There’s a certain look receiver Santonio Holmes gets in the fourth quarter of games. It’s the perfect blend of concentration and aggression, a piercing focus that leaves you half-believing laser beams will shoot out of his pupils.
“Tone time” is what coach Rex Ryan calls it. And “Tone time” has stretched into overtime the last two weeks.
Two weeks ago in Detroit, it was Holmes and his 54-yard catch that set up a Nick Folk game-winning field goal in the extra frame. Then on Sunday, Holmes split two would-be tacklers and dashed into the end zone with seconds left in overtime to win at Cleveland.
Holmes has emerged as the first-choice receiver for Mark Sanchez, hauling in 10 passes for 190 yards the last two weeks.
“Just trust me that I’m going to be where you need me to be. Just put the ball where you think it’s going to be safe for me to catch it,” Holmes said. “If it’s anywhere in my area, I’m going to catch it.”
Holmes’ area has practically been the whole field. The former Super Bowl MVP has been a deep target and a potent force over the middle from the slot since joining the team in Week 5 after a league-mandated suspension.
“Things happen on the field during the course of the game. You’re having to roll with the punches that are being thrown and I think, right now, no style points really matter,” Holmes said. “[It is] just stacking the wins on top of each other.”
Despite the fact that Holmes wasn’t on the field for the Jets season opener, a 10-9 loss to Baltimore in Week 1, he carried the lessons from that game with him. Holmes said that he is here with the Jets to win a Super Bowl and that how the team wins game, it doesn’t matter, as long as they win. Even if it takes overtime to get the ‘W,” much like it has the last two games for the Jets.
“Things happen on the field during the course of the game. You’re having to roll with the punches that are being thrown and I think, right now, no style points really matter,” Holmes said. “[It is] just stacking the wins on top of each other.”
And maybe Holmes is the way for the Jets to keep stacking. The Jets are 4-1 since Holmes came off of suspension and he’s already hauled in 20 catches in his shortened season. Pro-rated through the nine games the Jets have played, Holmes would be tied for the team lead in receptions with LaDainian Tomlinson for 36 catches and he would easily lead the team in receiving yards as well.
But all that matters little for a player who hasn’t even seen the highlight of game-winning catch and run from Sunday. Holmes got home on Sunday after the team flight landed and watched some of the Sunday night football game and caught some basketball as well. As for his highlight, his eyes were closed.
“I think I feel asleep before that came on,” Holmes said laughing.
