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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The second day of the Jets’ veteran minicamp is in the books, and today we look at some the action on the field and what went down at One Jets Drive on Wednesday . . .
It wasn’t much, but Jets first round pick Dee Milliner was on the field Wednesday, for the second day of minicamp, a sign that his surgically repaired shoulder is improving.
Milliner did some light drills with the cornerbacks. He is making progress and could be ready for the start of training camp in lateJuly. He joins a unit that is shaping up to be a strength of the team.
Aaron Berry had a nice day, playing physically against the wide receivers. Despite being a bit undersized, Berry thrives in contact at scrimmage which is a huge part of what Rex Ryan’s defense is looking for at the cornerback positions.
Berry came to the team following Darrelle Revis’ injury in Week 3 last season, and he was out of shape, which hampered. Now, he’s looking like a completely different player.
“Just having an offseason of conditioning and then OTAs and now minicamp – whoa, I feel good,” Berry told Jets Confidential. “You can run and whatever, but nothing prepares you for football shape like football.”
Also in the secondary, cornerback Ellis Lankster looked good. He told Jets Confidential that he is splitting his reps evenly between the first and second team defenses.
“I’m playing inside, outside, all over the place; really learning the defense,” Lankster said. “So that if someone goes down, I can be that next man up.” . . .
Geno Smith was the quarterback with the first-team offense on Wednesday, part of the Jets’ plan to alternate reps between Smith and Sanchez. Quarterback coach David Lee said that the Jets alternate two days with one quarterback and two days with the other one.
One thing noticeable with quarterback Smith is just how comfortable the rookie is on the move. He seems to like to move out of the pocket, and throw on the run.
Lee said that he isn’t as fast as 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick but he sees some similarities in how the two can be used.
Ball placement again remained a concern for Smith on Wednesday. On the first play of 11-on-11 drills, he fired a pass to the wrong shoulder of his wide receiver, which Antonio Cromartie broke on and easily swatted away. Then in the end zone, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley was open over the middle and Smith sailed the ball well above his head.
Smith also hesitates in the pocket when there is a pass rush, pump-faking and not looking comfortable with his decisions. He looks more comfortable in 7 on 7 drills where there is no pass rush.
Lee labels the battle between Sanchez and Smith an “open, even competition” but there were hints that the rookie might be lagging behind.
“It has been a brand new world, each day, struggling with the little things,” Lee said of Smith’s learning curve.
Mark Sanchez (who an NFL.com columnist compared to horror film character “Jason”) threw a bullet to WR Joe Collins, perfectly placed, so that the wide receiver could keep both feet in the corner of the end zone. It was a savvy throw. Sanchez worked with the second team offense but he spread the ball around nicely.
Sanchez’s struggles last year are well documented but Lee’s advice to him? “Flush it” and ignore the media . . .
Interesting to watch special teams coach Ben Kotwica, who is a ball of energy on the field. Kotwica mixes in criticism with praise to let his players know what they need to improve. A teaching moment is followed with a pat on the back or done with an arm around the player . . .
Linebacker Garrett McIntyre plays with good instincts and was in the backfield several times, but he is very stiff and doesn’t adjust to plays well. His hips are tight but he gets by because he reads the game so well . . .
Clyde Gates was held out of minicamp on Wednesday again, following his recovery of a hamstring injury. He told Jets Confidential that the injury isn’t bad and more preventative in nature.
“It’s fine, if it was a game I’d be able to play,” Gates said. “They just want me to be careful with it.” . . .
Early on Wednesday, Joe McKnight rolled his ankle when he stepped on the foot of running back John Griffin. He made it through the entire session although he looked a bit hobbled.
McKnight, known for his kickoff returns, worked on returning punts today as well. He did so holding one ball in his hand and then fielding the punt with the other. He didn’t drop one punt in this drill.
June 12, 2013
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