Minicamp, Jones and Favre – oh my!

June

This week the Jets will have their mandatory minicamp, and I plan to be out there and Tweeting (simulcast on the blog) if I can do it in conjunction with the softball regionals I’ve been assigned on Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m just hoping the softy games are late enough and I can do both.

The Jets have a few issues going into camp.

1. Kellen Clemens versus Mark Sanchez. Clemens is clearly trying to be the role model for Sanchez that Chad Pennington was for him. He’s taken Sanchez aside after some wretched throws and given him pointer, and last week Sanchez seemed to have the routes down a little bit better.

It’s awkward because Jets brass and a lot of fans want Sanchez to start. He’s the marquee guy, the shiny draft pick and Clemens is … not.

2. Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. The running backs are all there, but now trade rumors have begun swirling around Jones. That might get Jones a contract extension—it worked when he signed with the Jets and is pretty standard in those cases—but does it make the Jets better?

Greene may look like the same kind of back that Jones is, but he is a rookie. Can you really pop a rookie RB and QB into Rex Ryan’s system and get the same results you’d see from Jones and Clemens? It’s a little soon to tell, but that’s risky proposition.

3. Vernon Gholston. The 2007 first-round pick has been a secondary issue as Ryan revamped the defense and brought in the chatty Bart Scott. Ryan has praised his DE, but is Gholston really getting better? Five open practices should give Jets fans a better idea of when he will make a difference.

Feel free to add your own camp questions. I’ll do my best to geet more information on it and post it here this week.

FInally, Brett Favre. He’s not a camp issue, but ESPN reports that he had his right shoulder scoped last month. Favre had said he didn’t want to play again if it required surgery.He had this to say after the loss to the Dolphins in the final game of the season:

“Whether or not it would require surgery that is something else I would have to weigh on whether or not first of all I would want surgery,” Favre said. “Second of all, if I need it, would I play or not? It’s one of those things. I’m 39, I don’t want to have to have a bunch of surgeries to continue playing.”

Or at least to continue playing for the Jets. Clearly Favre is creating a path to return to the NFL, and it looks like the Vikings specifically. If this were an episode of “Dallas” at least you could pretend last season was a bad dream.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am by Jane McManus.
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5 Responses to “Minicamp, Jones and Favre – oh my!”

Bob's Blitz June 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I’d be interested in your take on Vernon Gholston. I’ve heard whispers that Mangini killed his development and that he’s already better w/ Ryan…
JetOrange June 8th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Bob

I’m not sure of Jane’s take on this, she may wait until the end of mini-camp. I will predict that VG will have 8.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and an inteception in 2009. All the bust talk will fade away, and Ryan and Pettin will take all the credit for his development.
In truth, Ryan’s system relies more on instinct, than the read and react system of Manginithe simplicity of Ryan’s system helps younger players with talent. I think it is also important to note that Vernon , playing a new position in the pros was handicapped by academic requirements of Ohio State, not being able to participate in last years OTA’s and a limited training camp. Gholston with a full off year training will benefit greatly. I will not critize Mangini, IMO some of the loyalty that his former players have shown, indicates to me that Mangini is a teacher, that demands a high level of dedication and attention to detail. Although Mangini will not be given any credit for Vernon’s development, he may have instilled the work ethic
and layed the foundation for Gholston’s success.
Dan June 8th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Favre to maybe play again ? life is good !!!!
Alex June 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I knew Dan would chime in! So, Dan, now that I know you a bit better, can I assume you’ll be checking in at both the Jets’ and Vikings’ blogs?

Or will you now be strictly a Vikings’ fan? If so, you know Packers’ fans will be out for your head!
Dan June 9th, 2009 at 6:55 am
I will be checking in on the Jets.I think they have the
makings of a good team.The QB position will be dog fight
but I think that is good for the team.With a few contracts still to be signed,this team is going in the right direction.Ryan seems to have complete control and talking
like a true leader of this team.As for Farvre I do really believe this was part of deal he made with the Jets prior to
coming here last year.If it worked out great,if it didn’t
the Jets would release him and Brett would end up where he felt was his best option and that looks like the Vikings.
It turns out that was the only way he could be free from
the Packers with all the restrictions Thompson put on with the trade to the Jets.All and all it looks like it will be
a very interesting year.For the first time I guess I will be cheering for two teams.One team will not be the Packers..

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