flgreen Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 In body and mind, Ellis ready for big year June, 18, 2013 Jun 18 11:12 AM ET By Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com This week marks a one-year anniversary that Kenrick Ellis would like to forget. On June 15, 2012, he started a 45-day jail sentence for assault, stemming from a 2010 incident in college. The nose tackle served his time, and now he's looking forward to a season with nothing but football on his mind. "A year ago at this time, my body was here, but my mind wasn't," Ellis said at the conclusion of last week's minicamp. "You know the situation. I don't want to talk about it. Not having to worry about it, I'm finally starting to be me. I don't have to be all tense and all scared. It's all football and life. I'm happy. Everything is good right now." Ellis went from minicamp last June directly to a jail cell in Hampton, Va. He was released in time for training camp -- it was a split sentence -- but 23 days behind bars took its toll on his conditioning. It's too bad because, despite the distraction of looming jail time, he was impressive last spring, according to Rex Ryan. "I was like, 'Wow, this guy may end up winning our starting job,'" Ryan said. "I was really pleased with him. When he came back in the summer, he wasn't quite to that level and then he got injured early in the season. ... [He] never really hit his stride until late in the year, but now is the time for him to step up. I think he understands that the opportunity is right there in front of him and I believe the young man is going to do a tremendous job for us." Ellis, 25, is expected to replace Sione Po'uha as the starting nose tackle. This is a big leap for Ellis, who played only 233 defensive snaps (22 percent) last season. The former third-round pick didn't contribute much in his first two seasons, admittedly relying too much on his natural talent. "Being a small-school guy -- a small-school, black-college guy -- I was here off my athleticism," said Ellis, who played at Hampton University. Ellis (6-foot-4, 345 pounds) believes he has sharpened his mental approach to the game, learning how to read blocking schemes and understand tendencies. He also has honed his technique, especially hand placement. The jail experience also taught him a life lesson. "Be grateful for your situation, because somebody always has it worse," he said. "If it's dark, there's always day. There's always a way to get out. Keep persevering, keep pushing. This is all I know. This is easy now." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Cimini's twitter upon his draft: With the 94th pick in the draft, the #Jets select druggie Kenrick Ellis, a NT from Hampton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 Cimini's twitter upon his draft: With the 94th pick in the draft, the #Jets select druggie Kenrick Ellis, a NT from Hampton. It's OK. Rich drinks a bit. Kind of like when he slammed his female co-worker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Who is not ready for a big year? Thats what I want to know. Who's told Rich that he plans on taking a step back this season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Who is not ready for a big year? Thats what I want to know. Who's told Rich that he plans on taking a step back this season? Sanchez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorge o8 Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 i hope so, what makes a 3-4 D work is a nose tackle that can take on two blockers often. we have not had that the past two years, jenkins god i miss him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeKlecko Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Sanchez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 Ellis sure has the measurables. We'll find out this year if he can play or not. I'll give him a bye last year a bit because of the trouble, and jail. Snacks is the guy who I think is going to wind up being the true NT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeKlecko Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Ellis sure has the measurables. We'll find out this year if he can play or not. I'll give him a bye last year a bit because of the trouble, and jail. Snacks is the guy who I think is going to wind up being the true NT I'm rooting for Ellis. Ellis is one of the few prospects over the last five or so years that I really, really wanted the Jets to draft and they actually did. He has monster potential. With his size, strength, quickness and speed, if he can get focused and refine his technique (basically staying lower and maintaining leverage) he could be a true "beast" for opposing offenses to have to deal with. It's a lot of "ifs", but if Ellis develops as I hope he will, Richardson proves to be the real deal, Coples and Sapp prove to be able to provide good pressure consistently on opposing QBs, then we could have a frightfully great D for the forseeable future, and if we get even average or slightly above average play at QB, then the Jets could conceivably win a couple of Lombardi trophies before this decade is out. If Snacks develops, it will be gravy. I think the kid's got potential, just think Ellis has a lot more potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 I'm rooting for Ellis. Ellis is one of the few prospects over the last five or so years that I really, really wanted the Jets to draft and they actually did. He has monster potential. With his size, strength, quickness and speed, if he can get focused and refine his technique (basically staying lower and maintaining leverage) he could be a true "beast" for opposing offenses to have to deal with. It's a lot of "ifs", but if Ellis develops as I hope he will, Richardson proves to be the real deal, Coples and Sapp prove to be able to provide good pressure consistently on opposing QBs, then we could have a frightfully great D for the forseeable future, and if we get even average or slightly above average play at QB, then the Jets could conceivably win a couple of Lombardi trophies before this decade is out. If Snacks develops, it will be gravy. I think the kid's got potential, just think Ellis has a lot more potential. Don't really disagree with anything you said. If things work well, Snacks and Ellis will be rotating. Ellis in on all the 4-3 type plays. Providing an inside rush ect. Snacks on first down, and short yardage type plays. If both guys play well, they will stay fresh, and bring power, and speed. If the Jets have as many good DL as they appear to right now, Rex will find a way to use them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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