Nors
Benched
- Messages
- 22,015
- Reaction score
- 1
5th-Round Draft Pick Gives Jets' Secondary Some SizzleBy VITTORIO TAFUR
Published: September 20, 2004
AN DIEGO, Sept. 19 - Six weeks ago, the rookie Erik Coleman hoped to make the Jets' roster on special teams.
After a 34-28 victory over the Chargers on Sunday, the Jets are undefeated, and Coleman, now a starting safety, is a big reason. He had an interception and a fumble recovery a week after he had a game-saving interception in the Jets' season opener against Cincinnati.
Jon McGraw, a third-year safety, also had an interception as the Jets won the turnover battle, 4-0.
"I couldn't imagine this back in training camp," said Coleman, a fifth-round draft pick out of Washington State. "That interception last week was huge for my confidence. I know I can make plays when it counts, and that carried over to this week. I just want to keep the momentum going."
McGraw returned after missing the opener with an abdominal injury, but Coleman still started in his place at free safety. After a bye next week, Coleman will be back at strong safety, lined up on the other side of the secondary with McGraw.
"The secondary is still getting a feel for each other, but you can see we're getting a grasp of it," said McGraw, who was drafted out of Kansas State in the second round in 2002. "As the season goes on, Erik and I are going to be around the ball even more often."
Coleman's diving interception in the first quarter led to a touchdown run by Curtis Martin and a 14-0 lead. Safety Reggie Tongue blitzed, and quarterback Drew Brees overthrew tight end Justin Peelle. Coleman caught the errant pass at the Chargers' 44.
"I am just trying to play the defense," Coleman said. "I am not doing anything special. The defensive line is doing a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback, and I am just in the right place at the right time."
In the third quarter, tight end Antonio Gates appeared to slip, and Brees hit McGraw in the numbers. In the fourth quarter, Brees fumbled a snap, and the ball bounced across the line of scrimmage to Coleman.
"My eyes got all big," Coleman said. "I didn't have to fight anyone for it or anything. Just fell down on it."
That should have wrapped up the victory. But the Jets are young, and Coach Herman Edwards said young teams do not know how to close out victories.
Brees took the Chargers on a 61-yard scoring drive to make the score 27-21 with 7 minutes 45 seconds left. Doug Flutie, the Chargers' backup quarterback, scored on a touchdown run with 36 seconds left to make it interesting.
"We're still a work in progress," Coleman said. "If we stop making mental mistakes, we can be a pretty good secondary."
McGraw's biggest mistake was late in the third quarter. Ahead by 27-7 with 2:20 left, the Jets had just stopped the Chargers on third-and-7 from their 9. But McGraw was called for roughing the passer when he hit Brees after he released the ball.
The timing was debatable, but McGraw did appear to lower his head and deliver a helmet-to-helmet blow to Brees. The penalty gave the Chargers a first down. LaDainian Tomlinson scored on the next play, and the 57,310 Chargers fans had reason to stick around.
Brees left the game later with a concussion.
"I didn't feel like I lowered my head," McGraw said. "But you've got to be careful. I feel bad about it."
It was an aggressive mistake, one Edwards can live with. The Jets' secondary is under a microscope because Edwards and the Jets' defensive coordinator, Donnie Henderson, were cornerbacks in their playing days.
"Donnie has done a great job of getting us to understand the concepts, and our communication on the field is getting better," McGraw said. "And he always tells us, the thing about being young is you get to make mistakes. Once. And then you get better."
Published: September 20, 2004
AN DIEGO, Sept. 19 - Six weeks ago, the rookie Erik Coleman hoped to make the Jets' roster on special teams.
After a 34-28 victory over the Chargers on Sunday, the Jets are undefeated, and Coleman, now a starting safety, is a big reason. He had an interception and a fumble recovery a week after he had a game-saving interception in the Jets' season opener against Cincinnati.
Jon McGraw, a third-year safety, also had an interception as the Jets won the turnover battle, 4-0.
"I couldn't imagine this back in training camp," said Coleman, a fifth-round draft pick out of Washington State. "That interception last week was huge for my confidence. I know I can make plays when it counts, and that carried over to this week. I just want to keep the momentum going."
McGraw returned after missing the opener with an abdominal injury, but Coleman still started in his place at free safety. After a bye next week, Coleman will be back at strong safety, lined up on the other side of the secondary with McGraw.
"The secondary is still getting a feel for each other, but you can see we're getting a grasp of it," said McGraw, who was drafted out of Kansas State in the second round in 2002. "As the season goes on, Erik and I are going to be around the ball even more often."
Coleman's diving interception in the first quarter led to a touchdown run by Curtis Martin and a 14-0 lead. Safety Reggie Tongue blitzed, and quarterback Drew Brees overthrew tight end Justin Peelle. Coleman caught the errant pass at the Chargers' 44.
"I am just trying to play the defense," Coleman said. "I am not doing anything special. The defensive line is doing a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback, and I am just in the right place at the right time."
In the third quarter, tight end Antonio Gates appeared to slip, and Brees hit McGraw in the numbers. In the fourth quarter, Brees fumbled a snap, and the ball bounced across the line of scrimmage to Coleman.
"My eyes got all big," Coleman said. "I didn't have to fight anyone for it or anything. Just fell down on it."
That should have wrapped up the victory. But the Jets are young, and Coach Herman Edwards said young teams do not know how to close out victories.
Brees took the Chargers on a 61-yard scoring drive to make the score 27-21 with 7 minutes 45 seconds left. Doug Flutie, the Chargers' backup quarterback, scored on a touchdown run with 36 seconds left to make it interesting.
"We're still a work in progress," Coleman said. "If we stop making mental mistakes, we can be a pretty good secondary."
McGraw's biggest mistake was late in the third quarter. Ahead by 27-7 with 2:20 left, the Jets had just stopped the Chargers on third-and-7 from their 9. But McGraw was called for roughing the passer when he hit Brees after he released the ball.
The timing was debatable, but McGraw did appear to lower his head and deliver a helmet-to-helmet blow to Brees. The penalty gave the Chargers a first down. LaDainian Tomlinson scored on the next play, and the 57,310 Chargers fans had reason to stick around.
Brees left the game later with a concussion.
"I didn't feel like I lowered my head," McGraw said. "But you've got to be careful. I feel bad about it."
It was an aggressive mistake, one Edwards can live with. The Jets' secondary is under a microscope because Edwards and the Jets' defensive coordinator, Donnie Henderson, were cornerbacks in their playing days.
"Donnie has done a great job of getting us to understand the concepts, and our communication on the field is getting better," McGraw said. "And he always tells us, the thing about being young is you get to make mistakes. Once. And then you get better."