 |  |
 |
| Monday, July 14 Updated: August 19, 12:19 PM ET Jets: Training camp report Pro Football Weekly |
||||||||||||||||||
In Pro Football Weekly's third and final installment of training-camp reports, we look at the good (biggest positive), the bad (biggest disappointment) and the ugly (injury update) factors surrounding every team halfway through the 2003 preseason. We also set our sights on a rookie to watch on each team, for whatever the reason. Parts 1 and 2 are below. Aug. 19 Biggest positive: Wide receiver Santana Moss has stayed healthy thus far. The Jets plan to use Moss for about 20-25 plays a game, and for each of those plays, Moss' speed will have to be accounted for. The Jets will try to run more three-receiver sets this season to get Moss and wide receivers Curtis Conway and Wayne Chrebet on the field. Look for the Jets to be creative in the ways they use Moss. Biggest disappointment: Former Ram Tom Nütten was supposed to replace right guard Randy Thomas. But Nütten struggled with injuries early in camp. His confidence waned, and he was overtaken by Brent Smith. Then, late last week, Nütten stunned the Jets by retiring. The Jets will now lean on Smith and their young guards to hold the fort. However, it's important to note Smith has missed the last two seasons because of knee injuries. Injury update: Not too much to report. Defensive end Bryan Thomas is being bothered by a right-ankle injury. Last week, Jets head coach Herman Edwards estimated Thomas' ankle was 85 percent healed, so it appears this isn't too serious an injury. On the subject of ankles, Curtis Martin's are fine. And that's wonderful news for the Jets. Rookie to watch: You know to watch first-round pick Dewayne Robertson. But two other picks are also worth keeping an eye on. Linebacker Victor Hobson, the team's second-round pick, is having a good camp. Hobson will back up strong-side linebacker Mo Lewis and is expected to have an impact on special teams. Third-round pick B.J. Askew, like Hobson a Michigan product, has pleased the coaches with his play at fullback. Part 2, Aug. 12 Veteran to watch: Now that quarterback Chad Pennington has toured the league once as a starter, teams will have collected plenty of info on him. How he responds to the added pressure of teams having a book on him will go a long way toward his success this season. In his support, offensive coordinator Paul Hackett's book -- the playbook -- fits Pennington's skills perfectly and this year will allow him to air the ball out more frequently and challenge teams down the field as much as Pennington's not-super-strong arm will let them. Player on the verge: Outside linebacker Sam Cowart's emergence in the second half last season as a sideline-to-sideline presence was as much a reason for the Jets' run to the playoffs as any other reason. The Jets' defensive coaches originally believed that Cowart was a top-notch player in every facet of linebacking, but they learned quickly that he showed some deficiencies in coverage. Once they freed Cowart from those responsibilities, he came out of his shell and showed the playmaking abilities he last displayed in Buffalo. Strongest position: The Jets' secondary is quite strong. However, the fact that they have two starting-caliber running backs outshines everything. Curtis Martin will be back at 100 percent for the first time since Week 1 last season. Martin, despite suffering ankle and knee injuries, did not miss a game in 2002, even though the Jets probably wouldn't have suffered as much since they have LaMont Jordan backing Martin up. The team constantly is trying to find ways to get Jordan on the field, and you should expect to see more of him in spots this season. Weakest position: New York believed it had finally accrued enough depth along the defensive line to enact the rotation that head coach Herman Edwards and defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell envisioned. But the suspension of Josh Evans, who had a breakout season last year and was a pleasant surprise, threw a big monkeywrench into the works. Now, first-round pick Dewayne Robertson has plenty of pressure heaped on him at a position that isn't simple for one man to handle. Part 1, July 18 Most significant change: The pressure is on the new-look WR corps to produce after the departure of Laveranues Coles, the addition of Curtis Conway and the anticipated increased involvement of Santana Moss. Reason for optimism: The Jets' addition of No. 4-overall pick Dewayne Robertson to a defense that was on the upswing at the end of last season should provide a nice boost as long as Robertson develops well in the starter's role. Cause for concern: The Jets looked as though they had accomplished their goal of creating quality depth on the defensive line. Then DT Josh Evans was suspended. The team's subsequent signing of veteran DT Chester McGlockton removed some of the pressure of rushing Robertson into the starting lineup. Nevertheless, at age 33, McGlockton is on the downside of his career, so the inexperienced Robertson will be asked to play a big role early on now that he has signed a seven-year contract. Training-camp battle to watch: For the most part, there aren't many battles to be found in the Jets' camp, other than the open competition to replace Chad Morton as the kickoff returner. The Jets plan to try a multitude of options in camp. Don't be surprised if: QB Chad Pennington's second season isn't as prolific as his first go-round as a full-time starter.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
