Jets 2006 Season Preview

[NIGHT STALKER]

Posted Sep 1st 2006 11:03PM by Brian Bassett

Filed under: Jets, AFC East

It's been a busy off season in Hempstead. The coach fled for Kansas City, the GM lost a power struggle, and the team found the NFL's youngest current head coach. With all the intrigue this off season for the Jets, the season is a welcome rest.

Offense

When the Jets hired Eric Mangini, the free-wheeling days of Mike Heimerdinger were numbered. Heimerdinger was supposed to be the shot in the arm for the Jets team last season, but the wheels quickly came off quickly when both Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler were injured in their game against the Jaguars. Of what the Jets' have shown so far this preseason, the Jets offense could be described as intriguing. New Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (son of Marty) was a quarterback in college and has a similar mentality to Mangini in keeping opposing teams on their toes, rather than conforming to one system, week to week.

When it comes to personnel, the team is clearly between the old and the new. During the draft, the Jets chose to grow the unit from the inside out, taking the best talent at both the left tackle and center in D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. Even though the team released Jason Fabini and Kevin Mawae, the team did end up with more depth by signing versatile players like brawler Anthony Clement (who projects to start at RT) and former Bills' C Trey Teague.As Chad Pennington has battled his way back from injury he has earned his spot atop the depth chart. Look for rookie Kellen Clemens to see snaps over Patrick Ramsey, as long as Pennington isn't injured early in the year. Clemens could be the Jets' franchise QB of the future, and has received praise from a few national talking heads saying that he will be better than Vince Young or Matt Leinart.

The backfield is listless with Curtis Martin's limbo status. Although the Jets traded for Kevan Barlow, the backfield is knotted with Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and Leon Washington not standing out from the pack.

The receiving corps will look to run many varied sets, stacks and motion formations to try to take advantage of defenses and mismatches. Laveranues Coles is a strong receiver, but needs a complementary receiver who can help him keep defenses honest with longer routes. Tim Dwight, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith seem to be the players that might see platoon work across from Coles. To dwell for a minute on Brad Smith, I am excited to see what the kid can bring to the team. If you haven't seen highlights of the kid, he is worth a look. In the final preseason game, here are his stats for the Eagles game (make sure to look in running, passing and receiving).

Defense

The Jets have switched to the 3-4, which means more than just adding a linebacker and subtracting a lineman. For more on the 3-4, check here. As the Jets players are re-tooled for this new scheme, the Jets could suffer against the pass and the run from undersized lineman, and poorly equipped pass-covering linebackers. On the line, the Jets might very well struggle against the run, but moving Dewayne Robertson to end might help anchor the line with Kimo Von Oelhoffen. The linebackers are led by the able Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton on the inside, but the key will be how converted DE Bryan Thomas can play outside, as well as Matt Chatham and Victor Hobson.

The secondary found value in Andre Dyson who will play across from David Barrett or Justin Miller. Dyson was released from Seattle and is a quality starter when he can stay healthy. At Safety, the ascendant young tandem of Erik Coleman and Kerry Rhodes could become a solid unit for the Jets for many years to come.

Special Teams

Although this unit was recently maligned by the revered Football Outsiders, I think this unit will suprise, maybe not on the leg of 2005 second round draft pick Mike Nugent, but on the legs of speedy kick returners Justin Miller and Leon Washington. With the Jets struggling to move the ball and keep the ball from being moved, Washington and Miller can greatly level the playing field (as long as Miller doesn't fumble the ball all the time).

Prediction

The irony of the Jets schedule, is that the same games the Jets are looking at as easy wins, their opponents are thinking the same thing! Within the division, the Bills are still the Bills, the Dolphins are clearly on the upswing, while the Pats might be set for a drop off. The Jets might surprise some teams during the season in the quintessential "trap game" but I expect the Jets to go 6-10 with wins against Tennessee, Houston, Green Bay, Buffalo, Minnesota and Oakland.

[faba]

On paper the Jets schedule is not real tough- no one knows before the season starts how accurate that will be though.

If we can hang in there at the start of the season we should get better as the year progresses