Don’t get in Donnie Henderson’s way. Don’t tick him off, either. Just get it right.
“Quit talking about it,” Henderson barked to starting safeties Jon McGraw and Reggie Tongue as they commiserated after a play that they obviously didn’t get right in yesterday’s morning minicamp practice.
“Get on the same page, you guys are pros,” Henderson chirped to McGraw and Tongue moments later while they were on the sideline.
“Who’s that? Vilma? Get off the block. Get your [butt] off the block,” he screamed after a running play on which No. 1 draft pick, LB Jonathan Vilma, obviously wasn’t where he was supposed to be.
Those were a mere handful of snippets captured from Jet first-year defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson, who’s an NFL Films miked-up star in the making.
On the field, Henderson charges into the fray after every play in practice with something to say to somebody.
“No one,” Jets’ veteran CB Ray Mickens said, “is excluded from his wrath.”
The Jets, who’ve been ranked 19th, 19th and 21st in overall defense the last three seasons, respectively, hope no opposing offenses escape Henderson’s wrath on Sundays, either, particularly when it comes to the run defense, which has ranked 28th in each of the last three seasons.
Things are definitely going to be different with the Jets’ defense this season. Hopefully, that means better. How good a coach Henderson really is will be truly measured once fall Sundays arrive. But he sure looks the part – energetic, involved, in control and creating stress in competition.
“We’re going to get after them,” he said, describing his defense.
Henderson plans to employ more man-to-man coverages and a lot more blitzes, and he’s going to move John Abraham around as a down lineman and a stand-up LB to keep him on the field more often as a pass rusher. He, too, said he has some packages planned to move Pro Bowl Shaun Ellis around.
“There’s a little 3-4, a little 4-3 and a little 4-6,” Henderson said. “We have the capability of moving a couple guys around on the snap, moving the front. You’d better find him, because if you don’t find No. 94 (Abraham), you’re going to have issues. Once I create a package for 92 (Ellis), now what are you going to do? I think the kids are excited.”
They’re anxious, too, thanks to Henderson’s brusque approach.
In defensive meetings, when a player is asked a question and he takes too long with the answer or gets it wrong, Henderson barks out, “Touchdown,” illustrating what’ll happen in the game on the field if that player gets it wrong.
“Donnie does a great job of always putting stress on them,” Edwards said. “He keeps them uncomfortable, and that’s good, because that’s how you have to play. You have to play with some anxiety. He’s very, very demanding and he holds guys accountable on every play. He’s going to pick a guy out every play and, if you’re the guy and you’re not doing it right, look out.”
“What are you breaking on, Donnie?” Henderson yelled to Donnie Abraham, the Jets’ top CB, after TE Anthony Becht caught a pass over the middle. “You’re worried about a back in the backfield and the tight end is breaking down the field.”