Sports Radio Interviews

The Jets Hope Their Moves During the Offseason Pay Off

After putting together an impressive postseason run that ended just one game away from the Super Bowl, the New York Jets are entering year two under Rex Ryan.  As is the case with most NFL teams, this offseason brought a lot of change to this team.  To highlight, they released Pro Bowler Alan Faneca, Lito Sheppard and Thomas Jones to save more money and signed some veterans that can produce right away.  They traded for Antonio Cromartie to replace Lito Sheppard, and brought in Jason Taylor to play outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.  The offensive side of the ball also received a makeover when they signed LaDainian Tomlinson to replace Thomas Jones, and infused some much-needed speed into the passing attack by acquiring Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes from the Steelers.  Holmes is suspended the first four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy because he likes to smoke weed, so New York was able to get him for a measly fifth-round pick.

One year after entering the season without a proven No. 1 receiver, the Jets potentially have three of them (or at least three number twos) . Jerricho Cotchery was the main man for the first time in his NFL career last season and was productive on the field, averaging over fourteen yards per reception.  It is possible Cotchery might not be a starter once Holmes returns from his four-game suspension.  Holmes thus must make the most of training camp and the preseason games as he attempts to establish chemistry with Sanchez.  By mid-season, it’s quite possible Edwards and Holmes will be the starters with Cotchery taking more of a slot receiver and third-down role.  Last season, the Jets often went conservative on offense to limit the chance of Sanchez throwing picks, but this season you can expect to see his throwing more passes and taking more chances downfield with his receivers.  The question then becomes, will this be enough to get them past the AFC Championship game?

Jerricho Cotchery joined ESPN Radio New York to talk about how this offseason is different from last offseason, whether the HBO cameras will be a distraction during training camp, and whether he is worried about the team’s offense being more pass happy this year.

His thoughts on how this offseason has been:

“It has been great.  I have been having a blast this year.  I am just excited for this season coming up and what it has to offer.”

How this offseason is different from last offseason:

“Yeah it is pretty different.  Last year around this time we had a new coach coming in and a new staff and everything.  We were just trying to get accustomed to one another.  Everything is in place, high expectations.  The cameras are following us around a little bit now so there is a lot of excitement for just football right now.”

Whether the HBO cameras will be a distraction during training camp:

“I’ll be OK.  I will just go out there and handle my work every day and just look forward to getting better.  I think it is great with all the excitement just around football…  Everyone is on the same page with the Super Bowl.  We are talking, we all want to win the Super Bowl and we are talking about it now as opposed to keeping it in the hush in years past.  Now everyone is on the same page.  Now we are just trying to work towards that goal.”

What he saw change in Mark Sanchez last year from Day 1 to the end of the season:

“Well I think anytime when you are coming into the league as a rookie the pace of the game is fast for you.  Over the course of the year you saw it slow down for him.  Obviously we took the ball out of his hands and handed the ball off 60 times a game so that is going to slow it down a lot.  It slowed down for him we got to see that in the playoffs and then he just took his game to another level in the playoffs in helping us get to the AFC Championship game.”

Whether he is worried about the team’s offense being more pass happy this year:

“Well I think our focus is still going to be on the running game but what we figured out is you have to do more than just run the ball.  You have to put points on the board and you put points on the board by passing the ball but we are still going to be a run-first team.  To put the ball in the end zone you have to let the wide receivers do some damage on the outside and put it in the end zone.”

Whether he enjoys playing the slot receiver position:

“Well I’ve got real estate on Revis Island so I know that Island pretty well.  I enjoy moving around.  That is what I enjoy most, being able to play all of the positions and being able to not let the defense focus in on where you are going to be so I enjoy playing all across the board and it allows me to show my versatility.”

Jerricho Cotchery on ESPN Radio NY with McDonald and Tierney

Tags: Darrelle Revis, HBO Hard Knocks, Jerricho Cotchery, lost to Colts in AFC Championship game, made it to AFC Championship game, Mark Sanchez, New York Jets wide receiver, NY Jets, Rex Ryan, slot receiver