1. For those who need their quarterback fix, here you go: Mark Sanchez was 7-for-14 in team drills, including an unsuccessful two-minute drill at the end of practice. Tim Tebow was 1-for-4, including a 50-yard bomb to WR Stephen Hill. Neither quarterback had an interception. In 7-on-7 drills (in the red zone), Sanchez was 5-for-6, with two TDs; Tebow was 4-for-5, with one TD. The bottom line is, neither quarterback shined. Tebow, in particular, seemed tentative with his reads, especially in the red zone. In fairness to the quarterbacks, it should be mentioned they had to work with a skeleton receiving corps on a semi-windy day.
2. Hill continues to impress. We know he's big and we know he's fast, but he also demonstrated the ability the beat jams at the line of scrimmage. A lot of rookies struggle with that aspect of the job. Actually, Rex Ryan candidly admitted he expected Hill to have trouble with press coverage, but the second-round pick has surprised him. Obviously, these aren't full-contact practices, so he isn't getting the full brunt of life as an NFL receiver, but Hill has met the early challenges. He beat CB Kyle Wilson on a 50-yard bomb and he caught a quick-out on CB Darrelle Revis during the two-minute drill.
3. No. 1 pick Quinton Coples, working with the starting unit, had a productive day. He "sacked" Sanchez and also batted down a pass at the line. Said Ryan: "Coples looks like he's killing it pretty good." This was a boom-or-bust pick for the Jets. So far, it's a lot closer to boom than bust.
4. Rookie LB Demario Davis (third-round pick), whom the Jets envision as a "coverage" linebacker, worked in the first-team nickel package. He has the athleticism to drop into coverage, but his inexperience shows up. He got burned on a wheel route by RB Joe McKnight, who was all alone in the end zone on the final play of a two-minute drive -- and dropped the ball. Davis got lucky -- this time.
5. OC Tony Sparano is constantly preaching tempo, tempo, tempo in practice. He wants the offense in and out of the huddle ASAP. He wants the offense to get accustomed to a quick pace because, in theory, it should make it easier in games. He also believes it helps the learning process -- less time to digest the play call. That means they have to know it immediately, no excuses.
6. Maybe it's just me, but the defense looks faster than last year. Maybe the "dinosaur" days have gone the way of ... well, the dinosaur.
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