After a long offseason, football is back in Florham Park, N.J.

The Jets open a three-day rookie minicamp Friday, with eight draft picks, 10 undrafted free agents and at least 23 non-roster players expected to participate. This is Football 101, with no contact, but it's always interesting to get a first glimpse of the rookies.

What we'll be looking for:

1. At 6-foot-6, 284 pounds, first-round DE Quinton Coples should jump out among his peers. The biggest question about Coples is his hot and cold motor. Chances are, we're not going to find out too much about that in basic drills. What should be on display is his overall athleticism, especially his burst off the ball. Is he going to be a run-stopping 3-4 DE or does he have the explosiveness to rush the passer?He'll be working under new DL coach Karl Dunbar, formerly of the Vikings.

2. We know second-round WR Stephen Hill is big (6-foot-4) and fast (4.31 in the 40), but what about his hands? He didn't get many opportunities at Georgia Tech, an option attack that completed only about five passes per game. Route running is another area that bears watching.

3. Curious to see the speed of sixth-round RB Terrance Ganaway. Obviously, he produced monster numbers at Baylor, but he ran only a 4.65 at the scouting combine (although he improved to 4.56 at his pro day).

4. The Jets tried to address their safety issues by taking Josh Bush in the sixth round and Antonio Allen in the seventh. Bush finished his career at Wake Forest as a safety, but he has played cornerback, so we'll keep an eye on where he lines up.

5. The most compelling story on the field might be TE Hayden Smith, 27, a former professional rugby star attempting to make it in the NFL. He's from Australia and has never played a down of organized football. He's a terrific athlete (ran in the 4.7s), but big, fast and tough doesn't mean he'll be a guaranteed success. If nothing else, he'll be fun to watch. He may need some time to get used to the helmet and pads.

6. Been hearing a lot of talk the last two weeks about Tony Sparano's loud, no-nonsense coaching style. The new offensive coordinator makes his debut in the rookie camp, and I have a feeling it's going to be night and day from Brian Schottenheimer.