North Carolina State University Athletics
Former Wolfpack Receiver Moving Up Jets' Depth Chart
8/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2004
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Jerricho Cotchery dropped to the fourth round of last April's draft because NFL teams were concerned about his speed -- or relative lack of it. Now, he's moving up the New York Jets' depth chart at wide receiver because of his quickness and toughness.
"He has a burst to him, some suddenness to him," coach Herman Edwards said Tuesday. "What I like about the guy is that he's tough. He'll go in and block and has a very good vertical ability to jump up and get the ball."
Cotchery already has moved up to the fourth wide receiver spot behind Santana Moss, Wayne Chrebet and newly acquired Justin McCareins. With Moss and Chrebet questionable for Saturday night's exhibition at Indianapolis, he could move up even higher.
At NC State, the 6-foot, 207-pound Cotchery was the primary target for Philip Rivers, chosen fourth overall in the draft. Rivers, traded by the New York Giants to San Diego for the rights to Eli Manning, is the last unsigned first-rounder.
"I learned a lot from a real leader," Cotchery said of Rivers. "I basically followed him around. Everything he wanted to do, I wanted to do with him -- watch films, go out and throw balls -- I just followed him around. He knew everyone's position on the offense from the linemen to the receivers."
Now he's learning from Edwards, his staff and the veterans around him.
When he showed up for his interview with the Jets at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Cotchery was one of the few players wearing a tie.
That impressed Edwards, but so did a few other things.
"He had a good handshake. He's a person who looks you in the eye when he shakes your hand," the coach said. "That's important. You also look at his career, where he played. He caught a lot of passes. He was a productive player. He played in a good conference."
But what's impressed Edwards most is Cotchery's play in training camp.
"Every day, he's making a play," Edwards said. "I go by the coaches' offices at night and I say 'did 89 catch the ball for a touchdown again today?' Every time I turn around, it's number 89. We haven't guarded him yet."
Cotchery Catching Attention
By Eric Allen Coach Edwards declared Monday, "Just watch practice every day, and I guarantee you number 89 will make some catches." And on a sparkling Tuesday in Hempstead, wideout Jerricho Cotchery didn't disappoint. After a productive debut in New Orleans, Cotchery continued his tear in the sun with a couple of outstanding catches. During one-on-one drills, the rookie from N.C. State was covered well by corner David Barrett, but stillwas able to contort his body and grab a long ball on his hip. Later, Cotcheryscored inthe corner end zone on a pretty pass from Chad Pennington. Throughout practice, he found seams in the defense over the middle and broke precisely on balls. Cotchery, the Jets fourth round selection in April's draft, has Edwards singing his praises. On the Hofstra practice field this morning, Edwards asked after a Cotchery grab, "Who was that again? Good luck DBs." The 6-0, 207-pound former favorite target of Phillip Rivers likes the attention. "It feels good," Cotchery says. "It helps out what I am trying to get accomplished. I am trying to earn the respect of my teammates. Once they hear him calling my name, they're going to be like, `Okay's who is #89?' They'll be like that's Jerricho Cotchery from N.C. State." That respect of his teammates includes everyone on the roster. "I am going to keep on doing it every day and hopefully, I will become closer with the entire team, even the snappers and punters," Cotchery told reporters. This recent explosion comes after a disappointing start for the Birmingham, Alabama native. Cotchery was slowed by a tight hamstring for the first week of camp, but a practice against the Giants helped him turn the corner. "Really, the first week I didn't practice," he said. "My first practice was the second practice against the Giants. Coach Hostler (WR coach) told me I did pretty well that practice. After that, he just told me to keep getting better every day. Once I go up there, I can't go back down, and that's basically what I've been trying to do every day. I am trying to get higher and higher every day." Every day, Cotchery climbs the ladder. Edwards noted after the morning workout that Cotchery brings good leaping ability to the receiving corps. He possesses an explosive one-step vertical. But he fell on draft day because teams weren't crazy about his speed. "A lot of teams were telling me that they liked the way I play, that I played fast," Cotchery said of last year's scouting season. "They were complimenting me. They even told the coaches that when they would come in during the season and watch films on me. "Then they didn't show interest in me after the season," he added with a smile. "The Jets showed interest after the season. The team that wants to be with me - I want them." Everyone seems to be happy now.
