<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>HEMPSTEAD ? In years past, one-on-one tackling drills were far from the norm at Jets training camp. But less than 15 minutes into the first session of Day One of the Eric Mangini era, the bodies started flying.Linebacker Victor Hobson crushed rookie wide receiver Phil Silva; running back Cedric Houston bowled over defensive back Darrien Johnson.Yesterday was the first of seven scheduled two-a-day practices at Hofstra, and Mangini wasted little time in setting the tone. The morning session ran well past the expected two hours, stretching another 25 minutes until Mangini was satisfied. The evening session lasted 2 1/2 hours."One of the things we stress offensively is playing fast,'' Mangini said. "One of the reasons I'm late (after the morning practice) is we had to restart a drill. We weren't playing fast enough.''In another telling moment, Mangini repeated several times that wide receiver Justin McCareins had been placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list Thursday because he did not meet the team's conditioning criteria. Instead, McCareins was on the sidelines in pads, riding a stationary bike in the hot morning sun.There seems little doubt Mangini will be able to impress upon the Jets how he wants them to play. But who plays, particularly in the backfield, is the bigger question."We're starting to learn what he expects from us on a daily basis and we're trying to work on this thing,'' quarterback Chad Pennington said.All eyes were on Pennington as he took the majority of the first-team snaps in the morning after losing most of the last two seasons to shoulder injuries.Also, Houston, Derrick Blaylock and rookie Leon Washington found themselves getting more reps with Curtis Martin ? who is working out at the Jets' facility but wasn't made available to the media ? on the PUP list."Curtis is a pretty tough guy, I'm pretty sure if we had a game Sunday, he'd play in it and he'd be fine in it,'' Houston said. "It's definitely an opportunity for me and Blaylock and Leon to get out there and show the coaches what we've got.''Houston gained 302 yards on 81 carries and started the final four games of a 4-12 season after Martin injured his right knee. He spent the offseason studying tapes of San Diego's LaDanian Tomlinson, who worked under new Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and came into camp 15 pounds lighter at 220."No pressure,'' said Blaylock, who rushed for 53 yards on 17 carries last season. "We do our best all the time. You're supposed to come out here and work hard all the time, regardless of the situation.''That's the attitude Pennington said he is taking, adding it was too early to worry about whether he will be the starter for the Sept. 10 opener at Tennessee. He admitted to feeling better now than he did at this point last year.Still, his performance yesterday could be termed shaky at best, salvaged only by a 60-yard touchdown toss to Jerricho Cotchery that traveled 40 yards in the air late in the morning session. He was much sharper in the evening practice, though he participated only in one 11-on-11 drill.Earlier though, he floated a 15-yard out pattern to rookie Wallace Wright and threw two interceptions during a seven-on-seven drill.Safety Erik Coleman made a diving interception for the first pickoff, but Pennington made a bad read on the second one, not seeing Vilma in the flat."No excuses, no explanations, I'm just working through some things,'' Pennington said. "Coach has made it clear it's an open competition. He's not pulling any punches and he's not playing any favorites. It has made me better, it really has.''In comparison, Washington import Patrick Ramsey was much more accurate with far more oomph on his passes."What I'm looking for is focus,'' Mangini said. "Don't worry about three days from now. Don't worry about what happened yesterday. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We're starting.''Camping out: JetsEye-opener: As soon as stretching was completed, the players went right into a one-on-one tackling drill, something not seen in training camp during the Herm Edwards era. An offensive player was handed a ball and given a running start as he tried to navigate a 15-yard area and get around an on-rushing defender. It was a fun drill to watch, and the players seemed to enjoy it, too. "We might as well break in now instead of later," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "We like the competitiveness, we like getting used to what we have to face in the season. It gets us going quickly. We get out firing, we go out and play ball, and everybody has to catch up to us."Rookie watch: Cornerback Drew Coleman, a sixth-round pick out of TCU, took advantage of the tackling drill by popping first-year running back Terry Butler. Fellow rookie cornerback Omowale Dada, signed as a free agent out of Washington State, showed nice hands by intercepting a Brooks Bollinger pass off a deflection.Training room: Wide receiver Laveranues Coles came up limping in the 11-on-11 drill but returned to practice.Roster update: Running back Curtis Martin (right knee) and center Trey Teague (left ankle) are on the physically-unable-to-perform list due to injuries, but wide receiver Justin McCareins and defensive back Rayshun Reed are on the PUP list after failing conditioning tests. "When they pass, they will be back on the field," said coach Eric Mangini, adding there was no timetable for any of the four to return.Competition: Rookie center Nick Mangold's chances of starting have improved with Teague on the PUP list. "Things are going all right, (but) we don't have that much in," Mangold said. "Give me two more days and I will be flying around confused and scared."</div>
I think the Parcells-esque attitude towards kicking this players asses is great. It's just what this team needs. Hitting on the first day, and someone kicking their ass when they mess up? Yeah, I like this guy.It also helps the team forget he's younger than some of the vets too, I bet.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ Jul 29 2006, 08:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Parcells-esque attitude towards kicking this players asses is great. It's just what this team needs. Hitting on the first day, and someone kicking their ass when they mess up? Yeah, I like this guy.It also helps the team forget he's younger than some of the vets too, I bet.</div>Exactly. A heavy dose of Parcells type coaching is what we needed after Herm Edwards.
