2009 Jets: Position by position BY Rich Cimini DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Breaking down the 2009 Jets: QUARTERBACK Rookie Mark Sanchez will make some plays on raw talent alone, but he will see heavy blitzing and sophisticated pass coverages. Prepare for growing pains. RUNNING BACK Thomas Jones is the workhorse, but the real key is Leon Washington. He needs the ball in space to stretch defenses. Look for him in the passing game. WIDE RECEIVER This group isn't going to scare anybody. Jerricho Cotchery is a terrific possession receiver, but he's miscast as a No. 1. Chansi Stuckey can be special in the slot, but he'll be out of his element as the starting flanker. TIGHT END In this offense, Dustin Keller has 80-catch potential. His blocking? Don't ask. Depth is a major issue. OFFENSIVE LINE C Nick Mangold is the best player on a quality line. LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson is talking Pro Bowl and LG Alan Faneca has been to eight Pro Bowls. They'll see more eight-man fronts than last season. Such is life with a rookie QB. DEFENSIVE LINE Aging unit is led by NT Kris Jenkins, who will be used in different spots along the line. If he plays like he did last September and October, the Jets will have a top-10 D. LINEBACKERS Inside guys David Harris and Bart Scott are strong run defenders and surprisingly effective blitzers. Calvin Pace is the best edge rusher, but he begins the season with a four-game suspension. Hello, Vernon Gholston. Ugh! SECONDARY Most improved area on the team, with CB Lito Sheppard and S Jim Leonhard stabilizing two problem spots. CB Darrelle Revis is coming off the first of many Pro Bowl seasons. The pressure is on S Kerry Rhodes, who needs to recapture his '07 form. SPECIAL TEAMS The unit ranges from dynamic (KR Washington) to solid (PK Jay Feely). On the downside, prepare for another season of musical punters. COACHING Rex Ryan can talk; let's see if he can coach. Can he manage a game? Will his defensive-minded approach alienate the offense? How will he handle criticism? Bet on this: He'll be entertaining. PREDICTION 8-8. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/09/10/2009-09-10_2009_jets.html#ixzz0QhWkiSFR --- Have to say he was pretty dead on this time. I totally agree on the WR position and about Gholston. Will miss Pace big time.
It is a good writeup. He understands how pathetic Gholston is too. Can't wait to hear from his apologists here. Cimini also talks about the 8 man fronts we are going to see. They should have brought in a scary receiver. Going to be a long year but it won't surprise anyone that it is.
interesting that Cimini has written something adequate... back on topic.... The key to our season really will be Sanchez and the receivers/Keller. If by some stroke of God Sanchez plays like Matt Ryan, and a receiver of Keller steps up big time, we will go to the playoffs with likely an early exit. If just one steps up we have a chance, but 8-8 is likely. If neither step up 8-8 is probably pushing it....
I think Clowney's ability to get behind the secondary will make team second guess crowding the line of scrimmage. It's not that the Jets receivers are bad, just unproven. I also think he underestimates the Jets defense. If Lito can play half way decent opposite of Revis, this defense will be a force especially with a ton of blitz packages. They're a slightly above average team, but if Sanchez figures it out, then watch out.
Actually, we signed a tight end who started 11 games for the sixth overall offense last season. We also picked up a great prospect in Pascoe. I'd say our depth at tight end is better than adequate. Of course, you'd have to actually follow the New York Jets to know about these transactions. I have not come to expect that from Rich "What Did Everyone Else Write?" Cimini.
guess cimini didn't see sheppard "stabilize" during the preseason..... he's a decent CB but too inconsistent - there will be times when we see him get burned 3-4 times in a row - then see him pick one off at the 10 yard line. thank god we have revis on the other side. jil
#2 CB arguably will be more of a hotseat than normal this year, partly because Revis is more recognized than ever as the guy you DON'T throw at. But also when gaming the Jets, passing early can take the Jets out of their game plan of running the ball. Lito will be a key part of what happens this season.
I actually think that our receiving corps is better than he says, but that the secondary is worse. We need Maquis Cole or Lowery to really step up for the #2 slot becuase Lito is a stiff.
Baed on tihs writeup, I think he's accumlated a list of quotes from this site and pasted them together to finish his "homework" assignment.
Not really a good write-up by any stretch of the imagination, as individuals from this board and others have provided a more thoughtful and comprehensive analysis.
The points have already been made, but I'll repeat them. We have some depth at TE. Not pass-catching depth, but depth. Honestly, would you want practically any other pass-catching TE in besides Keller anyway? The only thing we need TE depth for is for blocking, which we've picked up. As for Lito, who is Cimini's dealer, because I might actually start smoking crack if I can get some of his. That has to be some amazing stuff for him to have completely missed Shepard's preseason. Everything else is "okay" but that's because he didn't state anything that anyone didn't already know. Sanchez has talent? Gee, thanks. Mangold is awesome? Really? Harris, Scott and Pace have talent? Fo' seriously? Anyway, on the topic of Gholston, I'm going out on a limb. I call he gets at least a half-sack this Sunday.
