Green & White Get Physical on the Goal Line
Published: Tue, July 29, 2008 - 12:24pm EDT
By Randy Lange
Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.
File Under: Chad Pennington, Thomas Jones, Laveranues Coles, Kellen Clemens, Jason Pociask, Kris Jenkins, Bubba Franks, Dwight Lowery
Real Player Not Found
Sorry. You do not have RealPlayer installed or your version is out-of-date.
Click here to install the latest RealPlayer so you can enjoy Jets multimedia.
07/29 — You wouldn't confuse the first five days of Jets training camp with a mixed martial arts competition. Hard-hitting? Yes, but only to a point. As running backs hit the holes, for instance, you would hear the bellows from the assistant coaches: "STAY UP!"
But that changed this morning when the Green & White shifted to goal line mode.
Three quarterbacks combined to run seven plays from the 5-yard line, and four touchdowns were produced, three on running plays.
Chad Pennington took the ball first and produced two scores on two plays: a pass to TE Jason Pociask and a handoff up the middle to Thomas Jones. No. 20 was tackled by NT Kris Jenkins and other interior defenders — but not until he reached the line and the official's hands went up.
Kellen Clemens then got two plays. The first was a handoff to Jones, slanting to his left. He was smothered by Jenkins and OLB Calvin Pace. Then Clemens, under pressure from LB Marques Murrell, threw too high for TE Bubba Franks in the end zone.
Next came Brett Ratliff, who also threw past Franks off the line incomplete. But then came a handoff to Jesse Chatman, who, like TJ on the second play of the series, burrowed into the line. He also got the TD call, but the defense didn't approve, if their angry words were any indication.
Finally, Pennington came back and handed off to Jones, who went in for six one more time.
There was more to practice than just the goal line work. Clemens hit a couple of nice passes, one to rookie TE Dustin Keller near the line, another after a stumbling scramble that he short-armed to Pociask for the TD.
Pennington also had some strong throws. A couple went to Laveranues Coles: a short "slingshot" for a score, then a nice one-handed catch by a crossing Coles with Drew Coleman trailing.
Franks also made a fine one-handed catch in the back of the end zone from Pennington before crashing into the padding at the base of the camera platform, but Franks was ruled out of bounds.
Murrell had a nice spin move to the inside against Jacob Bender, playing at LT for D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who was watching from the sideline wearing T-shirt, shorts and a new hat (tag hanging off the back). Brick got the day off for winning the off-season strength award, which he used for this practice.
Several laps were run, by Brandon Moore, Nate Garner, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody and Justin Miller, who got his for interference on Jerricho Cotchery.
Rookie CB Dwight Lowery also had several standout plays, which I'll get into with my Lowery feature later this afternoon. Eric Allen is also writing on Alan Faneca. And early tomorrow I'll have a story on Brett the Jet. Ratliff, of course. A short blog on Coach Mangini will follow this report.
Fans Respond
Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Hide All Show All (25)uncle joe Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 1:23pm EDT"Chad is always great in practice,but when the lights are on it's Noodle Arm Time.We already know we can't win with him.Even if he does play good he gets hurt to easily.He's too fragile.Im tired of hearing what he did for this organization,I think I remember reading some where he's getting paid!And enough Farve nonsense,thats just motivation for our QBs.Alls he has on Clemens is experience."
Tim Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 1:53pm EDT"Randy, your and Eric's articles are delightful to read, and are much better than most beat writer's articles in the local papers. I really enjoy reading them every day and they get me that much more pumped for the season. Thanks!"
Mike Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 2:09pm EDT"Uncle Joe, are you serious that you think we can't win with Pennington? I'm not the biggest guy on Pennington myself but truth be told, we do win with him. He's our best option right now and I would rather have him behind that new line of ours knowing that he has gotten us wins in the post season before. "We already know we can't win with him" may be the worst comment I have read in awhile here"
MikeMc Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 2:25pm EDT"MY MAN PENNY,sounds like he is having a terrific camp, clearly outplaying Clemmens, moving Pennington would be a huge mistake."
dimitri Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 2:36pm EDT"Randy, how has Bryan Thomas looked in camp so far after admitting that he slacked off last year? Clemens is not the answer to our quarterback problems; people need to understand that."
Randy Lange Said:
"Bryan Thomas has been having a quiet but good camp, dimitri."
Larry Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 2:55pm EDT"Uncle Joe. Good God Thank You for the voice of reason. These people screaming for Chad must not actually watch the games. Can anybody tell me what CP has done since starting other than get us close a couple times then choke when we need it? Im tired of hes done this & that. We have no Rings. Hes done NOTHING."
Jet80 Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 3:10pm EDT"couple o things.Favre is just as much as a injury risk as penny at 38,and were lookin at giving a way a 1st round conditional pick.INSANE!everyone quit gettin excited.And we give penny away too.so if Favre doesnt like the system or we start out awful,he gives up.then well have just clemens to go in.who is really started to show me hes got a long way to go.howcome ainge isnt taking that many reps"
Ken Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 3:12pm EDT"If the QBs (CHAD and CLEMENS) are NOT strong in the passing game, then you MUST have a good RUN game to help the PASS game! Then you also need strong BLOCKING from your Offensive Line and WRs. So with that said, BLOCKING, BLOCKING, BLOCKING is what I want to see from the OFFENSIVE LINE and WRs in practice from Mangini!"
Casey Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 3:24pm EDT"Hey Uncle Joe......name a qb who can get the job done and stay healthy with Zero protection from the line....Lets see clemens start and a month into the season you'll be calling for his head....Chad should get one more year.....if he cant hack it this year....then i'll agree with you....actually i wont, cuz your asking for an unproved QB to play for a team thats built to win now....go Chad"
Gregg Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 3:44pm EDT"Chad is the most prepared of all our QB's. He deserves the start based on past performance (when not playing injured). He should get the reps with the first team and Mangini can concentrate on the competition for 2nd and 3rd string QB."
GIOVANNI Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 3:52pm EDT"WE ALL KNO THAT CHAD IS THE BETTER QB AND HE IS GOING TO WIN THE JOB ENOGH ALREADY COACH AND NAME CHAD THE STARER AND LET THE TEAM KNO WHO THERE QB WILL BE AND LET THEM GET USE TO HIM PLAYING IN FRONT OF HIM,AND THE RECEVERS GET USE OF THE WAY HE TROWS THE BALL HE HAS SHOWN THAT HE GOT SOME MORE ZIP ON THE BALL AND FOR THE FIRST TIME HE IS HEALTY,CHAD OR JUST GO AND GET FARVE AND TRADE CHAD."
Ira Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 4:26pm EDT"Nice that Murrell made a play. I think he could land that last LB spot. Funny it sounded like they had more rushing TD's in todays practice than all of last season. Keller continues to impress. GO JETS!!!!"
OriginalJetFan Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 5:07pm EDT" If theres no Brett Favre stop dilly dallying around and give the start to one of the few QB's in Jet history with a winning record, who now with an O-Line and a running back at the same time can get back to the play-action stuff he excells at. C-H-A-D...CHad, Chad Chad!!"
Row Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 6:16pm EDT"We should keep running for TD's. When it all comes down to it, Chad didn't do his job last year. Chad singlehandedly lost games, made poor decisions and went 1-5 right off the bat. Three games last year Chad had a pick returned for six. (NYG,CIN, BUF) Offensive lines do not make bad throws, especially in the 4th quarter. "
Ira Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 6:47pm EDT"Don't worry about Chad. It sure sounds like Favre wants no part of the Jets. If thats the case then In Chad we trust. "
Sweet Erin Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 10:28pm EDT"How many QB's in Jets history have had more wins than Chad? Do you guys know? I am not really sure but probably not many. If he can beat the Chargers in the Playoffs and take us on a game winning drive to go to the AFC Championship (I hate Doug Brien) with torn rotator, then SURELY he can do even more after two years of rehab. Forget Favre."
#1 jets Fan Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 11:08pm EDT"I agree with you original jet fan. Chad cant hack it. He's only the most accurate passer in NFL history. Yeah his int' returns for TD's hurt us but he was under pressure I dont think he'll be under this year. Chad can do it."
uncle joe Said:
Wed, July 30, 2008 - 7:13am EDT"Hey all you people after me,Ijust call it like I see it.The man was cheered for getting hurt last year.He had good teams with good Lines & C.Martin.Won nothing.When he does play good he gets hurt.His own players used to say that.S.Moss was wasted on our team,hes the reason we stopped getting fast recievers.He makes us one dimentional.Ds stack the line so you cant run and dare him to beat them."
John Said:
Wed, July 30, 2008 - 9:01am EDT"Good to hear Chad is doing the job in camp. There is no doubt he gives the Jets the best chance to win this year. So many negative comments about this guy are absolutely ridiculous. He never even threw a red zone interception until 2007 and now he's mudd after one lousy year. Wake up and get used to him he is the starter! Two words about Strong Arm QB's..."Akili Smith"."
Bill Mc Said:
Wed, July 30, 2008 - 11:17am EDT"Randy after reading your reports it's starting to become very clear that Chad is outplaying KC. And Farve wants no part of us which is great because i want no part of him but Chris Simms will be available soon what do you think of having him coming in for at least a back up role this year"
MikeMc Said:
Wed, July 30, 2008 - 2:39pm EDT"Alot of positive Chad posts, GLAD TO HEAR IT!!"
Tom Spicer Said:
Wed, July 30, 2008 - 9:06pm EDT"MCmike & Mike we already know we can not win with Chad is a true statement & Uncle Joe is just stating facts"
Randy's RSS
The fastest way to get Randy's articles. Subscribe now.
Randy's Posts


EJfromAZ Said:
Tue, July 29, 2008 - 12:47pm EDT"Clemens isnt sounding so good...glad have many QB's...pretty sure mangini will make CP starter, but maybe should look @ ratliff or ainge for #2 spot "
Offensive Comment?