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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 28, 2009

NFL: Jets’ defense prepares for big test against Giants


By J.P. Pelzman
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — After looking at the upcoming opponent on film, Rex Ryan is quite glad the calendar still says August.

“If this was a regular season game,” the Jets’ coach said Thursday, “I don’t think I would be smiling this week.”
That’s because the still-defensively-oriented Ryan and his team will be making the short trip across to the visiting sideline to face the host Giants on Saturday. And try as he might, Ryan cannot shake the memory of the last time he faced the Giants — as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.
That was on Nov. 16, 2008, when the Giants gashed Baltimore’s vaunted defense for 207 rushing yards on 33 carries in a 30-10 victory. Unlike that game, Saturday’s outcome will not count, of course. But it could provide a glimpse of what the 2009 Jets will be like, considering their starters are expected to play at least the entire first half on both sides of the ball. It will be their longest exposure of the preseason.
“It is the closest to a regular-season game,” safety Jim Leonhard said. “You’re going to do some game-planning. You’re going to watch more film. ... It is important for us to play well and get all the little things cleaned up.
“We’ve played well at times,” Leonhard added. “We need to create some turnovers and just come together as a unit.”
In limited playing time, the Jets’ first-team defense had no takeaways in the first two games. But this will be the first time they’ll have the entire starting unit on the field, as both nose tackle Kris Jenkins (calf) and cornerback Darrelle Revis are expected to start after missing the first two games.
“We’ll have everybody going this week,” safety Kerry Rhodes said. “We’ll get to see everybody on the field for the first time. We want to see how all the work we’ve been doing in the off-season has paid off. ... It’s going to be a good test for us. They’re a really good running team.”
The Giants have lived up to that reputation this August, averaging 4.8 yards per carry through the first two games. Ahmad Bradshaw, who broke off a 77-yard run against Ryan’s defense last season, is averaging 8.1 yards on 11 carries and Brandon Jacobs is averaging 5.3 yards on 11 carries.
“We’re going to be tested this week with that big running back (Jacobs) back there,” Ryan said.
Making his debut in the starting lineup for the Jets will be second-year outside linebacker Vernon Gholston, already named the opening day starter by Ryan in the absence of Calvin Pace, who will be suspended by the NFL for the first four games.
“Vernon (has had) a lot of playing time but now, moving forward, he’s got to get the majority of the work with the ones,” Ryan said. “And Calvin certainly understands that as well. He’s been going with the twos all week.”
“I guess when I get out there it will be exciting,” said Gholston, the sixth overall draft pick in 2007. “(But) I’ll have the same mind-set as if I was coming off the bench or playing on special teams.
“We’re actually preparing as if it’s a regular game,” Gholston added.