EA Podcast: Episode 9 Featuring Chad Pennington

no doubt about it. When you lose a high quality player like Eric Decker, who means so much to your offense and to all the players in the huddle, it's a blow. But you know, as a team, you can either look at it as a challenge or you can look at it as an opportunity if if you're a guy who hasn't had many opportunities to now show what you can do and how you can contribute to help

the team win. So, um, it's one of those things where it's it's certainly tough for Eric cut for the team, but also it's time for someone else to step up and help out. Why did Fitzpatrick have such good rhythm with in chemistry with Ducker off the bat. Take us back to last year and when Fits obviously had thirty one touchdown passes, but both he was in sync with Marshall and Ducker immediately, and that carried in to the two thousand sixteen season as well. Well. I think both

receivers are very quarterback friendly. And when you say that, what you mean by that is that, Um, they have a mindset like a quarterback when they run routes, and so when they run routes, they understand where the quarterbacks are trying to put the ball, They understand positioning with their body, and quarterbacks like Patrick they trust receivers like that because they know that when they let go of the ball and it's going to receiver like Becker or Marshall,

that normally good things are going to happen. Very rarely the bad things happen. Only bad thing that can happen with being incomplete, but very rarely doesn't interception happen or anything like that. So it's a trust level. Sometimes you can't explain that between quarterback and receiver. It just happened naturally. Um, you just have a natural affinity for a guy, our natural fields for a guy, and then other times it's it's something that you've worked on, uh, through the years

and through practices and things like that. But with these two guys, I think with fitz Patrick, it just happened naturally. He just really had a great feel for those two receivers. I think because of their body types number one, how they run route and and and they're catching ability. To think he developed a quick trust in those guys. All right, Chad. The big word this week has been finishing for the

team as a whole. But when you think about the offense inside the opponent's twenty last year number three in the Nasty No Football League in terms of finishing with touchdowns. This year, the Jets red zone offense, they're completing just those drives inside the twenty with touchdowns, So that makes them tied for this year. And now you take Decker out of the equation. How big of a challenge is

this for Jan Galley and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Well, that certainly hurts because Eric Decker's production in the red zone was tremendous last year and uh, he was someone that Ryan really trusted, and you have to have even a higher trust level in the red zone because the space is more confined. Um. You don't have a lot of room to operate, and so your anticipation level has to be

even greater UM. And you've got to trust that if if you're wrong, there's a quarterback that your receiver is going to make you right and how he runs routes and things like that, and so when you use a receiver like Decker in that area, that really hurts. And so now I think the running game has to come to the forefront the running game. You've got to help out in the red zone to create more goal line

situations inside the five. Get the running game to get that ball inside the five score You can either pound it in or you can use different personnel groups and

be creative that way. Uh. You also have to use those running backs in the passing game and be able to get them one on one with these linebackers, because we know that Brandon Marshall is going to see more and more double team coverage with Decker out, and then the Noon law has now have to he has to be able to step into that role of Eric Decker and be able to make some plays down there as well. Yeah, Noon,

what right now? He is the jets number two receiver going forward until Docker comes back, of course, and then you can rank them any way you want. But as far as the way opponent, the funds of coordinated is gonna look at the Jets, like you mentioned, obviously they go to fifteen first, but now it's Quincy and Nona as that second target. He actually leads the Jets with

twenty seven receptions. And I said this on Inside the Jets uh the other night, and I repeated on one of our website website videos on New Ropes dot com that he's by one of the bright spots here early this season for a one in four club, leads a team with twenty seven receptions, and he continues to flash, I think each and every week. He certainly does. There has been a little bit of inconsistency, but not as

much as last year. He's been able to become more consistent make some plays, and so that's that's a very positive scene for the future of the Jets when you're looking at the receiving corps and your younger players starting to produce, and so that's good. And and now that production even has to increase even more. It's not necessarily

in volume of catches that has to increase. It's going to have to increase UH in situational um away earness, and and in critical situations where the third down, the red zones, the plays that truly matter in a game or affect the game where the focus will be on Brandon Marshall. Now Noon Law really has to come to forefront and make those big plays to keep drives alive until points on the board. How do you establish more chemistry if you're fits, because you're breaking in a lot

of new players right now, Austin Seferie and Jenkins. He made a couple of catches against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I like what I've seen of him. What I've seen of him and limited time, big dude can run. Looks fluid as far as a route runner is concerned. But then you have the rookie receivers again Robby Anderson, Geron Peak, who are going to be dependent on as you move forward. The Jetsice made a waiver claim this week, acquiring a former Baltimore Raven, Jeremy Butler. We'll see how he factors

into the equation forte. While he's a Vet and obviously he's made quite a smooth transition. He's new to the offense as well, so there's a lot of new moving parts. And what I think is overlooked in all this, too, is the Jets have been shuffling up front all year, but Eigilana is playing right tackle. Brno Jockomini started this year on the pup list. Brant Quality was alternating series with Igilana at right tackle, but with Winners out with

the concussion, he was at right guard. And then Nick Mangold went out Sunday with the knee injury, so Wesley Johnson had to come into the ball game. So there's a lot of moving parts from Ryan Fitzpatrick right now, no doubt about it, Eric, And that makes it extremely tough for continuity within the offense. It makes it extremely

tough for quarterbacks to established rhythm. I think the biggest challenge as a quarterback when you're dealing with a lot of changes is to still remain in equal opportunity quarterback.

Sometimes what you can do when you start to lose some of your key guy is that you start to just focus on the guy that you're very familiar with, and then you start to force the ball in the coverage and so The biggest challenge for a quarterback is to yes, you know, most of our plays will be designed to get it to our number one and number two guys, but when they are covered, I have to trust these third and fourth guys to be able to at least make some simple plays for me, whether it

be in the checkdown game or the underneath game, whatever it may be. Allowed him to make a few plays a game for me to keep the defense a little bit loose at least, and to keep me as a quarterback from making bad decisions. That that's the biggest thing. What do you make it fits his game? In Pittsburgh, the Jets moved up and down the field in the

first half, four consecutive drives in plus a territory. We're only able to come up with the thirteen points to Nick Folk field goals, and Brandon Marshall makes the great play off over the cornerback Ross Cockrowl there in the corner of the enzone, plays a tip drill uh. Tremendous reception on his part, but done in the second half. And we've seen this lately from the Jets on both sides of the ball, they kind of get stymied. So

what do you make of Fitzpatrick's game in Pittsburgh. Well, I thought that his Saturday or Sunday performance against Pittsburgh was a winning performance and um, other than the Buffalo game, it was his second best performance of the season. And if he would have had those type of performances throughout the season every game, they would not be one and four, they would be more like three and two. And so that's the type of play that that Ryan has to

expect from himself weekend and week out. Doesn't have to be gaudy numbers, but it can't be disastrous numbers either, And so that was a consistent efficient performance. I think where the Jets steming themselves that I don't think the Steelers stimmy then the Jets at all. I think Jets stimy themselves. Drop balls a misread here there. Um, you know, really in crucial situations on third down where drives would

stay alive, keep the Steelers offense off the field. When you've got an offense like Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, you have to keep them off the field. That's the best defense against that. And those are some critical situations, especially in the second half, where the Jets offense did not do that. Even if you don't get points, you you you keep the Steelers off the field, and they did not do that, and so they snimming themselves. I did not see a game where the Steelers just really

took it to the Jets. From a defensive standpoint, I feel like the Jets had a good game plan. They executed it for the most part in a B type level where the couple of plays here and there could have put put them in the A minus uh category to give themselves a better chance to win. All right, let's go to Twitter rapid fire here with Jet Punnington on the e A podcast. This comes from Sean. It was a monster Jets fan down in Australia, down under

guys on both sides of the ball. What is the most important thing that needs to be cleaned up going forward in two thousand and sixteen. Great question. Defensively, it is still the big play uh, eliminating the big play that Steelers still had another big play on the Jets um at the beginning of the game. And then offensively it's actually creating a big play. We're not seeing any chunk plays at all, whether it being the running game or the passing game, and what that does for an

offense doesn't necessarily win you the game. It just gives you some breathing room and changes field position, and it keeps it from having to be such an uphill battle with just four and five yard games all the time. So that's that's very important. So the big play on both offense and defense, to me is something that's a point of emphasis. Kevin writes in on Twitter, it appears that many players have regressed from last year. Why do

you think that is? I don't know if I see it as regression, is just more lack of execution and production. Um and uh. Sometimes that happens with the team because you have a successful team who kind of creaked up on teams the previous year. This year, there is no creeping up on anybody. They know who you are. They have a full year of film on you to see who you are as a team, what you're coaching staff

is about. And so now your level of production, execution, concentration has to be stepped up, and you can't just count on the same things that happened for you the previous year aren't going to happen that same way. And so there's no doubt in my mind that the jet should be sitting here at three and two, not one and four. If that's the case. And so I don't see regression as much as I see just not executing and doing what you're supposed to do, all right, so quickly.

When there was a lot of talk on about this subject this week, and you know better than anybody, but Asianist history, somebody asks on Twitter, what uh can you review the four three and outs that gave Bulls confidence to punt on fourth and two. A lot of people talked about Coach's decision to punt there on fourth and two. It's at that moment you're close to midfield. I'm sitting there in the press box chat and you can call me a homer if you want. I know who I'm

employed by. But I didn't have a problem with the decision because I'm thinking, you don't get it. It's fourth and along to the Steelers have been moving the ball and you're at least giving up three You might give up a touchdown down there. I don't I don't know. I thought, you know, you pin them back deep, maybe you get a good punt, great coverage. There was a couple of times the Jets failed to actually pin the Steelers back, and when they had some players down there

on Lockland outwards a couple of his booming kicks. So you play field position there, maybe you get the wall back at the fifty relatively quickly. I know a lot of people revisionist history, they're talking about the fourth and two a lot this week. Yeah, and I think it was that the fourth and two with the at the eleven minute mark or at the seven minute mark. It was at about the seven minute I believe you have

the seven minute mark. Uh, and that's and I don't know, I don't even know if that was more like the thirty five is was it not? So that was a tough situation where you know, if it's more on the fifty or the forty five going in, I could certainly see that, But on the thirty five is forty is a couple of yards and that they've got three more points on you without having to do anything offensively, much less with the big, big play capability that they already have.

Um So that what I certainly thought about that as I was watching the game, would this be a situation where you could go for it there? Uh? If it was a little bit closer. I think they certainly would have two is much different than inside of yards. There's no question about that, um. But but I agree with it being a thirteen game, two scores and you win, and so uh within seven minutes, you should get the

ball back by five. You can go down and kick field goal stuffing and then either have a touchdown drive or vice versa on that with a field goal drop. So I did not completely disagree with that call at all, but I could certainly see where the thought could cross your mind about going for it on fourth. I think it's one of those one tough spots. I think if it's fourth and one, there's no doubt he sends his jumbo package on the field. You try to get the

one yard and you keep that driving uh moving. But at fourth and two, and that's up to the coach, and he noticed his ball club. You know, you know the way it is when you're one of four, So everybody's gonna come at you. I'm telling you, I'm sitting there at the price box during the game, and I thought out, okay, you point away, you get a three and out, you get good field positioned and go from there. But you know it didn't work out. Didn't work out

for the Jets. Bottom line, they didn't make enough plays. And as you mentioned, this team doesn't think they're that far away. Uh, that's a fourteen thirteen game and the third quarter it's a seventeen thirteen game. At the beginning of the fourth quarter. They just have to find a way to make a couple of key plays and that will get them over the hump. So, Jets are one

and four. You've started a couple of times one and four and actually made the postseason, uh, with two different teams, actually with the Jets in two thousand two, and I believe with the Miami Dolphins as well. Here's some similarities for you. The Jets actually started the two thousand two seasons in Buffalo, beating the Bills in Week one by a thirty seven thirty one score. The Jets only win so far this season is in Week two back and

Week two at Buffalo by a thirty seven score. Uh. Your memories a two thousand and two and what goes on inside a locker room when you're frustrated, you're losing and it's early in the season. Well, here, here's exactly what went on in our locker room. At the time we were one and four. People were complaining about play calling, whether it be inside the building or on the team, or outside the building, pointing fingers, disgruntled, frustrated, disappointed, which

is all understandable. But what changed our team was we changed our belief system and we made a decision to say, look, coaches aren't trying to lose if their livelihood. They're trying to put us in the best positions to be successful. And if we don't believe in what we're doing, it does not matter who we're playing. We could have, they could have eight guys out there on the field, and if we're not believing in what we're only, we're not

going to execute. And so we changed our belief system. Uh, we caught a little momentum by going to San Diego and beating them, and there was a six and one team coming off of the bye and we throttled them, and from then on our belief system because it had changed, Then our mindset changed, and then the result changed, and as a matter of fact, the play calling got more conservative. Basically, all we did was handed to Curtis Martin or we

threw it to Lavernest coals for the most part. Um it was more conservative than it was when we were one and four and two and five. So it's about belief system. It's about um that synergy that you need to have as as human beings for getting the football players just as human beings and working together and not the pointing fingers are saying, well, the defense didn't their job in the offense didn't. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with playing complimentary football.

The offense needs to break and needs the ball back. The defense has to get the ball back. If the offense needs to stay on the field and get the defense brain defense, the offense needs to do that. The kicking game needs to step up and make a cup of plays. That's what needs to happen. That's that's why it's a team game, and that's that's the biggest challenge for a team that's wonderful is whether or not you're gonna change your belief system and and pull together and

do everything you can uh to be successful. And that may require some sacrifices that may require certain players not playing as much or being asked to perform a different role that they're not used to. If you're willing to do that, then you can pull yourself out of the situation. The Jets fans who are of our age, Chad what have a retort then say, yeah, but you had boy Wonder,

you had Punnington and reserved there. He came in against Jacksonville and then makes the start the following week against Kansas City. And even though you lost that ball game against Kansas City, Uh, against Kansas City, you showed something there and the offenses started moving. Where is the Jets The current team has their current pieces. Where Todd Bowls is said, Ryan Fitzpatrick gives us the best chance to win right now? Well, and I agree with Coach Bowls.

I think that he does. And I think that we did see some improvement. We saw a more efficient, consistent quarterback Sunday against the Steelers. Didn't get the result that's the Jets wanted from a wind standpoint, but you saw more consistent play. And I think I think if that play continues from the quarterback position, and then all the other offensive parts chip in and do their part, then they can win games. You've got an Arizona team that's this types of plan. Arizona go off the West Coast.

But the Jets can beat Arizona. You have a Baltimore Ravens team Esster doing well, that's a home they can beat the Baltimore Ravens. There haven't changed themselves in offensive coordinators, so uh, there's some change going on there. So um, there's no doubt that this team is capable of getting back to the foreum foremark by the midpoint of the season. And guess where they were last year at the midpoint of the season. They were four and four even when

they started three and one. So they can reverse their fortune here and uh and and really get back into the hunt. But it certainly starts with their mindset and the and their belief system. What are your memories of herm back at Hofstruff at all? We you beg call saying we play to win the game when he was asked multiple times in his press conference basically, Hey, what do you guys have to play for? When they wrote you all off in two thousand two? Did you pay

too much attention to that as a player? Did go home and see the clip on Sports Center? Because in today's today's day and age, we'd see that on Twitter immediately, we'd see it on Instagram, it would it would be out there within five seconds. But that was a different world back then in two thousand two. Well, at first, at first I think we all cuckled um coach Edwards and his demeanor and and just you know, his response.

But then I think it also sent a message to us that hey, it's not about just evaluating players, it's not about just giving up on the season, because the young guys in we're playing to win. That's what we're doing, that's what we get paid to do. And so I think that was a little bit of reinforcement for us to say, you know what, that's just nonsense to even have that mindset. Let's have a mindset and going out here and attacking and and and being better at what

we're doing, and let's see what happens. So that's what we did. And then once we go fire with that momentum, we win seven out of nine and win them sees. Yeah, one of the greatest passing seasons the history of this franchise. You were on fire throughout the whole two thousand two campaigns. Great memories of that one who has the upper edge when you're talking about Bruce arians who is the teacher and Tide Balls, who is a teacher now, but he was a student of Bruce Arians for so many times

throughout their careers. Go back to Temple, Bruce Arians coached Todd Young Todd Bowls from Elizabeth, New Jersey when he was in defensive backfield. They're playing for the Temple Alls, and then they obviously connected in the National Football League and Todd was tremendous under Bruce Arians in his short time with the Cardinals to two years as defensive coordinator. He was the a p h NFL Assistant Coach of the Year found the two thousand and fourteen season. Obviously

came here in two thousand fifteen. What do you think goes into that chess match between between Bruce Arians and his offensive mine and Todd Bowles and his defensive mind. Well, I think it would be different if coach Bowles was with Coach Areens for ten years or you know, that's all he knew was what Coach Areons has done. But he did play in their Coach Areons and he coach with Coach Areons a little bit, so there's there's similarities there.

They know each other, but it's not like that's all that coach Bowles knows he's been under U, multiple schemes, multiple systems. His football knowledge is so wide and he's been able to gather from so many men in this game that he's built himself U as his own coach. And so I'm sure there are things that Bruce Aarons will remember that Coach Bowles did while he was there as a defensive coordinator and vice versa. Uh, coach Bowls remember things offensively as well. So I need to say

I think both teams will be prepared for each other. Um, defensively, I think the Jets have to make sure. Um, there's two things here. The running game. I have an outstanding runner in Johnson. Uh, He's he's impressive of Watchington play. I mean he really can get downhill and get north and south martial martial guy, well northern no Ohoway, That's right. You know what I was thinking about, Marshall, You know what just brought because I was gonna transition a little

bit too. You guys getting contributions from guys under the radar. Daryl Roberts showed up on the radar. He played a great game. It's a really good thing. Yeah, he really did, really did but you're you're right about the Northern I'm sorry for interrupting you there because I was already looking ahead. But the Northern Iowa products. Yeah, he's becoming a star in this National Football League. He really has. And so uh, you know, uh, Arizona likes to match their running game

with their down the field passing game. So that's gonna be really important for those linebackers and and secondary defenders to to be keen on that run but not get beat with that down the field passing game that matches that running game. I think that's a huge match up there. Um. And then you know, offensively, uh, you know, being able to take advantage of of their skill guys that Jeff being able to use Marshall using Noon while use the two backs, and then sprinkle in and the other players

Anderson the tighty ends. You have sprinkle those guys in where they can make a few plays just to relieve a little bit of pressure. And Arizona does a great job of pushing the ball down the field and getting those chunk plays, So the Jets have to be able to find a way offensively to find a few chunk plays too. Here's interesting stat the Cardinals have not scored a point in the first quarter all seasons, and the Jets has scored. Conversely, you look on the other side,

Jets have really moved the ball. Well, reminds me of your days with Paul Hackett early on in those games when Paul used to script those plays. I remember every time you guys came out of the tunnel, you go up and down the field. Now, I know the Jets want to finish with touchdowns, no doubt about that. But they have scored on four of their opening five possessions. They do that again and they hold Arizona down. You figure it they'd be able to settle into this game.

It's just finishing in the second half now for this club. Well, and that's that's the thing, is making sure you know, when you play in Arizona. Uh, it's one of those things where you've got to make sure that you weathered the storm in the first half and uh, you know, get points on the board, but make sure nothing disastrous happen.

And then as you move into the second half, now you get into the grind of the game, and now you can't be stomming like they were against Pittsburgh and really capitalize on some opportunities, and that's just gonna come down to two players making plays. When you look at the Pittsburgh game, Uh, there were plays to be made out there and they just weren't made to keep drives alive. And that's that's gonna be a key going in the

second half against Arizona. Yeah. Well, uh, my last thing for you here on the featured chat Puttington any effect at all for a player? You guys are professionals, and most of these guys have been in planes throughout their entire careers, collegiate careers. Is there any impact going from the East coast to the West coast as a player,

I actually enjoyed going from east to west. I couldn't imagine going from west to east and losing three hours, But I enjoyed going from east to west because I got an extra three hours of rest, recuperate a little bit um, and get ready to play. I did not mind that at all, especially when we went out on Friday so um. But you know, some people do think it's a little bit different, But I didn't mind going from east to west at all. There you go. That's

Jeff Pennyton, Jets, Cardinals, Monday Night the Jets defense. As Jet said, we'll have to contend with an emerging young player in David Johnson, and we know Bruce arians likes to get that vertical passing game going. With the Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald still there, Carson Palmer expected back from a concussion. They do have some line issues. They're shuffling some things up front as well. Conversely, uh, you look at the other side of the ball. The Jets have not played

with Eric Decker for the past two games. They won't be playing with him, uh for the next bunch of games, and it could be the entire season. Here, Chad is always great analysis. We look forward to catching up with you next week after we get back. Oh in the early hours of Tuesday morning, exactly. Take travel