QB dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

With David Garrard out of the picture, the Jets are down to Mark Sanchez

and rookie Geno Smith, plus Greg McElroy and Matt Simms.
On paper, it's a workable depth chart for the preseason. Thing is, GM
John Idzik is always looking for competition, and he hasn't slammed the
door shut on adding another quarterback.

Here's the problem :

It won't be easy to find a Garrard-type player, a
savvy veteran with the ability to start a few games, if necessary, and
the desire to serve as a mentor to Smith. Because they're already one
month into the offseason program, a quarterback with scheme familiarity
(see: West Coast offense) would be a benefit. Otherwise, the new guy
would be a month behind, as coordinator Marty Mornhinweg installs his
system.

As you can see, the free-agent market doesn't hold much promise.

 

Some of the top names :

Charlie Batch (Steelers):
There's some familiarity here, as Batch started nine games for
Mornhinweg in 2001, his first year as the Lions' coach. Batch wasn't
horrible, but the Lions went 0-9. At 38, his best days are long gone,
but he was 3-2 over the last three seasons when filling in for Ben Roethlisberger,

including a dramatic win over the Ravens last year.

Tyler Thigpen (Bills):
Quarterbacks coach David Lee is familiar with Thigpen, having coached
him last season in Buffalo. Thigpen, 29, showed some flashes for the
Chiefs in 2008 (despite a 1-10 record as a starter), but he has bounced
around the league since then, barely getting on the field. Thigpen is a
good athlete, better suited to a spread-type offense.

Trent Edwards (Eagles):
He spent 10 months with Mornhinweg last season with the Eagles, making
the team as the No. 3 after an impressive preseason (54-for-80, 489
yards, 4 TDs, 0 interceptions). He ended up playing in only one game
(2-for-2) and was released by new coach Chip Kelly. Edwards, 29, knows
Mornhinweg's system better than anyone on this list, but we're talking
about a quarterback who hasn't won a start since 2009.

Byron Leftwich (Steelers):
Could the Jets replace Garrard with the man Garrard replaced in
Jacksonville? Leftwich, 33, has carried the clipboard for three
different teams over the last six years, most recently with the
Steelers. He started one game (and lost) last season. Because of his
slow delivery, he's not a good fit in the West Coast system.

Tarvaris Jackson (Bills): He re-signed with the Bills, but he could be

in trouble at some point if they decide to keep only two QBs, No. 1 pick

EJ Manuel and Kevin Kolb.
Idzik knows Jackson from their Seattle days, and there were rumblings
before free agency that he was planning to make a run at Jackson before
he re-upped with the Bills.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23379/analyzing-the-backup-qb-market

[kelly]

After a long holiday weekend, the final week of organized team
activities begins for most teams on Tuesday. It’s only May, but the
pressure is certainly on New York Jets embattled quarterback

Mark Sanchez.

It’s important for Sanchez to finish strong in the final

week of OTAs. He had a three-interception performance in practice

last week that raised some eyebrows. An anonymous Jets teammate
also told CBSSports.com that “80 or 90” percent of the locker room
thinks Sanchez is out of chances and it’s time to hand over the job to
someone else. These are all signs that New York’s incumbent is losing
momentum in the four-way quarterback competition.

The biggest issue for Sanchez is he hasn’t been able to separate

himself from the likes of rookie Geno Smith and backups Greg McElroy

and Matt Simms.
Sanchez has a huge advantage over his competition in playing time and
experience. He is supposed to look much better than his unproven
competitors this time of year, but that hasn’t been the case.

If Sanchez cannot create separation now, the more likely it is for
New York’s coaching staff to go in another direction in September. If
Sanchez and Smith are on equal footing, why wouldn’t the Jets start anew
and give their rookie second-round pick a chance? We already know what
kind of quarterback Sanchez is entering his fifth season. His struggles
in OTAs and camps would provide more reason for the Jets to turn the
page.

If Sanchez is truly "The Sanchize," it is time to show why he's the
incumbent. Staying within the pack of inexperienced quarterbacks is not
good enough for a player who has 62 career starts and once led the Jets
to back-to-back AFC Championship Games.

The only Jets practice open to the media this week will be on
Thursday. So we won't get a peek at how Sanchez is progressing this week
until then.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59521/important-week-for-jets-qb-mark-sanchez

[SenorGato]

I got a kick out of learning that Sanchez throwing 3 OTA INTs is a big deal. Sanchez sucks, but lol. 

[shhwagah]

What happened to retaining Garrard as a QB Coach/mentor for Geno? Not the best guy for the job but better than nothing I guess.

[SayNoToDMC]

I got a kick out of learning that Sanchez throwing 3 OTA INTs is a big deal. Sanchez sucks, but lol. 

 

If Peyton manning throws 3 picks in 15 attempts during OTA's you laugh and chalk it up to rust. When you're Mark Sanchez and you spend seasons finding new and exotic ways to turn the ball over it's kinda gunna get put under a microscope

[SenorGato]

Put under a microscope...sensationalized...gunna draw mass overreaction...etc...

[Bleedin Green]

He didn't just get picked off.

 

He didn't even just get picked off on a screen pass.

 

No, no... he got picked off on a screen pass by a freakin' third string DL.  I don't care if they were playing a pickup game in the parking lot, there's no excuse for how pathetically awful that is.

[kelly]

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23546/broadway-joe-returns-to-canton

[kelly]

Matt Simms ahead of Greg McElroy on New York Jets

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000207931/article/matt-simms-working-ahead-of-greg-mcelroy-on-jets

[kelly]

> http://thejetpress.com/2013/05/29/marty-mornhinweg-says-mark-sanchezs-accuracy-has-been-sky-high/

[kelly]

geno smith...

 

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2013/5/28/4370588/new-york-jets-keep-things-simple-for-geno-smith

[kelly]

Geno Smith and pressure of 2012 QB class

The New York Jets are in full rebuilding mode in 2013. That is why

it makes sense for the Jets to hand the ball to rookie quarterback

Geno Smith sooner than later.

Smith, a second-round pick and the second quarterback taken in

this year's draft, is competing with incumbent Mark Sanchez

for the starting job in New York. But will success by last year's

rookie quarterbacks place unfair pressure on Smith and others

to perform well immediately ?

The stellar 2012 quarterback class led by Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin

III and Russell Wilson all took their teams to the playoffs in their first

seasons. Two other rookie quarterbacks --Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden --

started 16 and 15 games, respectively, and put up decent numbers. Fair or unfair,

the bar has been raised for Smith, EJ Manuel of the Buffalo Bills and other rookie

quarterbacks to produce immediately when they get their chance.

"Those guys have done great and I’m happy for them, but I have my

own task," Smith recently told reporters about the 2012 quarterback

class. "I’m going to continue to handle things the way I have always

done, which is to keep working hard. I don’t worry about those things, I

don’t worry about what the next guy did. That’s not for me to do.

That’s not my job. I’m just here to work hard and here to try and help

my team."

Smith has as good a chance as any rookie quarterback to win the

starting job in Week 1. Sanchez led the NFL in turnovers the past two

seasons, and reportedly some in the locker room feels it's time for a change.

The Jets are switching to a West Coast scheme under new offensive

coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. The quarterback who grasps the offense

best will have the advantage. So far both quarterbacks have had their

moments in organized team activities.

"I think he’s done well," Sanchez said of Smith. "He works hard. He’s done

his best to get completions like we all are."

Rookie quarterbacks like Luck, RG III and Wilson were the exception,

not the rule. The bar certainly has been raised. But do not expect a

lightning-fast turnaround and immediate playoff results from this year's

quarterback class.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59690/geno-smith-and-pressure-of-2012-qb-class

[kelly]

QBs: Feeling More Comfortable with the Offense

 

Transcript of Mark Sanchez's and Geno Smith's news conferences

following Thursday's morning OTA practice at the Atlantic Health Jets

Training Center:

 

QB MARK SANCHEZ

On how things have gone at OTAs since last Wednesday…

I

think camp as a whole has been probably one of my best offseasons. I

feel comfortable with the system. I feel like we’re really starting to

understand things as an offense and slow things down a little bit as we

play. But you’ve got to remember that its one practice, it’s three

passes and Rex [Ryan] alluded to it that we’ve got to take care of the

ball and I agree. We do have to take care of the ball.

But I

think those guys have the luxury of seeing that entire body of work this

offseason and know I’m working towards good things. I feel the best

I’ve felt in a while and I feel like I’m putting together one of my best

offseasons and just got to keep rolling. You have a tough day, you have

a tough pass, a tough couple of practices, whatever it is, you’ve got

to roll through it.

On if Coach Ryan spoke with him directly about last week’s turnovers…

I

think it’s just one of those things that not only him, but Marty

[Mornhinweg] talks about all the time, our quarterbacks coach [David

Lee] talks about all the time, but we need to just take care of the

ball. Whether it’s running with the ball, you’re in the pocket, you get

sacked, whatever, just cover it up and take care of it. Make the right

decision down the field. If you have to throw it away, throw it away. I

think that day, it just built up and I think it was one team period

where it was bang, bang, bang and sometimes those things happen and you

have to figure out a way to end it and that’s it.

On his discussions with Santonio Holmes during practice…

Well,

he’s picking up the system. He can’t wait to get back on the field and

we can’t wait to get him out there. He’s one of those guys who really

thinks the game and always wants to know what I’m thinking, what I was

looking at. If there’s anything I see and I have a question for him or

he has a question for me, it’s always been that kind of relationship. We

have a pretty easy-flowing conversation. I can’t tell you exactly, I’m

trying to remember myself, but it could’ve been an alignment, why I went

on a certain cadence, the split of a receiver, why I threw it to a

certain spot. He’s engaged and involved and it’s nice that he’s like

that and instead of just sitting off to the side and not really caring.

He’s into it and he wants to be a part of it.

On how he has done in OTAs compared to the other quarterbacks…

That’s

for the coaches decide. I’m really focused on the defense I’m playing

against. I’m really focused on getting guys in the right alignment,

using your vision for making plays downfield. Anything I can do to help

Geno [smith] with having my experience against Rex’s defense, whether

it's a specific look, this or that, we share things back and forth. I

think he’s working hard and that’s all I know. He’s been a great

competitor.

On how he feels Smith has performed in practice…

I

think he’s done well. He works hard. He’s done his best to get

completions like we all are. We know that we are playing against one of

the best defensive units year in and year out so we take that into

account, but that can’t be an excuse for us.

On if it is hard to deal with when he has a bad practice and it

becomes a big story…

It’s

just kind of the way it goes. It’s just like the opposite of when you

come to New York and win you’re first two seasons, you’re in the

playoffs and things like that. I mean, people tell you maybe you are a

little better than you are. Maybe things go the other way as well. That

balance, I just try to stand in the middle and as far as a headband or

one bad practice, that doesn’t matter. I’m stronger than that. I would

hope or I wouldn’t be here. I can handle that. It’s no big deal.

On Stephen Hill’s return to practice…

Yeah,

he’s been practicing a little bit. Doing a lot of individual drills,

but he’s still getting his feet under him. Getting his legs back.

Getting back in the swing of things. He’s been going crazy in that

weight room and the training room. He’s sick and tired of being in there

and ready to get out on the field. We’re excited to get him back and we

can use him.

On what he saw from Stephen Hill in practice today…

That

he’s just shaking off the rust a little bit, but he’s working his butt

off. Anytime he gets with Coach Sanjay [Lal] on all those individual

drills, he’s really starting to get more and more comfortable. I think

he’s done a great job learning the system. He feels comfortable that

way. He’s not one of the guys that wants to come back and ask questions.

“What’s the formation? Timeout, say that again.” He’s ready to roll and

that’s for a guy who didn’t do much in the offseason stuff at the

beginning. He jumped right in. We plugged him right in. He’s doing

great.

On how if it is difficult practicing without the regular starters and

going against Coach Ryan’s defense…

At

times it turns into a throwaway drill [laughter]. That’s the way it

goes. Marty’s good about reminding us of that. That if that’s what it

turns into you compete to win and if winning is taking a sack, sometimes

that means, you take a sack. If that means you have to throw the ball

away and somebody’s not looking and not ready for that pressure, you’ve

got to throw the ball to where you’re supposed to go. If he’s not

looking, he’s not ready, then move onto the next one. Push forward and

get the ball out. Throw or go.

You just go through those reps and

usually during the season it’s the opposite. Most of the plays work.

Things happen the right way. Things happen on time. And then you get

those two, three to five max plays where all hell kind of breaks loose

and now it’s time to make a really good decision, so we are getting a

lot of practice at those.

On the time needed to build team chemistry…

That’s

part of it. It’s a limited deal with this schedule. It gives guys a

good break but it also puts the responsibility on players to come back

in shape so we’re not wasting time with guys having injuries and things

like that. This is the time where guys need to be healthy; we need to

get this timing down. Same thing with camp in August. These two real

periods of time are the most important blocks of the offseason. We got

to get guys healthy; we have to get those receivers back on the field.

We need some legs out there. The guys that are filling in are doing a

great job.

On why he feels this is his best offseason yet…

I

just feel comfortable. Marty said it the other day, it’s something I

would never say, but he’s already went out there and said it, but

accuracy wise, I just feel great. I think going back and looking at

practices, completion percentage has been high. Being able to check the

ball down, identify some of Rex’s pressures that in the past might have

caused me some trouble.

Just having that experience against these

guys, really working with Mangold to get some calls out, that’s been

great. Feeling comfortable enough to mix up the cadence this early and

learning a new offense. I remember I felt like last year we were

learning so much and trying so hard, it just felt like we went on one

forever. We went on one and on one and on one. By the end of the time

the defense was like “all right,” they’re just licking their chops ready

to roll and teeing off. I think our guys feel good and I personally

feel like we’re doing really well.

On what his completion percentage is…

I mean I don’t know the exact number. Ask Marty, he’s got all the stats. It’s

good. It’s where we want it to be.

On Coach Mornhinweg’s system…

I

think it’s similar to what we tried to do in college. It’s similar,

that West Coast system. I just feel that it suits my abilities. You know

you don’t have to be someone that runs a 4.5 type deal, you can get

back there, get rid of the ball whether it’s a five plan or a seven and

quick hitch, that things out. You know there are places to go with the

football. I think Marty does an incredible job coaching things up,

helping you visualize the play, understanding your read against multiple

coverages. His experiences have allowed him to do that. So it really is

encouraging.

On if he will be surprised if he isn’t the starter on Opening Day…

I don’t really think like that. I’m planning on playing, I’m planning on starting. I don’t know. I’ll let you know.

On how he would feel if he does not start based on how he feels right now…

I don’t plan on that happening.

On examples of why Coach Mornhinweg’s and skill sets work so well together…

Being

able to move the pocket a little bit and change the launch point of the

quarterback. I think that is important, just as a changeup. Multiple

sets, multiple formations. A ton of the same concepts that really have a

lot of the same reads. You start combining those things together,

adding motions, adding shifts. That’s really where I feel the most

comfortable. You get through those first couple installs and everything

else you really add to those installs. You tweak something here,

something there. You install that first, that second red zone install

and you then you start to tweak things based on the teams you play and

based on your personnel. I just feel like Marty does a heck of a job

relaying information, communicating to different players who might learn

differently. And that goes for us quarterbacks as well. Some guys want

to rep it on the field, some guys want to do it on a walkthrough, some

guys want to see it on the board and some guys need to see it in a film

of another team doing it or something. He’s had all of that available.

You add Coach Lee in there with every drill known to man, whether it’s a

ball security drill, a reset drill, an escape drill, a throwaway drill,

he’s got it all. I think those things put together put the quarterback

in a good situation.

On working with a new quarterbacks coach…

I

think Cav [former QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh] actually was a West Coast

guy. I don’t know if he and Marty overlapped in San Francisco, I think

he might have been before that. He had his old playbooks from when they

won Super Bowls with Joe Montana and Steve Young and stuff like that.

Red Right 22 Z In, I mean, Montana and Jerry Rice made that play famous

and that’s a West Coast staple. So Cav was a part of that system. He was

a part of that timing five-hitch, reset, run it forward and get the

ball out if one and two aren’t open sort of deal. I felt like Cav was in

a tough spot because maybe the offenses didn’t match up to his style if

that makes sense. Those kinds of things happen. Not everybody is going

to be a West Coast guy. Some guys come from different systems. Cav had

to adapt just like Schotty [brian Schottenheimer] and Coach Sparano

[offensive assistant Tony Sparano Jr.] will have to adapt. I wish him

the best and I thought he was a great coach.

On competing with and helping Geno Smith…

Sure,

I think part of that comes where you’re just confident in yourself. If I

was insecure about something or couldn’t handle either this market or

this pressure or, ‘Man, I can’t handle this competition,’ maybe I

wouldn’t say much to him, maybe I’d be a little scared to give him help.

But I don’t feel like that. I just don’t, it’s not my personality. I’m

confident, I’m ready to go, I can do it, I know I can. So when it comes

to Geno, I root for other guys, I root for Greg [McElroy], I root for Matt Simms,

I root for Geno. If they make a bad throw I’m right there, ‘Hey, keep

your head up. Let’s go, next play. Move on.’ Because those are the same

things I say to myself. ‘It’s no big deal, let it go. Let’s be a leader,

keep your head up, shoulders back, eyes up,’ like Marty always says,

‘and roll.’ And so that kind of thing, if I can help him with that that

will help him years down the road when I’m done playing and he’s still

playing.

On Mornhinweg using examples of quarterbacks he coached in the past…

I

mean, he doesn’t need much credibility, you should just hear him talk.

Not only is he engaging but he just has so much knowledge of the

subject. He’s like one of those professors in college that you like

going to their class, and that was rare. Yeah, it adds credibility but

he doesn’t even need to do that. And he’s not doing it like, “Yeah, I

did this with Steve Young,” just namedropping or something. It’s more

like “Hey, this is exactly how we did it. We scored in 1990-whatever and

it was against the so-and-so team on this exact play from the 22-yard

line and he ran the corner route and boom, here comes the under route,

whatever,” and just to hear him grab something like that from the

history book is pretty cool.

On if Mornhinweg’s teaching is helpful or suggests he can adapt…

I

think they’re both. I think it’s just an example to show you why it’s

relevant, when it’s worked, how it’s worked and what specific situation

it’s worked. If you get that situation he now expects you to know it

based on that example.

On Kellen Clemens’ help during his rookie season leaving an imprint…

I

mean, Kellen is salt of the earth. He was one of the best guys I’ve

ever been around. It’s similar, whether it’s a protection question, I

mean, you can see if a guy is not understanding something or looking at

the board kind of sideways or just giving it a funny look and you know

when the right time is to say something.

If Geno ever said, “Hey,

man, leave me alone,” all right, then I won’t say anything. But he’s

been open, receptive, “Hey, what do you think about this? Talk to me

about that defensive back’s stance, what does that mean?” That’s all

normal quarterback conversation and I’m totally comfortable doing that,

just like Kellen was with me because I had a million questions. You just

come in as a rookie, you’re just slinging it, trying to find open guys

and get rid of the ball.

QB GENO SMITH

On how today’s practice went…

I

felt good. Another day getting better, another day getting acclimated

to the playbook, another day getting used to my surroundings. I feel

like I’m getting better and getting more comfortable with it. Still

studying hard and still trying to get better daily.

On how comfortable he feels with the offense after three weeks in…

I

feel a lot more comfortable than I obviously felt in rookie minicamp

and the week before last and last week. It’s just about getting the

repetition. I’ve been getting a lot of reps. I’ve been making mistakes.

I’ve been getting in the film room learning from them. I feel a lot more

comfortable than I did at that point but there still a long ways to go.

I feel like I had a pretty good practice, but there are still some

things I need to improve upon.

On what parts of his game he feels he needs to improve on…

Everything.

From the standpoint of just having a better understand of the route

concepts. Having a better understanding of the protections. Being able

to get in and out of certain protections. Being able to see hots and

make adjustments with the wideouts, make adjustments with my backs and

my offensive lineman. But those guys have done a great job. Just

continuing to study. All the young guys here are working very hard and I

think we’re doing some good things. But we also have many things we can

improve on.

On if he is concerned with the NFLPA looking into his signing with Roc Nation…

No,

I don’t have any concerns. Jay-Z didn’t recruit me. I chose Roc Nation

Sports for management because there was something that myself and my

family came to a conclusion and felt comfortable with and I am happy to

be a part of it. But I’m here to talk about football. That’s life

outside of football and what I do in this locker room is what I feel

matters now.

On how much his teammates understand the offense…

I

think everyone is still learning. You still have a maze out there but

overall I think the guys are doing a great job of continuing to study.

Continuing to get the playbook. We study film together, quarterbacks,

wide receivers, running backs. We all get in the locker room and discuss

certain situations that we may see on the field. The communication is

great and I think that as that continues to build and continues to

develop and learn the terminology and learn what Marty [Mornhinweg]

wants us to do, myself included, I think we will continue to get better.

On the intensity of Coach Mornhinweg…

That’s

Marty. He wants the work to be done the right way. Guys are out there

working hard. There are going to be some mistakes but it’s his job to

continue to stay on us and he does a great job of that.

On the quarterback drills he runs in practice…

I

don’t think they are much different. I don’t know what other coaches

do. But I do know that for the system that we’re in, for the type of

plays that we run, the West Coast system, I think they are perfect for

what we do.

On if they are running a lot of shotgun plays…

I

just run that plays that are called. Marty runs the script, so I just

go out there and run the plays. We have shotgun plays. We have a number

of different packages. I’m under center about 50 percent of the time, I

don’t think it’s either way.

On the transition to playing more under center…

It’s

just about repetition. We get a lot of reps, put in a lot of work off

the field aside from what I do in practice, just to make sure that my

feet are in the right place. I do a lot of studying. I try my best to

just catch up to some of the vets. Those guys really know what they’re

doing out there and the speed of the game is a lot quicker than it was

in college. At this point you don’t really want to worry about that when

you’re out going through your reads, so I try and do that stuff with

Coach Lee, take him to the side, talk through some things with him and

just go out there and play football.

On his performance compared to the other quarterbacks so far…

That’s

not for me to decide. My job is to go out there and compete. Coach

Mornhinweg, Coach Lee, Coach Rex, they do all the decision-making. I

just go out and work hard.

On how he feels about his progress…

I

feel a lot more comfortable with the offense. I feel a lot more

comfortable with my drops and my reads. It happens a lot quicker. The

more you do it the better you are able to see it, the better you are

able to figure things out with a better pace and a better speed. It’s

just about polishing things up. It’s going to be a long process. We have

a long ways to go, I’m just going to keep plugging at it and I’m going

to keep working hard.

On if he is staying in the area or going home when the offseason breaks…

I haven’t decided.

On his opinion if previous young quarterbacks are raising the bar…

Those

guys have done great and I’m happy for them, but I have my own task.

I’m going to continue to handle things the way I have always done, which

is to keep working hard. I don’t worry about those things, I don’t

worry about what the next guy did. That’s not for me to do. That’s not

my job. I’m just here to work hard and here to try and help my team.

On his decision making…

That

is something our coaches stress. Coach Marty, Coach Lee, they stress

not putting us in bad situations, not forcing the ball and taking what’s

there. That’s what I try and do. I try to go out there and try and take

my reads and if it’s not there, try to throw it away. Live to play the

next play.

On his opinion of if the team is a playoff team…

We

are a long ways from that. We’re still working. Like I said that’s

every teams goal at the end of the season is to hoist that Lombardi

Trophy. We’re working towards getting there. I’m not going to say what

we are right now. There are games to be played. We have a preseason

schedule, then a 16-game schedule that we will eventually find that out.

On if he has any bad days…

I

wouldn’t necessarily say bad days, just ups and downs. That’s just a

part of being a young quarterback and being a rookie in this league.

These guys out there, like I said, they know what they are doing. They

move fast, they see things quicker. It’s my job to continue to study.

Those guys do a great job in keeping my head up when I do make mistakes.

They just let me know that, hey it happens, all rookies go through

this. The vets do a great job, Mark [sanchez] and David Harris,

and all of those guys. Coach Rex, Coach Lee, they all just keep my

morale up. Not to say that it is down, just letting me know that it is

part of the process.

On if any plays are tailored to what he ran in college…

Still

too soon, much too soon. Like I said, I’m just working hard and just

trying to get the playbook down to the point where I know it. Once that

happens, I’ll be able to move forward from there.

On if Coach Mornhinweg will tailor plays to what he ran in college…

It’s

mostly just we’re all out there competing. He has a playbook, he has a

system that has worked for numerous decades. It started with Bill Walsh

and it’s Marty, all those guys, all those coaches, and they want it

executed a certain way. It’s my job to go out there, soak it all in,

learn from it, be coachable, do all those things he wants us to do out

there on the field and just try to execute the plays and run the offense

the way he wants to run it.

On if he has watched tape of quarterbacks who have played in the

West Coast system…

When

I got drafted here, I knew I was going to be in the West Coast system,

and I asked Coach Lee, who’s been a quarterbacks coach for a number of

years for a bunch of tapes. He gave me tapes of a bunch of past and

present quarterbacks he’s worked with, such as Eli and Peyton [Manning],

other guys who have run the West Coast, some guys like Joe Montana,

Boomer Esiason. When I was home prior to coming here for rookie

minicamp, I watched some of that, tried to get acclimated to it and

tried to do some of those drills I see on tape.

On how much the offensive coaches bring up coaches they have

coached with in the past…

I

mean, not much. We all know how that works, where it comes from, who

he’s coached, who he’s coached with. But every guy’s different. Myself,

Mark, Matt [simms], Greg [McElroy], we’re all different. We all do

things differently but it’s all under the same umbrella. So we’ve got to

do it our separate ways, the way Coach Marty wants it done, the way

it’s been executed for the past two or three decades. Like I said it’s

just about getting better and getting acclimated to it.

On if Coach Mornhinweg refers to quarterbacks he has coached in the past…

I

mean, he lectures me sometimes. Sometimes he references those guys but

he’s never telling me “Hey, you should do it like this guy.” Like I

said, every single quarterback is different.

On if it would be a disappointment to not be named the starter…

Not

at all. The coaches are going to choose who they feel is best for the

team. It’s not my job to really worry about that. Like I said, I just go

out there and work hard. Whatever it takes to help my team win is what

I’m going to do. I’m going to give it my best shot and see what happens

from there.

On how not being named the starter would hurt his confidence…

It

wouldn’t hurt my confidence. It just means I need to continue to work

hard. I have confidence that eventually one day I’ll get there. But it’s

going to take time and that happens for every quarterback. Like I said,

everyone’s situation is always going to be different. So that’s what

I’m going to do, just focus on my situation and continue to work.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/QBs-Feeling-More-Comfortable-with-the-Offense/14d7d92b-2b36-4f6b-a554-72550df26194

 

[kelly]

The Jets' 10th and final OTA practice session was scheduled for Thursday morning, but they took the day off for a team outing -- paintball. Some thoughts and observations on the OTAs, based on the three practices that were open to the media: 

Mark Sanchez
#6 QB
New York Jets
2012 STATS
Att
453
Comp
246
Yds
2883
TD
13
Int
18
Rat
66.9

1. No slack for Sanchez : Mark Sanchez has won 37 games for this franchise, including four playoff victories, but none of that matters anymore. Judging from Rex Ryan's comments, Sanchez is on equal footing with rookie Geno Smith. Ryan, fiercely supportive of Sanchez in the past, was noticeably lukewarm in his public comments, even chiding Sanchez three weeks ago when he threw three interceptions in one practice. On Wednesday, Ryan painted it as an even competition -- and that was telling. When the only experienced QB on the roster can't get an early hat-tip from the coach, it speaks volumes.Based on the distribution of reps, you'd have to say Sanchez is slightly ahead of Smith, but that doesn't mean a whole lot at this stage of the competition. The real story will be told in training camp. For those obsessed with stats, here you go: In the three open practices, Sanchez was 23-for-42 (55 percent) with three INTs, unofficially. Smith was 16-for-28 (57 percent) with two interceptions. Despite some speculation, Ryan was never going to name a starter before training camp. It became a story Wednesday because, well, it was a slow football day in June. 

2. Old times on defense : A few themes emerged. Ryan was hands-on in every practice and ran the defensive meetings, confirming what we've known for a few months: He will run the show on defense, as he did in 2009. New coordinator Dennis Thurman will have a key role in game planning, but the play calling will be handled by Ryan. It also became apparent the defense will be more multiple than last season. Ryan changed fronts, mixed personnel and showed different looks, keeping the offense off-balance. He said the goal is to "create more confusion." Shades of '09, when the Jets led the league in total defense. There was a noticeable dropoff in their blitzing over the past two seasons. Ryan wants to crank it up again. 

Santonio Holmes
#10 WR
New York Jets
2012 STATS
Rec
20
Yds
272
TD
1
Avg
13.6
Long
38
YAC
118

3. Walking on thin ice : It's too early to panic about the wide-receiver situation, but the recent spate of injuries should send a message to GM John Idzik: Don't make the same mistake your predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, made last season. Tannenbaum admittedly failed to address the depth issue and it came back to burn him. Let's face it, Santonio Holmes is a question mark because of his surgically repaired foot; he likely will begin training camp on the PUP list. Stephen Hill, too, is a question. Do we really know if he can cut it as a starting receiver? Now there's a nagging knee issue. The only sure thing is Jeremy Kerley, but as we learned last season, you can't build a passing attack around a slot receiver. Idzik needs to import a veteran. Otherwise, it could be a repeat of last season. 

4. MartyBall : New OC Marty Mornhinweg will bring some creativity to the offense, an element that was sorely lacking last year under Tony Sparano. In OTAs, we saw the return of the screen pass -- slip screens, bubble screens, you name it. Most of the passing game was quick and safe -- relatively safe, that is. When you have a rookie QB and a veteran who committed 26 turnovers last season, including a Butt Fumble, there's no such thing as completely safe. Mornhinweg also called some moving-pocket plays, allowing the offense to be less predictable by changing the launch point. He was known as a pass-happy coach with the Eagles; it'll be interesting to see how that style meshes with Ryan's defensive-minded, ball-control philosophy. 

5. Here come the kids : First-round DT Sheldon Richardson was one of the stars in OTAs, demonstrating versatility and explosiveness. Yeah, he looked good in a helmet and shorts. Then again, what high draft pick doesn't? First-round CB Dee Milliner didn't participate, as he's still rehabbing from pre-draft shoulder surgery. A starting spot is waiting for him upon his return because it looks like Kyle Wilson will return to his nickelback role. Third-round G Brian Winters got some reps with the starters, but he's behind Willie Colon at left guard. It's early, but Idzik's first draft will have at least two major contributors in Week 1 -- Milliner and Richardson. Smith could be the third.

>  http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23715/five-things-we-learned-at-otas

[JoeKlecko]

The Jets' 10th and final OTA practice session was scheduled for Thursday morning, but they took the day off for a team outing -- paintball. Some thoughts and observations on the OTAs, based on the three practices that were open to the media: 

3. Walking on thin ice : It's too early to panic about the wide-receiver situation, but the recent spate of injuries should send a message to GM John Idzik: Don't make the same mistake your predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, made last season. Tannenbaum admittedly failed to address the depth issue and it came back to burn him. Let's face it, Santonio Holmes is a question mark because of his surgically repaired foot; he likely will begin training camp on the PUP list. Stephen Hill, too, is a question. Do we really know if he can cut it as a starting receiver? Now there's a nagging knee issue. The only sure thing is Jeremy Kerley, but as we learned last season, you can't build a passing attack around a slot receiver. Idzik needs to import a veteran. Otherwise, it could be a repeat of last season. 

4. MartyBall : New OC Marty Mornhinweg will bring some creativity to the offense, an element that was sorely lacking last year under Tony Sparano. In OTAs, we saw the return of the screen pass -- slip screens, bubble screens, you name it. Most of the passing game was quick and safe -- relatively safe, that is. When you have a rookie QB and a veteran who committed 26 turnovers last season, including a Butt Fumble, there's no such thing as completely safe. Mornhinweg also called some moving-pocket plays, allowing the offense to be less predictable by changing the launch point. He was known as a pass-happy coach with the Eagles; it'll be interesting to see how that style meshes with Ryan's defensive-minded, ball-control philosophy. 

 

 

I wonder how many "wrong targets" Sanchez will hit playing paintball...

 

3.  Idzik doesn't need to do any such thing.  For one thing, the Jets have no tradeable commodities except draft picks, Cro, and young players like Wilkerson, Coples, Richardson and Milliner that they shouldn't give up. This is a probable 2-year rebuilding plan.  It would be colossally stupid to trade away their future for what, in all likelihood, will be a mediocre season anyway, especially if Sanchez is still starting.  That would be a panic-driven, reactionary type move like Tanny would make.  Idzik has already added a couple of veteran WRs to the mix.  He's not going to be able to get anyone of quality without trading the farm, and even if another team was willing to part with their #1 WR (which they won't), the Jets couldn't fit him under the cap anyway. The same goes for another team's #2 WR, which would also be stupid because the Jets already have two #2 WRs in Holmes and Hill.  They're just gonna have to grit their teeth and bear it this season and pray that Hill develops quickly and stays healthy and that Holmes will make a full recovery.

 

4. Creativity wasn't the only positive element missing from Sparano's offensive offense, and is far from the most important element.  How about execution and protecting the ball?  How about scoring points?  

 

The very idea of the WCO is a safe short passing attack that is equivalent to running the ball.  With the versatility that the Jets' RBs offer, with Marty moving the pocket around, with his actually being a competent offensive mind and handler of QBs, and with upgrades to the OL and its depth, barring a major injury to Mangold or Ferguson, the offense should be much improved.  Screw what Rex wants.  He doesn't have a clue about offense anyway.  What he should want is for the offense to actually be able to sustain drives, finish the drives off by putting some points (TDs) on the board, and avoiding turning the ball over.

[kelly]

Ex-Jets TE Dustin Keller: Expect good things from Mark Sanchez this year

 

Dustin Keller thinks there's a fire lit underneath Mark Sanchez.

 

Speaking on Siriux XM Sunday, the former Jets tight end and favorite

target of Sanchez said that the incumbent quarterback probably didn't

like the fact that the team took Geno Smith in the second round.

"It definitely lit a fire underneath him, I think," Keller said.

"I’ve talked to him a couple times this offseason, and he’s been

working. So I think you can expect some good things from him.”

Keller, who signed with the Dolphins on a one-year deal this

offseason, also took some time to reflect on his time with the Jets and

the often-tumultuous atmosphere.

In some ways, it looks like he's happy he got out.

"There's always some type of nonsense," Keller said. "We didn't go to

the playoffs the year before but it seemed like we were in the media

more than anybody else for the wrong reasons and you never want that.

Could that have anything to do with the season -- kind of -- things

falling apart? I really don't know."

Keller always backed Sanchez during his time with the Jets, so his

comments don't come as a huge surprise. The two are still good friends

and keep in contact. But as mandatory mini camp gets started tomorrow,

we'll see exactly how intense that fire is.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/06/dustin_keller_expect_good_thin.html

[kelly]

Don’t expect much from Jets' offense

 

According to New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, his wide receivers

could barely catch a cold in this week’s minicamp.

Is anyone surprised by this revelation ?

Ryan is coming to the realization of what most people outside the Jets

already knew: the offense is a train wreck.

There are too many holes on that side of the football. The

quarterback competition has been lukewarm at best, there are

off-the-field issues with Mike Goodson at running back, and the

wide receivers are either banged up (Santonio Holmes) or experiencing

butter fingers in practice (Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley).

Let's be frank: New York's offense desperately lacks playmakers. The

Jets better fix it ASAP if they want to score enough points to be

competitive this season. Two ideas I can think of off the top of the my

head would be to add former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow, who had a

terrific tryout this week, as well as former Jets receiver Braylon Edwards.

These are two proven playmakers who will make life easier for quarterbacks

Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith.

Ryan is in a must-win situation in 2013. Waiting on Holmes (foot) to

get healthy or for Hill to come around are dangerous propositions for

New York’s head coach. Hill, in particular, is a raw prospect with a lot

of measurables. Yet he struggled with drops, injuries and adjusting to

the NFL last season. It’s fair to give a rookie a pass, but so far it’s

been more of the same for Hill in Year 2.

New offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is a solid coach. His

schemes have worked in the past, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t have

the proper personnel. Right now, the Jets are running thin on offensive

talent in what amounts to a rebuilding year. However, New York can do a

little more this offseason to at least avoid a weekly embarrassment on

offense in the fall.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/60176/dont-expect-much-from-jets-offense

[kelly]

By now, nothing surprises Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

He deflects trouble with a faint smile and a nod. He takes solace in the relationships he’s building around the locker room, and he buries himself in a playbook binder and drill "dictionary" provided by quarterbacks coach David Lee.Other quarterbacks can attest: It is literally the size of a dictionary.Through a series of text messages and conversations with Peyton Manning and teammates of Tom Brady, Smith has learned that the most important part of his first year in the NFL is to develop a routine. That’s what eliminates the unexpected.

Wake up at the same time every day, and go to sleep when your body tells you to. Study at the same time, eat breakfast at the same time and fill the voids with more football."They’re sticklers for what they do," Smith said. "Peyton and Archie (Manning), all those guys told me to stick to that daily routine."Smith aspires to be just like them, so by the time his first mandatory minicamp ended last week, he already had crafted the day in the life of a rookie quarterback into an art form.In a recent post-practice sit-down with The Star-Ledger, Smith outlined his disciplined schedule, giving insight into how far the demands on first-year signal-callers have become. With the rise of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the bar only climbs higher every year. Expectations demand a robotic commitment.

"You have to be that detailed to be great," Smith said.

LONG DAY BEGINS

Smith wakes up every morning at 5:30 a.m. and makes the short, half-mile drive from his hotel to the team’s complex in Florham Park and arrives by 6:15. Sometimes, he rides in with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who stays at the same hotel. Other times, Smith travels with his roommate, rookie guard Will Campbell.He gets breakfast, served at the Jets’ cafeteria, right after his arrival, an hour and 15 minutes before the first meeting starts. Smith uses the time to go over the practice script for the day and prepare himself for the quarterback drills and play cards ahead. If he eats quickly enough, he can get a head start on watching practice from the day before, trying to pick out mistakes.

At 7:30, the Jets have their team meeting, where head coach Rex Ryan addresses the entire group. Sometimes there is a speech or message; other times, the gathering immediately dissolves into positional meetings. Smith’s mind is still churning, trying to work ahead and prepare for the relentlessness of Lee.At 8, Smith, Lee, Mark Sanchez, Matt Simms and Greg McElroy head to the meeting room and the giant digital projector, where they further examine the tape from the previous practice.There are likely new sets of plays coming in, and Smith finds himself scribbling every word like a first-year engineering student, afraid to miss the slightest detail that can scramble the equation. Lee is meticulous about Smith’s footwork and can tell by the flight pattern on a ball whether or not there’s an extra hitch in his step, so there is no margin for missteps.

"I write every single thing," Smith said. "That’s part of being detailed. On this level, guys move so fast and the reaction time is so quick."

The Jets’ offense and its components have been described by Lee as a "whole new world" every day for Smith, who played in an offense with "no similarities whatsoever" to his days at West Virginia.Following the meeting, practice begins any time between 11 and noon and lasts roughly two hours. A few live team drills against a first-team defense, a daily dose of Mornhinweg and Lee’s quarterback drills, some individual work with wide receivers and running backs are next. In a highly contested competition, all of it matters. All of it is filmed.Twenty minutes of autograph signing are next, and from 1:30 to 2 p.m., players come off the field to a protein shake and scheduled work in the weight room. Smith then meets the media for 15 minutes, where each portion of his six-hour day to that point is examined.

He says he is used to that now, too.

TEACHING THE ROOKIES

A little after 4 p.m. is when rookie school begins.

Dave Szott, the team’s director of player development, holds court and lectures players on the common pitfalls of a young professional athlete. Because if perfecting a cadence, memorizing a new play concept, dissecting footwork, lamenting mistakes and logging a semester’s worth of notes weren’t enough, one also must worry about the flimsiness of the restaurant business and why it is a faulty investment."We all saw ‘Broke’ (an ESPN documentary on the countless athletes who squandered their millions), so the thing we do is we ask questions," Smith said. "I want to know: ‘What did this guy buy? How did he end up having this much money and go to having that much money ? ’

"That’s the eye-opener, how many guys try and invest their money and end up losing it."

On a good day, Smith is back at the hotel around 7 p.m. after dinner, where he and Campbell begin quizzing each other on audibles, each blurting out a random call and the other listing what changes for every position."He’ll walk up and say, ‘Hey, Geno, Buckeye,’ " Smith said. "That’s how we learn mentally. I think that helps me out a lot because when you get into the heat of the situation, I don’t have time to think, ‘Aw, man. What’s Buckeye?’ "

HOOPS AND REST

Smith insists they have some fun.

At 9 p.m., the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs tip off in the NBA Finals, and if Smith can get through the first half without passing out, he is happy. When his eyes begin to "see double," he says, it’s a sure-fire sign it’s time to go to sleep.Smith is from the Miami area and was a Heat fan long before the days of LeBron James,

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"All the old guys — Alonzo Mourning, Jamal Mashburn, all those guys," Smith said. "There’s a lot of LeBron fans who have transitioned to being Heat fans." On the weekends, Smith’s body clock still juts him awake at 5:30, and he does his best to relax until at least 7 a.m. He studies in the morning and texts Mornhinweg if he has any questions.He usually sees the coach dining at the hotel restaurant anyway and can count on an informal conversation to tie up any loose ends.With any free time outside of the team facility, he and Campbell have discovered a common bond, an amicable way to pass the time.

"We’re constant moviegoers," Smith said. "So I see everything there is to be seen."

His latest trip was to view "The Purge," a futuristic horror-thriller. Smith does not recommend it.But there is not much brain space left for a thorough movie review because back in the hotel room, a binder full of notes sits waiting to be read. An offensive coordinator lives three floors up waiting to be texted with questions. A lineman roommate stands a few feet away waiting to be quizzed.

And 5:30 a.m. is coming sooner than he thinks.

"Eventually," Smith said, "it will all become second nature. The one good thing about it is, it’s part of being a professional. I want to be a great quarterback."

>   http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/06/geno_smiths_daily_routine_revolves_around_the_details.html

[Sperm Edwards]

Commutes with the new offensive coordinator? That's cheating! (And kind of smart, despite it only being a 5 minute drive)

[kelly]

Not only does Nick Mangold think Mark Sanchez should be the Jets’
Week 1 starting quarterback, but the Pro Bowl center believes the rest
of the Gang Green locker room feels the exact same way.

Mangold voiced his support for the embattled Sanchez yesterday during a
promotional appearance at Washington Square Park, saying his close
friend gives the Jets a better chance than rookie Geno Smith of being
successful right away this fall.Asked if the rest of the locker room also

hopes Sanchez will emerge as the starter, Mangold nodded.

“I believe so,” he told The Post. “I haven’t walked around with a pen and
paper and taken a poll, but from the feeling I get, the locker room
wants to win. Whoever gives us the best chance to do that, we want out
there — and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance.”

            
            

 

   MANGOLD AND HIS MAN: Nick Mangold says Mark Sanchez

gives the Jets a better chance to win than rookie second-round

pick Geno Smith.

            Sanchez has been buried under an avalanche of criticism the past t

seasons as he flailed away while the Jets missed the playoffs both
years, but Mangold still has his back.

Mangold’s backing of Sanchez for the starting job was enhanced, he said,

by what the veteran
lineman saw during offseason workouts and last week’s minicamp.

“I think Mark is a fantastic quarterback for us, and I think he can do
some good things,” Mangold said. “He showed some good flashes in the
spring, getting [new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s] system
down and commanding the offense the way that he should be. We’ll see how
training camp plays out, but either way, the competition will make him a
better player.”

 

Mangold indicated Smith has a ways to go before the second-round pick

from West Virginia is ready to be an NFL starter.

“Mark
had a little bit better idea of the ideas and of seeing things, which
are things Geno is going to have to work his butt off on,” Mangold said.

But Mangold also defended Smith, saying he has seen no evidence of the
“diva” tag that was applied after Smith caused a brief stir at the NFL
Draft, fired his agents shortly afterward and then hired rap star
Jay-Z’s new agency to replace them.

“He can be a good player for
us,” Mangold said. “He’s a hard worker, and he’s asking questions. He’s
taking the coaching and taking the advice to heart, and I think he’s
doing some good things.”

 

Mangold joked that Smith is on notice
from teammates to start bringing Jay-Z to Jets practices, but said the
newcomer is well-liked.

“He’s not a diva,” Mangold said. “I don’t
see the diva. I don’t get where that came from. Maybe it was somebody
with sour grapes who didn’t get to pick him and is spreading some bad
stuff out there. But he’s been great for us.”

Mangold also
couldn’t help taking a few digs at the arch-rival Patriots in the wake
of Aaron Hernandez being involved in the investigation of a shooting
death, Rob Gronkowski’s multiple surgeries and New England’s surprise
decision to sign Tim Tebow.

“I bet Bill [belichick] is losing his mind right now,” Mangold said.

Asked
if he was healthy going into the summer break, Mangold then poked fun
at Gronkowski by saying: “As long as I can avoid back surgery and
forearm surgery, I’m good.”

 

> http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/mark_territory_hUKQzHKG2yVskJsuQji5LO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets

[kelly]

Former Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson believes Mark Sanchez
will be the opening-day quarterback, but he's not offering a ringing
endorsement. The future Hall of Famer has serious doubts about his
former teammate.

"Mark has to start to trust himself," Tomlinson, now an NFL Network

analyst, said Thursday night on the "NFL Total Access" show. "Mark does a
great job in the film room, but when he comes out on the field, he
doesn’t trust what he sees out there in terms of coverages and the
timing with his receivers. If he starts to trust himself and not
hesitate in throwing the football, then he possibly could turn his
career around. I think it’ll be tough at this point because rarely does a
zebra change his stripes.”

Tomlinson, who played with the Jets in 2010 and 2011, doesn't see Sanchez

losing the job to rookie Geno Smith -- not yet, anway. He said Sanchez will win

it "by default because I don’t believe Geno Smith will be ready to play.

"[smith] comes from an offense where they rarely huddle. They play
from the shotgun, the spread system, so I don’t know if he’s ready to
take over Marty Mornhinweg’s offense. This is a West Coast offense, and
really Mark Sanchez has that type of DNA in him because he played at USC
in a West Coast offense. Early on, we probably will see Sanchez take
the snaps at the starting spot. But here’s the thing: In preseason, if
Mark Sanchez doesn’t show the ability to improve from turning the
football over and that race is close between the two, Geno Smith will be
the starter.”

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/24060/tomlinson-sanchez-will-win-job-but