Mangini’s Presser 11/20/2008
Mangini talked today about Leon’s progression, Keller’s confidence, and more.
Opening statement…
Today we are following our normal schedule, so we will be working primarily on third down. That will be the point of emphasis. Tennessee has always been very good defensively on third down since the time Jeff’s (Fisher) been there. It’s really no different this year and that’s an area we’ve made quite a bit of improvement on since the bye offensively. That will be a really good challenge for us.
On Jeff Fisher’s longevity with the Titans…
It’s incredible. You don’t see that very much anymore – the Don Shulas, the Tom Landrys, guys that were there 25, 20 years. It seems to be much rarer than it used to be. It’s a real testament to him. He’s done it in different places in terms of where the team was – all different types of players, young, old. It’s been the whole gambit and he’s been consistently successful. It’s impressive.
On the progress of CB Darrelle Revis…
Darrelle continues to make really good progress because of the way he works on his technique at practice and his consistency at practice. I had a long discussion with Leon (Washington) yesterday about the characteristics of great players. He brought up the fact that when he came into the league, he really thought that great players were extremely talented (and) more talented than the other players. Since he has been in the league, he realizes how hard working those guys are. They are extremely talented, but they are usually the leaders in terms of work ethic. A guy like Alan Faneca is a great example of that. Darrelle is moving along that same path in terms of being extremely talented, working on his technique every day in practice and having consistent levels of practice. I really like what he’s doing in terms of studying the opponent. That’s something that has improved significantly from his first year to his second year.
On whether he has made a decision between K Mike Nugent and Jay Feely…
No.
On reason for conversation with RB Leon Washington…
I was congratulating him on breaking the team’s record in terms of (career kickoff) returns and being the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. We were laughing about his early days here and the time that he made the decision as to how he was going to define his career. Mike (Westhoff) will have players present to the rest of the team. Leon, whenever he presents, it’s like a coach. It’s thorough. He’s the returner so he could easily say, ‘the kicker’s going to offset here. The ball’s going to come out to the five (yard line). It’s going to be this hang time,’ but he goes through block-by-block (and) how we have to block it, who the guy’s are we have to target, why we need to make sure we have those guys covered, what the reads are, what the adjustment is if the ball is outside the sideline and if the ball’s kicked somewhere it’s not supposed to be. It’s really satisfying to see. He’s one of the guys that came in with me and to see his growth and development is great.
On laughing with Washington about the fumbles during practice as a rookie…
It was the fumbling. It was the struggling with the blitz pickup, the route. He was about as in shape as I was. (smile) All of those things lead to a very tough rookie camp. He won the offseason award program. He was the overall winner this year. He was voted the team MVP last year. It’s his ability combined with his work ethic and determination. He’s another great example of size. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he finds a way to be consistently productive.
On whether RB Curtis Martin had an impact on Washington’s work ethic…
I definitely think that Curtis helped out. Curtis helps out a lot of people whenever he’s around. His focus is rare. I don’t know if he even dated during the season (smiling). It was all football all the time. That was his focus. When he was injured or dealing with any type of pain, I would ask him about it and he would say that not playing was not an option. It never entered into his psyche that he couldn’t play that week. Pain was not going to be an issue. Nothing was going to stop him.
On TE Dustin Keller’s confidence…
There is a fine line between confidence and over-confidence. He is very gifted. It’s easy to have confidence in him at practice. He makes unbelievable catch after unbelievable catch so the things that he has been able to do in the games aren’t surprising. If he continues to work at it and understand defenses as he gets better in terms of the fluidness and the feel of the routes then he will be that much more productive. There are times when some of his breaks look a little robotic. It’s not that smooth where you’re hinting and going, but it’s gotten a lot better. If he keeps working at it and drilling it (in terms of) where the openings are, he has tremendous upside.
On the matchup between DT Kris Jenkins and C Kevin Mawae…
Any time you put two players of their experience, ability and styles – they are different styles of players – that’s always fun to watch. Kevin is very savvy. He’s always been a very savvy guy. To see how he’s going to approach (Jenkins) will be real interesting.
On Brad Smith…
We always have plays in for Brad that are very specific to him, but the nice thing about where Brad has come in terms of being a receiver is he can just go in and play receiver. He doesn’t have to be in for gadget-plays are those Brad Smith-specific plays. He can just go in and play receiver. I am very confident with what he can do there. He is another guy who has consistently improved. It’s not a function of forgetting about Brad or putting him on the backburner, sometimes it’s just the way the game goes. We have a lot of guys who can do good things with the ball, so whoever ends up getting it is a plus.
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Someone ask him about Gholston— watching Mayo last week made me sick.
anthony, give it time. middle lb’s often break into league with immediate success but it is rare for 3-4 (or even 4-3) OLB’s to have the same immediate impact. think about all the great young lb’s in the league and defensive roy’s who have been lb’s: demeco ryans, david harris, mayo, patrick willis, vilma, lofa tatutupu–the list goes on a long time before i can call to mind a high impact rookie OLB. (maybe merriman, but he was on roids and hasn’t really been the same since he stopped taking them.)
aside from which, the team is 7-3, and the defense is playing well. there’s no need to rush anyone who isn’t ready.
Has Golston even played the last couple weeks? I didn’t notice.
Calling Mawae savvy is a classy way of saying he knows how to hold and trip without flags being thrown.
It’s bittersweet for me seeing Mawae. He’s the best OL ever to wear the green and white and I wish he could’ve ended his career here. When he was our guy, I thought the holding, grabbing and other tricks that have caused him to be on the short-list of dirtiest players in the NFL never bothered me. Now, Big Jinx better keep his cool. Mawae’s only weakness is that he’s more of a speed and finesse blocker than a power driver. Jenkins has to get in his kitchen and watch his knees.
SD, did you watch Dave Herman or Joe Fields to name two who I though were much better here?
harlan
I don’t understand why Mangini can’t say that Feely is our kicker for Tennessee.
What is the difference, anyway. They both kick off to the five yard line, most of the time. They both hit the majority of their FG’s and all of their XP’s.
Why the drama?
better yet, why hold two roster spots for kicker. get a punter who can do kickoffs and pat’s in a jam and go with one kicker. ridiculous.
yea but Feely wears receiving gloves on both hands; to kick…..
Now thats dramatic
Sack, no doubt Mawae was great for the Jets, but Winston Hill went to the pro bowl 7 times for us. I would have to pick him as our best OL ever.
Harlan, I thought of Joe Fields as well, but Winston Hill was the best.
+1 to david i …
mawae is one of those classi “you love him when he’s on YOUR team” guys.
remember when he had that broken hand and he was clubbing dudes with it?
Not to get off topic, but does anyone know what draft spots Vilma and DRob are projected to be right now?
I feel more confident in Feely.
so you would say your feelin Felly?
Gholston, 30+ million dollar special teamer.
I know he is a project, but we drafted him because we didn’t want NE to get him, and everyone thought his abilities would help him adjust to the game quicker well that’s not the case, it seems that he will follow the path of BT, slow and steady- he will be a force to be reckoned with someday however, his price tag is what hurts and by the time he will be completely ready the Green and White might have paid him enough- resembles “Farrior” but JF started.
Feely gives us a chance from 40+ yards, Nugent not so much, he has a weak leg, coaching staff wont even try him against the wind. What does that tell ya.
Jason- Weak leg? What mike Nugent do you know? I have never seen him be short on a kick of over 50 yards. I’ve seen him hit the upright on a ball that would have been good for over 60. Is this just your opinion? Any factual basis?
Basset, good memory about Mawae! Didn’t he get fined for clubbing people with that cast? In today’s NFL he probably would have been suspened five games.
Winston Hill, definitely! Best I ever saw in the uniform.
Mawae was over-the-hill and injured in 2005 when he wasn’t re-signed. He’s 37 and goes about 280. He better bring a gun if he wants to stop Jenks.
I’m hearing alot of “throw him off the bus” talk lately. Keeping two kickers is really not an issue. It’s not like there is a guy we need we can’t get unless somebody leaves. Ty Law comes to mind and room was made. EOS.
Harlan and Pete 57,
Winston Hill was a bit before my time and I have a bias for centers. Leaving Hill out (and his 8 Pro Bowl appearances, several in the AFL, are impressive and he was an LT), and I have no reason to dispute his greatness, the best Jets OL that I saw before Mawae was Marvin Powell. And, while I saw Herman at the end of his career, I don’t think he was better than Marvin. But, with all due respect to Joe Fields, who was a very good center, Mawae was just much better. Mawae is probably the greatest pulling center of all time. He is a 6-time Pro Bowler (and, IMO, a lock for a 7th this season) and a 2-time All Pro (he also has a great chance to get his 3rd this year and he was 1st or 2nd team All-Pro 6 times). All of his post-season honors to date were with the Jets. He’s a lock for the HOF and I hope he wears the green and white in Canton. And, if it wasn’t obvious, I stand by my claim that he’s the best OL ever to wear a Jets uniform; but, I have no problem with people saying Hill was the best and I know a lot of old-timers think it’s a travesty that he’s not in the HOF.
Andrew,
He was not “over the hill” in 2005. In fact, in the Jags game when Chad got injured and then Fiedler got injured, Chad had a scramble that almost resulted in a TD and who was leading the way downfield? Mawae. And. if Chad had simply followed him, he would’ve scored. Also, Sowell scored right up the middle behind Mawae and that’s when Henderson and Stroud were beasts. I saw no detioration in his skills. He got injured. Since he’s returned healthy to the Titans, it’s no surprise that their running game has taken off and he’s having a great season by all accounts. Kris better bring his A game, Mawae is very crafty, but he can be overwhelmed at the point of attack, but beware his downfield blocking; that’s where he’s best.
Folks, I’m as big a Jets fan as anyone here and I have NO confidence in Nugent. Never have. Doesn’t he remind you of John Hall? Really? Highly touted b/c he could hit the long FG’s….but totally inconsistent. I keep having visions of Hall missing that FG against Detroit at the Meadowlands several years ago and think “THAT COULD BE NUGENT”. I don’t know. Not that Feely is Vinatieri, but I definitely don’t feel negative about him. As for Gholston…I’d rather him not play until he’s ready than to play and stink and have his career be done in 2 years. Maybe he’ll turn it around like Leon W did after his first year. I still have hope for him. As for Mawae…classic “I’m glad he’s on OUR team” but hate him when he’s not. I cannot wait for this game. Huge measuring stick.
Gholston should be better after the next off season training camps. Remember, he missed all the rookie camps and even some of the preseason camps. If he doesn’t develop next year, then I’d say he’s a bust.
I actually agree with him that Keller still looks a bit stiff when running routes. Could the best be yet to come?
Mike: I agree with you on Gholston. The Rams have the luxury of being able to give Chris Long time because they are struggling. If they were in the hunt and a veteran was capable of doing a better job, you wouldn’t see him (and everybody knew Long was more NFL-ready, which is why he was drafted earlier). I know which team I’d rather be. To nitpick: Leon didn’t really “turn it around” after his first season. He has a true weapon as a rookie and even had a couple of 100 yard games. His productivity even went down in his second year, as he switched to being a full time return man.
Personally, I never had much faith in Hall because he kicked too low and had a few clutch ones blocked.