:: proCanes

3-4 defense finally familiar to Jets' Vilma

Jul/30/07 03:48 PM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- At times last season, the Jets' 3-4 scheme fit Jonathan Vilma like a glove. He felt he was on the verge of bursting free, being the player he was in the 4-3 alignment, earning NFL defensive rookie of the year honors and a Pro Bowl berth in his first two seasons.

Then, there were times when Vilma felt as though he was lost in the wilderness, playing a game that was foreign to him.

Vilma, who made his mark as a sideline-to-sideline hitting machine, had perhaps the toughest adjustment to the Jets' new defense a year ago. Once able to simply run to the ball and make plays, he had to hold his inside linebacker position and take on centers and guards that outweighed him by as much as 100 pounds.

Now, in his second season in the 3-4 defense, Vilma feels the difficult times are behind him -- and the entire unit.

"I feel light years better than last year," Vilma said yesterday between two-a-day sessions at Hofstra. "This is my second year in it. I'm not just learning the defense, I'm trying to learn ways to improve myself in the defense and improve the defense overall."

|

Vilma playing risky hand - LB frequents Big Apple poker parlors

Jun/18/07 09:34 AM | Permalink

Echoing the hard-line stance of new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Eric Mangini has lectured the Jets on the importance of staying on the right side of the law. The coach is trying to build a team of wholesome players, and one player near the top of his list is Jonathan Vilma.

Except for one slip of the tongue - he compared illegal dogfighting to horse racing last week in a radio interview - Vilma has forged a solid reputation on and off the field. The talented linebacker is the latest to shoot a soup commercial with his mother, and what could be more anti-Pacman than that?

"We have a bunch of kids looking up to us," Vilma says. "I remember when I was a kid, looking up to Jerry Rice."

|

New York Jets LB Jonathan Vilma explains his dogfighting comments

Jun/14/07 06:55 PM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma said Thursday his recent comments comparing dogfighting to horse racing were misunderstood.

Asked on a local radio show his thoughts on the investigation of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's possible involvement in dogfighting, Vilma said: "Dogfighting is much more extreme, but you can equate it to horse racing. . . . Everyone has heard about dogfighting. Whether you choose to participate or not, that's your decision. I'm not here to condone or accept it. It's been there for a while . . ."

Speaking at the team's mini camp Thursday, Vilma insisted "my comments that were misinterpreted were that I am not for or against dogfighting or Michael Vick. It's an unfortunate situation for Michael Vick whether he is involved or not."

|

Jets' Jonathan Vilma welcomes lofty expectations after subpar season

Jun/10/07 02:56 PM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Jonathan Vilma was hanging out in Boston - enemy territory as far as New York Jets fans are concerned - during an excused absence from pre-season workouts.

The linebacker's trip Thursday had nothing to do with the New England Patriots. It was to watch his sister, Alice, receive her MBA from Harvard Business School.
"She's got the brains," Vilma said Friday. "She took them all."

Walking around the Harvard campus, the former University of Miami star was thoroughly impressed.

"Miami is Miami. Nothing beats Miami, but of course, Harvard speaks for itself," he said. "When I was telling people that my sister was graduating from Harvard, they were taken aback by it and they understand that it's something big and something special. We definitely treated it as something special, and we're definitely proud of her."

|

Jonathan Vilma Update

Jun/08/07 10:45 AM | Permalink

LB Jonathan Vilma was excused to attend the graduation of his sister, who received an MBA from Harvard.

(nydailynews.com)

|

GM EXPECTS VILMA TO REMAIN WITH JETS

Apr/20/07 07:57 AM | Permalink

April 20, 2007 -- Jets' brass met with reporters yesterday in their annual pre-draft session and - predictably - revealed little about the team's plans in next weekend's draft.

GM Mike Tannenbaum, however, did address several issues surrounding the team, including:

Rumors about a possible impending trade of LB Jonathan Vilma because he's not a perfect fit in the 4-3 defensive scheme.

"Jon is on the team. I'm glad he's here," Tannenbaum said. "I'm not going to comment on any specific rumor or anything, but I'm happy he's here. I know that those rumors have been out there. We expect him to be here. He's a good player."

Tannenbaum, however, declined to say Vilma, or any other player on the roster, is "untouchable."

(nypost.com)

|

Vilma talks about trade rumors on NFLN

Mar/15/07 12:48 PM | Permalink

Eisen: “Obviously you have heard about the trade rumors, I am sure. With you being on the trading block with the Jets, it was just sort of a paragraph thrown into a story in a Washington newspaper, that the Redskins might want to get you. Is there any truth to this?”

Vilma: “Rich I have no idea. I know that it got blown way out of proportion. The day it came out there were we had 20 phone calls. People were asking me, ‘You can’t go, you cant leave you can’t go to Washington.’ I didn’t know what was going on so finally someone forwarded me the paragraph saying that. I spoke to (Clinton) Portis a little bit and they got London Fletcher anyways so that became null and void.”

|

3-4 isn't under Vilma's Skin

Mar/15/07 12:47 PM | Permalink

Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma was besieged with phone calls recently when a blurb in a Washington, D.C. newspaper, perhaps fueled by rampant Internet rumors, suggested he could be traded to the Redskins. It became such a hot topic that Vilma discussed it with Redskins RB Clinton Portis, a former college teammate.

The only reason Vilma's name has surfaced in trade rumors is because of his struggles last season in Eric Mangini's 3-4 defense. But yesterday, in an interview with the NFL Network, Vilma seemed happy and optimistic that he'll be more productive in 2007.

"For me, it really doesn't matter which system I'm in as long as I'm put in a position to be successful," he said in his first interview of the offseason. "The last half of the season I started playing a lot better than the first half. I attributed that to getting used to the system, getting used to the 3-4."

|

Jonathan Vilma Update

Mar/03/07 10:04 AM | Permalink

If the London Fletcher-Baker deal isn't consummated and Buffalo's Nate Clements opts to sign elsewhere, the Redskins could trade for Jets middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

(cnnsi.com)

|

NFL SUPER STAR Jonathan VILMA Signs With WaterBank of America (USA) Inc. as Spokesperson for ICEROCKS(R), Secured Spring Water Ice Cubes

Feb/01/07 08:46 AM | Permalink

MIAMI, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 01, 2007 -- WaterBank of America (USA) Inc. (OTCBB: WBKA), developer and marketer of innovative water products, has signed a multi-year agreement with Jonathan Vilma, the NFL's 2004 Defensive Rookie of the year and captain of the New York Jets, to be a spokesperson for the Company's hygienic, secured ice cubes branded as ICEROCKS®.

Jonathan Vilma, 24, is considered one of the hottest young stars in the National Football League and he is a natural fit as a spokesperson for ICEROCKS®. Over the last 2 seasons, he has emerged as one of the best all around players on the team, and the leader of the Jets' defense. He is considered by many the perfect combination of speed, power and agility. Known for his extraordinary speed for a linebacker, running the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, Jonathan led the NFL in tackles in 2005 earning him his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Jonathan was named as a Board Member of the National Football Foundation's Play It Smart Program, launched in 1998 as an educational program designed to use football as a vehicle to foster the academic, personal and career development of at-risk student athletes. At University, Jonathan was a three-time Academic All-Big East Conference and two-time Butkus Award nominee at the University of Miami. He led the Hurricanes in tackles in each of his last three seasons. For further information, please visit: http://www.jonvilma.com.

|

JETS Q & A: Vilma bags sack for steal

Jan/09/07 07:00 AM | Permalink

How could Jonathan Vilma miss that sack on Tom Brady?

The linebacker, who has had a statistically solid season despite a dearth of impact plays, had a clear shot at Brady on a blind-side blitz. But instead of hitting the quarterback, Vilma lunged for the football and sailed right past, allowing a 12-yard rush on a critical third-and-6 play. "I was attempting a strip-sack," Vilma said of trying to cause a fumble. "He made a nice play by moving up instead of trying to spin back out like most quarterbacks do."

(newsday.com)

|

Vilma's stats don't add up in the 3-4

Dec/21/06 08:34 AM | Permalink

No forced fumbles and 58 solo tackles. This doesn't sound like the Jonathan Vilma who rocked a lot of fans, and running backs, at the University of Miami, or in his first two seasons with the New York Jets.

But he insisted Wednesday the downturn in his statistical portfolio has nothing to do with rookie coach Eric Mangini's switch to a three-four defense and that all is well with both himself and the astonishing Jets.

If Vilma is not the inside linebacker he was a year ago, when he had more than double the number of solo tackles at 124, 169 total when you fold in assists, then neither are the Jets the same pack of losers

|

Jets' Vilma just doing his job

Dec/19/06 08:16 AM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD - The music was blasting inside the Jets' big white practice bubble. They were trying to simulate the noise and indoor feel they will experience tomorrow at the Vikings' home dome. Jonathan Vilma stood on the field simulating with them, directing traffic before the scout team's snaps.

The 2005 Pro Bowl linebacker has been cited for being more of a traffic cop and less of a playmaker in the 3-4 defensive system coach Eric Mangini brought here this year. He has been calling signals and getting guys in the right spots. Then he has been staying in his proper area, meeting up with a lot of linemen and not having as much of a loud impact.

Still, all accounts have him learning well and getting better in the role. And Vilma hasn't whined about it, just been a good team guy, accepting what he has been asked to do and devoting himself to his studies of each week's opposing offense.

|

Vilma contributes with more than just tackles

Dec/16/06 09:39 AM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The music was blasting inside the Jets' big white practice bubble. They were trying to simulate the noise and indoor feel they will experience tomorrow at the Minnesota Vikings' home dome.

Jonathan Vilma stood on the field simulating with them, directing traffic before the scout team's snaps.

The 2005 Pro Bowl linebacker has been cited for being more of a traffic cop and less of a playmaker in the 3-4 defensive system coach Eric Mangini brought here this year.

He has been calling signals and getting guys in the right spots. Then he has been staying in his proper area, meeting up with a lot of linemen and not having as much of a loud impact.

|

Vilma sacks claim 3-4 scheme isn't for him

Dec/15/06 07:13 AM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Following last Sunday's 31-13 loss to Buffalo, Bills left tackle Jason Peters echoed the sentiments of the media by saying Jets inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma and the 3-4 defensive scheme are a bad marriage.

Vilma, who has struggled making the adjustment from the 4-3, was credited with just one tackle against the Bills.

"I got up on him a couple of times," Peters told Jets Confidential The Magazine. "He doesn't like it when somebody gets up on him and blocks him. He's more of a sideline-to-sideline, fill-the-gap type of guy. He's more of a 4-3 guy. The 3-4, I don't know. It's going to be hard for him to make plays in the 3-4."

|

Vilma Update

Dec/14/06 09:44 AM | Permalink

Jonathan Vilma's struggles are being noted by opponents. "I got up on him a couple of times," Bills LT Jason Peters told Jets Confidential after playing against him Sunday, when Vilma was credited with one tackle. "He doesn't like it when somebody gets up on him and blocks him. He is more of a sideline-to-sideline, fill-the-gap type of guy. He is more of a 4-3 guy. The 3-4, I don't know. It's going to be hard for him to make plays in the 3-4."

(newsday.com)

|

STAY ON COURSE WITH JONATHAN VILMA AND THE BURGER KING ON XBOX LIVE

Dec/08/06 09:16 PM | Permalink

New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma and royal subject the Burger King will swap practice cleats and a WHOPPER® Sandwich for a low-rider to race against fans on Xbox Live® as part of the latest Xbox Live Game with Fame session. Xbox Live Gold members interested in the chance to take on the duo in Pocketbike Racer for Xbox 360™ Tuesday, December 12, 2006 between 4:30 - 5:30 PM ET, should visit bkgamer.com and register by December 8, 2006.

The King is most recognized for his starring role in the BURGER KING® TV ads, but seems to be everywhere these days -- walking red carpets, making big hits on the NFL field, dating celebrity models and now starring in his own video games.

New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma is the third player in team history to earn the coveted AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. In just his third season in the NFL, Vilma has started in 42 of 44 games played, collecting 372 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions for 59 yards, 11 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. While attending the University of Miami, Vilma was a three-time member of the Academic All-Big East team and a first-team All-American selection. He was also a two-time Butkus Award nominee, which recognizes the nation's top linebacker.

|

Vilma, Jets look to be tundra-tough

Dec/03/06 12:28 PM | Permalink

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Some Jets who have never visited this biggest little city on NFL Earth expressed reverence about playing in the shrine called Lambeau.

Some said they'll follow Eric Mangini's five-second rule, "appreciating the atmosphere," then moving on to what's important: beating the Packers.

For Jonathan Vilma, five seconds is about five seconds too long.

"To be honest, I'm just going out there and trying to win the game and not worry about anything else," Vilma said, not disrespectfully but matter-of-factly. "It's definitely a business trip. We need to go out there and take care of business."

|

Tickets for Jonathan Vilma's Appearance on Quite Frankly in NYC

Dec/02/06 10:37 AM | Permalink

University of Miami Friends and Family

Join Quite Frankly for our exclusive interview with

Jonathan Vilma
NY Jets Linebacker

* Pizza, Beverages, Prizes & Giveaways *

Show Day: Monday, December 4th

Show Time: 5:30pm (Times subject to change)
***Check-in by 4:00pm

Studio Location: Hotel Pennsylvania @ 15 Penn Plaza
Across from the world famous Madison Square Garden

For FREE Ticket Reservations:

Contact: 646-708-7102 or Melissa.A.Salvo.-nd@espn.com

*Be sure to include your first and last name, telephone number with area code and the amount of tickets you would like so we can place you on our show day guest list. You will receive a reply via email with your show day information if your reservation has been accepted!

Airs weeknights at 11:00pm on ESPN2
www.ESPN.com/QuiteFrankly

|

Jets' Vilma getting used to leadership role

Dec/01/06 11:47 PM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD - Instinct still tells Jets inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma to head toward the football. He's getting used to ignoring that little voice.

"It starts with the first step. If you make a wrong step on the initial reaction, you messed up the rest of the play,'' Vilma said yesterday. "Naturally, you want to do things you can't do now, and that's a little tough.''

Jets coach Eric Mangini offered some unsolicited praise, comparing the way Vilma calls the defensive signals to the way Chad Pennington runs the offense.

"Whereas he gets more and more familiar with the system, you see a lot of his style of play incorporated into the system,'' Mangini said.

|

Vilma’s Small Statistics Not Seen as a Big Deal

Dec/01/06 07:02 AM | Permalink

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.”

01jets.1.600

|

INSIDE GANG GREEN New York Jets’ star linebacker Jonathan Vilma reveals the secret to the team’s recent success on the playing field.

Nov/29/06 06:29 PM | Permalink

Who said the New York Jets wouldn’t amount to anything this year? Defying NFL prognosticators and local naysayers, the perennially displaced Giants Stadium tenants are in the playoff hunt. As the second half of the season takes shape, the Jets’ All-Pro linebacker and team captain tells New York Press he’s happy being nicknamed after Wilma Flintstone, pretty sure that football can be a way out of juvey and certain that Donna Shalala is down with “Da U.”

NY Press: The movie Gridiron Gang, starring the Rock, is about teenagers in a detention center gaining self-esteem through football. How realistic is that scenario?

Jonathan Vilma: Although I haven’t been in that situation before, I think it’s realistic in the same way many other programs help kids that are straying or haven’t had the proper guidance. You can help them through football like any other program.

|

Vilma working to fit in

Nov/10/06 08:12 PM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD - There are expectations for any inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. But that doesn't mean there's a mold.

So while Jonathan Vilma specifically studied game film of the Patriots' Tedy Bruschi in the offseason as the Jets prepared to import New England's scheme, he is not Bruschi's carbon copy.

"He's different than a lot of those guys because - not that the other guys are slow - but Jon has very good speed and he's extremely rangy," Jets coach Eric Mangini said yesterday.

|

Vilma Update

Oct/29/06 10:25 AM | Permalink

Jonathan Vilma: The Jets inside linebacker -- their best defensive playmaker the past two seasons -- had his best game since Week 1 with 11 tackles, his first interception of the season and two pass defenses against the Lions. More importantly, he seemed to finally be given some freedom to make plays along the sidelines rather than strictly going head-on with the offensive linemen. That should be important this week as all four linebackers, including Bryan Thomas and Victor Hobson on the outside and Eric Barton inside, will be on notice with Browns tight end Kellen Winslow running routes. Winslow leads the team with 33 receptions, the NFL high for tight ends. The 3-4 is better suited to placing a linebacker in coverage against the tight end than the Jets' former 4-3 scheme.
(c-n.com)

|

Vilma Update

Oct/17/06 02:04 PM | Permalink

Alumni blues: Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a first-round pick out of Miami in 2004, was sad to see the vicious brawl that marred the Hurricanes' 35-0 win over Florida International and resulted in 31 suspensions, the firing of Miami television analyst Lamar Thomas and, possibly, the eventual firing of Vilma's college coach, Larry Coker.

Vilma said he didn't want to comment because he wasn't there, but admitted it was a "black eye'' for the Hurricanes.

"Yeah, it is, because of the history of the program,'' Vilma said. "They're always going to twist it, no matter what happens; they'll twist it to make Miami look bad, even though what they did was obviously bad. It's just tough, especially being Miami and all the things going wrong right now, they didn't need that. It's bad timing.

"He's the head coach. Obviously he's got to take the lumps for it. I think he's still in control. He was a great coach when I was down there.''

(thejournalnews.com)

|

Vilma, Barton upset over roughing penalties

Oct/09/06 10:40 PM | Permalink

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Not that it would have changed the outcome, but Jets linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton wanted credit for getting to Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich, not penalties for roughing the passer.

"I understand you want to protect the quarterback," Vilma said after Sunday's 41-0 loss. "But you've got to let us play football. They're not letting us play football."

Vilma burst through the middle to pressure Leftwich into a quick release on a third-and-goal from the Jets' 7-yard line, with the Jaguars already leading 21-0 midway through the second quarter.

|

Vilma trying to adjust

Oct/06/06 09:48 AM | Permalink

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Even if it were up to him, Jonathan Vilma is not nearly ready to scrap the Jets' experiment with the 3-4 defense. And he insists he is not as discouraged about their progress or lack of it in the alignment.

"Nah, I'm not frustrated. I'm fine," Vilma said Wednesday, before slightly amending that assessment. "The only thing that's frustrating is that I'm not playing the defense perfectly, the way I want."

|

Jets' Vilma getting caught in traffic on defense

Oct/05/06 10:13 AM | Permalink

NEW YORK - No one said it was going to be easy, and so far, Eric Mangini's switch to a 3-4 Jets defense has been anything but.

Going into Sunday's game in Jacksonville, the Jets rank 29th in defense and 25th against the run. Worse yet, Mangini's star linebacker, Jonathan Vilma, seems to be confined by the new scheme.

It's not a big surprise. Vilma's idol and fellow Miami Hurricane, Ray Lewis, disliked the 3-4 so much that when the Ravens returned to the 4-3 last year he said, "Finally, finally again, I get to play football."