A couple of write-ups from yesterday.
Prepare for an early dose of Paul ball. Operating with an underworked quarterback who completed only six passes in the preseason, Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett hinted that he may dust off some of his game plans from 2001. Hackett was criticized that year for using a conservative, run-oriented attack. At times it was hard to watch, but it might be the smart way to go in Thursday night's season opener against the Redskins, whose defensive line is in shambles. "Are we going to be what we were at the end of last year? No, we're going to be different than that," Hackett said after the Jets' 17-9 victory over the Eagles Thursday night in the preseason finale. "It's a new year, a new season, but I feel good about where we are as an offensive team." Translation: You will see a lot of Curtis Martin and LaMont Jordan. At the end of last season, the Jets had a balanced, multidimensional offense that was hard to stop. It's unfair to expect Vinny Testaverde, who took only 21 snaps in the preseason, to start out the way Chad Pennington finished off. Hackett, who said it may take two or three weeks before the offense finds a groove with Testaverde, seems to be lowering the early expectations. Some players disagreed, saying there shouldn't be a transition period, but that might be too optimistic. Testaverde, thrust into the starting role when Pennington broke his wrist a week ago, attempted only 14 passes in the preseason. He completed only one (5 yards), to newcomer Curtis Conway. Chemistry is a legitimate question. "The offense will be a lot better after four games than at the start of season, but that's only natural when you change your quarterback a week before the regular season starts," coach Herman Edwards said yesterday. Edwards opened himself up to second-guessing by resting Testaverde and the starters in the final preseason game. Edwards maintained Testaverde will be fresh for the opener. Former Giants star Phil Simms believes Testaverde still is capable of doing the job at 39, but the quarterback-turned-analyst wondered about Testaverde's limited preseason. "You can be 39 and have all those passing yards, but there is something to game rhythm and game experience," Simms said. "That's what the preseason does for a quarterback. There are no exceptions. "The lack of snaps would concern me. Late in my career, I wanted snaps, even if it was just handing off." The Jets won't put too much on Testaverde's shoulders. They figure to attack the Redskins on the ground. Maybe that's why Edwards sounded so concerned about his running game, which averaged only 2.8 yards in the preseason. "We didn't run the ball as well as I anticipated," he said. They need to crank it up soon.
A week from now, Spurrier and the Redskins will see just how much was accomplished in this preseason and in the offseason that preceded it. Based on the Redskins' 1-3 preseason mark, the verdict is far from clear.The Redskins believe they have upgraded at a number of positions, which was a primary goal off the field.On the field, Spurrier wants his team to play smarter. He wants to eliminate silly penalties and mental errors. He might never accomplish that. Starters and backups alike were called for silly or damaging penalties last night.The easy excuse is to blame the lack of intensity on the lack of importance of the game. The message Spurrier sent by holding out eight starters was not that this game meant a great deal to him. But no matter who is on the field, no matter what the circumstances of the game, good teams don't beat themselves. On good teams, the starters give sharp performances even in limited appearances, and the backups have a certain crispness that comes from being well drilled in the fundamentals.Last night, Redskins starting right guard Randy Thomas was called for a false start on what would have been the second play of the game.Redskins defensive end Regan Upshaw enabled the Jaguars to turn a third-and-20 from the Redskins' 36 into a first-and-10 at the Redskins' 21 when he was called for roughing Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. Brunell's pass had fallen incomplete on that play. Instead of being forced to punt or try a long field goal, the Jaguars turned that break into a touchdown drive.Backup defensive end Ladairis Jackson jumped offsides and backup defensive end Peppi Zellner, who has been a starter in the league, was caught grabbing a running back's face mask.Starting quarterback Patrick Ramsey threw an interception on the third play of the game, hitting Jaguars defensive back Rashean Mathis right in the numbers. Ramsey was saved by an illegal contact penalty on the Jaguars on the play, but the pass raises a larger issue: If Ramsey is throwing ill-advised passes in meaningless preseason games, can he be counted on to throw meaningful passes in the regular season? And if he falters in the regular season, will Spurrier show uncharacteristic patience and let the young quarterback work through his growing pains? History says he will not.Spurrier always has had a quick hook with quarterbacks. He spent last night attempting to find his backup quarterback, and the odds seem to favor Danny Wuerffel for that job. Didn't you see that one coming?Wuerffel played almost three quarters against Jacksonville and performed with some effectiveness behind the second-string line. He showed his usual command of the offense, was decisive with his play calling and accurate with his passes. He completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 147 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. If you're keeping score at home, that's a passer rating of 108.9. Wuerffel led a 69-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to get the Redskins back into the game.Rob Johnson was signed during the offseason specifically to be Ramsey's backup. But through the preseason, in circumstances similar to those Wuerffel played under last night, Johnson has been ineffective. He shows no command of Spurrier's unique offense, and it is difficult to imagine Spurrier will be comfortable with Johnson at the helm.The real games begin Thursday. Spurrier has to hope he's learned more things about his team than that Wuerffel is good enough to be the backup quarterback. That might not be enough to turn last season's 7-9 team into the playoff team it seeks to be this season.
Ray Mickens CB Knee day-to-day
Derek Pagel FS Ankle day-to-day
Kelvin Moses LB Ankle day-to-day
Chris Smith OT Knee day-to-day
Chad Pennington QB Wrist Early Dec
Marvin Jones LB Hamstring out for preseason
Josh Evans DT Suspended Out indefinitely
Dennis O'Sullivan C Biceps PUP
LaVar Arrington LB Knee day-to-day
Brandon Noble DT Knee I-R
Larry Moore C Knee Early Sept
Prepare for an early dose of Paul ball. Operating with an underworked quarterback who completed only six passes in the preseason, Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett hinted that he may dust off some of his game plans from 2001. Hackett was criticized that year for using a conservative, run-oriented attack. At times it was hard to watch, but it might be the smart way to go in Thursday night's season opener against the Redskins, whose defensive line is in shambles. "Are we going to be what we were at the end of last year? No, we're going to be different than that," Hackett said after the Jets' 17-9 victory over the Eagles Thursday night in the preseason finale. "It's a new year, a new season, but I feel good about where we are as an offensive team." Translation: You will see a lot of Curtis Martin and LaMont Jordan. At the end of last season, the Jets had a balanced, multidimensional offense that was hard to stop. It's unfair to expect Vinny Testaverde, who took only 21 snaps in the preseason, to start out the way Chad Pennington finished off. Hackett, who said it may take two or three weeks before the offense finds a groove with Testaverde, seems to be lowering the early expectations. Some players disagreed, saying there shouldn't be a transition period, but that might be too optimistic. Testaverde, thrust into the starting role when Pennington broke his wrist a week ago, attempted only 14 passes in the preseason. He completed only one (5 yards), to newcomer Curtis Conway. Chemistry is a legitimate question. "The offense will be a lot better after four games than at the start of season, but that's only natural when you change your quarterback a week before the regular season starts," coach Herman Edwards said yesterday. Edwards opened himself up to second-guessing by resting Testaverde and the starters in the final preseason game. Edwards maintained Testaverde will be fresh for the opener. Former Giants star Phil Simms believes Testaverde still is capable of doing the job at 39, but the quarterback-turned-analyst wondered about Testaverde's limited preseason. "You can be 39 and have all those passing yards, but there is something to game rhythm and game experience," Simms said. "That's what the preseason does for a quarterback. There are no exceptions. "The lack of snaps would concern me. Late in my career, I wanted snaps, even if it was just handing off." The Jets won't put too much on Testaverde's shoulders. They figure to attack the Redskins on the ground. Maybe that's why Edwards sounded so concerned about his running game, which averaged only 2.8 yards in the preseason. "We didn't run the ball as well as I anticipated," he said. They need to crank it up soon.
A week from now, Spurrier and the Redskins will see just how much was accomplished in this preseason and in the offseason that preceded it. Based on the Redskins' 1-3 preseason mark, the verdict is far from clear.The Redskins believe they have upgraded at a number of positions, which was a primary goal off the field.On the field, Spurrier wants his team to play smarter. He wants to eliminate silly penalties and mental errors. He might never accomplish that. Starters and backups alike were called for silly or damaging penalties last night.The easy excuse is to blame the lack of intensity on the lack of importance of the game. The message Spurrier sent by holding out eight starters was not that this game meant a great deal to him. But no matter who is on the field, no matter what the circumstances of the game, good teams don't beat themselves. On good teams, the starters give sharp performances even in limited appearances, and the backups have a certain crispness that comes from being well drilled in the fundamentals.Last night, Redskins starting right guard Randy Thomas was called for a false start on what would have been the second play of the game.Redskins defensive end Regan Upshaw enabled the Jaguars to turn a third-and-20 from the Redskins' 36 into a first-and-10 at the Redskins' 21 when he was called for roughing Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. Brunell's pass had fallen incomplete on that play. Instead of being forced to punt or try a long field goal, the Jaguars turned that break into a touchdown drive.Backup defensive end Ladairis Jackson jumped offsides and backup defensive end Peppi Zellner, who has been a starter in the league, was caught grabbing a running back's face mask.Starting quarterback Patrick Ramsey threw an interception on the third play of the game, hitting Jaguars defensive back Rashean Mathis right in the numbers. Ramsey was saved by an illegal contact penalty on the Jaguars on the play, but the pass raises a larger issue: If Ramsey is throwing ill-advised passes in meaningless preseason games, can he be counted on to throw meaningful passes in the regular season? And if he falters in the regular season, will Spurrier show uncharacteristic patience and let the young quarterback work through his growing pains? History says he will not.Spurrier always has had a quick hook with quarterbacks. He spent last night attempting to find his backup quarterback, and the odds seem to favor Danny Wuerffel for that job. Didn't you see that one coming?Wuerffel played almost three quarters against Jacksonville and performed with some effectiveness behind the second-string line. He showed his usual command of the offense, was decisive with his play calling and accurate with his passes. He completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 147 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. If you're keeping score at home, that's a passer rating of 108.9. Wuerffel led a 69-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to get the Redskins back into the game.Rob Johnson was signed during the offseason specifically to be Ramsey's backup. But through the preseason, in circumstances similar to those Wuerffel played under last night, Johnson has been ineffective. He shows no command of Spurrier's unique offense, and it is difficult to imagine Spurrier will be comfortable with Johnson at the helm.The real games begin Thursday. Spurrier has to hope he's learned more things about his team than that Wuerffel is good enough to be the backup quarterback. That might not be enough to turn last season's 7-9 team into the playoff team it seeks to be this season.
Ray Mickens CB Knee day-to-day
Derek Pagel FS Ankle day-to-day
Kelvin Moses LB Ankle day-to-day
Chris Smith OT Knee day-to-day
Chad Pennington QB Wrist Early Dec
Marvin Jones LB Hamstring out for preseason
Josh Evans DT Suspended Out indefinitely
Dennis O'Sullivan C Biceps PUP
LaVar Arrington LB Knee day-to-day
Brandon Noble DT Knee I-R
Larry Moore C Knee Early Sept
