One lingering thought on the minds of Jets reporters and fans after the Jets concluded their portion of this year's draft was: But where's the firepower? Primarily, that seems to mean where's the big, big-name wide receiver to provide a downfield element.
But Rex Ryan and Brian Schottenheimer didn't take the bait in separate news conferences they held here at the Atlantic Health Training Center this afternoon.
"Absolutely, we have enough firepower," the Jets' head coach said at his and GM Mike Tannenbaum's wrapup news conference after the sixth-round selection of G Matt Slauson. "I think it starts with your offensive line. It's hard to score in this league if you can't protect the quarterback or run the football. I think we'll be able to do both those things. Our offensive line we feel very good about.
"We've added obviously an outstanding quarterback prospect in Mark Sanchez, and in Shonn Green we added another outstanding running back — that gives us three guys we think we can run the ball with.
"From last year we lost a tight end in Baker and Coles as a receiver. But I look at our receiving corps. It usually takes about three years for a receiver to truly develop anyway. Jerry Rice couldn't play as a rookie. We have those guys with Brad Smith, with David Clowney, with Chansi Stuckey. Our guys are not rookies now. They need to step up, at least one or two of them, and take the position [opposite Jerricho Cotchery].
Schottenheimer, at his own news conference a little earlier in the afternoon, said his goal for the offense remains balance.
"We'll do whatever," he said of the run/pass mix he'd like to see." The personnel dictates it a little bit. We have a philosophy and a belief here. I think that with the offensive line we've built and the stable of backs, it's going to be something we would love to do here. My main thing is that I love to be balanced. That's what I'm going to say to you guys so that the word gets out on the street.
"I'm very comfortable with where we are in the running game. Once we recover and get through rookie minicamp next week, we'll go back and maybe adjust a few things, but really the philosophy isn't going to change. We'll do whatever it takes to win — run, throw — and obviously the weather and conditions come into play a little bit with that, the opponent comes into play a little bit with that. We feel like each week we'll put together a good plan that gives the players the best chance to be successful.
Tannenbaum Statement on Burress
General manager Mike Tannenbaum issued the following statement Sunday night on free agent WR Plaxico Burress:
"Consistent with our normal approach of performing our due diligence, we contacted [agent] Drew Rosenhaus several days ago prior to the draft to inquire about Plaxico's pending legal situation. However, we have had no discussions with Drew about Plaxico since that time."
More to Come ...
The Jets' draft may have ended with the drafting of Slauson, but our coverage will continue on into the new week.
Eric Allen was with Mark Sanchez on his trek to Manhattan to drop in on the draft and SNY, and he'll have a story tomorrow on why Sanchez's family is so important to his development. Back here at the ATHC conducting a Jets Radio interview with Slauson that we'll get on the site Monday as well.
Then there are two episodes of "Jets TV." EA interviewed Sanchez in the morning and I quizzed Greene in the afternoon on camera, and Rich Gentile, our senior multimedia director, said those will appear on the site in the next several days.
Check for the transcripts of the news conferences that were conducted throughout today with Sanchez, Schottenheimer, Woody Johnson, Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum on the site.
And throughout the week leading into the start of the rookie minicamp on Friday, we'll give you all the information we can on the signings of undrafted free agents and all other news involving the Green & White.
Multisport Star?
You may have noticed that Mark Sanchez is tweeting. Here's his Twitter link.
He even broke his own story that he'll be crossing over and throwing one strike in a baseball stadium.
"Love this city!" he tweeted from Manhattan as he worked Radio City. "Get to throw out the 1st pitch @ the Mets game tomorrow evening!"
We suspect he'll be one first-pitch celebrity who won't have any trouble getting the horsehide to home plate.
