The mystery wide receiver
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- July
- 23
Yesterday when I talked to Jets coach Rex Ryan I asked him about the wide receiver situation. Currently, the Jets have Jerricho Cotchery starting, but there’s an open competition for the No. 2 spot. Ryan extolled the virtues of Chansi Stuckey in the slot, David Clowney’s speed and Brad Smith’s versatility.
Then he said: “And I think there will be a surprise come out as a receiver as well, and I’m not going to say it but this one kid, all he does is make plays.”
I’m giving you guys audio from the entire exchange because I want to know who you think he could be referring to. (Ryan’s wife Michelle was there, and that’s who is included in the banter late in the clip.) Notice he didn’t mention Wallace Wright in the initial lineup, but I think that was just an oversight and Wright is certainly no “surprise” after the OTA season.
Could it be a little-used wide like Marcus Henry, who seemed to develop good chemistry with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez early on, or a rookie? A few people have mentioned Dustin Keller could get switched to wide, but my thoughts are that the Jets are too think at tight end right now for a radical change like that, whether the door is open to Bubba Franks or not.
A poll? Hopefully the answer emerges at training camp.
ALSO: DO NOT FORGET that Ernie Palladino and I are hosting a live web chat today at 1 p.m. http://lohud.com/livestream. We’ll take your questions on the Jets and Giants now that training camp is just a week away.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 am by Jane McManus.
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Jane McManus 
Outside of Cotchery , Stuckey is the best overall receiver, but where Chansi excels is in the slot. IMHO Stuckey will catch 50 balls out of the slot, no surprise here.The open position is split end, many of us were hoping that Clowney would step forward, because as we all know speed is a necessary componant of a great offense. Davids speed is complimented by the possesion receiving of Cotchery and Keller. David has been a little disappointing in OTA’s, been injury prone, and drops a lot of passes. My candidate for the surprise receiver is tne much maligned Brad Smith.
With only 12 catches last year, Brad seems to be a darkhorse for the Job. But Smith has size, made some remarkable catches in OTA’s, has deep speed, is probably the best YAC receiver on the squad. Brad has the faith of the organization, and does all those little things like block. Let me say the aquiring if Larry Izzo in January was a preliminary step in allowing Brad Smith to become a full time Wide Receiver
I listened to the audio again, and I feel that Rex is refering to a guy that was not previously mentioned (Stuckey, Clowney,Smith ). Therefore my new surprise receiver is Huey Whittaker.
read your e-mail!! great fun with the web-cast!
How about Mario Urrutia? He was pretty good in college.
Canana :
Mario could be the guy, great size, got deep in college, a protypical split end, bigger than Plax and without a Glock. Needs to stay healthy
Sure…I go out of town for a week and the blog goes crazy with juicy tidbits. I see how it is
Canana:
Mario could be the guy. Mario had an outstanding season in 2006. In 2007 while still at Louisville he developed a “Turf Toe ” injury that plagued him throughout the season. He turned pro in 2008 drafted by the Bengals, and there is a question of whether the “turf Toe” injury still lingered. This type of injury has a big effect on a receiver because you just can’t cut. If there is anyone who knows about this injury, or the treatment of Turf Toe, kindly respond. If Urrutia is the guy it is a tale of an injury that took two years to heal. Training camp begins