09/10 — “Ground and Pound” has become a common Jets phrase since Rex Ryan came on board back in January. But just a few days before kickoff, Leon Washington asked about the slogan’s origin.

“Who came up with that?” he said.

When Washington was told it was the rookie head coach himself, he smiled. The Jets’ most explosive weapon is eager to see how the philosophy will be implemented in the club's first regular-season game under Ryan Sunday in Houston.

“I’m excited to see what it looks like,” he said. “It should look good with the linemen we have. We’ll be all right, we’ll be straight.”

It’s hard to believe that Sunday will officially mark the beginning of “Little Leon’s” fourth pro season. The 5’8”, 195-pound Washington, who appears small on television, is powerfully built from endless hours in the weightroom under strength coach Sal Alosi and from his dedication away from Florham Park.

He’s a fan favorite because he gives an honest effort every time out. Sure, he brings you out of your seat with a trademark long play — Washington tied for the first in NFL last year with 10 plays of 40-plus yards: six returns, three rushes and one reception. But fans also can identify with his authenticity.

“You try to stay consistent, try to take up small things. I really concentrated this off-season on not cheating anything. Anything I do, doing it all the way,” he said. “For example, in the weightroom you might know you have 30 reps and you know Sal is not watching you. Do all 30, don’t do 28. Even though it hurts, I’m trying to finish. I know every small thing can help get you over the top.”

After Washington’s 2,332 combined yards in 2008 led the NFL and set a Jets single-season record, he was named to his first Pro Bowl. He also set career highs last year with a 5.9-yard per-carry average, six rush touchdowns, 47 receptions and two receiving touchdowns. But Washington is not ready to shift from overdrive into cruise control.

“I’m hungry. I’m hungry to get down to Miami both times — the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl,” he said. “It’s the fourth year and you should be making that curve of trying to be a pretty good player in this league. I’m working hard, staying motivated and staying focused.”

The most impressive player in the Jets’ preseason — on either side of the ball — was Washington. He averaged a hearty 6.3 yards per rush in limited action and he also caught seven balls. And he makes life so difficult for defenders because he'll make you miss and then he's gone. There's never any second chance for impact and you're going to be out of luck if somebody's not helping you with contain.

“Regardless of if it’s preseason, regular season, off-season or whatever, he’s going to give you everything he has,” said fullback Tony Richardson. “It’s amazing just to see the growth he’s made since I’ve been here. He’s been a great player for a long time, but I’ve seen him take every area to a new level. I think it’s really starting to show on the field.”

Richardson, entering his 15th NFL season and his second with the Green & White, says Washington is consistently willing to go the extra mile.

“He’s always doing something to prepare himself whether it’s the weightroom where he’s busting his butt, spending extra time in the training room,” T-Rich said. “He is a student of the game. He understands the offense. Anytime a player spends that much time on his craft, the better he’s going to be.”

While Washington wants a new contract, he has never let anything distract him on the field. There was no case of the Brandon Marshall “dropsies” at any point this summer because Washington isn’t made that way. There is a childlike exuberance that No. 29 possesses that is unique on this level.

“I went back and watched some of my little league tapes when I was in Pop Warner and I was a pretty special player then,” he said. “I think it goes back to how much I love to play football.

“I just remember getting up Saturdays at eight o’clock in the morning and when I get on that football field it’s the same thing. The contract situation, the business side is not on my mind. I want to win that matchup and I want to be successful on every play I get an opportunity to help the team. That’s what it comes down to.”

In fact, out there on the field, Washington says he’s back playing little league. Those days return of playing for John Mike, a police officer in Jacksonville who Washington refers to as his “godfather,” who coached him in Pop Warner and as a position coach at Andrew Jackson High School.

“I’m going to try to get newyorkjets.com some of that coverage. It’s so funny because I’m like the same way,” he said. “It’s that one sharp cut, make people miss and it’s been the same type of thing. I’m going to get you all some film.”

When Washington delivers, we’ll make sure to post those Pop Warner Highlights. But you can bank on him making a number of more in ’09.

No Live Rex Today

For fans of the Jets head coach, Ryan will be altering his schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays, holding his news conferences those days outside right after practice instead of later in the day in the media workroom at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.

That schedule begins today, with Ryan scheduled to talk with reporters after the end of practice. However, due to tech issues, we won't be able to make this news conference video available to you on newyorkjets.com. To provide coverage of the news conference, we'll post the Radar entry shortly after the conclusion and the Rex transcript late in the afternoon.

Ryan will be in the media workroom for his Friday news conference at about 1:15 p.m. That will be streamed live. So will Monday's day-after-game newser from the workroom. And when Rex holds his outdoor news conferences next Wednesday and Thursday, we expect to bring them to you live as well.