Projected Depth Chart

QB: Mark Sanchez, Mark Brunell*, Eric Ainge

RB: Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, Danny Woodhead

FB: Tony Richardson, John Conner

WR: Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith, David Clowney

TE: Dustin Keller, Ben Hartsock

T: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Damien Woody, Wayne Hunter, Robert Turner

G: Vladamir Ducasse, Matt Slauson, Brandon Moore

C: Nick Mangold

DE: Shaun Ellis, Matt Devito, Vernon Gholston, Ropati Pitoitua, Marques Douglas

DT: Kris Jenkins, Sione Pouha, Matt Kroul

OLB: Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, Jason Taylor, Jamaal Westerman

MLB: David Harris, Bart Scott, Kenwin Cummings, Lance Laury

CB: Darelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson, Dwight Lowery, Drew Coleman, Marquis Cole

S: Jim Leonhard, Brodney Pool, Eric Smith, James Ihedigbo

K: Nick Folk 

P: Steve Weatherford

LS: Tanner Purdum 

The Start of the 2010/2011 Season

We enter year two of this blog with the Jets in a completely different situation than they found themselves in last year.  Last year at this time Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan dominated New York headlines as the media followed Mark's every move while picking up great quotes from new Head Coach Rex Ryan.  The run last year was as special and amazing as any I have ever seen and I can't wait to see how the Jets can improve on last year and make this season the one where we break through with a Super Bowl berth.  The Jets have gotten a lot of media attention this off season with the signings of super athletic cornerback Antonio Cromartie and former great running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  The signing of Cromartie should improve the unit (minus Darelle Revis) that was carved up by Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game last year.  Pairing Cromartie with Revis gives the Jets the best cornerback tandem in the league and should allow Rex Ryan to call even more blitzes than he did last year.    


The Jets were handed a gift in the first round this year when Kyle Wilson, arguably the best corner in the draft, fell to their position at pick 29.  Wilson has impressed in OTA's and minicamp and has solidified himself as the 3rd corner behind Revis and Cromartie.  If Wilson can play up to his potential there is no question that the Jets should be near impossible to pass against.  


With all the new faces around the locker room this year there were bound to be players that were left out.  Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Alan Faneca, and Jay Feely are among those who played significant roles last year (not as much for Washington) and will be sorely missed this season.  The release of Faneca was something I supported as he was sub par last year and I thought it was time for the Jets to move on.  The drafting of Vladamir Ducasse sets up a position battle for LG between him and Matt Slauson.  Whoever wins this battle will be playing between two pro bowl caliber players and will hopefully fit seamlessly into one of the best offensive lines in the league.  


The swap of Thomas Jones for LaDainian Tomlinson is one that has gotten way too much media coverage this offseason.  Tomlinson WAS NOT brought in to replace Jones.  Tomlinson was brought in to backup second year running back Shonn Greene.  Greene's running in the playoffs last year showed the Jets what he can do and if he stays healthy I see great things from him this year.  Tomlinson should be able to fill the role of the complementary back and will provide a good change of pace from the backfield.  


The Jets relied heavily on the running attack last year and will be looking to open up the offense a bit more this year with Mark Sanchez entering his second year and with the addition of Santonio Holmes to an already good Jets receiver core.  This addition (despite the fact that he is suspended for the first 4 games) gives the Jets another great weapon on offense.  Between Braylon Edward's big play ability, the consistency of Jerricho Cotchery, and the big game experience of Santonio Holmes I believe that the Jets now have a receiving core which could rival any in the league.  For the Jets to fulfill the preseason expectations this year Mark Sanchez will need to progress as a starter and show that he is the quarterback we saw lead us to the AFC Championship and not the one who lost us multiple games during the regular season.  Sanchez's maturity will be a interesting subplot to watch as the season unfolds. 


When last season opened up I had no idea what to expect from a team with a new head coach, new quarterback, and completely new philosophy.  In contrast, my hopes are higher this season then they have ever been and I expect great things from a team that was greatly improved in the offseason.

Some Offseason Thoughts

It has been a long time since I have had the chance to post but here's a little summary of my thoughts of what is going on around Jets football.

1.)  I am extremely pleased that Mark Sanchez is back on the practice field and fully participating in 11 v. 11's.  Sanchez needs this off-season to get comfortable with new receiver Santonio Holmes as well as with the guys who were around last year.

2.)  The Revis contract situation is something that has gotten a ton of attention in the media recently.  The other day Revis skipped a voluntary minicamp on the day that Hark Knocks was filming promos for the upcoming show.  Revis is looking to become the highest paid corner in the league and I can't say I blame him.  The problem with this is that the current highest contract (belonging to Nnamdi Asomugha (sp?)) is absurd compared to the people behind him.  Asomugha has a contract averaging around 16 million per season and Revis wants to earn above this.  There have been talks of a training camp holdout but I do not see this being the case.  Tennanbaum is slowly submitting offers to the Revis camp and I would bet that a deal is signed sometime before the middle of training camp.  Even if these negotiations run into camp I expect to see Revis there for the majority.

3.)  The rest of the contracts also need to be taken care of.  Nick Mangold needs to have his contract addressed shortly after (or at the same time) as Revis.  Mangold is part of the "core 4"  (Mangold, Revis, Harris, Ferguson) and needs to be signed soon.

4.)  Vernon Gholston is making the switch to defensive end with the Jets being very thin in this area.  This really isn't news until Gholston gets off his ass and decides to become a real football player.  However, it is worth noting that you will have to watch Gholston screw up this season from a three point stance.

5.)  Mark Brunell will be a Jet come the end of July. I guess it is a good thing that we are getting a proven NFL player to back up Sanchez rather than Clemens.  Clemens was a failure for the Jets and I have never been a big fan.  He will catch on somewhere as a 3rd QB and hopefully someday he gets a chance to start.  Thankfully, it won't be for us.

6.)  Hard Knocks should provide an interesting look into Jets camp this August.  My lack of HBO will make watching this show interesting but I look forward to see the interactions between the many different personalities in Jets camp.

7.)  I find it weird that Tomlinson got a Jets tattoo.  It's great and all that he's happy to be a Jet but I wonder if he realizes that he's probably one and done.

8.)  The expectations are higher this season than any I can remember as a Jets fan (except for maybe 1998 but I was too young to notice then).  How the Jets handle these expectations will go a long way in determining the success of this season.