Jets announce three new coaching appointments

The New York Jets have made three coaching moves.

The team announce it promoted John Scott Jr. from defensive quality control coach to assistant defensive line coach. Gang Green also hired David Diaz-Infante as assistant offensive line coach and appointed Tim Atkins to Scott Jr.'s old position.

Via NewYorkJets.com:

Scott came to Bowles' staff last year and entered the NFL for the first time after serving as a college coach for the past 12 seasons ... Diaz-Infante comes to the Jets after a stint in 2013-14 as an offensive assistant with the Arizona Cardinals, where he worked with Bowles ... Atkins comes to the Jets from the Bills, where he was a football operations assistant since 2011.

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Bowles on win-and-in game this Sunday: 'No pressure'

New York Jets coach Todd Bowles is staying even-keeled, even with a win-and-you're-in situation this coming Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

After a 5-5 start, the Jets have won their last five games and are in position to make the playoffs with a victory over the rival Bills, led by former Jets coach Rex Ryan.

"The past couple weeks have been playoff games," Bowles said Monday, via NJ.com. "There really is no pressure. They just play together and we have fun, and we try to get better as a team. There's no pressure on us. We know have to win; we've been having to win the past five weeks. It's no different going into Sunday."

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Torn ACL ends season for Jets rookie Devin Smith

Devin Smith was finding his groove over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, he'll have to re-establish that momentum next year.

The New York Jets rookie wideout suffered a torn ACL Sunday and will be out the rest of the season.

"It's a tough break for him," Jets coach Todd Bowles said Monday, via NewYorkJets.com. "He was starting to play faster and finding his place within the offense. But he's a young guy so hopefully ... he can come back stronger next year."

Per the team's website:

Smith was injured while covering a punt midway through the third quarter. He was running across the field from his left gunner position toward the kick to the right by Ryan Quigley. He seemed to drag his left leg after planting it right before absorbing a hard hit from his left side from the Titans' Marqueston Huff near the sideline.

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Parcells advice to Bowles: Take 'em one game at a time

At 7-5 and with three of their remaining four games against teams without a winning record, the New York Jets are poised to make a run at the playoffs -- a feat they haven't accomplished since 2010.

But to get there, they'll likely need to win all three of those games, a situation that leaves no room for error or lack of focus.

That's what Bill Parcells tried to convey with his most recent text message to Jets coach Todd Bowles: "Everybody is talking playoffs. Just coach the team and worry about the next game."

"I understand what he's saying," Bowles said Wednesday via ESPN.com. "To a point, you buy it, but you have to be consistent with your team. You have to do the same things you've been doing. You don't look at it as a trap game. You look at it as the next game."

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Mangold practices but still has 'little more' to do to play

For a team struggling with as many injuries at quarterback as the New York Jets, getting your starting center back on the field is nothing short of a godsend.

But while former Pro Bowler Nick Mangold was able to practice for the first time Thursday since suffering a neck injury in Week 7, his status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars is anything but a sure thing.

"[I'm] encouraged to see him out there, but he still has to do a little more," coach Todd Bowles said Thursday via ESPN.com.

Mangold, on the other hand, was far more confident about his chances of playing, saying "I sure plan on it."

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Bowles: Fitz a go for Sunday's game against Jaguars

Todd Bowles answered his quarterback quandary with one word Wednesday:

"Ryan."

The New York Jets coach plans to start his veteran signal-caller Sunday as the team hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars, though the nod doesn't discount Fitzpatrick's injury.

"They've got him taped up pretty good and they've got him bandaged up pretty good. He didn't have any pain or any effect like that during practice, and Geno (Smith) practiced, as well. So we've got both."

While both quarterbacks participated in team activities, Bowles admitted he was surprised at the amount the two were able to do given the injuries they sustained in Gang Green's loss to the Raiders.

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Bowles confident Geno learned from watching Fitz

Geno Smith is nursing a big bruise on his non-throwing shoulder this week, and New York Jets coach Todd Bowles is unsure if the third-year quarterback will be a go this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But if he is healthy enough and called upon to take the reigns for the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bowles is seemingly confident.

"I think he picked up a few things," Bowles said, via NJ.com, when asked about whether Smith learned from watching the 11-year veteran Fitzpatrick run the offense through the first third of the season.

Fitzpatrick tore a ligament in his non-throwing thumb on the first drive last Sunday in a loss to the Oakland Raiders. Smith filled in admirably, but the defense put up an absolute stinker. It can't afford to do the same this weekend, especially, if rookie Bryce Petty has to step in.

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Eric Decker day-to-day with sprained knee ligament

Fortunately for the New York Jets, things aren't so serious with wide receiver Eric Decker.

After putting together a first-half stellar performance Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, Decker went down to a knee injury early in the fourth quarter.

But an MRI Tuesday revealed only a sprained ligament, according to Newsday.

Decker is now day-to-day, according to coach Todd Bowles. His status is very much up in the air for Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town.

"If he's not moving well, obviously, he's not going to play," Bowles said. "But time will tell. He's got a little bit of time. I'm hopeful. But it's not out of the realm [of possibility] that he won't play either."

Fellow wideout Chris Owusu, meanwhile, suffered a leg injury the game and may be out two weeks.

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With Smith out, Owusu stepping up for Jets' WR corps

Chris Owusu had his coming out party for the New York Jets in the team's final game last season, amassing 146 total yards and a touchdown in a 37-24 victory.

A dash of early-season Internet stardom, coupled with a boost up the depth chart due to Devin Smith's injury, has put the 25-year-old in a position to practice with Gang Green's No. 1 unit this summer.

So far, new head coach Todd Bowles likes what he sees.

"He's smart, he's steady, he's more deceptive (than you think), he's quicker than you think, he's always in the right place and he's young," Bowles said via ESPN.com. "He just needs a chance to play."

Those chances have continued this week, as Owusu has seen time against the Jets' top corners, including Darrelle Revis.

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Not so fast: Bowles assures Geno still must earn it

Last week, New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said Geno Smith was the team's starting quarterback, and "that's the way we expect it to be."

Wednesday, head coach Todd Bowles walked back those comments a bit.

"Chan's very matter-of-fact," Bowles said, via NJ.com. "Come camp time, there will be competition at the spot. ... That doesn't mean it's going to stay like that."

Bowles did say earlier this year that Smith would enter camp as the No. 1, and he didn't back off from that statement. However, he made it clear that Smith will still have to earn it.

[READ MORE from NJ.com]

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Jets to formally introduce coach, GM Wednesday

The New York Jets announced the hiring of general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles in the middle of last week. They're introducing the new Jets leaders in the middle of this week.

The team announced Monday Bowles and Maccagnan will hold their introductory press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. It will be streamed live at NewYorkJets.com.

NJ.com has more:

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Richard Sherman really likes the Jets' new coach

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman certainly has a way with words. Those words are often fired at opponents, though not always as nicely as they were with former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles last month.

Bowles, now the New York Jets' head coach, drew some particularly high praise from arguably the NFL's best cornerback.

After the Seahawks ousted the Cardinals in December, Sherman told Bowles he was "the best D-coordinator I've seen."

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Jets officially name Todd Bowles new head coach

It's official. Todd Bowles is Rex Ryan's replacement.

The rookie head coach, most recently the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator, was named Gang Green's new leader Tuesday--less than 24 hours a handful of media outlets reported he was the Jets' guy.

For divisional purposes, Bowles was the Miami Dolphins' assistant head coach for a few years and was the team's interim head coach for three games in 2011 when Tony Sparano was fired.

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Jets give Bowles second look with Quinn on standby

BY EDITOR

With the New York Jets' apparent favorite head coaching prospect Dan Quinn, the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator, still unavailable, the team is continuing to interview other potential candidates.

One of those candidates is Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who the team plans to bring in for a second time, according to NJ.com. Bowles is the first coach to get a second chat with Gang Green.

"The Jets may really want Quinn ... and they reportedly were prepared to fly to Seattle on Saturday night to offer him the job had the Seahawks lost to the Panthers in their playoff game," writes Dom Costentio of NJ.com.

Dolphins' defense half-way effective against Brady

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

What a difference a half makes.

The Dolphins' defense knew the key to beating the Patriots Saturday was to shut down Tom Brady. And for 30 minutes, Miami did just that, holding Brady to seven completions and sacking him three times.

Bowles on key to stopping Brady: Hope he gets flu

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

One week after picking up his first victory as a (interim) head coach in the NFL, Todd Bowles gets the luxury of trying to figure out how to beat Tom Brady for win No. 2.

The Miami Dolphins' head guy's solution: Hope the New England Patriots' signal-caller "gets the flu and doesn't show up for the game."

Dolphins coach says Davis is 'becoming a true pro'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Miami Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles was responsible for the entire team Sunday in his first game as Miami's head guy. However, Bowles couldn't help but be particularly excited about the individual group he's been in charge of the past few years.

Bowles has coached the Dolphins' secondary since 2008, and he has watched third-year cornerback Vontae Davis make some big strides as of late.

Dolphins' motivation for rest of year? Keeping jobs

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Miami Dolphins are 4-9, and general perception is that they have nothing to play for.

But Dolphins (ex-)coach Tony Sparano was fired Monday for performance reasons, and interim coach Todd Bowles reminded the team Wednesday that the players and coaches -- Bowles included -- are still being closely evaluated.