When Sanjay Lal took the job as Jets wide receivers coach he heard all of the stories about Santonio Holmes.
The Jets season had just ended a few weeks earlier with Holmes sitting on the bench in Miami for the final two minutes after fighting with teammates on the field. Holmes was labeled a “cancer,” there was speculation the Jets might get rid of him and the relationship between he and quarterback Mark Sanchez had deteriorated.
Lal decided to ignore all of it. The 42-year-old coach, who spent the last five years with the Raiders, wanted to make his own evaluation.
“A lot of things I had read or been told occur every day on every NFL sideline,” Lal said. “They’re just not shown. I can honestly say I’ve had to manage receivers between plays, between series, very similar things. It truly is because the good ones are so competitive they just want the ball. What makes them good is that quality, so there is frustration attached to it at times.”
Lal spoke with Holmes a few times after taking the job, but they could not discuss football until the offseason program began in April. For the past five weeks, Lal has gotten to watch Holmes work up close. Lal said Holmes has been, “very eager, very football-hungry, very competitive.”
The coaches have been able to work with the players on the field for the last three weeks. Other than Holmes, the Jets receivers are very inexperienced. Lal has leaned on Holmes to tutor the younger players.
“He loves coaching technique as much as I do,” Lal said. “So, when we go out there he’ll take his rep and then he’ll help with the technique with the rest of the guys. He knows what I’m looking for. He sees it a lot through my eyes and I see it through his eyes. It’s a good synergy I’d say.”
Lal is not the only one who has noticed Holmes’ contributions on the practice field.
“He’s been great,” said tackle Wayne Hunter, who was one of the players who fought with Holmes in Miami. “Santonio has been great. He’s been doing extra stuff that people wouldn’t believe. He’s been doing extra with Mark. He’s been doing stuff that he hasn’t done in the past. He’s been a team player, and it’s been a good change.”
Lal replaced Henry Ellard, who spent three seasons as the Jets receivers coach. The Jets receivers had a down year in 2011. Holmes and Plaxico Burress never clicked with Sanchez. Derrick Mason was shipped out after the first month of the season. The receivers room was a problem for the Jets.
The group underwent a makeover this offseason, starting with Lal. The Jets also let Burress walk, signed Chaz Schilens and then drafted Stephen Hill in the second round of last month’s draft.
Hill could be the team’s second receiver. His biggest hurdle is adjusting to the NFL after playing in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech.
“I think physically he’ll be OK,” Lal said. “Because he’s a blank slate physically he doesn’t have a lot of bad habits. Mentally is where the challenges will come. He’ll see looks and coverages that he might not have seen before. So, the mental side of the game is where his challenges will come.”