Jets' Keller likes what he sees from Sanchez
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez says he will "absolutely" be ready for the start of training camp in July. (Jan. 17, 2010) Credit: AP
It's a good thing Dustin Keller is a tight end and not a physical therapist. If he had his way, he'd have Mark Sanchez and his surgically repaired left knee out on the field doing everything.
"He's looking good," Keller said last night. "He's limited in practice, but I think he's healthy enough to where he could go a full practice if he needed to. It's more a precautionary thing.''
The Jets have had two Organized Team Activities this week, and Sanchez participated in both. Keller, who was being honored at the Gridiron Gala to support United Way initiatives in the New York area, seemed to be trumpeting the quarterback's progress.
"He takes some 7-on-7s, and he's taken a couple of reps in team drills, I believe," Keller said. "He's doing a good job out there."
Receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who was at the same event in Manhattan, said Sanchez isn't all that active, though. "He's not doing much," Cotchery said. "Kellen [Clemens] is taking the bulk of the reps. If anything, he does the individual drills."
But even that works for Cotchery, who said, "You can still try to gain some chemistry from that."
Besides the kid gloves the Jets are using in dealing with the rehabilitation of Sanchez's knee, there is also another very important difference between OTAs this season and last. Sanchez is no longer a rookie competing for a starting job. And even though he might not be on the field for every snap during this offseason, he's making his presence felt. There is definitely a feeling that this is Mark Sanchez's team.
"He has a plethora of knowledge," Keller said. "He's so confident. He's been there with all the coaches every day studying everything and he's taken more of a leadership role. He's telling guys what they need to do and what he's expecting of them. He's definitely going to be one of our leaders this year."
Keller and Cotchery said it's been a long offseason, even though it's one of the shortest in team history after the deep playoff run. "It seemed like it took a while to get on the field," Cotchery said.
"I think we're ready for this season to start at any moment," Keller added.
Sanchez probably wouldn't be healthy enough to do that. Unless Keller ran his rehab.
