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Here is the second and final part of Dan’s look back at Jets camp, and things you can glean from the last three weeks in Florham Park.
Plaxico Burress is really, really going to help Mark Sanchez.
Burress said early in camp – “The quarterback doesn’t have to be accurate with me.”
To set the record straight, he wasn’t talking about Sanchez, but there is no doubt, Burress’ skillset is going to help the Jets quarterback immeasurably.
Sanchez has a 54 percent career completion percentage. In many practices in camp, you got the sense it wasn’t going to go up much. His accuracy continues to be inconsistent.
But as you saw Burress’ touchdown catch against Cincinnati, the quarterback threw it up to an area, and the 6-5 receiver, with extremely long arms, went up and got it.
Eli Manning’s play went down a little when Burress left town, and Sanchez’s should improve with him back in town . . .
Jeremy Kerley was over-hyped this summer. He had some nice plays early in camp, but then leveled off.
There is no doubt he has potential, but right now he just looks like another 5-9 slot receiver with 4.6 speed.
In a fair world, Patrick Turner, Logan Payne and Kerley would be competing on an even playing field for the 4th and 5th receiver spots.
But Kerley is being handed a job – that how it is around here. Most draft picks don’t have to earn a spot, they are handed one.
Lookit, I’m not writing him off. He could be really good in time, but right now, he looks ordinary . . .
If you think for one second that the cancellations of the Jets Hofstra practice really bummed players and coaches out, you are probably misguided.
Do you really think the Jets players (the ones who know the area, not the new guys) and coaches really wanted to trek an hour and half (each way), with no traffic (which is a longshot), for one practice? I don’t think so.
Nothing against the fine people of Long Island (and I’m one of them), but you know darn well that many players and coaches were probably pretty happy that the Hofstra event was cancelled, and the Jets practiced at Florham Park yesterday.
Just keeping it real . . .
Early in camp it looked like OLB Garrett McIntyre was on his way to a roster spot. The former CFL star flashed some very good pass rushing skills. But then Aaron Maybin arrived, and now it looks like McIntyre’s spot will go by the wayside.
Maybin chose the Jets over a number of other teams. Do you think he would have done so to get cut a few weeks later? I don’t think he’s going anywhere, and that is bad news for McIntyre.
The advantage Maybin has over McIntyre is much looser hips, an important trait at outside linebacker. McIntyre is much more physical than Maybin, but the Lake Tahoe-native has very stiff hips. That isn’t a criticism, just a reality . . .
The surprise of the camp had to be Greg McElroy. He is a perfect example of how so many NFL teams don’t get it when it comes to scouting quarterbacks. He might not have the greatest arm, and might not be the tallest quarterback, but he sees the field well, does a nice job going through his reads, and is really good at processing information in the pocket. This guy can not only handle the #2 spot, I think he’s an NFL starter down the road.
