E-Boland & Gang Green

By Tom Rock

Welcome to the essence of multi-media! I wrote a story for the Wednesday paper talking about the three players who I believe are having career years -- Jerricho Cotchery, Bryan Thomas and Kerry Rhodes in case you missed it or are logging on here before the story is published. But I also promised to go further on this blog in terms of pointing to several players who came in with high expectations and delivered and those who have been disappointment either in the play or lack thereof. Intelligent comments and contradictory arguments are, as always, welcomed. Idiocy is not. This means you, Glauber!!!

THOSE WHO PROMISED AND DELIVERED

Laveranues Coles – The only proven offensive weapons entering the season, Coles has 87 catches for 1,065 yards. Though he has become the target of many defensive schemes, the Jets continue to find ways to get him the ball – 12 receptions on Sunday – and his toughness is invaluable for a Jets offense that relies so heavily on short underneath passes that abuse receivers’ bodies.

Andre Dyson – The Jets brought in the veteran to provide stability in the secondary, and he has done just that by starting every game at left cornerback and adding guidance to the four other players who have been given the right cornerback job. Dyson had two interceptions in the opening day win at Tennessee and has four on the season.

Pete Kendall – With a rookie on each shoulder, the 11-year veteran guard has had to be both professor and protector. The development of D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Mangold can be traced in no small way to Kendall’s tutelage. Oh, he’s also had a pretty decent season himself, rebounding from an early hamstring injury.

FAILED TO MEET EXPECTATIONS

Derrick Blaylock – After opening the season as the starting running back, Blaylock has been inactive the last eight games and hasn’t taken a handoff since Week 2. He may be making contributions – Mangini named him practice player of the week following the Vikings win – but his game production is a disappointment.

Adrian Jones – Jones was the starting left tackle when 2005 ended and penciled in as the starting right tackle for 2006. But Anthony Clement overtook him for the job late in training camp and, despite some inconsistent play by Clement, Jones has been unable to get it back. A DWI arrest in late November didn’t go over well with Mangini and Co.

Kimo von Oelhoffen – Brought in for his Super Bowl experience and his knowledge of the 3-4 defense, von Oelhoffen has one sack this season and his 25 total tackles are on pace to be his lowest since he became a steady starter in the league in 2000 and by far the lowest among the nine Jets who have started every game on defense.

AND JUST AS A REFRESHER, THE CAREER YEAR CREW

Jerricho Cotchery – Two seasons as a reserve made the wide receiver hungry, and a coaching change during the offseason has given him a chance to produce during his third year in the NFL. Cotchery has 71 catches for 858 yards – he had 25 for 311 in the previous two seasons combined – and has given opposing defenses pause about double-teaming Laveranues Coles. Coach Eric Mangini said he noticed the solid plays Cotchery always seemed to make when studying tapes as a Patriots defensive coach. Having Noel Mazzone, his college offensive coordinator, as the Jets receivers coach this season has added to his level of comfort.

Bryan Thomas – After registering 35 sacks in college, Thomas was a disappointment in his first four seasons with the Jets, playing behind Shaun Ellis and John Abraham and recording only 6.5 sacks. But the move from traditional defensive end in the 4-3 to outside linebacker in the 3-4 allowed Thomas to flourish. He was one of the first to truly catch on to the new system and leads the team with 7.5 sacks this season, including 4.5 in the last four games. Earlier this month he received a meaty five-year extension from the Jets.

Kerry Rhodes – The second-year safety made it clear that he wouldn’t be hanging back breaking up passes and tackling loose running backs from the beginning. He had three sacks and three forced fumbles in the first three games and has become a valuable part of the Jets’ aggressive defense that emerged in the second half of the season. Even when he isn’t blitzing quarterbacks, he’s up on the line of scrimmage giving them something else to think about. After one sack and one interception last year, he has four of each in 2006 to go with 12 pass defenses