Sanchez finds L.T., Holmes for offensive show

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Jets were downright offensive right from the get-go Saturday.

Mark Sanchez started the annual Green & White Scrimmage with a 70-yard touchdown strike to LaDainian Tomlinson, the first of several nifty plays turned in by their new-look offense. Sanchez's hookup with Tomlinson immediately fired up the estimated crowd of 9,500 at SUNY Cortland, bringing good vibes on a gorgeous evening in Central New York.

"That was great," Sanchez said. "L.T. had an awesome catch the first drive and you love to start off the game like that, you know? That was a big start. It was big for us."

Tomlinson said: "It's pretty exciting. That's the point, and like we've talked about before, that was kind of my plan, was just to show people that I can still play this game, that I've still got a lot left in the tank. And I think coming out here, people are starting to see that I've got a lot left in the tank."

David Harris certainly did. The linebacker was lined up on Tomlinson, who was split out wide left, and was virtually helpless to do anything to stop Sanchez's pinpoint pass.

With the ball at the 30-yard line and Sanchez in the shotgun, he lofted a pass about 30 yards in the air. Tomlinson, running a simple fly route, reeled it in at about the 40, never breaking his stride as he motored into the end zone for the TD.

"Starting off, they got us - well, they got me the first play," Harris said. "L.T. ran a great route, made a great catch, and he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer once he does decide to hang it up. But it was a good play . . . They made plays all day at the wide receiver group. They've got a lot of weapons over there."

Especially with another of their new additions, Santonio Holmes, already appearing to be in midseason form despite missing the first two days of training camp to be with son Santonio III after recent surgery. Holmes had two receptions of 20-plus yards, bringing them in effortlessly.

"I felt really calm," Holmes said. "I came into the locker room very relaxed. I treated it as if it were a game day. I know I've got to go out and perform. I've got a lot of things they're watching. Everybody's anticipating what I'm going to do and how I'm going to play and how the chemistry is going to be built between myself, the team and with Mark.

"Everything is going. We're learning together right now. We're trusting each other and we're believing and we're having fun with it."

Saturday was a double victory of sorts for the offense. Sure, it was only a scrimmage, but carving up a defense that's had the edge so far in training camp left Sanchez & Co. feeling good about themselves.

"When you are making great plays against our defense, we know that's going to translate well during the season," Sanchez said. "It's been very competitive so far. We're happy with what we've done and today, the biggest goal for us was no turnovers. We don't turn the ball over, we have a chance to win. Three-and-outs, punting, field goals, we'll be OK.

"And when we get a chance, we'll make our big plays - L.T., Santonio, Jerricho [Cotchery], all those guys. So it was a good start."