NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS August 22, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Ryan, Falcons starters sharp early in 30-22 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 30-22 win over Falcons (J.P. Pelzman)... 8 NEW YORK TIMES... 10 Shaky Defense Creates Familiar Feeling for Jets (Zach Schonbrun)... 10 ESPN NEW YORK... 11 Leonard Williams opens his sack account with Jets (Rich Cimini)... 11 Jets beat Falcons, but Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. struggle in extended outing (Rich Cimini)... 12 New Jets QB Matt Flynn pockets a small guarantee -- $60,000 (Rich Cimini)... 14 Players under the spotlight for Jets' home debut (Rich Cimini)... 14 Jets hope to clean up mistakes after brutal preseason opener (Rich Cimini)... 15 Durell Eskridge, who once lived in car and dodged bullets, hopes to stick with Jets (Rich Cimini)... 15 NEW YORK POST... 18 Fitzpatrick-to-Marshall looks like fearsome connection already (Brian Costello)... 18 Leonard Williams is wrecking QBs and giving the Jets real hope (Brian Costello)... 18 Todd Bowles unloads on Jets terrible discipline (Brian Costello)... 20 Jets hit trifecta of terrible in alarming, deceiving win (Brian Costello)... 21 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA... 22 Grading performances of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty in Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons (Darryl Slater)... 22 Brandon Marshall: Jets' offense 'definitely left a lot of meat on the bones' (Dom Consentino)... 23 Jets' Willie Colon says Leonard Williams reminds him of Richard Seymour (Darryl Slater)... 24 8 quick takeaways from Jets' 30-22 victory over Atlanta Falcons (Dom Consentino)... 25 Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons: Analyzing Ryan Fitzpatrick's performance, under steady pressure (Darryl Slater)... 26 6 observations about Jets' first-team offense vs. Atlanta Falcons, as the starters sputter (Darryl Slater)... 27 5 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)... 29 1 P a g e
Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin says he was 'shocked' he didn't blow lots of assignments in preseason debut (Darryl Slater)... 30 Matt Flynn's Jets contract pretty much confirms he's a rental (Darryl Slater)... 31 Will Oday Aboushi's suspension open door for Dakota Dozier to make Jets' roster? (Darryl Slater)... 32 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS... 33 Jets starters look rough again against Falcons in preseason game despite win (Seth Walder)... 33 Jets D gets another F during preseason game against Falcons (Manish Mehta)... 34 Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick sees more playing time, throws for 118 yards against Falcons (Seth Walder)... 36 METRO NEW YORK... 37 Oday Aboushi suspension the latest issue for Jets (Kristian Dyer)... 37 FRIDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS... 37 ASSOCIATED PRESS Ryan, Falcons starters sharp early in 30-22 loss to Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press August 22, 2015 http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/ryan-falcons-starters-sharp-early-30-22-loss-jets 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 30-22 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 158.3 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 1 1-2 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 14-10. Observations from the game: FITZ FITTING IN 2 P a g e
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 23-14. 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 16-14 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, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/quick-hits-from-the-jets-second-preseasongame-1.10763478 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
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 30-22 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 2013. 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, 2015 4 P a g e
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-beat-falcons-but-starters-struggle-1.10763530 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 30-22 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, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/mike-maccagnan-s-right-hand-man-a-cup-of-coffee- 1.10763152 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
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
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
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, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/oday-aboushi-jets-guard-had-small-amount-ofmarijuana-in-car-cops-say-1.10761535 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 30-22 win over Falcons (J.P. Pelzman) The Record August 21, 2015 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets-starters-struggle-again-in-30-22-win-over-falcons-1.1396652 8 P a g e
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 30-22 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 14-0. 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 14-2. 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
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, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/sports/football/shaky-defense-creates-familiar-feeling-forjets.html?ref=football&_r=0 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 30-22 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
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, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53339/leonard-williams-opens-his-sack-accountwith-jets 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 30-22 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
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 14-0. 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, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53325/jets-beat-falcons-but-ryan-fitzpatrick-costruggle-in-extended-outing 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 30-22 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
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, 14-0. 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
(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, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53315/new-jets-qb-matt-flynn-pockets-a-smallguarantee-60000 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, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53306/three-players-under-the-spotlight-for-jetshome-debut 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
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, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53297/jets-hope-to-clean-up-mistakes-after-brutalpreseason-opener http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53140/durell-eskridge-who-once-lived-in-car-anddodged-bullets-hopes-to-stick-with-jets 15 P a g e
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
"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
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, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/08/22/fitzpatrick-to-marshall-looks-like-fearsome-duo-already/ 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 30-22 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, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/08/22/leonard-williams-is-wrecking-qbs-and-giving-the-jets-real-hope/ 18 P a g e
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
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, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/08/22/todd-bowles-unloads-on-jets-terrible-discipline/ 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
The starting defense looked terrible during its one true drive against the Falcons first-team offense. The Jets gave up 85 yards and a touchdown on six plays. The big play was a 60-yard pass from Matt Ryan to fullback Collin Mooney. Thumbs down Flag day The Jets looked terribly undisciplined. They picked up 10 penalties in the first half alone, 17 for the game. Tight end Kellen Davis was the main culprit, with three penalties. Thumbs down The Big Cat roars Rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams had a monster game. Williams got the Jets on the scoreboard with a safety in the second quarter. It was the first of his two sacks. Thumbs up Jets hit trifecta of terrible in alarming, deceiving win (Brian Costello) New York Post August 21, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/08/21/jets-hit-trifecta-of-terrible-in-alarming-deceiving-win/ Take a deep breath, Jets fans and keep telling yourself it s only the preseason. For the second straight week, the Jets looked unimpressive and underwhelming in their preseason game, this one against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium on Friday night. The starting offense sputtered to five straight punts to open the game, the starting defense let Atlanta march down the field to open the game and the team committed 17 penalties. Remember, keep repeating: It s just the preseason. The Jets need to hope they work out these kinks before their opener against the Browns on Sept. 13. If not, then will be a real reason to hit the panic button. The Jets did win the game Friday night, 30-22, but all that proved was the Jets backups are better than the Falcons backups. When the varsity was in there, it was clear the Falcons were the better team. It was not all bad for the Jets. First-round pick Leonard Williams had a terrific game. He recorded 1 ¹/₂ sacks, one for a safety, and blew up a Falcons running play. The Jets will be counting on Williams with Sheldon Richardson suspended for the first four games of the season. The Jets starters played into the middle of the second quarter. The offense punted on its first five possessions and had two three-and-outs in the six drives the starters played. The offense broke through against the Falcons backups with a 33-yard Chris Ivory touchdown run. I just think they got started slow, coach Todd Bowles said. They haven t played together in a while. They got started slow. They needed to play because they needed time to figure everything out. Luckily, they figured some things out and they got a little better as it went. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 13-of-19 passes for 118 yards. The Jets passing game consisted of mostly short throws to the running backs or Brandon Marshall, who had four catches for 62 yards. It was a great start for us, but we definitely left a lot of meat on the bones, Marshall said. The starting defense played without Richardson and fellow defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who is nursing a strained left hamstring. The defense looked like it missed those two. 21 P a g e
It was only starters versus starters for two drives. On those, the Jets gave up 89 yards on nine plays and two touchdowns. The second touchdown came after a 59-yard Devin Hester punt return gave the Falcons the ball on the Jets 4-yard line. On the first drive, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan hit fullback Collin Mooney with a short pass out of the backfield that Mooney turned into a 60-yard gain. Jets linebacker Quinton Coples whiffed on the coverage on Mooney. It was a rough start for Coples, who could not get off his block a few plays later when Falcons running back Terron Ward ran past him for a 4-yard touchdown. Ryan connected with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson for the Falcons second touchdown of the night, a 2-yard slant that the Jets failed to cover. It appeared to be the result of a miscommunication between cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. Bowles saw improvement from Week 1. The tackling was a lot better. They played the run a lot better, Bowles said. We ve still got a ways to go, but I think we took a step today. Things went better for the Jets once the Falcons starters sat down with Atlanta already ahead 14-0. Williams sacked backup quarterback T.J. Yates for a safety in the second quarter to put the Jets on the board at 14-2. The Jets made the two-point conversion on a Fitzpatrick-to-Marshall pass after Ivory s score to cut the Falcons lead to 14-10. Two Nick Folk field goals gave the Jets a 16-14 lead before halftime. Rookie quarterback Bryce Petty played much better than he did in his preseason debut against the Lions. He showed more poise and made some plays. He connected with DeVier Posey for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Petty finished with 168 passing yards on 12-of-19 passing. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Grading performances of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty in Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_quarterback_grades_falcons_fitzpatrick_petty.html#inc art_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD It was the second time out for both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty, the Jets' primary quarterbacks (for now). Fitzpatrick on Friday, against the Falcons, got a bunch more work than he did in the preseason opener at Detroit, where he played just one series. He played six possessions against Atlanta. Petty continues to be the No. 2 quarterback, and continues to get extensive game action, since the recently acquired Matt Flynn is still out with a hamstring injury. He might be ready for next Saturday's preseason game with the Giants. Presuming Petty is healthy and doesn't screw things up, he's going to be the Jets' Week 1 backup, behind Fitzpatrick. But these preseason games are also valuable for Petty, a rookie long-term project who is going to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Fitzpatrick and Flynn... and will remain the No. 3 guy after Geno Smith returns. Just like we did last week from the Lions game, let's assess how Fitzpatrick and Petty played Friday night against the Falcons. 22 P a g e
Fitzpatrick's stats: 13-of-19 passing, 118 yards Petty's stats: 12-of-19 passing, 168 yards, one touchdown Coach Todd Bowles on Fitzpatrick: "He was steady. I thought they knocked a lot of balls down. I've got to see the film to see if that was quarterback-related or offensive line-related. But he was poised [under pressure]. He knew where to go with the football. He did a good job." Bowles on Petty: "For me, he was a little more poised [than in Detroit], and that's the progress we're trying to get with him get better every week, a little better every week. And he got better from last week to this week, so hopefully he'll keep moving forward." Fitzpatrick observations: He was under pressure often, so he threw a bunch of check-down passes. He never threw the ball deep. He attempted one cross-field, fairly long throw that underscored questions about his arm strength when it fell short of Brandon Marshall. But Fitzpatrick didn't make any glaring mistakes, either. He was victimized by an Eric Decker drop, as well. Not an overwhelmingly positive or negative night for Fitzpatrick. But the big plus for him was how he made quick decisions under pressure, in terms of getting the ball out. The Jets cannot have turnovers from their quarterback. That's a big focus for this team. And Fitzpatrick hasn't had any turnovers in seven drives through two preseason games, though the Jets do have just one touchdown and one field goal to show for those seven possessions with the first-team offense. Petty observations: Much, much better for the rookie. He said he didn't feel nearly as nervous as he was before the Detroit game. He looked lost at times against the Lions, and clearly, emotions played a part in that. He was able to keep the Jets' backup offense on the field against the Falcons. It was obvious that he played calmer and with more poise Friday. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to DeVier Posey. That capped a eight-play, 57-yard drive. Petty's first drive Friday was a 10-play, 51-yard possession that resulted in a field goal. Fitzpatrick grade: B Petty grade: B+ Brandon Marshall: Jets' offense 'definitely left a lot of meat on the bones' (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media January 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/brandon_marshall_jets_offense_definitely_left_a_lo.html#i ncart_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD The Jets' first-team offense had an uneven performance in Friday night's 30-22 win over the Falcons. They failed to cross midfield in their first five possessions. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick checked down a lot. And the pass protection wasn't as on-point as it was a week ago at the Lions. But Fitzpatrick, who only began taking reps with the starters 10 days ago, after Geno Smith's jaw was broken, did seem to develop a rapport with wideout Brandon Marshall: Fitzpatrick, in a little more than one quarter, targeted Marshall five times, and four were completed, for a total of 62 yards. The pair also connected on a two-point conversion after Chris Ivory scored the starters' lone touchdown on a 33-yard run. It's the preseason, so the results for the Jets aren't as important as the process. And the Fitzpatrick Marshall connection, for what it's worth, on Aug. 21, was indeed a positive, even if the starters' touchdown finally came against the Falcons' backups. 23 P a g e
"I think that's important in these preseason games," said Fitzpatrick, who finished 13-for-19 for 118 yards. "Getting him some targets, and get him going against different corners, and different looks. That's important for everybody across the board, but especially him. We'll obviously lean on him a lot this year, so it was good to get some throws to him." Marshall agreed that it was a step forward from last week, when the starters played just one series against the Lions--no doubt a consequence of Smith's sudden injury, since Fitzpatrick had only had one day of reps with the 1s. As for the offense's hiccups early on, Marshall said it was all part of the process. "It was a great start for us, but we definitely left a lot of meat on the bones," Marshall said. "We're just trying to be mindful that it's preseason. If it's Week 10 and we're having those issues, that's a problem. But right now, we want to have those problems so that you're able to correct them, so that they don't come up during the season." Jets' Willie Colon says Leonard Williams reminds him of Richard Seymour (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_willie_colon_says_leonard_williams_reminds_hi.html#i ncart_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD Defensive end Leonard Williams, the Jets' first-round draft pick, made a big impression in his first preseason game at MetLife Stadium. In Friday's 30-22 win over the Falcons, Williams had three tackles for a loss, including a sack for a safety. Williams also combined with Jason Babin for another sack, which they split for statistical purposes. Williams, ever humble, pointed out that he was barely blocked on the safety sack. But one of his veteran teammates didn't shy away from heaping on the praise. Willie Colon, the 10th-year right guard, said Williams "jumped out huge." The Jets need Williams to continue playing well, because he will replace the suspended Sheldon Richardson for at least the first four games (and probably more). Colon compared Williams to potential Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who played in the NFL from 2001-12 and was a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. This is high praise, especially considering Colon has faced Seymour. "He has that Richard Seymour prototype body," Colon said of Williams. "He's long. He's athletic. He moves really well in the trenches. It's crazy, but he doesn't even know how good he can be. He's just playing football. So when he really gets his bearings, he's going to be scary. Obviously, he knows the talent that's in his [Jets defensive line meeting] room, so he wants to be part of the pack." Has Colon told Williams about this Seymour comparison? "No, of course not," Colon said with a smile. Williams, who is 6-foot-5 and 302 pounds, does indeed have the length that should help him as a pass rusher. Ever since the Jets drafted him sixth overall in the spring, his coaches and teammates have encouraged him to use his long arms more, and lead with his head and shoulders less often. Williams could get by on athleticism, speed, and power in college at USC. But he needs to use his hands and technique so much more in the NFL. 24 P a g e
He has talented defensive linemen to learn from with the Jets ends Muhammad Wilkerson and Richardson. Back in the spring, Richardson praised Williams' potential, but said he wanted to see how Williams played once the Jets put pads on. So far, so good. "He's starting to play with his hands a lot more," Richardson said. "It was a big difference from this week to last week [in the preseason opener at Detroit]. The sky is the limit for him." Richardson knows an adjusted protection by the Falcons' offensive line resulted in Williams getting an open shot at quarterback T.J. Yates for the safety. But that's just fine with Richardson. "We call those layups, man, and he didn't miss his layup," Richardson said. After Williams' safety, Richardson caught up with him on the sideline. "Keep eating," Richardson said he told Williams. "There's more to come. Don't stop. Don't let this get to your head. Keep going." 8 quick takeaways from Jets' 30-22 victory over Atlanta Falcons (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media January 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/8_quick_takeaways_from_jets_30-22_victory_over_atl.html#incart_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD The Jets made a lot of fans nervous with their start Friday night against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium in a game that doesn't count. But that's just it: It's the preseason, and the game doesn't count. So don't panic. Yet. Even if there are reasons to maybe sorta be kinda worried about all three phases of the. After digging an early 14-point hole against the Falcons' starters, the Jets battled back to win, 30-22. Some stuff we noticed: 1. The starting defense was... meh. It was an uninspired effort from the 1s on D. Two series against Falcons quarterback Matt Flynn, two quick touchdowns, though the Falcons only had to travel all of four yards on the second TD drive because of a Devin Hester punt return. But, like last week against the Lions, there were blown coverages, some overpursuit, and some miscommunication. The D eventually settled in, but they've still got a lot to clean up. More here. 2. The starting offense did OK. After some early fits and starts, the starting O got it together though, again, their best work came against the Falcons' backups. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick never took any chances and checked down a lot, but he also didn't cross midfield in his first five series before finishing 13-for-18 for 118 yards and a quarterback rating of 85.0. So, pretty meh, too. 3. Bryce Petty showed some progress. Let's not get carried away with thinking Petty can compete for a starting spot this fall, but he did look a lot less lost than he did last week. In the third quarter, Petty threw his first touchdown pass a 13-yarder to DeVier Posey that concluded a solid, eight-play drive. Petty's stat line: 12-for-19 for 168 yards, one touchdown. Not bad. But all together now he's not ready. He really isn't. 4. Penalties. The Jets had 10 of them for 70 yards in the first half alone, and 17 Seventeen! for the game, for 125 yards. Yeesh. Tight end Kellen Davis accounted for three by himself, including one on a hold that wiped out a second quarter touchdown. Preseason or not, that kind of stuff is self-inflicted, and it 25 P a g e
needs to be fixed, obviously. Pretty sure head coach Todd Bowles will say something like that after the game. 5. Hello, Leonard Williams. The rookie first-round pick had a yooge night from his defensive end spot. In an in-game television interview, right guard Willie Colon gushed about Williams: "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." 6. Returners. With Chris Owusu nursing a concussion, the Jets gave a long look at Walter Powell in the kickoff return slot and newly acquired cornerback Javier Arenas in a punt return role Friday night. 7. Big plays by a bunch of backups. Safety Rontez Miles recovered a fumble and took it 57 yards for a touchdown. Inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore had an interception that was followed by a 37-yard (nontouchdown) return. Wideout Saalim Hakim made a diving 46-yard catch on a deep ball from Petty. And inside linebacker Joe Mays forced tight end T.J. Tialavea to fumble as the Falcons were driving late, sealing the win. 8. Injuries. There were a bunch, aside from the 13 players who didn't dress because of injuries or personal situations. Backup left tackle Ben Ijalana (knee), cornerback Dashaun Phillips (ribs), wideout Shaq Evans (back) all left the game banged up. Same with running back Daryl Richardson, who had a nasty helmet-tohelmet collision with Falcons safety Robenson Therezie. The Jets gave no update on Richardson, but he was likely being evaluated for a concussion. And rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin limped off. His status was unknown at game's end. Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons: Analyzing Ryan Fitzpatrick's performance, under steady pressure (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_vs_atlanta_falcons_analyzing_ryan_fitzpatrick.html#inc art_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD Ryan Fitzpatrick technically debuted as the Jets' starting quarterback in last week's preseason opener at the Lions. But he played just one series, so it was hard to draw any real conclusions from that. Fitzpatrick and the starting offense played until 8:02 remained in the second quarter Friday night against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium six total drives. It was not a good showing by the first-string offense overall, but Fitzpatrick didn't have a bad night. He looked... fine. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 118 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked once and faced a bunch more pressure, on an off night for his offensive line. Consequentially, most of Fitzpatrick's passes were short check-downs. Fitzpatrick handled the pressure well, though he never got the chance to throw the ball deep down the field. On the first drive, he hit running back Chris Ivory for a 9-yard check-down when the pressure came quickly. On the third drive, Fitzpatrick looked to throw deep, but nothing was there. With pressure closing in again, Fitzpatrick spotted his check-down target, tight end Jeff Cumberland, and connected with him for 8 yards. Fitzpatrick also appears to be developing nice timing with his best receiver, Brandon Marshall. He hit him over the middle for 12 yards on the opening possession. Two possessions later, Fitzpatrick put good zip 26 P a g e
on an 8-yard pass to Marshall. And two drives after that, he connected with Marshall on a well-timed pass to the left that gained 12 yards. Later, Fitzpatrick found Marshall, on a slant route, for a two-point conversion, after the starting offense's lone touchdown of the evening. That, at least, gave the crowd something to cheer. For a guy who isn't known as a mobile quarterback, Fitzpatrick did make a nice throw on the run, rolling right and hitting Eric Decker for a 12-yard gain. (Marshall helped spring Decker with a block on the perimeter.) A questionable Fitzpatrick moment came on the Jets' third drive, when he tried to throw the ball about 25 yards, across the field from the far hash mark. It wasn't an ill-advised throw. He was aiming for Marshall, who was covered. And Fitzpatrick tried to put the ball in front of Marshall. But Fitzpatrick couldn't get the ball there, and it skipped in front of Marshall. Though Fitzpatrick didn't make a bad decision on this play or all night, really these are the type of throws that make you wonder if the he still has the arm strength to thrive as an NFL starting quarterback. Fitzpatrick was hampered Friday by his offensive line's problems, penalty flags, and a drop by Decker. But individually, Fitzpatrick did OK with what he was given. 6 observations about Jets' first-team offense vs. Atlanta Falcons, as the starters sputter (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/xx_observations_about_jets_firstteam_offense_vs_a.html#incart_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD After the Jets' starting offense got on the field for just one drive in last week's preseason opener at the Lions, everybody was anxious to see what that group could muster Friday night against the Falcons. The answer: About the same limp showing as last year's offense. The Jets' offense has been their weak point in recent seasons. Though it's far too early to say they'll struggle to move the ball and score again this season, the offensive starters offered few encouraging signs against the Falcons. The offense looked miserable at times Friday, and drew boos from a MetLife Stadium crowd that is fed up with three and outs. Last week, the Jets managed a field goal in the lone drive for the starting offense. The Jets' offense didn't do a whole lot more in extended action Friday just one scoring drive (a touchdown) in six possessions. Here are six observations about the Jets' first-string offense from Friday: 1. Creeping along. The Jets, on their first five drives, gained just 78 yards in 23 plays. They scored zero points and didn't even crack midfield. 2. At long last. The offense finally broke through on its sixth and final possession, going 73 yards for a touchdown. Chris Ivory got the 33-yard score, bouncing to the right edge nicely good burst for the power running back. But remember, the Falcons' backup/reserve defense was in the game for this drive. The play on which the Jets' final cracked midfield was a sideline throw from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Brandon Marshall, who spun out of a tackle and ran away to finish off a 30-yard gain. But the guy who tried to 27 P a g e
tackle Marshall on this play was cornerback Kevin White, an undrafted rookie. A little bit of a mismatch there. 3. Quincy Enunwa. He got most of the work with the starters as the No. 3 wide receiver. He is competing with incumbent Jeremy Kerley for the slot receiver spot. Enunwa didn't have any catches during the starters' six drives. Kerley got into the game midway through the second quarter with the backups, though Kerley did play earlier with the starters when the Jets went to a five-receiver set. 4. Eric Decker's off night. He dropped an easy pass over the middle and drew a holding penalty on Bilal Powell's long run. (Decker's hold appeared to help spring the run.) No reason to panic about Decker. He's going to be fine. But this wasn't one of his better nights. He made one catch for 12 yards. 5. Shaq Evans' action. He's a second-year receiver who, like Enunwa, is battling for a spot on the team. He got some time with the starters Friday. Evans, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, then went down with about 5:30 left in the first half Friday. He got rolled up on at the end of a play and hurt his back. Evans had one catch for 7 yards while playing with the starters. That catch immediately preceded Ivory's touchdown run. 6. Too much pressure. Fitzpatrick had to make a check-down pass on the first drive, and also needed to scramble under pressure on that drive's final play. He had to dump the ball down to Jeff Cumberland on the third drive, with pressure coming. Fitzpatrick was sacked to end that drive. Fitzpatrick also had two passes batted down at the line, including one by No. 8 overall pick Vic Beasley, who was matched up with left guard James Carpenter. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson didn't have a good night. He beaten badly on a pass rush spin move, and was later flagged for a holding penalty. An overall down night for the Jets' offensive line. 5 observations from Jets' first-team defense's uninspired performance vs. Atlanta Falcons (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/5_observations_of_jets_firstteam_defense_after_un.html#incart_river_mobileshort EAST RUTHERFORD Jets fans, repeat after me: It is only preseason. It is only preseason. It is only preseason. We're two preseason games into 2015, and the Jets' defense their big-ticket item this season hasn't done a whole to to inspire confidence. After giving up 10 points in two series last week at the Lions, the Jets' D on Friday night promptly gave 14 points to the Falcons. The D also didn't get much help from the special teams, which set up the Falcons at the 4 thanks to a 59-yard Devin Hester punt return. But the D didn't do much to distinguish itself, either. After those two TDs, the defense finally settled down to get a pair of stops and even a safety, though none of it came against the Falcons' starting offense, which was yanked after only two series, so... Again, repeat after me: It is only preseason. It is only preseason. It is only preseason. Right? That's the bright side. Now let's go over the gory details of how the first-team D did in its second dress rehearsal, when it played five series in a little more than one quarter of work. The Falcons lead 14-10 late in the second quarter, by the way. 28 P a g e
1. A too-easy TD drive. The Falcons marched (walked?) 85 yards in just six plays on their first possession, the dagger being a 60-yard pass fullback Collin Mooney caught in the flat with outside linebacker Quinton Coples stuck in single coverage and looking utterly lost. The Falcons had sent a receiver deep on the same side, which drew both cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety Marcus Gilchrist far from where the ball was. Coples later overpursued and got blocked out of the play by Mooney on Terron Ward's four-yard touchdown run. 2. The penalty. The Jets might have been able to save face by holding the Falcons to a field goal after that long Mooney catch. But on third-and-7 from the 8, Revis was whistled for holding Falcons wideout Julio Jones. Revis didn't seem to appreciate the call. 3. The second TD. This one wasn't totally the D's fault, but the D still didn't acquit itself well. After Hester's long punt return gave the Falcons the ball on the 4, quarterback Matt Ryan completed a way-too-easy 3- yard touchdown pass to receiver Leonard Hankerson, who was wide open toward the inside because Jets cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine both chased Hester to the outside. An obvious miscommunication. Too soon to worry about Cromartie? 4. The stops. After those two touchdowns, the first-team defense held the Falcons to back-to-back threeand-outs. Though, in fairness, Falcons backup quarterback T.J. Yates had replaced Ryan by then. 5. The safety. In the second quarter, after a 52-yard Ryan Quigley punt pinned the Falcons at their own 4- yard line, rookie Leonard Williams quickly sacked Yates on a drop-back into the end zone. Williams, the Jets' first-round pick who was starting because Sheldon Richardson is running with the second team because of his suspension, appeared to blow by backup offensive lineman James Stone to get to Yates. Brandon Marshall playing 'best football' of his career, Jets receivers coach says (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media August 22, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/brandon_marshall_playing_best_football_of_his_care.html# incart_river_mobileshort Karl Dorrell has worked with Brandon Marshall before. In 2010 and '11, when Dorrell was an assistant with the Dolphins, Marshall was a receiver there. Todd Bowles, the Jets' head coach, was also on that Dolphins staff, on the defensive side. Bowles' and Dorrell's familiarity with Marshall was part of the reason the Jets traded for Marshall this offseason. Marshall is a no-doubt-about-it talent. But he has also garnered a reputation for being a headache, as evidenced by the three times he's been traded. And even though Marshall is now 31, and even though he's sometimes drops hints about being near the end of his career, Dorrell thinks he's as good as ever. "I think he's playing some of the best football, right now, that I've seen him play," Dorrell, the Jets' wide receivers coach told NJ Advance Media this week. "He's working on his details of his technique and routerunning, and really refining his skills. I think he's really destined to have a really good year." High praise, considering what Marshall has already accomplished in nine previous seasons: Seven straight years with at least 1,000 yards, five seasons with at least 100 catches, 65 total receiving touchdowns, etc. But Marshall has also never played in a playoff game in his itinerant career. It's August, and there are still three preseason games to go, so the Jets are still a work-in-progress, still in the lab trying to blend all the right elements for success. But Marshall's ability is obvious: His size, strength, speed, and aggressiveness have been on full display since the offseason program in the spring. 29 P a g e
Marshall, too, has alluded to the challenge he gets from squaring off against cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie especially given Revis' legendary competitiveness. It was particularly illuminating to hear Marshall describe how he and Revis and Cromartie share insight with one another about tendencies and queues. These are three seasoned pros, sharing their years of wisdom. The Jets are going to need Marshall. With quarterback Geno Smith (broken jaw) out for the first several weeks of the season, they Jets will rely on veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to run the show. While Fitzpatrick has experience, he's also been turnover prone (much like Smith), though he doesn't have Smith's arm strength. Dorrell said Marshall's impact is being felt by the Jets' younger receivers, too. "He has a great work ethic," Dorrell said. "He's trying to be a great leader. The other part that I've been impressed with more than anything is that he just wants to be coached. He wants to learn, he wants to improve on what he's done. The guy's been in the league 10 years, and he is still hungry and thirsty for knowledge." Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin says he was 'shocked' he didn't blow lots of assignments in preseason debut (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 21, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_lorenzo_mauldin_atlanta_falcons.html#incart_river_m obileshort Lorenzo Mauldin, the Jets' rookie outside linebacker, knows himself well enough that he could tell how last Thursday would unfold. It was his first NFL game, a preseason matchup with the Lions in Detroit. As Mauldin expected, he felt a nagging nervousness that night. "That's how it's always been with me for my first game, whether it's high school, college, and now the NFL," he said. "I always bounce back from those games." Mauldin who plays his second game Friday night, at home against the Falcons is well aware that his debut wasn't perfect. Far from it. "I made some mistakes, but I figured that for myself, going in," he said, adding that his primary issues involved footwork. "I knew what I was doing, but sometimes, I would get out of my gap. That's just footwork stuff, just stepping down the wrong way." But the Jets' third-round draft pick, who is backing up Calvin Pace as the strong-side linebacker, expected Thursday to be an even bigger mess, since he felt so anxious. "I didn't blow any assignments," he said. "That's what shocked me, too. I thought I would go out there and blow all type of [assignments]. But it was a simple game plan." Mauldin is a prodigious speed rusher, an athletic threat off the edge. He played 40 snaps in Detroit, about half the game. At strong-side linebacker, he also will have to drop back into coverage. That could be a big challenge for Mauldin, who primarily played defensive end in college at Louisville. But he didn't get a chance to do it a lot against the Lions. In the Jets' defensive schemes that called for Mauldin to drop into coverage, he said the Lions opted to run the ball. So Mauldin had to remain at the 30 P a g e
line of scrimmage and set the edge. (He played exclusively strong-side linebacker in the preseason opener.) Pro Football Focus gave him a minus-4.4 grade for his performance (the worst on the Jets' defense). He also ranked last on the defense with a minus-1.7 pass rushing grade, though he did have one quarterback hurry. Mauldin missed one tackle in Detroit and received a minus-1.8 run defense grade from PFF. That ranked fourth-worst on the Jets' defense. He was also flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty. Mauldin's next step, against the Falcons, is to work on "where my eyes are, where I place my hands, where I step," he said. Those are the details coach Todd Bowles wants to see Mauldin polish, while continuing to do what he already does so well play fast. Right now, Mauldin is a very raw player. "You want to see him go full speed," Bowles said. "You [also] want to see him play smarter. His first time out the box [in Detroit], he was a little anxious. Probably hyperventilated in warmup a little bit, got gassed a little early. But he'll be better. "He's a very explosive guy off the ball. There's a lot of nuances that go into some of the things we do, and that's what he's learning right now, and that probably slows him down a little bit. He's got to learn the overall game. He's pretty young that way." Matt Flynn's Jets contract pretty much confirms he's a rental (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 21, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/what_kind_of_contract_did_matt_flynn_get_from_jets.htm l#incart_river_mobileshort Matt Flynn said on his first day of work at One Jets Drive that the Jets had given him "no guarantees" he'd be on the roster for Week 1 of the regular season. Turns out he did get a small guarantee worked into his contract. Flynn's deal, which he signed Wednesday, is a one-year, minimum-salary benefit contract, according to an individual who has seen the contract details. That individual spoke to NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity. If Flynn, a quarterback, were to remain on the roster for the entire season an unlikely outcome, since he's likely only on board until Geno Smith's broken jaw heals, likely in the first few weeks of the season Flynn will earn a base salary of $870,000. None of that $870,000 is guaranteed. What is guaranteed is a $60,000 signing bonus Flynn agreed to, which means his total compensation (and the Jets' total cash spend) could reach $930,000. Flynn had already collected a $20,000 signing bonus from the Patriots before they cut him earlier this month. Because Flynn's deal is an MSB, he would only count $645,000 against the salary cap again, assuming he's on the roster for the entire season. If he were to get cut before the start of the season, Flynn would only get his $60,000 signing bonus. If he were to get cut at any point during the season, his $870,000 in base pay would be pro-rated based on the number of weeks he's on the roster. 31 P a g e
And if Flynn were to be released after Week 1, he would be ineligible for termination pay, since he already collected it after the Raiders cut him two years ago. Players are only eligible to receive termination pay one time. Flynn's deal also includes as split salary of $438,000, which is what he would receive if he were to land injured reserve. Flynn has a hamstring injury and is not expected to be a full practice participant until sometime next week, at the earliest. He is also not expected to play in Friday night's preseason game against the Falcons. Will Oday Aboushi's suspension open door for Dakota Dozier to make Jets' roster? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 21, 2015 http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/will_oday_aboushis_suspension_open_door_for_dakota.ht ml#incart_river_mobileshort Thursday's announcement from the NFL that Jets backup offensive guard Oday Aboushi will miss the season's first game (substance abuse policy violation) doesn't help Aboushi's chances of making the final, 53-man roster. Of course, the Jets' coaches already knew about Aboushi's likely suspension well in advance. Shortly after he was caught with marijuana, in January, he told the organization what happened. That probably explains one reason why he hasn't received any first-team right guard reps in training camp. (Though it's not like he was guaranteed to get them anyway. He isn't a proven player.) Willie Colon likely will be the Jets' starting right guard, with Brian Winters as his backup. Rookie Jarvis Harrison has been working as the third-string right guard. At left guard, James Carpenter is locked in as the starter. The possibility that Aboushi might get cut after training camp only helps second-year pro Dakota Dozier, who has worked during camp as both the second- and third-team left guard, flip-flopping with Aboushi in those roles. But Dozier, a fourth-round draft pick by the Jets last year, also must improve his own play if he wants to make the 53-man roster. Dozier made it last season, but didn't participate in any games, so he is eligible for the practice squad this year. The Jets play their second preseason game Friday night, against the Falcons. Dozier has to perform better than he did in the preseason opener, at the Lions. He played 23 snaps (about half the game) and looked overmatched at times. Pro Football Focus gave him a minus-1.4 overall rating for his shoddy performance, including minus-1.1 in pass blocking (the worst for any Jets player in that game). He allowed one sack and another quarterback hit. Remember, though, Dozier hadn't appeared in a game since last preseason. So it takes time to adjust to live games again. Not that the Jets' coaches can afford to have a lot of patience in the preseason, as they formulate the roster. "It's a long break," Dozier said. "When you don't play for a while, it's kind of strange. Even when you're practicing and it's live, it's not the same as the game. You've just got to get back into the game flow." It didn't help that the Jets' backup offense, which played almost the entire game, couldn't stay on the field in Detroit. 32 P a g e
"If you go out, and go three and out, three and out, three and out, it's just kind of hard to get a rhythm," Dozier said. "The longer you stay on the field, the more it helps." As for his struggles in Detroit, he said, "I've just got to correct steps here or there. Nothing major. I'm not freaking out about it. I know I can correct it and move on." Dozier hasn't gotten any right guard work in this camp. Just left guard and some center, though Dalton Freeman and Wesley Johnson are the main competitors to be Nick Mangold's understudy at center. Say the Jets keep nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, as they did last year. Five of those spots belong to the starters. Winters likely will be the backup right guard. Ben Ijalana seems established as the second-string left tackle. That leaves two spots. The Jets could opt to keep guard Brent Qvale who can play tackle and has gotten some work at center instead of Freeman or Johnson. Harrison appears to be a likely practice squad candidate. So that would essentially leave Aboushi and Dozier competing for a roster spot, as the backup left guard. (In our latest roster projection, we actually had the Jets cutting both Aboushi and Dozier, while retaining Winters, Ijalana, Freeman, and the versatile Qvale. Dozier could easily land on the Jets' practice squad, though.) Remember, Aboushi is only going to miss one game. So the coaches could opt to retain him, and slot Qvale as the backup right tackle and left guard for the opener, then make Aboushi the No. 2 left guard upon his return from suspension. The coaches aren't going to keep Dozier over Aboushi simply because Aboushi is suspended for one game. Dozier has to play well enough to earn the spot. Aboushi started 10 games at left guard last season, as a second-year pro, after Winters got hurt. Aboushi has yet to proven he can consistently start in the NFL. But even though Aboushi isn't going to begin 2015 as a starter if he hadn't been suspended, Colon and Winters still might've beaten him out Aboushi does have an experience edge over Dozier as they battle for a backup role on the Jets' line. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets starters look rough again against Falcons in preseason game despite win (Seth Walder) New York Daily News August 22, 2015 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-starters-rough-falcons-article-1.2333925 It may be the preseason, but the Jets starters look like they re in peak 2014 form. On Friday night, Gang Green s starters couldn t hang with the opposition s for a second week in a row. And this time, it wasn t just the defense: the offense and special teams weren t up to snuff when they took on Atlanta s first-teamers in the Jets 30-22 win over the Falcons at MetLife Stadium. The Gang Green defense, which features the likes of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, was easily beaten for two touchdowns by Matt Ryan and Co., as the Jets were without Muhammad Wilkerson, who is still sidelined by a hamstring injury. Todd Bowles recognized that the defense had two busted coverages one that resulted in a 60-yard gain and another that surrendered a touchdown but said he wasn t disappointed in his defense and pointed out that his players did clean up their tackling issues from a week ago. On offense, Chan Gailey elected for a pass-heavy approach that didn t produce any points until the opposing backups were in the game. Fitzpatrick, who took over the Jets starting job when IK Enemkpali 33 P a g e
broke Geno Smith s jaw last week, was decent but uninspiring in his quarter and a half of work, completing 13 of 19 pass attempts for 118 yards. The Jets punted every time they faced the Atlanta starters. I just think they got started slow, Bowles said. They needed to play because they needed time, luckily they figured some things out. Ultimately the Jets starters on both sides of the ball figured it out Chris Ivory had a 33-yard touchdown run and Leonard Williams earned a safety by sacking T.J. Yates in the end zone but they each come with an asterisk since both scores came at the hands of the Atlanta reserves. I think it was an up-and-down performance, it was nice to get the touchdown at the end there, Fitzpatrick said. I feel like personally, I missed a few reads. There s a lot of things I think I can learn from and get better from. Bowles sounded more satisfied with his quarterback s performance. He was steady, he said. He was poised, he knew where to go with the football. Another concern emerged for the Jets on Friday night: penalties. Gang Green was called for 10 first-half penalties and 17 for the game, much to the chagrin of Bowles. You ain t going to win ballgames with 17 penalties, Bowles said. Asked what he chalked the flurry of flags up to, the coach said, Just holding. Just immaturity. Lot of aggressiveness over-aggressiveness. But they ve got to be cleaned up, because you don t win like that. The silver lining for the Jets? At least their backups outplayed the Falcons. Once the Jets reserves came in, they began to control the game, with contributions from everyone from Bryce Petty (TD pass) to Rontez Miles (fumble return for a score). Petty, who played until late in the fourth quarter, flashed some of his talent and looked better than he did last week against the Lions. Petty completed 12 of 19 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Gang Green s night started out poorly when 290-pound linebacker Quinton Coples was caught out in coverage to disastrous results: he not only let Collin Mooney catch a pass but he also allowed the Falcons fullback to sprint away for a 60-yard gain. The one big play they got to the fullback (we) busted the coverage, Bowles said. After Revis was called for holding in the end zone, the Falcons scored on a 4-yard touchdown run by Terron Ward. The Jets offense was stymied shortly thereafter, and Falcons veteran Devin Hester returned a punt all the way to the Jets four-yard line to set up their next scoring opportunity. Ryan easily hit Leonard Hankerson on a 2-yard slant pass for a score after Cromartie and Buster Skrine got crossed up with each other. That was a bust, too, Bowles said. That was a bust in communication. The start was bad enough that there was a smattering of boos before the first quarter had even come to a close. Jets D gets another F during preseason game against Falcons (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News August 22, 2015 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-f-falcons-article-1.2333998 34 P a g e
What in the name of the 1976 Buccaneers is going on here? Although the Jets obviously aren t going to be historically futile, the early returns have given the glasshalf-empty diehards plenty of angst in the preseason. Todd Bowles witnessed a troubling trifecta on offense, defense and special teams when his starters faced the Falcons first unit in a 30-22 win at MetLife Stadium Friday night. Nobody expects veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be the ring leader of the second coming of the Greatest Show on Turf, but the surprising cracks in the Jets ballyhooed defense shouldn t be completely dismissed. Mo Wilkerson (hamstring) didn t play and Sheldon Richardson (pending four-game suspension) saw action with the backups, but Bowles shouldn t tolerate the defensive breakdowns in a second consecutive subpar performance. From miscommunication that led to busted coverages to head-scratching penalties, there were enough gaffes that should prompt some level of concern. The Jets look like a two-dimensional juggernaut on defense, but talent on paper will only take you so far. The Jets first-team defense has given up 24 points on four preseason possessions against the opponents starters, but Bowles isn t prepared to unleash his fury at his players for the early errors. That s what preseason s for, Bowles said. You don t want (those mistakes). You can learn from them. Hopefully we learned from this one. We learned something last week about tackling. Hopefully we learn from penalties this week. The new-look defense is still adapting to Bowles one-gap scheme that requires a changed mind-set for linemen. We re close, Richardson said. We re not too far off. The revamped secondary is also a work in progress. Miscommunication between cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine on Matt Ryan s two-yard touchdown pass on the Falcons second drive was maddening, but correctable. So were the Jets 10 first-half penalties from players who are expected to contribute this season. No objective soul believes the Jets offense will light it up this season, but the defense is an altogether different story. Expectations should be high. The Jets have the requisite talent to be a Top 5 unit. They have the firepower to control four quarters every Sunday. We have high expectations of ourselves, said the Jets Quinton Coples, who was the closest guy to fullback Collin Mooney on a 60-yard catch-and-run on the second play from scrimmage. We just got to communicate and get on the same page. The Jets changed coverages after the Falcons used pre-snap motion. Bowles unit didn t convey the change quickly enough, exposing Coples. If the defense isn t as good as advertised, Bowles and Co. will be in a boatload of trouble. The Jets are going nowhere if their defense is anything less than great. One week after Bowles bemoaned his team s poor tackling, he wasn t fazed by the isolated busted coverages from his starters. The penalties, however, were unacceptable. Darrelle Revis was even flagged for holding Pro Bowl receiver Julio Jones in the end zone on third-andseven to extend the Falcons first drive. 35 P a g e
Bowles special teams gave up a 59-yard punt return to Devin Hester later in the quarter to set up a short field and a second score on third-and-goal. Leonard Hankerson walked in on a quick slant that left Cromartie shaking his head at Skrine on an obvious miscommunication. Bowles starters forced a pair of three-and-outs and Leonard Williams sack for a safety against the Falcons backups, but the damage was already done. Fitzpatrick, getting his first extended work with the starters, went 13 for 19 for 118 yards and an 85.0 passer rating in six drives. He engineered his lone scoring drive midway through the second quarter against Atlanta s backups. Fitzpatrick was far from Namath, but there were encouraging signs for Chan Gailey s offense. The veteran signal caller, thrust into a starting role after Geno Smith was shelved for the foreseeable future with a busted jaw, hooked up with Brandon Marshall four times for 62 yards. Although Gailey dialed up plenty of four- and five-receiver sets out of the shotgun, don t expect an aerial show. Fitzpatrick spent his night making safe, short-to-intermediate passes. It was a low-risk approach that makes sense given how the team is built. It s a formula that works only if the defense carries the mail. If the Jets fall behind by two touchdowns in the first 10 minutes like they did Friday, fuggedaboutit. It s going to be a long season unless Bowles most formidable group lives up to the hype. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick sees more playing time, throws for 118 yards against Falcons (Seth Walder) New York Daily News August 21, 2015 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/bondy-time-build-jets-long-run-article-1.2087030 Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets first-team offense received significantly more action in Game 2 of the preseason Friday night against the Falcons, playing six series and remaining in the game well into the second quarter. The unit played only one series in a loss to Detroit last week. Fitzpatrick finished 13 of 19 for 118 yards against Atlanta, with a good number of his completions coming on check downs. He averaged 6.2 yards per attempt before being pulled. Through the game s first few possessions, the Falcons' first-team defense thwarted the Jets first-team offense, sacking Fitzpatrick on one third-down play while blocking a pass on another. The sack brought boos from the crowd at MetLife Stadium. With Fitzpatrick under center, the Jets offense failed to move past midfield through its first five series. But after rookie Leonard Williams sacked Falcons third-stringer Sean Renfree in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter, Fitzpatrick keyed a scoring drive on the starting offense s sixth a final possession. Fitzpatrick hit Marshall on the second play of the drive for a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, running back Chris Ivory scampered 33 yards for the Jets first touchdown. Fitzpatrick then found Marshall again for a successful two-point conversion, cutting the Atlanta lead to 14-10. Bryce Petty then replaced Fitzpatrick on the next possession with just more than six minutes remaining before halftime. On his first series, Petty led a 10-play, 51-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. The rookie went 2 of 4 for 38 yards. INJURY UPDATES 36 P a g e
- Wide receiver Shaq Evans injured his back when a Falcons defender rolled up on him while tackling Jeremy Kerley in the second quarter. Evans is listed as questionable to return. - Backup left tackle Ben Ijalana injured his knee and has been ruled out for the remainder of Friday night's game. - Backup cornerback Dashaun Phillips injured his ribs and is questionable to return. METRO NEW YORK Oday Aboushi suspension the latest issue for Jets (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York August 21, 2015 http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/oday-aboushi-suspension-the-latest-issue-for-jets/zsjohu--- rks7rknmb1i72/ Another New York Jets' start to the NFL season is up in smoke, this time it is offensive lineman Oday Aboushi, who on Thursday was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Early this year, Aboushi was pulled over near the team's facility and marijuana was found in his vehicle. His agency, Sportstars Inc. issued a release shortly after the league announced his suspension: Oday was pulled over for a traffic stop in Morris Plains, New Jersey on Jan. 10, 2015. During the stop, police recovered a very small amount of marijuana from his vehicle. Oday accepted responsibility for the traffic infraction and all other charges were dismissed. Head coach Todd Bowles, in a statement issued by the team where Aboushi also apologized, said that News like this is never welcome. We will support Oday as we continue with our preparations for the upcoming season. After an offseason dominated by big free agent signings and a good NFL Draft, the last month has been a buzzkill as this is the third not-so-good incident for the Jets during that stretch. At the start of training camp, news came out of Sheldon Richardson's arrest near his hometown in Missouri then last week, quarterback Geno Smith was sucker-punched by linebacker IK Enemkpali, who was cut by the Jets then summarily signed by the Buffalo Bills. Aboushi will be eligible to play in preseason but will sit-out the first week of the season. He is set to enter his third year in the league. FRIDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL COMMISSIONER S OFFICE Suspended Toronto RHP Clinton Hollon (Lansing-MWL) 50 games for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES Sent 1B/OF Steve Pearce to the GCL Orioles for a rehab assignment. BOSTON RED SOX Sent RHP Rick Porcello to Pawtucket (IL) for a rehab assignment. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Sent RHP Daniel Webb to Charlotte (IL) for a rehab assignment. 37 P a g e
LOS ANGELES ANGELS Optioned RHP Mike Morin to Salt Lake (PCL). Recalled RHP Nick Tropeano from Salt Lake. MINNESOTA TWINS Placed OF Aaron Hicks on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Byron Buxton from Rochester (IL). NEW YORK YANKEES Released OF/1B Garrett Jones. Sent RHP Michael Pineda to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL) for a rehab assignment. SEATTLE MARINERS Placed LHP Joe Beimel on the 15-day DL. Recalled LHP Rob Rasmussen from Tacoma (PCL). National League ATLANTA BRAVES Agreed to terms with OF Ryan Gebhardt on a minor league contract. COLORADO ROCKIES Sent RHP Chad Bettis to Albuquerque (PCL) for a rehab assignment. MIAMI MARLINS Optioned C Tomas Telis to New Orleans (PCL). Selected the contract of RHP Scott McGough from New Orleans. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Recalled OF Domingo Santana from Colorado Springs (PCL). Claimed LHP Cesar Jimenez off waivers from Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Designated LHP Cesar Jimenez for assignment. Recalled RHP Jerad Eickhoff from Lehigh Valley (PCL). Selected the contract of 2B Darnell Sweeney from Lehigh Valley. PITTSBURGH PIRATES Designated RHP Josh Wall for assignment. Reinstated INF/OF Josh Harrison from the 15-day DL. Sent 1B Corey Hart to Indianapolis (IL) for a rehab assignment. SAN DIEGO PADRES Designated LHP Chris Rearick for assignment. Acquired RHP Jon Edwards from Texas to complete an earlier trade and optioned him to El Paso (PCL). TEXAS RANGERS Sent RHP Jon Edwards to San Diego to complete an earlier trade. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Optioned RHP Chris Heston to Sacramento (PCL). Placed OF Hunter Pence on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 18. WASHINGTON NATIONALS Placed 1B/OF Tyler Moore on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 19. Selected the contract of SS Trea Turner from Syracuse (IL). Transferred RHP Aaron Barrett to the 60-day DL. American Association GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS Released OF Brandon Thomas. GRAND PRAIRIE AIRHOGS Released OF Willie Cabrera. SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS Signed RHP John Ely. Atlantic League BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH Traded RHP Ray Hanson to Sioux Falls (AA) for a player to be named later. Can-Am League NEW JERSEY JACKALS Released INF Frank Salerno. OTTAWA CHAMPIONS Released INF Kevin Carr. QUEBEC CAPITALES Signed C Justin Marra. FOOTBALL 38 P a g e
National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS Placed DT Corey Peters on injured reserve. DALLAS COWBOYS Waived/injured T Cody Clay. Signed DT Carlif Taylor. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Waived WR L.T. Smith. Signed G Harland Gunn. WASHINGTON REDSKINS Acquired TE Derek Carrier from San Francisco for an undisclosed draft pick. Canadian Football League MONTREAL ALOUETTES fired coach Tom Higgins. Named Jim Popp coach. HOCKEY American Hockey League SAN JOSE BARRACUDA Signed F Vincent Arseneau and D Rick Pinkston to two-way, AHL/ECHL contracts. ECHL ELMIRA JACKALS Signed F Garrett Klotz and D Brad Richard to one-year contracts. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS Agreed to terms with D Marcus Perrier. LACROSSE National Lacrosse League BUFFALO BANDITS Agreed to terms with T Nick Weiss on a one-year contract. COLLEGE ARKANSAS Announced QB Ricky Town has transferred from Southern Cal. BREVARD Named Eli Sirota athletic media relations assistant. FLORIDA Suspended S Marcus Maye, DE Alex McCalister and WR Latroy Pittman one game. HIGH POINT Announced men s lacrosse M Keegan O Connor is transferring from Maryland and D Jimmy Wyrick from Syracuse. IOWA Announced RB C.J. Hilliard will transfer. JAMES MADISON Named Mike Basgier men s basketball strength and conditioning coach. NEW JERSEY CITY Announced the resignation of men s assistant soccer coach Anthony Tuesta. RANDOLPH Named Ryan Killilea sports information director. TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY Named Blake Day assistant athletic director for development. UCLA Suspended offensive line coach Adrian Klemm for its first two games, fined him an undisclosed amount and will forego two official recruiting visits next year, after an investigation into Klemm s recruiting practices. WASHINGTON (MO.) Promoted Chris Mitchell to assistant athletic director for communications. 39 P a g e