Tom Rocks first article for Newsday

He is the guy who is replacing Ken Berger as the Newsday Jets beat writer.

Lets see what he's got.

Cotchery aiming for breakthrough
BY TOM ROCK
Newsday Staff Writer

August 4, 2006


Jerricho Cotchery has started one game and caught 25 passes in the NFL.

Those numbers could explode this season as the Jets' third-year wide receiver is having what he has called the best training camp of his career. The battle among those who catch footballs is talked about half as much but is twice as intriguing as the one among those who throw them.

If Cotchery can sustain his strong first week, he might just land at the top of the depth chart when the season begins in September.

"I'd say I've made a lot of improvements over the last year," said Cotchery, who has opened eyes by catching difficult passes in traffic the last few days. "The coaching staff has challenged me a little bit. That's helped me out a lot."

That the coaching staff includes a familiar face is also helpful. Former North Carolina State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone is now the Jets' wide receivers coach. At N.C. State, Cotchery had a so-so first three years but led the ACC in catches and receiving yards as a senior in 2003, Mazzone's first year with the Wolfpack. Cotchery was drafted by the Jets in the fourth round in 2004.

"I gained a lot from him," Cotchery said of his previous time with Mazzone who, like all assistant coaches under the Jets' new policy, was not available for comment.

Will he be helpful now?

"I think he will be," Cotchery said. "He knows how I approach the game and he knows my abilities. He knows what it takes to get certain things out of me."

Besides knowing which buttons Cotchery needs to have pushed, the coaching staff has worked with him to improve on getting off the line of scrimmage, running snappier routes and catching the football.

"I got away from some things technique-wise last year," he said. "You have to be on top of your game technique-wise because defensive backs are mostly all technique."

Cotchery's main competition for the second starting wideout position opposite Laveranues Coles is Justin McCareins, and the two could not have begun camp any differently.

While Cotchery was praised by coach Eric Mangini and even named the most outstanding player of the offseason training program, McCareins spent the first day on the physically unable to perform list because he failed the pre-camp physical. He passed it the next morning.

Yesterday, Mangini said he has been impressed by the 6-foot, 207-pound Cotchery's physical play and his ability to help a running game.

"He's had some hiccups there where he put the ball on the ground a couple of times, which we talked about," Mangini said of several fumbles early in camp that have since disappeared. "But besides that, he's done well."

Cotchery said because there is no depth chart at this stage of camp, trying to figure out how he stacks up against other receivers has been difficult.

Besides the returning players and Tim Dwight, who could see time in the slot, free-agent pickup Reggie New.house and converted quarterback Brad Smith have had moments that made coaches take notice.

Also in the mix is Dante Ridgeway, who hurt his right knee when tackled in one-on-one drills Wednesday night.

"You just have to evaluate yourself," Cotchery said of finding his place in the food chain. "Of course you get evaluated by the coaches and they tell you things to work on, but you have to take the time and effort to evaluate yourself and try to get better."

No personel opinions. Just reporting on a player.

So far, so good.