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Open Competition: The Wide Receivers

by Bassett at 09:03AM (EDT) on August 8, 2006 | Permanent Link

Now just a few days into training camp, and an "open competition" for most every job, who do you think will be the starters for this team come Opening Weekend? Or will we see some sort of situational and game by game rotations? All the same, who are the "go-to" guys for the Jets?

Losses: Wayne Chrebet (Retirement), Chas Gessner (Bucaneers), Harry Williams (Giants)

Acquisitions: Tim Dwight (Patriots), Reggie Newhouse (Cards),

Rookies: Brad Smith (Mizzou),

Wide Receivers: Laveranues Coles, Justin McCareins, Jerricho Cotchery, Tim Dwight, Brad Smith, Jovan Witherspoon, Reggie Newhouse, DeQawn Mobley, Chris Baker, CJ Fayton, Dante' Ridgeway, Wallace Wright

At this point, it is hard to say exactly what the Jets offense might look like over the next few seasons. After attending practice at the Meadowlands this past weekend, it's more clear that Schottenheimer will bear the burden, either blessing or curse for this offense. From what we know about his pedigree, when Schottenheimer played, he was a QB who even spent a few seasons with the Ol' Ballcoach. If the Ballcoach is known for one thing, it's "chucking the ball around." Cam Cameron, the O.C. for the Chargers talks about attacking defensive weaknesses when asked to typify his offense. Cross reference that with the Patriot offense, which is largely a West Coast "spread it around" system, and we know that Schottenheimer might be looking to pass a lot, but it will all depend on what strengths his players have, and pairing that with where the defense is weak.

As far as the wideouts, the top spot seems pretty safe. Laveranues Coles is clearly the best receiver on this team, and has excellent skills at seperating, running routes, and coming down with the tough catches. That being said, Coles isn't exactly the kind of guy that opposing defensive coordinators are unable to stop like Steve Smith or Chad Johnson. Making matters worse for Coles, the number two options might have upside, but aren't a TJ Housmanzedah type complement. Ultimately, what this means is that the receivers will suffer in coverage, one from the other, and the only way to tip the balance consistently is to use the Tight Ends and backs to disrupt defensive schemes to better open up the passing game for the wideouts. The problem is, no matter how good D'Brickashaw Ferguson is, as a rookie left tackle, he is going to need all the help he can get in the short-term.

Justin McCareins, who for the past two years has been the second option for the Jets, has made tongues wag with his short stint on the PUP list. Although no one knows exactly what caused this, or what it really means for him, McCareins has the size and strength to play the #2 in this offense, but works best in man coverage and on the edges of the field. McCareins isn't always the best route runner and can't keep his speed through his breaks. McCareins represented a better complement to Santana Moss' speedy finesse style than he does to Coles, which could be his undoing in this offense.

Tim Dwight seems the perfect fit to fill the slot role for the Jets, but depending on McCareins performance, might get a promotion. Small and speedy (though he has lost a step) he is still able to take advantage of nickel/backer mismatches and make some third and long catches, or create space from the slot for other receivers to work. Dwight can also run right through press coverage, so look for matchups this year where that is the corner's best skill.

A longer term option for the starting job this season is Jerricho Cotchery. Cotchery's versatility is his biggest threat to both McCareins and Dwight. "Cotch" doesn't have explosive speed, but shows potential and can separate from man-to-man coverage. In college, Cotchery's route running and ability to find soft spots was excellent, and is what drew the Jets to him in the first place. Cotchery will go over the middle and can stop and start without losing too much in transition, he also can grab the ball while on the move, and shows good skills in catching the ball over his head.

And now, the project... Would it suprise you that Cam Cameron, the Chargers O.C. was the head coach at Indiana while Antwaan Randall-El played there? If young Schott was sitting at the feet of Cameron, one would imagine he would revel at the ability of a true "slash" type player. From watching Brad Smith's highlights from college, his size, speed and ability to separate and find daylight in truly inexlplicable situations could benefit an offense that looks to spread the ball around and make yards after the catch. Smith can also provide a threat from the backfield, on reverses, or in limited capacity on option-throw plays. If the Jets can build up their offense, these type gadget plays could do some real damage to opposition, but the Jets need to first have a relevant offense, and the ability to pound the ball to set up the "gadget plays." At this point, inserting Smith in those type plays would be like polishing the deck rails on the Titanic. I think he is a player that would have gone in the first three rounds in the year or two following Michael Vick's coming out party in the NFL. Common sense though has prevailed, and the League realizes that for all the flash, turnovers are back breaking in the NFL. Since the "new generation NFL QB" has proved to be somewhat of a crock, teams are clearly anxious of this direction, so credit Tangini for looking to use Smith in other fashions that play to his biggest strengths: his size, speed and footwork.

Fighting with Smith for the fifth spot, there are a number of fringe players, of which Reggie Newhouse is most notable. Newhouse has spent time with the Cardinals and has shown some flash in camp. Jovan Witherspoon has had a fairly quiet camp, other than one early long completion from Chad Pennington, while Dante' Ridgeway has been injured from a hit from Kerry Rhodes and hasn't been able to show his abilities. In the end, I think the Jets will look at Smith's abilities, and find a roster spot to keep him a part of this team while he develops, at least for a year or two.