Hot McCareins’ Hope: Bigger Role
Posted by on August 28, 2007 – 1:37 pmIt is summer trivia at its finest, and yet it does speak well about what one Jets wide receiver has accomplished so far this summer:
Of the NFL’s even 200 pass-catchers with at least four receptions in this preseason, the best average yards per catch is 28.2 by Carolina’s Taye Biddle. And No. 2 is the 24.3 by Justin McCareins.
"I feel good, I feel confident in my ability," J-Mac said again today in the locker room before the Jets took the field for their last practice before the preseason finale at Philadelphia. "Hopefully I’ll get more opportunities when it really counts. So far I have been. It seems like I’m a little bit bigger part of the offense, which is nice. Hopefully I can contribute a little more this season."
McCareins is one of the few frontliners who actually has had some decent production. With the first offense playing things close to the vest, he’s had only one of his receptions, a 6-yarder, come in the first quarter from Chad Pennington.
His other five catches, for 140 yards, including a 42-yarder vs. Atlanta, the brilliant 35-yard TD vs. Minnesota and the 45-yarder vs. the Giants, have come from Kellen Clemens in the second quarter or later.
McCareins’ contributions will depend on many things, one of them being Eric Mangini and Brian Schottenheimer taking the wraps off the first "O" and another being Thomas Jones’ return to action. TJ has been more active on the sidelines as he works to get his leg ready to go for the season opener vs. New England.
Mangini wasn’t giving much away on Jones’ rehab at his news conference today but he did say he’s not worried about Jones having only eight carries in the preseason opener vs. the Falcons under his belt when he finally gets back in harness.
"Thomas has been through a lot of games, a lot of situations," the head coach said. "He’s very active in meetings, things like that. I’m pretty comfortable with the combination of his experience, what he’s doing in meetings, and his ability to come back and contribute effectively.
"Everybody’s different," Mangini said of the formula he uses for the number of carries he’d like his featured backs to get. "I read a stat somewhere that LaDainian Tomlinson, I don’t know if he ever carries the ball in preseason. I read that Larry Johnson wants to carry the ball a lot. Everybody has a different way of getting prepared. You try to give them what they need."
For the record, the Chargers’ Tomlinson has had only 18 preseason offensive touches from his rookie season of 2001 to the present, with no touches last summer and none so far this preseason.
Practicing in New Jersey(s)
The reporters couldn’t tell a lot of the players without a scorecard during the half-hour of media availability at the start of today’s practice. At least six sets of defensive players exchanged practice jerseys and wore unlikely numbers.
Perhaps the starkest exchange was between 310-pound DT Dewayne Robertson and 196-pound CB Justin Miller. Miller’s No. 22 jersey was starting to ride up Robertson’s frame as he ran D-line drills. And D-Rob’s No. 63 looked baggy and a little out of place as Miller returned punts.
Other jersey swaps:
S Kerry Rhodes wore No. 54, LB Victor Hobson No. 25.
LB Jonathan Vilma wore No. 24, CB Darrelle Revis No. 51.
LB Eric Barton wore No. 33, S Eric Smith No. 50.
LB Brad Kassell wore No. 30, CB Drew Coleman, No. 55.
And DE Shaun Ellis wore No. 21, CB Andre Dyson No. 92.
Tags: Eric Mangini, Justin McCareins, Kellen Clemens, LaDainian Tomlinson
Posted in Randy Lange | 16 Comments »
By Michael S. on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
McCareins has looked good this preseason and has had a great camp. Hopefully they use him a lot more. I wonder why the jersey swap? Hmmm
By Ira on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
Randy, Thanks for keeping us up to date. McCareins has been playing great since mini-camps and now is showing how he can be a weapon. Those #’s are even better than when he was with the Titans. Jones’s news is great. He’s a pro and will be ready. Randy, Great stat on LT.
By Ira on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
Jersey swaps good angle. Play with faster speed #’s for D-Rob, Vilma, Barton, Kassell, and Ellis and play more aggressive for Rhodes. Kudos to Eric for always thinking out of the box for ideas to motivate his players. GO JETS!!!!!!!
By JOHNNYJET on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
THE JETS HAVE TO KEEP JUSTIN. HE IS VERY VALUABLE TO THE OFFENSE!!
By Ben on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
forget the Jersey swaps and McCarrens YPC…the best part of the article was reading about Justin Miller, Andre Dyson and Eric Smith were all back on the field practicing again…
By tyreek on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
well none of this matters if we cant protect chad on opening day!
By Drew on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
Who looked funnier….D-Rob sliding into Miller’s jersey or Ellis rocking Dyson’s?? Even though I wanted to see Brad Smith catch more balls this year, McCariens has been a stud and deserves to get some love from B-Schott!! Great job as usual Randy
By Derick on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
Randy, is it at all possible the Jets will go after Keydrick Vincent.
By JOHNNYJET on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
THE RAVENS JUST RFELEASED GUARD KEYDRICK VINCENT! JETS AND MR.T GO GET HIM AND STICK HIM ON THE LINE!
By Joe on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
I really like Justin, but I’m wondering if it doesn’t make sense to trade him for a mid-round draft pick or maybe even a serviceable guard. With LC, Cotchery, Brad Smith and Stuckey we are pretty set at receiver.
By Ira on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
Mr. T will get a LG. The problem is will he have enough time to learn the playbook and get ready for the Pats. They will probably have to start Bender,Clarke,Jones or Smith on opening day at that LG spot.
By Eric on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
This is completely off topic–does anyone know what the Namath + 4 tickets to the NE game etc went for? Thanks in advance.
By Ira on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
Would hate to see McCareins used for a trade. Stuckey will be a #3 WR in time and Smith is a big play player but i question if he can go over the middle or not.Would rather trade a CB instead. TE and WR are going to be the hardest cuts to make. Hope Clemens gets to play the entire 1st half tomorrow.
By GIOVANNI on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
I HAVE READ THAT THE JETS ARE INTERESTED IN KEYDRICK BUT KEY SAYD THAT HE WILL MAKE A DECITION BY THE WEEKEND IN WHICH A FEW TEAMS HAVE SHOW INTEREST IN HIM,HOPE THE JETS ARE NOT WAITING AROUND AND MAKE HIM AN OFFER,HE CANT REFUSE.
By Joe on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
The only reason I’m suggesting a McCareins trade is that he’s 28, has had a great preseason, and his value will only go down from here. The Jets are “stacked” at some of the skill positions (WR, TE, DB) and I would like to see one more trade to help build for the future or help this year (guard!),
By Don D on Sep 2, 2007 | Reply
At first I did not like the talks of trading J. Vilma but realize if the Jets are commited to th 3-4 def, it might be best to trade him to a 4-3 type def and get good value, I doubt they trade him but I did not expect all that went down with P. Kendal either. I already miss U Kendal