JET NOTES
Herm Edwards, undaunted by the season-ending loss of NT Jason Ferguson, yesterday all but dared teams to run inside against the Jets.
“I think the best thing to happen to us is if they attack us there,” Edwards said, “so we can find out what we’re not doing well and we’ll coach ’em up and get better at it.”
The Jets, reluctant to call on old hand Ernie Logan, are hoping that one of three inexperienced players – Jason Wiltz, Maurice Anderson or James Reed – will seize the position alongside Shaun Ellis.
“It could be week by week how they play,” Edwards said of his neophyte lineman.
Reed is a 6-0, 285-pound rookie drafted in the seventh round. “I feel like I can play at this level,” Reed said. One problem: At Iowa State, he played Ellis’ three-position, and never encountered double teams. Edgerrin James, among others, must be salivating over the prospect of running over the Jets. “I can care less,” Reed said. “When they do [run up the middle], I just gotta be there to do what I can do to stop that. I should be ready when that happens.”
Strong safety Victor Green is calling for someone to win the job. “It’s definitely a big blow losing [Ferguson], a guy of that caliber and that size,” he said. “We need somebody to definitely clog up the middle. We just gotta find somebody that’s gonna step up and take that position on and say, ‘Hey, this is my position.’ “
Ferguson’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.
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WR Laveranues Coles is starting ahead of Matthew Hatchette, who reaggravated an ankle injury during yesterday’s afternoon session. “Paul (Hackett)’s just calling plays,” Edwards said. “We’re not game-planning anybody. There’s nothing in stone yet. [Coles is] gonna play a lot and we’re gonna throw the ball to him. No one at this point can get frustrated, especially if you’re a receiver. We’re trying to run the ball right now. You want to establish the run and you want to stop the run.”
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Jets re-signed TE Daniel Wilcox and released PK Derek Schorejs. Anthony Becht, Chris Hayes and Scott Frost returned to practice. LB James Darling (knee) won’t play against Giants. LB Courtney Ledyard reaggravated shin bruise.
Randy Thomas (groin), expected back today or tomorrow, was practicing long-snapping after practice. “This might help me in the long run, you never know,” he said. The Jets would like to groom an emergency backup behind either James Dearth or Dennis O’Sullivan.