Content available exclusively for subscribers
Please subscribe now to unlock this article!
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – It was another day where the defense was far ahead of the offense in terms of overall quality of play.
In defense of the offense, a lot of passing game weapons were on the shelf.
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes did not practice and was not even out on the field as he continues to recover from last year’s season ending foot injury in Week 3. Wide receivers Jeremy Kerley and Clyde Gates did individual drills but did not participate in the team session. Running back Mike Goodson, who is expected to be a big part of the passing attack as a receiver out of the backfield, was not at the facility.
“Stephen should be back, him and Gates should probably be back next week (for the veteran mini-camp),” head coach Rex Ryan said. “Stephen actually had some swelling in the knee.”
Kerley was held back with a heel injury.
This will surely hurt quarterback Mark Sanchez’s ability to get on the same page with his receivers.
“This is a time where you develop timing and chemistry with your wide-outs,” Sanchez said.
While those charting the quarterbacks would hand the day to Geno Smith, the rookie quarterback again struggled with his timing and hitting his targets in stride. Sanchez threw the ball away a number of times against the first team defense, but he looked good with his roll-outs and also had a well-timed 45-yard pass to Thomas Mayo where he hit his receiver in stride down the field.
One thing that Smith does is he frequently hits his wide receivers in the breadbasket, not always an ideal placement when there is a pass rush and low thrown balls can lead to many deflected passes. Sanchez throws his balls as if there were pass rushers in a game setting, which is a big difference. Smith’s throws are not realistic in a game setting, but look good on the practice field.
Smith said that mentally, he is growing by going up against the first-team defense.
“That’s the blessing of being here, being able to see Rex’s defense,” Smith said. “Being able to see guys like Mo [Wilkerson], Antwan Barnes, Quinton Coples and Sheldon Richardson. Great cornerbacks like ‘Cro..’ ”
In addition, Sanchez went up against the first-team defense on most occasions with second-team wide receivers. Sanchez’s targets were just completely over-matched against the starting defense and it showed.
Despite a nice catch on a Sanchez deep ball, it was a rough day for Mayo. He had a dropped pass in the team session and then had an offensive pass interference on a cornerback . . .
CB Darrin Walls had a tremendous Wednesday. He had an interception and two passes defensed. On a deep pass from Smith, Walls used his body well despite going up against a bigger, more physical wide receiver to make a play on the ball.
Tight end Konrad Reuland seems to be rounding out nicely. Last year, when the Jets had Dustin Keller on the roster, Reuland was relegated to mainly being a blocking tight end. Now with Keller departed in free agency, Reuland has the chance to step into a greater role in an offense that is very tight end-friendly.
“The West Coast offense is good for a tight end, it is conducive for me,” Reuland said. “Lots of short to intermediate passes. Uses the tight ends a lot. I think it will be beneficial to me.”
Reuland finds his spot well and uses his frame to post-up against linebackers and safeties . . .
Jordan White is showing flashes this year as well. White runs a very good route and has quick hands. He should stick around for another year . . .
Nose tackle Kenrick Ellis looks more mobile this year than last year. The third year nose tackle is looking to become a run-stuffer in the center of the line and currently weighs in at 345 lbs. He said that he is just five pounds away from his training camp goal.
“I’m working on being a run-stopping nose tackle,” Ellis told Jets Confidential. “I’m trying to be as physically strong as possible to shed double teams, do the dirty work down there.”
Ellis said that defensive line coach Karl Dunbar has highlighted footwork and hand technique for areas of improvement for the defensive line this off-season . . .
Joe McKnight, one of the best kickoff returners in the league took the fair share of kickoffs on Thursday. Joining him was Zach Rogers and Kyle Wilson in the rotation.
On punt returns, the rotation was McKnight, White, Kerley, Gates and Rogers.
June 5, 2013
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.