Camp preview: The hottest issues

[F.Chowds]

After a wild week of post-lockout free agency, the Jets will conduct their first practice Monday afternoon in Florham Park, N.J. It will be a training camp unlike any other, with players coming and going and coaches trying to cram a few months of work into a few weeks.

It’s hard to get a handle on the Jets because there are so many moving parts, a drama being played out in cities across the NFL, but here are the five biggest issues facing the team as it embarks on what they hope is a Super Bowl season.

1. O Captain, My Captain: The recent flurry of roster moves will generate plenty of buzz, especially the addition of Plaxico Burress, but the plain truth is that the season rides on Mark Sanchez. We know what he can do in the playoffs, but Sanchez must become a more consistent and accurate passer in (italics) all (italics) the games.

“I think for us to win and take that next step, it’s going to require me improving,” Sanchez said last week.

He almost must exert his leadership, especially in camp. Sanchez took control in the offseason, leading his teammates through the uncertainty of the lockout. Now he needs to be the glue as they head into a potentially thorny transition period.

Sanchez was named a captain by Rex Ryan, a transparent move by the coach to make sure everybody knows the third-year quarterback is The Guy. It would’ve meant more if the nod had come from his teammates (chances are, they would’ve gone the same way), but Ryan wanted to send that message from the outset.

2. Where’s the pass rush? The Jets became a coverage-oriented team late in the season, and they may have to bring that philosophy into 2011 because they didn’t add any edge rushers. In fact, they lost one – Jason Taylor.

They don’t have a rusher that can consistently win one-on-one battles, putting a burden on the secondary. First-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson has long-range potential, but he’s an interior rusher. A healthy Calvin Pace, plagued last season by a surgically repaired foot, will help. But, once again, they will be blitz-reliant.

3. Gang Greene. Shonn Greene, this is your shot. After two seasons as a part-time running back, sharing the load with Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, Greene was anointed by Ryan as the feature back. He has the talent to be a good one, but he needs to stay healthy and cut out the fumbling.

You could make the argument that, aside from Sanchez, Greene is the key to the season. The Jets are a run-oriented team, and they’re going to need more than an aging Tomlinson to make this offense go.

4. Generation Next. The Jets said goodbye to some key veteran leaders, namely RB Tony Richardson and RT Damien Woody. It’ll be up to the younger crowd to fill the void.

Look across the roster, and you will see a number of young veterans in potentially key roles – FB John Conner, RB Joe McKnight, RT Vlad Ducasse, DLM Marcus Dixon and Ropati Pitoitua, OLB Jamaal Westerman and CB Kyle Wilson. Conner will start, Ducasse will compete with savvy vet and Wilson is projected as the nickel back.

5. Medical report. A number of players are dealing with injury/rehab situations. The biggest story is S Jim Leonhard, the leader of the secondary. He suffered a horrific leg injury last December that required surgery and intensive rehab. He expects to be okay, but he could be limited at the outset. WR Jerricho Cotchery (back) and G Brandon Moore (hip) are coming off off-season surgery and may be eased in gradually.

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