2008 NFL Season Previews: #21

Team: New York Jets
Division: AFC East
Last Year's Record: 4-12
Head Coach: Eric Mangini
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer
Defensive Coordinator: Bob Sutton

Key Additions:
OG Alan Faneca
RB Jesse Chatman
TE Bubba Franks
DT Kris Jenkins
FB Tony Richardson
LB Calvin Pace
T/G Damien Woody

Key Losses:
LB Jonathan Vilma
NT Dewayne Robertson
WR Justin McCareins
C Wade Smith
LB Victor Hobson
CB Andre Dyson

Breakdown of the offense:
The Jets went out this off season and spent a boatload of cash, $140 million in future contracts in free agency. But their biggest problem last season, the quarterback position, was not confronted or fixed with all of that money. Chad Pennington is an accurate QB and maybe the smartest quarterback in the league (former Rhodes Scholarship finalist), but has the arm power of my 8 year-old cousin Katie. With his lack of arm power and his inability to stay healthy the Jets drafted Kellen Clemens in 2006. Midway through last season Clemens got his chance to start as Pennington lost the job, Clemens proved himself to be much more deserving of clipboard duties as opposed to the starting gig. At the end of the season, Pennington may have won the job on numbers alone. Pennington completed 69 percent of his passes to Clemens' 52 percent, and Pennington threw for twice as many TDs. Both quarterbacks showed shaky decision-making with Pennington throwing 9 interceptions and Clemens throwing 10. The Jets did draft a quarterback, but fifth-rounder Erik Ainge has no chance of seeing the playing field as he also has no arm power and is even less consistent, but hey Danny Ainge is his uncle.

The running back position is the deepest for these Jets, with Thomas Jones starting and Leon Washington providing a spark off the bench. If the young line of the Jets can provide holes, they will get good production out of their running game. Jones is coming off a season where he amassed 1,119 yards but only managed one touchdown. Jesse Chatman and FB Tony Richardson provide depth and an improvement to the Jets' blocking.

Jerricho Cotchery keeps improving with each season he plays, last season he had 82 receptions for 1,130 yards. But he needs to be more of a play maker and find the end zone more, last season he only had 2 touchdowns (down from 6). Laveranues Coles had another rough off season with the front office, but he seems like he is ready to come and play in 2008 after the Jets guaranteed the $11 million remaining on his contract. Brad Smith continues to be intriguing as a Randel El "slash" receiver, as a former college QB he can help with trick plays and he can provide depth at receiver(he had 32 receptions for 325 yards last season).

Tight End Chris Baker will be the starter, coming off his best year as a pro with 41 catches and 3 touchdowns. Rookie Dustin Keller who the Jets traded to get at the end of the first round, could see a good amount of playing time. Bubba Franks was signed as a backup, he provides depth and veteran leadership.

There are a lot of words you could use to describe this offensive line last season, but I am going to go with horrendous. For this very reason, the Jets ran at the opportunity to sign former Steeler Alan Faneca and make him the highest paid lineman in the NFL. With a five year deal worth $40 million and $21 million guaranteed. But the Jets didn't stop there, they soon signed veteran Damien Woody for $25.5 million over 5 years.

The Jets line gave up 53 sacks last season and the running game averaged a paltry 106 rushing yards a game. Those numbers will likely rise with the free agents and the development of D'Brickshaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. Well at least that's what the Jets are counting on, if not Eric Mangini will be in the unemployment line by the time the playoffs start.

Breakdown of the defense:
The Jets' defense needs to rebound after being pummeled in the running game(29th in the NFL), hopefully the trade of two draft picks for nose tackle Kris Jenkins will help shore up the line. Kris Jenkins will fill up space and blockers much better than Dewayne Robertson ever did. Shaun Ellis remains as solid of end you could have for the 3-4, Kenyon Coleman will join him as the other starter at end.

Former star of the defense LB Jonathan Vilma is gone, he never quite got a grasp of the 3-4 and neither did Victor Hobson. The linebacker that did however is David Harris, who led the Jets with 126 tackles and 5 sacks as a rookie last year. This led to the Jets trading Vilma to New Orleans and Hobson bolting as a free agent to their division rival, the Patriots. Harris will joined at middle linebacker by veteran Eric Barton.

Calvin Pace comes to the Jets via free agency and as part of their off season spending spree, he is coming off his most productive season as a pro where he had 6.5 sacks. Bryan Thomas will have to battle with first rounder Vernon Gholston, who is a physical freak. Gholston would be the Jets' best pass-rushing prospect since John Abraham. The starting unit looks strong but their is no depth behind the starters, making this unit thin.

Darrelle Revis is coming off a fantastic rookie season, where he was the second on the team in tackles with 87 tackles. 3 interceptions, and 17 passes defended. Justin Miller is the likely starter at the other corner spot, but he is recovering from knee surgery that cost him all but two games last season. Kerry Rhodes returns as their strong safety and will continue to be a play maker at the position. Abram Elam will be the free safety, and due to his tackling ability and coverage skill will let Rhodes be more aggressive. Drew Coleman and David Barrett will come into play in the nickel and dime units, Eric Smith adds depth at the safety position.

Breakdown of the Special Teams:
Leon Washington showed excellent skills as a return man last season, with 27.5 yards a return on kickoffs and a league leading 3 touchdowns. Mike Nugent was solid, connecting on 28-32 from 49 yards and in but distance is still an issue as he only made 1 of 4 field-goal attempts of 50 yards or greater. The punter position seems to be up in the air, as starter Ben Graham slid in his productivity. Jeremy Kapinos will compete for the job with Graham.

Position Grades:
QB: C, Pennington and Clemens will vie for the starting gig for a second-straight year, no reason to believe this season will be any different than last.




RB: B, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington should see a spike in productivity behind a better line.




Wr/TE: C+, This is a decent unit, but needs someone to step up as the home-run threat.




O-line: B, Alan Faneca should help out this line immensely on the field and in the locker-room.




D-line: B-, If Kris Jenkins can fill up the space and grab blockers, this line will do much better against the run.




LBs:C+, Vernon Gholston, is what my players look like when I create them on Madden, for the Jets' sake hopefully he can play like my created players too.




DBs: C, If Justin Miller can recover from his injuries this unit will be decent, not spectacular but decent.

Schedule:

Week 1: Sunday, 09/07/08 1:00 PM @ Miami CBS
Week 2: Sunday, 09/14/08 4:15 PM New England CBS
Week 3: Monday, 09/22/08 8:30 PM @ San Diego ESPN
Week 4: Sunday, 09/28/08 1:00 PM Arizona FOX
Week 5: BYE WEEK
Week 6: Sunday, 10/12/08 1:00 PM Cincinnati CBS
Week 7: Sunday, 10/19/08 4:15 PM @ Oakland CBS
Week 8: Sunday, 10/26/08 1:00 PM Kansas City CBS
Week 9: Sunday, 11/02/08 1:00 PM @ Buffalo CBS
Week 10: Sunday, 11/09/08 1:00 PM St. Louis FOX
Week 11:Thursday, 11/13/08 8:15 PM @ New England NFL Network
Week 12: Sunday, 11/23/08 TBA @ Tennessee TBA
Week 13: Sunday, 11/30/08 TBA Denver TBA
Week 14: Sunday, 12/07/08 TBA @ San Francisco TBA
Week 15: Sunday, 12/14/08 TBA Buffalo TBA
Week 16: Sunday, 12/21/08 TBA @ Seattle TBA
Week 17: Sunday, 12/28/08 TBA Miami TBA

Season Outlook:
The best thing going for this team, two games against the Dolphins and two against the Bills. This should help catapult their record to a 7 to 8 win season. No position really jumps out at me on this team, but they could be in a lot worse shape for a team that only won 4 games last year. The offensive line is the key to this teams success, if they can provide the holes expect the Jets to be mediocre. Either way Jets fans can look forward to the halftime show in Gate D., and for the rest of us hopefully we can see more of this.

Berndon 4's Thoughts: New York was better than their record last year, and if they figure out the QB situation, Mangini will once again look like the "Mangenius."



LCB Staff Outlook:
Teachs' Thoughts: They should replace the turf at Giants Stadium with Joe Namath's shag carpet.