10/13 — One of the first things Eric Mangini talked about at today's news conference was his run defense. And as one of his mentors, Bill Parcells, always used to say, what's not to like?

"It's positive," Mangini said about his rush D, ranked third in the NFL this morning. "You always want to be able to stop the run. I think that's going to be so much more important in those games where weather becomes an issue — wind and rain affecting the passing game, but also when you get into the cold months, you have to be able to run the football and you have to stop the run. I think that's a very positive early part of what we've been able to do defensively."

To be sure, Kris Jenkins has been throwing his weight around very effectively from his nose tackle position — such as Sunday, when the Jets held the Bengals to 43 yards and had three tackles for loss after having none the previous two weeks combined.

But as Mangini said, Jenkins can't do it alone.

"I think it's the group," he said. "If one guy's not holding up outside, Jenk's still in the middle but the opponent can run more to the C-gap, outside of the outside linebacker. But BT [Bryan Thomas] has been a good edge-setter, and internally we have David Harris and Eric Barton, and Kenyon [Coleman] is stout against the run and so is Shaun [Ellis]. Playing our techniques and adding players like Calvin [Pace] and Jenk to the front seven I think has all helped."

There are many challenges to come — beginning with rookie Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas and the Raiders' fourth-ranked rushing attack in Oakland on Sunday. But the Jets' No. 3 ranking in rushing yards allowed both per game and per rush, is pretty amazing considering many of this group were in last year's rushing defense that checked in at 32nd and last after Week 10 and the 2006 group that ranked as low as 30th.

In fact, the best a Jets rush defense has ranked going back to 1995 is fourth, and that was only after the opening week of the 2000 season.

Here are the Jets' best rushing defense finishes since the 1970 merger (*after six weeks);

Mangini fielded a few personnel questions. The one issue to be resolved is S Eric Smith's status after his one-game suspension for Cincinnati.

"We have a roster exemption until tomorrow," the coach said. "Then we'll have to make a decision on what transaction we'll make. But we don't have to do that until tomorrow by 4 o'clock."

Mangini was then asked about Abram Elam's first start of the season in Smith's place.

"I thought he did a nice job," he said, "but I thought he did a nice job in training camp. It was not a function of him playing poorly, it was a function of Eric playing well. But I have complete confidence in him. I'm not opposed to both those guys playing during the course of a game. You could keep both guys fresh. And both play on special teams, which can get a little tiring late in games."

Mangini said Justin Miller was close to being activated for the Bengals but it came down to who could contribute more plays both at his scrimmage position and on special teams. Jesse Chatman got the nod on Sunday.

As for a possible return of Mike Nugent as the Jets' kicker, Mangini said, "I'm not sure. I wouldn't even touch on that until Friday just because guys during the week are up and down."

Monday Guest Spots

RB Thomas Jones will do an interview with Michael Kay on 1050 AM ESPN today at about 4:45 p.m., or in about a half-hour.

Tonight's guest list for the "Inside the Jets" show at Charlie Brown's restaurant in Chatham, N.J., is tackle Damien Woody, center Nick Mangold and defensive tackle C.J. Mosley, along with Jets Flight Crew members Laura V. and Ryann. The show will be delayed on 1050 AM ESPN until after tonight's baseball game.