#Can Jets Compete with 49ers? feat. Nick Mangold

A lot has to change for the Jets if they want to compete against the defending NFC Champion 49ers on Sunday in their home opener. With no fans in the building, it will be a new kind of MetLife Stadium for Gang Green. To break down the matchup and chat with former All-Pro Jets center Nick Mangold, we bring you a brand new episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast with beat writer Brian Costello and Jake Brown.

Coz and I open up the podcast talking about the injuries both the Jets and 49ers are dealing with heading into this Week 2 matchup. The Jets offense will be without at least Le’Veon Bell and Denzel Mims, which could mean more problems for Sam Darnold, who struggled in Week 1 against the Bills. We talk about what needs to chance for the team to put some points on the board, including Darnold hitting open receivers, more creative playcalling and developing a run game, led by future Hall of Famer Frank Gore. Having La’Mical Perine on the field could certainly help if he is healthy. Kalen Ballage was brought back, but Coz feels he will be used more on special teams.

We dive right into CEO Christopher Johnson’s comments this week about Adam Gase, Sam Darnold, Mike Maccagnan, Joe Douglas and the team. Was it a surprise to hear Johnson describe Gase as “brilliant”? Did he take a shot at Maccagnan with what he said? Can Darnold bounce back this week? We break down the 49ers game and what we expect to happen. Both of us have a hard time seeing the Jets finding a way to win the game, despite Richard Sherman, Deebo Samuel and potentially George Kittle being out with injuries.

Subscribe: 

      

Former All-Pro Jets center Nick Mangold then joins the show. Mangold opens up by promoting the Pepsi campaign he is doing with Jets prizes. He also talks about his Mangold’s 74 BBQ sauce. We then get into football with the seven-time Pro Bowler, discussing how it will take time for this Jets offensive line to develop some cohesion, being new and not getting any preseason action in. Mangold gets into this team having little expectations as some of his Jets’ teams did, and if players hear it and how to deal with it. Mangold discusses team chemistry, if he felt any pressure replacing Kevin Mawae as a rookie and tells a hilarious story about D’Brickashaw Ferguson at the NFL Combine. Mangold explains why he felt a sense of pride in being a Jet for his entire career. He finishes the interview talking about what he uses to keep his beard maintained.

NY Post fantasy football writer Samantha Previte then gives her start-sit options for your fantasy teams in Week 2. I close out the show with “Brown’s Best Bets” for Week 2. Which teams are locks against the spread and what is a strong three-leg parlay option?

Mangold on new Jets offensive line, developing cohesion:

“Definitely going to be a challenge this year. It’s going to be a big onus on the vets to push the cohesion a lot quicker than usual. We used to sit there in the spring and we’d always have a big cookout with the offensive line getting together. We’d have dinners, lunches and we’d spend a lot of time during training camp together. Just to build that chemistry off the field which I feel is just as important as chemistry on the field. There’s going to be a lot of challenges coming in. Not having preseason games means you don’t have preseason film. So, you’re going to have guys that you haven’t seen since December who probably spent the last six months working on something new that you’ll have no idea about. I think not only for the Jets, but the NFL as a whole, these first three weeks are going to be a definite learning curve as we settle into the season.”

Mangold on pride in being a lifetime Jet: 

“Yeah, I definitely take a lot of pride in being a Jet. From the way the fans embrace me, to the team itself, to the people in the building. I did have some chances that I could have stolen a couple of checks. When it came down to it, I didn’t want to go anywhere else. When it got real, and they are like you sign and go play, I enjoy being a Jet. We didn’t win at all, which is unfortunate, but we did win some games. We had some bad games. Through it all, I enjoyed my time there. I didn’t like how it ended, but can’t control everything. But, it was one of those things that I took a lot of pride in being a New York Jet and took a lot of pride in being one of the guys that can truly say, you’re forever a Jet. When I got the opportunity, I said I want to sign the one-day deal just so I can retire appropriately and just enjoy being a Jet. I’m forever associated with being a Jet and I like it that way.”

Catch up on all episodes of “Gang’s All Here,” a New York Jets podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Coz and Jake on Twitter @BrianCoz and @JakeBrownRadio for updates on the show. The next episode of the podcast drops Monday morning.