Everything’s Starting to Click for Warren
Posted by Nick Gallo on August 11, 2010 – 3:24 pmThe past two days in practice, the Jets offense has been swallowed up by the swarming Jets defense. Maybe it’s an aftershock from when the offense took it to the defense starting on the very first play of the Green & White Scrimmage, but regardless, the defense has stepped up its performance over the past two days, highlighted by a tough session this morning.
“It was a good practice,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “I thought the defense dominated the practice. It started in the 9-on-7 drills and carried through teams. It was a good, physical practice.”
Not only did the first defense play exceptionally well against quarterback Mark Sanchez and crew, but a particular member of the second defense made an impact. Donovan Warren, the undrafted rookie safety out of Michigan, had an interception and another beautifully defensed pass in today’s work and seems to be developing nicely.
“I’m just starting to get everything clicking,” Warren said. “In OTAs it was more about the fundamentals. Now it’s just about learning the concepts of the offense and what they’re trying to do and how they’re trying to attack us. Coach [Dennis] Thurman and Coach O’Neil [coaching assistant Jim O’Neil] are doing a great job of staying on us tough about our technique and doing everything right and the other guys are helping us out in the meeting room.”
The Long Beach, Calif., native was a phenom in college, starting 11 games for the Wolverines in his true freshman season. After making the 2007 Freshman All-America team, being named the 2007 Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year and making the 2009 All-Big Ten first team, Warren looked destined for an immediate impact in the NFL. He declared for the NFL draft after his junior season, but after an ankle injury, he ended up not getting drafted.
The Jets clearly saw the potential in the 5’11”, 192 pound former cornerback, which he showed on his interception of Kellen Clemens today.
“We were in a two-man coverage with a safety over the top,” Warren said, “I just read all my keys and focused my eyes on the quarterback. I made a great break and it just happened to fall in my arms.”
Warren, who had 66 tackles and four interceptions in his final season in Ann Arbor, seems focused, intent and intelligent about the game. The most telling sign was when, while creeping into bump-and-run coverage in team drills, he called over to linebacker Joshua Mauga that a quick slant was about to come. Moments later, quarterback Kevin O’Connell felt the blitz and threw the quick slant to Jeff Cumberland. Mauga and Warren deflected the pass — although into Cumberland’s arms for a catch.
“I saw that the quarterback knew that we were checking blitz,” Warren said, “so that’s a hot route they’re going to throw the No. 3 route and the linebacker has to get over. So I was just trying to tell him ‘be alert’ for that. It just happened to come. That’s just a little bit of awareness and just getting better and feeling more and more comfortable.”
A.M. Practice Notes
Mark Sanchez showed his maturity today, going through all of his reads and on back-to-back plays, hitting Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. The rest of Sanchez’s morning was derailed by the stifling defense, including solid work from rookie CB Kyle Wilson, who played his wide receivers tightly.
Mark Brunell, 39, showed some of his wily veteran moves as his pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage right back into his hands. The 18th-year man took the ball for a few yards up field and wisely got out of bounds.
Twice at the end of practice QBs were able to get a little freedom to hit targets down the field. Kellen Clemens scrambled, then found WR Marcus Henry in the end zone and then O’Connell hit WR Larry Taylor for a diving, over-the-shoulder touchdown grab.
Injury report: Center Nick Mangold didn’t finish practice after absorbing a shot to the head from Sione Pouha. Mangold was fine but was held out for precautionary reasons. LB Jason Taylor returned to practice today, CB Brian Jackson went out with a knee injury, LB Brashton Satele was limited with his ankle injury, G Marlon Davis is still nursing his quad, and Cumberland (head) was in full pads but still wearing a red “hands off” vest.
Tags: Donovan Warren, Joshua Mauga, Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan
Posted in Nick Gallo | 12 Comments »
By IRA on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Nick, Agree about Warren. I think Warren is a lock for the PS and maybe even makes the 53 man roster IF he can shine on special teams in the preseason.
By jetjunkie on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Find out what Revis’s value is now.Trade him for a cornerback and two 1st round drafts.He doesn’t understand that his team has a great chance to get a ring.That ring will make him so much more money in NJ/NY.He doesn’t get it!Listening to agents!They don’t care about a ring.Just their cut.Have him ask his teamates.Trade him.His value will never be higher!
By Matt on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Could Warren go back to Corner if Revis sits a year? At least he will be there if injuries strike at corner.
By Jets Fan Since '64 Tom on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
This Cimini character is without shame. First he buries the lead, or rather blows it off, about Rex’s proposal to solve the Revis thing. Then he reports what sounds like complete hearsay about Mangold and Harris also talking about “what happened to Leon” and about the front office saying it’s unlikely that either of those guys will be signed this year. I haven’t heard either of these things yet anywhere else, but I did see Mangold on the “Hard Knocks” spot saying, “How do you not love playing for this guy? [Rex]” Then he actually drags out Leon, who gives us this sob story about how much DR loves playing football. Hey Leon, if he loves playing football so much…HOW COME HE WON’T DO IT FOR LESS THAN A MILLION BUCKS A GAME?! To top it off, Cimini tells us that Leon is “ahead of schedule” — yeah, ahead of the schedule that had him behind schedule — and that he’s cutting “without pain,” as if that’s the standard. Hey Cimini, has he got the same speed? Acceleration? Any power to speak of? I don’t wish Leon ill but I’m not up for propaganda about his great attitude or his miraculous recovery before he’s played a single down again, and I’m much more comfortable with the almost thirty extra pounds that the younger, not-injured McKnight is carrying. I guess Cimini just couldn’t figure out what else to do in the face of Rex’s bold and brilliant move. (Fill me in on “HK” tomorrow, guys, I gotta work tonight — I’m afraid I don’t get any “guaranteed money” unless I do.)
By IRA on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Matt, Sure Warren was a CB in college but he seems a bit too slow and thats why they are trying to convert him to a safety.
By 37 year fan on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
I think Revis and Woody could get together without the agents and talk to each other with Rex and get this worked out . The Jets are like a familly . Let’s not let $$$ create this . Money is not everything .
By fred on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
There wil be some tough cuts no doubt – I did not see Warren play in college but he seems talented. Just returned from spending a few days in Cortland had a great time hanging out with some Jet fans not many of us in my part of Pa.
By scjoe on Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Good news about Warren, but the Jets appear to be loaded at the safety position. It may be time to talk trade. With Leonard, Pool, Smith, Dig, Cook, Warren and Lowery, they are in great shape. You can’t tell me there is no value in that group.
By Arte Old School Section 327 on Aug 12, 2010 | Reply
Hey Randy, So happy to see Hard Knocks. What a great job they did to report the truth of what’s going on behind the scenes. Having had season forever, I now live in LA.. Heading back for the first two games. Can’t wait!! Love the competition the newly vamped (UP) offense is giving the ‘D’.. So proud of the green & white last year and looking so forward to this ‘special’ one.. Just curious if you have any word on how COREY REAMER doing?? I have big expectations for him.. Our depth is really looking good.. Let’s keep the faith ya’ll JETNATION.. Enjoy the ride!!
By wayne on Aug 12, 2010 | Reply
Soon You guys will proclaim that Rex can walk on water….I was one of the guys that sorely wanted Mangini out of here and petitioned almost daily for it….Almost as much as I petition for a guy like Rex…but until the archaic way of treating players, contratually speaking, changes. Rex, the messiah, can’t fix this….BY THE WAY UNTIL HE ACTUALLY WINS A S.B., AS HEADCOACH, LET’S NO ELEVATE HIM TO DIETY JUST YET…..I know he and his dad’s got a whole bunch of SB hardware, but I don’t believe either of them has won a SB as headcoaches……in fact his dad didnt do so well as the hc of the e.a.g.l.e.s…..SLOW YOUR ROLL BOYS
By wizard on Aug 13, 2010 | Reply
why would you do this to me nick?…nobody puts wizard in the corner
By wizard on Aug 13, 2010 | Reply
ok maybe i was a little harsh towards jetjunkie…but you know i am 100% correct