CORTLAND — You’ve heard this before, but Vernon Gholston is coming on strong in training camp.
If you prefer to not hold your breath for the 2008 No. 1 draft pick who has played two years in the NFL and still doesn’t have a sack, so be it. But coach Rex Ryan and even some of Gholston’s defensive teammates were gushing about his progress yesterday.
“That’s the best day he’s had since I’ve been here,” Ryan said of yesterday’s practice. “I want to see him string some together. This is the most excited I’ve ever been about Vernon Gholston. Whatever he had for breakfast [yesterday], he needs to eat [more]. That was big time.
“I thought it would happen last year,” Ryan said. “But it was a coaching mistake. We put him now in a role where he can be more successful quicker. This is more of a natural role for him.”
Ryan, indicating that he should have moved Gholston from linebacker to defensive end last season, called keeping Gholston at linebacker last year “a coach’s mistake.”
“I think this is the best camp that he’s had since he’s been here,” Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said of Gholston. “He’s picking his motor up and he’s definitely working harder. I think he’s getting comfortable with the plays.
“I’m starting to realize what Vernon’s issues have been: Vernon’s issue is when he’s not really comfortable in the defensive scheme he gets a little tentative. Now he’s starting to relax and have confidence in what’s going on and he’s starting to crank his motor up and it’s about time.”
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In an interesting twist to the Darrelle Revis contract dispute, Revis’ agent, Neil Schwartz, said HBO, which is filming the Jets this camp for its “Hard Knocks” series, requested that it be able to film the meeting between Schwartz and the Jets and he declined, preferring to keep the contents of the meeting between him and the Jets.
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Backup quarterback Mark Brunell worked as the holder for Nick Folk on field goals yesterday, but he’s being viewed as insurance for punter Steve Weatherford, according to Ryan. Brunell held for the Saints last year. Folk was 5-for-5 on field goals in the morning.
Brunell was given a rest quarterbacking yesterday and Kellen Clemens took snaps with the No. 2 offense.
“We need competition to find out who that other guy (the No 3) will be,” Ryan said. “Kellen had a pretty good practice.”
Clemens is battling with Kevin O’Connell for the No. 3 spot.
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Receiver David Clowney, who’d been excused the last couple of days for personal reasons, returned to practice yesterday. . . . Tight end Jeff Cumberland (concussion) and offensive linenman Marlon Jason Davis (knee) sat out practice. Linebacker Jason Taylor left practice with what Ryan said was a “slight” groin pull. Receiver Braylon Edwards (sore knee) also was limited.
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Matt Slauson continued to work with the first team at left guard and seems to be the odds-on favorites to win the starting job. . . . The Jets signed rookie free agent LB Tim Knicky yesterday. Knicky (6-4, 235) was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers.