Article Update

Buddy's boy comes by gift of gab honestly
By JIM LITKE - AP Sports Columnist
2009-09-17 19:16

And win the Jets did in Ryan's debut, putting a 24-7 hurt on Houston last week. Even more impressive, his aggressive defense yielded only 183 yards to a Texans offense that averaged more than double that total last season.

``And we straight demolished them,'' cornerback Darrelle Revis said the day after.

``We feel if we can make it a brawl, we're going to win,'' chimed in safety Jim Leonhard, who played for Ryan at Baltimore last season.

That hardly sounds like a team that needs firing up, but Ryan apparently thinks their fans might - with good reason. The Jets open at home Sunday against a Patriot team that's beaten them eight straight at the Meadowlands - tied for the longest active streak in the league. So he picked up the phone Wednesday and left a 70-second message for every season-ticket holder.

``I just wanted to let you know how much we need you this week. You know, I've already admitted that, hey, the Patriots have a better head coach and they've got a better quarterback than us. But we're going to see who's got a better team.''

JETS – PATRIOTS PREVIEW
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Jim Leonhard was equally assured. “We feel like we have a great game plan going into this week. As a secondary, we feel like we can’t have any busts in coverage. We can’t have any miscommunication between us. If we play well in the back end, that front seven is going to play well.”

Rhodes’ candor seems to speak to another challenge facing Rex Ryan as he stalks the sidelines this Sunday afternoon. The Jets are pumped and primed, but will they be in control? With a frenzied home crowd and self-imposed high stakes both a factor [Kris Jenkins called it “Our Superbowl”] discipline may just fly out the window. And handing New England’s high-octane offense free penalty yardage is not in the Jets’ best interests. Ryan acknowledged Rhodes’ disgust. Did not chastise his safety’s honesty. “Our franchise has been embarrassed (with) eight straight losses at home. You’ll have to ask Kerry if that’s what he meant, but that’s probably where that tone was coming from.”
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Tom Brady Q&A, 9/16
09.16.09 at 2:32 pm ET
By Christopher Price
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Q: What did Darrelle Revis do against Andre Johnson on Sunday and has he emerged as one of the more dangerous corners in the league?
TB: He’s a very good player and — going into his third year — I think he’s really … He had a Pro Bowl, I think, last year. He’s kind of got all the skills. He’s got all the tools. He’s big. He’s got long arms. He’s fast. He’s quick. He’s a very fluid athlete. He catches the ball well. He’s got very good route recognition. He can play inside. He can play outside. He matches up against small guys and does well. He matches up against big guys and does well. He’s a very good player, along with Kerry Rhodes, in that secondary. [Jim] Leonhard really gets everyone sorted out and he plays with a lot of anticipation out there. So it’s a really good secondary, along with Lito Sheppard, who we’ve faced. I’ve thrown plenty of interceptions to him in the past.
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NY Jets approaching game against rival New England Patriots 'like it's the Super Bowl'
By Bridget J Wentworth
September 14, 2009, 10:27PM

If Jets coach Rex Ryan's comment in June about not coming here to kiss Patriots coach Bill Belichick's rings isn't enough bulletin board material for Sunday's showdown at the Meadowlands, how about this one from Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins:

''We're going to be playing this game like it's the Super Bowl,'' said Jenkins Monday as the Jets quickly put their 24-7 season-opening dismantling of the Houston Texans behind them.

Although former coach Eric Mangini is gone -- he was 2-5 versus the Patriots in his three seasons, including one playoff loss -- the ill will between the two teams has increased, something many thought was impossible given the deep-rooted dislike that Belichick and Mangini had for each other.

But here we go again with the rivalry that keeps on giving.

Since Ryan's arrival in January, he has been saber rattling with his tough talk. His comment about Belichick made national headlines.

''I laughed,'' wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. ''A lot of people want to say it. He said what he was feeling at the moment and you have to love it. He's leading this team. Whatever he says, we're going to be behind it.''

For the record, the bad blood between the Jets and Patriots began in 1997 when the Jets lured Bill Parcells away from New England. Then, in 2000, Belichick turned down the Jets' head coaching job and went to coach the Patriots. Both moves were marked by controversy.

Since Belichick went to New England, the Jets are 6-13 versus the Patriots. New England has won six AFC East titles and three Super Bowls.

''This is a great test,'' said safety Jim Leonhard. ''This is going to say a lot for our season. It's a game we really want.''

So does Ryan. He conceded that the Patriots have the edge at head coach and quarterback in the matchup but he's not willing to go any further.

''We'll find out who has the better team right now,'' he says. ''We'll see.''

Ryan even challenged Jets fans to show up at the Meadowlands and do their part.

''We need to be loud and make it miserable on them,'' Ryan said. ''I believe in our fans, too. Our guys are going to show up and our fans are going to show up and it's going to be on.''

Jets linebacker Larry Izzo, a long-time Patriot, said the rivalry ratcheted up when Mangini left the Patriots to coach the Jets, but he said New England players don't actually dislike Jet players.

''It wasn't so much a team-wide hatred,'' he said.

Jenkins, though, has no love for the Patriots. He said Monday he learned of the importance of the rivalry last year.

"The reality of the situation is this, if I'm going out there to play a football game, I'm going to do the best I can to try to knock your teeth out. Now, if you have any reason on top of that to up the ante, somebody better get their chinstrap on tight because if they don't, they might have a whole bunch of problems.

''This is a statement year," Jenkins continued. "Not just for Rex. It's a statement year for this team. We're trying to set a precedent here of what is to come for this organization and that's something we're not taking lightly.''

After months of bravado from Ryan and his players, the Jets backed it up on Sunday against Houston. They held the Texans to just 183 yards total offense, 38 yards rushing, and blitzed quarterback Matt Schaub into submission. They sacked him just twice but hit him repeatedly and he seemed to become gun-shy.

Offensively, the Jets rolled up 462 yards (190 yards rushing) and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez (18-of-31 for 272 yards, one TD and one INT) had a sensational debut.
The Jets converted 10 of 18 third-down situations. On third down, Sanchez hit 12 of 15 passes for 191 yards -- most of those were third-and-long --and one touchdown, and had a 141 passer rating.

''That's outstanding for a rookie,'' said Ryan. ''It's unheard of, really. That would be nice for a veteran quarterback.''

The Jets dominated the Texans in nearly every phase of the game. They had shown flashes of being that type of team in training camp and the preseason, but now it's out there for everyone to see.

''It's a game you want to put out there early to the r
est of the league and kind of show them what you're all about,'' said Leonhard.