Rookie Bender helps lift Jets over Eagles
Friday, August 31, 2007
Star-Ledger Staff
BY DAVE HUTCHINSONPHILADELPHIA -- Jets rookie left guard Jacob Bender was dominant last night. He pancaked his man on one running play and repeatedly opened gaping holes. On pass protection, he displayed excellent technique, getting his hands on his opponent and keeping him off-balance and away from the quarterback. Bender looked the part of a starting NFL guard.
Problem was, Bender, who played the first half, was going against Philadelphia Eagles rookie free agent Jeremy Clark, who probably won't even make the team. It'll be a whole different world next Sunday if Bender starts in the season opener against the Patriots, who boast Pro Bowler Richard Seymour, 340-plus-pound nose tackle Vince Wilford and defensive end Ty Warren.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick will surely have something special in store for Bender, who last week allowed a sack and at least two pressures against the Giants.
"Today, I just felt so much better," said Bender after the Jets' backups defeated the Eagles' reserves, 13-11, at Lincoln Financial Field. "Last week, I was not so much worried, but I was thinking about starting. Today, I just said I'm going to go out there and play football. I was more relaxed. The vets are helping me out."
Asked about his pass blocking, Bender said, "That's something I worked on hard this week. That's what I wanted to get better at."
As for possibly starting against the Patriots, he said, "I'm going to come out swinging. You have to fight against guys like that."
For one night at least, the Jets could feel good about their decision to trade unhappy veteran Pete Kendall to the Redskins last Thursday even though the Eagles started just two regulars on defense, linebackers Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong. Bender was the only Jets starter to play on offense.
The preseason mercifully came to an end on a 35-yard field goal by Mike Nugent as time expired. Backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo engineered a 16-play, 65-yard drive in the final 2:50 for the winning drive. Tuiasosopo (9-of-16 for 78 yards, no TDs, no INTs), who is fighting for a roster spot, also scored on an 11-yard run.
"Hopefully, I've made a case for myself," Tuiasosopo said.
The Jets finished 3-1. The Eagles (1-3) open the season at Green Bay next Sunday.
"That (the two-minute drive) is something you can't simulate," said Jets coach Eric Mangini.
The Jets conclude the preseason with a bevy of questions on offense and defense and none is biggest than who'll be their starting left guard. But they shored up their depth as nose tackle C.J. Mosley turned in a stunning three-sack, two-forced-fumble blitz on one series and rookie wide receiver Chansi Stuckey was outstanding with a 48-yard kickoff return and four catches for 47 yards.
"I don't think I've ever had something like that," said Mosley, who broke Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley's left hand on his final sack. "It just felt good to get out there and play like I know how."
As for left guard, the plan is to keep a keen eye out for a veteran guard on the waiver wire tomorrow and there's an outside possibility the Jets could make a trade. They have a surplus of cornerbacks and veteran Andre Dyson, a starter last season, could be dangled out as bait with first-round pick Darrelle Revis proving to be NFL-ready despite a 20-day holdout.
On Wednesday, the Jets spoke to a representative of ex-Ravens guard Keyrick Vincent and were expected to get back with them after watching film of last night's game. But the club has apparently had a change of heart and are no longer interested in Vincent, a two-year starter who was released on Tuesday.
Third-year guard Adrien Clarke, who is the alternative to Bender right now, was underwhelming again. Starting at right guard, he was whistled for a false start. After starting throughout the offseason, training camp and the first two preseason games, Clarke was demoted.
The uncertainty at left guard has magnified the problems of the Jets offense, which sputtered once again against the Eagles. Second-year quarterback Kellen Clemens started the game and played an uneventful first quarter and one play before being relieved by Brad Smith. He completed his only two passes for 12 yards in his only full drive. He finished the preseason having completed 30 of 41 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He led the Jets to seven touchdowns and a field goal in 15 series this preseason.
Nonetheless, Pennington, who sat out last night, will start against the Patriots. He completed 12 of 21 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the preseason. He led the first-team offense to just one touchdown and two field goals in 14 series.
Smith, who'll likely get a package of plays each week, completed just two of eight passes for 29 yards, including a 29-yard strike to wide receiver Frisman Jackson on a deep ball over the middle. He ran three times for 13 yards in his quarter of work.
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This is one non-Redskin I'll be rooting for.
