NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

August 30, 2015

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Fitzpatrick throws 2 TD passes, Cromartie scores on INT (Tom Canavan) ................................................................ 2

Jets’ 1st-rounder Leonard Williams leaves with knee injury (Dennis Waszak) ......................................................... 3

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty learns a pizza lesson (Edward B. Colby) ...................................................................... 3

Jeremy Kerley not guaranteed to start for Jets (Kimberley A. Martin) ..................................................................... 4

Jets have well-rounded win, but rookie Leonard Williams hurts knee (Kimberley A. Martin) .................................. 5

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Jets bring ‘A’ game in win over Giants (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................................................... 6

NEW YORK TIMES .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Ryan Fitzpatrick Finds Rhythm as Jets’ Offense Shows a Pulse (Ben Shpigel) ........................................................... 7

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Nick Mangold’s 911 call helps end burglary spree in New Jersey (Rich Cimini) ........................................................ 9

Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. look sharp in win over Giants (Rich Cimini) ........................................................................... 9

Antonio Cromartie, Walt Powell deliver big plays in Jets’ win (Rich Cimini) ........................................................... 11

Jets rookie Leonard Williams to have MRI on injured knee (Rich Cimini) ............................................................... 11

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ends preseason with calming performance (Rich Cimini) ................................................ 12

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 13

5 Takeaways from Jets training camp – and one is worrisome (Brian Costello) ..................................................... 13

Jets dismantle Giants as offense, Cromartie put on a clinic (Brian Costello) .......................................................... 14

Jets’ key defensive cog exits game with knee injury (Brian Costello) ..................................................................... 15

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Chris Ivory so fired up about Jets-Giants Snoopy Bowl (Dom Cosentino) ............................................................... 16

Will Jets keep a fullback? (Dom Cosentino) ............................................................................................................ 17

Analyzing how Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick played vs. Giants, as he again had no turnovers (Darryl Slater) ................... 18

5 observations of Jets’ first-team offense vs. Giants, as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Co. look better (Darryl Slater)........ 19

Antonio Cromartie pick-6 of Eli Manning highlights Jets’ defense vs. Giants (Dom Cosentino) ............................. 20

5 Jets takeaways from 28-18 win over Giants: How serious is Leonard Williams’ knee injury? (Dom Cosentino) . 21

Brandon Marshall tempers praise for Jets’ offense vs. Giants: ‘We have a lot of games to go’ (Darryl Slater) ...... 22

Jets think Leonard Williams’ knee is just bruised (Dom Cosentino) ........................................................................ 23

Jets’ Darrelle Revis on Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.’s catch: ‘It didn’t count, man’ (Jordan Raanan) ................... 24

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 25

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Ryan Fitzpatrick shows he can be Jets guy at QB (Manish Mehta) ......................................................................... 25

Jets center Nick Mangold helps police end burglary spree in N.J. (Seth Walder) ................................................... 26

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Antonio Cromartie lead Jets over Giants for Snoopy Bowl victory (Seth Walder) ................. 26

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 28

Jets third preseason game is a lot more important than you think (Kristian Dyer) ................................................ 28

Jets’ Bryce Petty needs a crash course in ordering pizza in New York City (Kristian Dyer) ..................................... 29

Jets’ Devin Smith had his own ‘Odell Beckham Jr.’ catch (Kristian Dyer) ................................................................ 30

Three things we learned in the Jets’ preseason win over the Giants (Kristian Dyer) .............................................. 31

Jets training camp: whose stock is up, whose is down? (Kristian Dyer) .................................................................. 32

FRIDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ....................................................................................................................... 32

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fitzpatrick throws 2 TD passes, Cromartie scores on INT (Tom Canavan) Associated Press August 29, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/fitzpatrick-throws-2-td-passes-cromartie-scores-int

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and Antonio Cromartie scored on a 59-yard interception return in the waning seconds of the first half in a 28-18 win over the Giants Saturday in the annual preseason game for the New York bragging rights.

After struggling in place of the injured Geno Smith in the first two preseason games, Fitzpatrick hit 9 of 14 passes for 127 yards. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker and added a 24-yarder on a screen pass to Zac Stacy as the Jets (2-1) showed balance on offense.

Rashad Jennings scored on a 1-yard run for the Giants (1-2), whose first-team offense has produced 10 points in 12 preseason possessions. Eli Manning (12 of 16 for 90 yards) was having a good half until Cromartie stepped in front of James Jones and scored with 6 seconds left in the half.

Coaches Todd Bowles and Tom Coughlin rested most of their starters after the first half.

Punt returner Walter Powell supplied the biggest highlight of the second half, returning a punt by Robert Malone 54 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Josh Brown kicked a 48-yard field goal for the Giants on the opening possession of the second half. Ryan Nassib threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jerome Cunningham and a 2-point pass to Julian Talley with 7:31 to play.

The teams will play again in a regular-season game on Dec. 6.

The Jets did more on both sides of the ball than the Giants. They established a running game, picking up 67 yards on 14 carries in the first half.

The Giants were limited to 37 yards on 14 carries and their only drive of significance was a 14-play, 85 yard drive that was kept alive by two Jets penalties.

The Giants' defense once again had trouble on crossing patterns and it had a major blown coverage on the screen pass to Stacy. He caught it and there was nothing in front of him but turf.

Jets first-round draft pick Leonard Williams sustained a knee injury in the first half and did not return.

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The No. 6 overall pick out of Southern California is expected to be a major part of Bowles' defense. He has been starting in place of Sheldon Richardson, who is suspended for the first four games of the regular season after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

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Jets’ 1st-rounder Leonard Williams leaves with knee injury (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press August 29, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-1st-rounder-leonard-williams-leaves-knee-injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets are hoping Leonard Williams won't be sidelined for long with a knee injury.

The first-round draft pick left the Jets' 28-18 preseason victory over the Giants in the first half Saturday night. A bone bruise is a possibility, but the Jets will know more after the defensive lineman has an MRI exam Sunday.

Until then, the Jets will keep their fingers crossed for positive news. Coach Todd Bowles was uncertain of Williams' status, but defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said he texted with Williams after the game.

"He said he's good," Wilkerson said assuredly.

It wasn't certain when Williams was injured, but he was seen limping slightly as he walked behind the end zone and to the Jets' locker room after the Giants kicked off following a touchdown with 3:53 left in the first half. He never returned to the sideline after halftime, and was receiving treatment in the trainer's room long after the game was over.

Williams, the No. 6 overall pick out of Southern California, is expected to be a major part of Bowles' defense. He has been starting for the Jets in place of Sheldon Richardson, who is suspended for the first four games of the regular season after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Williams had one tackle against the Giants before leaving the game. He had a breakout performance last week against Atlanta, when he had 1 1/2 sacks, including a safety.

NOTES: RB Bilal Powell left briefly in the first half with a right ankle injury, but returned to the game. He finished with two rushes for 12 yards, and added an 8-yard reception. ... LB Jamari Lattimore left in the third quarter with a knee injury, but also returned. ... LB Calvin Pace sat out with a groin injury.

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NEWSDAY

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty learns a pizza lesson (Edward B. Colby) Newsday August 29, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/bryce-petty-new-york-jets-quarterback-learns-a-pizza-lesson-1.10788616

He hasn't played a regular-season NFL game yet, but New York Jets rookie quarterback Bryce Petty has already learned an important lesson about the team's fan base.

Don't put your pizza preferences out there.

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It all began Thursday night, when Petty, 24, tweeted enthusiastically about the convenience of ordering from a certain national pizza chain.

"NYC has the best pizza in the world. Time to fire #dominos. Any NYer will tell you that's not pizza," wrote @jeg_28, a sports fan from Albany.

"never order dominos. This isn't Houston buddy," said @JAsports70, the "NY Sports Guy." In college, Petty played for the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas. The Jets drafted him in the fourth round earlier this year.

"Jesus has placed you among the finest pizzerias in the country yet you choose dominos? Why do you reject His Love? Open ur heart," @Doc__Ad told Petty, whose Twitter profile alludes to his Christian faith.

Among the many dishing advice was @superstarmelle, who told Petty simply, "No, dude. Just no. Go to a New York spot and get a real slice."

The Jets QB has gotten some support. Petty's tweet has been favorited more than 150 times as of Saturday afternoon. @jprv322 told him he was "preaching to the choir! #facts domino's is stepping their game up!"

When one Jets fan said it was a "shame" that the pie in question was from Domino's, Petty replied, "Uhm what... Clearly you don't know pizza" -- bringing more backlash.

A little more than an hour after his initial comment, Petty backed down.

Petty seems to be taking things in stride, tweeting Friday, "my first altercation with fans is over pizza... I guess it could be worse."

Domino's was at the ready with an offer 45 minutes later.

"Keep the fans happy, but there's no NY slice on the road, advantage Domino's," the chain wrote. "DM us, we got your road game pizza fix covered."

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Jeremy Kerley not guaranteed to start for Jets (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 29, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jeremy-kerley-not-guaranteed-to-start-for-jets-1.10789564

Todd Bowles insisted Jeremy Kerley isn't in his doghouse. But it's evident the veteran slot receiver hasn't won over his new head coach.

"You have to earn your spot on this team," the Jets coach said in a recent one-on-one with Newsday. "I'm not giving nobody anything -- I don't care who it is. He's one of those people that's in a dogfight to earn his spot."

The curious case of Kerley -- the resident starter who has been overshadowed by little-known guys like Quincy Enunwa, Chris Owusu and Shaq Evans -- has been as noticeable a narrative as any other in Florham Park these days. Kerley, a 2011 fifth-round pick, signed a four-year, $16-million deal last season but his resume seems to have had little effect on Bowles.

There were rumblings that Kerley's slip down the depth chart had something to do with his absence during voluntary practices and his Achilles injury this offseason.

But while the Jets' coach downplayed the importance of Kerley's offseason absences, he stressed the importance of putting in work at all times.

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"You just know that when everybody's here, you better stand out if you're a starter," Bowles said. "If you're a starter and you miss voluntary workouts, when you come back, you've gotta be rolling. And if not, you won't be starting for too long."

During Saturday night's Snoopy Bowl Kerley was inactive due to a concussion he suffered last week against Atlanta.

Bowles said he knows Kerley's "a very good route runner" who has "very good hands." But his injuries have opened the door.

"So, right now, it's almost survival of the fittest," he said, of naming a third receiver. "And I'll probably go down to the last weekend [before I make a decision]."

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Jets have well-rounded win, but rookie Leonard Williams hurts knee (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 29, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-have-well-rounded-win-but-rookie-leonard-williams-hurts-knee-1.10789599

The Jets might have won the dog-shaped trophy they so coveted. But they might have suffered a big loss in the process.

Jets rookie defensive end Leonard Williams was forced to leave Saturday night's 28-18 preseason win over the Giants with a knee injury.

Williams -- the sixth overall pick in this year's draft -- limped off the field in the second quarter and made his way to the locker room with a member of the team's medical staff.

It was initially announced that Williams was questionable to return to the game, but the rookie never made it back.

Surprisingly, the Jets didn't need the help of the 6-5, 302-pound defensive end to pick apart the rival Giants. Instead, all it took was a balanced attack by Todd Bowles' team, including an Antonio Cromartie pick-6 against Eli Manning, a leaping touchdown by backup running back Zac Stacy and a 54-yd punt-return for a touchdown by Walter Powell.

But it was running back Chris Ivory and receiver Eric Decker who got the Jets' offense rolling first. Ivory rushed for 35 yards on the Jets' second drive of the game, setting the stage for an 11-yard, third-down completion to Brandon Marshall, followed by a 25-yard TD pass to Decker from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The Giants tied the sore in the second quarter on a 1-yard TD run by Rashad Jennings. But it didn't take long for the Jets to regain the lead. Fitzpatrick hit a wide-open Stacy, who then scampered 24 yards to the house and capped the scoring play with a head-first somersault into the end zone.

But Cromartie provided one of the top highlights when he easily picked off Manning (12-for-16, 90 yards, two sacks) and ran 59 yards for the TD.

The last Jet to return an interception for a touchdown vs. the Giants in the preseason was safety Darrol Ray (off of quarterback Scott Brunner) in 1982.

The Jets' starters played just the first half, but it was all they needed to jump out to a double-digit lead on the Giants.

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And despite some ill-advised penalties (including two on linebacker Demario Davis on the Jennings scoring drive), the Jets' starting defense held its own and gave Manning and the Giants offense fits.

Tom Coughlin's backups made things interesting in the fourth quarter, though. Backup quarterback Ryan Nassib threw a 6-yard TD pass to Jerome Cunningham and connected with Julian Talley on the two-point conversion to pull the Giants to within 28-18 with 7:31 remaining.

But that's as close as they would get.

The selection of the former USC stud was considered a potential coup for first-year general manager Mike Maccagnan. But his role on defense became all the more critical after third-year defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was suspended the first four games of the season for multiple failed drug tests. Richardson also is awaiting additional punishment from the league after he was arrested in Missouri on July 14. Back_to_Top

THE RECORD

Jets bring ‘A’ game in win over Giants (J.P. Pelzman) The Record August 30, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-bring-a-game-against-their-rivals-1.1400944

EAST RUTHERFORD – Antonio Cromartie often has been beaten for long completions during training-camp practices, but the veteran cornerback said earlier this month that he was trying out different things during practice, and he would be ready when the "lights turned on."

Perhaps he was right.

Cromartie's 59-yard pick-six off Eli Manning with six seconds left in the first half turned the lights out for the Giants' first-stringers and also capped off a solid showing by the Jets' starters on both sides of the ball. The play gave the Jets a 14-point halftime lead and they cruised to a 28-18 victory in their annual August battle against their rivals at MetLife Stadium.

There was one glitch, however. Prized rookie defensive end Leonard Williams, the sixth overall selection in this year's NFL Draft, left the game with a knee injury. A source said there is a possibility it is a bone bruise, but cautioned that diagnosis was only a preliminary one. That would be better than ligament damage, for instance, but the Jets won't know the exact severity until Williams undergoes an MRI today.

Williams is being counted on heavily by the Jets because star defensive end Sheldon Richardson will miss the first four games because of an NFL-imposed suspension for substance abuse. On the positive side, fellow end Muhammad Wilkerson returned after missing the first two preseason games because of a hamstring injury.

Wilkerson appeared to be his usual sturdy self in somewhat limited action and said afterward he felt good.

In the traditional dress-rehearsal game for the regular season, Gang Green's regulars put on what was easily their best showing of the preseason. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who inherited the starting quarterback when Geno Smith's jaw was fractured earlier this month, was sharp. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers.

"This was a nice tune-up for us," said Fitzpatrick. When asked if he would like to play in the preseason finale against Philadelphia on Thursday, he said, "I think I've kind of accomplished everything I wanted to check off" during the preseason. But he added he would be "onboard" with whatever the coaches decide.

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Cromartie took advantage of an apparent miscommunication between wideout James Jones and Manning, and an awful decision by Manning, who should have thrown the ball away instead of trying to force it to Jones. Cromartie cut in front of Jones and sailed untouched to the end zone for a 21-7 lead.

"I thought we made some strides today," first-year coach Todd Bowles said shortly after posing with the Snoopy Trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual game. "We started fast this week."

He cautioned, however, that "we've got a ways to go." He was noncommittal over whether any of the starters would suit up against the Eagles.

His predecessor, Rex Ryan, always sat his starters in the preseason finale.

BRIEFS: ILB Demario Davis was flagged for pass interference and holding on the Giants' lone touchdown drive. Both plays converted third downs for Big Blue. … Second-string RB Bilal Powell limped off with an ankle injury after a 2-yard run late in the first quarter, but returned to the game. … Reserve RB Zac Stacy turned a short pass from Fitzpatrick into a 24-yard score, leaping over a defender at the goal line. Fitzpatrick's other touchdown was an 18-yarder to Eric Decker. … WR Walt Powell, who is fighting for a roster spot, returned a punt 54 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. … CB Darrelle Revis was asked about the one-handed catch Odell Beckham Jr. made that was out of bounds. "It didn't count, man," he said. "It didn't count." Beckham finished with five catches for 31 yards.

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NEW YORK TIMES

Ryan Fitzpatrick Finds Rhythm as Jets’ Offense Shows a Pulse (Ben Shpigel) New York Times August 29, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/30/sports/football/ryan-fitzpatrick-and-jets-make-strides-but-have-long-way-to-go.html?ref=topics

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Every day, Ryan Fitzpatrick says, his connection with the Jets’ receivers gets a little better. Their timing improves, their relationships blossom, and their tendencies become more and more familiar to one another.

The next two weeks will be critical. That is how much time Fitzpatrick has to develop harmony before the regular season, when his misfires will be magnified. Fitzpatrick’s performance in his final preseason appearance, a 28-18 victory over the Giants at MetLife Stadium, resembled that of his team: encouraging, if inconclusive.

On a night when the Jets also scored touchdowns on defense and special teams, it augured well that Fitzpatrick, thrust into the starting role less than three weeks ago after Geno Smith sustained a broken jaw when he was slugged by a teammate, engineered two scoring drives on their first four possessions. He completed six of nine passes to his top two receivers: Eric Decker, who slipped behind coverage to snare an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Brandon Marshall.

“The older guys got to prove they can still play,” Coach Todd Bowles said, adding of Fitzpatrick, “He proved that tonight.”

All Fitzpatrick wanted to accomplish Saturday, he said, was to lead productive drives — plenty of first downs, some touchdowns, hardly any penalties or debilitating mistakes.

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On his five series, the Jets gained first downs on all but the last, with five receivers catching passes, and they did not commit their first penalty — they had two with Fitzpatrick at quarterback — until late in the first half.

It was the Giants who lapsed, botching their coverage in the end zone on Decker’s touchdown and failing to account for Zac Stacy on a screen pass that he turned into a 24-yard score. That was the final completion for Fitzpatrick, who went 9 of 14 for 127 yards and two touchdowns before giving way in the second half to the rookie Bryce Petty, who was 5 of 8 for 42 yards. In three preseason games, a Jets quarterback has yet to throw an interception.

“I’ve gotten everything accomplished that I kind of wanted to get checked off in the preseason,” Fitzpatrick said, adding: “When the season comes along, it’s going to be a whole lot different out there in terms of the intensity, the type of defense, the schemes, all the different blitzes. It’ll be different, but this was a nice tuneup.”

Fitzpatrick outshined his counterpart on the Giants, Eli Manning, who is trying to become comfortable with his own receivers. Until Saturday night, Manning had not completed a pass this preseason to Odell Beckham Jr., who failed to grab any of the five thrown his way last week against Jacksonville. Finding space in the Jets’ coverage, Beckham caught five passes for 31 yards, and if not for a foot that landed out of bounds, he would have hauled in a spectacular one-hander on the sideline against Darrelle Revis.

“It didn’t count, man,” Revis said. “Didn’t count.”

Manning completed 12 of 16 passes for 91 yards, but his final attempt was his worst.

Moving up in the pocket, Manning apparently did not see Antonio Cromartie, who broke in front of James Jones and returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown with six seconds remaining before halftime, giving the Jets a 21-7 lead.

The third game is usually the most meaningful of the preseason schedule, showcasing the starters before they — most of them, anyway — spend the finale on Thursday watching from the sideline. After sluggish starts in their first two exhibition games, the Jets harbored modest goals against the Giants.

It would be reassuring, they felt, if Fitzpatrick could lead the starters to a touchdown against the first-string defense, something he had yet to do this preseason. And it would be doubly soothing, they felt, if the Jets’ defense — their supposed strength — could manage not to allow a long scoring drive on the first series, as it had against Detroit and Atlanta.

Buoyed by consistent pressure up front and a stingier rush defense — highlighted by the return of Muhammad Wilkerson, who returned to practice last week after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury — the Jets forced three punts and a turnover on Manning’s five full first-half possessions. The only blemish was a 1-yard touchdown run by Rashad Jennings, capping a 14-play, 85-yard drive aided by two penalties in coverage by Jets linebacker Demario Davis, and even then the Jets offset the touchdown with Cromartie’s interception.

“I just felt like we made progress,” Bowles said. “Our goal is to make progress each week. We try to get better at something. We tried to start fast. We started faster this week.”

Bowles was so incensed with the Jets’ lack of discipline against the Falcons in the previous week, when they committed 17 penalties, that he instituted sprints if they were flagged more than five times during practice.

That they had eight more against the Giants frustrated him, though he was impressed by Walter Powell, who is trying to emerge from a crowded pack of receivers.

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Powell is not as polished as other candidates, like Chris Owusu or Quincy Enunwa, but he is valuable on special teams, and he scored on a 54-yard punt return.

Powell is likely to get one final opportunity on Thursday, when the Jets finish the preseason at home against Philadelphia. Bowles said he had not decided who would play, but if his starters will not dress again until the Sept. 13 opener against Cleveland, he sounded pleased with their progress so far.

“I feel like we’ve grown quite a bit,” Bowles said.

EXTRA POINTS

The rookie defensive end LEONARD WILLIAMS left the game with a knee injury. He was scheduled for testing on Sunday, but TODD BOWLES said he did not have any other information on Williams’s condition. ... Giants defensive end ROBERT AYERS sustained an ankle injury in warm-ups and did not play. ... The new rule pushing extra points back to the 15-yard line claimed Jets kicker NICK FOLK, who missed wide right in the second quarter.

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ESPN NEW YORK

Nick Mangold’s 911 call helps end burglary spree in New Jersey (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/13538211/nick-mangold-new-york-jets-makes-911-call-helps-end-burglary-spree-new-jersey

New York Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold threw his most memorable block of the summer at his home in New Jersey, stopping burglary suspects from breaking into his car and helping end a crime spree in his neighborhood.

Mangold called 911 at 5:30 a.m. last Sunday after hearing his car alarm and noticing his garage door open, according to police. A short time later, police stopped a vehicle in the area and took five suspects into custody.

It appears Mangold's quick thinking could have helped solve a rash of burglaries in the area of Chatham, New Jersey, a few miles from the Jets' practice facility. Recently there has been 48 burglaries of unlocked cars.

Richard W. Isaacs, 19, of Orange, and Leonard Watts, 18, of Newark, face charges including burglary and theft. They were being held on $50,000 bail, according to ABC-Channel 7.

Three juveniles, all of Essex County, also were charged with burglary and theft. One was held at Morris County Juvenile Detention Facility, and the other two were released to their parents.

Mangold, 31, is one of the longest-tenured Jets. The former first-round pick (2006) has played in six Pro Bowls.

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Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. look sharp in win over Giants (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53599/ryan-fitzpatrick-co-look-sharp-in-win-over-giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A few thoughts on the New York Jets' 28-18 win over the New York Giants.

What it means: The biggest takeaway was the crisp performance of Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets' starting offense. With a nice run-pass balance, they produced touchdown drives of 64 and 77 yards -- a major improvement over the previous two games. The Fitzpatrick-led unit generated 194 total yards in the first half, as it displayed a more aggressive passing attack than in past weeks. Fitzpatrick (9-for-14, 127 yards) threw touchdown passes to Eric Decker (18 yards) and Zac Stacy (24), the latter on a screen pass aided by a busted coverage. Three of Fitzpatrick's incomplete passes came on shots downfield. After a tumultuous training camp (see: Geno Smith, broken jaw), this was a much-needed jolt of something good.

Injuries of note: Rookie defensive end Leonard Williams suffered a knee injury in the first half and didn't return. Uh, oh. The Jets can't afford to lose their No. 1 pick because he's expected to start for Sheldon Richardson, who is facing a four-game suspension. Grizzled vet Stephen Bowen, thought to be on the roster bubble, would be the next man up. Williams was having a quiet game, but he flashed his talent last week, recording 1.5 sacks. His injury came on a night in which Muhammad Wilkerson made his debut after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Wilkerson didn't play every down, but he was fairly active in his return, recording a half-sack.

Play of the Game: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who didn't have a particularly sharp training camp, answered critics by scoring on a 59-yard interception return in the second quarter. Cromartie jumped a slant route to James Jones, reading it perfectly. Eli Manning's throw was slightly off the mark, and Cromartie made him pay, giving the Jets a 21-7 lead. Reports of Cromartie's demise apparently were exaggerated.

Stat of Note: The starting offense finished the preseason with 12 possessions -- eight punts, three touchdowns and one field goal. Fitzpatrick's numbers: 24-for-36 (67 percent), 261 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That's a 106.4 passer rating. That's encouraging, for sure, but remember: Stats mean nothing in the preseason.

The defense shows up (finally): After a couple of shaky outings, the starting defense played well against Manning & Co., holding the Giants' first-team offense to only seven points. Aside from one bad drive (14 plays, 85 yards), the defense eliminated the bad tackling and blown coverages that hurt them in the first two games. There were still some penalty issues (Demario Davis had two costly flags), but the overall performance was its best showing of the summer. It didn't allow a play longer than 19 yards, holding Odell Beckham, Jr. to five non-descript catches.

Not that we're keeping score, but ...: Now that the starters are done for the preseason, let's tally up the points. The Jets were outscored, 31-24, when their starters were on the field (not counting a touchdown drive last week against backups).

Give that man a job: Walter Powell helped his chances of making the team with a 54-yard touchdown on a punt return. One thing we know for certain: He's a better punt returner than Decker. Without Jeremy Kerley (concussion), the Jets let Decker return punts -- a bad decision on multiple levels. Do you really want a $7 million-a-year receiver returning punts in the preseason? The experiment ended when Decker muffed a punt near his goal line. Enter, Powell. Best mistake Decker ever made.

What's next: It's time to pare the roster from 90 to 75. The deadline is Tuesday. After that, the Jets can focus on their final preseason game, a chance for the backups to get work and marginal players to make one last push for a roster spot. They host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, which means former Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow will be in the building. Ah, nostalgia.

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Daily Clips Cont.

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Antonio Cromartie, Walt Powell deliver big plays in Jets’ win (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/48762/former-qbs-coach-david-lee-says-geno-smiths-mistakes-killed-us

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Here are some highs and lows in terms of individual performances from the New York Jets' 28-18 win over the New York Giants (without the benefit of film review):

HIGHS

Antonio Cromartie, cornerback -- The whispers started early in training camp, when Cromartie got burned a few times on the practice field. Don't worry, he insisted, it's just practice. (Insert Allen Iverson voice.) Maybe Cromartie was right. He made the defensive play of the night, returning an Eli Manning interception for a touchdown -- 59 yards.

Walter Powell, punt returner -- The Jets' third-string punt returner -- yes, third! -- made one of the biggest plays of the night, scoring on a 54-yard return. Well, well, this makes things interesting. The job belongs to Jeremy Kerley -- or so we thought. Kerley's fall on the wide-receiver depth chart, coupled with Powell's breakout performance, could create options for the decision makers. Kerley sat with a concussion.

Trevor Reilly, linebacker -- Starting for the injured Calvin Pace (groin), the second-year linebacker may have cemented a place on the 53-man roster. He's not the most athletically gifted player, but he plays almost as fast as Sheldon Richardson drives. Reilly recorded a half-sack and had at least one quarterback pressure. He deserves to be on the team.

LOWS

Leonard Williams, defensive end -- His night ended early with a knee injury, the severity of which wasn't immediately available. This would be a crushing loss for the Jets, who are counting on their talented No. 1 pick to hold the fort while Richardson serves his four-game suspension. With no Richardson and no Williams, the Jets' potentially fearsome defensive line would be merely good, a couple of notches below special.

Demario Davis, linebacker -- He contributed to the Giants' first scoring drive, committing pass-interference and holding penalties in the span of a few plays. Clearly, he needs to brush up on his technique and ball awareness. Davis has the tools to be very good in coverage; he has to play smarter than that.

Nick Folk, kicker -- In eight seasons, Folk never has missed an extra point -- 292-for-292. But now the PAT has been moved back, making it a 33-yard conversion -- and Folk missed in the second quarter. It probably was just a hiccup, but those kind of hiccups can lead to a serious case of indigestion during the regular season.

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Jets rookie Leonard Williams to have MRI on injured knee (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53635/jets-rookie-leonard-williams-to-have-mri-on-injured-knee

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets rookie Leonard Williams will undergo an MRI exam on Sunday to determine the severity of a knee injury from Saturday night's 28-18 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Daily Clips Cont.

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A postgame X-ray was negative and the initial feeling is that it's bone bruise, not a major injury, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported. Coach Todd Bowles didn't provide any details after the game; the team will wait until the MRI confirms the injury before announcing a diagnosis.

Asked if he's concerned, Bowles said, "We'll wait until tomorrow and see before I make a judgment on that."

The Jets' No. 1 pick was injured in the first half and didn't return. He was taken immediately to the locker room. It was unclear how he got hurt, and no one in the locker room was willing to provide details.

Obviously, it would be a huge blow if Williams is lost for a significant period of time. It would be a double whammy for the Jets, who won't have defensive end Sheldon Richardson for the first four games due to a drug suspension. They're counting on Williams, the sixth pick in the draft, to fill Richardson's spot.

Williams was having a quiet game when he got hurt, but he flashed his talent last week against the Atlanta Falcons, recording 1.5 sacks (including a safety). If he's sidelined, he probably would be replaced by Leger Douzable or Stephen Bowen.

Williams' injury came on a night in which the Jets welcomed back Muhammad Wilkerson, who missed the first two games with a pulled hamstring. Afterward, Wilkerson reported that he didn't suffer any setbacks. He started the game and played most of the first half, finishing with three tackles and a half-sack.

"I'm fine, I just need reps, that's all," Wilkerson said. "I've been getting good reps in practice and I got good reps tonight."

The Jets were thought to have an embarrassment of riches on the defensive line, but things change quickly in the NFL. Richardson was suspended, Wilkerson got hurt, Wilkerson returned and Williams got hurt. Nose tackle is the only position that hasn't changed. It has been Damon Harrison since Day 1.

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Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ends preseason with calming performance (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53618/jets-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-ends-preseason-with-calming-performance

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Handing out a game ball for the New York Jets' 28-18 win over the New York Giants in preseason action Saturday night at MetLife Stadium:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback: He delivered his best performance of the preseason, throwing two touchdowns in two quarters of work. Fitzpatrick (9-for-14, 127 yards) took a few more chances than he did last week, trying three deep balls. He didn't connect on any, but he stretched the Giants' suspect secondary, creating holes in the short and intermediate range. Recapping his preseason, Fitzpatrick instilled confidence in those around him, showing he can lead the offense just as well as Geno Smith -- and perhaps better.

Fitzpatrick made it through three games (roughly four quarters of work) with no turnover. Repeat: No turnovers. That is the single-most important statistic for the Jets' quarterback position. If he can manage the game without committing a Geno-esque number of turnovers, the Jets have a chance to challenge for a playoff spot. His job is to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers, and he did that against the Giants, completing three passes apiece to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.

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Let's not go crazy here, folks. The Giants' secondary is awful (Decker was fairly wide open on his 18-yard touchdown catch), so perspective is important. But, all things considered, the Jets don't have to panic about their quarterback situation. Not every team can say that after losing its starter.

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NEW YORK POST

5 Takeaways from Jets training camp – and one is worrisome (Brian Costello) New York Post August 29, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/08/29/5-takeaways-from-jets-training-camp-and-one-is-worrisome/

The Jets wrapped up an eventful training camp this week, the first one under new coach Todd Bowles.

Camp started with the news of Sheldon Richardson’s arrest, featured The Battle of Broken Jaw that sidelined Geno Smith and even had some actual football.

Here are five takeaways from the Jets training camp:

1. Bowles is no-nonsense.

The new Jets coach is not a screamer at practice, but he made it clear he has a low tolerance for poor effort or behavior. He had the team run sprints three times in the middle of practice — once for an ugly practice, once for fighting and once for too many penalties.

Bowles showed he is ready for the job in the way he handled the two crises of camp. With Richardson, Bowles showed just enough anger mixed with compassion for a player who clearly has maturity issues. When Smith was punched by IK Enemkpali, Bowles immediately cut Enemkpali but did not totally excuse Smith’s role in the episode either.

Will this translate to wins? We’ll find out, but for now it was impressive to see how Bowles dealt with difficult situations.

2. Running back Chris Ivory looks primed for a big year if the coaches give him the ball.

Ivory has eclipsed 800 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Jets. With more carries this year, he could go over 1,000. Ivory always has been able to run over tacklers and get loose, but he has shown more speed during this training camp.

The previous coaching staff hesitated to give Ivory the ball too much. One concern was his injury history, but he has been pretty healthy as a Jet. The other worry they had was about his deficiencies as a pass blocker and receiver. But Ivory appears to have worked hard in those areas, showing improvement in camp.

3. The Jets defense appears loaded on paper, but one player I’d be worried about is cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

It made for a nice story when the Jets brought him back to play opposite Darrelle Revis, but Cromartie has struggled in camp. The 31-year-old could be on the downside or maybe he will turn it on once the regular season gets here, like he has said.

Cromartie was terrible in 2013, his last year as a Jet, but he rebounded last season in Arizona with Bowles. The coach obviously believes in Cromartie enough to bring him with him to the Jets. Now, we’ll see if that belief was ill-advised.

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4. The hype about Leonard Williams at draft time looks like it was right.

The rookie from USC has been in the backfield all camp. He is an explosive athlete who has good instincts. You could tell he was thinking too much early in training camp as he tried to learn the defense, but has looked more and more comfortable as time has gone on.

With Richardson suspended for the first four games of the season and Muhammad Wilkerson nursing a hamstring injury for most of camp, Williams has gotten a ton of reps. He should be ahead of where most rookies are when the season comes. Watch out for some big plays from the “Big Cat.”

5. Everyone is going to focus on quarterback as the biggest area for concern with this team and rightfully so. But tight end has to be right behind it.

Jeff Cumberland is back as the starter after an underwhelming 2014. Jace Amaro, whom the team drafted in the second round last year, was buried on the depth chart at No. 3 before spraining his shoulder and missing the final two weeks of camp. Who knows where he will be when he gets back? Kellen Davis is the blocking tight end and had three penalties in one preseason game. Where have you gone Mickey Shuler?

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Jets dismantle Giants as offense, Cromartie put on a clinic (Brian Costello) New York Post August 29, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/08/29/jets-dismantle-giants-as-offense-cromartie-put-on-a-clinic/

It’s not the trophy Jets fans have been waiting 4 ¹/₂ decades to win again, but the Snoopy Trophy will have to do for now.

The Jets brought home the dog after a 28-18 win against the crosstown rival Giants on Saturday night in front of 75,235 fans at MetLife Stadium. The Jets’ starters looked good in their final preseason outing. Most of the starters will sit out the preseason finale next week against the Eagles. That means the next time they will be on the field will be Sept. 13, when the Browns come to town and the game counts.

The starters put together their best performance of the preseason, playing the entire first half. The offense had two touchdown drives and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went 9-of-14 for 127 yards and threw for two touchdowns, for a rating of 133.0. Running back Chris Ivory had six carries for 38 yards and Eric Decker snagged a touchdown.

On defense, the Jets allowed one touchdown by the Giants’ starting offense. They helped the Giants put together an 85-yard drive by committing three penalties, two by linebacker Demario Davis. Antonio Cromartie got to the end zone, returning an Eli Manning interception 59 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.

The biggest concern of the game for the Jets was the health of rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who left in the second quarter with a knee injury. The severity was not immediately known.

The Jets outgained the Giants 194-121 when the starters were in. They scored on their second drive of the game, thanks to a heavy dose of Ivory, who had a tremendous training camp. Ivory gained 35 yards on five carries on the drive to set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to Decker for a 7-0 lead.

The Giants tied the game with a 14-play, 85-yard drive to start the second quarter. On the drive, Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly jumped offside and Davis picked up a pass-interference penalty as well as a defensive holding penalty, both on third down plays. The last Davis penalty set the Giants up at the 1-yard line, and Rashad Jennings broke through for the score to make it 7-7.

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When the Jets got the ball back, they used a nice mix of run and pass to move down the field. Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy ran well in relief of Ivory. Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall and Decker to move the ball down the field. Fitzpatrick connected with Stacy on a screen pass that Stacy took 24 yards to the end zone, jumping into the end zone. Kicker Nick Folk missed the extra point.

The Jets’ offense was perfectly balanced in the first half with 14 passes and 14 rushes as coordinator Chan Gailey used a nice mix of plays.

The defense got into the scoring act just before halftime, when Cromartie jumped in front of a Manning pass intended for James Jones and took it 59 yards for the score. Stacy’s 2-point conversion run made it 21-7.

Cromartie has had a rough training camp, so the pick-six was a good sign for the Jets that maybe it was just him being bored with practice but ready to turn it on in the games.

Both Cromartie and Darrelle Revis spent time covering Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who finished with 31 receiving yards on five catches. Beckham’s most spectacular catch came over Revis, a one-handed grab along the sideline that was ruled an incompletion when his feet did not come down in bounds.

Walter Powell gave the special teams a big play with a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

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Jets’ key defensive cog exits game with knee injury (Brian Costello) New York Post August 30, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/08/30/jets-key-defensive-cog-exits-game-with-knee-injury/

The worst sight of the night for the Jets was first-round pick Leonard Williams walking to the locker room in the second quarter.

Williams left the game with a knee injury and did not return, but it sounds like the injury is not serious. The Jets think it could be a bone bruise, but won’t know for sure until he undergoes an MRI exam Sunday.

If Williams is lost for any length of time, it is a huge blow for the Jets, who were counting on him to start while Sheldon Richardson serves his four-game suspension. Williams, drafted No. 6 overall, was having a nice preseason for the Jets. He recorded 1 ½ sacks last week against the Falcons and seemed to be improving with each passing day.

Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said Williams told him he is fine.

CB Darrelle Revis did not sound overly impressed with Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. The two were not matched up on every play, but did see some action against one another.

“It was what it was,” Revis said of the matchup. “We won the game.”

Beckham’s biggest highlight against Revis was actually an incompletion. Beckham caught the ball with one hand along the sideline, but his feet were out of bounds.

“It didn’t count man,” Revis said. “Didn’t count.”

Linebacker Demario Davis had a rough night. He whiffed on a tackle of Giants running back Shane Vereen that resulted in 19-yard gain and then committed two huge penalties. He was whistled for pass interference against Giants tight end Adrien Robinson on third-and-8 that extended the drive. Davis was flagged again on third-and-goal from the 2 when he was called for holding against Robinson.

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Coach Todd Bowles said he was more upset about the missed tackle than the penalties and spoke to Davis about it.

“He has a high standard for me,” Davis said. “I have a high standard for myself. He [doesn’t] want me out there missing tackles.”

Nick Folk may not be a fan of the new extra-point rule. Folk missed an attempt on the Jets’ second touchdown of the game. The NFL moved the extra point back so that it is now a 33-yard attempt. The usually sure-thing Folk missed from the distance for the first time.

With Jeremy Kerley (concussion) sidelined, the Jets had Eric Decker returning punts. That seemed like a bad decision from the start, considering you’re risking your No. 2 receiver on return duty. Then, Decker muffed a punt in the second quarter and it really looked like a bad decision. Walter Powell returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Decker’s return days may be over.

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Chris Ivory so fired up about Jets-Giants Snoopy Bowl (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/chris_ivory_fired_up_about_jets-giants_snoopy_bowl.html

Jets running back Chris Ivory hadn't tweeted in more than a year. Until this week.

Something about Saturday night's meaningless Snoopy Bowl preseason game against the Giants really has Ivory pumped. Pretty much every day this week, Ivory busted out his Snoopy plush toy and tweeted up a storm:

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It's almost as if this game actually matters. Almost. #Snoopylife

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Will Jets keep a fullback? (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/will_jets_keep_a_fullback.html#incart_river

Among the many roster decisions the Jets' coaching staff must make in the next seven days is whether a fullback will be a part of their new-look spread offense under coordinator Chan Gailey.

Gailey, for his part, would give nothing away.

“We plan to keep enough blockers to be able to run our offense," he said earlier this month.

The fullback has increasingly become a casualty of the NFL's recent trend toward pass-oriented offenses. That more and more colleges are using spread systems also means there are fewer fullbacks for NFL teams to choose from.

The Jets have two fullbacks on their 90-man roster this summer: Tommy Bohanon, a 2013 seventh-round pick who missed most of last season with a broken clavicle; and Julian Howsare, an undrafted free agent out of Division II Clarion (Pa.) University who began camp as an outside linebacker before being converted.

Of the two, Bohanon appears to be the favorite. He's gotten the reps with the first team when formations have called for a fullback. But he's also won the praise of head coach Todd Bowles, who has referred to Bohanon as "a pleasant surprise."

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It was Bohanon's block on linebacker Joplo Bartu that sprang running back Chris Ivory for a 33-yard touchdown run last week against the Falcons.

"Tommy's been doing a good job," Bowles said. "I'm pleased with Tommy."

Bohanon said there are similarities and differences between Gailey's spread offense and the West Coast-style system the Jets used the last two seasons under coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

"In this offense, I'm still doing a lot of lead blocking, and things like that," Bohanon told NJ Advance Media. "But I'm also running a little bit more [passing] routes and doing those types of things on the outside of the box, so I think that's a little bit of a change."

By incorporating the fullback as a pass-catcher, the Jets would be trying to avoid tipping their hand that fullback formations call for running plays. But doing so would also play to one of Bohanon's strengths: As a senior at Wake Forest in 2012, he caught 23 passes for 208 yards and five touchdowns.

After Saturday night's Snoopy Bowl exhibition against the Giants, the Jets must reduce their roster to 75 players by Tuesday, and then be down to their 53-man regular-season limit by next Saturday. Whether to keep a fullback could factor into how many running backs the Jets decide to keep, too: They currently have four running backs—Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Zac Stacy, Daryl Richardson—plus Stevan Ridley, who's all but certain at this point to open the season on the physically unable to perform list (knee).

The Jets' roster decision is also somewhat complicated by the likelihood of having to keep four quarterbacks, for reasons outlined here.

Bohanon said the Jets would "definitely" be "a run-first team" this season. He's obviously biased on the matter—it's his job at stake, after all—but he also feels there's a fit for a fullback in the new offense.

"This offense is in need of a fullback, just based on the run plays, and how we go about those types of formations," Bohanon said. "I think that it's definitely something that's very important in this offense, to kind of get the ball moving with the running back and everything."

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Analyzing how Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick played vs. Giants, as he again had no turnovers (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/xx_jets_scratched_vs_giants_including.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — It remains unclear if quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will prove a capable replacement for Geno Smith once the Jets' real games start.

But during Saturday night's first half against the Giants, Fitzpatrick and the starting offense looked a lot better.

The starters played for only the first half Saturday. It was likely the last time that group will play until the Sept. 13 regular season opener against the Browns, since the starters probably will sit for next week's preseason finale against the Eagles.

Once again on Saturday, Fitzpatrick did not commit any turnovers, bringing to a close a turnover-free preseason for him. That is a major positive development, considering how badly Jets quarterbacks have struggled with turnovers in recent years.

Fitzpatrick on Saturday was 9-of-14 passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a screen on which Zac Stacy did the heavy lifting (and leaping).

Daily Clips Cont.

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The starting offense played 12 drives in three preseason games. It produced three touchdowns (including two in five drives Saturday) and one field goal.

That wasn't the only difference from last week's game against the Falcons. In that game, the No. 1 offense started slow and Fitzpatrick threw mostly short passes. He took no real deep shots. Early on Saturday, he tried to go deep.

On the game's first drive, Fitzpatrick threw a deep sideline ball, with not enough zip, that missed an open Brandon Marshall. Fitzpatrick threw another incomplete deep ball, for Shaq Evans, on the next play.

But even though Fitzpatrick had some issues with getting enough power behind his deep throws — something that's not new for him this summer — he also capably threw mid-range passes while on the run.

On the game's first play, Fitzpatrick rolled right and found Quincy Enunwa for a 10-yard completion. During the Jets' fourth drive, Fitzpatrick again rolled right, threw off one foot, and connected with Eric Decker for a 25-yard pass. That play set up Stacy's 24-yard screen pass touchdown.

There were hiccups, of course. Fitzpatrick was late on a throw over the middle and almost got Decker crushed by a defender. Fitzpatrick missed on another deep throw to Evans, though the coverage was good on the play, and Fitzpatrick really had to throw the ball long, lest it get picked off.

But on Saturday, the positives outweighed the negatives for Fitzpatrick, who even ran into the open field and laid a block on free safety Landon Collins, after handing off to Bilal Powell. That'll get some appreciation in the Monday film meeting.

Fitzpatrick's best play was his 18-yard touchdown pass to Decker. Fitzpatrick showed nice touch and placement on the throw, dropping it in deftly over strong safety Jeromy Miles. On a subtler note, it appeared as though Fitzpatrick sold the play-action fake well enough on this play that Miles bit, which created a seam for Decker to get open in the end zone.

This was one of Fitzpatrick's best throws of the entire preseason. Look, he's not going to be an elite quarterback for the Jets this season. But considering the way he protected the ball this month, and the good things he did Saturday night, there are legitimate reasons to be optimistic that the Jets won't totally flop with him under center, however long his tenure as the starter lasts.

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5 observations of Jets’ first-team offense vs. Giants, as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Co. look better (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/xx_observations_about_jets_first-team_offense_vs_g.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Entering Saturday night's third preseason game, against the Giants, the Jets' first-team offense had been on the field for seven drives in this preseason. The Jets managed just one touchdown and one field goal from those drives.

Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Co. looked much better Saturday night, in their final dress rehearsal before the Sept. 13 regular season opener against the Browns. The starters almost certainly won't play next week against the Eagles.

So what did the first-string offense do on Saturday? Let's take a look:

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1. Some progress. In the first half, the Jets' starting offense played five possessions and scored two touchdowns, on drives of 64 and 73 yards. Coordinator Chan Gailey had to like what he saw from his offense, which wasn't perfect Saturday, but looked much better than last week against the Falcons, against whom the starting offense scored one touchdown on six possessions. On Saturday, the Jets gained 194 yards in the first half. The Jets' starting offense didn't play in the second half Saturday.

2. Chris Ivory's impressive running. The power running back has shown a promising ability to get to the edge in this preseason. He pushed himself to do more speed work during the offseason. On the Jets' second drive Saturday, Ivory bounced to the outside, to his right, and gained 16 yards, after stiff-arming defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Ivory also had a 12-yard gain to open this drive. It sure looks like Ivory is going to be a big asset for the Jets' offense this season. In the first half, Ivory gained 38 yards on six carries.

3. Zac Stacy's leaping touchdown. Normally, he'd be the Jets' No. 4 running back, behind Ivory, Bilal Powell, and Stevan Ridley. But it appears as though Stacy will make the Jets' final, 53-man roster, by virtue of Ridley (knee) starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Stacy hadn't done a whole lot in training camp or the preseason. But he produced a highlight-reel play Saturday. He caught a screen pass from Fitzpatrick and raced for the end zone, untouched. Brandon Meriweather tried to low-bridge tackle Stacy at the goal line, but Stacy jumped up and somersaulted into the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Stacy later bulled his way into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion. A productive night for him with the starters. In the first half, Stacy ran five times for 18 yards.

4. Fringe receivers. Chris Owusu and Shaq Evans both got a little action with the first-team offense in the first half. They're competing for roster spots. Owusu returned from a concussion Saturday and also returned kickoffs against the Giants, replacing receiver Walter Powell in that role. Owusu ran an end-around pitch for minus-1 yard. Fitzpatrick missed Evans on a deep ball on the game's opening possession. Fitzpatrick also missed Evans on the Jets' third drive, while attempting another deep throw.

5. Status quo at right guard. No surprise here. Willie Colon again got all the work with the starters, and he's well on his way to officially being named the first-string right guard for the third straight year. Colon has had a stranglehold on this job for most of training camp. Expect coach Todd Bowles to formally name Colon the starting right guard on Monday, if not sooner.

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Antonio Cromartie pick-6 of Eli Manning highlights Jets’ defense vs. Giants (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/antonio_cromartie_pick-6_of_eli_manning_highlights.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Against the Giants Saturday night, the Jets' first-team defense looked like it was well on its way to righting all that went wrong in its first two preseason games.

In five first-half possessions before they gave way to the backups to begin the third quarter, the Jets forced the Giants into three punts, and they ended the half with an Antonio Cromartie pick-six of Eli Manning. It was more than enough to make even the most jaded Jets observer overlook a Giants touchdown drive punctuated by penalties and missed tackles.

It's still the preseason, and the real value from Saturday's game will come when the reserves get their turn in the second half. But here's a quick, in-game rundown of some things we saw in the defense's final tuneup against an opponent before the regular season begins.

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The Jets led, 21-7, at the start of the third quarter as this was published:

1. Trevor Reilly started ... and got a sack. Reilly, a seventh-round pick last year, got his big chance to run with the 1s because of injuries to Calvin Pace (groin) and Lorenzo Mauldin (knee). Reilly flashed some speed off the edge, and he forced Manning into a check-down on third down on the Giants' first possession. The issue for Reilly is when he gets engaged by a blocker, he tends to struggle with his hands to get himself free. That said, Reilly got to Manning for a sack right at the end of the first half.

2. Muhammad Wilkerson was back. Wilkerson, a defensive end who missed three weeks of training camp because of a hamstring injury, was back in the lineup after practicing all week, though he left the field whenever the Jets went to their nickel package. As the half wore on, the Jets made a number of substitutions along the defensive line, with Sheldon Richardson (a backup on account of his looming suspension), Ronald Talley, rookie Leonard Williams, Stephen Bowen, and Leger Douzable all rotating in around nose tackle Damon Harrison.

3. Leonard Williams got hurt. Williams, the first-round pick, left the game in the second quarter with what was reported as a knee injury. The severity of the injury was not known, though Williams was listed as questionable to return.

4. David Harris played well. Harris, the 31-year-old veteran, made a ton of tackles from his inside linebacker spot, and he also flashed some speed to run down Shane Vereen after Vereen caught a screen pass for a four-yard gain.

5. Demario Davis did not play well. Davis, who missed a few tackles in the preseason opener at the Lions two weeks ago, was awful on the Giants' lone touchdown drive, which took 14 plays to cover 85 yards in 8:09 during the second quarter. Davis whiffed on Vereen after Vereen caught a different screen pass, and he was called for pass interference on third-and-8 and a defensive hold in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 2.

6. The Cromartie pick six. With 19 seconds left in the half, Manning tried to force a pass to wideout James Jones with Cromartie blanketing Jones. Cromartie pretty much waltzed 59 yards for an easy touchdown:

7. Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Darrelle Revis. Beckham, the Giants' terrific young wideout, caught five passes for 31 yards in the first half, when, depending on which side of the field he lined up on, he was matched up against Cromartie or Revis, the Jets' cornerbacks. Twice, Beckham tried to test Revis deep. One was a free play after a penalty in which Beckham made a leaping catch out of bounds. On the other, he had Revis beat deep, but Manning overthrew him.

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5 Jets takeaways from 28-18 win over Giants: How serious is Leonard Williams’ knee injury? (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/5_jets_takeaways_from_28-18_win_over_giants_how_se.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets' first-teamers dominated the Giants in Saturday night's Snoopy Bowl at MetLife Stadium. The final score wound up being 28-18.

But, in the long run, that result doesn't matter. Neither does the on-field performance of the starters. While what the first teamers did was encouraging, there was almost no game-planning involved, so it's difficult to put too much stock in anything other than the basics (passes caught or dropped, tackles made

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or missed, etc.). But beyond that, the in-game evaluations can be saved for when these teams meet here again on Dec. 6.

But the Jets, who have been so banged up this summer, did endure another injury, this time to rookie defensive end Leonard Williams. Let's get to that, and the rest of some other things we noticed.

1. The first teamers. A summary of the defense is here. One for the offense is here. And a more specific breakdown of starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrrick's effort is here.

2. That Leonard Williams injury. Williams, the No. 6 pick in the draft, left the game in the first half with a knee injury. He was officially listed as questionable to return, but didn't. (Not that it was worth it for him to do so, either.) Williams also did not rejoin the team on the sideline in the second half. A presumptive starter because of Sheldon Richardson's suspension, Williams was to be counted on right away this season. If his injury is significant, it could be bad news for both him and the Jets.

3. Why was Eric Decker returning punts? Decker only had limited reps as a punt returner during training camp, but there he was at the start of the game. In the first quarter, Decker let one punt sail over his head that should have been fair-caught, and the Giants downed it at the Jets' 7-yard line. In the second quarter, Decker muffed a punt that he recovered at his own 5. And in the third quarter, Walter Powell—who's fighting for a roster spot—returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown. Hmmm.

4. Zac Stacy got plenty of chances. Stacy, third on the depth chart at running back, got into the game in the first quarter after Bilal Powell briefly left the game with an injury (Powell return soon afterward), and he kind of made the most of his opportunity. Stacy carried 13 times for 60 yards, but he also caught a check-down pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and easily scored a 24-yard touchdown that ended with a nifty leap into the end zone. Stacy has some vision issues in his game, but he's making a strong case to be the third running back on the 53-man roster.

5. Get this: Still no picks. Through three preseason games, the Jets' quarterbacks—Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty handled the duties Saturday night, since Matt Flynn is still nursing a hamstring injury and Josh Johnson was only signed on Thursday—have yet to throw an interception.

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Brandon Marshall tempers praise for Jets’ offense vs. Giants: ‘We have a lot of games to go’ (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_offense_giants_context_success.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets' offense performed rather well Saturday night in a 28-18 win over the Giants. It was likely the final time the Jets' starters will be on the field until the Sept. 13 season opener against the Browns.

The Jets' first-string offense played five drives Saturday and scored two touchdowns. The unit gained 194 yards before heading to the bench at halftime.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 9 of 14 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. In 12 drives through three preseason games, Fitzpatrick has zero turnovers.

"When you can do that, you'll be in a lot of games," said wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

But Marshall wasn't about to parade around the Jets' locker room Saturday with that absurd-looking Snoopy Trophy hoisted above his head.

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He understands that while the Jets' offense has progressed — it scored just one touchdown and one field goal in seven preseason drives before Saturday — this is far from a polished, finished product.

"Let me say this: Yeah, we played well, but we still have a lot of work to do," Marshall said. "Am I happy and most guys happy with the progress we've made? Yes. But if we want to be great, if we want to be good, first we have to calm down and relax and understand that we have a lot of games to go. And we have a lot of work still left to get done. I think we're on the right track, but it's a long season."

Marshall did say he's "excited" about where the offense is at. But it's clear he's trying to contextualize what happened Saturday.

Fitzpatrick also mentioned that the Giants didn't throw a lot of complicated blitzes at the Jets' starting offense. So that's worth keeping in mind, as well.

"They came with a Cover Zero [blitz] once," he said. "That was a short pass I missed to Brandon. They came with a nice blitz when we were in [an] empty [backfield formation] once. But they didn't throw a whole lot of blitzes at us. They've shown a little bit more the previous two games in the preseason."

The Jets' offense has been their weak point in recent seasons. Will that change this season, with the addition of Marshall? Will Fitzpatrick be able to competently start in Geno Smith's place, for however long the Jets need/want Fitzpatrick to be the starter?

In about three months, the Jets and Giants will meet again at MetLife Stadium, on Dec. 6, in the Jets' 12th game of the season. By then, we'll have a much better idea about whether the offensive progress the Jets showed Saturday really mattered.

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Jets think Leonard Williams’ knee is just bruised (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media August 29, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_think_leonard_williams_knee_is_just_bruised.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets lost rookie Leonard Williams, their first-round draft pick, to a knee injury during Saturday night's 28-18 preseason victory over the Giants, but the team believes it's a bone bruise and not anything structural, though more will be known Sunday after Williams has an MRI.

A bone bruise could possibly still sideline Williams for several weeks. But it's obviously far less serious than a tear to a tendon, which would potentially threaten Williams' first NFL season before it even began.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported after the game that X-rays on Williams' knee had come back negative. Head coach Todd Bowles said he would wait until Williams has the MRI on Sunday before saying much more about how serious it might be

"We'll wait till [Sunday] and see before I make a judgment on that," Bowles said.

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said he spoke to Williams after the game, and that Williams told him he'd be OK.

"I checked on him, he said he's good," Wilkerson said.

With defensive end Sheldon Richardson suspended for the first four games of the regular season, the Jets are counting on Williams to step in and have an impact right away. Williams has impressed Bowles and several of his teammates since he arrived at One Jets Drive. Last week against the Falcons, Williams had 1.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, and a safety.

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"He makes an impact right away," safety Calvin Pryor said. "It would hurt our defense if he's hurt or anything like that."

Williams was announced as questionable to return when his injury was announced in the press box at halftime. But he not only didn't return to play—no surprise, considering this was just a preseason game—he also didn't re-join his teammates on the sideline, stoking fears that the injury could be very serious.

"He's a tremendous player," inside linebacker Demario Davis said of Williams. "He can be very dominant in this league."

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Jets’ Darrelle Revis on Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.’s catch: ‘It didn’t count, man’ (Jordan Raanan) NJ Advance Media August 30, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/jets_think_leonard_williams_knee_is_just_bruised.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD ‐ Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham made a sensational leaping one-handed catch over the head of Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis on Saturday night.

Revis wasn't all that impressed.

"It didn't count," he said after the Jets' 28-18 victory.

True, it didn't. Neither did the contest or the result. It's the preseason. The crosstown rivals will do it again for real on Dec. 6 at MetLife Stadium. Then it will be on.

But Beckham came oh-so-close to getting the best of Revis in their preseason matchup.

"I knew I was close to out of bounds, and I was just trying to make sure that I caught the ball first," Beckham said. "By the time I looked down I couldn't get my other foot in, but there was another ball down the sideline that I have to make the play— it's just plays that we need made— we need big plays, and we all have to do it, so on my behalf it's just one of those balls that I'll be thinking about."

The other play Beckham was talking about was when he beat Revis deep down the right side. Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw the pass too close to the right sideline and it hit Beckham's hands and fell to the ground as he tried to keep his feet inbounds.

It was a difficult catch, but one that Beckham's used to making. But if the ball were thrown in the field of play, Beckham may still be running following a 70-yard touchdown. He had created significant separation from Revis and had the open field ahead.

That would have counted against Revis, even if it were the preseason and Revis didn't want any part of the idea there was a 1-on-1 matchup between him and Beckham on Saturday night.

"I wasn't matched up [against him]," Revis said after the game. "I play the left side and [Antonio Cromartie] played the right side."

But when they were matched up ...

"When he lined up to my side," Revis said, "it was what it was."

It meant a little bit more to Beckham.

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"That's what you play for— you play to go against those guys—Joe Haden, [Richard] Sherman, [Patrick Peterson]," Beckham said. "All those corners who are known for being the best, that's what you play for— to be able to go against them.

"So it was definitely a lot of fun, and much respect to [Revis]."

Not sure Revis felt the same. To him it seemed like a preseason game against the Giants.

(Jets reporter Dom Cosentino contributed to this report)

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Ryan Fitzpatrick shows he can be Jets guy at QB (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News August 30, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-ryan-fitzpatrick-man-jets-article-1.2341930

The most important man on the field in the quest for the “coveted” Snoopy Bowl Trophy Saturday night resembled a Civil War general, lumberjack and college professor depending on your vantage point.

He was also probably the smartest man in the joint.

Ryan Fitzpatrick might be a bearded wonder, but he’s far from Football Jesus for a team with fair quarterback concerns. The veteran, however, provided a sense of calm with a not-too-bad-for-an-old-guy performance in the Jets’ 28-18 win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Don’t call it a resurrection . . . or comeback. He’s been here for years.

Fitzpatrick was everything Todd Bowles hoped he be — but wasn’t 100% sure about — in the wake of Geno Smith’s broken jaw. The 32-year-old signal caller made smart decisions and timely plays without making costly bone-headed mistakes to reduce the angst. He even threw in a hellacious block on a running play for good measure.

“It’s always reassuring,” Bowles said. “Everybody over there pretty much has a resume, but the older guys got to prove they can still play. And he proved that tonight.”

Fitzpatrick had led the Jets to only 10 points on nine drives over the first two preseason games (with the lone touchdown coming against a second-team defense) before coming to life against the Giants. He went 9-for-14 for 127 yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers and a 133.0 passer rating in five possessions in the first half.

The Jets entered the game against their crosstown rival with a litany of questions about Chan Gailey’s offense. Fitzpatrick didn’t answer all of them, but there were plenty of encouraging signs that Bowles’ team won’t be an utter mess when the games actually count in a couple weeks.

“There was some good stuff happening out there,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s nice to see that, but it’s the preseason. When the (regular) season comes along, it’s going to be a whole lot different out there in terms of the intensity . . . defensive schemes and all the different blitzes. It’ll be different, but this is a nice tune-up for us to get out there and come together a little bit more as an offense.”

Fitzpatrick orchestrated the pair of first-half touchdown drives by involving all of his key components.

“He commanded the ballgame,” Bowles said. “He made the necessary throws when he needed to make them. We ran the ball. We mixed it up pretty good.”

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If the defense lives up to its billing and Fitzpatrick looks anything close to what did in this dress rehearsal, the Jets will be playing meaningful games in December.

Fitzpatrick leaned on Chris Ivory on the first five plays of the Jets’ second drive before turning to his top two receivers to help find the end zone. He hooked up with Brandon Marshall on third down before throwing a perfect 18-yard touchdown strike to Eric Decker to cap a seven-play, 67-yard drive and give the Jets a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Fitzpatrick dropped it in a perfect spot for Decker to give the Jets their first touchdown against a first-team defense in the preseason.

Gailey dialed up a nice run-pass blend on a six-play, 73-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter to give the Jets the lead for good. Fitzpatrick, who targeted Marshall and Decker nine times, completed a pair of passes to his top two wideouts to help set up the second score.

He found Decker for a 25-yard gain on a beautifully designed bootleg to the right. Two plays later, he connected with Zac Stacy for a 24-yard catch and run for a touchdown to give the Jets a 13-7 lead with just under four minutes left before intermission.

The Fitzpatrick-led offense generated 194 yards and 12 first downs, which will be plenty in the regular season if the defense holds up its end of the bargain.

“We have a lot of work to get done,” Marshall said. “I’m happy where we’re at. I think we’re on the right track, but it’s a long season.”

Fitzpatrick believes that he can have a breakout season in the twilight of his career. His familiarity with Gailey’s scheme, a solid supporting cast at receiver and probably the best defense he’s ever played with make it possible.

The bearded wonder isn’t a savior.

He proved on Saturday night that he doesn’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound to make a big difference.

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Jets center Nick Mangold helps police end burglary spree in N.J. (Seth Walder) New York Daily News August 29, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-center-nick-mangold-helps-police-burglary-spree-article-1.2341827

Nick Mangold does plenty of good for the Jets on the field, but it sounds like the Pro Bowl center is helping his neighbors out too.

The Pro Bowl center called police at 5:30 a.m. last Sunday when he heard his car alarm go off, according to ESPN. Police later took five suspects into custody as a result of the call. Apparently, a string of burglaries have occurred near Chatham, N.J., lately, and Mangold phoning police may have helped solve the crime.

Richard W. Isaacs, 19, and Leonard Watts, 18 face charges including burglary and theft as a result of the incident, per ESPN. Three juveniles were also charged.

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Ryan Fitzpatrick and Antonio Cromartie lead Jets over Giants for Snoopy Bowl victory (Seth Walder)

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New York Daily News August 30, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/new-jets-coach-todd-bowles-rings-mind-article-1.2086723

The Jets weren’t sweating their early preseason woes, and now we know why.

Even though Saturday’s Snoopy Bowl showdown with the Giants didn’t actually mean anything, the Jets’ starters played like it did. And they looked pretty good while doing it, too. Two big areas of concern — the passing game and Antonio Cromartie — both lifted the Jets to a 28-18 victory in the first teamers’ final tuneup before the regular season.

“This was a real game for us,” Brandon Marshall said.

Ryan Fitzpatrick largely looked sharp, completing 9-of-14 pass attempts for 127 yards and two touchdowns. The offense was also helped by some powerful runs from starting halfback Chris Ivory, who gained 38 yards on just six carries. Fitzpatrick took over the Jets offense earlier this month when Geno Smith’s jaw was broken by IK Enemkpali, which knocked the former second-round pick out for the start of the season. Todd Bowles called Fitzpatrick’s performance “reassuring.”

“The older guys got to prove they can still play, and he proved that tonight,” Bowles said.

Cromartie hasn’t been concerned about his underachievement in practice, and he helped justify that notion when he picked off Eli Manning at the end of the first half and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown.

Ryan Fitzpatrick throws for 127 yards and connects for two touchdowns in an impressive start for the Jets.

Both the first-team offense and defense had struggled against opposing starters in the first two preseason games, but mostly flipped the script, and both sides of the ball were able to make an impact. The Jets starters played in the first half. “We improved a lot,” Darrelle Revis said of the defense. “I think we jelled together tonight really well. We had a lot of three and outs. A lot of turnovers as well. This is something we can definitely build off of.”

Gang Green got a scare in the first half when Leonard Williams left the game with a knee injury. However, X-rays came back negative, and one possibility for the rookie is a bone bruise, according to sources.

The Jets had some of their fans worried about their defense entering the game, but they immediately elevated their play on their first drive on the field. The Jets forced the Giants to punt on their first possession, which was the first time this preseason that Gang Green’s starting defense was able to prevent an opponent’s starting offense from scoring on a drive.

Similarly, the Jets’ starting offense hadn’t scored a touchdown against an opposing starting defense, until Gang Green’s second drive of the evening. Four rushes for 33 yards by Ivory moved the chains, and then Fitzpatrick hit Eric Decker in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass to put the Jets ahead, 7-0.

In the second quarter the Giants were able to break through for a touchdown, in large part due to Demario Davis. The fourth-year linebacker missed a tackle and then was flagged twice — for pass interference and for holding — to help out Big Blue on what ultimately was an 85-yard touchdown drive. Rashad Jennings ran for a one-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Antonio Cromartie turns his interception into a pick-six.

“I’m more pissed about the missed tackle he had than I am about the interference call,” Bowles said about Davis. “I thought he had a shot at it, he read it wrong, he took a wrong shot and he didn’t try to wrap up and I discussed that with him. We talked about it on the sideline.”

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The Jets responded immediately, and threw some acrobatics in while they were at it. A five-play, 73-yard drive was capped by a 24-yard screen pass to Zac Stacy, who rumbled toward the end zone and then leapt over Brandon Meriweather for a touchdown. Asked if he’d always had such prolific ups, Stacy said, “I didn’t know I still had ’em, to tell you the truth.”

Nick Folk missed the extra point, so the Jets only went up 13-7.

Bowles’ questionable decision to use Decker as a punt returner in Saturday night’s game backfired in the second quarter, when the receiver muffed a punt. He recovered, but put the Jets in bad field position.

With the Giants driving in the final minute of the half, Manning threw a pass toward James Jones that was picked off by Cromartie, who easily returned it for a touchdown.

“It was pretty awesome,” Revis said. “He stepped in front of a slant and I (saw) it the whole way. It was pretty cool.”

When the Jets replaced Decker with Walt Powell as the punt returner in the third quarter, it immediately paid dividends:

Powell ran back a 54-yard touchdown.

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets third preseason game is a lot more important than you think (Kristian Dyer) August 29, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/jets-third-preseason-game-is-a-lot-more-important-than-you-think/zsJohC---fyhSWS2fZcY/

Preseason games rarely mean much, except maybe this one. A little that is.

Snoopy Bowl is here, the annual tradition of the New York Giants and the New York Jets battling each other at MetLife Stadium for the right to be called the best NFL team in New York...that is of course until Week 13 when these two teams play each other again.

But the game against the Giants always means a bit more for the Jets, as they face the indignity of being second-class citizens in the same market. The Giants are viewed as the choice of the high-brow, the more successful of the two NFL teams in the area and with the larger fan base. So playing the men in blue means a little bit more and carries more weight. Here are three things to watch in the Jets third preseason game:

Owusu Time

Having missed the first two games of preseason with a concussion, wide receiver Chris Owusu was back on the field this week and making some plays. Before the concussion, Owusu looked like a virtual lock to make the team given the way he was performing in camp. But now in the third game of preseason, he gets a chance to state his case with a wide receiver depth chart that is deep and showing some serious young talent. In all likelihood, four receivers are a lock to make this team and Owusu, if he shows up like he did in those early days of camp, can make a very strong push to sneak onto the 53-man roster with the Jets likely to carry six receivers this year.

A Little MO-mentum

Like Owusu, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson will be making his preseason debut against the Giants this weekend. Unlike Owusu, Wilkerson is as close to a lock as they come on this roster. His hamstring has healed properly and he's been practicing this week. It is important to get Wilkerson healthy and also fit

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for Week 1, meaning that he'll get a fair share of snaps this weekend if only to get back into the rhythm and flow of game-speed. His return should help a pass rush that has looked rather ordinary through two preseason games.

Tight End Race

Hats off to tight end Jeff Cumberland, who has turned a good training camp into a spot on the first-team roster. His blocking continues to improve and he is a threat down the field, not a surprise since he was a former wide receiver in college turned tight end. But the rest of the position group is up in the air, with Kellen Davis, Art Lynch and Wes Saxton all looking to lock-in their spots on the roster with Jace Amaro still injured. This might be one of the more intriguing groups to watch as training camp ends and the team begins to make roster cuts.

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Jets’ Bryce Petty needs a crash course in ordering pizza in New York City (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York August 29, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/jets-bryce-petty-needs-a-crash-course-in-ordering-pizza-in-new-york-city/zsJohD---TE1qx2T74mM2/

Bryce Petty is clearly growing and maturing and it has nothing to do with the New York Jets rookie quarterback's last two performances in preseason, both of which showed improvement from his debut two weeks ago.

It has everything to do with the fact that his choice in pizza is clearly evolving.

Much like any young quarterback, Petty is open to progressing as his recent tweet about ordering from Domino's while living in the pizza capital of the world clearly shows a young man in need of guidance. Earlier this week, Petty tweeted about being able to order a pizza from the chain by simply tweeting an emoji icon.

His responses on Twitter, he says, were simply flooded.

"I'm just a small time kid from Waco and all I was saying was that there a commercial that was saying that you can text to Domino's and it was like oh gosh, here it is," Petty said after the Jets win over the Giants.

"You know what, of all the things I can be grilled on, I think pizza is pretty funny. It just shows you how passionate people are about the pizza. And you know what? Those are my friends because if you're passionate about food, we'll get along."

But tweeting about a chain pizza while be close to some local pizzerias is clearly suspect. That's like Petty living in college at Baylor and getting hyped about a Taco Bell trip. With so much authentic Tex-Mex around, it wouldn't add up.

It is evident that Petty needs a mentor in this regard, big-time. Some are evidently more than willing to lend their own input.

He said he has over 600 replies on Twitter giving him advice and opinions on pizza in the capital of the world for that food. In Texas, he said, the home run choice was the brand he tweeted about.

"The go-to is Domino's," Petty said. "I don't think it's bad pizza, I think it's great pizza."

Petty then asked for fans to tweet about him with suggestions for a good slice. He has not yet had pizza yet in the tristate area although he said he recently went to Nonna's in Florham Park but had the chicken parm which was "phenomenal."

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Jets’ Devin Smith had his own ‘Odell Beckham Jr.’ catch (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York August 29, 2015

http://www.metro.us/sports/jets-devin-smith-had-his-own-odell-beckham-jr-catch/zsJohD---gSxn40KkmzmjM/

Before there was Odell Beckham, Jr. there was Devin Smith, now a rookie with the New York Jets.

Beckham, of course is the New York Giants wide receiver who pulled off one of the most spectacular catches in NFL history last year in a Sunday night game at the Dallas Cowboys. In what was then his rookie season, the former first round picked extended back to make a one-handed touchdown grab while falling backwards. But two years before that play Smith, then a wide receiver at Ohio State, had his own one-handed effort in the back of the end zone against Miami (Ohio) in an early season home game.

His catch was instantly labeled as the "catch of the year" in college football and for good reason.

On this play, Smith was in the back of the end zone with a defender draped on him and he managed to leap up, grab the ball over his head with one hand and keep his feet in bounds.

"It was one of those things where I'm like 'Oh man, the ball is going over my head' so let me just throw my hand up. So I put my hand up and caught the ball," Smith told Metro.

"That was literally the only way I could get it. Throwing up two hands, I don't think I would have had it. One hand was the only one. I see the ball hit my hand, I felt the ball and squeezed and came down with it."

When asked if he could do it again, Smith flashed a smile and shrugged, saying "I've done it plenty of times." The grin lasted for several moments after he answered.

Sadely for football fans, this Saturday's game between the Jets and the Giants won't feature the Jets rookie as Smith suffered a ribs injury early in training camp. There is no timetable for a return but he thinks it will be soon.

As for seeing Beckham up-close and in-person, Smith seems more interested in his own course of action. Before the injury in training camp, it look like the slot position was his to lose and when he does return to the team, he'll likely have the inside track for that role.

Smith has speed and was one of the top gunners in the nation last year, a role he said the Jets might ask him to do again this year.

A 4.42 time in the 40 and a 4.15 in the 20-yard shuttle is a testament to the kind of speed that can break a game wide-open.

But as for comparisons to Beckham or trying to emulate the Giants wide receivers skill set, Smith wants to set his own course.

"I don't look up to him or try to model myself behind him because I'm my own player. You just got out there and play. I don't worry too much about the plays like that being made. It happens. It is the game of football, they got a lot of guys who are very athletic, can do a lot of things with the football in their hands," Smith said.

"For me it was just one of those players that it was just natural. Jut threw my hands up there and made the catch."

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He did like Beckham's catch last year, one that was played on SportsCenter seemingly in a loop.

"I thought it was sweet," Smith said.

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Three things we learned in the Jets’ preseason win over the Giants (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York August 29, 2015

http://www.metro.us/sports/three-things-we-learned-in-the-jets-preseason-win-over-the-giants/zsJohD---4OXhwQnzWbbFE/

It was the kind of performance that the New York Jets were hoping to put together in their third - and most meaningful - preseason game. They walked out of MetLife Stadium with the Snoopy Trophy and some much needed momentum in a 28-18 win over the New York Giants.

The first two preseason games saw sloppy execution by the defense and poor tackling as well as an offense that seemed unable to click. Well the defense showed flashes of being a top-tier unit and got rid of their poor execution; the offense was tidy and clean.

Two first half touchdowns from the starting offense - both off throws from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick - and a Pick-6 by cornerback Antonio Cromartie on the stroke of halftime pushed the Jets to a 21-7 lead at the break. The offense looked solid and efficient, missing on some downfield hits but executing well on underneath routes.

It was also a good game for punter Ryan Quigley, who had three punts inside the 20-yard line as he continues a strong summer.

Three Things We Learned from the Jets Win:

Fitzpatrick Shines - Their first drive went nowhere, resulting in a Ryan Quigley punt. But on their second series Ryan Fitzpatrick marched the offense down the field in seven plays, going 64 yards in 5:37. The scoring play, an 18-yard completion over the top of the Giants secondary from Fitzpatrick to Eric Decker, was a deft touch from the veteran quarterback. He played just the first half but went 9-for-14 for 127 yards with two touchdown passes. He had a passer rating of 133.0.

He looked like someone ready to manage the Jets offense.

Douzable Duty - After spot duty the past two years with the Jets where he was a bit of a situational player, Leger Douzable has really stepped up this training camp with several solid performances. He's faster off the line this year and is getting into the backfield more frequently. He had a first half sack and was in the backfield repeatedly.

Especially with Muhammad Wilkerson's hamstring injury and Sheldon Richardson perhaps missing large chunks of the season, Douzable's emergence is good news for this defensive line.

Stacy States His Case - There is Chris Ivory who looks ready for a breakout season and Bilal Powell, quietly having a good training camp and is solidly No. 2 at the running back depth chart. But while most people thought that Stevan Ridley was a lock to make the roster, Zac Stacy is having a very good preseason. Against the Giants he had a 24-yard touchdown and while be blew a blocking assignment late in the third quarter that led to a sack of Bryce Petty, he had a very good effort.

Oh and on that touchdown run, a screen play, he leapt over Giants safety Brandon Meriweather into the endzone.

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Jets training camp: whose stock is up, whose is down? (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York August 29, 2015

http://www.metro.us/sports/jets-training-camp-whose-stock-is-up-whose-is-down/zsJohD---nmFKqlLX0k36/

The Snoopy Trophy is back on One Jets Drive and with this [somewhat] emphatic win over the New York Giants, some players made a serious case to be on the New York Jets roster come Week 1.

There is still one game left, the midweek specialty against the Philadelphia Eagles, but some players stood out and did a nice enough job to move up the pecking order.

And some didn't.

Whose Stock Is Up

Walter Powell - Lost a bit in the roster shuffle is the way Powell has performed in training camp. He's not the most dynamic wide receiver but he has tremendous speed and that was on display in the third quarter when he had a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown. Powell needs to work on being a better route-runner but he might bring something on special teams.

Chris Owusu - Another wide receiver pushed down the depth chart a bit, Owusu's first preseason game (he was out the first two with a concussion) was solid. He had two long kickoff returns and most importantly emerged healthy. He could make a big move now for the roster. He has had a great training camp and seems to be building on that.

Rontez Miles - He had a nice day in run support, not surprising since he's a big thumper and hits hard. Still isn't comfortable in passing situations but improving. He's a lock to make the practice squad in the worst case scenario but he continues to show greater comfort on the two-deep.

Whose Stock is Down

Jamari Lattimore - Took the wrong assignment on a Ryan Nassib long run in the third quarter, Lattimore also had a slight knock to the knee earlier in the game. He should make the roster but from Saturday night's performance there isn't too much good tape from this game. Then he got beat over the top in the fourth quarter on a Nassib throw to tight end Jerome Cunningham and then a couple plays later on a touchdown pass to Cunningham again.

Oday Aboushi - He had a bad holding call in the fourth quarter to go along with the news last week of a one-game suspension for an arrest in January when marijuana was found in his car. Aboushi might not be on this roster much longer.

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FRIDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Optioned RHP Jorge Rondon to Norfolk (IL). Assigned OF Nolan Reimold outright to Norfolk. Sent RHP Mike Wright to Norfolk for a rehab assignment.

Daily Clips Cont.

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LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Optioned RHP Drew Rucinski to Salt Lake (PCL). Recalled RHP Matt Shoemaker from Salt Lake.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Optioned RHP Nick Goody to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). Reinstated RHP Bryan Mitchell from the 7-day DL. Sent OF Dustin Ackley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a rehab assignment.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Fired general manager Jack Zduriencik. Named assistant general manager Jeff Kingston interim general manager.

National League

ATLANTA BRAVES — Sent LHP Manny Banuelos to Gwinnett (IL) for a rehab assignment.

CHICAGO CUBS — Optioned LHP Zac Rosscup to Iowa (PCL). Designated RHP Brian Schlitter for assignment.

COLORADO ROCKIES — Released RHP Rafael Betancourt. Optioned RHP Tommy Kahnle to Albuquerque (PCL).

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Released 3B Alberto Callaspo.

MIAMI MARLINS — Optioned RHP Scott McGough to New Orleans (PCL). Reinstated RHP Andre Rienzo from the 15-day DL.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Placed RHP Trevor Rosenthal on paternity leave. Recalled RHP Sam Tuivailala from Memphis (PCL).

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Sent RHP Marcos Mateo to El Paso (PCL) for a rehab assignment.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Placed OF Denard Span on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Thursday. Recalled OF Matt den Dekker from Syracuse (IL).

American Association

FARGO-MOORHEAD REDHAWKS — Signed INF Jordan Tescher.

LAREDO LEMURS — Released RHP Willy Paredes.

Can-Am League

QUEBEC CAPITALES — Released RHP Graham Tebbit.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

DENVER BRONCOS — Waived WR/KR Solomon Patton. Signed TE Dan Light.

Canadian Football League

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed PK Sergio Castillo to the practice roster.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

DALLAS STARS — Signed C Cody Eakin to a four-year contract extension.

American Hockey League

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS — Named Tara Boliard adn Peter Van Dame season ticket sales account executives. Promoted Michael Spruit to digital media production assistant.

Daily Clips Cont.

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