Henderson airs problems out

Hempstead, NY - On Monday, defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson had a gripe session with his embattled unit. Players were allowed to speak their mind and Henderson did the same.
Henderson, in his second season with the Jets, told them he had lost a bit of confidence while making certain calls after they've been burned on a big run. The players told him he hasn't been aggressive enough with his calls.

The Jets, who returned eight starters from a unit that ranked fifth in the NFL against the run last season, have allowed 515 yards rushing in the past three games. They rank 30th in the NFL in run defense (139.6 yards per game) this season.

Last week, they allowed 281 yards total offense in the first half -- the fourth-highest total in a half during the Herman Edwards' regime -- and the Chargers scored on their first three possessions en route to a 31-26 victory.

It was time to talk.

"It was good," LB Jonathan Vilma said yesterday. "Was it productive? We'll find out (Sunday vs. the Panthers). It was definitely something we needed. Just let guys get things off their chest. Everyone is frustrated about the way the season is going."

"Now people know where the man beside him stands," LB Victor Hobson said.

Edwards said he doesn't think Henderson's calls are the problem. He feels players just aren't executing and they're trying to do too much.

"When you start trying to overcompensate and do other people's job, that leads to breakdowns," Hobson said. "Defense is about precision. If you're trying to do somebody else's job, you can't be precise about your own and it's going to lead to mistakes."

QB Brooks Bollinger, who is officially 6-1 1/4, agreed with offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger that the reason he gets so many passes batted down is because he doesn't get deep enough on his three- step drops and sets up too short on his seven-step drops. It's a bad habit Bollinger has developed and the Jets are trying to correct it.

"It's one thing to do it in drills but to carry it over when the bullets are flying is a different thing," Bollinger said. "I'm working at it."

The Jets signed rookie free-agent TE Corey Lamkin to their practice squad. He's a 6-6, 240-pound former basketball player at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi who hasn't played organized football since eighth grade. He was recommended to the Jets by former TE coach Phil Pettey, who has a personal training business in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"He's a project," Edwards said.

S Oliver Celestin (knee) and LB Kenyatta Wright (knee) didn't practice and are questionable. C Pete Kendall (back) didn't practice but is probable. ... Panthers RB Rod Smart (ankle), S Mike Minter (thigh) and TE Kris Mangum (knee) are questionable. ... Edwards and Panthers coach John Fox played together for one season at San Diego State.

Panthers WR Steve Smith leads the NFL in receptions (55) and yards (903) and has nine TDs. RB Stephen Davis has 406 yards rushing and 11 TDs. QB Jake Delhomme ranks sixth in the NFL in passing, completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 14 TDs and eight INTs. He has a 94.5 passer rating. Carolina (6-2) has won five straight and averages 27.5 points per game.

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