Jets' Westhoff Leads Extreme Makeover of Special Teams – Jets …

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Jets’ Westhoff Leads Extreme Makeover of Special Teams

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: may 28, 2010

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) —Mike Westhoff was in midseason form, growling at his at his players and using some choice words to stress his point.

it is only may, but Westhoff, the Jets’ special-teams coordinator, needs to be intense. he is rebuilding a unit that lost several key members from last season, including the kicker and long snapper.

“There are some big, big challenges,” Westhoff said. “We all have challenges, but I probably have the biggest. yet I have no lack of confidence thinking that I can’t do it. it can be frustrating, but I think I see the whole picture.”

that being that the N.F.L. is a business, and teams lose significant players every season because of financial decisions or changes in philosophy. Roster turnover is just part of it, something Westhoff has experienced quite a bit in nearly 30 years coaching in the league.

“I’m used to it,” Westhoff said. “It’s part of the system. we probably have a smaller pool from which to draw because of some of the moves we’ve made. and that’s O.K. I think for the most part, most of the guys, I feel pretty good about.”

For Coach Rex Ryan, having Westhoff means he does not need to worry about special teams no matter what the roster looks like.

“There’s no better guy in the league to have than Westy,” Ryan said. “It’s great as a head coach when you can lay your head on that pillow knowing you’re going to be able to protect the punter, knowing you’re going to be able to cover kicks.”

Adversity is nothing new for the 62-year-old Westhoff, who has battled back from cancer in his left leg and several subsequent operations.

He is in his 10th season with the Jets and his 28th in the N.F.L., and he has long been regarded as one of the league’s special-teams gurus.

“He’s pretty straightforward and holds nothing back or sugarcoats anything,” linebacker Lance Laury said.

Westhoff said the Jets’ kick coverage unit, which ranked fifth last season, could have been no. 1 if not for two 100-yard returns by Miami’s Ted Ginn Jr.

“It’s only two plays,” he said, “but they still bother me.”

The biggest question Westhoff faces could be whether Nick Folk will be able to replace place-kicker Jay Feely, who went to Arizona after not being re-signed by the Jets.

Folk was a Pro Bowl pick as a Dallas Cowboys rookie in 2007, but struggled through last season after he had a torn labrum in his right hip repaired in the off-season.

“Nick has been a guy who we’ve made a couple of adjustments, not with his technique, but his alignment,” Westhoff said. “I feel very good about that. He’s coming off not a great year, but we’ll see. so far, he’s done O.K.”

There is also the issue of long snapper after the veteran James Dearth was not re-signed. Dearth was consistently good in his nine seasons with the Jets, but the team opted to go younger at that spot and signed Tanner Purdum.

“He’s a very good snapper,” Westhoff said of Purdum. “He can snap. now, will he hold up under the pressure and is he strong enough? We’re going to find all those things out. He’s got some basics. We’re going to put him in that position and let him compete for it.”

one mostly overlooked move during the off-season was the Jets’ allowing Wallace Wright to sign with Carolina as a free agent. Wright was a spot player on offense as a wide receiver, but he played one of the most important roles on special teams as the flyer or gunner. Westhoff is looking at using the speedy wide receiver David Clowney as Wright’s replacement.

“I know I can do it,” Clowney said. “That’s not a question. I come from a special-teams college at Virginia Tech. I started at flyer for my last two years of college. It’s something I’m not new to.”

it could mean the difference between being cut or remaining on the roster. with Jerricho Cotchery, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Brad Smith ahead of him on the depth chart at receiver, Clowney knows he needs to show he can be versatile.

“I’m giving him every opportunity,” Westhoff said.

Westhoff said punter Steve Weatherford was kicking the ball the best he had seen. he was also excited about the prospect of having Smith returning kicks on a regular basis after averaging 30.1 yards on 10 returns last season.

The first-round pick Kyle Wilson is also expected to have a large role on special teams, as are Laury, Eric Smith, James Ihedigbo, Dwight Lowery and Marquice Cole. The speedy cornerback Antonio Cromartie also may be used by Westhoff.

“I’ve got my work cut out for me,” Westhoff said. “But I think we have a chance with the guys we’ve got.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/sp…tml?ref=sports

Jets' Westhoff Leads Extreme Makeover of Special Teams – Jets …

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