Too many new and young players with potential to single anyone out. Of course Geno is the most critical. If we end this season with any doubts about who our starting QB should be we're most likely not going to be a serious contender in 2015. If he steps his game up this team could be right in the mix for years to come. Let's hope it's the latter.
Too many to list, so I'll just say I'm pulling for the trainers/medical staff to have an All-Pro year. If they can keep all the semi-sketchy injury guys we have around upright, we should be sittin pretty.
1. Double A One of my favorites. Not fully convinced Pryor will be able to be effective as a FS in the NFL. He may end up pushing my boy out of the SS spot. Poor Double; first old man Reed and now this. 2. Darrin Walls Hopefully, all this talk about having a hole opposite Milliner is adding fuel to the fire. Hey, what about me? 3. Ras-I Dowling It would be great if a "healthy" Dowling could develop into a FS. At 6-1 210 he has the size you want for the position. Note AA boasts the same measurables. The scouting report on Dowling coming out was that he sought out contact in run support and was a sound tackler. So he has the physicality you want to go along with CB speed that's relatively rare for NFL safeties. There are not that many NFL safeties out there that can run in the 4.4s like he did at the combine. Add in the coverage skills he would bring to the position, on paper at least, he has the makings of an ideal FS prospect. I would think his conversion from CB to FS would be easier than what Allen's from hybrid LB to SS. I love the flexibility it would bring to our base D if we added a FS w/ CB cover skills.
I want everybody to do good. But if I had to narrow it down to 3 here is who I'm rooting for. Geno Smith- I'm hoping that with a year of experience, and a chance to work with the coaches, plus OTA's/mini camp/training camp and with the additions on offense, I hope he can give solid QB play in '14 and I hope he cuts down on the turnovers as the game slows down for him. If he pans out then we're set at QB for the next 10-12 years. Stephen Hill- this guy has a ton of physical ability that you'd want in a receiver. But it hasn't translated on the field on a consistent basis. Hill is only 23 years old entering his 3rd season. I hope this season he can give us some solid play and turn the corner and become a productive receiver. Antonio Allen- he was solid last year and with Pryor in the mix he can slide to his natural position at SS. With his coverage ability he and Pryor have the potential to be an excellent safety tandem. I hope Allen takes a big step up in year 3.
Hill --- Just hope he steps it up this year with no injuries, Otherwise this very well could be his last year with the Jets.
I just want to win, I don't care who steps up but I guess if there is one guy it's Geno. geno stepping up and becoming a good QB will be a great sign for the future but as long as we win I don't care.
Hey this is kind of a fun thread. I could mention some bench players who the Jets could really use help from more medium term than in looking at the starting roster, like McIntyre, whose development the Jets could use to have him replace Pace (who although I am a fan I can't see him starting much past the coming season). Or someone like Allen, who could really be help in the secondary if he can build on the promise he showed last year. But, looking at either starters or potential starters for 14, the guys who could reasonably improve and make a big contribution are: Coples. Rex has been experimenting with how to get the most out of him. I can think of some players over the years who tried to make it work in a hybrid role, and failed. But I think Coples showed more success in and comfort with his role as last season progressed. The Klecko comments pointed to another issue with Coples, but I think he can get it done, and it would be huge if he could succeed. McDougle. Counting on a third round pick to start at Cb is a real stretch, but given the mismanagement of this situation, a success here by McDougle could be a huge help. At this point I think it unlikely the Jets find a starting Cb in some other team's camp cuts or in some trade. And none of the other Cb's after Milliner look good as prospects for starting and being effective. But if he can, he will simultaneously pull Idzik's fat out of the fire. Ivory. With a weak second year Qb and an oft injured older vet as the top two Qb's, a dependable running game is absolutely necessary. Ivory concerned me early last year because of his injury history, but as the season went on he played himself into a very effective and dependable player. Matching him up with Johnson will imo give him the opportunity to be even more effective. Ivory as one of the top RB's in the league would go a long way to covering the troubling situation at Qb. Winters. This one is so obvious I will say nothing more about it.
Obviously all of them but to be specific 1 - Geno: I want him to prove that he can be the QB of the future 2 - Barnes: I think he was doing really, really well until he got hurt and people seem to be forgetting about him. I hope he's healthy and can show his value. 3 - Pryor: Loved the pick and want him to disprove anyone who said it wasn't a good pick. 4 - Hill: I had a bit of faith in him going into last year and he let me down. I am just hoping that he can step it up and prove he wasn't a complete waste of a pick. 5 - Milliner: He's basically going to be the cornerstone of our secondary so he's gotta be good or we're pretty much screwed. If he can't take away the other team's best receiver we may as well just spot the other team 30+ points
All the Jets. But I would love to see Michael Sam do great. I still think we should had taken him over the last 2 DE we did take. I think the media that would had come scared Idzik away.
Like everybody else I would like everybody to do well, but I'm pulling for Coples and Hill. I feel that this season is make or break for both players. I think Coples has more of a chance to thrive here than Hill though, he was still adjusting to the NFL when Rex had him change positions. I'm excited to see what he might do with another year under his belt. Hill on the other hand has no role on this team if he doesn't get it together. I think were keeping the two 4ths on unless they are trash, Decker and Kerley of course and probably David Nelson, after that it's going to be a mess. I think we might keep 7 WR with the last guy being a special teams mostly guy.
I'm pulling for the underdogs 1) McDougle- Because people are beating up on him by saying we took him too high. 2) Jeremiah George- He looks active and involved in almost all plays. Might be our best linebacker in coverage and will be a special team warrior right away. 3) Shaq Evans/Enuwa- One of these guys hopefully will step up and back up what Idzik saw in them. WR was a major need this offseason.
Most importantly I'm pulling for Rex. I really like him and he wants to be coach of the Jets unlike Bill Parcells, Bill Belichek, Al Groh and Herman Edwards. He has lineage to our last championship team with his Father the defensive line coach. So let's go Rex get us back into the playoffs and beyond.
Jeremiah George might be David Harris's replacement in a year. I think he's going to be really good. He can play in coverage as well as being stout in run support.
Ademola Olatunji CB Howard...this player has been invited to rookie mini-camp. Has good size & skillz....by the looks of his game tape highlights.
Trying to go with unheralded guys and backups, and limit it to as few as possible. OFFENSE Dakota Dozier - I think he can be Colon's replacement next season. Or Winters' if things go poorly. Zach Sudfeld - There was a time people who follow football closely thought he'd have a big year. That was last year. Sudfeld brings a different dynamic than Amaro and Cumberland, and I'm curious what he can do. Quincy Enunwa - I think he has the most upside to be a high-quality receiver among the 3 guys drafted. Ben Ijalana - Because he went to Villanova. And he was once highly touted, and the Jets thought enough of him to keep him on their roster last year. DEFENSE Kenrick Ellis - He's an unheralded member of the defensive line but I think he still has untapped upside. He's improved every single year, and if he can step it up, we'll have even more top options on the DL. Jeremiah George - The more I watch of him, the more I like him. Flies around the field despite his size. I expect him to make the team on special teams, which means he'll be active on gameday. If that's the case, I could see him carving a role, likely on third downs. Dexter McDougle - Could have picked any number of cornerbacks here, but I think McDougle has the most upside. Ball skills, man-to-man skills, good athlete, I like what I've seen of him. Brandon Dixon - I think he'll get practice squadded, but I could see him having a role down the line. Very good athlete and has raw skills. Seems like a lot of people look at this as a throwaway pick, and that may be in terms of making the roster this year. However, once he gets coached up, he has a chance to play here.
Trying to go with unheralded guys and backups, and limit it to as few as possible. OFFENSE Dakota Dozier - I think he can be Colon's replacement next season. Or Winters' if things go poorly. Zach Sudfeld - There was a time people who follow football closely thought he'd have a big year. That was last year. Sudfeld brings a different dynamic than Amaro and Cumberland, and I'm curious what he can do. Quincy Enunwa - I think he has the most upside to be a high-quality receiver among the 3 guys drafted. Ben Ijalana - Because he went to Villanova. And he was once highly touted, and the Jets thought enough of him to keep him on their roster last year. DEFENSE Kenrick Ellis - He's an unheralded member of the defensive line but I think he still has untapped upside. He's improved every single year, and if he can step it up, we'll have even more top options on the DL. Jeremiah George - The more I watch of him, the more I like him. Flies around the field despite his size. I expect him to make the team on special teams, which means he'll be active on gameday. If that's the case, I could see him carving a role, likely on third downs. Dexter McDougle - Could have picked any number of cornerbacks here, but I think McDougle has the most upside. Ball skills, man-to-man skills, good athlete, I like what I've seen of him. Brandon Dixon - I think he'll get practice squadded, but I could see him having a role down the line. Very good athlete and has raw skills. Seems like a lot of people look at this as a throwaway pick, and that may be in terms of making the roster this year. However, once he gets coached up, he has a chance to play here.
I think he is a little too light right now but a year of NFL weight training and he will be ready to take over for Harris next year.
Offense: Stephen Hill- If this kid puts it together our WR core is pretty damn good Winters- I think he struggled a lot last year but I'm hoping he locks up that starting G position Defense: Antonio Allen- really liked how much he stepped up last year. Let's see what another year does Milliner- same as above pretty much (except stepped up towards end of year)
Eric Decker: I want him to prove to everybody that he's a little more than the "good number 2/3/4 WR type" misnomer. Chris Johnson: I have every faith that Ivory will continue to produce but Johnson might be the piece that changes the complexion of the offense if he gets in a groove. Get him in space, watch good things happen and watch Titans fans kick themselves knowing he was quality that just wasn't used right. Jace Amaro: the last offensive piece crucial to the teams success, I know Smith is an easy pick but I'm of the belief the offense will work fine so long as he knows who's going where and weapons like the hound do their damn job's right. if he becomes a sure handed and physical threat in the slot and the aforementioned two have a time of their own this offense will be amazing. McDougle/Reily: bunched together cause I'm pretty sure they're not game changers this year, but I hope these guys become starters and staples of their position at Nickel/Cornerback and Sam OLB respectively.
Going to go with Millner, Geno and Decker. All 3 have a very important role to play this year and all 3 have been doubted by most in the media. Many have doubted that Millner and Decker are true #1 at their positions. Geno has been doubted since he slid to the 2nd round. If these 3 can step up and thrive I think the Jets can not only be a play off team but I think they can win the division!
