10/26 — Rex Ryan talked up Miami and the Wildcat at today's day-after news conference. And he had a great take on the Dolphins, whom the Jets played three games ago in prime time and get their next shot at them Sunday at the Meadowlands.

"Do I want it back and is it personal to me?" Ryan said of the 31-27 loss during which the 'Fins gained 413 yards. "It absolutely is. I'm man enough to admit it. If we played Oakland in two weeks, I bet you it would be personal to them."

Perhaps Rex will develop that theme for his players this week. But before Dolphins week gets really rolling on Wednesday, it's only fitting to review the coaching themes from last week. While Thomas Jones, Shonn Green and their blockers had a phenomenal game on offense and Calvin Pace had a great performance on defense, the 38-0 whitewashing of the Raiders on Sunday was also a coaches' win.

Ryan wasn't seeking credit but you can bet the players appreciated a key decision of his for last week's work that he took the Jets out of their pads for the first time in a long time. The Jets had been going two practices or more a week in full regalia since training camp. Last Wednesday, the coach noted he didn't like the team's tempo at practice. Last Thursday, the pads were left inside the equipment room.

"It was more of a thing where just something was missing," Ryan said today of that Wednesday workout. "I think it might have been the enthusiasm on the practice field. I think maybe we probably carried our pads a little too much. We were probably the only team in the league that had been in pads every Wednesday and Thursday. So we just decided to take the pads off them on Thursday, and I think our guys responded. It was a good tempo, it was enthusiastic, and I just think we needed it. I think we were worn down a little bit."

Ryan then applauded defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for his wrinkle of flipping the strongside and weakside outside roles of Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas on defense. In the Ryan/Pettine scheme, linebackers can be up or down on any given play, but for many calls, the strongside backer goes to a three-point stance over the opponents' tight end and the weakside man often rushes the passer.

Bryan Thomas had been at Pace's Sam backer spot for the first four games while Pace was out. When C.P. returned for Game 5, he went back to Sam and B.T. went to Will. Things were a little understated for Pace the first two games, so the two swapped roles.

And that move paid off one play into the game when Pace pushed new Oakland RT Khalif Barnes back into the pocket, then as Ryan said made like Superman to swat the ball out of Russell's grasp for Marques Douglas to recover at the Raiders 4.

The final tally for the Pace-setter of the Jets' defense: three sacks, two forced fumbles, seven tackles, part or all of three tackles at or behind the line and a pass defense.

"It just so happens I had a decent game, a pretty good game," Pace said today. "That was secondary. We needed to get the win. We needed to move forward with our season."

Offensively, Brian Schottenheimer turned over to Jones, Greene and the line and watched as the Jets ran 54 times for their second consecutive 300-yard rushing performance, something that was last done in the NFL in 1975, with the Jets' most run-heavy game plan (3.38 runs for every dropback) since 1979.

But Coach Schotty also worked to get Mark Sanchez back to efficient passing. And he listened to a little birdie during the third quarter and it paid off handsomely.

"They actually had me singled the whole game," Clowney said. "I kept nagging in the coach's ear for a little bit about they were taking the safety to the other side to Braylon [Edwards]. He just made the call and took advantage of it."

The result: Sanchez's third-quarter 35-yard completion for "the Clown's" first pro regular-season TD catch.

Moving on to special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, he's been the master of the fake punt with three successful runs in the last three games. At Oakland, Steve Weatherford did it again, this time using his athleticism to execute a 16-yard run on a gutsy fourth-and-7 call from the Jets 23 on the last play of the fourth quarter.

That play, even though it led only to an actual Weatherford punt, could be considered psychic payback for Raiders upback Jon Alston's 22-yard run on a fourth-quarter fake punt to set up a crucial field goal in last year's overtime loss in Oakland.

As for Westhoff calling for Kellen Clemens to take over the holding duties, that went well Sunday, but we'll get more input on that in the coming weeks.

Finally, back to the offensive side and assistant head coach/offensive line Bill Callahan. Ryan made special mention of Coach Cally and not just for his part in coaching up the Jets line for this next big rushing effort.

"Here's a man who led his team as head coach to the Super Bowl," Ryan said of Callahan's role with the 2002 Raiders, only to be dismissed after the next season. "He probably wouldn't say it, but this game was really important to him."

Rex may need to order this week's gameballs in cake form so he and his coaching staff can each grab a slice to share with the playing stars in this noteworthy shutout.

Edwards Charged

Braylon Edwards was charged with misdemeanor assault in Cleveland today in connection with an incident outside a nightclub a few weeks ago, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17. The Jets issued a statement late this afternoon:

“The team was aware of these allegations prior to acquiring Braylon from Cleveland. He has been cooperative with authorities and we will allow the legal process to run its course.”

More kudos to Ryan for having his operations staff translate everything on the road game itinerary into Pacific time but insisting that the Jets stay on Eastern time as close as possible.

"We stayed on East Coast time and apparently it worked," Rex said after the game. "We'll stay on East Coast time next week as well."

Not to mention the rest of the season, since all nine remaining games will be played in the Eastern Time Zone.