NY Daily News: Five questions facing Rex and the Jets

[F.Chowds]

What ended in the biting cold of a Pittsburgh night in late January begins anew this week under a blistering sun in Florham Park, N.J. Sunday.

Things change with the Jets just as quickly as the weather, but the personnel in place is also built to endure. No Nnamdi Asomugha, now a Philadelphia Eagle, means cornerback Darrelle Revis and quarterback Mark Sanchez will need to anchor their units to maintain the momentum of two straight AFC Championship games.

Here are five questions Rex Ryan's roster needs to answer moving forward:

1. Is Mark Sanchez ready to take another step?

There's a new captain in the tri-state area. Sanchez, now in his third training camp, will have the 'C' sewn into his jersey, and continue to wear the only bull's eye on the field visible to the blimps flying above. He made incremental strides in his first two years, leading the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship games and a 4-2 postseason record, throwing nine touchdowns while limiting interceptions (three) in those stretches.

Coach Rex Ryan is already on record saying he is anxious to see what the 24-year-old worked on in his time away from the team. Sanchez will find familiarity when he eyes personnel groups. Wideout Santonio Holmes, a late-comer to the lineup last season after serving a four-game suspension, will be at his disposal from the jump, and tight end Dustin Keller, a durable threat, can be a comfort zone. Sustained improvement regarding turnovers will be a must under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

2. Is Shonn Greene ready to be the workhorse RB?

An end-of-season sensation his rookie year in 2009, Greene, the personification of the ground-and-pound approach, struggled out of the gate last season, fumbling twice in the opener, only to lose his starting position to tailback LaDainian Tomlinson. He regained his strength, held on to the ball and again proved he's built best for when the weather turns cold.

"When Shonn is on his game and running hard, there's not a single defensive player, including linebackers and defensive linemen, that want to see him coming with a full head of steam at them," Schottenheimer said.

This season he will be tested over the long haul. With Tomlinson, 32, transitioning to a third-down role, Greene will receive the repetitions in practice and on game day, a bright future is his to lose.

"We expect a breakout season from him," Schottenheimer said. "He's a guy that's got just huge, huge, huge potential that we think is right there ready for him to grab."e coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

3. Who will win the battle at right tackle at training camp?

Vladimir Ducasse, the second-year lineman from UMass, needed coaching attention during the offseason, but the lockout left his development in limbo. With former stalwart Damien Woody now retired, general manager Mike Tannenbaum gave Wayne Hunter a four-year, $13 million contract. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan, held up as one of the game's best at what he does, will have his opportunities to rectify both players.

4. Is Kyle Wilson ready to overcome rookie blues?

Corners are key in Ryan's defense and they can be most noticeable when faltering. Wilson, a first-round pick from Boise State, watches Darrelle Revis in practice each day, receives counsel from defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman and reports to Ryan, an aficionado of all things cornerback. He is on an island in games, though. It will be up to him to improve or he will be written off as a first-round pick turned non-factor.

5. Will Jets finally back up another Rex Ryan guarantee?

Death, taxes and a Ryan Super Bowl guarantee. Count on them. He wasted no time, or words, in declaring the 2011 campaign to be the year, chased Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency, and reveled in the outpouring of support that came with his book release.

Ryan would trade his standing as a bestselling co-author and a recruiter for another ring, though. As long as the lines stretched around city blocks for his signature on hard cover copies of his book in May, the legions of followers can shrink without the big win that burnishes the resume.