JET NOTES
In anticipation of his return, Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet, who expects to make his first regular-season appearance today after breaking his left foot in preseason, has been chatting it up with Rick Mirer in practice the last couple of weeks.
“I’ve been out there watching practice the last three weeks, trying to get on the right page in terms of where I’m going to be,” Chrebet said. “I’d say [to Mirer], ‘When we run this and I’m in there, you can look here or there.’ I think we’re on the same page.”
Chrebet, a sometimes unstoppable third-down receiver, was a major security blanket for Vinny Testaverde last year with his underneath routes that often turn into long gainers.
Mirer, whose spotting of open receivers has been spotty at best, could desperately use a Chrebet as a safety valve.
“There are a lot of plays like that where I’m the underneath guy,” Chrebet said. “I just let him know that I’m going to be there.” *Chrebet, too, is going to let Testaverde know he’s out there once he plays.
“When I get back out there I’m going to play for both of us,” Chrebet said of he and Testaverde, who’s out for the year with a ruptured Achilles tendon. *Bill Parcells will continue to call the plays this week, as he’s done for the last three, in an effort to force-feed the running game.
“I’m trying to get something established as far as the run,” Parcells said. “We have to be able to do that. We can’t be a pass-reliant team totally right now. If we are, we’re going to lose the game.”
Somewhat of an insult to Rick Mirer, yes. But reality all the same.
Take a look at this breakdown of Mirer’s passing stats: Mirer in the fourth quarter of games is 24-of-55 (43.6 percent) with 1 TD, 4 INTs and a 33.3 rating. Mirer in the red zone is 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) with 1 TD and 3 INTs and an 18.9 rating. Mirer on third downs is 12-of-34 (35.3 percent) with no TDs, 3 INTs and a 7.2 rating.
These are not misprints. *One of several elements the Jets are concerned about today is the the Colts’ protection of QB Peyton Manning, who’s been sacked only twice all season.
“He’s improved his overall play and he does hold you with his fakes,” Parcells said. “I’m impressed with what I’ve seen of him. He’s developing very well and rapidly.” *Mirer was one of the players whom Manning turned to for advice when he was trying to decide whether to enter the NFL draft after his junior year or stay in college through his senior year. He spoke with Mirer, who stayed at Notre Dame all four years, about staying and spoke to Drew Bledsoe, who left early, about leaving early.
“Rick gave me good advice, saying, ‘Hey, if you want to stay in school don’t think twice about it,'” Manning recalled.