A day in the life of the NY Jets

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2005 by Kara Yorio

Coach Herm Edwards has carefully planned the Jets' training camp. The length and difficulty of practice days vary, and no schedule is set in stone, but early in camp--before injuries start piling up--the days should go about as planned. This is the actual schedule as typed by Edwards for Saturday, July 30, the second day of team practices and the first in pads.

6:30am                          Alarm Goes Off "Wake Up Call"

6:45am                          Breakfast / Training Room Opens (Opens
                                for Treatment and Taping)

8:30am                          Kickers / Return Specialist Come On
                                Field

8:45am           Period 1       (a) Practice (Pads) Team Stretch

8:52am           Period 2       Individual Drills for Position Groups

9:07am           Period 3       Special Teams

9:27am           Period 4 (b)   Walk Thru for Offense / Defense
                                (12 Plays)

9:37am           Period 5 (b)   9 on 7 Inside Run / WR's vs DB's 1
                                on 1 (10 Plays)

9:47am           Period 6       7 on 7 / OL vs DL 1 on 1 Pass Rush
                                (12 Plays)

9:57am           Period 7       Team Water Break

10:00am          Period 8       Team Run Outside Play Action Pass
                                (10 Plays)

10:10am          Period 9       7 on 7 / OL vs DL Stunts/Combo Work
                                (12 Plays)

10:20am          Period 10      Team / 11 on 11
                                (16 Plays)

10:38am          Period 11      (c)  10 Team Plays / 11 on 11 (Rookies
                                Only)

11:00am-3:00pm                  Training Room Opens for Treatment and
                                Taping for afternoon practice

11:30am                         Lunch

12:15pm                         (d) Coaches Review Morning Practice
                                Video and Prepare For Afternoon
                                Meetings

2:30pm                          (d) Offense / Defense Meetings /
                                Possible Walk Thru

3:15pm                          Kickers and Return Specialist on field

3:30pm           Period 1       Practice (Shells/ Special Teams
                                Stretch)
                                Note: Only players that are involved
                                with Special Teams are involved in
                                this stretching period

3:50pm           Period 2       Team Stretch
                                Note: All those not involved with
                                Special Teams are involved with this
                                team stretch

3:57pm           Period 3 (e)   Individual

4:07pm           Period 4       Competition / Blitz Period / 11 on 11

4:22pm           Period 5       9 on 7 Inside Run / WR vs DB's 1 on 1
                                or Combo Coverage
                                (10 Plays)

4:32pm           Period 6       7 on 7 / OL vs DL -Pass Rush
                                (12 Plays)

4:42pm (f)       Period 7       Team Water Break

4:45pm           Period 8       9 on 7 Team Run / Play Action Pass
                                (10 Plays)

4:55pm           Period 9       Special Categories - Situation Period/
                                3rd Down / Red Zone / Short Yardage /
                                Goal Line (12 Plays)

5:05pm           Period 10      7 on 7 / 3rd Down / Red Zone OL/DL
                                Stunts / Combos (12 Plays)

5:15pm           Period 11      Team / 11 on 11 / Move The Ball
                                (Emphasis on Minus and Plus Territory
                                Situations) (16 Plays)

5:30pm           Period 12      10 Team Plays / 11 on 11 (Rookies
                                Only) 1st and 2nd Down Situations

5:30pm                          After Practice Training Room Is Open
                                For Treatment

6:00pm                          Dinner

6:45pm                          Coaches Review Afternoon Video and
                                Prepare For Evening Meetings

7:15pm                          Special Teams Meeting--Review Practice
                                Tape / Install for Tomorrows Practices

8:00pm                          Team Meeting / Head Coach will review
                                practice and lays out daily schedule
                                and deals with all administration
                                matters at that time

8:15pm                          Offense / Defense Meeting / Review
                                Video from afternoon practice and
                                install for tomorrows practice

10:00pm                         Break Meetings / Post Treatment after
                                meetings

10:15p                          (g) Team Snack

10:30pm                         (h) Staff Meeting:

                                * Trainer gives update on injured
                                  players
                                * HC discusses the practice format
                                * HC I Staff will evaluate individual
                                  players
                                * Review video on certain segments to
                                  be discussed on practice
                                * Highlight what needs to be
                                  emphasized at tomorrows practice
                                * Coordinators I Assistant Coaches
                                  will finish scripting for tomorrow
                                  practice

11pm                            (i) Bed Check

Weight Training is done 3 days per week prior to morning practice or
after morning practice

(a) Not every practice is in
full pads. Some are in
shells (helmets, shoulder
pads and shorts) or
spiders (helmets, lighter
shoulder pads and shorts).
Edwards wants to push
players and work them
hard but not in such a way
that would cause injury.

(b) Each period is run quickly.
Edwards wants players to
think fast, as in game
situations. The scoreboard
clock is set for each period,
and a staff member blows a
horn with 2 minutes left, then
again when the period is
over-if he gets the OK from
Edwards. If a group isn't
finished running the allotted
number of plays, Edwards
delays the horn and practice
is extended.

(c) Veterans are cheerleaders here
because rookies don't get enough
reps otherwise. Rookie-only drills
are not scheduled in every practice.

(d) Some quick coaching gets
done during practice as players
return to the huddle to run the
next play. But after reviewing
practice video, position coaches
provide detailed instruction in
off-field meetings.

(e) Players run through
position-specific drills
such as footwork reps
for defensive backs
and long toss for
quarterbacks.

(f) Players can get
water at any time
during practice,
but everyone has
a drink and quick
break during the
designated water
times.

(g) Chicken tenders, wings, pizza,
cold cuts, yogurt, ice cream and
fresh fruit are among the available
snacks, which are color-coded by
calorie and fat into three levels.

(h) The injury report is the
most important part of
the meeting because
injuries can alter the next
day's practice schedule.

(i) Each night there are two coaches
and one trainer on bed-check duty.