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Nick Mangold comments on the New York Jets’ latest loss

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New York Jets legend Nick Mangold appeared on MSG earlier this week to address his former team’s latest defeat.

Nick Mangold knows a thing or two about suffering tough defeats in a New York Jets uniform. Even if the former staple at center is part of the last thing the Jets have had to resemble glory days, he’s seen his share of brutal defeats, as he shared during a visit to local cable talk show MSG A.M. earlier this week.

Mangold’s visit to hosts Monica McNutt and Kazeem Famuyid coincided with one of the more soul-crushing defeats in New York memory. The Jets (0-12) seem destined for their first victory of the 2020 season, leading the Las Vegas Raiders 28-24 with time dwindling and the opponent out of timeouts. However, an ill-advised blitz call left the Jets’ inexperienced secondary relatively alone as Derek Carr launched a deep ball to Henry Ruggs. The 46-yard score gave Las Vegas the lead and doomed the Jets to yet another defeat.

Speaking with McNutt and Famuyid about the latest defeat, Mangold sympathized with the modern wearers of green and white.

“They have to be devastated,” Mangold said. “You play a full game of football where you have the lead at the end and then lose on a last second touchdown. If the first 11 losses weren’t demoralizing enough, this one will be the nail in the coffin. It’s difficult. 12 losses is the most in franchise history in a row. It’s just a bad place to be. One Jets Drive is probably not too happy this morning.”

The loss reminded Mangold of one of the uglier losses of his career, as the lineman flashed back to a 17-13 defeat to the Denver Broncos in November 2011. Then in the thick of a playoff hunt, New York led a majority of that game but was victimized by a 95-yard Denver drive capped off by Tim Tebow’s scramble for six. The Jets wound up missing the 2011-12 AFC playoffs by a single game.

“It’s no fun,” he said. “You always look at the coach and think that we couldn’t have done something else? Then the player side steps in – and you think if this guy made a play or this guy made a play or maybe if we don’t let a strip sack early on in the game, we would have never been put in that situation. There are so many snowballs that happen in your mind.”

Mangold also indirectly sympathized with Williams, with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was fired less than 24 hours after his blitzing gambit backfired. Inside linebackers coach Frank Bush will handle the defensive boss duties over the final four weeks of the season, starting with Sunday’s visit to Seattle (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).

“Everyone out there is trying to win the game. I know it doesn’t look like it when you make the call and you get burned like that. But if the corner had made a play on the ball and they didn’t score a touchdown, it would have been that the pressure caused them to throw it errantly and the Jets win. It goes both ways.”

Mangold, 36, has kept busy since announcing his retirement with the Jets in 2018. He appears as a regular commentator of the Jets’ modern endeavors on MSG and also coaches youth football. Mangold and his wife Jennifer live in Madison, NJ with their two children.

MSG A.M. airs weekdays at 8 a.m. ET on MSG Network.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Diehl, Mangold Dish on Giants’ Upcoming Season

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New York Giants, Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley

Former Pro Bowl lineman David Diehl of the New Giants and Nick Mangold, an All-Pro center during his time with the New York Jets, provided their insight on the Giants’ upcoming season on the DraftKings NFL Preview show, which will be aired at 7pm tonight on the MSG Network.

Diehl, who also works as a studio analyst for the Giants, already sees a difference in the mentality of the Giants under new head coach Joe Judge.

“I definitely think that will be a different type of atmosphere and different type of demeanor and disciplined football out of this Giants team,” said Diehl.

Mangold agreed.

“You watch some of the clips with Joe Judge and I’ve seen that same method played out with Eric Mangini and that discipline is necessary sometimes. And as long as the guys buy into it and take it to heart, it’ll work out well for them.”

Diehl said the key for the Giants’ offense was to keep things basic and simple.

“It’s going to come down to running the football and producing on the ground. Because everything in this offense with a young offensive line gelling together is going to be built off of play action. That’s what really going to lead this team with Daniel Jones being a versatile quarter back and being athletic.”

Diehl also dished on the Giants’ first round draft pick, left tackle Andrew Thomas, who the team is charging with the task of keeping Jones safe.

“With Nate Solder opting out, that puts more thrust on Andrew Thomas, moving to the left tackle position,” said Diehl. “I think he’s looked really good in training camp. He doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Loves the physicality of the game and you see him consistently improve on his techniques and fundaments. He has a great foundation next to him in Will Hernandez going into his 3rd season at that left guard position. He (Thomas) was pretty much attached to the hip to Will Hernandez throughout this entire offseason.”

Mangold said he was curious about how the Giants’ defense, one of the worst in the NFL last year, would turn things around in 2020.

“Everyone talks about the Giants offense, but I’m intrigued to see how their defense comes out,” Mangold said. “They put a lot of resources into the offense live. And they have Saquon back there. But there’s not a lot of talk of the defense. I believe defense still wins championships. It’s going to be interested how that plays out for them.”