One of Calvin Pace’s goals this season is reaching his magic number for sacks: 10.
Pace, one of the Jets’ most important newcomers, is a pass-rushing linebacker who inked a six-year, $42 million deal this offseason, leaving Arizona for Hempstead. Tomorrow night he’ll make his Jets preseason debut against the Browns.
The Jets splurged on an offseason free-agent spree, signing Alan Faneca, Damien Woody, Tony Richardson and Pace. Pace is one of the team’s more intriguing players. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder is a former first-round pick whose 6 1/2 sacks last season for the Cardinals would have led last year’s Jets. The team racked up 29.
Pace points out that it’s not all about sacks, saying he’s adamant about being balanced and not just getting sacks without making any other tackles. But he admits, “I think the thing is with sacks, you obviously want to be in the double-digit club as far as 10.”
With tomorrow being his first chance to suit up for the Jets, Pace says he’s excited. But he also admits the nerves are going to follow him to Cleveland.
“Just because it’s going to be a start of obviously a new beginning for me,” he said, “and just trying to change things, trying to turn things around for the better.”
Pace might have a chance to do exactly that. Last year his best pass-rushing output came when he picked up 2 1/2 sacks against the Lions. Woody, who’s now part of the Jets’ offensive line, was with Detroit last year, although he didn’t play in that game due to injury.
“From what I’ve seen out here, [Pace] fits this system perfectly,” Woody said. “He’s an athletic guy, he can rush off the edge with speed and quickness and he can cover guys and stuff like that. He’s only going to get better, and that’s real encouraging.”
Pace had 7 1/2 total sacks in his first four seasons in the NFL before getting 6 1/2 last year.
“When I first got to [Arizona], I felt like I was failing but I looked at it like maybe I learned what not to do as far as preparation, moves,” he said. “I really just had to redefine myself. Put a lot more energy to my game because in pass rushing, you’ve just really got to be relentless.”
Pace says he and Shaun Ellis, who tied for the Jets lead in sacks last year with five, will compete this season. Said Pace, “I don’t know what the wager’s going to be, but we’ll make it interesting.”
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Eric Mangini didn’t reveal his starting quarterback for tomorrow, saying he hadn’t yet picked between Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens.
“What I’ll do with that is, because there’s a lot of factors that go into that, so I’ll get together post-practice, watch the tape,” Mangini said. “I’ll spend some time with [GM] Mike [Tannenbaum], with the staff, see what their input is and then make a decision after that. But you’ve got to also look at who’s playing in terms of the offensive line, some of the other things that go into the mix.”
Ellis, LB David Harris and RB Jesse Chatman missed practice yesterday.