Sanchez and Hill Hook Up in Jets OTAs While Holmes Is Away and Tebow Struggles

The Jets OTA practice was open to the media today, offering a potential preview of what might be a common sight in the future—second-round pick wide receiver Stephen Hill getting behind the defense for a long score.

Rich Cimini of ESPN New York called it the play of the day, with Hill "blowing past" Kyle Wilson and getting "wide open." Brian Costello of the New York Post called the pass "pretty." Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger also said Hill was wide open and commented that he "sprinted easily up the sideline."

The 75-yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez to Stephen Hill was part of a great day for Sanchez, who was the "best quarterback on the field," according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Hill seemed like a great pick for Tim Tebow because of his similarity to fellow Georgia Tech size/speed freak Demaryius Thomas, who flourished with Tebow late last season in Denver. Tebow did have a "borderline ugly" completion to Hill, according to Mehta. He also had two interceptions in 7-on-7s, according to Vrentas, who agreed that Sanchez was the best quarterback on the field.

This could portend big things for the Sanchez-to-Hill hookup instead, as Sanchez called Hill a "sponge" and a "great pickup," according to Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press. Kristian Dyer of Metro New York reported that Sanchez called Hill "a heck of a player" with "a lot of potential." Hill's suspect hands did show up on a drop of a short throw from Sanchez "with a lot of mustard," according to Cimini.

Regardless of his ups and downs, the fact is that Hill certainly made an impression, with the only incumbent starting wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, in Germany supporting the troops. 

There was one bright spot for Tebow:

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Tebow looks great covering punts. A natural born personal protector. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) May 24, 2012

 

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The Jaguars took a punter in the third round, but the Jets might have done them one better, trading a fourth-round pick for a punter's personal protector.