CORTLAND — It was only an intra-squad scrimmage, but the Jets provided an intriguing snapshot of exciting things to come this season on offensive.
Many of the highlights in last night’s 67-minute scrimmage came from the stars who were acquired in the offseason — with running back LaDainian Tomlinson and receiver Santonio Holmes leading the way.
“This was a showcase of some of the new talent we brought in,” coach Rex Ryan said.
It didn’t take long for the Jets to electrify the 9,500 fans packed in to watch the scrimmage at SUNY Cortland, as Mark Sanchez, operating in an empty backfield on the first play, launched a pass about 30 yards in the air to Tomlinson that went for a 70-yard touchdown.
“This is what he brings to the table,” Ryan said of Tomlinson. “We never had that when Leon Washington went out last year [with an injury]. Look at [Tomlinson’s] receiving skills. Put a linebacker on him and good luck.”
Just ask linebacker David Harris, who tried in vain to cover Tomlinson on the scoring play.
“My plan was to show people that I can still play this game and that I still have a lot left in the tank,” Tomlinson said.
Ryan, who always favors his defense, grudgingly said the offense had the “edge” in the scrimmage — quite a bit of a different story from the scrimmage last year when Sanchez was a rookie trying to win the starting job and the defense dominated.
“Sanchez really looked good,” Ryan said. “He has such great command now.”
Holmes caught a couple of long passes — the first a 35-yarder from Mark Brunell on which he beat cornerback Marquice Cole and the second a 34-yarder from Sanchez on which he beat cornerback Brian Jackson.
“What we’ve been doing out there in practice is only a glimpse of what you’ll see in the season,” Holmes said.
“Big play by committee,” Sanchez called the offense.
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WR David Clowney still is tending to a personal issue and was excused again yesterday. Ryan said he hopes to have him back in camp tomorrow when practice resumes after a day off today. . . . TE Jeff Cumberland, who took a blow to the head the other day in practice, sat out the scrimmage.
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The Jets have been using WR Braylon Edwards on the field goal block team because he’s tall and can jump high. . . . Moments before the scrimmage began a large group of fans were chanting, “We want Revis.”
As of last night there didn’t appear to be any movement in the Revis contract dispute.