Here are some of my observations from Jets training camp: 1. It?s clear that new coach Rex Ryan is trying to instill in the Jets? offense the same attitude his Ravens defense had. During a live goal-line scrimmage, Ryan stayed with the offense the whole time and was heard saying things like, ?You guys can run the ball in.? It worked: The offense was able to run it in on the next play. 2. LB Bart Scott paid OT D?Brickashaw Ferguson a big compliment when he said, ?I was chasing a run play, and he was two gaps behind me and still was able to chase me down from behind and got me blocked.? 3. Kerry Rhodes really likes lining up with safety Jim Leonhard. ?Leonhard knows the defense, he can help get guys lined up and he really likes to get up in run support and make a play,? Rhodes said. 4. Rhodes lost containment on the last play of a live-goal line drill, and the quarterback bootlegged in for a touchdown around him. ?The coach told me to sell out on the run, which I did, but we all learned from it,? Rhodes said, and then his face broke into a huge smile. 5. Kellen Clemens said he gives the team the best chance to win at quarterback, and rookie Mark Sanchez said he?s waiting his turn to work with the first unit. Said Ryan: ?There?s a plan in place, and in time, Mark will get his chance with the No. 1s.? 6. Get ready to see DT Kris Jenkins take on the many roles that Haloti Ngata had in Baltimore under Ryan. Ngata is a massive man who can run, and Ryan acknowledged to me that Jenkins is an even bigger man who can run. Ngata has lined up at nose tackle, three-technique, defensive end and linebacker. 7. Scott made me laugh when he said during practice, ?I had to catch myself when I lined up over Alan Faneca and remind myself we weren?t playing the Steelers. Added Ryan: ?I hated playing against Faneca, but (I?m) sure glad we?re on the same team now.? 8. As I left my day at Jets camp, the thing that stuck with me most was what Jenkins said after the morning practice: ?We looked like a football team today.?
Scott has this intensity that makes me proud. he forgets about the red jerseys and that former foes are on their teams? haha, I know he's talking just to talk, but its awesome to hear. I love those pure warriors on the football field.
These guys actually sound like they're having fun now- having Scott is good. I'm all about swagger. You probably couldn't find two starker contrasts than Browns' camp vs. Jets' camp this year.
I like Kirwin's assessments, he used to be a scout and has a good idea of what to look for during practices. And I am really excited to see what Ryan does with this defense! Jenkins as an LB sounds like a pretty interesting wrinkle. I can't wait to see what he does with Scott and Harris, two guys that are (in my opinion) the best MLB tandem in the league. His comments are reserved for the defense, mostly. I do wonder what that offense will be like.
I don't understand Scott's quote about Brick chasing him down. If Scott was chasing an already-developed run play, how can he guage Brick's distance away by gaps? Does he mean that when the play started Brick was 2 gaps further from where the play was going than he was?
I thought he meant he was chasing a running play and Brick was keeping up with him which is impressive for an OLmen
Lol at Bart Scott. I love the swagger he gives this team. Hopefully some of that will rub off on Gladys.
Is it me or is the term "swagger" starting to sound like "maverick" in the McCain/Palin campaign? I hear that term every day now it seems.
