Rhodes Sticks, Stuckey Says Thanks Published: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:36pm EST By Randy Lange Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J. File Under: Eric Mangini, Chansi Stuckey, Kellen Clemens, Kerry Rhodes, Cody Spencer, Drew Coleman, David Clowney change font email article 07/31 ? It was the Green & White version of "Thank you, sir, may I have another?" WR Chansi Stuckey was running wide open on a slant over the middle during two-minute drills and Kellen Clemens found him. But so did safety Kerry Rhodes. One step after Stuckey gathered in the 18-yard pass, Rhodes sized him up, strode forward and stuck his shoulder in the middle of the wideout's chest. It wasn't as violent as it could've been, but it was a forceful knockdown just the same. And Stuckey said it was a good thing. "It felt great," he said, meaning every word. "I hadn't really been hit like that in a year. I told Kerry, "Thank you, I needed that.' We receivers need that, and the DBs need it, too, give a little nudge to get us ready." "Chansi said he needed it, and I was very happy to give it to him," Rhodes said. "It was something to let him know I was there, let him know that it wasn't an easy catch." Clemens, bouncing back with a second solid practice, and this one without picks, threw another ball that was an easier catch for fellow WR David Clowney. Clowney had separated past CB Justin Miller in another two-minute drive and Clemens lofted the ball to him, a perfect strike. By the time the catch-and-run was over, Clowney had a 43-yard reception. "I'm getting a chance to use my speed here," Clowney said, adding that in his stay in Green Bay's camp last year, he wasn't being asked to go downfield as much. I asked him if, as some have speculated, he is the Fastest Jet. "Some players got to arguing on that. They said it was between me and Drew [Coleman]," Clowney said. "He's fast, I'm fast, and we leave it at that." Clowney said his personal best in the 40 was 4.27-4.28 seconds. At the 2007 NFL Combine, he said he was clocked at 4.35 with a hamstring strain. That's moving. There were some other highlights in what was probably the hottest practice of camp (86-degree heat index for Hempstead, NY). The defense rose up with a number of plays. One of the biggest playmakers was LB Cody Spencer. He got fine penetration and perfect arm action to deflect a Brett Ratliff pass ? right into the hands of CB Ahmad Carroll, who took the pick back for six. Then on Chad Pennington's two-minute drive with the second offense, Spencer tipped a pass that Wallace Wright couldn't hold, then swatted away the last play of practice at the goal line. Early on, there was a trench vignette where LB Matt Chatham, just returned to practice, locked up with the bulked-up D'Brickashaw Ferguson. The two danced, then seemed to skirmish. But the play ended with the two giving each other man-hugs and returning to their respective huddles. LB Marques Murrell continues to show up. He got great penetration and swatted away an Erik Ainge swing pass in 7-on-7 work. Coleman punched out a Clemens-to-Stuckey end zone fade for an incompletion. And David Ball nearly made another YouTube reception, going high in the end zone for a Pennington pass, but S James Ihedigbo and new DB Rudy Burgess broke it up as the three tumbled out of bounds. Working through nicks and bruises with strength coach Sal Alosi on the sideline were TE Chris Baker, RB Jesse Chatman, WR Laveranues Coles, LB David Harris and DB Artrell Hawkins. Today's practice, coming in at 2 hours, 9 minutes, from the horn to start stretching until the "break" to end the final midfield huddle, was the longest of the 10 camp practices to date. Despite the highlights, Eric Mangini was not happy with the results of practice. We'll bring you the head coach's comments from his midday news conference on the Radar in a short while.
Wow Clowney ran a 4.27 at the combine. Kid seems to have great hands to. It is going to be very crowed at RB, TE (5) and WR. I guess that's a good thing. Just hope we keep the right guys
Hopefully his 40 time carries over to how he runs wearing pads. I'm pretty psyched about the receivers, everywhere I look I see glowing reports about these young guys. At least one of them has to turn into something.
"Early on, there was a trench vignette where LB Matt Chatham, just returned to practice, locked up with the bulked-up D'Brickashaw Ferguson. The two danced, then seemed to skirmish." Get mean Brick get mean!!!!
Yep. The old throw enough crap against the wall and hope some of it sticks method. With Clowney's speed he could be a great guy to help strech defenses. I'm a bit supprised we have not heard much from marcus henery but at least some of the guys are making a bit of a name for themselves.
The Jets apparently have WR depth. Who would have known? Keller makes Tanny look sooooo good. I'd really like to see Harris back on the field. He may have a bruised thigh, which is fine - its not too scary, but for reps with his new teammates alone. I hope the recovers sooner than later.
That's pretty much what they did the year Keyshawn was traded and one of the new guys turned out to be Coles.
David Ball - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww5lQa5s4Gs Clowney- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAUsmw2Kosc
excited about the young group of WR's they seem to be outplaying our incumbent starters.... so the 3,4,5 spots will be an exciting battle, we have Stuckey, Smith, Ball, Clowney, Henry, and Wallace Wright in the running, so that is 6 guys in the running for 3 spots. You can almost garuntee Brad Smith has a spot, because they aren't ready to throw him by the wayside yet, so thats 2, maybe 3 spots for the other guys. So it will come down to who produces on special teams, and as we know Wallace Wright is very good in that department. I see us keeping 6 wrs, and them being Coles, Cotch, Stuckey(as the #3) Smith, Clowney, and Ball. I think Wallace Wright has had a good run, and i like him alot, but he will land elsewhere, and Henry has done nothing so far in camp, so he probably could be a year away from being ready so a PS spot for him is likely. besides Ball, Clowney and Stuckey are catching EVERYTHING, how can you warrant cutting them? or for that matter, keeping brad smith over them?
seems like we've got some depth , at a position we thought we were going to have trouble with. This would be a really nice suprise!:beer:
well Koz, who's to say Clowney or Ball isn't good on special Teams? we havent exactly reached a preseason game with them yet to see their ST prowess, or lack thereof for that matter. I know wright is great on ST but maybe they take a lesser ST demon, to make sure we keep the guys with potential to become our future WR...
The Rhodes hit is included on the video at the Jets site: "Players react to the green and white practice" - around the 58-second mark. It doesn't look anywhere near as nasty as it sounded from the reports, Rhodes really eased up.
(42) CB Ahmad Carroll's name keeps popping up & I believe I mentioned him in my report also. Now he grabs a pick-6! This kid may be worth watching... he's certainly having a good camp for himself. A little reminiscent of Ray Mickens' size though, at 5'10" - 190.
