The New York Jets have named Sanjay Lal as the team’s wide receivers coach. The announcement was made by Head Coach Rex Ryan.
Lal joins the Jets after spending the last five seasons with the Oakland Raiders, three as the wide receivers coach (2009-11) and two as an offensive quality control assistant (2007-08).
Under Lal in 2011, Oakland’s wide receivers finished sixth in the NFL with an average of 15.0 yards per catch. 2011 fourth-round draft selection Denarius Moore ended the season with 18.7 yards per reception, fourth among all wide receivers in the NFL. In addition, former first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey enjoyed his most successful season, totaling 64 receptions for 975 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.
Prior to the Raiders, Lal spent three seasons as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at California and another season at Saint Mary’s College as quarterbacks and strength, speed and conditioning coach.
Lal played wide receiver at both UCLA and Washington during his college career. He was a member of Washington’s 1992 National Championship team and earned selection to the school’s athletic hall of fame. Following college, he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams in 1998 and played for NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores in 1999.
Lal takes over one of the toughest wide receiver coach jobs in the league.
The team’s #1 receiver, Santonio Holmes, is very difficult to coach, and few people can get through to him.
Clearly Lal is a terrific coach. He did an impressive job in 2011 with the rookie Moore, and the young veteran Heyward-Bey, who had a breakout season.
