File Under: Eric Mangini, Herm Edwards, penalty yards, penalties
07/23 — One thing that the penalty laps ahead during Mangini Camp II are sure to prevent, appropriately enough, will be penalties.
Head coach Eric Mangini's method worked pretty well last season, when such infractions as false starts got players an invitation to take a once-around tour of the double Hofstra fields the Jets use for their camps. They finished the season third in penalties committed (70) and second in penalty yards (560).
Those numbers also kept the Jets at the bottom (top) of the NFL in terms of penalties committed over a much longer haul.
That's because one thing Coach Herm always harped on, too, was penalties. In fact, the Jets were the best in the league in penalties and yards in Herm Edwards' five seasons, so combined with last year's yellow-flag performances, it's easy to see why the Jets are No. 1 in the league in those two categories from 2001-06.
In my last AFC East blog trend chart of the off-season, here are the top four teams in the NFL in penalties and yardage per game since 2001, according to Stats Inc.:
| Team | Pens | Rank | Yards | Rank |
| JETS | 4.89 | 1st | 39.5 | 1st |
| Seattle | 5.46 | 2nd | 45.4 | 3rd |
| Kansas City | 5.52 | 3rd | 46.1 | 4th |
| Indianapolis | 5.68 | 4th | 45.1 | 2nd |
What's more, the Green & White's care in avoiding infractions in this still new millennium has served as a foundation to extend their dominance in these categories back into the 20th century. The Jets lead the NFL in penalties for the past 10 seasons (5.0/40.8) and even for the past 17 seasons, since 1990 (5.6/45.1).
What does this mean for the coming season? Whatever their rankings, the Jets will again have discipline — and they are a virtual lock to lead the NFL in fewest penalties for the last seven seasons.
Ira Said:
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 7:41am EDT"As long as Chad stays healthy this team is ready to take the next step. Very good draft and FA additions have made this team better on paper. Now they have to do it on the field like every other team including the Pats. "
pat maio Said:
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 10:47am EDT"Fans and writers seem to be overlooking the obvious when discussing Mangini's situation. I see no problem in Mangini maintaining his brand of smarts & discipline. What will impact everything is whether the Jets can stay as healthy as they were last year. Everything will hinge on this. "
WOODS Said:
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 12:53pm EDT"No, they can't compete with the elite. They only beat the Pats once, and if it weren't for a coulple lousy calls, especially the b.s. pass interference call agains Miller, they were right there at the end with the Colts. I guess those guys aren't the elite though"
Ira Said:
Mon, July 23, 2007 - 4:36pm EDT"Randy, Outstanding chart. Being accountable for your mistakes in practice does pay off. One funny play at practice was Coles getting a false start and he threw his helmet in the air and started to run his lap before Mangini blew his whistle. A 17 season run like that, can i say dynasty? GO JETS!!"
Offensive Comment?