[SignalZero]

AT FIRST SIGHT

JETS GET LOOK AT ROOKIE ADDITIONS

By MARK CANNIZZARO
TURNING THE CORNER: Jets first-round draft pick Darrelle Revis defends Boston College receiver Grant Adams on Oct. 14, 2004. The cornerback out of Pittsburgh will be one of the draft picks Jets coaches get to see in action today when the team opens its rookie minicamp at Hofstra. May 12, 2007 -- The wait is over for Jets coaches who have been anxious to see their prized draft picks perform on the field as professionals for the first time.

It has been an active offseason for the Jets' biggest AFC East rival, the Patriots, and the Jets hope they've at least kept pace with some key veteran free-agent signings and a quality-over-quantity focus in the draft.

With some significant additions to New England's roster on both sides of the ball, including a bevy of talented and accomplished receivers for Tom Brady, it was suggested to Jets coach Eric Mangini that the "road" to the Super Bowl will go through New England.

To that, Mangini scoffed.

"The road to anywhere starts with the next minicamp and training camp," Mangini said. "Last year was last year. I don't think [the Patriots] were the ones that won [the Super Bowl]. This is a process, and we're starting on the process."

That process begins on the field today at Hofstra with the start of the Jets' three-day rookie minicamp.

Coaches will finally get a chance to see No. 1 draft pick Darrelle Revis break on passing routes and tie up receivers in press coverage. It'll provide them an early glimpse at a player they hope will stop the revolving door at the starting cornerback spot opposite Andre Dyson.

They, too, will get the chance to see Michigan linebacker David Harris in tackling drills. Harris, the Jets' second-round draft pick, was part of a record-setting run-stuffing defense at Michigan, an area in which the Jets have been lacking.

Two other draft picks on display will be Nicholls State tackle Jacob Bender, an overachiever who should immediately add to the team's depth on the offensive line, an area that has been too thin, and receiver Chansi Stuckey.

Stuckey, out of Clemson, saw his draft stock tumble because of injuries in college. The Jets hope they can develop him into a big playmaker. The seventh-round pick caught 141 passes for 1,760 yards and 7 TDs at Clemson.

When he was asked whether the Jets' focus on a CB at the top of the draft was a "reaction" to the WR signings by the Patriots, Mangini said, "I wouldn't say it was reactionary. It was more a function of us trying to make our team better rather than reacting to what anyone else did. We wanted to improve the talent on our team and the depth."

This weekend will provide a first look at the newest, youngest members of the 2007 Jets.

[NIGHT STALKER]

AT FIRST SIGHT

JETS GET LOOK AT ROOKIE ADDITIONS

By MARK CANNIZZARO
TURNING THE CORNER: Jets first-round draft pick Darrelle Revis defends Boston College receiver Grant Adams on Oct. 14, 2004. The cornerback out of Pittsburgh will be one of the draft picks Jets coaches get to see in action today when the team opens its rookie minicamp at Hofstra. May 12, 2007 -- The wait is over for Jets coaches who have been anxious to see their prized draft picks perform on the field as professionals for the first time.

It has been an active offseason for the Jets' biggest AFC East rival, the Patriots, and the Jets hope they've at least kept pace with some key veteran free-agent signings and a quality-over-quantity focus in the draft.

With some significant additions to New England's roster on both sides of the ball, including a bevy of talented and accomplished receivers for Tom Brady, it was suggested to Jets coach Eric Mangini that the "road" to the Super Bowl will go through New England.

To that, Mangini scoffed.

"The road to anywhere starts with the next minicamp and training camp," Mangini said. "Last year was last year. I don't think [the Patriots] were the ones that won [the Super Bowl]. This is a process, and we're starting on the process."

That process begins on the field today at Hofstra with the start of the Jets' three-day rookie minicamp.

Coaches will finally get a chance to see No. 1 draft pick Darrelle Revis break on passing routes and tie up receivers in press coverage. It'll provide them an early glimpse at a player they hope will stop the revolving door at the starting cornerback spot opposite Andre Dyson.

They, too, will get the chance to see Michigan linebacker David Harris in tackling drills. Harris, the Jets' second-round draft pick, was part of a record-setting run-stuffing defense at Michigan, an area in which the Jets have been lacking.

Two other draft picks on display will be Nicholls State tackle Jacob Bender, an overachiever who should immediately add to the team's depth on the offensive line, an area that has been too thin, and receiver Chansi Stuckey.

Stuckey, out of Clemson, saw his draft stock tumble because of injuries in college. The Jets hope they can develop him into a big playmaker. The seventh-round pick caught 141 passes for 1,760 yards and 7 TDs at Clemson.

When he was asked whether the Jets' focus on a CB at the top of the draft was a "reaction" to the WR signings by the Patriots, Mangini said, "I wouldn't say it was reactionary. It was more a function of us trying to make our team better rather than reacting to what anyone else did. We wanted to improve the talent on our team and the depth."

This weekend will provide a first look at the newest, youngest members of the 2007 Jets.

Bender is my sleeper....I think this guy could eventually (maybe this season) take over the RT position.