FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bill Belichick’s Patriots love to shower praise on even the most hapless of opponents, but there was no put-on here this week when Nick Mangold’s name was mentioned.
New England’s mountainous nose tackle Vince Wilfork didn’t waste any time responding when asked if the competitor in him hoped Mangold would line up against him in tomorrow’s showdown with the Jets at Gillette Stadium.
“No, I don’t,” Wilfork said Thursday. “He’s probably one of the best offensive linemen in the game.”
That’s high praise coming from a perennial Pro Bowl selection, but in Mangold’s case, the respect is genuine.
The Gang Green center’s expected return from a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss the past two games also makes the Wilfork-Mangold matchup both one to watch and the potential crux of the entire game.
Anyone who watched the Jets’ offense get manhandled inside the past two weeks with undrafted free agent Colin Baxter filling in for Mangold knows how much Rex Ryan’s team misses its grizzled anchor.
Wilfork certainly does, repeatedly mentioning Mangold’s absence when asked for his theory why the Jets’ once-proud ground game is stuck in the mud while Mark Sanchez has become a bruised-and-bloodied turnover machine.
“I think with Mangold going down, it stressed a little communication problem for them, but I think they’ll be okay,” he said. “I expect their best this week. You really can’t look at the games before and try to put a stamp on it and say ‘This is the Jets.’ ”
Unfortunately for Mangold, he will be facing Wilfork at his best. The veteran lineman is off to a terrific start, even recording a pair of highlight-reel interceptions during the Patriots’ 3-1 start.
The rest of New England’s defense hasn’t been up to Wilfork’s standard, ranking dead last in the NFL in yards allowed, but the Patriots know they can start to turn around those fortunes if Wilfork can win his showdown with a potentially gimpy Mangold.
Wilfork also will have help, if the “good” Albert Haynesworth decides to show up. The mercurial defensive tackle has missed the past two games due to injury but is expected play tomorrow.
Possibly heightening the degree of difficulty for Mangold is the Patriots have been experimenting with a 4-3 defensive scheme this season after spending years in Belichick’s favored 3-4. That means where Wilfork lines up against Mangold — either straight up or between the gaps — could change literally from play to play.
Wilfork and Haynesworth might also be on the field at the same time in the 4-3, giving Mangold and even bigger chore.
“That’s going to be a great matchup, because you’re talking about two of the best at their positions in the league,” Jet-turned-Patriot defensive end Shaun Ellis said of Mangold taking on Wilfork.
Wilfork considered his desire for Mangold to sit this one out tomorrow to be a huge sign of respect.
“I’m pretty sure that they would love for him to play because I think he gives them a spark,” Wilfork said. “It’s absolutely a difference when he’s in and when he’s not in. I think they need that leadership and everything around that. I expect for him to be in there to get things going and everything and get his team off to a good start.”