12/03 — With apologies to Pete Seeger, where has all the pass rush gone, long time passing?

That was one of the songs reporters were singing today during the locker room media session before practice. Through 10 games the Jets' rejuvenated defense was among the NFL's sacking leaders, on an impressive 50-sack pace for the season.

Then came Tennessee (one sack of Kerry Collins) and Denver (no sacks of Jay Cutler). And as the Jets began their preparation for Shaun Hill and the 49ers today, one of the questions today was: Where's the heat?

Calvin Pace said it's not far away.

"We played these past two weeks two teams that have given up 18 sacks combined," Pace said. "We've been playing a little bit more coverage. I know I've been doing more covering than rushing. Obviously, that's not my decision, that's the game plan. Sometimes that happens. It's just based on how they see us matchup up, how they want to scheme things. Ideally, me personally, I'd like to rush a little bit more, but it's not a problem. Whatever's called, I'm willing to do."

Kerry Rhodes had some similar thoughts.

"We're always trying to attack what we think is best for our sake," the safety said. "Tennessee and Denver were better at [protection]. Pressure's going to be tough, but we're going to try to attack them."

Head coach Eric Mangini at today's news conference also mentioned the Broncos' and Titans' strong protection and said that despite the 49ers having the NFL's 32nd-ranked pass protection (based on pass plays per sack), it may not be as easy storming the Hill.

"Since they've transitioned quarterbacks, made some changes on the offensive line, and have been a little bit different in their approach, Hill's been sacked 11 times," Mangini said. "It's not a knock on anybody else, it's just he's done a nice job of moving in the pocket and generating some plays that probably weren't there or definitely weren't there in the past."

Numbers support the coach's assertion. J.T. O'Sullivan started San Fran's first eight games and was sacked 32 times, once every 7.9 dropbacks. Hill in the last four starts has been dropped every 13.6 dropbacks.

Fans of "sending the house" on pass plays aren't happy when the Jets don't blitz, but Mangini gave some concrete examples and theory about why the Green & White approach the pass rush the way they do.

"It was two years ago against Buffalo, we were bringing a lot of people and they hit Roscoe Parrish on a 2-yard route that turns into a 60-yard route," he said. "Philadelphia last year on the slant route that went forever [from Donovan McNabb to Kevin Curtis], that was a blitz.

"Whenever you blitz, you take that chance if they hit a screen, they hit a slant. You're isolated, you're one-on-one, so if you slip and you don't have proper leverage. It's risk/reward. Sometimes that's really effective and you generate some positive plays defensively. The flip side, if you rush three, now the guy has a lot of time.

"You want to keep spinning the dial and bring three, bring four, bring five, bring max. Show three, bring max. Show max, bring three. And let them figure it out."

That combination was unlocking multiple pathways to the QB the first 10 games. And it will again, said Pace.

"It's not that we're just getting blocked up. We've been in coverage a little bit more," the LB said. "I envision the numbers picking back up."

Keller's Hidden Yardage

Many have been lauding the contributions of rookie TE Dustin Keller to the Jets offense. And truly the receiving stats the past four games have been through the roof: 27 receptions for 313 yards, 20 first downs, 10 third-down conversions.

But Keller's also contributing by inducing officials to throw their yellow laundry at the guys trying to defend him. With a 19-yard pass interference call on Broncos LB Jamie Winborn on Sunday, DK has now drawn eight penalties on opponents for 62 yards and eight first downs.

"It's not really something that we're emphasizing," Keller told me today, "but you kind of want to put the defender in the position where either he gives up the catch or he gets a hold of you or grabs you to try to stop you."

Keller may be doing that better than any other tight end in franchise history. My records don't go back to Mickey Shuler, Jerome Barkum, Rich Caster and Pete Lammons, but since 1995 no tight end and very few wide receivers have induced penalties at Keller's clip. Here are the top four at forcing defenders into committing no-nos (*has four games remaining):