Mangini Will Be Put To Test

By Brian Fitzsimmons: SPM NJ Columnist
Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2007

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.— While searching for the origin of Bill Belichick’s vast credibility as an NFL head coach, look no further than his three Super Bowl rings.

True, the New England Patriots headman’s jewelry collection hasn’t grown since 2004, when he became the only coach in history to win three rings in four years. But even today, his teams find a way to win -- and this year is no different.

But hidden in the tall shadows of Belichick and Tom Brady in the AFC East another potential perennial winner is waiting to pounce. The unexpected predator is the New York Jets, led by a man who is trying to steal some of the spotlight from his own teacher in Year Two.

Belichick taught Eric Mangini everything he knows. Mangini scored big as a debut head coach last season by guiding the lowly Jets to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth. His execution earned him the nickname, “Man-genius.” Such is the timeline of the much-celebrated, and youngest, coach in the league.

But when the gates of preseason opened, a higher bar had been set. Mangini has given off a scent of consistent winning, unlike the majority of painful years in the past. These aren’t the lottery-bound members of Gang Green anymore. These are the Jets who seem to be one of the few suitors to silence the hype of Randy Moss wearing a Patriots’ uniform.

They'd better be, or else Mangini’s methods will be seriously questioned, and ultimately slammed, by the incredibly hot lights of the New York media. Another good season will clearly help him gain some credibility of his own too. The burning question remains: has Mangini been tabbed a genius too prematurely?

Yes and no.

On the positive end, he did, in fact, lead a team with the talent to go 3-13 to the playoffs. Obviously something went right and those methods will be tested this coming season starting with none other than the Patriots, in Week One. In the tabloid structured “Belichick versus Mangini” storyline, which was manufactured and resurrected every time the two teams met in the regular season, Mangini came out on top once. Granted, it was a huge win and aided a playoff push, but ultimately, it was meaningless.

Have any of you heard of an NFL head coach being dubbed such a prestigious alter ego without tallying his 11th career win? I certainly haven’t.

On camp’s first day, Mangini said all the right things and continued his harsh, but fair, method of earning every spot on the depth chart. That itself is quite the accomplishment since a handful of off the field problems have the potential of poisoning a clubhouse with a clean slate.

Most notably, first-round pick Darrelle Revis’ long-standing holdout has all but erased him from contention for starting at cornerback. But Mangini concocted an answer glazed with positive vibes.

“Each repetition that you miss is an opportunity for someone else to get that rep and for them to show what they can do and how they can help the team win,” he stated. “It’s really a great opportunity for those other guys.”

It doesn’t take a genius to think of that answer but that was the formula last year and it is the formula this year.

What about the ongoing unhappiness of starting LG Pete Kendall?

“Everybody here, myself and the team, is focused on us improving as a group.”

Same story, and it still coincides with the madman’s methods.

The pieces are in place for the Jets to make some noise within their division, not to mention their loaded conference, especially with the addition of star running back Thomas Jones.

But to solve the monster embedded in Foxboro Stadium, and silence any snickers of a one-hit wonder? That would take a real genius.

Let the test begin.