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Cortland – It’s time for a heaping helping of Dan’s training camp Whispers from Central New York. A lot of good stuff. Don’t miss out . . .
Matt Simms threw a deep pass down the right side to Jalen Saunders, and was too far in front of him.
It wasn’t a bad pass, but people have to understand, Saunders isn’t Jacoby Ford, Chris Johnson, Salim Hakim-fast. His game is more quickness than speed, and those are two entirely different things, even though they are often confused. Saunders is amazingly quick getting in and out of breaks on routes, and as a punt returner, but doesn’t have great straight-line speed . . .
As you know, the entire Jets’ team is forced to do push-ups when a player commits a penalty, but this approach does have it’s limits.
It doesn’t apply to special teams.
During a punt team play, somebody jumped off-sides, but there was no running.
Special team’s coach Thomas McGaughey yelled, “Watch the ball.”
“Watch the ball,” in other words, “watch the snap,” is always the best way to avoid off-sides penalties . . .
While I don’t like to get into a lot of long-shots because most roster decisions are made before camp opens, I have to tip my hat to LB Steele Devitto, a rookie free agent out of Boston College.
He’s been one of the revelations of Jets camp.
I knew he was good in run support, but wondered about him in pass coverage.
Today, he had a terrific PD, in one-on-one coverage on Chris Ivory, showing good feet and technique.
Over the first week of camp, Devitto has made a ton of plays, and seems to be carving a spot for himself on the practice squad . . .
Watching the line drill, which is just offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen in a pass rushing format, I saw Willie Colon impressively lock up Sheldon Richardson, and it reiterates what I already believe – the Jets are lucky to get this guy back. He’s tough, physical, a leader; he brings so much to the table . . .
Every good play in a team practice, is also a bad play. Somebody does well, and somebody gets beat, and both are on the same team.
Geno Smith connected with Eric Decker on a pretty post route down the deep middle.
Decker beat Dee Milliner on this play. I just don’t think Milliner is in a good place right now from a confidence standpoint. He consistently giving too much cushion, clearly afraid of getting beat deep . . .
But speaking of Milliner, what Mike Westhoff said about him was a low blow.
“Man, I’m not sure he’s the best cornerback up here in Cortland. And I might include the university,” Westhoff said.
That is just wrong.
How would Mike have felt if somebody took the low road talking about him when he coached?
Imagine a reporter saying, “I’m not sure Mike Westhoff is the best special team’s coach in Cortland?”
And here’s the most bizarre thing. He works for the Jets’ flagship station – ESPN Radio in New York, a Jets media partner.
Just like Joe Klecko, who said Quinton Coples, “looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane,” works for another Jets media partner – SNY.
A lot of you guys live in other parts of the country, and hear the work of media partners in other cities, with other teams, and know darn well that this sort of language wouldn’t fly in those markets.
But the Jets put up with this from their media partners.
Why? I have no idea.
July 31, 2014
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