We know this about Vernon Gholston, at least based on this afternoon’s practice: the Jets backup linemen can’t block him.
* After the Jets moved their practice indoors to the bubble – a storm forced them indoors after 58 minutes outside – Gholston provided many of the highlights for the defense in the 50-minutes that followed. Maybe Gholston had been made aware (obviously he wasn’t but it’s something to cheeky to write) of Eric Mangini’s comments at the morning press conference, saying that the rookie was “swimming” in terms of being overwhelmed with information.
* In one sequence, lining up on the right as the nickel rusher, Gholston left Jacob Bender flat-footed in getting to Chad Pennington for a sack (non-contact). Still thinking about that on second down, Bender false-started – earning a lap – and his replacement, seventh-round pick Nate Garner, was promptly beaten badly by Gholston on the next play for another sack. The following play resulted in Pennington flipping a shuffle pass to Thomas Jones, a good thing because Gholston was in the backfield again.
* Kellen Clemens, working with the first team, threw another interception, giving him four thus far in the preseason compared to zero for Pennington. On the latest one, toward the end of practice and in a sequence where he had been “sacked” by Shaun Ellis (remember, the QBs cannot be hit but a coach can blow a play dead for a sack), Clemens lofted a spiral about 20 yards down the left sideline for Laveranues Coles. David Barrett, however, had good coverage, stepped in front of the slightly underthrown ball and pick it off.
* Clemens, though, still looked better throwing the ball than yesterday. There was a 25-yard dart to Bubba Franks down the middle and a 20-yard strike to Dustin Keller in the seam. A better day, though not a great one.
As for Pennington, he had his share of nice throws: a 12-yarder to a slanting David Clowney [yes, HIM again], a 15-yard beauty on a crossing route to Chansi Stuckey, who had gotten away from Ahmad Carroll, and, before the team went inside because of the lightning, a nice deep ball down the left sideline to Clowney (again!). Pennington also connected with sixth-round pick Marcus Henry, who had not seen a lot of balls to this point, on about a 15-yard slant. Oh, and before the team headed indoors, Brett Ratliff threw his first pick of camp, overthrowing a ball down the sideline, intended for Coles, that safety Eric Smith swooped in for and intercepted.
* Much of the work done indoors was on special teams. The order of the kickoff returners today was Leon Washington, Darrelle Revis, Stuckey and Justin Miller.
* Finally, to touch on a couple of questions from before: Erik Ainge is throwing the ball but not often and not particularly well. He is clearly the fourth quarterback at this point as Ratliff has thrown some of the best balls at camp. But Ainge just hasn’t thrown the ball enough to make any longterm judgments.
Sione Pouha is working mostly with the second defense and has had a couple of bursts through the line. As for Miller, he’s still sharing time as the starting corner opposite Revis and is also returning kicks. While there is a time-share with Barrett, it should be noted Miller gets those first-team reps first.
* Back to two practices on Monday, at 8:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. For the first time this camp, the practices are closed to the public so don’t show up to Hofstra. Well, you can show up but you won’t be allowed to watch. The good news – I think – is we’ll be there for both workouts, dashing off another missive or two afterward.
Comments (19)
Erik,
I hope Mangini keeps "poking" Ghoulston if that's the results we are getting. Although after last year, i believe you on a unicycle could break through the line with Bender blocking.
Anyone going to the early morning Tuesday practice?
Overall, is Clemens playing horrible, or are the interception stats somewhat misleading?
If this was the first time around for this QB circus, I would understand if Clemens was having a few miscues. But he and Chad both knew they were going into a competition and had all offseason to prepare. If Clemens can't handle the pressure here, then we don't need him on the field. As much as I'm in favor of bringing in fresh blood to that position, I'd rather go with the lesser of two evils if Clemens isn't producing.
Erik,
Is Clowney this years training camp surprise? The next Chrebet? What do you see on this kid?
Erik.
Ok my man Barrett [even though Miller will win the job] keeps on making plays. Poteat has had a quite camp so far. D.Coleman looked good today before the rain. Erik my question is once the preseason games start and the WR's continue to play like they are now i see Henry right now behind Stuckey,Clowney,Smith and Wright.And while i think Henry was a good pick and is a tall target will they keep him on the roster because he was their 6th rd pick? Or put him on the practice squad? I think thats were he could end up unti he puts on some more weight and develops.What are your thoughts?
I am just wondering if the CB's are having success because Revis is shutting down the main receiver in the play and that is letting the rest of the secondary to focus on the other receivers?
BTW I am not giving up on Clemens yet, this is just the start of camp, Green Bay just reported today so there is plenty of time left. I look at it this way, Mike Pelfrey of the Mets looked horrible at the beginning of the year with the mouth piece flopping in his mouth when he pitched then all of a sudden everything clicked into place and he is doing very well. QB's take time we will see.
not to be a Debbie Downer, but Bender couldn't block my grandmother last year...still psyched about Gholston and his potential to be a disruptive force against real linemen
as usual Erik, excellent coverage...your editors should be talking raise real soon...
Mr. Green T, I'll be at that Tuesday morning practice! Oh, you didn't mean me...(unicyle. wow).
VAJETFAN, Clemens has kind of alternated between one good practice and one not so good one. I asked him today if he feels more pressure than he did two years ago [face it, then as a rookie he wasn't supposed to win the job] and he said no. Still, I wander if he's putting pressure on himself here. He threw it well today for the most part, though the pick to Barrett was underthrown.
John Z, Clowney certainly is emerging as THE receiving story of this training camp. Period. Not that Stuckey, Wright, Smith, etc. haven't been good, too - they have - it's just Clowney has caught it all.
(the real) mike, not impressed with him beating Garner, either? Kidding. Long way to go with Gholston, obviously, but hey, would you have felt better had he NOT beaten those guys?:). As for the raise....I'm sure the response would be "haha." But thanks!
I'm really rooting for Clowney. He has the best hair and the best last name on the team - and he's from Long Island.
I'm back and I don't think I can read everything that happened in practice...
So here are my questions;
Coles/Cotchery doing anything spectacular? and does Stuckey look good?
Keller, where's he lining up?
How does debrick look?
Why is everyone so down on Carroll? The Giants had a crap secondary last year and won the superbowl. The three things that our secondary has that the Giants didnt are a shutdown corner, solid safeties and speed. Carroll is a speedy guy who, if given the right training, could turn into a solid nickel or even a viable starter opposite Revis. When I saw that, I was overjoyed...now lets get Chris Henry as someone stated a while back.
Also, would everyone really be behind a move for Favre? Because I'm wickedly skeptical.
E-Rock:
Thanks for answering my question about Ainge. That's about what I expected.
Clearly the QB competition is going poorly for Clemens thus far. Erik, I'm wondering if maybe you can give us a little more context...is Clemens honestly looking that bad? Is Chad looking good, or is he doing his usual dink-and-dunk for a high percentage and low yardage? Is Clemens making bad throws, or is he being pressured by the defense/drops? Does he look to be improving?
I guess the question I'm asking is...do the numbers tell the whole story? In other words, if the QB competition ended tomorrow, would Chad be the undisputed winner?
Thanks again for all your hard work.
Boomer is 100% correct. Is 4 weeks enough time to learn a complete new system and get in sink with your teamates?
Terry Glenn got released. Granted he was injured all last season, but he's usually a solid performer...I'd love to see him added to give us some depth.
IRA, did you listen to the Tannenbaum interview on 1050 this morning? If so, can you post as much detail as possible about it? Did Carton ask about Favre a lot?
Terry Glenn got dropped. Why aren't we hearing the Jets FO running and screaming to sign him. One injury isnt the end of the world...we've seen worse...plus a solid route running, veteran receiver could help develop our younger guys really well.
Terry Glenn got dropped. Why aren't we hearing the Jets FO running and screaming to sign him. One injury isnt the end of the world...we've seen worse...plus a solid route running, veteran receiver could help develop our younger guys really well.
I think the FO needs to sign Glenn before Cliff goes postal on them or Boland.
Please let Kellen develop into a franchise QB for the Jets. I can't take a PennyBoy-led offensed anymore.
DB, Clemens hasn't looked good but I wouldn't say he's looked outright awful either. Yesterday was one of his better practices throwing the ball; he just had as I mentioned, that one poor throw toward the end that Barrett picked. Pennington hasn't been out of this world but he's throwing some good passes beyond the "dink and dunks." The deep outs still don't look great but he's zipped some nice 15-18 yarders over the middle.
Please focus on the Jets rather than politics. The Olbermann reference reads as if it were written by the hacks at The New York Post.