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Florham Park – It’s time for some notes and nuggets from the first day of Jets Training Camp. Enjoy . . .
I’m not going to get too carried away with this, but the offense didn’t look very good. It was the first day of camp, and after the lockout, most expected the defenses to be ahead of the offense – a lot more timing involved on offense.
Also, the Jets were without their top three receivers – Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery (back), all on the sidelines.
Mike Tannenbaum can dangle Jerricho in trades all he wants, but he is the team’s third best receiver right now.
Sanchez threw an awful Pick Six in the afternoon practice – he was attempting a short dump off to a back.
And this brings me to LaDainian Tomlinson. Whatever his salary is, the Jets really need this guy this year. Sanchez loves throwing to him, and without LT today, Sanchez was off-target on a number of passes to backs. The Jets absolutely need LT in the passing game . . .
Cornerback Marquice Cole wasn’t at practice today. Unfortunately, he was dealing with a serious family matter.
With Antonio Cromartie and Donald Strickland not practicing (free agent rules) and Cole excused, the Jets starting corners today where Darrelle Revis and undrafted free agent Julian Posey out of Ohio University . . .
The Jets top undrafted free agent signing was probably Nick Bellore, an inside linebacker out of Central Michigan, and he certainly looks the part of a 3-4 ILB at a thickly built 6-1, 245 pounds. Rex called this guy personally at the exact minute the undrafted free agent period started. Bellore had a draftable grade, but fell through the cracks, and the Jets put a full court press on him . . .
Jim Leonhard was returning punts today. I know they said they didn’t want to use him as a PR this year due to his leg, but he’s so good at it, they might be tempted at times. He catches the ball so effortlessly . . .
I hate it when longshot players have bad drops in camp because there is so little margin of error for these kind of prospects.
TE Collin Franklin dropped a deep out.
I do have to say this though, he showed really good speed getting open that far down field . . .
With Eric Smith not allowed to practice yet (new free agent rules), Emanuel Cook is starting at safety next to Leonhard at safety. The Jets really like Cook, a big-time hitter out of South Carolina, who played in the UFL last year. Cook’s presence could make James Ihedigbo expendable . . .
Undrafted free agent wide receiver Courtney Smith is dripping with potential. He’s 6-5, 230, and did some nice things on the first day of camp. He’s probably not going to make the opening day roster, but he’s an intriguing developmental prospect . . .
Mo Wilkerson was on the starting defensive line today along with Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito.
Wilkerson is a heck of a prospect, but very raw, and not an ideal rookie starting candidate, at least not early in the year.
The Jets need to re-sign Shaun Ellis.