JET NOTES
Because Curtis Martin quietly churned out 1,000-yards seasons without making waves or getting hurt, people tended to take him for granted, overlook his play and underestimate his value.
Until now.
The injured Martin’s absence was underscored by the Jets’ putrid running game Friday, a 16-carry, 44-yard effort that didn’t engender much faith in Derrick Blaylock, Leon Washington and Cedric Houston – who got jumped over by Kalvin Pearson on the arm-wrenching sack of Chad Pennington.
“The running game is going to come down to 11 guys blocking the right people and executing,” said Eric Mangini, whose team carried three times for three yards behind the backup line in the second half. “The second half more than the first, if you can’t execute the core assignments, that’s the issue.” When asked about losing DLs Monsanto Pope and Sione Pouha, Mangini tellingly volunteered, “With every position we’re looking to improve. We’ve talked running back, defensive line, a lot of areas. We evaluate nightly and see what our opportunities are.” To that end, they inked FB Jamar Martin off waivers from the Saints, but their halfback opportunities are thin, perhaps Chris Brown or Thomas Jones. If Martin can’t return from the arthroscopic surgery that has kept him out for the past eight months, the Jets’ offseason strategy will be criticized.
After the 33-year-old reportedly advised them to draft a back, they handed a $3.2 million signing bonus to the 5-foot-9 Blaylock – who’d run behind three Pro Bowlers in Kansas City – and waited until the fourthround to draft the 5-8 Washington.
It begs the question if they have enough to get the job done.
“Sure. We have the keys, we just have to get the little things done. We can be productive,” Blaylock said. “We know it’s going to get better.
We just need more focus and concentration. (The holes) were there; we missed some of them.” The team didn’t have a carry longer than six yards, with Houston averaging just 3.4 yards a carry, Blaylock two yards and Washington one.
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The team put Pouha on the I.R., and waived WR Jovan Witherspoon yesterday. …
Mangini lauded the play of Washington, Brad Smith and rookie OLs D’Brickasaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. He also said DLs Dewayne Robertson, Shaun Ellis and Kimo von Oelhoffen all played multiple positions Friday in an effort to build versatility.
