Chad Pennington Podcast (1.6.2016)

It's going to be the same old Jets. I've been through this for my whole life, you know, a lot of years, Chad. Don't paint a pretty picture those types of things. I will say that, Um, you have to be proud of your team for bouncing back from my four and twelve season and come in out at ten and six. Um. I've seen teams do that and not make the playoffs. Typically ten and six get you in, UM, and it would have. If you were sitting there as a Pittsburgh deeler, you would be getting in the playoffs

at ten and six. But you're not. And so the most frustrating part is that your team had a chance to control its own destiny, and it didn't. And when that happens, that can be most frustrating for fans, for coaches,

for players. I think that's why you saw the emotion of the players after the game, and they truly took this loss to heart, and knowing that the game was in their hands, they did not have to rely upon anyone or any team to get them into the playoffs, and that's what's most frustrating, all right, before we go into a little analysis on that ball game and then we look ahead and talk about things on a whole love on a macro level. Two thousand and fifteen, you

mentioned it here early on Same Old Jets. How disgusted did you hear that when you were a player, and even now as you're still connected with the organization, how much do you not like that line? Because I was I was actually battling a couple of folks on Twitter on Sunday night, and I think sometimes people get irrational and they forget about what has happened with this organization,

especially since Woody Johnson took over. Well, as a player, it's frustrating because you have nothing to do with previous seasons or years where you weren't part of the organization.

And so for the eight years that I was there, I was a part of four playoff team that and when you look at the grand scheme of things, that's not a bad average, knowing that there's a lot of players that I played with in this league that never even the playoffs and we had a chance to play for World championship four out of the eight years that I was there. And so as a player, you don't

like to hear that. I don't like to hear that now and I don't even play for the jest because it it UH ties you too some of that history that you weren't responsible for UM, and so it can be frustrating. UM. But what you have to focus on is a player, is uh the good things that you did as a team as a player of what you

need to improve on. Knowing that the nucleus is there, the corps is there, UM to make another run and to be competitive and have a chance to win a championship next year, obviously there has to be some pieces that have to be signed and added, and more than ever teams, it is a year to year thing with these teams UM, because of all of the turnover and transition by players throughout the league. So what you've done

in the past doesn't really matter. They have to retool, look at what they need to do better and get ready for the two thason. Yeah, I think some people's narrative that this organization is cursed as at times laughable considering what has this organization done over the course of the past year. Todd Bowles, Mike mccagne came in, took over UH and in two thousand fifteen New York Jets

where four win football team. Mike mccagnell made a number of moves in the off season and then Todd Bowles and a brand new coaching staff had to put all these pieces together and this team won ten games and nobody after that ballgame, as you know, Chad was celebrating and saying, hey, we want ten games this year. Brandon Marshall was stunned, sat there, looked at the media on Sunday night and said, no moral victories in this league.

Todd Bowles said, we are he to compete for a Super Bowl, so we have to get to the playoffs. We grew this year, but ultimately we did not get to the playoffs. Well and they were just speaking truth and speaking from the heart, and I completely agree with them. And so when you when you look at that's why it is frustrating, UM, for fans, for players, for coaches,

because you're so close, UM. But we know close doesn't count when you look at the bigger perspective, No one, including ourselves, probably expected this team to have a chance to win eleven games, UM. When it all boils down to it, not only ten wins, but really eleven games right there that they could have easily been eleven and five, and no one gave this team that chance or thought that that could happen. I think that most people were looking at seven and nine in the nine and seven

would be a major, major improvement. And so I think you have to be proud of the fact that this team put itself in a position to get to the playoffs and controls destiny. And I think as a fan, I think we need to regroup as fans of of football teams and of sports teams and realize that, UM, as a fan, if your team is competing at a high level and putting itself in a position year in and year out to play for a championship and has the opportunity to do that. You need to feel good

about that, you really do. Now, if you're if your team is at bottom and at the seller and not making any improvement, not doing those things, then you certainly

have a reason to be frustrated. But if your team can start to create a consistent product, create a consistent product and compete for the playoffs and a championship year in and year out, you need to do You need to feel good about that, and you need to support the team in that because there's only one team that holds up that trophy and everybody else goes home losers, and so you have to realize how hard and how

difficult it is to win that Lombardi Trophy. Yeah, you're right, thirty one and thirty two teams will not get it done this year. Even if you go to the Super Bowl and lose. Bottom line, you didn't get it done. So the Jets right now obviously not satisfied proud of their growth, and they should be. When you look back at the Buffalo game, what stands out to you why the Bills were able to overcome a Jets team who needed that victory to secure their spot in the postseason. Well,

a couple of things stand out. First of all, I think watching the game live in the first quarter, I felt like the Bills came to the field and came to the ballpark with a little bit more energy, a little bit more tenacity, a little bit more effort. And I don't know if that was just because the Jets being a little bit nervous or a little bit um

caught up in the moment maybe, Uh, you don't know. UM. Sometimes that can make you tight knowing that you you have something like the playoffs to play for, whereas the your opponent can just play loose, knowing that, hey, we don't have anything to lose. We're trying to get the five D and knock our arrival out of the playoffs.

So I I saw that and felt that in the first quarter, um, and I just felt like that there were times where typically the Jets football team plays good, complimentary football and they didn't do that this time around. For instance, when the Jets caused the fumble uh, there were no points uh that the offense was able to get off of that turnover, or when the Jets actually had the turnover in the end zone with about ten minutes less and the fourth quarter the defense allowed the

Bills to drive down and secure a field goal. So that's a type of complimentary football that doesn't necessarily show up in the statue, but it's so important to winning football games watching one side pick the other side up when something doesn't go its way. Really, thing about third down, the Bills nine and twenty on third down twenty times, you don't see that in the National Football League too often. Where a team has twenty attempts on third down, they

converted nine of those. Conversely, the Jets just three of eleven, and that led to a thirty nine minute time of possession number for the Buffalo Bills. So the Jets weren't on the field a lot in this game. They weren't they didn't have very many opportunities, but the opportunities that they did have, they didn't capitalize. And so that's the type of complimentary football that we're talking about. I've played in the game before where our Dolphins team had forty

five minute time of possession and we still lost. So sometimes time of possession can be overrated. Obviously, most of the time is a key to winning. But when you look at the keys of the game and look at the major plays that were made that it still have could have won that game even with the lack of time of possession, and so, um, you look at the game, you just feel like that Buffalo was quicker to the punch for a lot of the a lot of the game.

They had that the extra effort plays, they had, the tenacity plays, they had the emotional plays, and they just had more of those than the Jets did. And at the end of the day, Um, it didn't come through for the Jets. What do you think about the fourth quarter there? The Jets got themselves in position, uh to come back again, and we've seen them late during that

five game win streak. They found ways to win over the Giants, they found a way to win over the Cowboys, they found a way against the Patriots, and it looked like it was gonna happen one more time this regular season as the Jets are down nineteen to seventeen, facing a second and ten from the Bill's fourteen yard line, when Ryan Fitzpatrick looks for Eric Ducker and then at that point, uh, you know, take me through your thoughts on the fourth quarter. Well, I felt exactly the way

you're talking about. I felt like, Hey, this even though things haven't gone the way the Jets had foreseen them in the first three quarters, and even though that Buffalo was playing extremely well, and and Buffalo was beating the Jets to the punch on most of those series. You get to the fourth quarter and you strip it all down. It's nineteen to seventeen. Jets have the ball and they're driving.

What more could you ask for? You're in a hostile environment, it's a playoff style atmosphere, a hard place to play in the vision rival you have the ball and and and the possession in your hands and the opportunity to

take control of the game and grab the lead. And so I felt really good for the Jets moving into the fourth quarter, knowing that there had been some missed opportunities and things weren't really going according to plan in the first three quarters, and so I felt good about the as chances moving into the fourth quarter, especially with their history for the past few weeks where they were putting teams away and finding ways to win in the

fourth quarter. And then be I thought the two series, one with the interception with the throw to Decker in the end zone, and then following that with the long drive by the Bills for the field goals. I mean, those are the two series of the game right there. If one of those things don't happen, whether the Jets don't throw the interception or the defense stops the Bills from getting a field goals, the Jets probably win that game. And that's why it's so important to play complimentary football.

It's also important to understand situations and sometimes in decision making his quarterbacks, Um, decisions that you would make in the first quarter, you don't make in the fourth quarter, or decisions you make in the fourth quarter. Uh down a certain number of points in a certain situation, you don't make that same decisions. So it's it's very situational. It's a feel, it's it's understanding, you know why the team needs to get the job done, and obviously Ryan

would like to have that decision back. Yeah, Uh, Fitz tried to hit Eric Decker, Leotis mccalvin comes up with the interception, and you're right. At that point, it's nineteen seventeen, ten forty three left in the fourth quarter. The Jets did not get the ball back until three forty nine remained in the fourth quarter because the Bills, as they did. Seemed like most of the afternoon. They found ways to convert on third down on the file on the ensuing drive,

I should say they converted three third downs exactly. And you look at it, imagine if that if the Bills go three and out after that interception, the office is back on the field, they just had a drive, They're starting to get in the groove. They probably go down and score. And so that was a great job by the Bills. You have to give them credit. They were finding ways to convert on third down. They were being very create him in their formations, using Tyrod Taylor to

run the ball. They were finding ways to get Sammy walking at the ball and bracket coverage. Um, they were just very opportunistic and uh, they found a way to keep the Jets offense off the field and to continue to They knew that the big play. I believe the Bills went into the game knowing that the big play was probably not going to be there a lot, and so they just kept chipping away at it, dink and dunk and keep moving the sticks, knowing that as long

as that we're on the field, Jets can't score. And so that's exactly what they did. By holding the ball for forty minutes during the game. Yeah, and listen, Samon Watkins is a fantastic, fantastic talent and Jets is gonna be competing against him for a number of years, and we know he can get down the field. But that was really the first time, uh, you know that I could tell from a distance that the Bills said, hey, we're gonna get to him on some routes underneath. So

they did change up something's game plan wise. And there's something I want to talk about here with you, plan wise, because people have continually asked me why Chris Ivory did not get the ball more against the Buffalo Bills. Well, here's the deal, Chad. Last week at practice, Ivory was limited with the knee injury Blaw. Paul did not suit up for the Jets either, So of course everybody's dealing with injuries. We know how critical Paul has been for

this team down the stretch, so he wasn't active. But Ivory was limited at practice. So when the Jets were preparing for the Bills, Stephen Ridley was the guy they had to get ready for a number of packages. Now, the Jets weren't on the field a lot because they want three of twelve on third down. So when you look at the carriers, everybody at home shouting and saying, why not more Chris Ivory? While it's my belief, Chad,

why not more Chris Ivory? Because number one, he was limited a practice, so in preparation for the Bill's defense, a lot of the packages the Jets were getting ready with work for Stephen Redley. And then secondly, the Jets didn't have the ball at toon and thirdly, Ivory did have more snaps than Ridley. Okay, so you know what's your thoughts on that? Well, I agree. I think your

second reason is the most important reason. Let's say Chris Irey is completely healthy and he had a belief six carries um in this game with twenty minutes holding the ball, It doesn't matter if he's completely healthy, he what would he have? Ken carries? Twelve carries maybe? So you're still gonna say that he didn't get the ball enough. Well, there's a reason why. Because the Jets couldn't stay on the field on offense and they couldn't get off the

field on defense. And so regardless of who your playmakers are, they don't have an opportunity to get the ball, and you don't have an opportunity as a play caller to get them the ball. And it's also gone down thirteen to zero. So then passing game had to come to the forefront a little bit to try to climb back

in the game. And so the Jets were always behind the eight ball, and every facet of the game there behind the eight ball, whether it be behind the sticks on defense because the Bills weren't in and in a lot of third and long situations, uh, offensively, um, they were behind the eight ball because of the score, um.

And so there are all kinds of things where the Jets just never could get over the hump to get into their normal game plan and then feel comfortable with handing the ball to Ivory doing doing the screen packages. And I fought actually missing blal Pile. That was a little bit of it too. I mean, think about the explosiveness of blal Pile over the last few weeks in the type of energetic spark type plays chunk plays that he created. UM in the passing game and then the

running game. They missed that, There's no doubt about it. Now, that's not the reason why they lost the game, but it's certainly hurt just a little. Yeah, Chan Gailey had a fantastic season. So did the entire coaching staff, Tod Bowls and Casey Rogers. I think about what this team did from a takeaway perspective. Defensively, last year, this team at thirteen takeaways tied for last in the National Football League. They came up with thirty this year, tying for third.

I believe also one of the better run stuff in units in the National Football League. So I thought they took some steps defensively, especially in the takeaway department. How difficult do you think this is for a player? If you're a b. Marshall, if you're Ryan Fitzpatrick. How long will this sting? And is it a little when you look at it and say dawning to say, oh man, we gotta start this all over again in the spring.

And because like you said, everything changes. You can have the core intact and the Jets are really happy with that core. But with that being said, is gonna be a lot of roster tinkering and you've butt around it. You've butt in that locker room. When the season ends, no locker room is the same. Well, it's extremely difficult and more difficult for a veteran player, because as as a young player, you don't realize the competitive nature of this league. You have come from mostly come from colleges

where you have been successful. You come from high school teams where you've been successful, you've won championships. You're used to being in postseason play and playing for championships, and then you get to the league as a young player and you don't realize how precious these playoff opportunities actually are. And as you become an older player and a veteran

in this league, it really comes to the forefront. And that's why you see a lot of players at the end of their careers choose teams and situations over money because they want a chance to compete for a title. And so for players like Brandon Marshall, for players like Ryan Fitzpatrick, they see the end coming, they see a finality coming, and not having that sweet taste of playoffs

football really bothers them. And so there's a huge sense of urgency for those type of players, and you hope that they carry that into the off season and try to convey that to the young players the best that they can to try to bring those young players up to speed and realizing that these opportunities don't come Ask Dan Marino made the Super Bowl is second year, never sniffed it again, and so, uh, you know, it's a it's a it's a unique dynamic in the NFL that

you don't experience in college or high school. Tie balls are very direct about it. This week at a season and the news conference, he was asked, Hey, do you think your roster has to get younger because you have a number of guys, of course, who played very well this year. Where are there who are in their thirties? And he said, I don't know about younger. I think I know we have to get faster. What's your take on the jack team speed and where they possibly could

use a little jolt. Yeah. I I don't always agree with younger either. And the reason I don't is because sometimes veteran savvy knowledge and experience can trump speed through anticipation and preparation, and so whereas speed without control without knowledge is nothing but chaos, and so is youth. And so sometimes you can get younger, but you're not any

more efficient, You're not any more productive. You have to look at the production of the player and so that's that's starting to become a huge key in in the league and in the NFL, because teams are getting younger. That's a fact. When I was a rookie, half our team was over thirty. By the time I went to the Dolphins, we had six guys thirty or over. So

that's the fact that the teams are getting younger. But what teams really have to start looking at is who are the players that are productives and and where is the production coming from. And just because they can run fast doesn't mean they can be a productive football player. So when I look at it, you always want to make sure that you are keeping up to speed, no pun intended. In your linebacking corps, that's always important that your linebackers can run side to side and and and

have good lateral quickness and speed. That's important. I want to make sure that that you've got decent speed in the secondary, not only from a cover standpoint, but from a safety standpoint to where you can come downhill and turn those keep those five yard games five yard games and not allow those to become ten and fifteen yard games. I think they have good speed inside of quickness. Obviously in the defensive line. So defensively, that would be the

two areas. Offensively, I think the speed would come from, uh, the young receivers, and I think are doing they're They're right where they need to be with those guys. I think the receiving corps. I think the three headed running back system that they've got is very good. Uh. If there's one area I would look at for more production would be tight end. I think there has to be a little bit more of tight end production. Not not

a huge turnaround, but enough to make a difference. This very similar to how we thought that the young receivers needed to make a difference in the game with two or three catches the game to create some explosion. The tight end position you need that as well. And so that would be an area to look at. Yeah, and we'll circle back with you before free agency and to get your view on the Jets in March. But um

Todd Bowles was asked about fits this week. He said, yeah, we definitely want him to be back, and Ryan Fitzpatrick said I want to be back and and if he does resign, both said, this guy's are starting quarter back. Do you think this is a good situation for the Jets if they can land a deal here with Fits because they do have a young quarterback. Do you have a couple of young quarterbacks here? Uh? Do you know

Smith still under contract? You got Bryce Patty who just started, you know it, had his rookie season and learned under him. So if the Jets wanted to address the quarterback position in the draft, they could if he's the best guy available. But you're not in a situation if you bring Fits back, where oh man, we gotta get a quarterback. Yeah. I think the Jets are in a perfect situation with the three quarterbacks they have. Uh, you don't just talk started

talking about quarterbacks just because it's cool to talk about quarterbacks. Um, you you look at your situation. When you look at the Jets situation, there in a perfect scenario. I think that the organization needs to understand what they have in Ryan Fitzpatrick, the stability that he brought to the organization in a time during training camp that the situation could have went completely south. But also think Ryan has to understand the situation that he's in and so to go

out and test the market. You know, he can go find more money, probably somewhere else. But I think he really wants to look at and if I were him, I would look at the situation I'm in to be successful. It would be very similar to when I went to Miami and Bill Parcels was very upfront with me and said, look, we have a young quarterback that we believe can be our future. We want you to come in and hold down a ford, teach him, do what you do as

a veteran, and let's see what happens. Very upfront with me about that, and I trusted that and it worked out. And so I think that's the situation that fits his in. Is he gonna require the true starter money like a man and R Brady, No, but he certainly needs to be compensated for his production and what he's done. And then the other two guys, you know, Smith and Bryce Petty. I think that the Jets are in a good situation. There's no reason to get rid of either one of

them right now. There's still a little bit unknown about Geno. There's certainly more unknown about Bryce. But I think you're in a good situation where you have two young quarterbacks that you can continue to take another year to get a fill for and then be able to move on and while you still have a Ryan Fitzpatrick there. I mean, let's be honest. I mean, you look at Ryan, He'll be moving into his twelfth year and let's say a two to two year to four year window for him.

If he can stay healthy. Well, if in those two to four years you can truly find out what Gino Smiths all about and try and find out what Bryce Petty's all about, You're in a really really good situation, I think when it comes to the quarterback position. Yeah. And then also Mohammed Wokerson unfortunately, uh broke his leg there, the fibula against the Bills in the second half. He had a tremendus season twelve sacks and run stuff for

Damon Snacks Harrison. I thought, Uh, it really showed himself in two thousand and fifteen to be one of the most dominant run stuffers in the national football He played a tremendous football Chris Ivory rush rush just for over a thousand yards. We talked about Paul again today. So, uh, the Jets have a number of free agents, um you guys who could hit free agency in March, and ultimately

they have decisions to make. But every team in the National Football League under a cap system, UH is forced to make some tough decisions and the Jets will have to do some tinkering and type Bowl said it, Hey, money talks, and also, hey, can you find a landing spot for some of these guys in a perfect world, Bowl said, you'd love to have everybody back, but that's just not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. And that's where the business of the NFL gets in the way

of true, truly building a program. UH. It's great for the players to be able to maximize the earning potential, it makes it very difficult for the organization to continue to build. So as players, I think my advice to players would be to look at the complete big perspective. Don't allow your agent just to talk about dollars. Look at a complete big perspective on where you think you will be most productive as a pro, um where you will be supported as a pro other than just the

bottom line the dollar figure. Go after Marco Murray, how that worked out for it, And so you have to look at that and and and hopefully you know the Jets play and how they're doing things and how Tod Bowlers come in and create a stability and in the season as they had. Hopefully that affects some of the free agent um decision making as far as players can go. But you're probably gonna lose some of those guys and you can't get emotional about it as an organization. You

certainly can't get emotional about it as a player. You've got to make the best decision for the entity. Well, you made the best decision, uh decisions last week with your college picks. I really thought Oklahoma was gonna be Clemson, but no, you were right about two Shawn Watson and unstoppable force. The Clemson Tigers took down the Sooners and then Ischigan State really at a tough night against Alabama. And while that defense looks tremendous, how do you see

the national championship shaping up? Who is your pick? Can Deshaun wats And do enough against the Crimson Tide or is Nick Saban going to get another national title? Well? I think the key lines um in the trenches. I think it lies in the offenses, the offensive and defensive lines of both teams. Shack Lawson was not available for Clempson. I would really give a huge, huge edge to Alabama with their offensive line and being able to bulldoze Clemson defense with him in the mix. I think that even

the scale just a little bit. Also think that the type of system that Clemson runs, with the spread system and the type of quarterback they have, that is the type of system that has always given Alabama the most problems. It's not your typical pro style systems at all. It's it's your fast paced, spread, no huddle quarterback that can run and throw. That's huge, and so I believe that. Um. Right now, I'm leaning toward Alabama, but by very slim margin because I think they are just up front, they

are superior. If they're able to use only four linemen to control that line of scrimmage and keep de Shaun Watson in the pocket and and to and to limit his runs, um, then it certainly bodes well for Alabama. If they're not and he's able to escape and make plays and extend plays and throw the ball down the field, Uh, Crimson could have a big night. Right now, I'm leaning toward Alabama by three. Okay, Yeah, it's it's gonna be an interesting game. And then let's get your thoughts on

the playoffs real quickly. Uh, if you had to make a prediction today, who do you think is gonna represent the FC in the NFC when they face off in San Francisco. Oh goodness. You know. The first game that I'm really interested in, um in the wild Card is the Kansas City Houston game. I want to see if Kansas City can continue that momentum into the playoffs with their teen game winning streak. That's gonna be interesting to see having to go on the road and and play. Um.

I look at I think that Peyton Manning. This whole thing about Peyton Manning and Broncos while I don't even think it's the discussion that Peyton Manning is healthy. You just saw the type of energy and spark that he brought um to the team, and and the type of just efficiency that he brought to the team. And it wasn't even with his arm he was only five for nine, but it was just with in conducting and running the offense.

And so if he's healthy, um, I think the Broncos have have a great shot to get back to the Super Bowls he's not healthy, I don't see the Broncos going to the Super Bowl, So, uh, so right now, it's a healthy Payton Manny, and that's I see the Broncos certainly at the front of the pack um in the NFC. You know, Carolina has just just played lights out. I mean you just look at what they've been able

to do. They've got a defense that is really really good, slides around to the football, and they've got a dynamic quarterback that has now become a quarterback and not just a good football player. And there's a difference. You can have quarterbacks that are just give football players, but they're not really good quarterbacks. And Cam Newton has come to the forefront as a good quarterback by making good throws, good decisions, making plays with his arms, and we've always

known what he uh can do with his legs. I think if if you can have Arizona Carolina and that NFC championship game, you're going to have a wale of a game. Because Carson Palmer has been outstanding, Bruce Arians and that Cardinals team has been outstanding as well. That would be a really great matchup to watch. What do you give the nod to Carre Arolina at home? And how about Seattle? This that's a team with a lot of championship medal, you know that, and they seem to

be rounding into form. I know Arizona didn't have a ton to play for, but anytime you go on the road and smack a team around like the Seahawks did last Sunday, you know that's got to catch your eye. Yeah, any of the underdogs in the NFC, I think you're gonna go Seattle. I think they go to Minnesota and beating Minsota, uh, and then they'll be answesting to see

the matchup between them and Carolina. Carolina did go to Seattle and beat Seattle in Seattle this year, and so that would be a rematch, but it would be in Carolina because with Seattle being the six seed, they would have to go play Carolina into the Arizona So they would be the quiet underdog if there is such a thing, knowing how good they've been over the years, but as a six seed, they would be the underdog team to

make it to the super Bowl. All right, So we're gonna pencil you in right now, Chad Pennington's super Bowl favorite Denver in a slight leaning to Carolina slide. But you know what I'm gonna I'm you know. I'm I've been a fan of Bruce Aaron's ever since. Uh, he's taking that job and just talking with players that have played for him, and and looking at what he did in Indianapolis with that tough situation with Chuck Pogano, I'm gonna go with my heart and I'm gonna say Arizona

in the super Bowl against Denver. Okay, Well, we're gonna circle back within a couple of weeks with heart overhead, heard overhead. A lot of times it doesn't work out. Well. We've enjoyed the two thousand and fifteen season with you, buddy, and uh we are going to circle back here in a couple of weeks. Absolutely. Thanks Eric, Thanks