HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -With protecting their new quarterback a top priority, the New York Jets’ revamped offensive line is looking forward to its next big challenge: the Giants’ sack-happy defense.
“I think everybody knows about their front,” left guard Alan Faneca said Thursday. “It helped them win the Super Bowl, so it’s going to be a good gauge for us.”
The Jets, with new additions Faneca and right tackle Damien Woody, are eager to take on a Giants squad that piled up 53 sacks last season and will have its sights set on Brett Favre on Saturday night.
“I try to keep all quarterbacks who are behind me healthy,” left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson said. “Obviously, you want to keep that guy healthy as well.”
The Giants, with defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck leading the way, have firmly established a reputation for dominating quarterbacks. They sacked Tom Brady five times in the Super Bowl victory against New England.
“Their front four is phenomenal,” fullback Tony Richardson said. “Any one of those guys could have been right up there for MVP of the Super Bowl. They took over the game.”
Coach Eric Mangini was uncertain how much Favre would play, but teams usually leave their starters in the third preseason game for at least the entire first half.
“It’s really going to depend on how many plays we have offensively and how long their first group is in,” Mangini said. “It’s really hard to say at this point.”
Favre looked good in his two series last week in his Jets debut against Washington. He was 5-for-6 for 48 yards and touchdown, and was hoping to see more action Saturday.
“With every preseason game I’ve played in, I’d like to play the whole game,” Favre said earlier this week. “It’s kind of a touchy situation, but based on how much I’ve played, or haven’t played, I would think I would play more.”
That would mean more time for the offensive line to make sure the Giants’ swarming defense stays away from its rifle-armed 38-year-old quarterback.
“We want to do all the small things right,” Woody said. “We want to really be crisp out there for the third game, knowing that we will not likely be out there for the Philly game (next week). This game is going to be as close to a regular-season procedure as possible. We really want to go out there and make a statement.”
That’s easier said than done against a Giants defense that dominated the Cleveland Browns early in a 37-34 victory Monday night.
“They were really impressive against Cleveland and they have some really good athletes in their front seven,” Woody said. “We feel like we’re a pretty good group up front, too.”
Even before the Jets acquired Favre from Green Bay two weeks ago, the offensive line was considered by many the biggest key to success this season. The Jets got only adequate pass protection for Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens last season, and that also affected the running game.
Promising third-year players Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, along with veteran guard Brandon Moore, remained from last season’s unit. After a botched salary dispute led to left guard Pete Kendall being traded to Washington, the Jets struggled to find a replacement.
So, they headed into free agency targeting the best available at the position. They signed Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowl performer with Pittsburgh, to a five-year, $40 million deal – making him the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman. They also signed Woody, a former Super Bowl-winning center with New England, to bolster the right tackle spot.
“I think we have potential and we’ve laid a really good groundwork here in training camp,” Faneca said. “You’re starting to see signs, not of life, but things beyond just the X’s and O’s. It’s getting to where you’re starting to do some things in some pretty difficult situations and being able to get the blocks.”
Favre faced the Giants in the Packers’ loss in the NFC championship game and wasn’t sacked, but was hurried and felt the pressure in subzero temperatures at Lambeau Field.
“That’s over and done with,” Favre said. “Obviously, it’s a new year. A lot of things have changed. It’s a preseason game for us. I’m not thinking about the past. They’re the team to beat in this league. We’re just trying to get better this week.”
Notes: Wide receiver Laveranues Coles (left leg), who hasn’t spoken to the media since the team released Pennington, has been limited in practice. Mangini was unsure if he would play against the Giants. “It’s all measured steps,” Mangini said. “You don’t want to have a setback this late in the process. We’ll just see how it is.” … Mangini said defensive end Shaun Ellis (hand) is “getting closer,” but didn’t know if he’d play this week. … The game will mark the 40th time the teams have met in the preseason, with the Jets leading 20-18-1.
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