Offense Keeps Up Good Vibes in Practice

[flgreen]

Jets offense keeps up the good vibes in practice

Published: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 7:08 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 7:17 PM

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

Follow

Share Email Print

sanchez.jpgWilliam Perlman/The Star-LedgerJets QB Mark Sanchez and the first-team offense capped off practice with a touchdown in the two-minute drill.

The Jets’ offense was flying high after Sunday night’s preseason game, and the impressive debut of Plaxico Burress. Apparently, some of the good vibes carried over into today’s practice.

The offense capped off a two-minute drive during the team drills portion of practice with a fourth-down touchdown pass from QB Mark Sanchez to WR Santonio Holmes. Holmes made a diving catch in the right corner of the end zone.

“We just won the game! Nobody’s cheering!” Sanchez said as he ran past the media.

He was 8-for-10 on that two-minute drive, and 17-for-23 on 11-on-11 drills during the whole practice, by an unofficial count.

One of Sanchez’s incompletion was a long pass to WR Derrick Mason that was a few yards too long. Mason was covered by safeties Eric Smith and Jim Leonhard, and as they ran downfield, Leonhard shouted, “You can’t run away from me, old man.”

DB Dwight Lowery picked off rookie QB Greg McElroy during team drills. The pass was tipped, and there wasn’t a good view of who tipped it, but OLB Jamaal Westerman was slapping hands with teammates afterward.

Nick Folk and Nick Novak each ended practice 4-for-4 on field goals of 28, 33, 38 and 44 yards.

RB Shonn Greene, recovered from a skin infection on his right foot, returned to team drills. Mason, RG Brandon Moore (hip), LB Bart Scott (leg), OLB Calvin Pace (groin) and DL Marcus Dixon (knee) also participated in team work. NT Sione Pouha (knee) and LB Nick Bellore (calf) just did position drills.

QB Mark Brunell (calf) was not dressed. TE Jeff Cumberland (hamstring) and G Trevor Canfield (knee) did not have on pads.

Michael Irvin visited practice. GM Mike Tannenbaum joked that they worked him out, but aren't sure if CB Darrelle Revis can cover him.

[flgreen]

I don't like that Cumberland had a hamstring bad enough that he didn't dress. Kids looked great. i don't want to see anything that might slow him down

[flgreen]

Practice report: Sanchez to Holmes ... TD

August, 23, 2011

Aug 23

6:18

PM ET

Email

Print

Comments3

By Rich Cimini

Magical finishes in November and December are born on the practice fields of August.

Here was the situation Tuesday: Ball at the opponents' 21-yard line. Only nine seconds left on the clock. The Mark Sanchez-led offense needs a touchdown. Empty backfield. Sanchez gets the snap. He drops back. He's under pressure. He drifts back to about the 30, still under pressure, around the right hash.

No one is open. He spots Santonio Holmes in the left corner of the end zone, around the goal line. Sanchez throws a laser. Holmes makes a diving catch. Touchdown. "Game" over.

It must have been 'Tone Time, as Rex Ryan likes to say. Obviously, Holmes and Sanchez have a knack for pulling out games. They did it last season against the Lions, Browns and Texans. This touchdown was similar to last season's game winners in that the offense sputtered throughout practice, but came alive at the end during the two-minute drill. Some things don't change.

INJURY UPDATE: Didn't practice -- QB Mark Brunell (calf), TE Jeff Cumberland (hamstring). Individual/positional drills only -- NT Sione Pouha (knee), LB Nick Bellore. Most team drills -- RB Shonn Greene (foot), RG Brandon Moore (hip), WR Derrick Mason (knee), OLB Calvin Pace (groin), LB Bart Scott (leg), DL Marcus Dixon (knee).

ODDS AND ENDS: Good day for the kickers. Nick Folk and Nick Novak each went 4-for-4, converting from 28, 33, 38 and 44 yards ... Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, working for the NFL Network, attended practice. He spent part of the time chatting with GM Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson ... Sanchez made a nice, cross-field pass to TE Dustin Keller ... S Dwight Lowery made an interception on a deflected pass by rookie QB Greg McElroy ... Another false-start penalty on RT Vladimir Ducasse ... S Jim Leonhard to Mason, 37, after covering him on a deep route that was overthrown: "You can't get away from me, old man." ... S Brodney Pool got some work in the starting nickel.

[Larz]

RB Shonn Greene, recovered from a skin infection on his right foot, returned to team drills. Mason, RG Brandon Moore (hip), LB Bart Scott (leg), OLB Calvin Pace (groin) and DL Marcus Dixon (knee) also participated in team work

it would be nice to see the entire first team on both sides of the ball play this week

very nice

[flgreen]

Got Love Cimini. Had to throw in "This touchdown was similar to last season's game winners in that the offense sputtered throughout practice"

Jenny Vrentas had reported that Sanchez had gone 17-23 in 11-11 drills. Something good must have happened

[GandWFan]

Got Love Cimini. Had to throw in "This touchdown was similar to last season's game winners in that the offense sputtered throughout practice"

Jenny Vrentas had reported that Sanchez had gone 17-23 in 11-11 drills. Something good must have happened

yeah, the offense was sputtering with that lousy 74% completion percentage.

[Bleedin Green]

Got Love Cimini. Had to throw in "This touchdown was similar to last season's game winners in that the offense sputtered throughout practice"

Jenny Vrentas had reported that Sanchez had gone 17-23 in 11-11 drills. Something good must have happened

You read my mind on that one. Cimini's such a douche. And for Sanchez to go 17-23 against that D, practice or not, that's still pretty damn impressive.

[SenorGato]

Good to see the players overcoming the playcalling. Hopefully it carries through.