Mangold has been fortunate to have Kendall by his side throughout his rookie year
Guard Pete Kendall has been an important cog on the Jets offensive line this season. Kendall's attributes to the Jets offense both on and off the field are irreplaceable due to his tremendous work with rookie linemen D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.
This Sunday, Mangold is going to be lined-up against one of the NFL's most distinguished nose tackles in Ted Washington.
"In the run game this will probably be one of the toughest challenges he'll face," Kendall said. "When you look up the prototypical run-stopping 3-4 nose tackle, see Ted Washington."
If any rookie can handle the wrath of Washington, Kendall believes it's his center from Ohio State – who has taken charge of Chad Pennington's last line of protection.
"This is Nick's line, it's his show and he's running it well," added the 11-year veteran. "He's bright enough that he's absorbed our roles since training camp. By the time you go out to play on Sunday he's pretty confident in what it is that he's supposed to do."
*Read below for the complete transcript from inside the Jets locker room
*New York Jets' RB Leon Washington, 10.26
On how much Kevan Barlow has helped him…
A lot, not as much as Curtis Martin, but Kevan has definitely helped me out a lot. He's been in the league for five or six years and he's rushed for a lot of yards. Just like Curtis, [he gives me tips] on how to run the ball and what things to look for in the defense before you run the ball.
On if he watched Kevan Barlow from college…
Yeah, the 49ers were my favorite team right before Jerry Rice left and I think Kevan was there right when Jerry Rice left. I watched him a little bit and I like the way he runs.
On his confidence level after Sunday's game…
I don't want to say confidence, I'd say it's more experience. The more I play, the more experience I get, and then naturally, I become more confident and more comfortable with what I'm doing. That's the way I look at it. I'm always confident in my ability, because just like everybody else in this locker room, I feel like I belong here. But, the more experience you get, especially me as a young guy, the more you can grow in the National Football League.
On playing with the "Dawg Pound" in Cleveland…
Oh yeah, Cleveland is a tough place. I've been watching those teams for years and I have a few friends over there. They have a well-coached team over there under Romeo Crennel, so they'll be coming ready to play and we have a tough task ahead of us.
New York Jets' LB Matt Chatham, 10.26
On the difference of facing a friend…
Yeah it's different, but it's odd in this league, if you're around here long enough, it's pretty tough to find a team that you don't know somebody. This is an unusual situation with Willie McGinest, even Ted Washington and Romeo Crennel, but at the end of the day it's business and we'll talk afterwards.
On expecting to see different things from a new offensive coordinator…
It's really a guessing game at this point. Jeff Davidson is a former offensive lineman, he's been a tight end coach for a lot of his years here in the league. He's a very bright guy, he has a really great offensive mind and he has weapons to work with, there are a lot of guys on that team who can make plays. It's really interesting and we're kind of in an unfortunate situation because we have the first shot and we really don't know what is going to be there. All the other teams in this league are going off percentages and all these things based on previous games, and we don't have that right now.
On the tough crowd in Cleveland…
The "Dawg Pound" is a fun place to be. I really wish that they were doing better, because that's one of the most electric atmospheres in the league, when there are a lot people there. I don't know how things are done there now, but it's just a fun place to play.
New York Jets' G Pete Kendall, 10.26
On Nick Mangold getting pointers from him and Trey Teague to stop Ted Washington…
Try not to be on the bottom of the pile. Ted is very good at what he does and that's controlling the A gaps and occupying the center. There's no real secret, because it's not really a finesse game. It's hard to miss Ted; you know when he's out there and you pretty much know what he's going to do, the challenge is pretty much trying to execute against him.
On Mangold's progression…
The highest compliment anyone can give him is that he's come in and played like he's been here before. That's the most impressive thing for a guy who hasn't been here, to play like he's has.
On how Mangold has been able to play like that…
He digests the plan; Brian (Schottenheimer) and Tony (Wise) do a good job of getting the plan in. He works during the week at it. He's bright enough that he's absorbed our roles since training camp. By the time you go out to play on Sunday he's pretty confident in what it is that he's supposed to do.
On being concerned with having extra responsibilities on the line…
I was prepared if the game got a little too big or a little too fast for him at times, to try and help out if I could. It's harder playing guard then it is at center to control the whole front because you can't see the right side if you're at guard because the center is in the way. It hasn't come up. I have some input on the sidelines. I talk with him, ask him what he sees, what he wants to do, but this is Nick's line, it's his show and he's running it well.
On facing Ted Washington…
In the run game this will probably be one of the toughest challenges he'll face. When you look up the prototypical run-stopping 3-4 nose tackle, see Ted Washington.
On why the young players have played so well on the road…
I don't think our preparation changes at all. I don't think our mindset changes. The schedule, outside of the travel of course, stays pretty much consistent. It's a little bit uncommon for a team that might be this young to have success on the road, you usually think there are going to be some bumps and there very well could maybe at some point. Our young guys have played mature.
New York Jets' DE Bobby Hamilton, 10.26
On players knowing when two coaches are friends…
Right now they're (Coach Mangini and Coach Crennel) friends off-the-field, but during the game it's time to play. All the friendship is to the side, they're just trying to get the W. When it's over with, they might greet each other and say good luck in the future, but that friendship is always going to be when you work (together) for so long, but when it's time to play, all of that is behind you and they're just trying to get their team lined up and in the right direction.
On facing a friend on the football field making a difference in the way you play…
Before the game you're friends, but when it's time to play for 60 minutes, all that's behind you. Both of us are trying to do the best that we can to try and get a W. We can celebrate after the game, we can greet each other after the game, but when we're in between the lines all that is behind you. Both teams are trying to do the best they can and get a win.
On Cleveland having a new offensive coordinator…
They're (the coaches) going to have their guys prepared and we're going to have to go up there and be ready. I've been with Jeff (Davidson) when he was in New England. I know what type of coach he is and I know he's going to have those guys ready. It doesn't matter who is going to be the coach, we still have to go out there and play. We just have to go out there and continue working hard. They're going to be ready; I know Jeff is going to have them ready and heading in the right direction. We just have to worry about what we do in the game.
New York Jets' LB Jonathan Vilma, 10.26
On going to the "Dawg Pound"…
I had been there in my rookie year, it was a tough environment, but we'll be ready for it and just play football.
On being surprised or impressed at the rookies' ability to handle different situations…
I'm not really surprised, because of the way they came into mini-camp I could tell they were very mature guys and they understood football and understood the game. It's not a surprise for us to watch them go out there and play well.
On how it affects a team to have a major change in the coaching staff…
For them, it can go one of two ways. They can either, fold it up, call it a day and fold up the season, or they can rebound from it, try to fight and try to make a playoff run. We feel they'll probably go with the latter and really try to make a statement at home.
On not knowing the tendencies of the new offensive coordinator…
We have to go by what we know, and what we know is what we've seen in the last seven games. We can go by that and then whatever he does come up with, we'll adjust.
On having a greater challenge, being the first team to face the new offensive coordinator…
You can sort of compare it to the first game of the season; you don't know what to expect, but after that you go off of tendencies and keep playing ball.
On the atmosphere at Cleveland…
It's tough if you let them get into the game, we're not going to want to do that, so we'll try to take them out of the game early. If they do get into the game it will be a good crowd for them.
On how good of a playmaker Charlie Frye is…
He's very good, he's very good with his feet. He reminds me of J.P. Losman the way he can run around and make plays. For us it will be a similar challenge.
On taking down Reuben Droughns…
He's a tough runner, we've seen that on film and I feel that he's underrated. He is a very good running back so, it will be the same job that we have to do every week.
On preventing injuries…
It's really not something you can totally prevent. You can do all the right things, take care of yourself, exercise, stretch, but freak accidents happen. Look what happened to us last year. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, we haven't had any injuries yet.
On getting better each week…
That's the goal, we're trying to get better and better, play our best ball at the end and make a push for the playoffs. For right now, we're taking it one game at a time.
On this win being doubly special…
We don't want to look at it that way, we want to take the same approach we've been taking the past few weeks. Knowing that we have a bye, it would be good for us to rest, but we're not going to have any extra motivation to go out there and win, we're going to win because we want to.
New York Jets' C Nick Mangold, 10.26
On the challenge Mangold faces with Ted Washington…
This is going to be another huge challenge. He is a dominating guy. It is going to be a long 60 minutes.
On how he feels about this game with the bye week approaching…
I have not been thinking about it. It is not going to hurry things up or anything. Days are still days. It is still a big game. We have to go out there and fight, and it will be a challenge for us. Watching their front seven, they have a great front seven. It is something that we can't overlook.
On playing in the "Dawg Pound"…
I hear it is tough. I have actually been up there before and I remember that it was pretty crazy. It will be exciting to see it as a player.
On what the key is to facing a guy like Ted Washington…
I could use a little help. It is going to come down to looking at my technique and making sure it is correct. I listen to guys like Pete (Kendall) and Trey (Teague). I use their ideas and see if they come in to play during the game.
On if Mangold learns better from watching film or listening to the veterans…
You get a ton out of watching him on film and you get a lot of helpful hints; a list of helpful reminders from guys like Pete and Trey. Watching them on film and then hearing from someone who has that experience is like icing on the cake.
On appreciating an opponent's strength on the first meeting…
That is probably going to be true. The big thing that I keep hearing is how strong he is. Looking at him I think you can believe it, but it is one of those things that is really going to hit home when we are out there.
On where he thinks he stands in his development…
I have no idea. That might be a better question for after the season because right now, with how much is going on each week, there is no time to think about it. I think that is a better question for coach and a better question for after the season is over.
On when he visited the "Dawg Pound"…
It was a couple of years ago. Somehow we had a Sunday off and got tickets. We didn't get to sit in the "Dawg Pound", but we got to see it from the stands and it was pretty crazy.
Thursday Injury ReportJets
Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), WR Tim Dwight (thigh), RB Cedric Houston (knee), & OL Trey Teague (ankle)
Probable:*RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *LB Matt Chatham (foot), *T Anthony Clement (back), *DE Shaun Ellis (back), *DL Bobby Hamilton (knee), *LB Brad Kassell (thigh), *OL Pete Kendall (thigh), *CB Justin Miller (hip), *QB Chad Pennington (calf), *S Kerry Rhodes (thigh), *DL Dewayne Robertson (hand), *WR Brad Smith (thigh) & *DL Kimo von Oelhoffen (knee)
Browns
Questionable:CB Leigh Bodden (ankle), *S Justin Hamilton (ankle), WR Dennis Northcutt (ribs), *S Brodney Pool (hamstring), S Brian Russell (ankle), T Ryan Tucker (illness), FB Lawrence Vickers (elbow), *TE Kellen Winslow (knee)
