Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets May 21, 2008 Faneca off on right foot in New York; Jenkins solid but has ways to go Although it?s awfully difficult to gauge much this early in a team?s offseason program, it appears as if OLG Alan Faneca has the early upper hand on NT Kris Jenkins in the ?battle? to have the most significant impact of the Jets? high-profile newcomers. Faneca, entering his first year with a new organization after spending his first 10 NFL seasons with the Steelers, has been pivotal in improving the chemistry on an offensive line that lacked cohesion in ?07. ?I?ve seen (Alan) over time, the interaction in the weight room, the interaction with the young guys in the classroom, and I like that group as a whole,? coach Eric Mangini said. ?Alan has seen a lot. He knows a lot of the tricks of the trade.? Jenkins, meanwhile, has impressed the coaches by quickly getting ?into shape,? shedding an estimated 30 pounds from the 390-pound frame he lugged around his final season in Carolina. ?He makes 360 look good, you know? I wish I could say the same,? Mangini quipped. But it?s safe to say Jenkins still has a ways to go. Additionally, Mangini admitted that it will take some time for Jenkins to become comfortable in playing a new position, although there?s little doubt that he should be an upgrade over departed NT Dewayne Robertson. Jenkins was primarily a one-gapping 4-3 defensive tackle in Carolina, but now he will be largely asked to man both ?A? gaps in New York?s 3-4 scheme. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
Good news. I will try to practice patience on Jenkins learning his new position. It may be until next year that he truly masters the NT spot.
Can anyone give some info on the main difference between 4-3 and 3-4 DT. I know that 4-3 are used to shoot gaps and tend to be more athletic while 3-4 are used to hold the point of attack. It seems to me that Jenkins' build would make him better suited for the 3-4. But outside of size, what other charactersitics and palying field attributes are used?
Jenkins is born to be a 3-4, he just happened to play in the 4-3. As for the difference. 4-3 RT RG OC LG LT DE NT 3T DE Here the NT's primary goal is to eat up the OC and the RG so the other lineman are single covered. If the double team doesnt come, they shoot the gap between the RG and OC. That gap is their only assignment. 3-4 RT RG OC LG LT DE NT DE Here the NT's primary goal is to engage the OC pusing him into the backfield causing either of the guards to double. The NT must maintain position, and cover the gaps between the OC and both guards (2 gaps) to respond to inside runs. I might be a little off, so anyone who knows better feel free to correct me.
Nope no need for correction that about explains it. Gotta be big enough to hold off center and a guard , and quick enough to fill gap on either side of center at the point of attack
he mentioned he's familiar with it because of a defense he ran earlier in his career or maybe in college - I don't remember. He knows the basic schemes.
Fenwyr, That's the textbook layout of his responsibilities. The only thing to add is that in the 3-4 the D line may be shifted over as RT RG C LG LT DE NT DE to cover backfield sets and attempts to gain advantages over certain O players.
I believe it was ran at Maryland, but don't quote me on that. Regardless, the guy wants to win and is really smart (scored higher than Penny on the Wonderlic). It'll probably take a full season's experience to master the position but he should still make a huge impact this year.
Mangenius? Third season will prove coach's worth in N.Y. Updated 18h 36m ago By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY ~ ~ ~ Johnson invested $40 million over five years in Faneca , a seven-time Pro Bowler who brings the leadership, toughness and intelligence general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Mangini covet.The former Steeler, who threw a key block in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL triumph, could be quite a blessing himself as the Jets attempt to emerge from the shadows of the Giants, the reigning Super Bowl champions. Faneca, 31, is a sputtering offense's designated drive blocker who's expected to pilot the Jets out of their embarrassing rut."We look good on paper," Faneca says. "Right now, it's on our shoulders to go out there and make it mesh and do something special on Sundays and get that ring the Giants got last year."There's a commitment in the locker room to get things done and turn things around. Nobody wants to go through what they did last year." Especially not tailback Thomas Jones, who came to New York a year ago after being dealt from the Chicago Bears, whom he helped reach the Super Bowl. Jones fought his way to 1,119 rushing yards behind a suspect line in 2007. "When I first arrived here, Thomas came up and gave me a hug," Faneca says with a laugh. "He's excited about getting some help and changing what happened last year." By retrenching in the trenches, Tannenbaum and Mangini essentially conceded a miscalculation on veteran left guard Pete Kendall, who lobbied for a $1 million raise that management refused last summer. Kendall was shipped to the Washington Redskins before the season began, and the offense never recovered. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, the team's first-round 2006 building blocks, regressed without him."Those guys are great players," Faneca says of Ferguson and Mangold. "The best thing I can do is come in there and play the way I've been ? play like the rock in there."It helps when the guy next to you is playing at a high level. Great blocking tandems, the chemistry grows when you're finding ways to get better as a group. ? I can be that rock and try and lend some of my experience to them." For the past month, Faneca and his new linemates have worked out together, then done lunch to accelerate the bonding process."I think Alan is, one, going to stabilize the group, and, two, really help the other guys," Mangini says. "He's going to help Brick (Ferguson), and he's going to help Nick. "Just his leadership in general is going to help the whole group." The team also added Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson and tight end Bubba Franks to provide more push for Jones, Leon Washington and newly signed Jesse Chatman.But in an AFC East dominated by league MVP Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the Jets need more production than the 15 touchdowns and 19 interceptions Pennington and Clemens combined to throw. Will Pennington's poise, heady consistency and experience win out? Or will Clemens' stronger arm prevail? Clemens was knocked for a lack of pocket presence. But it's tough to show presence without a pocket. A well-protected Clemens portends a more dynamic offense with his ability to strike downfield for big plays, something Pennington has trouble generating after two surgeries on his throwing shoulder.That's where the selection of Purdue tight end Dustin Keller could prove key. He should open up the outside for receivers Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery while providing a security blanket for Clemens or Pennington. Opponents would seem more inclined to blitz Clemens, who has 10 interceptions in 12 career games. But not so much if the ground game is back on track and Keller is open to exploit the seams. On defense, Mangini hopes to generate more pressure than the 29 sacks from last season's 25th-ranked pass rush.Pace had a career-best 6? sacks for the Arizona Cardinals. Vernon Gholston, the Jets' top draft pick, had 14 sacks for Ohio State.But it's tough for defenses to rush the passer if they don't have a lead to protect and are consistently being worn down by the run. Enter Faneca . "I was lucky in that I came in to Pittsburgh at a great time when I had (veteran offensive linemen) Dermontti Dawson, Will Wolford and Jim Sweeney there," Faneca says. "I sat back and absorbed how those guys played. That was important, just watching how those veteran guys carried themselves."I think guys should learn by watching and lead by example. I don't want to hear it. I want to see it." Johnson is banking his team will succeed as a result of the examples set by players such as Faneca. Otherwise, Jets fans may have to pray. AROUND THE FIELD IN NEW YORK ~ ~ ? Offensive line: Alan Faneca should pay immediate dividends as a revamped line's fiery tone-setter. Right tackle Damien Woody should elevate right guard Brandon Moore and can play guard or center in a pinch. Third-year left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold must make continued progress. > http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/jets/2008-05-20-organization-report_N.htm
Let's just hope that making the transition from one-gapping to two-gapping is manageable for Jenkins. It'd be annoying for the Jets defense to suck for the first half of the season before settling down some in the second half as they have done both of the last two seasons.
I don't think Kris Jenkins is going to be a source of worry at all. I think our defense is going to have some trouble in the first couple of games and then explode for us. I haven't been this excited about a Jets defense since... well... 1999. But that was different. Our trouble is going to be on the offensive side of the ball.
The last two seasons the defense was 100% better after our bye weeks. Why it took the bye week to turn things around, I don't know. Fortunately our bye week is earlier this season (week 5) so even if that is what it takes it should happen sooner.
Good point. Mangini does great after the bye, so perhaps with the earlier bye week he'll be able to make the correct adjustments for the rest of the season, rather than the 2nd half explosion this team is known for.
i think its great to have a great veteran on both side of the line. these two can face off against each other constantly in practice and improve just by playing against good competition daily on the other other side of the line.
i wonder who would win? jenkins has to be ways better because as the 3-4 NT he has to tie up two blockers. that means for the JETS to be successful he needs to manhandle the majority of the centers in this league.
