JET NOTES
Short on answers.
One day after Herman Edwards all-but implored his defense put Sunday opponent, Browns quarterback Tim Couch, on the ground any way legally possible, yesterday he expressed his displeasure with the Jets’ inability to convert on third-and-short situations.
The Jets are 0-for-4 running a back on third-and-one situations and they’re 0-for-1 on fourth-and-one. Conversely, they’re 3-for-6 converting third-and-one with a pass play, which is what they did in one sequence against the Vikings, connecting with Santana Moss for 21 yards.
Edwards recalled a conversation he had, presumably with offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, over the headphones after Curtis Martin was stuffed on a third-and-one during the game.
“After a couple [failed] third-and-ones, somebody (Edwards) had to call somebody (Hackett) and say, ‘We’ve got to stop calling that one; it’s driving me crazy,’ ” Edwards said.
Later, after the 21-yard Chad Pennington pass to Moss on third-and-one, Edwards said, “We threw a pass and someone (Hackett) called me and said, ‘Do you like that better?’ I said, ‘I like it a lot better.’ “
Still, though, Edwards said he doesn’t like having to throw the ball on third-and-one.
“We get to third-and-one and I’m hollering out for the punt team,” Edwards said. “We can make third-and-eight, third and 10. But on third-and-one we might as well punt. Wait until we get third-and-one this week, though. I’ll bet you we make it.”
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Cementing his switch from QB to WR, the Jets changed Tory Woodbury‘s number from 11 to 89 and are now listing him as a WR on the roster. Woodbury’s dream remains playing QB, but he’s happy to be in the NFL at the moment,
“I made plays with No. 11 and I’ll make plays with 89,” Woodbury said. “As long as I’m still here I’m happy any way I can help the team.”
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Vinny Testaverde, who was excused from Wednesday’s practice to tend to a family matter, returned yesterday.
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The only player on the Jets’ injury report is rookie S Jon McGraw, who’s probable with a sore left shoulder from a hit taken last week.
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Edwards was happy with the way practice had gone this week, particularly in the wake of the first “Victory Monday” day off for the players. “The message was sent when we decided to give them Monday off that we needed to come back on Wednesday and have a good practice,” Edwards said.