Hey, this is Ryan Fitzpatrick and you are listening to the e A Podcast with Eric Allen. Take it away. Thanks Fits. Now, let's bring in our weekly contributor here on the e A Podcast, that of course is Chad Pennington. We're gonna break this baby into segments today, Chad, as November begins for the New York Jets, obviously against the Cleveland Browns. A listless first half the Jets were trying
that came out and dominated in the second half. But I don't even want to talk about that ball game because right now, what I want to focus on is Chad's favorite halftime speech during your playing career, because I wanted to be a fly on the wall in Cleveland at First Energy Stadium on Sunday to hear what Todd Bowles and the players were saying. But you go back to your playing career right now, and let's find out Chad Pennington's favorite halftime speech, either as a pro or
even going back to college in high school days. Oh man, um, well, d A, I think that one that comes to mind. As a pro. We were playing in San Francisco. We're five and oh and two thousand and four or four and home maybe, and um we went into halftime down
fourteen a zero. So I remember that that halftime speech was all about, you know, our offense not performing um well at all, and you know, just talking about having to step up and quit making excuses and stepping up and making plays and quit leaving our defense hung out the dry and be real and honest with each other and you know, do what we need to do. Um. So you know, I do remember that one now that you asked me off the cuff here, I do remember
that speech. But you know, I looked back at that Cleveland game and I mean, you just this team just teases you with what it's capable of being able to do. But at the same time, I still think it's a blue collar team. It's a team that has to play hard nosed, it has to take advantage of its opponent's mistakes that can't make very many mistakes to overcome those.
And if they play boot blue collar and take care of those little things, they certainly have a chance to do well on the second half of the seear Yeah, the Jets uh of a two game winning streak as they had the Miami and face the Dolphins. Will preview that game in a couple of moments, um, But what is it like in a pro locker room at halftime?
Because people watch movies, you know, and we're all a customed to seeing people come in with their the fire and brimstone, the stuff that makes you get chill bumps watching at home or in the movie theaters. But what is a pro locker room like at halftime when you guys actually go back in there? Is there a speech from the head coach? Do you all break into positional group and talk to your positional coach? Does the coordinators do both? Court all three coordinators take their groups to
the side. Because we don't know, Chad, you've lived it well, it's very business like. Typically, it's very business like where a lot of those things you mentioned happened. So you have you know, the offense getting together talking with their position coaches and then meeting together as a team talking with the coordinator discussing halftime adjustments defensively doing the same thing. Also have the head coach putting in a couple of words just from an overall perspective, um, once he talks
with his staff. And then sometimes depending on the situation, you may have a player too that has to get emotional and talk to the team. Typically that's about effort and attitude and making plays that may necessarily not be
about game plan stuff. So but for the most part, it's a business like environment as far as um you know, not a lot of craziness going on, just really trying to focus in on what do we need to do to either continue what we're doing or to change what we're doing in the first half from an attitude and a scheme standpoint, to do better in the second half. But is there a point where the head coach gets into the center of the room and everybody is glued
on him or that doesn't really happen. Typically, No, that happens typically at the end, right before you go out as a team to go back out on the field and head coach and bring the team up, and they're glued on him and what he has to say in in in a minute or two just to bring everybody together. You've got your adjustments, you've got your game plan. Now bring everybody together here a couple of words from the head coach moving forward, and then walked out as a team.
What about the Saturday night before the game when you guys are at a hotel, whether that's on the road or at home staying away from your family's Is that the one what that basically really sets the tone for what to come, for what is to come on Sunday?
And is that the time where you see maybe some inspirational videos or some different speeches, different guys getting up and things like that, because I know over the years I've heard different things happen at that team meeting on Saturday night before you guys actually go to bed and UH and and have your final rest before Sunday. Each team varies, but typically you could possibly see from a coach who wants to bring in an inspirational motivational speaker,
depending on the situation. UM, you also have UH an inspirational message from the coach maybe with the video played. You also talk about team goals for that game, so you understand as a team what you're trying to get accomplished and how each facet of the team, special teams, office, defense has to plug in to the victory. UM. And then also you have your offensive, defensive and special teams
meetings where you're going over last minute reminders. You're maybe looking at a couple of different plays or players that you've got to make sure that you're aware of or take up from an offensive, defensive, special teams standpoint. So it's there's a lot of different moving parts, um, but everything is centered around those team goals offensive, defensive and special team goals that you know we're going to make
you successful and ultimately lead you to victory. You played under a number of different guys with completely different personalities, you know, going back to the days of al grow and then you played under her mad Words, Eric Manginie, Tony Sperano and a couple others in there as well. UM. Can you talk about the not the differences in game day philosophies, but by the way they worked the room. Yeah,
I think. Uh. You know, Eric really enjoyed bringing in He loved boxing and the perspective that boxing brings, and so he loved bringing in people around the boxing world, UH speakers and just talking about that competitive edge and things like that. Uh. Coach Edwards, we all know his UM strength is in motivation, and so he would do a great job with his motivational talks and and and talking to the team and preparing us to get ready
to play and enjoy the challenge. UM. Coach Rono was very diplomatic, but he and he really liked using videos and different tools too and stories to talk to the team as far as preparing us. So you know, there's different tactics that coaches like to use. A lot of coaches have different tools in our toolback to try to
get the team motivated. It it's a long, grinding season, and so head coaches have to be very creative and very judicious and picking and choosing their times to talk with the team to motivate the team, being creative in the tools that they used to motivate the team and keep the team focused. I mean, it's to be a coach, you probably need your degree in psychology because that's what you're dealing with, is that you know the psychology of players.
Very simply put, how do you explain what happened on Sunday? As the Jets really had nothing in the first half, they made a couple of plays. Blapo explodes for a touchdown, Tohron Peak made a tremendous catch up the sideline. Uh Brandon Marshall was trying to get that ball club going, but there is nothing there mostly for the first thirty minutes and the guys will tell you that, but then they rebound have a twenty four point decisive run takedown
the Browns. But you just watching it on film and as a guy who battled in between the white lines, how do you explain it? Well, first of all, I think you have to make sure that you understand the difference between expectation and standard, and so I don't necessarily think that the Jets were playing at a low standard. I think the expectation of the Jets should roll in there and beat an HO and seven team from start
to finish is probably a little bit unrealistic. Number One, Cleveland has been in a lot of different games, and uh, you know they have players too, and then they can compete at a high level. So that's number one. I think probably the most disappointing part of the first half would be the last six minutes of the first half. It's attend to seven game and then you know, by the end of the first half it's twenty seven. That's where it got away from the Jets. Other than that,
it was just kind of feeling your way out. If there's anything that changed, it was the sense of urgency of the team that the team brought a sense of urgency to the second half because they were forced to. Whereas you would like to see your team bring that sense of urgency from the get and not have to develop a sense urgency because of the lack of production
and the other team getting after. You'd like to bring that off the bus and established that yourself and not have the other team caused that sense urgency, because sometimes just because the team calls it sense urgency doesn't mean that you respond well, and so especially on the road. But I will say when you look at the statistics, you see winning statistics, and you see winning the turnover battle zero to two. You see winning the time of
possession thirty three to twenty six. You see the running game a hundred and seventy one yards, and so you see winning statistics in there. It's just that it didn't happen over four quarters. That actually happened more in the last two quarters. What change for Ryan Fitzpatrick? That was a near disastrous first half. He took a vicious shot extending for the first down there holm the goals flying.
But god Fits is as tough as they come. Uh. He plays it like a linebacker sometimes and that's scary. But I could get nothing going in the passing game, the three completions in the first half, but then he came back, uh in the second half and really settled in and played a decent ball game. Yeah, execution was huge in the first half, or lack there of drop balls, miss throws, um, you know, things like that, just not
very much continuity at all. And then in the second half, I think what you saw early in the second half was completions on first and second now, and that established some rhythm and established some timing, gave Fitzpatrick as well as the rest of the offense some energy and confidence, and they were able to build on that for three
possessions in a row. And uh So, although we want to sit here nitpick the first half, we also should complement how the team played in the second half, um, and how they came out and just played a really, really high level and they executed. They took advantage of
their situations and opportunities. If I had to nick pick the second half at all, it would be that when you have a team down and you get two turnovers like that, you've got to turn those into more points than just three, especially when you get a turnover inside their tent. That has to be a touchdown. That cannot be a field goal in my opinion, especially when you
when you're playing better competition. That is putting the knife uh and the dagger so called, into the back of the opponent and really taking that game out of reach instead of being thirty one to twenty. But if Cleveland handles the clock a little bit better, they have even a better shot to try to tie that game up at the end. But they didn't handle the clock at a very well at all at the end of the game. Let's go mid season Awards right now in the A
podcast with Chad Pennyton, Jets A three and five. They're not where they want to be, but we're gonna look at it their first eight games and say, chat, if you had to say who is the team m v P at the midway point, what would you say? Well, here's here's what I say. Offensively. Um, sometimes I think most valuable UH doesn't necessarily mean the most productive yet, because sometimes your most valuable player just with his presence on the field provides a lot of value even though
the stats are there. So I'm gonna stay away from m v P and I will use the term most productive and I really liked the production with the moon Law. I think he has provided a spark when the offense has needed it. He has really stepped into that role. With with Eric Decker gone, I think the Jets should be excited about his production and what he's been able
to do. He made some amazing plays on on the Sunday and touchdown run was awesome and so and he's done that throughout the year and so, uh, touch out a catching run, I should say. But um, I think I've been impressed with him, But I've also been impressed with blal Powell and Matt Forte and and and some of the other guys that have really pitched in. It is truly I think it has been a team effort. Uh from that standpoint, But I will have to give
the nod to Quincy and Noon Wa in that regard. Well, Noon, what I'm paced actually for in a thousand yard receiving season right now? I know it's early and we're just the halfway point, but this is the e A podcast, so I'm making the rules here. And Brandon Marshall, of course I'm paced for another a thousand yards season. So without Eric Ducker in the lineup, with Jets still could have two a thousand yard receivers this year, which would
really be something. The emergence of a Noon from a quarterbacks perspective, you spoke about him and you really like them. What stands out to you about his physicality, because the good thing about a Noon was I think he still has a ways to go because sometimes have a couple of drops here and there and things like that, and he's continuing to work on his hands and his concentration and that stuff will openly talk about. But from a physical skill set, what do you love about him as
a former quarterback? Well, uh, you said it. His physicality, I think, and his versatility. Those will be the two words that I use. Number one, really his physicality in the run after the catch, in his ability to take a ten yard gain and turn it into twenty five
or turning into a touchdown. Uh. And then his versatility being able to work outside, inside, use as a tied end, sometimes use as a slot receiver, all the different things he creates, some matchup issues and and some personnel issues, and so for him to be of the step to the forefront and have the production that he has had for me as a quarterback, I know I have Marshalls, I know I have pal out the backfield. I need that other guy with Decker gone, And to me, fitz
Patrick can go. He's my guy. He's my guy that I can trust that if they take away Brandon Marshall, one is gonna make a play for me. And I think that is really huge from the quarterback. There are a number of players inside the Jets locker room who will tell you, hey, listen, I gotta play better. I
know to help this team win. But in your mind, as we look at this team at the mid season point, who is one player who really needs to step up his game for the Green and White to get back into this and continue this little mini ron New started with a two game win streak. Well, uh, the first thought would be the quarterback. I think I think that fitz Patrick would tell you that he has to be
more consistent. It It doesn't necessarily mean he has to have three hundred yard games games and three touchdowns every game. That that's not what we're talking about. We're just talking about really more or less avoiding disasters and disasters plays and keeping your team away from those types of negative things rather than creating more positive things. I think, Uh, that's where it has to start. That's where it was last year. That's where it has to be this year.
It starts with the quarterback, and he's starting to play a little bit more consistent, um, But he has to be as consistent as consistent can be throughout the second half of the year for them to even have a shot and making the playoffs. I mean, let's be honest, the team has to go seven and one. That's that's the bottom line. You have to set your mind on. You have to win every game just you know, to to have a chance to make it into the playoffs.
And and you may get lucky at nine and seven, but right now your mindset has to be you gotta run seven out of eight, you just do. You don't have any room for air here because of the way the first half win, which is possible. I've been on teams that have been able to do that one nine out of ten or seven out of nine or whatever it may be, and this team certainly has that opportunity, um, but they have to capitalize on that. That starts at
a quarterback position. Secondly, I would say that although the offensive line has shown, uh some good play and I know they're dealing with a lot of different challenges, rotating guys,
in dealing with injuries and things. That's where it starts. Uh. After the quarterback would be just offensive line gaining consistency, eliminating those penalties when you have big games, those types of things, and just providing a little bit more consistency upfront, especially in the passing game, which is difficult because the coach Gaily likes to use those spread UH formations and that provides more one on one opportunities for defensive alignment
against offensive alignment. But if the offensive line can ain't a little bit more consistency in the quarterback plays solidly consistent winning football, Jets certainly have a chance to go seven and one in the back half of the season. On the defensive side of the ball, who do the Jets need? Like you talked about the offensive side of the ball, and you said it fits has to be
more consistent. You get more consistent play of the offensive line, which uh, the one encouraging aspect of the line um and you said it is that the depth has been tested and guys have stepped up at times. Wesley Johnson played really well at the center position, I've been really encouraged by the guard play throughout a lot of season, especially Brian Winners, who I think is breaking out. But on the other side of the ball, I don't want
to ignore the defense. So is there a positional group or player that you're gonna put the hat on and say, okay, we need you to make strides for the Jets in the second half. Yeah, absolutely, I think it's the secondary. I think the secondary has to to make sure that they eliminate the miscommunication, eliminate the busted coverages. If they
do that, uh, then that really completes the defense. Uh, to make you know, as far as an opponent trying to attack him, because that's what opponents are gonna do. They're gonna say, look, we're not gonna be able to run the vault ball very much. We need to throw up forty five times a game. Well, as of the secondary, you're gonna be challenged, You're gonna be tested. I think teams are are no longer completely scared scared of the
rail reevers. They want to go after him and they want him to prove that he can shut down one side and and so as a team, Uh, defensively, the coverage has to be more consistent. My one suggestion then covers me more consistent is and I know that coach bowls those Rodgers. They love the matchup coverages and the
main coverages. I'm not so sure sometimes that the defense plays more spot zone coverages and kind of develops that bend but don't break mentality sometimes and to be able to eliminate some of these big plays, we turned some of these touchdowns just in the field goals. I think that would be important, which is a little bit of a shift, uh and in thought process and scheme, But at the same time that may have to be implemented just to kind of shut down some of those big
play opportunities and to eliminate this point. Yeah, and I have to say this too. I know Buster has had some ups and downs this season, but he is a very valuable part of the secondary and when he's out of the lineup, guys versatile. He's playing outside at corner and base, he moves inside in nicol when he's not in the lineup. That's a tough blow. And that's also a former Cleveland Brown. That dude wanted to be on the field, Chad, So not having him in the lineup
after a bounce back game against the Baltimore Ravens. He said he had to come back after being called for a number of penalties against Arizona Cardinals, and he he really wanted to be in that ballgame. So I think it would be a shot and harm with the Jets get Buster back because he plays with the passion and
he also gives his team some versatility as well. And I know the defensive backfield has said some issues this year, while documented issues and we all know that, but Buster Screen is one of their better players back there, and I think when he's not in the lineup, you can see it well. And and these issues we're talking about aren't issues that can't be fit. These are issues that on complete control of the defense and the defensive players, and they can fix these issues, which should make them
really excited about the second half of the season. They continue to clean up the mistakes and clean up some of the miscommunication um and then you know, with the defensive line coming to the forefront providing a heavier pass rush with just four rushers, that really creates a lot of issues for offense. And just be as versatile as you can and just play winning complementary football. I mean, that's that's what it's about. Defense. Struggling offense has got
to pick it up. Offense, struggling defense got to make the play. Special team has got to provide a spark when you get a team that understands that and provides that sense of urgency and all three phases depending on how the game goes, because the game is not going to go the way you wanted to all the time, and there's gonna be challenges. They're going to be adversity
in every game. It's how your team responds and how each side and each packet of the team helps provide that spark and that energy is really important and sometimes the ball starts finding you. What an encouraging sign it is for the defense is the last two weeks they have combined for four interceptions. Now entering week seven they had two interceptions. So now you're starting to see that a little bit. If that can continue, there's the complimentary
football you're talking about. So let's move on to our next segment on the A podcast with you have Pennyton talking country. This is a new uh feature that we're gonna do each and every week. But yet uh okay, right now. One of the most popular country artists out there is Sam Hunt. Now, Chad, let's play a little trivia. Did you know Sam Hunt played quarterback at Middle Tennessee State? And you may be sure? Did I knew he was a football player? I didn't know that, Yes, I did? Okay,
So what kind of football player was Sam High? Give us the scouting report? Report? And what I don't have. I don't have a very good scouting report, probably none of his ship because that's why I'm saying country. Oh, that's great stuff. Have you heard him talk about his football career at all? Not very much. But I'm not used a talent singer, um and so, and I'm a country music fan. So yeah, I did hear about his football expedition, so to speak. Uh, did Chad Pennington ever
think about having a country singing career? Well, there's all signship thoughts. They go run through your head and in reality the stokes and you realize that there's no shot. So when you can't carry a tune in the bucket, and then you just have no shot at that all right? And then finally here leave the night on or break up in a small town your preference on a favorite Sam Hunt song. Yeah, you know, I would say break
up in the small Town. But you know it's he's getting a little too pomplished for me when it when it comes to country music. He's got to tone it down, had a little bit of steel guitar and get a little bit more countryside. It would be what I would say, Okay, I love that. Okay, So we're gonna come back to
the country. Maybe some old school hardcore country next week. Finally, our final segment, Keys to Victory, give me three keys for the New York Jets as they go down to play the Miami Dolphins as your two former teams battle and the Jets defense is going to get to know a man by the name of J. G. I. E. This weekend. Absolutely three keys. Number one is is so obvious.
The run game for the defense. Uh, You've got a Dolphins team and a Dolphin runners has come off two back to back two hundred yard games, which is really really impressive. And you can see how that's made uh, their wins so much smoother and and provided more production at the quarterback position when you can rush for two hundred yards and makes a little bit easier. So the run game not allowing the Dolphins to establish UH, their mindset, their attitude, and their will on you. With the run game.
That's number one. Number two eliminating the big play defensively UH, and number three offensively turnovers. UH stay away from turnovers. The Jets will win the game. They stay away from turnovers because then they will win the time of possession. And I'm looking for them to have more red known
production moving forward into this second half. But run game, defensively being played defensively, and turnovers offensively, those three keys will be the key to victors of the Jets, and that would be something that would be a three game winning streak and then all of a sudden, the Jets would be four and five and all by the way the Jets last season, we're left for Dad at five and five, and they would have an opportunity to get to five and five with the win over the L A. Rams.
But you can't take anything for granted. The National Football League. I'm sure the Miami Dolphins are looking at the Jets as this is a game that they have to have and they should have as well. So it's gonna be fascinating to see these two old a s c's rivals, Chad Pennyton's former teams go at it in South Florida. Chad, we look forward to speaking to the next week again. Thank you.