Preparing for St. Louis

[SoFlaJets]

The Jets had their last full practice this morning in preparation for the preseason opener against St. Louis. [They'll have a special-teams practice this afternoon.] Both Kellen Clemens and Mark Sanchez said afterward they didn't know how long they would play against the Rams on Friday--that they hadn't been told by the coaches. Rex Ryan already has announced that Clemens will start. I'll have more after Ryan's presser.

Sanchez went 2-for-4 [working with the starters] while Clemens was 2-for-2 [with the second string], and both completed a two-point conversion pass. Clemens' completion was particularly impressive, as he tracked down a bad snap by reserve C Michael Parenton, collected the ball and lofted it into the end zone, where Britt Davis made a nifty leaping catch. The longest plays of the morning were Sanchez' 45-yard completion to WR Jerricho Cotchery, who split defenders Dwight Lowery and Jim Leonhard, and Clemens' 48-yard pass to WR Brad Smith, who beat S Eric Smith and CB Donald Strickland, who practiced full after being limited in recent days because of a bruised knee.

While talking to reporters, Clemens said he didn't think he had to make a 'statement' in this game, but of course, he wants to play well. Sanchez said the game 'is important, but you don't want to build it up too much.'