Vilma’s Small Statistics Not Seen as a Big Deal

Dec/01/06 07:02 AM Filed in: Jonathan Vilma
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Nov. 30 — Coach Eric Mangini likes to look beneath the surface, beyond the statistics, to appreciate — and defend — his players.

After the Jets lost to the Chicago Bears, 10-0, on Nov. 19, Chad Pennington was criticized for throwing two costly interceptions and passing for only 162 yards. Mangini came to his defense, highlighting the nuances that were Pennington’s strengths.

On Thursday, it was linebacker Jonathan Vilma who received the verbal pat on the back.

“One of the things that we’ve been talking about quite a bit with Chad lately is the unseen things that he does — getting us in and out of checks, getting us in and out of good and bad plays,” Mangini said. “And I think that on the flip side, Jonathan Vilma is very similar to Chad in that way.”
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