By Tom Rock
Rich posted a question asking me to describe what practices are like during a typical game week. Without being cynical or jaded, let me say this: I wish I knew too.
The media is given a half-hour glimpse into team practice, usually the first 30 minutes of the workout. By the time we get out on the field, the team is finishing some position work when an air-horn blows and everyone chugs to one sideline of the practice field. The ubiquitous speakers bellow a taped recording of the “J-E-T-S, JETS JETS JETS!” chant as the players do a warm-up jog across the field and back. Then they fall into formation for stretching, during which Mangini plays the music of the week. This week, the theme has been cowboy tunes based on the Colts. In the past he’s played “Don’t Believe the Hype” before the Patriots game – which either referred to his relationship with Bilichick or the Jets’ 1-0 start – and some crazy Buffalo-version of “Shout!”
The team stretches for about 10 minutes, so we stand there and watch. Then the team usually breaks into special teams work as Ben Graham boots a half-dozen or more punts and Mike Westhoff directs the traffic on the return and the coverage. All set to “Land Down Under” by Men At Work and “Benny and the Jets” by Elton John, tributes to Graham and his Aussie heritage.
After that, the team splits into offense and defense and runs a few basic plays or coverages against, well, no one. No scout teams at this point, just literally going through the motions. It’s usually about this point that the media is led away and our access to the team for the day comes to an end. Then I come back into the press room and blog.
Hope this helps, Rich, but I doubt it will.
Comments (5)
It's nice you actually respond to and engage your readers, unlike other nameless bloggers (Cimini).
Can you discuss the Schlegel deal? I already criticized the Katnik cut, but Leberfeld had an interesting take on cutting the 3 players - is Tangini pulling a Bradway/Herm move here? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks Tom, you are the MAN. By far, T ROCK rules the Jets blog-dom, by far. I'd like to see 2 blogs per day from you. Maybe you could ask some players what practices are like. How much full contact goes on, is there really enough opportunity for a player to overtake a starter just based on midweek drills? Mangini keeps stressing how much roles depend on practice performance, so it must be fairly 'live' rather than controlled. Keep up the good work, you've made the name Berger obsolete. Remember, 2 blogs per day.
Tom,
Have you read leberfields article which jake b mentioned above? It seems like he gets too personal with some of the players (ie his love for Bollinger) and forgets that its just business ... I know you guys get close to the players, but in the end Mike T is here to WIN games not Popularity contests. Just wondering since your start have you gotten close with any of the guys?
Tom,
I'm sure it's rough trying to cover practices you can't even see (other than stretching), but honestly, is it not for the better? We've seen 5 years of 'open door policy' with Uncle Herm, and where did it get us? I'd rather it be this way. I think Mangini is teaching us fans something as well. Love the team, and not the players. The players can be replaced, the team keeps moving forward. I look forward to seeing each week just who is going to be in the starting positions, and what efforts will be made on the field. Personally, I always thought the same of any professional athletes. Just because they have huge contracts, and make sick amounts of money should not guarantee them a roster spot if their performance is degraded. Make them sit and think about it for a while. Keep the team winning with hungry players that want to play, not over-paid ego maniacs.
Eric's got the right idea, let him make the decisions on the positioning of players, not us. We're just here to watch the games and hopefully enjoy the wins!
All the best!
Jimmy Cheese
Oh... and WahOOO!!! for my man Houston! 1 play-- touchdown. Derrick who? (yes I know I just contradicted myself... oh well)
Just read the Leberfeld article, it seems hypocritical. He puts forth that the two things the Jets need to improve on is running the ball and stopping the run (duh, how did I survice all this time without this insight?), but then bashes the Jets for making moves that appear to be an attempt to address these very issues. The Myers move will get Schlegal, a stout run stopper, on the field and the new fullback is a blocking demon.
Really, all these writers are going way out of their way to find reasons to criticize this regime, but every move they make seems to work.