Content available exclusively for subscribers
SUNY Cortland – The Jets had two-a-days today. Well not really, but they did have two practices thanks to the weather. Let’s take a look at some of the action . . .
If Joe McKnight wasn’t such a good kick returner, you wonder if he would be on this team.
You just get the sense that Jets RB coach Anthony Lynn doesn’t like him.
Last summer, we witnessed an expletive-laced tirade from the coach to the player.
And today, we saw him rip into the player again.
McKnight missed the morning practice with a migraine, and then was sidelined briefly in the afternoon practice while a trainer worked on his hand.
You get the sense that Lynn’s verbal assault today on McKnight was about durability.
But while McKnight get dinged a lot, let’s not forget, he toughed it up last year and played with severe high ankle sprain. A lot of guys wouldn’t do that. He does play hurt.
This is a huge year for McKnight – it’s a contract year, and he should have a chance to contribute more on offense, since Marty Mornhinweg loves throwing to the backs, and who knows when Mike Goodson is coming back.
As for his kick returning, while it’s clearly McKnight’s job, keep an eye on this Mike Edwards kid. The rookie out of Hawaii is a gifted returner, who had two returns for touchdowns last year for the Rainbows.
Just watching him the last three days in practice, you can tell he’s special . . .
DeMario Davis had kind of quiet practice, but his backups all did some nice things – JoJo Dixon, Danny Lansanah, Josh Mauga and Nick Bellore all made plays . . .
Ricky Sapp continues to get prime-time reps at outside linebacker, especially in pass rush situations, and he had a couple of pressures . . .
You get a strong sense that Antonio Allen is ahead of Josh Bush for the spot next to Dawan Landry . . .
Geno Smith had two outstanding passes – a deep ball to Stephen Hill down the right sideline, and a pretty strike to Jeff Cumberland down the left seam.
You could make a strong argument that Smith throws a more catchable ball than Sanchez.
But one thing Geno needs work on is handling the blitz better. On one blitz, with a player coming towards him, he threw the ball at Cumberland’s ankles, too low to grab.
Dealing with the blitz poorly was a rap on him at West Virginia . . .
It looks like Kenrick Ellis’ role is strictly on running downs, and early in practice, he had a nice stop in the backfield.
When Ellis in the lineup at nose tackle, with Mo Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson at end, that is when you might see Quinton Coples at outside linebacker . . .
There much ado in the media today about John Idzik saying yesterday it will be a “committee” deciding on the starting quarterback.
Here is the bottom line.
It’s not unusual for a decision of this import to be made by the coach, and high ranking football officials, within an organization.
But generally, even though that is the case, most organizations will present it to the public, that the coach is making the decision.
So that is the rub here, that Idzik told the media, that he and others will be involved in a lineup decision. Usually GM’s don’t say that publicly, even if it is the case.
Honestly though, considering how poorly Rex handled the starting quarterback situation last year,like staying with Sanchez after the Arizona game, and then refusing to start Tim Tebow in Buffalo, there is no question he needs input on this decision, from Idzik, Marty Mornhinweg and David Lee. Rex isn’t a QB guru . . .
Pictured above, Chris Ivory addressing the media. He hasn’t practiced yet due to a hamstring injury.
“If I’m out there, I want to be ready to go,” Ivory said.
He’s right, it would be foolish to rush him back, especially with Mike Goodson AWOL. The last thing the Jets need is Ivory to make his hammy worse, and make it into an injury that could impact his early season availability.
July 28, 2013
Premium will return by 7:00 pm on Monday