Inside the Jets with Bart Scott and EA (12/5)

is a victory Monday. The Jets are Yes the beer. There's a couple of beers going on going around right now. A couple of cold waters as well for the youngsters. The Jets are five and seven thirty eight thirty one victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. First order of business is you made a wager before the year started with ESPN personality and former New York Giant Chris Kenny book Come On, cars were on the line. Bart Scott said the Jets would win five games and four more. I

didn't know. Come on, I didn't just happen at five, man, I'll be hating. So five games in two thousand seventeen, while the Jets just beat the Chiefs. So the Jets have You've won the You've won the butt, and the bet was a Ferrari versus a Bentley, correctly. So what's happening now is Chris Canny owning up on the bet? Well, you know what. A couple of weeks ago, me and Chris share the same age, and it was his birthday.

I left it up to the fans, and the fans thought I should show mercy, and I gave him a buyout package for sixty grand, forty cash and twenty thousand for my charity. You know, so it's Christmas time, so I'm gonna use that my need to get back. I didn't know if I had enough time to sell a Bentley or put it on Craigslist or anything like that or eBay. So Chris Canny still has the bent Line, he still has to Bailey, he still has to Bailey. But I got sixty thousand, so parts Scott puts the

merciful part, Scott, the merciful part. Scott puts forty thou in his pocket and twenty thousand the charity following on the budget, man, you just let me know, if you can get a hall pass, man, we go out on this town and tad up. Oh yeah, I definitely get a hall pass. I want to go out with you and spend some of that fort K. Bottom line is what did you see from the Jets in the summer to make your prediction and eventually your dream or your um desirable outcome came true. Well, I'll tell you what

I've been in this situation before. And you know, I was a member of the Baltimore Ravens in two thousand two after they lost you know, Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharp, Sarah Goose To, Sam Adams, Uh, Jamie Sharper, you know, Dwayne Starts, you know all the you know the great players. And I know sometimes you can unders made young talent because you don't know who they are. Um, but every athlete that's in the NFL is here because they're bet They bet on their selves and they used that as motivation.

And I knew that team would come in and underestimate them and they would play above you know, their weight, and they're punching above their weight and it's because they're they're getting chemistry. And what happens is where you don't have the Royal reevers where you don't have a David Harris. When you don't have a Nick Man, what happens is now it's on everybody and you don't depend Sometimes we

depend too much on our superstars. And what happens is when it is no superstars or superstars that are in the making, then everybody, you know, carries their fair share of weight and they don't lean and wait for, you know, for somebody to make a play, because they know everybody has to make a play. Nobody talks about it yesterday in the winning locker room, and I didn't hear it from many Jets fans, but the Jets equal their win

total from a year ago. You just mentioned a number of players who were on the New York Jets in two thousand and sixteen. The Jets won't five and eleven last year. Right now, they're sitting at five and seven, uh four games to go. Nothing to celebrate. If you asked Todd Balls and the players in the locker room man here in a few moments will be joined by defensive lineman Xavier Cooper and also wide receiver slash kick returner Joe Joe natson Um. If you ask anybody love

named like Joejoe, that's that's sweet. That rolls off the tongue. Man. All right, So we're gonna talk to Joe in a few moments. But the guys in the locker room will tell you we should be sitting here about seven to five or eight and four. Think about the games against Miami when you need a fourteen point lead in the fourth quarter, or Atlanta when you had a lead at home,

or Carolina when you had a lead at home. So the Jets are just a couple of plays away from being in a good spot as far as playoff contention is concerned. Well, you know it's called it's called a growth cycle. And um, you know they've they've learned from their mistakes and yesterday was proof of that. And that's what you wanna do. You want to be able to get that experience. I tell people that veterans are veterans not because they've never made mistakes, is because they made

those mistakes and they've learned from them. It's not a sin to make a mistake, it's a sin to make the same mistake and not learn from other people on on your on your squad making mistakes. What happens is you get that experience and some of these guys, you know, they want to be part of the future. You're going forward. Next year is gonna be shake up. They're gonna bring in more players. So what happens is now you're gonna have, you know, tremendous depth because the young guys that maybe

started this year, everybody may not start next year. But what happens is now you have confidence and a guy when you gotta call somebody's number, because you've seen them do it before and they've been in those situations inside the chests is presented by e Y building a better working world. While that was an entertaining ballgame at less MetLife Stadium started off bad though. I was nervous well before most people sat down and had their cold beverage

and maybe a popcorn or two. It was fourteen nothing Chiefs, but I was heating on my wings. Man, it was fourteen nothing. I was like, what happened? Boom boom boom? That t bows the hell of a thing. Man had to go to tebow. See what happened? Man? Yeah, but the Chiefs, but the Jets did not panicked that. I like what I saw from them. They absorbed a punch and then they countered europe boxing fan And that's exactly

what the Jets did. They actually took a lead and a halftime a seventeen you know, to to quote the great Rocky Bell Bowl, it ain't about hag you hit, It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. That done. Hey, what do you think about

the offensive balance against the Chiefs? Nearly five hundred yards a total offense for this team and forty nine rush attempts, So the Jets dominated time of possession and they did a great job up front, specifically on a guy like Justin Houston, a guy who's been rushing the passer at an elite level for many years in the National Football League. Well, absolutely, I mean you talk about I mean, did they run

a thousand plays? It seems like they read a thousand play I know what they and twelve from like the one inch line, you know what I mean? Yeah, that last drive, well it just talks about that just speaks to h Josh and and and the offense ability to convert third downs you I mean you talk about on third down they were thirteen Absolutely, so whenever you're above forty five fifty percent. You know, you're gonna be You're gonna be efficient, and you're going to continue to keep

the change moving. And if you don't score point, you're gonna flip the field and make them have to go um, you know, eighty ninety seventy yards and that's always a good thing. So I was very proud of how they battled. They battled, they fought, and they grind and winning in this league is never easy, and and and they just you know, they just kept pulling the rope. What do you think about Josh mccount. Now, he's got five touchdowns on the ground this season. That of the Jets eleven

rush touchdowns, but he had like a fifteen. He had at least five quarterbacks sneaks. You know absolutely, I'll tell you what. You know, he's still in pretty good shape. You know, I wouldn't make a living of diving forward, you know, because God's defenders. As a defender, whenever I see a quarterback, you know, do the quarterback sneak? I know, his head is his his head is eligible and guys that takes shots at the head. But you know, you know, he has one of the best heads of hair in

the game. You know what I mean. So the blind bomber, you know, got that nice thick coat. You know, he protects him from all good concussions and stuff like that. What do you think about the way McCown it's so adept in the pocket he feels the rush and sometimes he'll talk it if it's third time and he sees a lot of green and from in front of him, he'll pick up eleven. But the thing that I've been so impressed with is that he slides and he finds

himself space and finds himself throwing lengths. Well, when you think about young quarterbacks, the first thing they do when they feel the precious they retreat, which is the worst thing to do. It's it's kind of like being in the eye of the of the hurricane. It's safe in the center. So you know, great veteran quarterbacks understand they need to step up and step left and right. You know, you don't want to retreat because what happens is, you know,

they continue to come. When you retreat back, what you're not in a position to see the field and also to deliver the ball. And a lot of young guys look down, don't that they see the rush you have to fill the Russian. You know, give some credit to

this offensive line. I think they've started to get a lot of chemistry together, and they've been healthy for the most part, and guys have come in and filled in when guys went down abably, and you know, you have to tip your hat to them because they provided him the opportunity. Josh mcconnor is a veteran quarterback. Whenever he reads man and man coverage, he understands that everybody's back.

If he beats the wave of the of the defensive line, he understands that everybody's back his turn and he can get those yards. And that's what I talked about when I mentioned that he was a professional quarterback. Early in the year, when everybody was saying, hey, maybe they should, you know, evaluate the young guys. Josh McCown gives you an opportunity to evaluate the entire football team. And everybody is flourished and everybody is starting to develop and get better.

And talk about the chemistry between those two receivers right now, talk about for the first time since how long you got to go back to the t sixties when the Jets had a pair of receivers named George Sower and Do Maynard black and white TV. So just the first time Jet fans have seen it in color. To two receivers go over a hundred yards and back to back. He could set back to back, get back to back, back to back. All right, So what's cleaned up for me?

What I appreciate? Hey, buddy, what is the ceiling on Robbie Anderson? Because I'm tweeting during the game and a lot of folks are saying, you know, yeah, Robbie Anderson and he only could be a two or three. I don't know if we know what his ceiling is right now. If you look at his stats over the course of the sixteen game season, he's on pace for eleven hundred yards. And it's not just eleven hundred yards. He's getting into

the end zone as well. They keep following. I don't understand how teams keep falling for the banana and tailpipe. Dude is fast. I know he looks like with Khalifila, you know, I mean, he's dangly and doesn't look fast. But listen, get back. I don't understand why, guys. You know, that's guy's own pride thinking though he can't be that fast, and they're looking at tape until they see it in

real life. And he gets on top of you, and he's making great plays, and he's learning how to high point the ball, and he's starting to to really eliminate those drops that he had earlier in the career. And he's learning to run the route tree, the entire route tree, so guys can't fall off. He's starting to ask some more routes to his repertoire, and I think Curse has been a tremendous asset for him as he's doing all the grimy work. I have some fan duel fantasy analysis

for you, brought to you by FanDuel. Have all the fantasy that football has to offer. B Sports Rich. You gotta be looking at the Jets receivers right now, fantasy players out there, how about your main curse. Is Robbie available in some leagues? He probably he might be at the beginning of the year. You could get Robbie Anderson cheap. You're getting Robbie Anderson cheap no more because these guys

are getting it done on the outside. And how about how about McCown Because he's thrown for eight teen touchdowns, he rushed for five touchdowns. I mean it's amazing. I mean, he's having a career year and that just showed you. You know, you never know what you're gonna get, man, And that's why we played the game. You know, people want to, you know, assume that they understand the narrative and and and put people in the boxes. And he's

breaking out of a box. He's shattering that box all right. Inside. The Jets is supported by Selective Insurance. A responses everything, Eric Allen and Bart's got here Vanderbilts Sports and Spirits and we'll be right back with the pair of New York Jets defensive lineman Xavier Cooper and also a wide receiver kick returners Joe gez Nats. Welcome back to the Windham Hamilton Park, Eric Ellen, and Parks Scott our player guest segment is resigned by M and T Bank Official

Community Back of your New York Jets. I brought up a pair of younger Jets for your part, Scott, right now, Joe, Joe Nansen, Nick Xavier Cooper, Thank you so much guys for joining us. You do this, Oh well, man, it's such a program. I'm learning from this dude every days. Right there. Yeah, well you might great transitions, man, you might have to use a couple of transitions and uh your next shot. But we're not going to talk about that right now. Running wrong for that. Man. Hey, guys,

how good did it feel to pick up a W yesterday? Man? Felt great? All the hardware you know, it pays off. That's that's what we practiced for. That's what we you know, watch film for, is to get that win. So it was a good feeling. Like man, it was. It felt good, you know, to get back get a W. Know they always say winning killers, you know everything. Yeah, that felt good. What was what was the mood like on the sideline

when you went down fourteen? Oh, when they came out and and Kelsey came out and with the old banana to tell pipe Will, what was the what was the mood like on the sideline? I think you know, I expected the same mood if you was up fourteen, you know, Um, I think guys were staying together and guys knew it's a long game. A lot of players be made, and you know, we came back and you know, handled our business and we got to win. Xavier, Uh, I want to talk about while we have both of you guys

up here right now. Your path to the New York Jets. You played at Washington State University. Then you were a third round pick of the Cleveland Browns in two thousand and fifteen. Can you tell us about your time in Cleveland? Might you want to make this man we live a nightmare? Come on, Cooper talk. My path was unique. You know, I was drafted in third round ninety six overall, played with Cleveland for two years, and um, you know, was

on three teams this year. Started off in training camp with the Browns, then was with San Francisco for seven games, and then came to the Jets. So it's you know, bart to tell you, man in this league and nothing guaranteed. You gotta work for us an interview every day, So I'm learning that. But what about connections, Xavier, Because in Cleveland you had a defensive line coach, right and Robert Nunn who got to know you awfully well, and I'm sure he had a hand in bringing you here to

the Jets. Yeah, coach was there last year. We're a super young group. Uh, none is a technician, So every day you gotta work your craft and get better at your craft and you know, I like working with him because you know, he helps me be a better D lineman. And of course I played with Josh too, uh with the Browns two. So you know, I'm happy Josh is getting all his success. And we'll get to that in a second. Joe, Joe Natsen, you played the Utah State.

You transferred to Akron undrafted. Oh that's what's up? Yeah, Pa shamp too. Yeah, part of the fraternity up here. He got that big sign talk he'll know what he's like. He know, he'll know what his life. I also was undrafted, So you gotta feel good so that all three of these guys undrafted got the same sign about Joe Joe. Um, can you tell us about your time in Indianapolis this summer and then coming over here to the Jets. Oh, well, you know I want undrafted it. Um. I was blessed,

you know, to get an opportunity with the coaches. Um. I did really well. I felt like I did really well in the preseason. You know, you know things didn't work work out over there. You should have been there. Hey, you picked up that you picked up the nicknames the aunt Man and the Fleet in Indianapolis. Did any of those stack or did you like any of those? I mean that I thought it was gonna stick if if I was around, if I stayed around, I thought it

was gonna stick. Right. But yeah, they kind of they kind of gave me that nickname, you know, being you know, one of the smaller guys on the team. So you know, but it's all good. It's a pound yeah always um. But yeah, it was like I said, the journey over those uh and you know, god, you know less we gonna come through another path over here in New York. So we're just a good time being. There's a much better city. Yeah, indianaps is not a bad city, not bad.

I'm just saying I love New York and India is not bad for conventions and stuff. Yeah convention yeah, yeah, that's all Okay, that's because they always got space available. That's why the all's got convintion. Now, this guy over here, Joe Joe Natson seven what but hud Now I'm on a good day about once won six day on a good day. Yeah, So part this it's a message to everybody out there watching New York, just dot com, watching on Facebook, listening on the ESPN radio, all the youngsters

growing up. It's not the size of the man, it's the size of the heart. Well that's that's that's why I love That's why I love football because you know, Mike Singletary, who's you know, my linebacker coach in Baltimore. You should tell me that greatness comes in all shapes and sizes and if you can play, it's a position for you in football. It's not like basketball where you gotta be you know, six six, six seven. You know, you got you got guys like Isaiah Thomas, you know,

but that's about it. You know, you have greater examples of guys that are under six feet. You talk about Dante Hall, you know who who are some of the smaller guys that you looked up to? It as you were trying to say, Hey, I'm gonna there to be great,

I'm gonna try and make it to the NFL. Who was somebody some people that influence you, Uh, darn S Frods was like one of my you know, the biggest you know, says that I looked up to, you know, being saying Hi, I mean he's a little thicker, but you know he kind of like paid the way from them showing that I can do it. Then, you know, I just start with my dream. You know, I've always been against all the odds, so I just you know, I just you know, got motivation from you know, those people,

the saying I can't do it. So I just kept I kept going. Eric Allen here with part Scott and Joe, Joe Natsen and Xavier Cooper. Xavier, what's it been like inside that the funtal line room? You coming in after being with the forty niners. You gotta acclimate to the new surroundings, pick up a new system and then hit the ground running. Yeah. Well the system uh that we're playing it now, the defense that we're in now, it's kind of similar to what I played in last year.

Um with Ray Horton, he was a d C for EST last year and none. You know, it's the same cause you know, usually Barton knows. You know, a lot of this stuff is carried over from team the team. It's a copycat league, as you know, so you know it was it was pretty good. Um uh, you know, getting in there and learning the guys, learning how the guys operate. But it was an easy transition for me. Everybody's super humble, you know, cool to tough to them.

So I think that's a tough thing coming in just mid season basically what both both of you guys have done, because not only are you picking off packing moving saying okay, I got a new working environment, but you have to Both of you guys are in positions where you have to prove it on the practice field because if you come in and you don't prove it on the practice field, you're not getting playing time or you're not here and

you're looking for a new address. And it's tough. You just tough because you have to earn the trust of your coaching staff and teammates. But you have limited opportunities. A lot of times when your backup, you know, you're you're running the scout team. You know play, so you know you you have very few opportunities to run the offensive prove that you you know, absorbed the offense. So I mean, I commend both of these guys. It's tough

coming in. And you know, that's what people don't understand when they talk about you know, they say, hey, we are millionaires and your life is easy, but you'll talk about moving from San Francisco to New York. I don't think you can go any farther, you know, and picking up and leaving your belongings and living out of a hotel, living out of a suitcase. You know, you have to be persistent, you know, to to to stick. And it's tough because you have to ask somebody that's willing to

stand on the table for you get your opportunities. And that's the that's the hard part. Especially been a third round draft pick, especially being an undrafted free agent, opportunities are limited and far between. Exavier, you're playing at Washington State. The head coach at the time was that Mike Leach. Now here's the guy before you. You like, Lease never made you sleep in the closet then you here. I don't think that would have worked out. You would have

did that. I never Understill, there's no way this man with Maybe you got a clause either, man, I think I think handle explain to the listeners I'm speaking of. When I'm talking about, I think you're talking about Mike Leach and uh his days coaching Texas Tech. Yes, Uh, there were some disciplinarian issues, I guess with a couple of players, But where do he put them? Um? I think we're gonna cross this fence. Man, we go, we go right to the line. We're gonna go over it.

We're gonna go right to the line. He put a couple of players made him sitting in closing in the dark room because they had concussions. And you know, since then, he's he's changed. Don't worry. I said the same thing that Mike Leach when he came to the to the facility. I'm not worried about it. If I got your back, you know, he was was almost just signed up by Tennessee almost. I'm happy you didn't go in to closet. But Xavier playing for a guy like Leach at Washington State,

everybody is thinking offense, offense, offense. Did you feel like you were getting to love there? Because the first thing you think about it about that program is the Mad Scientists, the pirate least Um. Yeah, I mean the amount of revs that the offense took, you know, on a daily basis, I thought I was playing offense, can tell you the truth. But you know, he really never um came over to

that side. He kind of just let the d C be the d C. But it was cool just watching how many routes they run and how sophisticated the offense was. So it was a good experience. And where are the Jets working you predominantly now on that front? Um, I'm just a reserve defensive linement for now, and I'm just playing all multiple positions wherever they need me, you know, when the guys need to come out for rest, I'm just jumping in there. You know, where do you fail?

Your natural position is? My natural position is at the three technique being able to rush inside and penetrate inside. So you know, I'm just trying to, you know, find my home here. And you know, asked was you know, whatever they asked for me to do, I'm trying to do it. And you know, just play hard. Bart Scott and I do a weekly film review on Jets Flight playing eleven thirty Sunday morning on CBS UH and he'll

go in to the definitions of football terms. But why didn't you explain to folks at home watching right now or listening on ESPN radio the three technique the three technique? So really the three technique is shaded on the guard. The guard is located right next to the center, and usually the three technique gets to you know, one on

one matchup. You know his his main objective is to control the B gap, you know, penetrate that B gap, knocked back the B gap, you know, hold up double teams periodically for the winebackers, so guys like Martin come in and you know, get that money too. But yeah, that's that's the position of the three techniques. Always always treated my three techniques very well. Watches food, steaks, whatever you want. I like my dude, nice and fat, whatever, you won't you got it what you really at the

end of the year. Absolutely, yeah, I'm very rather. You know, before these I pass came out. I know, I know you guys, this is all you know. But we had our courses, our curses. Was kind of like the first iPad that Apple stole the technology from. I always make sure they had everything they needed, man, because what happens is it's not a glorious position. Man. Half the time you're sitting there and sitting on double teams, and you know,

God comes like me come down. Always make sure whenever I was a linebacker, I got downhill fast so then they can split the double team and then I can do my part as well. But but that's what people liked about you when you played UH during your days with the Jets, is this guy loved to take on guards and if another linebacker was getting the tackle, you were fine with that. So a good man. This is long.

As long as long as you teammates know you have the respect from your teammates, that's all you care about. You don't care all about all the individual accolades because you know, the easiest thing to get in football is stats, right, But but to get the stats, who are willing to screw it? You know, I can go and brush the pass and get a million sacks, But how many yards am I gonna get give up by getting up field and creating a harder gap for my linebacker to have

to field. But and that's where you get the real respect from is your peerers. Joe Joe, Joe Gez not only are your receiver, but you are the Jets primary return man. Right now, what is the mentality of a returner? I mean, for me, my mentality, man, I'm just you know, I'm just trying to bring a spark to the team in the best wa he's possible on you know, can't return part returns my UH blocking unit. You know they do a good job from me every week and you know,

just earning the coaches trust on the team. My team made his trust. So any way possible I can make a spark for the team, That's what I'm trying to do. So you gotta be a little crazy to volunteer for that because people don't realize, you know, I mean it's hard to block these gunners in the league. And you got guys that's you know, right in your face. They're running you know, forty miles meant yards and the collisions. You know, who who who inspired you? Who are something

to you? Who's the best returner to ever doing? I gotta go with I gotta go with d Heston, you know. I mean you're watching what he did just throughout his career and just you know inspired me. They you know, we're trying try to, you know, follow his path. Do you think you're close. There's been a couple of times I've watched you after they got you down and you're hopping to the sidelines like, oh if I just broke that tackle, made one stuff this way, I'm to the house. Yeah,

I mean I think I'm closed. Uh, Like I said, I'm just trying to you know, take each week, one week at a time, you know, just build my confidence up, and you know, because I feel like that's all it is for me right now, just you know, trying to build my confidence up and then you know that big one that's gonna come. So my coach telling me to

be patient and you know it's gonna come. And what about your Joe um offensively, you're getting a little bit of working and practice as well or right now predominantly uh, special teams right now, I mean it's predominant special teams. But I'm getting a little work each week coach, working in the practice. You know, I came in late. You know, I could leaving the coach, so I wasn't kind of I want all the way caught up with the guys

on as far as the playbook. But you know, as week's been going by, I've been getting better in a in my playbook. And you know, Coach, he's you know, trying to put me in the midst a little bit. I'll go into the to the suggestion boxing get you on that jet suite, you know what I mean, storage storage story couldn't been that corner quite yesterday. Well get

you a shot at it. Exavier what's it been like for you to work with a guy, A consummate professional, Steve mcleanden, who came over here from the Pittsburgh Steeler. He's been here a number of years. I think he's kind of an unhar old guy along that defensive line, a good run stuffer. He's really helped this team out um fortify the middle this year. I think. Yeah, Steve brings that event savness to the d line. Um Ever since I got here. Uh, you know, Steve's welcome me in.

You know, he's been able to teach me some things I didn't know, because you know, you gotta stay a student in this game, because this game will bring you to your knees. Every everybody knows that that's played it. And so you know, I just asked Steve, you know, different things about taking on doubles, playing different uh blocks, going against different offensive schemes, and he's been really helpful. He's he's got like a philosopher way about him, doesn't

he figus? Uh? He always looks at the big picture and is able to grab hold of it and then and then articulated in a fine way. Yeah, you know, Stephen de Mario great leaders on the defense. You know, like I said, I played, I played with the Mario and Cleveland as well, and him and Steve. You know, bring that vet saving us and guys that you know can get you up it if you're filling down or something's going on in your life. You know, when you test the field with those guys, you want to bring it.

Oh man, I'm just I'm just reminded when you say tomorrow. I'm reminded because you gotta think I got him when he was young and he hit us with the wheelbarrow story. You know, he's a rookie and he come in he tells his story about getting in the wheelbarrow. We're all looking like rookie if you don't shut the hell up and go get my doughnuts, man, get down out of here. But yeah, he's listen. I'm listen. I'm problem. I tell you,

I'm like a problem. I'm like a proud paper man because I've watched you know, the Mario mature and you know we talked about at the beginning of the season. You know, I think he struggled him and Darren with the chemistry, you know, but I don't think I think he's playing top five linebacker in his league since you know Week three alright, so uh, he's Savory Cooper. Keep

up the hard work, Joe Joe. Now sin, I think it's only a matter of time because base good things happened the folks who visit us on inside the Jets. So that's some fantasy advice for you. Maybe pick up Joe Joe Nansen down the stretch. He's ready to take one to the house. Thanks so much for joining us. Guys, may be right back. I'm inside the Jets. Thanks. We're back here at Vandabilet Sports and Spirits at the Windham

Hamilton's Park Hotel. Nice job defense the lineman Xavier Cooper also a wide receiver, kick returner Jojoe Natson, and I wish we were on live during the break. We might have to start doing that, uh for folks on Facebook or watching our livestream on New York tes dot Com ESPN. We gotta pay the commercials. But you just had some words of wisdom for both of these guys. It may get too real for him off off the area. Yeah no, no,

I've just explained to them. Listen, I've been in the in the in the situation that they've been in I've been undrafted free agent, you know, just waiting for that one opportunity. And I was telling him, listen, you may only get one opportunity. If you get to you're lucky and to maximize those opportunities, you know, because I've been there, and I explained to them what my first start was, the situation, um that that that it came under. And you know, you would have never heard of me if

I hadn't performed when I had that opportunity. So yeah, well, let's to be transparent with the people out there. But my first start, after three years of waiting, after being a special team's demon, after working your way up during practice, you get a start. Not a Sunday afternoon, not against any any old team, but it's a Monday night game

against Pittsburgh. Still. Yeah, absolutely, it was Halloween night, Monday night football, right night for Bart Scott Man backer, Jerome Benness, Willie Parker, No Ray Lewis, Lewis Hamstring got the week before, and everybody was like, hey, you know, Pittsburgh was Pittsburgh at that time, and you know, at that time it was really about running the ball and and and being physical.

And here I am this two thirty five pound linebacker, you know, and everybody thought, okay, it was a foregoing conclusion that the Stellers were gonna run the pump and I and I took those lights and I signed them directly on me, and I dared to be great. And then I said, hey, man, if I'm if I'm gonna go down, I'm going down swinging. You know, I'm going down on my back. They're gonna have to carry me out of here. And I was willing to die at night. Literally,

I was willing to die. I willing do whatever I had to do to make sure that I got an opportunity and I got a second chance. And I had a decent night. I believe I had two sacks and eleven tackles, you know, a couple of p b U s, and you know, took Big band down a couple of times and showed bussy ball. I was a driver that night. And the rest is history for Bart Scott. Uh Jets defensively against Kansas City gave up way too many big plays for their own liking. Kansas City didn't really rush

the football. Yes, Elx Smith got free for seventy yard or you never want to see that I seen them pulling away from Guy's man. I gotta check some some forty on that defense. So this year though the Jets have not given up a lot of big plays defensively, What did you see? Why did it happen Sunday? Well, you know, it's it's tough to be on the island with with Tyreek Hill. I mean, you talk about Robby Anderson, Tyreek Hill is more compact. Uh, He's faster in and

out of his brakes. He is the fastest man in the NFL. And I mean you talk about I mean you can't get enough cushion, and you know been on one on one and you know, talk about the last play and man and man coverage. You know, the Jets tried to show that too deep shell. But Alex Smith has been there, done that. He's seen all these type of looks before. You know, the safety can only hold it for so long. And running the bang eight and when you have outside leverage, which is you're trying to

play to whatever help you can get. When you said bang eight, bangade is like a post. So imagine running straight in that fifteen twenty yards you're going to. It's going straight to the goal post. And uh, you know, it's tough when you have outside leverage because you can't get too high on him because if you get in front of him and give up the post, you have absolutely no help. You have a small chance to have help. If it's a dig or something like that. You can

get either your whole player or your rat player. When I say a whole player of rat player, it's the un it's the free defender. He can choose to help whoever he wants to help in between the middle of the field. But he made that help may go to somebody else, so you know, you don't know. And and you know Tyreek Hill got it got loose. But what I was impressed with is they never blinked, you know,

whenever whenever Kansas City answered, they had a response. And you know, that's what you talk about it saying any means necessary. It's not gonna always be pretty, you know, but the the ultimate goal is to get the victory. And that's what they did. And they did it because they showed a lot of grit, they showed a lot of character, and they showed that you know that they can that they can be in a tight game and fighting scrap against an elite quarterback. Listen, good teams find

different ways to win. And if you had told me before Sunday and the Jets were going to be in a you in the shootout with the Kansas City Chiefs, I would have thought, Hey, maybe this is something you don't want to be in. But they found themselves in that and they found a way to win. In the fourth quarter, different guys stepped up. I mean you talk about you know, the points they put up. I think there's more points than the Giants put up all year combined. Yeah, yeah,

I said it. Yes, said it's been a horrible year. I'm I'm kind of enjoying that a little bit. I'm a basking and glory from a former player's perspective. Uh. Something that Todd Bowles did uh before this game was he made Darrenly inactive and he also uh benched Mohammed Wilkerson for the first quarter. Now, Todd Bowles is a kind of guy, and I know you have trun to run amount of respect for him. He does not take any issue publicly. If he's got to say anything to

a player, he's gonna say it behind closed doors. What he said to the media was coach's decision we handled in the house. I mean you you you got and and and that's what you You don't want to publicly embarrassed um athlete unless you have to, unless they make you, you know. And and Ty keeps everything in the house. And I think you know, you don't see any leaks this year. You don't hear anybody speaking out. Everybody kind of hounds their business professionally. And you know, but what

that does is send a message. That sends a message to your team that nobody is bigger than this team. Right, No victory is important, you know. And and I'm not picking on the giants, but if they would a nip the O'Dell stuff in the butt earlier, I don't think Macaw doing These guys you know, get get fired today, you know. And it's because you have to. You treat everybody fairly. You can't treat everybody the same, but there's certain things that you just have to put your foot down.

And when if you break team rules, nobody is above the team rules. Nobody is bigger than the team. That that is the message that Todd Bowles ascending. And look at the way the guys on the field, Sunday responded, next man up. And you know, every but every Sunday, something we talk about is that the Jets this year are playing good football. Yes, the record is not where they wanted to be, but at five and seven every

week they come with juice, passion, energy. Last year, at times, we watch a lot of veterans struggle through moments basically late in their career, and the Jets were getting blown out of games. You go and each week thinking, hey, this team is gonna give everything they have and they're gonna have a chance at victory in the fourth quarter. Absolutely. I mean in this league, you can get by with enthusiasm and passion and emotion and sometimes teams for some

certain reasons and I don't bring the passion. And it's harder when you're a veteran and you've you know, have been there, done that. All these guys play like they're excited to have an opportunity to play football for a living. And that's something that you know should be commended that these guys bring it every every week. And that's what happens is you know, guys don't bring it in What happens is a lot of effort and past can get you get you through you know, you're not gonna every place,

is not gonna always be the perfect play. But it's a lot to be said about hustle and grits. De Mario didn't have to run Alex Smith down if you hesitate just for a second, right those on the two yards where he where he goes in. But when you see that guy, you know, brat Lucy, you decided to pull the triggers, then you know that's impulsi, that's that's practice, that's that's trading a culture. You're watching inside the Jets. We're here at Vanderbilt Sports and Spirits, Eric count and

part Scott. We're gonna come right back and talk about the Jets going to the Mile High City and facing the Denver Broncos. All right, we're back here at the Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Sports and Spirits inside the Windham Hamilton's Park um Part Jets Broncos Sunday in Colorado. Jets so far the season, just one road victory. This is a on team who has every right to be feeling good about themselves, but they only have one road victory this year.

That was in Cleveland. That was a struggle. How did they take this performance against Kansas City and going to Denver and take care of business against a team that has lost eight consecutive games and it's now three and nine. But they gotta realize they can't overlook anybody. They haven't earned the right to overlook anybody. And if you've never played in Mile High before, they're in for a route rakening because the altitude is something that can be an issue.

So you want to make sure that you're efficient on getting off the field on third down, and you're you're efficient and converting third down. You know, I remember playing in the Mile High Stadium when I was with the Baltimore Ravens, and you know, we told people every every day that, okay, listen, the air is thin up there is gonna be different, right And until you start really running,

you don't understand. First of all, you have to worry about altitude takenal so I'll be I'm curious to see the Jets decided to travel as well, because well, how did you used to do that? As well? You can do it one or two ways. You can go out there a day early, give your body an opportunity to acclimate to the to the altitude, or you fly in late It takes like twenty four hours for you to feel the effects of altitude sickness because you can get

migraines at night sleeping as the error spin. And also you have to adjust because when you start running you can get headaches. So it's gonna be important that you prepare for. It didn't really impact me on the field, and it didn't impact me because I was in great shape and I was too young and stupid to know

that I was supposed to be tired. But I did see I won't name his name, but I didn't see a linement faker injury because he was so tired during two minute drill and he couldn't breathe, so he faked his own injury. We had a calls of time out. This dude laid on the ground for about twenty minutes and then got up and spread it off the field. We look like, what are you doing about at enough air to spread up the film exactly. He couldn't breathe,

so he laid down here for about five minutes. But he made us way the time out during two minute drill while we were trying to get a score. So it can be an issue, especially for the bigger players, and you talk about dbs and it's something that you have to just too. But you know, the biggest problem could be the no flies on because it's gonna be a huge challenge for curse uh And and Robby Anderson as they have to deal with Chris Harrison a key

to leave if he's off suspensions. I believe he's all suspension. I believe it's just I believe I believe the team should suspend him another game. What he did was bush league, but that's a whole another story. They've been struggling as well, and it should be a matchup where you know, it should be a defensive struggle because you know, when you

have three quarterbacks, you have none. You talk about Trevor Simeon, Paxson Lynch and Oswalder, I mean talk about, you know, not really knowing who your leader is, and that could be a problem. But they have very capable weapons on the outside. I don't know. I think of Maauel Sanders is playing, the Marris Thomas is playing. So they can

get loose. You can't allow c J. Anderson to get rolling because when they've had success this year, it's been because c J. Anderson has pulled that safety into the box and gave those one on one opportunities on outside. How important will early in this ballgame be? Considering Denver started three and one, everybody in the National Football League thought, Hey, this is gonna be a playoff team. They might win

the division, but they'll definitely be in the playoffs. Now there is no chance for them to be in the postseason under our first year and head coach Fans Joseph. They're really struggling. They're scuffling. You've been on teams that have struggled before, but I mean eight in a row. This is this is something where this is gonna impact your mindset. And if the Jets can go in there jump on him early against an offense that really can't get out of its own way, you gotta figure the

Jets have a great chance of winning this game. Yeah, but you talk about the best pass rusher in the game, when you're talking about Bond Milling, you can't. You have to count for him as well. They are good enough defensively to win the game on their own. You know, if you if you turn the football, absolutely, because they got ball hawks who if they catch the ball, can turn those into points. As well. I think one of the most underrated losses this year was the fact that

they decided to move on from Wade Phillips. It's a totally different defense. It's not as aggressive, it's not as creative, it's not the three four, and I think they're struggling

for that. So the Jets are gonna have to make sure that they get out early and that they're they're they're willing to use all fifty three on the roster because you're gonna need them, especially if these guys, you know, because they're young, so to be the first time you talk about emotional players, you know, you talk about may,

you talk about lead, you talk about Adams. You know, sometimes you may have to keep your composure because I'm telling you, if you get on one of these two minutes, with these two minutes, and you shoot your wire early and you get tired early on in the game, it could be a long day. Alright. So the Jets, let's break the season in the quarters. They're approaching the final quarter of the season at then for this week and

at New Orleans. The team who has really changed its identity uh playing pretty good defense, but they're rushing of football Alvin Kamaras taking the NFL by storm. Then a home game again on Christmas Eve against the l A Chargers, who are hard to say, who are competing for the a f C West title, and then you finish up with New yuh New England on New Year's Eve. What do you see quickly in thirty seconds as far as the final quarter to schedule, Well, it's it's always tough

to play against the wing. But you don't you don't know if New England's playing for for um number one over our record for home for the bandage um going against Drew Brees. You know you talk about ingram as well, you know that one two punch is really you know, running the football is. It's gonna be tough, but you know this team is capable of beating anybody if they're willing able to put together four quarters of team football and make sure they don't turn over the ball. All right,

come join us next week. That's all other victory Monday