Holmes, Kerley, Hill and the Fuzzy WR Position
Posted by on August 6, 2012 – 3:35 pmUpdated, 5:12 p.m. ET
Like using a pair of battered binoculars, it’s been difficult to get the Jets’ wide receiver position to come into focus. That’ll happen when there are 14 WRs on the training camp roster but perhaps 10 who at one time or another have been sidelined by those darned soft-tissue injuries.
■ Santonio Holmes is the No. 1 wideout but came out of Saturday’s Green & White practice with a rib “situation,” not broken but maybe with some cartilage involvement, which Holmes has had before. The injury had head coach Rex Ryan this morning placing Tone in the “probably doubtful” category for the Jets’ preseason opener at Cincinnati on Friday night.
“Bart Scott gave Santonio some sound advice when he said to put some barbecue sauce on that rib. We’ll see how that goes. Just a loving teammate, Bart is,” Ryan said. “You can see him, he’s obviously tender, but we’ll see how it goes.”
■ Jeremy Kerley remains sidelined by his hamstring pull from last week, leaving Ryan “concerned” and Mark Sanchez advising Kerley to “go slow” but “hurry up.”
“The most important thing is for him to take care of himself and get back as soon as possible, push it, compete with that injury and get back,” Sanchez said after today’s midday practice. “Being out, I know he’s doing as many drills as he can, but as soon as he’s back we have to get as many reps as possible to make up for lost time. I hope he’s studying in this off time, really going over the film, looking at it and understanding how he is going to be able to come in and help us really continue where we left off before he got hurt.”
■ All of the experienced hands behind Holmes — Chaz Schilens, Patrick Turner, Kerley and Dexter Jackson — have some intriguing elements to their game. But only Turner had any receptions in Saturday’s session, two catches for 22 yards.
■ And then there’s Stephen Hill. The intriguing rookie with the height, speed and explosion to make a big first-year NFL impact was also one of the wideouts with no catches on Saturday. But he continues to pull them in during practices. This morning he caught one ball against Antonio Cromartie and had another 40-yarder going up against Darrelle Revis.
“It was really kind of a payback thing with Darrelle,” Hill said with a smile. “He kind of jammed me up a couple of plays before, so I had to get back at him. But Revis is teaching me a lot of things.”
Especially with Holmes doubtful but even if he were healthy, Hill is making a case to get his first NFL start in his first NFL (pre-)season game against the Bengals. Ryan hasn’t announced any lineup plans for the Stripes, but the first depth chart of the season should be released soon.
“Mark Sanchez has been in my ear on the field and off the field. He’ll come up behind me and say, ‘You ready to go?’ Yeah, I’m ready to go,” Hill said. “I’m getting my body focused and my mind focused so that going into that game or against Buffalo in the season opener, there’s not going to be that ‘wow’ surprise factor. I’m here to work.”
Rex Cetera
LaRon Landry, who says if he had to play a position other than safety it would be linebacker “because I love to hit,” put a lick on Bilal Powell in today’s physical practice. Ryan said he expects Landry to play Friday.
“As far as I know, he’s coming out of it,” the coach said of Landry’s relentless rehab of his foot problems from last year with the Redskins. “We’re going to keep a close eye on what he does. We need him out there on opening day. He’s an impact guy, there’s no question about that.”
The Old Brawl Game
Several skirmishes broke out, with Joe McKnight and rookie D’Anton Lynn having the most animated exchange that also involved a few sideline signs being toppled.
Sanchez, who said he watched the fight from “an advantageous position,” made it clear he’s not a big fan of that kind of tempest.
“One, it doesn’t look good, and two, it sends the wrong message to our team,” he said. “We want to take care of our guys. I get it, guys are competitive, guys are fiery, that’s nice, but you want to take it to the brink there and compete until the last possible moment and then always remember to protect the team, protect your teammates. So I don’t like to see it. I know guys get testy and that’s the way it goes, but we have to control that and make sure we’re not hurting anybody.”
Practice Notes
McKnight later got taken down hard in team drills, walked off slowly, but seemed fine in an interview session afterward. … NT Sione Po‘uha left the field early with his still-bandaged forehead. … Nick Folk 4-for-4, Josh Brown 2-for-4 (misses from 39 and 47) in today’s in-practice field goal period.
Today’s attendance: 2,914. … Tuesday’s practice will be closed to the public. Wednesday’s session will be open and will run from 8:10-11:10 a.m. Thursday is a closed walkthrough and then flight to Cincinnati for Friday’s game.
Tags: Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley, LaRon Landry, Patrick Turner, Rex Ryan, Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill, SUNY Cortland, training camp
Posted in Randy Lange | 21 Comments »
By Jet Fan Since '64 Tom on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
I’m away from computers for the week, guys and gals, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Bengals game when I come back!
By Jason Troost on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Patrick Turner for the #2 spot (sorry Cro). He has good rapport with Mark. He’s big, strong, has experience. I say he’s ready. Even though he’s not a flashy name, I think he’s our best option at this point until Hill is ready.
PUT HIM IN SPARANO!
By danny on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Hill is ready to be our number 2. The guy is catching balls in practice over Cro and Revis so that says it all. I havent ready anything about Turner beating Revis. This kid needs to start in preseason and get ready for the season. AJ Green was a rookie in Cinci last yr and was a MONSTER. Turner is a nice posession wr as a 3 or 4 tops
START HILL SPARANO
By carweezy f on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Im hoping Dexter Jackson does well this preseason. Kerley seems to be a little weak and Jackson is small and fast and would work well in the slot. I agree with Jason that Patrick Turner should be the #2 WR. He went to USC and he is a tall, physical receiver. Im excited to watch all the WR’s on friday. Raymond Webber is somewhat of a wildcard and I want to see what he has to offer as well. Go Jets!!
By Robert Graham on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
It’s time to get serious with the offense Coach Sparano! start Hill and Schilens out wide with Holmes in the slot! SIGN A FA running back to help spot Greene, keep him fresh early . and give the starting O-line lots of reps this pre-season.Ground an pound not with WHAT IS an average group of RB’S!!!!
By wayne on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Sad news to report Jetaholics, Tom Bundchen says he plans on being around for quite a while longer……Can’t simply wait for him to quit, Jets are going to have to submit him.
By SCfromNY on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
I agree Turner has shown promise but has never really seen a lot of reps. I hope the WR issues are getting over early and they will be fine when the season opens. They do need someone to throw them the ball. I am tired of all the meaningless stats. Okay, Sanchez went 8-12 but how did the passes look? Is he improving on leading the receiver or is it the same ole stop and wait for the ball stuff? Are we throwing deep or only soft 5 yard passes? I am less interested in how Tebow is throwing. He is suppossed to be a better Brad Smith. Smith was not the backup, Kellen Clemons was and to my knowledge he did very few interviews. The season starts in less than a month we need to see what we have in McElroy as a backup. Tebow can be the Swiss knife.
By BIG DAVE on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Hey did you hear the nonsense from Boomer and Joe( 2 ex Jet Qb’s) ??
Cut Tebow now they both said…..what rubbish !!!
Tim we know you can be a positive acquisition, and the dopes will be silenced soon.Good Luck and God speed my friend.
Can not wait till friday night !
By Tom Spicer on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
Tom 64, Before you go what is up with the blind loyalty to Holmes? You rip Sanchez every chance you get but always defend Holmes when to most guys he is the reason things fell apart.
By Eli Rodriguez on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
IMO: I believe this skirmishe goes much deeper than McKnight and D’Anton Lynn. I feel the defense don’t really respect the offense. At times I sense there’re really two different teams, here (REX and Sparano team) There’s so much going on with this Offense and the defense realize they’re not the weakest link.
By TONY GARCIA on Aug 6, 2012 | Reply
were going to be a work in progress patience is going to be needed.
By IRA on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
Randy, Thanks for keeping it real on this site. The papers are filled with a bunch of garbage that it seems feeds a certain fan base and the media is just trying to stir up trouble and i guess they are doing their jobs about trying to sell newspapers. I want to read about football and this is the place to read it.
One player to keep an eye on this week in Cincy is D. Jackson. I think he possibly could grab a roster spot if he shows he can be good in the KO return game. I think McKnight could be in trouble with the improved play of Powell and if Jackson can return KO’s. Of course they would have to bring in a RB if they were to move on from McKnight.
By ron alexander on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
IRA, great point, this is the best Jet site by far. I dont even bother with Manish (Confidential Source) Mehta anymore. Dont write off McNight just yet, he is definately one of the “Knuckleheads” on this team, but he can still help us on special teams and coming out of the backfield. He has shown good hands, great speed and although he is still out there in space at times, he is much better prepared mentally than his rookie season.CARWEEZY, I think you are on to something with Webber. He has the size and speed to help us and the td pass he caught at the end of saturdays scrimmage from MacElroy will no doubt get him more of a look the week against the Bengals.But I think its too soon to declare a #2 reciever at this time.
By GaryC on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
tom spicer, I already mentioned that to jetfantom,his loyalty to the cancer that is holmes,jetfantom gives lifetime forgiveness if you have scored a touchdown in the super bowl.same with Plastico,
By Jason on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
I agree with the Joe McKnight assessment. I knew from the beginning that he would never be able to replace Leon Washington. Hopefully Rex sees he will be a liability with 10-15 touches a game, fumble prone, lacks the hustle, durability… I wouldn’t trust him. I’d like to see the Jets go out and offer up a 5th rounder to Denver for Knowsean Moreno. He is buried in the depth chart over there and would make a great compliment to Shonne.
By ron alexander on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
JASON, I love the Moreno idea.He would be well worth a 5th rd pick.Hard to believe he is buried on Denvers dept chart but I’ll take your word on this one. I’d
still like to see what McKnight can do with a little more meat on his bones this year(other than get in a fight with a team-mate?) but marino would be a nice complement to Greene. Of course if Powell is as good as Rex is saying this may be a moot point.
By danny on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
Mcnight is a weapon if and only if he can hold onto the football. It’s a shame because he would be a great compliment to Greene but he is blowing his chance. I really liked when we drafted Powel because I watched a lot of him in college. If he keeps stepping up and shows something in preseason that he can explode with the ball like he did at Louisville then he will help us big time this yr. it’s a shame with Mcnight but man stop fumbling. Maybe call Tiki for some tips that he learned from Coughlin yrs back i mean it helped Tiki big time. Try something because even his fumble in the scrimmage he had a nice run and bang fumble
By ron alexander on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
Danny, excellent idea. Sparano needs to get it through Mcnights (apparently)thick skull that he either holds on to the ball or its bye bye baby!S.C.Joe, I see where all the “bad-boy” recievers who were available have all signed for the minimum with other teams. How much of a pain in the neck must Plaxico Burress be as he is the only one left?Some body here suggested we sign him, but with Holmes already on the roster I dont think bringing in another poor attitude guy is a good idea.
By scjoe on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
Ron A, unless there is something we are not aware of,I just can’t find one good reason BE was not brought back in for the vet minimum. I think that non move is going to come back and bite them at some point his season. There may still be one intriguing name out there, Roy Williams, if they can pick him up for the league minimum there wouldn’t be that much risk involved. I know, Williams will get a lot of unfavorable press around here, but look at the alternatives.
By ron alexander on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
S.C.Joe, yeah, I’m with you on B.E? a real head-scratcher? Roy Williams is a good idea too. I dont know how motivated he will be to play for the vets min. but he was a stud at Texas. He reminded me a lot of Keyshon Johnson as a collegean,unstoppable! Another tall reciever I was wondering about is Mike Williams who had a great year in 2010 for Seattle under his college coach Pete Carroll. I wonder what his deal is? Isn’t it weird how all these tall recievers like T.O,Randy Moss,B.E,Plastico,Ocho Cinco and the two Williams guys we mentioned all ended up head cases?I guess the thin air up there got to them?
By joseph22011 on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
I actually agree roy williams is still a good blocker, can move the chains and has good speed still if he can break free