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Florham Park – The Jets are now off until training camp after finishing up their final practice of the spring. Here are some of the key highlights of practice. . .
WR Shaq Evans closed out an impressive spring with a number of great catches and sharp route-running on Thursday. The 2014 fourth-round pick missed his rookie season after he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered during training camp.
He said he was determined to make an impact this spring after missing about eight months while rehabbing his shoulder.
“I’m using it as motivation to let everyone know that I didn’t play because of injury, (but) I’m not a waste,” Evans said after practice. “I was a draft pick for a reason and I want to show fans that I was worthy of being a draft pick.”
Evans said he will be using the time until training camp to work on improving his footwork and route-running. . .
There were only two tight ends able to practice today: Jeff Cumberland and Kellen Davis. Jace Amaro and Wes Saxon were working in the rehab area.
Zach Sudfeld, who hurt his knee yesterday after a collision with safety Calvin Pryor is getting more tests done to determine the extent of the injury. Head coach Todd Bowles said that it is “more than just a minor injury.”
With the extra reps, Cumberland and Davis both put together good practices. . .
Quarterback Jake Heaps road to Jets mini-camp was an interesting journey.
He was signed by the Jets after a tryout during the team’s rookie mini-camp. In college, Heaps played for three schools after transferring twice because of changes to offensive schemes and playing time.
He played at BYU his first two seasons. He was forced to sit out the 2012 season after transferring to Kansas to play for then-head coach Charlie Weis. Heaps then decided to attend Miami as a fifth-year graduate student.
He got to Miami in July 2014 and was given a chance to compete for the starting job with true freshman Brad Kaaya, which Heaps eventually lost.
Though he was the backup, Heaps said Miami still offered him the exposure he needed to sign a free agent contract after his final season.
“It didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but I got the chance to learn a new system, a new philosophy and new teaching,” Heaps said. “At the end of the day, the biggest opportunity I could have gotten was being able to throw at Miami’s Pro Day. There were 80-plus NFL scouts and personnel. That was a huge opportunity for me.” . . .
Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s system has been defined as having spread tendencies, and with that comes the belief that the Jets’ offense will be more pass-oriented than previous years. Bowles has said all along he desires a balanced offense and his offensive linemen have backed that sentiment.
“Our line (schemes are) a little bit more complex this year,” said guard Willie Colon, who enters his third year with the team.
Fellow lineman Dakota Dozier said that he’s enjoyed learning Gailey’s new offense, adding that just because there will be more passes than in previous years does not mean the team will not try to get the running game going.
“I like the schemes we have to get guys open, to unlock guys and to get a running lane,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, we’re still going to have power runs and inside zones, Any team is going to have to have those base plays to be good because that’s so much of your offense. I think we’re going to be good at these things.”
June 11, 2015
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