Coles Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month Published: 09-28-06 http://www.newyorkjets.com/articles/coles-named-afc-offensive-player-of-the-month-585 By John Beattie John Beattie is a reporter for the Jets and contributes to newyorkjets.com. New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. Coles’ 331 yards receiving are the most by a Jets’ receiver through the first three games of a season since Hall of Famer receiver Don Maynard totaled 356 yards in 1968. “I have been impressed with Laveranues’ work ethic and toughness and the way he runs after the catch,” said first-year head coach Eric Mangini of Coles. “It’s really a nice personal award for him, and we’re all really happy for him.” “It says a lot about this offense with Chad getting the opportunity to make plays, with the offensive line blocking, and Jerricho and the others taking away a lot of attention that had been paid to me,” Coles said. “The credit goes out to all of them and without those guys I don’t think I would have got that award.” Coles, in his seventh-year out of Florida State, leads the NFL with 24 receptions as the Jets have compiled a 2-1 record, good for a first place tie in the AFC East. “Laveranues is a special player. He does such a great job of getting open,” said Jets quarterback Chad Pennington of Coles. “Any time you put the ball up in the air, you know #87 is going to give you a chance to make a play.” Since the Jets took flight at Tennessee in the season opener, Coles has performed at an elite level. His 153 yards against the Titans is the highest total thus far for any AFC offensive player. Coles didn’t cool down in week two, collecting 100 yards against the Patriots in week two. In the week two game against New England at the Meadowlands, Coles and Pennington connected on a dazzling 47 yard touchdown – the longest of Coles’ career. In that highlight reel play, Coles danced the shimmy around five Patriot defenders before completing his first touchdown of the season. Coles has been one of the league’s top targets on third down, grabbing seven balls while converting six first downs which equates to an 85.7% clip. “He runs really good routes and he consistently finds a way to get open,” Mangini said of Coles. “He always makes a nice target. He has also done that on first and second down throughout this year and in years past.” After surpassing the 100-yard plateau in each of the club’s first two games, Coles now has 15 career games in which he has reached triple-digit receiving yards. His 24 receptions in the first three games are the most by any Jets player since Clark Gaines caught 31 passes during the first thee games of the 1980 season. Last week, Coles didn’t practice due to a calf injury and was listed as questionable throughout the week on the Jets’ injury report. On Sunday, he suited up in Buffalo and led the Jets in both receptions (10) and receiving yards (78) as the Jets improved their road record to 2-0 with an impressive 28-20 victory. “I love the way he plays football,” Mangini said. “I love his toughness. I love the fact that when he’s injured, you wouldn’t even know it in his approach. That is the type of example you are looking for from young guys to show them just sheer willingness to make plays. Some of those plays he makes are just on desire, effort and toughness; you are always looking for that in your players.” Coles’ toughness certainly goes without saying. His tendency to bounce back immediately after taking a big hit has been influential throughout the locker room, and he has even inspired those on the defensive side of the ball. “You look on the stat sheet and see nine catches for ninety yards; there’s a lot of different ways to get those nine catches,” linebacker Matt Chatham said. “Laveranues gets those balls in traffic, gets blown up, gets up the next play and he’s catching the next pass. I think that’s what’s impressed me the most about him.” Whether its toughness, persistence, or support from his teammates, if there is one thing Coles can credit the early success to, it’s the team camaraderie. “The chemistry with my teammates, they are the greatest. They support me and they are more excited for me than I am for myself,” said Coles. “A lot of guys came up and congratulated me and that means more to me than anything. It’s really a team award because without these guys none of this would have happened.” This is the first time in his career that Coles has received the award.
The awards are starting to pile up. Let's hope it keeps going that way Week 1 AFC Offensive Player of the week Chad Pennington Week 3 AFC Defensive Player of the week Kerry Rhodes September AFC Offensive Player of the month Laveranues Coles
That is very well deserved.....Until I saw him two times on SportsNet New York post game show I also did not know he was a very nice guy also....I always got a different impression from the print media.
We need a special teams player to win something. The likely candidate would probably be Miller by going 100 to the house, but I'm just dying to see Graham take off on a walkabout.
comes to show what good coaching and an opportunity can do for you if you have the ability...i foresee a great season ( in contrast to what we expected this year) Im still waiting on Vilma's award to come
looks like Coles is the prototypical "Mangini-player." i have no qualms with drafting/acquiring guys of this ilk, but clearly, you need guys with those attributes AND talented physical abilites, which Coles possesses. you can't get by on tough guys alone. hopefully we'll find more with good gameskills in the future. cheers
probably one of the best articles I've read in a long time... Coles if your out there read this article! You should be proud!
he may very well have a big day, especially if we get the running game going against a suspect Cover-2 Indy D. cheers
