JetNation.com

Cromartie Is About Winning

forums@jetnation.com — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:19:49 +0000

Antonio Cromartie has come from a long way from his rather embarrassing moment on Hard Knocks when he struggled to name his seven children. Cro has exceeded expectations in play since being traded from San Diego to New York in 2010 and seems to be taking more of a leadership role when he announced he will hold a Jets DB’s camp before training camp.

With Darrelle Revis gone for good, can Cromartie elevate his play even more? Can he become the best corner in the league? Apparently he has told the New York Post’s Brian Costello he can, but he doesn’t want to. This is part of a post from ProFootballTalk.com:

Specifically, Cromartie thinks he can be the best cornerback in the NFL. But he doesn’t really want to be.

“Can I be? Yes. Do I care to be? No,” Cromartie recently told Brian Costello of the New York Post. “If we’re winning and I’m doing the things I need to do, then that’s what it’s really all about.”

It’s a bizarrely mature comment from Cromartie that could get lost in the headline. He’s basically saying that he’s more interested in team accomplishments than individual accolades.

It’s nice to hear things like this from Cro, and who knows, if he puts together another year like 2012, maybe he will be considered the best corner in the league.

If you are looking to go to a Jets game, here is a source for Jets tickets.

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JetNation Podcast: Will Geno Smith Start Week One & Rex Ryan’s NY Jets Head Coach Ranking

forums@jetnation.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:19:15 +0000

Listen to the latest episode of JetNation Radio (June 18^th):

Hosts Dennis Agapito and Tyson Rauch discuss:

The quarterback competition between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith.
What will be the impact of signing tight end Kellen Winslow?
Does GM John Idzik still need to upgrade the receiver position?
Where does Rex Ryan rank in the history of Jets head coach?

Next episode: June 25^th at 8pm.

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2013 Roster Preview: Defensive Line

forums@jetnation.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:54:38 +0000

List of current NY Jets Defensive Lineman on the roster:

#	Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Age	Exp.	College
71	Garay, Antonio	DL	6-4	320	33	8	Boston College
70	McDonough, Jake	DL	6-5	305	23	R	Iowa State
96	Wilkerson, Muhammad	DL	6-4	315	23	3	Temple
99	Aumavae, Junior	DT	6-2	310	27	1	Minnesota State
61	Coleman, Lanier	DT	6-4	322	26	1	Louisiana-Lafayette
93	Ellis, Kenrick	DT	6-4	346	25	3	Hampton
92	Finau, Tevita	DT	6-5	288	27	1	Utah
94	Harrison, Damon	DT	6-4	350	24	2	William Penn

Last year, the area of the game where the Jets showed the most potential going forward was at the defensive line position. Second year DT/DE Muhammad Wilkerson (70 tackles, 5 sacks) and rookie Quinton Coples (30 tackles, 5.5 sacks) had promising years. Veteran Sione Po’uha struggled to stay healthy for the full season, and has since been released by the team.

For 2013, the Jets strength of the defense is arguably their defensive line. With 13th overall pick Sheldon Richardson, veteran free agent Antonio Garay, third year DT Kenrick Ellis and Damon “Snacks” Harrison, the Jets have a considerable amount of depth and experience that could make them the defensive front that Jets fans have hoped for under Rex Ryan.

Through OTA’s and minicamp, the Jets have moved these versatile players around from standing outside pass rushers to 3-technique (outside shade of the offensive guard) to 5 technique (head up on the offensive tackle). Sheldon Richardson could be seen as a defensive tackle on first down and then bumped out to defensive end on 3rd down. Richardson’s off the ball explosiveness and his ability to play two gaps will allow the Jets some flexibility in where he can play. There will be growing pains, as there would be with any rookie, but his motor and his immense strength off the ball could make Richardson the guy Rex Ryan cannot take off the field.

Wilkerson has emerged as a budding star in the league in terms of defensive linemen. One could argue that he played at a Pro-Bowl level last season and the Jets are looking for him to take the next step and get there this season. He has all the physical attributes to create havoc for opposing offenses with his ability to play the run and rush the passer. Wilkerson will be used in many different positions on the line to get him to the quarterback. He has not only become a young, future star, but he has become a leader by example on the team. His hardwork and willingness to assist the younger players shows he’s captain material (even if Ryan doesn’t make captains again like he did in 2012).

Damon Harrison could fill the role of Sione Po’uha, a “do-your-job” run-stuffing defensive tackle. Unlike Po’uha, Harrison has shown the ability to rush the passer and bat down passes, as well. Harrison had a solid Spring and the coaches have been quoted talking about how hard he works and his non-stop motor. Harrison played briefly last season in five games not recording a tackle, but there should definitely be a spot on the roster for a guy who has worked as hard as Harrison has this offseason. You can’t teach hard work and in Harrison’s case, his work and motivation is paying off. He still will need to prove his worth once the pads come on, but there should be a spot on the roster for “Snacks.”

The Jets will look to use a front with Richardson-Ellis-Wilkerson rushing up the middle with linebackers like Coples and Antwan Barnes to blitz off the edge. With the depth of talent the Jets have at this position, they will be able to be creative in their schemes to help them become the dominant defense they were when Rex Ryan first became head coach.

Other players vying for a roster spot include: Tevita Finau, Lanier Coleman, Junior Aumavae and a guy who has impressed coaches in Spring, Jake McDonough. These four guys along with Leger Douzable, who was brought in on a tryout basis in minicamp (the Jets haven’t decided upon giving Douzable a contract as of yet) will battle for a spot.

Unlike the other guys, Douzable has NFl game experience having recorded 56 tackles in his career, 38 with Jacksonville in 2011. A spot in which may not be easy to attain, these five guys will have to prove their worth to the coaches in the minimal amount of reps they get in practice.

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Jets Waive Tripucka To Make Roster Space For Winslow

forums@jetnation.com — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:40:01 +0000

The New York Jets made a move today placing long snapper Travis Tripucka on waivers removing him from the roster:

The New York Jets have released long-snapper Travis Tripucka.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 17, 2013

Travis is the son of former professional basketball player and New York Knicks analyst Kelly Tripucka but was a long shot to beat out incumbent Tanner Purdum.

The transaction was necessary to add recently signed tight end Kellen Winslow as the Jets then had a 91 man roster and the limit is 90.

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Vladimir Putin Stole Kraft’s Super Bowl Ring

forums@jetnation.com — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:00:28 +0000

Most Jets fans find it easy to root against the Patriots. How easy is it to root against them? The answer depends if you can root for Russia over the Pats. No, I am not talking about Ivan Drago and Rocky IV here, I am talking about Vladimir Putin. Yahoo Sports has an update on what actually happened in 2005 when Kraft met Putin. It had previously been reported that Kraft gave his Super Bowl ring to Putin as a gift.

As the story goes, Kraft met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gathering of business and political leaders at Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia, in June of 2005. Kraft and Putin talked a while, Kraft took off his ring to show it to Putin, and Putin promptly put the ring in his pocket and walked off.

“I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring,” Kraft said in a subsequent statement. Putin “was clearly taken with its uniqueness.”

“At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin.”

But as Kraft said recently, per the New York Post, that’s not what really happened.

“I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,’” Kraft said during the Carnegie Hall’s Medal of Excellence gala in New York City.“I put my hand out, and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”

The NY Post says that Kraft wanted the ring back, but was told that wasn’t the best idea.

But Kraft really wanted the 4.94-carat bauble back, he said Thursday, admitting he’d gotten a call from the George W. Bush-run White House, saying, “‘It would really be in the best interest of US-Soviet relations if you meant to give the ring as a present.”

The question remains Jets fans, how easy is it to root against the Patriots? Other Jets fans are sounding off in our NY Jets message board.

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Jets Sign Kellen Winslow

forums@jetnation.com — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:38:53 +0000

Last week it was announced that Kellen Winslow would attend the Jets minicamp on a tryout basis. Many first-hand reports said that Winslow was impressive during the 3 day camp and today the Jets announced they have signed Winslow to a contract.

The Jets have signed veteran free agent TE Kellen Winslow.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 14, 2013

After practice last week, Kellen was asked how long he sees himself playing in the NFL. He told the media:

I have years left. My last year was 2011, I caught 75 balls. I’ve been productive. It’s just the NFL – that’s how it goes sometimes. You get cut, you get traded and you can’t do anything about it. It’s out of my control.

Here is some additional information from our earlier report on Kellen Winslow Jr.

Winslow Jr., son of former San Diego Chargers TE Kellen Winslow Sr. who made the Pro-Bowl five times with the Chargers, led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in receptions in 2011 with 75 along with 763 yards receiving but a lingering knee issue along with a falling out with Buccaneers new head coach Greg Schiano resulted in Winslow being traded to the Seattle Seahawks in late May 2012.

His time with the Seahawks was short lived as the team released him before the start of the season. Picked up by the New England Patriots on September 19^th Winslow had one reception for 12 yards in week three before being released by on September 27^th and has remained a free agent since then.

Tell us what you think about the move in our New York Jets message board.

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Geno Smith Will Attend Jets West If Asked

forums@jetnation.com — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:34:33 +0000

The NY Post has an update on the “no comment” that Geno Smith gave this week when he was asked if he would attend Jets West camp.

On Wednesday, Smith gave a “no comment” when asked if he would attend the camp Sanchez holds annually in Southern California. That was read as Smith possibly skipping the camp or some trouble brewing between the two. But Smith said Thursday that’s not the case.

“Myself and Mark had never discussed [the camp],” Smith said. “It kind of caught me off guard because it’s not on my schedule or anything.”

Jets West is a camp for offensive players that is run by Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is in a no-win situation, obviously he would be better served personally by working out with the wide receivers without Geno Smith in attendance. That would give him a head start on claiming the starting QB job as they head into training camp. He would be vilified thoroughly if he does this camp again and doesn’t invite Geno Smith. As a team leader, he would be expected to put the team first.

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NY Jets Minicamp Photo Gallery

forums@jetnation.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:53:45 +0000

New York Jets minicamp is underway and JetNation has you covered. Be sure to check out our Jets training camp reports. We also have a gallery of licensed photos from training camp. Here is our New York Jets minicamp photo gallery.

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Rex Ryan Minicamp Update

forums@jetnation.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:46:53 +0000

Rex Ryan wasn’t happy with the number of dropped passes during the Jets first minicamp practice on Tuesday. He told the media that several players were to blame. Rex was happy with some of the offensive formations, specifically the no huddle offense that they worked on. He spoke to the media on Wednesday about Geno Smith and several other topics.

On Geno Smith’s ability to be a mobile quarterback and bring that dimension to the offense…
I think he’s got the athleticism to do that. You’re exactly right that (West Virginia) really didn’t run a whole lot of zone reads and different things, but he has the skill set where there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do that. Now with that being said, I think you have to be smart in what you ask your quarterbacks to do or are you going to need to have a whole bunch of them. I think that’s the way that people are going to start attacking these quarterbacks. But again, running for first downs and touchdowns, I think that’s how the league is probably going to progress to these things.

On whether the Jets will use Smith to run specialized plays as a backup…
I know what everybody’s thinking, if we did that, ugh, didn’t we try that last year? I think certainly that’s a possibility. To make assumptions now probably isn’t the thing to do. We’ll let this thing work out and pan out and we’ll see. I know exactly what you’re saying. In San Francisco, we never knew a whole lot about (Colin) Kaepernick and then when he came in there they started springing that stuff on you and that’s like, ‘Oh, ok.’ He made some huge runs in that game against us. So, we’ll see. I know we’re looking at it, you have to be ready for it. It’s something that’s here and I’m not sure it’s going away.

On the status of the quarterback competition…
Well again, today Geno will take a majority of the first team reps. I know its timing cause you guys haven’t been here for all the practices and all that stuff, but we have been, you know, alternating those guys. So you’ll see today that he’ll be with the first team, the majority of the first team reps.

On Kellen Winslow’s performance yesterday…
The one thing that jumps out at you is his skill and athleticism. That’s something that jumps out at you, he still has that. And from the very first play that he’s in there, you can still see that. Certainly he still has that.

On Mike Sims-Walker’s performance yesterday…
You know what? He never jumped out at me the way Kellen did. We’ll see how he does today.

On when he expects to see a jump in the offense…
I think when we get into training camp and we start putting the pads on and we’re able to run the football a little bit, cause some of these guys are teeing off on the passer but you also have to be able to play the run. So I think sometimes it can be a little misleading, but I think a guy like (Chris) Ivory is going to jump out when the pads come on because he’s just a physical, dominant-type runner. I think it will be interesting. The green and white (scrimmage) will be a fun thing to watch, I think.

On the impact Winslow can have…
I think having that kind of weapon (will have an impact), as far as, he is such an athlete. Now look Kellen has never been a hired killer as a blocker but he tries. (laughter) But as an athlete and a receiver, of the two or three grey hairs I have on my head, of the two billion of them or whatever, he’s contributed to some of those I can tell you.

On how he deals with the dropped passes…
I think the biggest thing if you are a receiver, the number one thing you do is catch the football. So, I think we better learn. We got to get that figured out. You catch the football. Whether it’s focus, whether it’s just having your hands in the right spot. The old thing we used to learn around the clock and all that stuff. Catch the football, you’re an NFL player, catch the football, you’re paid to catch the football. We expect it caught. When the ball is there, catch the ball. You know for us, you should be surprised if anybody ever drops a ball, when yesterday I was surprised when we caught it. It was like, ‘Wow, how many of these things are we going to drop today.’ Hopefully we’ll come out today and we’ll catch everything. That’s the way it should be.

On whether the new offensive scheme will allow players to get open…
I think when you look (at it), the numbers will suggest that. So when you can look throughout Marty’s (Mornhinweg) career as a play caller and things, I think you can see it seems like, here’s the number tight ends have. You can almost go right down the line. Whether we’ll have the same kind of success? I certainly hope s

On what he has seen from David Lee…
It was told to me, by a lot smarter coach than me, Bill Parcells for one, that this was the best fundamental quarterback coach that he’s ever seen. In fact, when I got interviewed by Parcells in Miami, for the head coaching job, which I never really had a shot at, when I went down there he actually had hired David Lee before he had hired any other coach, before he hired a head coach or anything else. That will tell you what Coach Parcells thought of him. Certainly I haven’t seen anything different of him out here. He has a great reputation. Anthony Lynn had coached with David before. If you’re looking for an endorsement, I guess the fact that the Mannings, two decent quarterbacks, I’m not talking about the other brothers, but Peyton and Eli would go work out with David Lee. That’s something. We’ll take half their accomplishments and that would be good with us.

On if he thinks we will see Ivory and Goodson on the field together…
I do. I think so. If yesterday was an indication, we might have four of those guys out there at one time. But that was kind of an interesting thing you know, ‘How are you going to play it? What are you going to run the wishbone back there?’ I’m not sure. When you have a guy like Goodson, when you have a guy like Joe McKnight, that kind of athlete and explosive type guys, I can see them being out there with as well with your big, strong back, and we have two of them. I think Powell (Bilal) is a good back as well. I can definitely see us doing that.

On Coach Mornhinweg’s experience with mobile quarterbacks and how it can translate to Smith…
I think even the West Coast offense, you know the West Coast whatever they call it, you have mobile quarterbacks. I remember going back to Bill Walsh, he thought that was probably the number one trait. There’s two traits, accuracy and mobility, were his biggest traits he looked for in a quarterback. I think we’re fortunate. I think Mark (Sanchez) is a better athlete than people give him credit for. And obviously with Geno I think, I don’t know what he timed on the forty, but the guy can run and clearly has good mobility.

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JetNation Podcast: Minicamp Practice Analysis (Sanchez vs. Smith)

forums@jetnation.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:12:18 +0000

JetNation Radio hosts Dennis Agapito, Tyson Rauch and Ron Pickett went over their firsthand account of minicamp practice. A full overview of practice along with many of the JetNation faithful called in and gave their opinion on the team:

The quarterback competition was analyzed as Mark Sanchez was inconsistent.
Tryout players tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker were discussed as possibly being signed by the team.
Who was starting on the offensive line?
How did the wide receivers fair?
Are the new coaches improving the team?

Next episode of JetNation Radio: June 18^th at 8pm.

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