[vilmatime51]

from Rich Cimin's Blog..

A Quick Glimpse Inside Today's Rookie Camp

This afternoon’s minicamp practice was open to the media, and I can definitely report this rookie crop is the most limber group of newcomers since the famed draft class of 2000. Darrelle Revis & Co. rocked.

I jest, of course.





Because we were permitted to observe only 45 minutes of the practice, it was extremely difficult to make any snap evaluations on the Class of ’07. In that time span, they performed calisthenics and various agility and positional drills. There was no “live” action and, of course, no contact.

So, basically, we saw a bunch of guys running around in their shorts, trying to catch a coach’s eye. The next Ray Lewis could’ve been out there, but it would’ve been hard to tell.

Anyway, a few things jumped out at me: Leonard Peters’ hair and the plain white helmets.

Peters, a free agent from Hawaii, has a Troy Polamalu-like ‘do, his curly locks pretty much covering most of his back. If he can play anything like Polamalu, the Steelers’ Pro Bowl safety, the Jets will be tickled. Peters had one eye-catching play, as he clotheslined DB Rayshaun Kizer (Walsh College) in a one-on-one tackling drill.

As for the helmets, there were no logos, just white on both sides. It was very Penn State-like. From what I hear, it was Eric Mangini’s way of telling the rookies, “Those logos aren’t handed to you; you’re gonna have to earn them.”

Some thoughts on the drills:

Revis, their first-round pick, is no twig. The former Pitt standout (5-11, 204) has a thick build, almost looking like a safety. Before the draft, some scouts wondered if he’d be a better safety than a corner in the NFL. We didn’t see any one-on-one drills, so I can’t give you a report on Revis’ coverage skills. In a one-one-one tackling drill, Revis, a ballcarrier, used a nice move to blow by the would-be tackler. That’s the good news; the bad news is, the would-be tackler was LB David Harris, their second-round pick.

RB Alvin Banks, a free agent from James Madison, showed some giddy-up … DB Calvin Bannister, a tryout from Hampton (Va.), displayed a quick backpedal … DT Xavier Lawson-Kennedy, a tryout from Oklahoma State, moved like a glacier. One of the most highly-recruited high-school players in the country, XL (his nickname) had a disappointing career in college … Three “veterans” are participating in the camp: TE Joe Kowalewski, OT Ed Blanton and DE Darrell Adams. Not a good sign when you’re told to take part in a rookie minicamp.

Posted by Rich Cimini on May 12, 2007 4:29 PM | Permalink

[S-Dubb]

Thanks for the 411. I'm really rooting for Peters to do well. Revis has good size to maul WR's by the likes of Moss. Having the size and speed is a good thing. Overall a good early report.

[EnRiCH13]

he got the no logos thing from parcells

[Jetsfan0099]

Revis doesnt look like a safety to me, he looks like a CB. He is like 6-0 197, thats not a safety size. He may be able to play safety in the future when he loses his speed around his mid 30s. But its going to be like Ty Law, people thinks he can play safety, but he plays CB and does a greast job at it. Revis is a CB not a safety.

[jets0n]

I dont like seeing Martin's locker like that.... it's just wrong.

[Jetsfan115]

i like the brady quinns GF joke. in miami sh'e a 5 maybe 5.5 but in cleveland the women are fat and hairy so she's like an 11