidewalk, including Durell Eskridge and two friends. Eskridge was 17 years old, a gifted athlete whose future was teetering between a life on the streets and the possibility of college football. Everyone on the sidewalk tried to flee, but the odds weren't in favor of humanity at 9:50 that night in front of a grocery store on the corner of Northwest 15th Ave. and 70th St. At least 100 rounds were fired, based on the number of shell casings found by police in the street. Seven people were wounded and two were killed, Derrick Gloster, 18, and Brandon Mills, 16. They were Eskridge's friends. It was called one of the bloodiest mass shootings in the city's history. Eskridge got away, and he kept going and going, all the way to a full scholarship at Syracuse University and a free-agent contract with the New York Jets. "They were killed in front of my face," the rookie safety said at training camp, remembering his childhood friends. "I could've been one of those guys, but I escaped. When I saw the gunman, I took off running. When I took off running, I was able to look back and I saw my friends getting shot up on the wall. "That next morning, I walked down to the crime scene, just to see their blood still spattered right there. I said to myself, 'I can't do this; this isn't how I want to end up.' I couldn't do it to my mother. I had to find a way. I had to get up out of that place. I had to get my mom out of that place." For some reason, Eskridge was spared. Maybe it was because he was a fast runner. Maybe it was the phone call he received a few minutes earlier from a guardian angel, warning him of potential trouble. Maybe it was just random luck. Not a single bullet from the hail of gunfire found his body, and he took that as a message. From then on, he decided to make changes in his life. That Eskridge has made it to an NFL training camp is a small miracle. He grew up in the Pork 'n' Beans projects in Liberty City, one of Florida's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. He was homeless for a period of three years, living in shelters and later a car -- a green Mitsubishi Mirage. Green is the color of his new team, giving him an appreciation for the color that once symbolized his lowest point in life. He lived in the car with his mother, two of his sisters and their belongings. Sleeping was difficult. As Eskridge said, "We were scrunched on bags of clothes. But we made it work." His mother, Margaret, raised eight kids, including a daughter, Shantrell, with cerebral palsy. Margaret worked odd jobs, trying to make enough for food and housing, but there was a point when it became too much. They went to a homeless shelter, but the environment was uncomfortable for a mother with small children. "The boys and girls couldn't sleep together, so I couldn't stay with my mom," Eskridge said. "I had to sleep in room with strangers, older men, homeless men. I was 10 or 11 years old. Having to sleep around those guys, my mom got sick of it. She didn't trust the guys that were laying next to me at the homeless shelter. She decided she'd rather sleep in a car, together." Durell Eskridge, undrafted out of Syracuse, is in a fight for a roster spot with the Jets. But this roster battle doesn't compare to what Eskridge endured during his childhood in Miami. Jeff Skopin/ESPN So they checked into the Mirage, their four-door oasis in the middle of their poverty-stricken neighborhood. By his own admission, Eskridge was no angel as a kid. He bounced around from school to school, attending a total of seven high schools and having to repeat ninth grade. There was no stability in his life, not at home nor school. 16 P a g e

17 "I got kicked out of every one of them because I was so bad, trying to find myself as a young man, getting into trouble, little small things," said Eskridge, who graduated from Miami Central High School. "I couldn't control myself. Not having a father figure around, I was trying to figure out how to become a young man." He estimated that 70 percent of his friends were killed in the streets; the rest are serving long prison sentences. After the Mitsubishi, Eskridge moved into a Liberty City apartment, living under a roof with a bed. But when Margaret lost her job at Miami International Airport, the family had to split up. Eskridge was invited to live with his boyhood friend Devonta Freeman. Eskridge wound up staying four years. Eskridge and Freeman formed a lasting bond, protecting each other from the drugs and violence on the streets. It was Freeman who called Eskridge on that fateful night in 2009, imploring him to leave the crowded sidewalk. He didn't have hard information. It was just a gut feeling that made him place that potentially life-saving call. "I don't know, something didn't feel right, so I called him," said Freeman, a running back for the Atlanta Falcons, whom the Jets play Friday night at MetLife Stadium. "A few minutes later, they shot up his block." The two boys worked small jobs together, pumping gas, carrying groceries for tips and doing yard work at the home of rap star Luther Campbell, the former member of 2 Live Crew and a well-known youth football coach in the area. They also worked at a funeral home, a harrowing experience because they saw corpses ravaged by gunfire from the streets. They were surrounded by death, reinforcing their determination to find a better life. "He's more family than some of my family," Eskridge said of Freeman. "In those tough times, you're looking for somebody to lean on, and he was the person I leaned on." "Durell is my brother, man. He's the best friend I've ever had," Freeman said. "I'm so proud of what he's overcome. He didn't know why he was living in a car or why he had no shoes or why he had no food. He didn't understand any of that, but he lived through it and got through it. I feel like God does things for a reason. He gives the strongest soldiers the toughest battles." Freeman was recruited to Florida State, where he became an immediate star and a fourth-round pick of the Falcons. Eskridge caught the eye of Syracuse coach Scott Shafer, who showed up for a practice with a list of Miami Central's top players. His list didn't include Eskridge, but he was immediately struck by the 6- foot-3 junior's size and athleticism. "Holy cow, who's this kid?" Shafer, Syracuse's defensive coordinator at the time, said to himself. Eskridge was red-flagged by the NCAA for academic reasons, making him ineligible to play as a freshman. The statistics said there was little chance of him succeeding in a college environment. Damn the statistics; he hasn't graduated yet, but he has a degree-completion program in place. The emotion in Shafer's voice tells you everything about his feelings for Eskridge. "I fell in love with him," Shafer said by phone. "In my years at Syracuse, he's one of the best people I've ever been around. I was taken aback by his levelheadedness. He lost dear friends and family members, shot on the streets -- just horrific stories. It's hard to fathom. If I was in his shoes, I don't think I could've made it out of there. A lot of people don't, but he defied all odds." Eskridge left school early to provide for his family, thinking he'd be a third-round pick -- the grade he received from the NFL advisory board. Evidently, he didn't impress scouts, tumbling out of the draft. More hardship. Right now he's the fifth safety on a five-safety depth chart, but the recent season-ending injury 17 P a g e

18 to Antonio Allen could create an opportunity. The statistics say Eskridge is a long shot. Where have we heard that before? Friday night will be special. Freeman, who won't play because of a lingering hamstring injury, looks forward to seeing his friend before the game, even though they talk and text every day. They faced each other once in college, but this is the NFL, albeit the preseason. "This is our dream," Freeman said. "Now, how far can we go from here?" No matter what happens with the Jets, Eskridge is a success. He's treated like a hero when he returns to his old high school and attends football camps in the area. He speaks to kids, inspiring them with his words and his journey. He embodies the phrase, "Anything is possible," according to Freeman. "There was a lot of adversity growing up, which could've led me in the wrong direction, but I stayed strong," Eskridge said. "My motivation was, not a lot of people from where I come from make it out. I want to show the kids it's possible to be somebody in life." NEW YORK POST Fitzpatrick-to-Marshall looks like fearsome connection already (Brian Costello) New York Post August 22, Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick showed some chemistry during their first extended game action together. Marshall finished with four catches for 62 yards against the Falcons in Friday night s preseason win, an average of 15.5 yards a catch. Most of the passes were short routes and Marshall extended them into big gains. The duo also connected on a two-point conversion. It was a great start for us, but we definitely left a lot of meat on the bones, Marshall said. Marshall s size at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds makes him nearly impossible to cover on short routes when he can use his leverage. Marshall was covered on some plays by former Jets cornerback Phillip Adams. Geno Smith and Marshall had been working on their chemistry since the Jets acquired the big receiver in March. The duo lived together in the spring and spent time together in Chicago before training camp started. Fitzpatrick and Marshall did not work together much in practice until Smith suffered a broken jaw on Aug. 11. But it looks like they have made strides. Leonard Williams is wrecking QBs and giving the Jets real hope (Brian Costello) New York Post August 22, P a g e

19 Todd Bowles, the rookie head coach of the Jets, has revealed himself to be unflappable. No matter what happens and unfathomable turmoil and adversity already have happened under his watch he acts like he has been there before. Even though he hasn t been there before. Bowles is being tested in a way no other Jets rookie head coach has been tested, and that s saying plenty. It s as if Rex Ryan is sticking pins in a green-and-white voodoo doll. Bowles must think this is the El Niño of Murphy s Laws. The good news is he appears tough enough to weather the inevitable Jets storms. He will need help, of course, and the first hint of that help arrived Friday night. The best news to come out of Jets 30, Falcons 22 was a barreling hurricane wearing No. 62, first-round draft choice Leonard Williams, a.k.a. Big Cat Williams. Williams sacked T.J. Yates for a safety and shared a sack of Sean Renfree soon after with Jason Babin. His teammates fed off his hair-raising energy and enthusiasm and joy. On the sidelines, the CBS cameras zeroed in on a 21-year-old kid smiling from here to USC. It felt great, finally hitting the quarterback, Williams said. Who cares that it was an unimpeded sack? Williams provided real evidence that Bowles and Gang Green will have a fighting chance to withstand however many games they will be without the services of Sheldon Richardson. He has that Richard Seymour prototype-body, Willie Colon said. He s long, he s athletic, he moves really well in the trenches. He doesn t even know how good he can be. He s just playing football. So when he really gets his burns, he s gonna be scary. This is no small development for a defense that will have to carry Ryan Fitzpatrick and company and win games 17-14, or 20-17, on days when the quarterback is able to manage the game without calamity. Fitzpatrick, operating as Captain Checkdown, was mistake-free Friday. He connected four times with Brandon Marshall and eventually engineered a touchdown drive against the Falcons reserves. He was lucky he didn t have to play against Leonard Williams. Williams played fast, maybe not as fast as Richardson behind the wheel, but fast enough in Beast Mode to terrorize anyone running or passing the football. He s starting to play with his hands a lot more, Richardson said. There s a big difference from this week to last week, and the sky s the limit for him. I come off the line and use my face mask a lot, Williams said. They tell me all the time I got long arms and stuff like that, so just come off the lines and from the ground up just use my arms, Williams said. Bowles thought Williams sack lit a fire under the defense. The penalty-ravaged Jets trailed 14-0 at the time. Even some of the players and coaches came up to me and mentioned it as well, and they were saying like, Thanks for the fire, and stuff like that, Williams said. When Bowles calendar first turned to July, Richardson was a Pro Bowl defensive end, IK Enemkpali was an obscure second-year reserve linebacker and Geno Smith was the starting quarterback. And Muhammad Wilkerson didn t have a new contract or a tweaked hamstring. In college I kind of got away with just being bigger than people, like faster than people, Williams said, but now everyone s big and fast and strong and so you really got to play with technique. 19 P a g e

20 It was almost as if UCLA were on the other side. Todd Bowles unloads on Jets terrible discipline (Brian Costello) New York Post August 22, Coach Todd Bowles was not pleased with all of the penalty flags his team drew in Friday night s preseason win over the Falcons. The Jets ended up with 17 penalties, 10 in the first half. Darrelle Revis picked up a holding call in the end zone and the secondary was whistled for three straight penalties at one point. There were personal fouls and holding calls. Tight end Kellen Davis had three penalties by himself. You ain t going to win no ballgames having 17 penalties, Bowles said. Effort was great, penalties were terrible. That was way more than imagined. We got better in some areas. We got worse there. We ve got to clean that up. The players said Bowles main message after the game was about cleaning up the penalties. We can t beat ourselves, guard Willie Colon said. Bowles stressed tackling after a poor performance against the Lions last week. He saw improvement in that area Friday night. Now, he hopes the same thing happens with the flags. Hopefully we learn from penalties this week, Bowles said. We ve got to get better every week. We ve got to progress next week. Hopefully, the penalties go down. We re going to work our asses off on it and we ll go from there. Rookie quarterback Bryce Petty played much better in his second outing. Petty went 12-for-19 for 168 yards and a touchdown after looking shaky in his debut against the Lions. He was a little more poised, Bowles said. That s the progress we re trying to get with him, get better every week, a little bit better every week. He got better from last week to this week. Hopefully, he ll keep moving forward. Petty said he was not as nervous this time out. I think last week I had no idea what to expect as far as the game goes, as far as myself emotionally how it would roll, Petty said. I felt like coming into this week I would have a better understanding of how things went down and how things work. I felt a lot more comfortable out there. The Jets had three players leave the game with concussions: WR Jeremy Kerley, RB Daryl Richardson and safety Durrell Eskridge. WR Shaq Evans left the game with a sprained back after a vicious collision with Kerley and a Falcons tackler. OT Ben Ijalana (knee) and CB DeShaun Phillips (ribs) also exited the game. DE Stephen Bowen started in place of Muhammad Wilkerson (hamstring). Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett started in place of Calvin Pryor (death in the family). Thumbs up/thumbs down Here s how the Jets fared in some key areas Friday night: Punchless defense 20 P a g e