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Cortland -Dan checks in from Cortland Red Dragons Stadium with a ton of notes from the Jets’ scrimmage. Let’s go . . .
The Mark Sanchez throw to end the scrimmage to Stephen Hill, was one of the best passes I’ve ever seen him throw.
It was 57-yards down the right sideline –a perfect spiral.
I was standing on the field (they let reporters do that in practice, but not games), and was on the sideline right where Hill made the catch.
Sanchez could not have thrown it any better –a perfect spiral, and honestly, I thought Ellis Lankster had pretty good coverage, but the throw was so perfect, it went past the outreached hands of Lankster, who was right there.
This is Hill’s play – a go route down the sideline.
I remember when the Jets picked him, the Jets brass talking about Hill and how good he would be on this play. And also how this play, wouldn’t just help the passing attack, but the running game by making them honor the deep ball, and getting a safety out of the box.
But then they almost never called it last year.
Strange.
However, especially after tonight, expect Marty M to dial this play up more.
Hill is right out of Central Casting to excel on this play – he’s got world class speed, he’s 6-4, and can jump out of the gym . . .
I know we aren’t hearing his name as a candidate to start at ILB next to David Harris, but I think Nick Bellore should be in the conversation.
The guy is very instinctive and makes a lot of plays – he was active against the run tonight, and had a nice PD over the middle on a pass to TE Chris Pantale.
The player that Rex Ryan wants to start at the ILB spot next to Harris is DeMario Davis. I hate to be negative, but I’m not seeing it.
On two long runs tonight, Davis could not get off blocks and the runner ran right by him.
I still have major questions about Davis’ instincts. And it’s not just me; that is what a lot of scouts were concerned about when he was coming out of Arkansas State . . .
Caleb Schlauderaff continues to have snapping issues.
The other day in practice, he dribbled two on the ground, and tonight there was another snapping issue.
Now that it has come out that Dalton Freeman’s injury isn’t as serious (it’a a high ankle sprain, not a knee), Schlauderaff is probably back on the bubble . . .
Geno Smith led the Jets down the field on his first possession, doing a nice job of taking what the defense gave him, but a Bilal Powell touchdown run, at the end of the drive, was called back due to a holding call.
They don’t announce the names of the penalized players in the scrimmage, but the hold was clearly Willie Colon on Quinton Coples . . .
I had mentioned that Jeff Cumberland had disappeared for a while from the passing game in training camp practices, but he was very active tonight . . .
Greg McElroy, whose deep arm is continually questioned, threw two long touchdown passes tonight, one to Ryan Spadola and the other to Vidal Hazelton.
Of all the quarterbacks on the Jets roster, McElroy reads defenses best. There is no doubt about it.
For McElroy to be precluded from the quarterback competition is a lack of vision on somebody’s part . . .
Aside from the Sanchez TD throw to Hill, he probably should have had another – he threw a nice ball to Jeremy Kerley streaking up field down the middle, but the receiver didn’t turn around until too late and dropped the ball.
I heard Mark yell, “Kerley, Kerley,” as the ball was in the air, but couldn’t get his attention in time.
So I would blame Kerley on this one, more than Sanchez, The receiver needs to be more attentive. It’s not like the quarterback has that long to throw . . .
Chad Spann looked very good running and catching out of the backfield with the second unit. He runs with a nice low center of gravity . . .
After practice, players signed autographs for the fans at the stadium.
Sanchez was over by the fence forever with the fans.
Mark has always been gracious with the fans, but I definitely think he’s trying to improve his public opinion polls a little. It’s no secret a lot of Jets fans are down on him now.
He was over there for a really long time.
They were very tough on him tonight after bad plays, like his pick to Antonio Cromartie, and when he slipped on the turf for an 11-yard loss.
August 3, 2013
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