CORTLAND – The talk finally ended Friday and the Jets players took the field for their first practice of training camp.
The battle at quarterback highlighted the first practice and both quarterbacks looked good. Mark Sanchez completed 8-of-11 passes and was “sacked” twice in team drills. Rookie Geno Smith completed 4-of-7 with one sack.
Smith was extremely impressive throwing long passes. He has tremendous arm strength. Rex Ryan was asked if Smith looks like a rookie.
“I don’t think so,” Ryan said. “I’m seeing a guy that … you see it out there. He can throw it with anybody. I don’t about anybody but he can throw it with most. I don’t know if he can throw it with Cutler. I don’t know if he can throw it with the kid from Detroit, but I know one thing – he can throw it. He’s got a really live arm. There’s no doubt.”
Sanchez got all of the reps with the first team. Smith stayed on the practice field for a long time after practice ended running sprints and working with quarterbacks coach David Lee.
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The running back situation is ever changing here. Mike Goodson is not here as he deals with personal issues. Joe McKnight was on the field Friday after failing his initial conditioning test Thursday. He passed it Friday and was out there. Chris Ivory rode the bike during practice, nursing a sore hamstring.
All of this leaves the running back position hard to evaluate. The Jets put the pads on for the first time on Sunday and that is when the running backs will get to show what they can do.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea from studying these guys and their history and how to use them and what they can do and can’t do,” running backs coach Anthony Lynn said. “Yeah, I’d like to have them out here Day 1, but I’m more excited about the guys getting opportunities right now like the John Griffins of the world that have been waiting for some opportunities to get more reps in practice and now we can evaluate them.”
Both Lynn and Ryan singled out Griffin, a second-year back from UMass who has looked impressive in limited practice time. Lynn sounds like he likes Griffin, but the Jets already have Ivory, Goodson, McKnight and Bilal Powell fighting for carries.
“Athletically, he’s as good as anyone in the group, but we have to get him to take it from the classroom and practice to the games,” Lynn said. “That’s where he’s going to grow with the game experience.”
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The Jets wide receivers have taken a lot of criticism, but two stood out in practice Friday. Clyde Gates had a beautiful diving catch and showed his speed. Ryan called him the offensive MVP of practice. Titus Ryan had a great practice, making a nice catch over Antonio Allen during drills and then following it up with some big catches in team and 7-on-7 drills.
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CB Aaron Berry suffered the first injury of training camp, injuring his knee. He’ll be out for the season.
During a one-on-one drill with WRs and DBs, Berry got twisted up with WR Joseph Collins and did not get up. He was tended to by the doctors and Ryan also ran over to check on him. He walked off the field under his own power but it appeared to be a serious knee injury.
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Every time WR Braylon Edwards hits the ground, you hold your breath. He dove for one pass and you immediately wondered if he would get up. That’s the risk you take with older players that have injury histories. Speaking of … TE Kellen Winslow said he will practice every other day. On the “off” day he will do some individual drills, but not team work. It sounds similar to what the Jets did with LaRon Landry last year. … Edwards and Winslow are a nice story, but both had trouble gaining separation. The Jets are hoping both of them can go against their recent history and be productive players again, but it seems like a long shot. … OLB Quinton Coples has grown up. He was all over the field Friday and was not shy about it, yelling at Geno Smith as he chased him out of bounds, encouraging teammates and looking like a force. Last year, Coples looked like a lost rookie in camp who did not go hard in practice. He was impressive Friday. … The speed on defense jumps out at you. This is a much, much faster group than last year. … Antonio Allen saw most of the snaps at safety with the first team. … Ellis Lankster was the third cornerback with rookie Dee Milliner not in training camp.