Now that we have a glutted roster but before camps begin I thought it would be fun to identify 10 key questions (plus a bonus) the Jets have going in and take a shot predicting how they will play out before we start getting the real scoop from the camps. Here is what I came up with in no particular order. 1. Who will start at QB? I predict Sanchez but would prefer Clemens to ease him in. 2. Who will punt? We have two in camp - Conley and Wilbur. I've never seen either kick so may the best man win. 3. Who will provide DL depth? Givens are Ellis, Jenkins, Douglas, Devito and Green. I predict Potter, Kroul and maybe Steinkuhler. I predict Pouha gets cut and we don't find a vet on waivers we like. 4. Who will provide OL depth? Givens are DBrick, Faneca, Mangold, Moore, Woody and Turner. I predict one of these makes the 53 man roster: Slauson, Hunter, McKee, Link, Thompson, Kracalik and one or more of those five make the PS (except I don't know if Hunter would be eligible) as a future replacement for Woody. I'll predict Slauson on the 53 (they have got to get a late OL pick right eventually, right?) if either he or Turner show they can be an emergency tackle, otherwise Hunter. I also expect an interior lineman to be on the PS (unless they send Slauson down) out of: Daniels, Keenan and Parenton but I don't see any of them on the 53. 5. Who are our back up Safties behind Rhodes and Leonhard? I predict Ihedigbo and Cook with Smith and Fitzhugh getting the ax. 6. Who are our WRs? Locks: Cotch, Smith, Clowney, Stuckey and Wright but I predict 6 on the 53 man roster but I don't know who out of: Henry, Raymond, lewis or Davis. I prefer Henry. A veteran pickup is a possibility but I hope what we have shows up well enough in preseason to make it unnecessary. 7. Who are our TEs? Only Lock is Keller. I predict Davie, Myer and Bullock (one of which might make the 53, probably Davie) won't be enough and we defintely pick up a vet on the waiver wire. I also expect to see Turner and maybe Brown in Two TE sets doing away with our need for a 4th TE. 8. Who are our CBs? Judging from our lack of interest in UDFA in this area, I believe we are satisfied with Revis and Sheppard to start, Strickland as Nickle and Lowery as Dime. Carroll makes it as a ST ace. For a Sixth we have Coleman, Cole or Brackenridge. I'd like to see one of the two FA beat out Coleman but I have no idea which one might. I'll guess Cole. Maybe a waiver wire pick up here? 9. Does Dearth keep his roster spot? I predict yes, but if Davie shows enough as a TE we could be tempted to save a spot by having him fill both roles. 10. Will we see significant playing time from Murrell, Cummings, Trusnick or Brown on Defense? Four guys who have shown some flashes but haven't had an opportunity come game time. If Brown lost the weight they say he has it looks like he is a TE end or gone. We need depth at inside LB so both Cummings and Trusnick could make the 53 and as for Murrell, maybe Ryan could find a way to use him as an OLB (3-4) / DE (4-3) wildcard. I predict yes for those three making our LB core deep and a team strength. Bonus: Who will be on our PS? Crap shoot this early but I'd like to see Southerland as an eventual replacement for Richardson, an OT and an OG, the 7th WR, the odd man out on the DL, a DB and probably a 4th QB. For the sake of arguement I'll predict: Southerland, McKee, Daniels, Davis, SteinKuhler, Fitzhugh, Pizzotti and our man Woodhead to round it out. Well that's what I got on 5/2. Let's hear you're educated guesses.
Wow--this is tough--I think we're going to see more late changes to the roster that we're accustomed to. 1. I don't even see it as a serious competition--Sanchez for certain unless he gets hurt. He's already shown more than Clemens in leadership skills by leading the rooks in extra studying. 3/4. I can't predict OL or DL--Pouha looks like he sucks but that could have been the scheme--whatever Rex decides is fine with me. I think we sign or trade for a big-time DE--maybe a 3rd down specialist. 5. E. Smith gets kept or traded but not cut. With normal improvement, Ihedigbo sticks at least for ST. We'll have to see what he looks like in camp. 6. I'm going to predict Ocho becomes a Jet. 7. I don't see us gaining another receiving type TE. Brown, Turner, Hunter take turns when needed but I see Keller as the everydown TE. PS: Can Woodhead be on the PS? He may be considered to have a season under his belt. Thought provoking post.
1) I think it'll be Sanchez 2) Conley led the nation in punting last year so I'm going to bet on him 3) I don't love the depth at defensive line but I'm not as down on it as most. One of the scouting reports on Potter was a poor man's Adam Carriker so if he can at least make the rotation we'll be good enough. 4) Offensive line depth could be better but we've got a few guys in Turner, Hunter and Slausson who will make the team and could step in and I wouldn't be too worried. 5) I don't see Eric Smith getting cut but I don't think it'd be the end of the world if he was. I like Cook as a prospect. 6) WR is going to be determined by how well Clowney, Stuckey and Smith play this summer. If they don't look like starters there are enough veteran free agents out there that I think we'd make a move. 7) I'm sure one of the UDFA's will make it and I'm anticipating a vet to be brought in. 8) Corner is a position we have a tough of depth at. I hate Drew Coleman and have been hearing Cole has had a good rookie camp so hopefully he beats him out. 9) I think Dearth is safe. There's been an increased emphasis on long snappers and he's still one of the best. 10) I think all those guys get significant time. I think Rex is going to have alot of different guys in there to give different looks so I'm sure you'll see them get some looks.
If Sanchez starts, be prepared for a 3-13 season. He's going to go through growing pains, ala Aikman. He's just not NFL ready.
Nay, I think we will have a strong enough defense/running game to give us a legit shot at the playoffs. The key is not asking too much of a rookie QB. Matt Ryan cases are very rare.... but Joe Flacco's type of success I think will be easier to mimic. The key is having Mark play the game manager role this year, and not asking him to be a "hero" all the time. We will have our hard losses this year I'm sure, and 5-11 wouldn't be the unlikeliest scenario, but I think that we are going to do better than that. I'm predicting 10-6 this season. Possible wild-card, maybe just miss the playoffs.... we'll see.
