Jets hoping to eliminate fourth-quarter letdowns By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer October 3, 2006 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Jonathan Vilma was angry. His clenched jaw gave it away. The Jets' star linebacker answered questions about New York's leaky defense, his frustration clearly marked by his short responses and the intense look on his face. "The defense didn't do it and it cost us the game," Vilma said moments after New York's 31-28 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday. "Especially the last two drives." The Jets held Peyton Manning to 217 yards passing, his lowest total since he had 116 against Seattle last December. But the Colts quarterback, stifled for much of the game, led two scoring drives in the last 8 minutes -- capping the last with a 1-yard touchdown run -- without facing much of a pass rush. "We have to be that much sharper, mentally and physically," said Vilma, who was noticeably absent from the locker room during the team's availability Monday. "We did a good job with holding him the first three quarters, but we had to keep doing it until we finished the game." And that's been the biggest problem for the Jets' defense this season, an alarming trend that has the team somewhat concerned despite a 2-2 start. The Jets rank 29th in the NFL in overall defense, and are second-to-last in the AFC -- ahead of only Houston -- in rushing defense. New York has allowed an average of 140.5 yards rushing per game. "We've got to get better," defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen said Monday. "We've had enough time, guys need to make plays. That's the bottom line. And we're going to get a little bit better." Hopefully a lot better, especially in the fourth quarter. The Jets have allowed 91 points, 43 of them in the final period. "I think we need improvement," coach Eric Mangini said. "I think it's not just defensively. We need improvement in a lot of areas. That's part of this process and part of the commitment to progress. Each one of these experiences is an opportunity for us to get better. That's the way I view it." In the season opener at Tennessee, the Jets led 16-0 but allowed the Titans to score 16 fourth-quarter points to tie it. Chad Pennington threw a touchdown pass to Chris Baker with just under 6 minutes left for the win. New York kept New England out of the end zone in the fourth quarter the following week, but Tom Brady led the Patriots on an 8-minute drive that included five first downs -- and three third-down conversions. Although the drive ended with a missed field goal, New England got away with a 24-17 win after leaving Pennington with very little time to muster much of a last-minute comeback. Against Buffalo in Week 3, the Jets led 21-10 entering the fourth quarter, but the Bills scored 10 points and had a chance to tie in the final seconds before falling 28-20. Sunday's meltdown against Indianapolis might have been the toughest to take. After the Jets took a 21-17 lead on Kevan Barlow's second touchdown run, the Colts came right back with a 12-play, 68-yard scoring drive. The Jets erased the Colts' lead in a flash on Justin Miller's 103-yard kickoff return, but Manning went back to work almost as quickly. On third-and-6 from New York's 35, he completed a tough pass to favorite target Marvin Harrison for 19 yards. Two plays later, Reggie Wayne caught a 15-yard pass and Manning followed with his 1-yard scoring plunge. The Colts quarterback spiked the ball in the end zone in a rare display of emotion, while the Jets were left stunned on the sideline. "I don't know if it was more on us, or more on them," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "They're a good team. We had a minor breakdown, but you can't have that against teams like that, especially Peyton Manning." The Jets' defense was supposed to be a strong point this season, even with the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme. The team clearly isn't fully comfortable with the new system. "If you're not in the right spot, I mean, even just an inch off, it's tough," Rhodes said. "There's going to be a little seam here or a little seam there." On Sunday, the Colts brought their struggling running game to the Meadowlands and ran the ball 36 times against the Jets. They gained 160 yards on the ground, including 84 by Joseph Addai and 75 by Dominic Rhodes. "That's going to happen until we stop the run," Von Oelhoffen said. "We can and we will. We all need to see every play, we need to understand what happens out there, and we're working on it. We will get it." Updated on Tuesday, Oct 3, 2006 3:40 pm EDT >> Gratuitous Link <<
Good to see Vilma stepping up and saying how the defense didn't step it up themselves at the game on Sunday. Hopefully that gets the rest of the D pumped and ready for no mercy Defense against JAX.
I like seeing that out of the leaders on this team. There's no question Chad is the leader on offense, and Vilma the leader on defense. They both hold themselves accountable, and the team tends to become stronger as a result.
Vilma was the worst one on the field, stay away from the media and go watch some film Jon. You have been man handled the last 2 weeks.
Vilma was the worst one on the field? He lead the team in tackles (again) this week. What more do you want? If anything he didn't get the opportunity to make any big plays on that last Colts drive. Anyone else notice the complete lack of blitzing on that final drive? I'm well aware of the great passing attack they have and so you need to drop back into coverage, but at the same time, if you don't blitz at all and let Manning set his feet in the pocket, he'll just pick you apart exactly like he did on that last drive.
It is true, Vilma has not been good the last 2 weeks. Don't say he led the team in tackles,its not an even an official stat. The number of tackles you make is meaningless,what is important is where you are making the tackles. Unfortunately, a lot of Vilma' s tackles are coming after the RB is 5-7 yards donwfield.
leading the team in tackles = worst on the field? far from it, and i'm glad he is man enough to admit he (and the defense) need to step up and make some plays
Ahamd carroll released by Packers.Should we take a look at him? Honest to God though everytime I have seen him play he has been victimized, he was drafted so high too i think 23rd overall.
he absolutely has been the worst one on the field if for no other reason he is expected to do more and has had the biggest short coming so far this year on that defense.....and even just in a straight up worst one on the field comparison, hes been pretty damn close....the man has been terrible....not poor, not a little off his game, he has sucked....and to think that some people were comparing vilma with ray lewis and urlacher et al.......:rofl: not even playing the same sport as those guys are right now.....the funniest thing about the whole thing is Champ was saying this all off-season when it really wasnt accurate to say so....and now that its true champ is no where to be found......I have all the confidence that Jon will rebound, but right now he sucks moose cock....and in my opinion he should have been a little more specific when saying the D sucked....how bout something like "I can suck a dick right now, but Ill be back, dont you worry:":
Yep, it's time for the defense to start stepping it up. I like our chances this week against the Jags O to get it started
champ was banned for a week for excessive champing. I'm sure he'll be champing it up when he gets back.
Being at the game, I have to admit that while Vilma WAS in some KEY places at keys times, he let the running back slip through his arms on more than one occasion. That happens to EVERYONE, but we EXEPECT him to make plays like that. I am thinking specifically of the last drive where he CLEARLY had the Rb caught in the backfield, and the RB broke free and ran for a nice gain. An average LB goes for the arm tackle in that spot; for Vilma it's inexcusable. -Rex
