Wednesday 8/3 News reports

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Marshall’s Angry Punt Is The Talk Of Jets Training Camp

Frustrated By Offense's Struggles on Tuesday, Veteran Wide Receiver Launches Ball Over The Stands
August 3, 2016 9:21 AM

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Heads up! Think Brandon Marshall is dangerous with the football in his hands? Better watch out when he starts punting it.

The New York Jets wide receiver booted a ball — that just cleared the bleachers — in frustration at the end of what coach Todd Bowles called a “sluggish” practice Tuesday.

“Well, that one didn’t go very far,” a smiling Marshall said. “I almost got sued. It barely went over the stands. I saw a lady go, ‘Ahhh!’ That wasn’t good.”

After running back Dominique Williams dropped a pass, Marshall picked up the ball and kicked it, sending it hurtling toward some campers and parents.

“It was pretty good,” coach Todd Bowles joked. “If we need a second punter, we might just bring him back there and pooch one.”

All kidding aside, it was a quick display of emotion from Marshall, capping a very uneven practice for both the offense and defense.

“Sometimes you need that,” he said, “to show people that it’s not acceptable to come out there and practice like that.”

MORE: Fitzpatrick Steers Questions Away From Contract With Crazy Hair

Tuesday’s session marked the fifth practice of training camp for the Jets.

“It’s competition period and guys are going to express frustration in a certain way,” the coach said. “You’re in camp, you’re going to get frustrated one day. It wasn’t a big deal at all. We’re going to line up tomorrow and play again.”

Bowles added that showing that type of emotion is fine — as long as it’s in practice and not a game.

“That’s a penalty, so we know we can’t do it,” he said. “Emotion is one thing, as long as you tailor it the right way.”

Marshall acknowledged that a few plays before his punt, he tried to slam his helmet down.

“I couldn’t get my helmet off,” he said. “I was kind of embarrassed. It got stuck. That was good, though. When you throw the helmet, kick the ball, it’s probably a little too much in one day.”

In 2009, Marshall threw a well-publicized practice tantrum that got him suspended a week while with Denver, when he also punted a football, walked while the rest of the team ran during warmups and swatted away a few passes thrown to him.

He was looking for a new deal and demanded a trade during that time. This was nothing close to that situation, in comparison. It is also nothing new to any of his Jets teammates.

“It’s almost my staple,” Marshall said, grinning. “Yeah, I do that maybe every five or six weeks.”

When a reporter asked if he meant every five or six years, Marshall reiterated that it’s not an uncommon occurrence.

“During the season, you guys are here for the opening of practice, but then you go inside and do what you guys do,” he said. “And, I’m out here kicking balls.”

MORE: Marshall Tells Reporters Fitzpatrick Is An ‘Elite’ Quarterback

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who re-signed with the Jets last week, agreed with the overall sentiment that the team practiced poorly.

“It’s just important for us to remember that we can’t waste any days,” he said.

“We did some good things today, but we did more bad than good today. We’ve got to be able to learn from it and we’ve got to continue to be trending upward and getting better each practice.”

MORE: Palladino: Now That Fitzpatrick Has His Money, The Heat Is On Him

There are high expectations this season for an offense that ranked 10th overall last season and set a franchise record with 5,925 total yards. Fitzpatrick set the team mark with 31 touchdown passes, while Marshall broke Jets records with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving.

The addition of running back Matt Forte is expected to further improve the Jets’ ability to move the ball down the field. Marshall said Forte, who is working his way back from a sore hamstring, will make things “easier” for New York’s offense.

Despite it being early in camp, the players are still striving for perfection.

“Every time we step on the field, especially in the competitive spirit, we want to win,” Marshall said. “We started off pretty good in the move-the-ball period and we actually scored, and then we came back the next two periods and it wasn’t where we want it to be, but that’s part of camp.”

Marshall credited Fitzpatrick with calming him down and the rest of the offense after practice.

“He was just telling us that this was still a successful day, when you look at the way we communicated and all of the learning lessons,” Marshall said.

“He said there were a few things where we didn’t connect on, but should have. But being able to sit down and watch film and work through those things is really vital to the growth of our offense.”

NOTES: DL Sheldon Richardson returned to the team after missing the first four practices for personal reasons. … CB Darrelle Revis (wrist) participated in team drills for the first time in camp, taking part in one session. “We don’t want to do too much with him,” Bowles said. “We just want to get his feet wet and get him used to moving around there again.” … TE Zach Sudfeld sat out with a sore knee, while RB Bernard Pierce has a sore hamstring.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

 

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Leaner McLendon in Attack Mode
Posted 1 hour ago

Ethan Greenberg
Newyorkjets.com Contributor
Veteran Defensive Tackle Steve McLendon Shaved 12 Pounds This Offseason


On report day, Matt Forté said, “As you get older, the veterans that are smart get lighter.” And while Brandon Marshall’s weigh loss has been well-publicized, new Jets DT Steve McLendon also dropped his weight from 330 pounds to 318.

“When I came here, they wanted me on a different diet plan,” the former Steeler said. “They wanted me to get my weight down and I did exactly what they asked me to do. I’m very excited and I’m very excited to be here.”

While McLendon is already light on his feet, he believes he’s just as powerful despite the weight loss.

“It feels good,” he said. “I still have my strength, but I have to keep it up. It’s better on the body, plus I’m getting a little older — I don’t need all that weight. I need to be able to move, run.”

The Troy product has earned the reputation as a run-stuffer with the Steelers, totaling 90 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss along with five sacks and eight quarterback hits throughout his career. However, his newfound mobility should allow him to be quicker and get in the backfield faster, which has been the main component of his summer workouts.

“I’m pretty much focusing on attacking up field,” he said. “My attack is different because in Pittsburgh I was a two-gap guy and here I’m still a two-gap, but it’s more of an attack two-gap. Attack the guy in front of me and beat him across his face and shed blocks faster.”

McLendon has been working with the first team throughout training camp and is expected to be a key contributor on one of the top defensive lines in football.

 

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Former Ferris State QB Vander Laan trying to make Jets as tight end
7:16AM
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Former Ferris State quarterback Jason Vander Laan is trying to make the New York Jets roster as a tight end. The 23-year-old is a two-time Harlon Hill winner, the equivalent of the Heisman award but for Division II.

The New York Times' Ben Shpigel profiled Vander Laan as he hopes to make an NFL roster:

Until recently, Vander Laan, 23, had never blocked before, which is a rather critical facet of the job. Actually, there was this one time, on a reverse sweep in college, when he homed in on a defensive end, but the play was blown dead, so he does not count it.

But based on his frame - 6 feet 4 inches and 246 pounds, about 10 more than his playing weight in college - and his disposition, the Jets figured he would be eager to learn. Before signing him as an undrafted free agent in May, they assessed his strengths as a quarterback - strong instincts, keen spatial understanding, familiarity with offensive concepts and defensive coverages - and divined that perhaps he could evolve into an N.F.L. player, if he were willing to adapt. He was.

At first, the change disoriented him. It was odd, he said, putting on a white jersey instead of the red no-contact pinnie worn at practice by quarterbacks. And when a nice touchdown pass is tossed, a paroxysm of envy grips him. He satisfied that urge after practice Saturday when the throwing machine malfunctioned and he volunteered to whip spirals to an unsuspecting Quincy Enunwa.

He said it was possible to achieve a comparable sensation, laced with glory and adrenaline, at tight end - a crushing block, a sweet catch. He also wants to. Really wants to.
Read more about Vander Laan in the New York Times and in his BGA scouting report.

Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

From what I've heard about Vander Laan so far, he seems like a more natural fit at tight end than expected, and he has a tremendous attitude and approach to working on his game. Unlike a certain quarterback who started at H-back in his first Jets appearance back in 2012, Vander Laan has put his ego aside and is prepared to do anything he can to carve out a role on the team.

It's still early in camp, but it sounds like he is still mostly getting reps with the third unit and has several guys ahead of him, so the chances of him contributing this season would appear slim. However, with Zach Sudfeld currently nursing a sore knee, if Vander Laan is able to make the most of any increase in reps, perhaps he will be able to accelerate his growth curve. A more realistic goal might be working toward being a roster contributor next season, in which case he would hope the team has the patience and foresight to carry him on the practice squad all season.

I'm definitely rooting for Vander Laan and look forward to seeing if he can display any positive flashes once the preseason gets underway.

 

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Jalin Marshall aims to impress Ryan Fitzpatrick, make Jets' roster

The New York Jets mini camp, 6-15-16
Jalin Marshall is trying to make the Jets' roster. (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on August 03, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated August 03, 2016 at 7:48 AM





FLORHAM PARK — After a recent Jets training camp practice, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick spoke glowingly about rookie wide receiver Jalin Marshall.

Fitzpatrick mentioned how the kid asked detailed, cerebral questions. Fitzpatrick said it sounded like Marshall was a former quarterback.

When informed of this, Marshall smiled.


Jets camp Day 5: 3 takeaways
"I didn't know he knew that," Marshall told NJ Advance Media. "I didn't tell him that I played quarterback in high school."

Through five practices, Marshall has made a positive impression. He looked like an intriguing prospect in spring practices, after the Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. Now, he is pushing to make the team.

Marshall would factor in primarily as a punt returner. He returned punts the past two seasons at Ohio State. But with second-year receiver Devin Smith still recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained in December, there likely will be an extra receiver spot available on the Jets' Week 1 roster.

The top four spots appear taken: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa, and Kenbrell Thompkins. Jalin Marshall is competing for that fifth spot with guys like Jeremy Ross and rookie seventh-round pick Charone Peake. Ross also is a leading contender to return punts and kickoffs.

Marshall knows an important part of impressing the Jets is getting Fitzpatrick to trust him. So Marshall peppers Fitzpatrick with questions about "certain routes, where he wants me to be at, who is he looking at," said Marshall.

Ranking top 20 most important Jets for 2016
Ranking top 20 most important Jets for 2016
Who is the most important?

Picking Fitzpatrick's brain is valuable time for Marshall.

"I make an effort to show him that I want to be here, and show him that I can do whatever I can to help the team win," Marshall said.

The Jets have aligned Marshall all over the field, at all three receiver positions.

"I made myself learn the playbook and learn every position," he said.

Returning punts, though, is just as important for him. Probably more so. He spent a lot of time honing his punt catching technique leading up to camp.

"I got significantly better at just focusing on looking the ball in, and catching every punt I can," he said.

Marshall seems encouraged by his strong early start, though he knows much work remains.

"I think if I keep showing that I want to be here, and I love being here, and that I want to win, we'll be all right," he said.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

 

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What Jets' Christian Hackenberg is doing to improve his accuracy


Jets Camp, Day 2: Christian Hackenbert highlights
Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on August 03, 2016 at 6:30 AM, updated August 03, 2016 at 7:55 AM




FLORHAM PARK - Christian Hackenberg knows it. Everyone knows it. If the Jets second-round pick in this year's draft wants to make it in the NFL, he's got to improve his accuracy.

His rocket arm means nothing if he can't hit the broadside of a barn. His 70-yard bombs won't matter if he can't hit the five-yard out.

This isn't some hidden truth, it's an overwhelmingly known fact. And Hackenberg isn't playing dumb. He's doing everything in his power to change it.

"It's about being consistent," Hackenberg told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. "It's about being consistent in all of your movements."


Jets Camp Day 5: 3 Stars
A three-year starter at Penn State, Hackenberg was one of the more polarizing players in this year's draft, partially because there was no one quite like him. Executives and scouts loved Hackenberg's brain, build and arm, but the fact he completed just under 54 percent of his passes as a junior? That was a bit scary.

To list everything Hackenberg needs to do, or is working to do, in order to improve that accuracy would take hours. But the biggest thing he says can help his errant passes is being consistent in everything he does-- from his footwork, to shoulder placement, to throwing motion and everything in between.

Before the draft, Hackenberg spent countless hours with Jordan Palmer, a former NFL quarterback and the younger brother of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. What Palmer tried to hammer into Hackenberg's mind is the need to keep his form no matter what. Defender in his face? Who cares? Clean pocket? Great. Under no circumstance should his mechanics ever alter. No matter what's going on, always keep your position the same.

"Say you're running one way and have to pop and turn," Hackenberg said, motioning to describe, "make sure you get back to that consistent position before letting the ball go. Once you've made a gazillion throws from that position, then you should be alright.

"At times you're going to have to be an athlete and react and what not, but the thing I need to remember is always to get back to that consistent position."



With Palmer no longer there to help out, Hackenberg has instead turned to Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's studying No. 14 as much as the Jets' playbook.

After drills, he'll walk over and ask Fitzpatrick what he saw. During lunch, he'll sit next to him. During free time, he'll pull Fitzpatrick into a meeting room for a little extra film session.

Hackenberg's doing everything he possibly can to learn everything he possibly can from Fitzpatrick. And Fitzpatrick is taking notice.

"Christian is a sponge," Fitzpatrick said. "The way he thinks about the game, you can tell he's been in a Bill O'Brien [Hackenberg's college coach his freshman year] offense, and I think that helped him a lot.

"He's putting in the time, and that's half the battle as a young quarterback. Having the willingness to put the hours in and grind and look silly at times because you don't understand it, but then stop to ask why. He [and Bryce Petty] do it the right way."

With Fitzpatrick locked in as the Jets' starter, there isn't any pressure on Hackenberg to come in and compete right away. He has a .001 percent chance of starting this year, which means the majority of his time is going to be spent learning and developing.

And that's exactly what he's trying to do.

"I'm taking my time, learning as much as I can, absorbing as much as I can and just trying to be a fly on the wall in every situation," Hackenberg said. "Whether that's in our room, the receivers' room ... I just want to pick stuff up.

"There are a ton of guys that have played a lot of football in this locker room. I'm just here trying to learn as much as I can for them so when I get my shot in one year, two years or three... I'm ready."

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

 

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Frustrated Brandon Marshall shows off his punting skills

Jun 14, 2016; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass during OTA at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

By: Gary Phillips | 3 hours ago
Nick Folk and Lac Edwards better watch out. They are not the only ones with powerful legs on the Jets.

Brandon Marshall was seen showing off his kicking prowess when he booted a ball over the bleachers at practice on Tuesday. The wide receiver was reportedly upset over the offense’s performance, according to ESPN.

The spontaneous punt came as practice ended. Running back Dominique Williams had just dropped a pass during a two-minute drill, and so Marshall reacted with some leg work.





It doesn’t sound like Marshall will be backing up for Folk or Edwards anytime soon.

 

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Ryan Fitzpatrick tries to rally Jets' offense after miserable day
11:21 PM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Wednesday's wake-up call, Day 7 of New York Jets training camp:

What's happening: The Jets are on the field at their usual time, 1:50 p.m. ET. The weather forecast calls for sunshine, but the temperature won't exceed 81 degrees -- a great day to practice football.

What's hot: The offense isn't hot, which makes it a hot story. It'll be interesting to see how the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led unit responds after its worst day of camp. On Tuesday, the entire operation was out of sync, especially in a two-minute drill. Afterward, Fitzpatrick immediately gathered his offensive teammates, delivering a pep talk. That's called leadership, folks. It's why his teammates lobbied for his return in the offseason. "His leadership is amazing," receiver Brandon Marshall said. Leadership is easier when your supporting cast is whole, and they were down four offensive line starters on Tuesday. ... The running back position is banged up. The latest injury belongs to Bernard Pierce, who was signed last week to replace Zac Stacy (broken ankle), who was waived. Neither Matt Forte (hamstring) nor Khiry Robinson (leg) has practiced, leaving plenty of reps (much too many) for Bilal Powell, Romar Morris and Dominique Williams. They have to be careful not to wear down Powell, an important part of the offense. ... Rookie quarterback Christian Hackenberg was an afterthought on Tuesday, receiving only four reps in teams drills. (For the record, he completed 3 of 3 passes.) It's hard to develop a young quarterback when he barely gets on the field, but such is life on a team that may carry four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. There aren't enough reps to go around.

 

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Jets activate James Carpenter from PUP list

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on August 3, 2016, 1:38 AM EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 06: Bilal Powell #29 and James Carpenter #77 of the New York Jets celebrate after a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 6, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The New York Jets activated James Carpenter from the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday after missing the first four days of training camp.

Carpenter passed his physical and returned to practice as a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for the opening days of camp.

Carpenter started all 16 games for the Jets last season after signing with the team as a free agent after four years with the Seattle Seahawks.

According to Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press, Dakota Dozier worked at left guard during Carpenter’s absence.

 

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Jets have a new punter, and his name is Brandon Marshall -- heads up!

Brandon Marshall showed off his punting chops during Tuesday's practice. Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
7:45 PM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The most memorable kick of the day was delivered by a wide receiver.

Frustrated by a sloppy offensive performance, New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall picked up a football Tuesday afternoon and booted it over the bleachers, which were half-filled with kids from local day camps. The impromptu punt came at the end of practice, moments after a two-minute drill stalled with a dropped pass by running back Dominique Williams. Marshall picked up the ball off the grass and decided to make like Ray Guy.

"That one didn't go very far," Marshall said half-jokingly of his kick. "Almost got sued. It barely went over the stands. I saw a lady go, 'Ahhhh!' That wasn't good."

In a previous football life (Denver, 2009), Marshall infamously punted a ball in practice, contributing to the Broncos' decision to suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team. That occurred in his days as a malcontent; he has matured since then. Tuesday's outburst stemmed from the team's struggles, specifically, the two-minute offense, which never got going.

It was one of those days. Unofficially, Ryan Fitzpatrick completed only 18 of 35 passes with one interception, including a handful of dropped passes. It didn't help matters that Fitzpatrick didnt' have four starters on the offensive line: Nick Mangold and Ryan Clady rested, and Breno Giacomini and James Carpenter sat with injuries.

Marshall admitted he "may have overreacted," but he explained his actions by saying he has high expectations for the offense. The Jets finished 10th in total offense, and he said he believes "we can be a lot better" in 2016.

After practice, Fitzpatrick gathered his receivers, discussing what went wrong and how they can improve.

"Sometimes you need that to show people it's not acceptable to come out and practice like that," Marshall said.

The starting offense still isn't whole, so it's premature to draw conclusions. Aside from the Carpenter and Giacomini injuries, running back Matt Forte (hamstring) still hasn't practiced. He was in pads and did positional work for the first time but sat out team drills. He figures to be a key component in the passing game.

Plus, the Jets have had only five practices, and, let's not forget, Fitzpatrick missed the entire offseason because of his contract dispute.

Afterward, Fitzpatrick didn't make excuses.

"It's important for us to remember we can't waste any days," he said. "We did some good things today, but we did more bad than good. We have to be able to learn from that. We have to keep trending upward. We have to be getting better each practice, and we did not perform the way we should've today, and there were a lot of reasons. We have to come out tomorrow and have a much better day."

In case you're wondering, coach Todd Bowles had no issue with Marshall's punt over the bleachers. Obviously, it would have been a penalty if it happened in a game, so Marshall needs to restrain himself in that respect. But Bowles said he was cool with it, even finding some humor.

"If we need a second punter," he said, "we might just bring him back there and pooch one."

 

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Sheldon Richardson: Jets underpaid for $86M Wilkerson

By Zach Braziller August 2, 2016 | 11:57pm


How Fitzpatrick proved he's worth $12M at Jets' worst practice

Brandon Marshall snaps after terrible Jets practice

The first signs of a long-awaited Jace Amaro breakthrough

Jets have to wonder if years have finally caught up to Matt Forte
Sheldon Richardson was thrilled to see Muhammad Wilkerson finally get his long-term contract (five years, $86 million, $54 million guaranteed), but the Jets’ defensive tackle felt the organization could’ve rewarded Wilkerson even more for his stellar play.

“I was happy for him, real happy for him. Well deserved, probably deserved more, but that’s just my opinion,” said Richardson, who missed the past three practices with an excused absence.

Richardson said he was pleased with the NFL ruling June 30 to suspend him just one game for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. He pleaded guilty in January to resisting arrest after he led police on a high-speed chase in July 2015. Richardson avoided any jail time, was given two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.





“It’s a blessing. I’m grateful,” he said of the league’s ruling. “I’m ready for when I can come back and play.”

Cornerback Darrelle Revis took part in one set of team drills for the first time in training camp, after undergoing offseason right wrist surgery, but the Jets are taking it slow with him.

“We don’t want to do too much with him,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We just want to get his feet wet and get him used to running around there again.”

Placekicker Nick Folk better watch out. Bowles said Folk and rookie free agent Ross Martin are “pretty close” in the early stages of a kicking competition. Martin impressed by making a 60-yard kick in practice on Tuesday, while Folk missed from 50 and 60 yards. Still, Martin has an uphill climb to make the team.

“He’s got make [all his kicks],” Bowles said. “He’s going to have to perform in preseason. Obviously Folk is going to have to look pretty bad for [Martin to win the job]. It’s a good competition right now. We’re just going to see how it plays out.”

Brandon Marshall wants to see the Jets improve upon their offensive ranking of 10th from a year ago.

“I don’t think that’s something we can hang our hats on,” the receiver said. “I think we can be a lot better, definitely in the running game, definitely in the passing games, getting other guys involved.”

Former Jets coach Herm Edwards, an ESPN analyst, attended his first practice since being fired following the 2005 season. ESPN shot a number of its shows from the team’s facility on Tuesday.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was shaky most of the afternoon. Still rusty after missing all of the spring, he was picked off once by rookie Juston Burris, when he underthrew a long pass to an open Brandon Marshall, and missed several other targets down the field. Jets fans let him know about it, with one yelling out: “Geno [Smith] is going to take your spot.”

Tight end Jace Amaro’s impressive start to training camp continued on Tuesday. The third-year tight end, who missed all of last season after suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder in the first preseason game, made a few impressive grabs in team drills, including an up-the-seam catch over safety Marcus Gilchrist.

Left guard James Carpenter (hamstring) came off the Physically Unable to Perform list and took part in one set of team drills. Running back Matt Forte (hamstring) took part in positional drills, but remained out otherwise. Tight end Zach Sudfeld (knee), running back Bernard Pierce (hamstring) and cornerback Dexter McDougle (hand) didn’t practice.

 

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How Fitzpatrick proved he’s worth $12M at Jets’ worst practice

By Brian Costello August 2, 2016 | 10:12pm


Brian Costello
The first signs of a long-awaited Jace Amaro breakthrough

Jets' defense isn't even whole -- and it's already terrifying

I'll say what Maccagnan won't: These Jets are playoff or bust

Jets GM earned sigh of relief -- now time to get back to work

Todd Bowles has no fear as Jets stare down difficult schedule
For five months we debated Ryan Fitzpatrick’s qualities as a quarterback.

During his contract standoff with the Jets, Fitzpatrick’s critics had plenty to say.

He throws too many interceptions. He chokes in the big spots. He never has made the playoffs. He is not worth that kind of money.





If you watched Tuesday’s Jets practice, you might have thought those critics were right. Fitzpatrick had an off day. He struggled to connect with receivers, connecting on just around 50 percent of his passes, he had a bad interception and looked out of sync with the offense. The practice was so bad that wide receiver Brandon Marshall made like Ray Guy and punted a ball over the bleachers next to the field out of frustration.

But if you stuck around after practice, you would see why Fitzpatrick is worth the $12 million the Jets are paying him this year. After the worst of the Jets’ five training camp practices, Fitzpatrick gathered his offensive teammates and told them this practice was a positive.

Huh?

Fitzpatrick’s message to his teammates was: Learn from this. He wanted them to know this practice was only a failure if they did not take the mistakes from it and correct them.

That’s the kind of leadership that does not show up on a stat sheet. That’s the kind of leadership the Jets are paying for, in addition to the touchdowns and wins they hope go with it.

“His leadership is amazing,” Marshall said. “That’s a tough day for us. … For him to gather us up and say, ‘Listen guys, this was a successful day for us.’ That’s where you gain your respect for your quarterback, when he’s able to rally the troop, galvanize the troops and say, ‘Look, stay together, it’s OK.’ ”

During the contract staredown, it became trendy to tear down Fitzpatrick. Even Jets fans, who grew tired of the uncertainty, began to say Fitzpatrick was not worth it and the team should turn to Geno Smith. They forgot what Fitzpatrick meant to this team last year. It went far beyond the 31 touchdowns he threw or the 3,905 passing yards.


Fitzpatrick is a leader. It is something the Jets have been looking for at quarterback since Chad Pennington left. The 2015 squad got behind Fitzpatrick, drawn to the competitiveness that won’t let him slide at the end of a run and his personality — which usually is easygoing, but fiery when he needs it. Remember, Fitzpatrick pulled this team up from a 5-5 record last year to win five straight before the meltdown in Buffalo.

“We strive to be perfect every day, but we’re not going to be,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. “It’s important to look at a practice like this where things were more bad than good and get to the root of it and not make it a habit.

“It’s training camp. We’re going to have periods, we’re going to have days where things don’t go well and we’re going to have to bounce back. That’s just like during a game or during a season. Things are going to happen, so how do you respond and react when they’re not going your way?”

The Jets’ offense has a lot of potential this season. The group finished 10th last year in the NFL and is largely back. Marshall and Eric Decker lead the way at wide receiver, and the team has Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, who looks great so far in camp, in the backfield.

“It’s just important for us to remember we can’t waste any days,” Fitzpatrick said. “We did some good things today, but we did more bad than good today. We’ve got to be able to learn from it. We’ve got to continue to be trending upward. We’ve got to continue to be getting better each practice. We did not perform the way we should have today. There were a lot of reasons, but we’ve got to come out tomorrow and have a better day.”

It was essential the Jets bring Fitzpatrick back to lead this offense and this team. Smith throws a prettier football than Fitzpatrick. He runs faster than Fitzpatrick. But Smith does not have the leadership ability Fitzpatrick has.

That leadership was on display again Tuesday, a reminder that he is worth every penny of the $12 million Woody Johnson is paying him.

 

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Decorated College Quarterback Hopes to Catch, Not Throw, Passes for the Jets

By BEN SHPIGELAUG. 2, 2016


Jason Vander Laan, center, won the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to Division II’s top player, multiple times while playing quarterback at Ferris State. He is trying to make the Jets as a tight end. Credit Richard Perry/The New York Times
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — For as long as Jason Vander Laan can remember, math has fascinated him.

He loves numbers, the clarity and the certainty and the comfort of them. Words may have connotations, but it is unassailable that he rushed for 5,953 yards at Ferris State, the most by a quarterback in N.C.A.A. history, and that only three others — not two, not four — have won the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to Division II’s top player, multiple times.

Those accomplishments heralded professional possibilities, and with his future beckoning, Vander Laan analyzed the situation with cleareyed certitude: He was no longer a quarterback.

He abandoned the only offensive position he had played since fourth grade and began a transformation that continued Tuesday at Jets training camp. Instead of throwing passes, he caught them. Instead of avoiding blocks, he made them.

“I think of myself as a tight end now,” Vander Laan said.

Until recently, Vander Laan, 23, had never blocked before, which is a rather critical facet of the job. Actually, there was this one time, on a reverse sweep in college, when he homed in on a defensive end, but the play was blown dead, so he does not count it.

But based on his frame — 6 feet 4 inches and 246 pounds, about 10 more than his playing weight in college — and his disposition, the Jets figured he would be eager to learn. Before signing him as an undrafted free agent in May, they assessed his strengths as a quarterback — strong instincts, keen spatial understanding, familiarity with offensive concepts and defensive coverages — and divined that perhaps he could evolve into an N.F.L. player, if he were willing to adapt. He was.

At first, the change disoriented him. It was odd, he said, putting on a white jersey instead of the red no-contact pinnie worn at practice by quarterbacks. And when a nice touchdown pass is tossed, a paroxysm of envy grips him. He satisfied that urge after practice Saturday when the throwing machine malfunctioned and he volunteered to whip spirals to an unsuspecting Quincy Enunwa.

He said it was possible to achieve a comparable sensation, laced with glory and adrenaline, at tight end — a crushing block, a sweet catch. He also wants to. Really wants to.

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If he did not, the Jets never would have considered investing in him.

Early in the draft process, the Jets deemed Vander Laan a quarterback, grading him accordingly, but in February, some of their scouts suggested projecting him at tight end. At about that time, Vander Laan was training in Atlanta, working out two days a week at quarterback and two at tight end, unclear how the N.F.L. perceived him. When he arrived a month later at his first pro day, at Northwestern, several scouts circled him and asked whether he planned to work out at quarterback or tight end.

“I don’t care,” Vander Laan told them. “Whatever you want.”

At both, they said, and when Mike Maccagnan, the Jets’ general manager, later viewed the tape of Vander Laan running and catching and moving, he said he thought, “Wow, that’s interesting.” In stature and in temperament, Vander Laan reminded him of a player the Texans drafted while Maccagnan had worked in Houston: tight end Owen Daniels, a high school quarterback who switched positions at Wisconsin.

“This guy looked natural,” Maccagnan said of Vander Laan in a recent interview. “I’m sure there are quicker, faster guys out there, but when we watched this guy, we felt he was athletic enough to make the transition.”


Jason Vander Laan Ferris State Football Highlights (2015) Video by ferrisathletics
Vander Laan’s college film, loaded with tackle-breaking runs, informed that appraisal. His attributes indicated that he could adjust quickly to a position with fewer responsibilities and nuances. But equally important was a personality, the Jets felt, that was suited to embracing the demands of memorizing a new playbook and its attendant terminology.

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“My degree was so challenging, the studying I did and the amount of homework I had, that I’m used to that stuff,” said Vander Laan, who graduated with a degree in applied mathematics and a concentration in actuarial science. “I’m used to having difficult tasks put in front of me.”

Maccagnan compared the task to driving for the first time at the Indianapolis 500, although it is not as difficult, Vander Laan figures, as trying to make the Jets’ roster at quarterback. The learning curve from an option scheme at Ferris State to a pro-style offense in the N.F.L. is intimidating. However counterintuitive it may seem, Vander Laan said it was easier — everything’s relative — to change positions at the highest level.

His coach at Ferris State, Tony Annese, said Vander Laan’s greatest flaw was his perfectionism.

“Everything for Jason is so calculated that it wasn’t easy for him to take risks,” Annese said in a telephone interview. “That’s just not his nature.”

This is not a risk for Vander Laan. It is a commitment.

His first two weeks on the team, all he did was study, it seemed, and that barely helped. The first reason players get cut, Jets coaches tell players, is if they do not know their assignments. The play is called once, and Vander Laan had to know where he was going and what he was doing, at once. As his legs started tiring from running so many routes, he started empathizing with his old receivers.

With contact prohibited during off-season workouts, Vander Laan focused on his technique and stances. When teaching blocking, coaches implore players to get their hands inside the other man’s shoulder pads, which is difficult when neither player is wearing shoulder pads.

“Every day you think you’re getting better at one thing,” Vander Laan said, “and then you have to fix another thing.”

Before training camp began, he returned to Ferris State to train with the offensive line coach in one-on-one tutorials that centered on footwork. He supplemented those sessions by watching the Jets’ primary tight ends from last season, Kellen Davis and Jeff Cumberland, on game film loaded to his tablet.

“You can sit in a classroom and look at stuff,” Davis said, “but when it’s happening fast in front of you, it’s not the same.”

Maccagnan said there was no easy way to measure how far behind Vander Laan was from where he would have been if he had played tight end all through college, but the Jets have sensed steady improvement. He is unlikely to make the roster, but if he progresses, Vander Laan could merit a spot on the practice squad.

“Coming from math, I’m used to there being one right answer,” Vander Laan said. “Now I’m kind of thinking there’s more one way to do something.”

 

[Fudbutter]

Good stuff ... thanks for doing this

The Marshall incident brings up a good Jets trivia question:

During a game at Shea, the punter got hurt and a WR had to fill in for him. He punted twice for a 44.5 yd average which was a slightly better average than the regular punter

Who was he?

 

[flgreen]

Three things to watch at Jets' camp on Wednesday

 By
 
 
Ralph Vacchiano 


 10:00AM

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

After a tense offseason, everything's all better over on the green side of town now that Ryan Fitzpatrick has signed his contract and stabilized the quarterback spot for the Jets.

Right?

Well, maybe not.

On Tuesday, the offense was so "sluggish" - Todd Bowles' words - that receiver Brandon Marshall expressed his frustration by punting the ball over the bleachers. Plus CB Darrelle Revis (wrist) and RB Matt Forte (hamstring) are still sidelined. So are DE Muhammad Wilkerson (knee) and several others.

But calm down. The Jets only reported to camp a week ago. There's a long way to go. Still, there's a lot to keep an eye on. And here's what I'll be watching at practice on Wednesday afternoon:

1. What's up (or down) with the offense? After Fitzpatrick missed the entire offseason during his contract stalemate it probably shouldn't be surprise that there were early struggles. But keep in mind two things: The Jets, with Fitzpatrick, Marshall and receiver Eric Decker, have plenty of talent in the passing game and they've already worked together for a year and that's usually a formula for passing offenses to click early in training camp. One sluggish day isn't anything to worry about. It wouldn't even be a big deal if they were sluggish again today, though that would start to look like the beginning of a disturbing trend.

2. How quickly can Matt Forte really be ready to go? A running back who just turned 30, coming off an injury-plagued season, suffering a hamstring injury that hampers him early in camp isn't exactly a good sign. But Bowles said Forte has increased his workload and even took part in some positional drills and is getting closer to returning to a full practice. Will Wednesday be the day? And how limited will Forte be when he returns. Hamstrings can linger, so the Jets will surely want to take it easy with him. He's a veteran, so all that matters is that he's healthy by Opening Day.

3. How much is Revis ready to do? He got involved in a full-speed, non-team drills on Tuesday and Bowles said he's ready to slowly work him back in "little by little". That would seem to indicate that if his wrist came through OK he'll do a little more on Wednesday. How much he does and what the secondary continues to look like without him will be very interesting to see.

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

How Fitzpatrick proved he’s worth $12M at Jets’ worst practice

By Brian Costello August 2, 2016 | 10:12pm


Brian Costello
The first signs of a long-awaited Jace Amaro breakthrough

Jets' defense isn't even whole -- and it's already terrifying

I'll say what Maccagnan won't: These Jets are playoff or bust

Jets GM earned sigh of relief -- now time to get back to work

Todd Bowles has no fear as Jets stare down difficult schedule
For five months we debated Ryan Fitzpatrick’s qualities as a quarterback.

During his contract standoff with the Jets, Fitzpatrick’s critics had plenty to say.

He throws too many interceptions. He chokes in the big spots. He never has made the playoffs. He is not worth that kind of money.





If you watched Tuesday’s Jets practice, you might have thought those critics were right. Fitzpatrick had an off day. He struggled to connect with receivers, connecting on just around 50 percent of his passes, he had a bad interception and looked out of sync with the offense. The practice was so bad that wide receiver Brandon Marshall made like Ray Guy and punted a ball over the bleachers next to the field out of frustration.

But if you stuck around after practice, you would see why Fitzpatrick is worth the $12 million the Jets are paying him this year. After the worst of the Jets’ five training camp practices, Fitzpatrick gathered his offensive teammates and told them this practice was a positive.

Huh?

Fitzpatrick’s message to his teammates was: Learn from this. He wanted them to know this practice was only a failure if they did not take the mistakes from it and correct them.

That’s the kind of leadership that does not show up on a stat sheet. That’s the kind of leadership the Jets are paying for, in addition to the touchdowns and wins they hope go with it.

“His leadership is amazing,” Marshall said. “That’s a tough day for us. … For him to gather us up and say, ‘Listen guys, this was a successful day for us.’ That’s where you gain your respect for your quarterback, when he’s able to rally the troop, galvanize the troops and say, ‘Look, stay together, it’s OK.’ ”

During the contract staredown, it became trendy to tear down Fitzpatrick. Even Jets fans, who grew tired of the uncertainty, began to say Fitzpatrick was not worth it and the team should turn to Geno Smith. They forgot what Fitzpatrick meant to this team last year. It went far beyond the 31 touchdowns he threw or the 3,905 passing yards.


Fitzpatrick is a leader. It is something the Jets have been looking for at quarterback since Chad Pennington left. The 2015 squad got behind Fitzpatrick, drawn to the competitiveness that won’t let him slide at the end of a run and his personality — which usually is easygoing, but fiery when he needs it. Remember, Fitzpatrick pulled this team up from a 5-5 record last year to win five straight before the meltdown in Buffalo.

“We strive to be perfect every day, but we’re not going to be,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. “It’s important to look at a practice like this where things were more bad than good and get to the root of it and not make it a habit.

“It’s training camp. We’re going to have periods, we’re going to have days where things don’t go well and we’re going to have to bounce back. That’s just like during a game or during a season. Things are going to happen, so how do you respond and react when they’re not going your way?”

The Jets’ offense has a lot of potential this season. The group finished 10th last year in the NFL and is largely back. Marshall and Eric Decker lead the way at wide receiver, and the team has Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, who looks great so far in camp, in the backfield.

“It’s just important for us to remember we can’t waste any days,” Fitzpatrick said. “We did some good things today, but we did more bad than good today. We’ve got to be able to learn from it. We’ve got to continue to be trending upward. We’ve got to continue to be getting better each practice. We did not perform the way we should have today. There were a lot of reasons, but we’ve got to come out tomorrow and have a better day.”

It was essential the Jets bring Fitzpatrick back to lead this offense and this team. Smith throws a prettier football than Fitzpatrick. He runs faster than Fitzpatrick. But Smith does not have the leadership ability Fitzpatrick has.

That leadership was on display again Tuesday, a reminder that he is worth every penny of the $12 million Woody Johnson is paying him.

PSSST, Costello...Fitz got a new contract. We get it. Time to report on things actually going on in camp.

 

[flgreen]

Are the Jets looking to replace their Folk hero? Say it ain't so
11:03 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' kicking competition apparently is real, not just for show.

Nick Folk, who has held the job since 2010, is getting a push from a rookie free agent named Ross Martin. Coach Todd Bowles said he's planning to let it play out for at least three preseason games, adding, "It's going to be a competition. They're pretty close there."

Pretty close? Interesting comment by Bowles.


Nick Folk is 31, entering his seventh season with the Jets and has a $3.3 million salary-cap charge. Daniel Gluskoter/Icon Sportswire
Unless his right leg falls off, Folk is the best choice for the Jets. They're a win-now team and there will be a handful of pressure kicks in 2016. You'd rather have a proven vet in those situations than an untested rookie. That's my opinion, anyway.

Bowles sent mixed signals. Before his "pretty close" comment, he said of Martin, "He has to make them all. He's going to have to perform in the preseason. Obviously, Folk is going to have to look pretty bad for him. It's a good competition right now. We're just going to have to see how it plays out."

So, clearly, Folk is the favorite, as he should be. He has faced competition in the past, most notably in 2012, when he outlasted Josh Brown in a fantastic camp battle. The previous coaching staff always believed Folk was at his best when pushed in training camp. The current staff evidently is looking for more than a push.

Why? Folk, 31, has a $3.3 million cap charge. The cap-strapped Jets could save $2.2 million by releasing Folk and handing the job to Martin, whose cap figure is $452,000. They also could point out that he made only 81 percent of his attempts last season before injuring his quadriceps. But it should be noted that, over the last three seasons, Folk's field-goal percentage (85.7) ranks 12th out of 21 kickers (minimum: 75 attempts). A top-12 kicker shouldn't be taken for granted.

A younger/cheaper philosophy can work in certain situations, but it's risky when you're talking about your kicker.

Martin, a former standout at Duke, has a big leg. He proved it on Tuesday with back-to-back makes from 50 and 60 yards. Moments earlier, though, he missed from 38 yards.

Break out the microscope, folks. We've got a kicking competition this summer.

 

[Old#15]

The Folk/Martin competition is an interesting one, particularly with our cap situation. This may also be the case in other camp battles with some of our UDFAs and other cheaper alternatives to lower tier players with higher cap charges. Kicker though is a tough one because they may have the season in their hands (er foot) with a kick or two.

 

[flgreen]

Jets counting on Jace Amaro to take it to the next level
TONY WILLIAMS


Jace Amaro should get more looks from Ryan Fitzpatrick this season.Jace Amaro should get more looks from Ryan Fitzpatrick this season. Getty ImagesPhoto:
The Jets finally have their offense intact, with the re-signing of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

And with stellar holdovers in wideouts Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker already in tow -- not to mention the addition of pass-catching maven, running back Matt Forte – the Jets really have the look of a potent passing offense that can rival any in the league.

That being said, there’s still one hole in their aerial attack, and that’s tight end. This is where Jace Amaro joins the equation. Entering his third season, the former Texas Tech star hasn’t quite yet lived up to his draft billing as a second round pick. While his rookie year wasn’t bad (14 games played, 38 catches for 345 yards, and two touchdowns), it was marred with drops. And his second season was a complete bust, as he missed the entire campaign due to a torn labrum suffered in the team’s first preseason game.



Amaro is back in camp and ready to contribute, as he’s put in massive amount of time re-configuring his catching technique, and almost as important, his blocking. Standing a hulking 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Amaro has the look of a tenacious blocker, but his time at Texas Tech mainly featured his pass-catching wares. The Red Raiders run a spread offense where the tight ends see blocking merely as an option. It’s where Amaro picked up bad habits, but hopes to break them to become a complete tight end to help balance the Jets’ offense.

Run blocking will have to be a huge part of Amaro’s tool box if he wants to stay on the field. It’s his primary weakness in a skill set that physically matches with any tight end in the league. He knows that pass catching is his best asset, but is also aware that if he can’t help open holes for Forte, he won’t be of any use.

"Obviously, if I want to play, I can't just catch the ball. I've got to be able to do both,” Amaro said. “If I'm able to do both, I feel like I could fit right in with this team. I feel like I'm strong enough and big enough to be able to block anybody out here.”

Marshall and Decker – and to an extent Forte – will see the lion’s share of targets from Fitzpatrick. And while the blocking needs to improve, Amaro knows the real reason why the Jets selected him so high.

He noted his offseason work of catching “roughly 400 balls a day” back home in San Antonio has truly honed his skill. The tight end said the advice given to him by Marshall in how to train his eyes and hands, so he could better attack the ball in the air also helped. It’s now to the point where Amaro said he feels “natural” catching the ball. And thanks to his arduous work this summer -- beginning with offseason OTAs – he’s “been catching the ball really well, a lot better. I just feel a lot smoother. I'm not really worried about that [drops] part anymore.”

His pass-catching work ethic was a question mark entering the 2014 draft, even though he was a unanimous All-American and set the record for Division-1 single-season receiving yards by a tight end in 2013. He reasoned that he used to just rely o

 

[flgreen]

Mike Catapano has healthy outlook on position switch in second season with Jets

Updated August 3, 2016 6:44 PM
By Bob Glauber bob.glauber@newsday.com



Bob Glauber
Newsday columnist Bob Glauber


FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — This was as polished a sequence of games that Mike Catapano can remember from a football career that first flourished at Chaminade High.

Activated from the Jets’ practice squad late last year, Catapano injected a mix of speed and enthusiasm to the defense at a pivotal point in the season. He’d found a niche in the Jets’ defense, playing a combined 53 snaps in his first three games, producing a quarterback hit in a win over the Dolphins and then getting his first sack of the season against Eli Manning in a win over the Giants.


“I went from getting some play time to all of a sudden seeing tons of reps,” Catapano said. “I was probably playing the best and rushing the best. I was really coming along, and then, unfortunately, it got cut short.”

On the series after his sack of Manning, Catapano experienced a sharp pain in his right foot and had to be taken off the field. He had suffered a Lisfranc injury that would eventually require surgery, ending his 2015 season. But Catapano reached a major milestone this week, returning to the practice field for the first time since the injury and reinvigorating his career. And his spirits.

“It feel great, just knocking the rust off,” he said after Wednesday’s practice, his second since returning from the injury. “It’s been a while since I suited up. It’s been a long offseason getting my health back, but I’m feeling great now, taking it day by day. I’m 100 percent, just getting into the swing of things, feeling all the movements and everything.”



The Jets are working in Catapano, and he estimates he’s in on around 25-30 percent of the defensive snaps. He has switched positions and responsibilities this year, moving from defensive end to strong-side outside linebacker, but appears to be adapting nicely.

“It’s a little new, and I’m just learning,” he said. “I’m a full-time outside linebacker. Some of it’s the same [as last year], but there’s a little more to it, and I’m adapting and learning how it fits. But I think it’s going to be a really good transition for me. I think this is a role that I can really excel at.”.

He’ll have some occasion
l responsibilities in pass coverage on tight ends and running backs, but the primary focus is the one he loves most.
“I know they want me to get after the passer, and that’s what I do really well,” he said.

Catapano, who grew up in Bayville, showed plenty of promise as a fullback and defensive end at Chaminade, and wound up playing at Princeton, where he developed into a promising pass rusher and was selected as the Ivy League’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 2013, Catapano spent two seasons in Kansas City before being released last year. He was signed to the Jets’ practice squad on Sept. 8 and was activated Nov. 21 after Sheldon Richardson was injured. Catapano showed enough that game against the Texans to prompt the Jets to release former first-round pick Quinton Coples the day after a 24-17 loss.


The injury was a setback, albeit a temporary one. Once he healed in the offseason, Catapano went through his usual routine of working with renowned mixed martial arts fighter Derek Panza, who runs a facility in Syosset.

“I’ve been kickboxing every offseason since I was 17 years old,” said Catapano, who turns 26 on Aug. 17. “That helps my hands and aggressiveness, and that translates over to pass rushing. [Panza] is one of a kind. He pushes me. He gets my hands fast. Hands and hips together is pass rushing, so I believe that it translates over to football.”

Now that he’s back on the field, Catapano plays to stay there — and with the Jets — for a long time.

“I think this is a great fit for me,” he said. “I think they’ve liked what they’ve seen out of me so far, and I just want to keep getting better and better and show I can be a tremendous player for this team.”

 

[flgreen]

Three takeaways from Jets camp on Wednesday

 By
 
 
Ralph Vacchiano 


 6:30PM

First, the big news of the day: Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick cut his hair. He no longer looks like a younger version of Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments. He's still got a thick beard, but now a freshly-buzzed head.

More importantly, for all the worries about how "sluggish" the shaggy Fitzpatrick and his offense looked during practice on Tuesday, the newly sheared Fitz looked sharp on Wednesday. Maybe it's the reverse Samson effect. Whatever, it was the story of Wednesday's practice.

Here's the rest of what I observed:

1.) What's up (or down) with the offense? It's apparently all up. Fitzpatrick looked extremely sharp, especially when throwing deep passes. He had little trouble connecting with precision down the field to Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker or really anyone who he sent long. Even his backup, Geno Smith, looked sharp.

Really, it was no surprise and proof again that you should never get worked up over one training camp practice. The chemistry between Fitzpatrick and his targets is obvious. If there was any negative it's that there was way too much penetration by the Jets' defensive line when the first-team offense was out there. But again, it's just one practice.

2.) How quickly can Matt Forte really be ready to go? That question was absolutely not answered on Wednesday. One day after seeing his workload increase and after head coach Todd Bowles indicated he was getting closer, Forte sat out practice. Bowles said that was just part of the plan -- some days he'll work, others he won't.

Maybe it's all just a precaution. But again, Forte is 30, coming off an injury-plagued season and is dealing with an injury (hamstring) that tends to linger. Until he's allowed to practice for a few days in a row it'll be impossible to know where he stands, or to believe that he's really close to a full return.

3.) How much is Darrelle Revis ready to do? Like Forte, Revis took a step in the other direction on Wednesday -- not a step backwards, everyone insisted. One day after getting more involved in practice, Revis sat out completely. Neither Bowles nor Revis seemed worried, and Bowles said it was all part of the plan. It's early in camp, so no reason to worry, but like Forte, until he's back on the field consistently it'll be impossible to gauge exactly where he is.