The Road To '09: New York Jets

Today, in my continuing series on NFL clubs this offseason, I stop in New York to check out Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. Five questions that I believe need to be answered this spring, as well as some draft possibilities for the first round.

Click HERE to read about the Buffalo Bills.

Click HERE to read about the Miami Dolphins.

Click HERE to read about the New England Patriots.

The Road to ’09: New York Jets

1. What do the Jets do now at QB?

The failed Brett Favre experiment, plus the Jets’ inability to make a play for former Broncos Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, has left the team with a major issue at the position. Somehow, the Jets are going to have to name a starter this summer between Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff -- and even Erik Ainge for conversation sake. Not good, folks.

Clemens had potential written all over him when he was drafted in the second round in 2006, but his career numbers — five TDS, 11 INTs — tell us otherwise. Ratliff is in the same boat, having never thrown a pass in the NFL, and Ainge is probably a longshot to even make the roster if the Jets pick up a quarterback in the draft. Hang your hopes on Clemens or Ratliff? I wouldn’t want to, but the Jets might not have a choice. Now consider this: Could the Jets trade up and draft a QB like USC’s Mark Sanchez, or do they draft a project at No. 17 like Kansas State’s Josh Freeman? The Sanchez idea is something to think about.

Bottom line: The Favre deal stunted the growth of this position for years in New York. It was worth the risk at the time, but because of it, the Jets now have the most unstable quarterback situation in the league.

2. Why was Rex Ryan the right hire for N.Y.?

Defensive head coaches in this league are great for certain situations, and the situation I’m talking about is taking place in New York. Unlike offensive head coaches, defensive coaches actually care about the production of their special teams — as most of the cover units in the league are littered with defensive talent. What tends to become an afterthought to offensive coaches becomes a major part of the game plan to coaches like Ryan.

As we already stated in our first question, the quarterback issues for the Jets are going to demand that the club find other ways to put points on the scoreboard. Solution: Score on defense and score on special teams. At worse, give your young quarterbacks the football in scoring position or win the field-position battle on special teams. It isn’t sexy, and it doesn’t add up for fantasy football players, but it wins games in the NFL. Ryan is brining his ball-hawking defensive scheme from Baltimore, and he’s brining the mentality that special teams can win games — especially with Leon Washington returning kicks. Considering the lack of talent at quarterback and wide receiver, I believe Ryan is the best choice for this Jets team.

 It isn’t going to be pretty every Sunday, but it will eventually lead to wins. Ask Joe Flacco, who played within the game plan in Baltimore and let his defense and special teams give him the football on a short field.

3. Who’s going to catch the football in N.Y.?

Besides Jerricho Cotchery, the Jets don’t have much at WR. Losing veteran Laveranues Coles is huge to this offense, and somehow it needs to find a way to replace that production — either through a collective effort from the current roster, from a free agent walking the streets or in the draft.

As much as I dislike the quarterback position on this team, I still think the Jets can come up with some big plays if they have the speed on the outside. But when you only have one weapon in Cotchery, that’s going to be tough considering that teams can roll coverage to him and take their chances with the likes of Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey on the backside.

Look for TE Dustin Keller to have a big impact in the passing game no matter who’s under center because he creates mismatches in the middle of the field. Keller is similar to TE Chris Cooley in Washington as he’s a match-up nightmare for linebackers and safeties — but the Jets still need to find someone to stretch the field.

There isn’t much value left on the free-agent market — minus maybe Tory Holt — so you can expect the Jets to at least look at the position on day one of the draft, possibly in the first round if someone like Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin slips to them at No. 17.

Speed kills in the NFL, and the Jets need to find some at WR.

4. Is Thomas Jones’ absence a cause for concern?

No, considering it’s only April.

Look, I understand that Jones had a solid season in ’08 that led to a Pro Bowl appearance, but Jets fans shouldn’t worry that he’s expecting the club to tear up his old contract just because he had a good season.

The reason the Jets are holding the upper hand in this standoff is Jones’ age. He’s 30, and whether he wants to admit it, he will slowly begin to drop in terms of production — if not this season, then early in 2010. They have no need to give him any more money than they already have, and Jones needs to understand that the player currently behind him on the depth chart, Leon Washington, is the future of the franchise at running back.

Washington has more big-play ability and can do more with the ball in the open field. Plus, he’s a major weapon in the passing game, and like we’ve already said, the Jets are going to need everyone to step up in that department. Yes, Jones will be a valuable part of the Jets in ’09, but that doesn’t mean he deserves more cash. And the more times he misses, the more opportunities will present themselves for Washington.

Jones is a solid running back, but at this point in his career, I expect the Jets to increase the workload for Washington and slowly begin to move him to the top of the depth chart.

5. What do we make of the Jets’ defense?

I really think the Jets have an excellent secondary with the addition of Jim Leonhard teaming up with Kerry Rhodes at safety, and I think Darrelle Revis is one of the better young corners in the league. They’re going to be counted on to make plays in the passing game and be a major factor in Ryan’s blitz schemes. There’s a reason Leonhard turned down better offers to reunite with Ryan in New York — and that’s because he knows the system works.

Bart Scott is a nice addition at linebacker, and hopefully Ryan can figure out a way to get former first-round pick Vernon Gholston on the field and then find a way to put him in position to make plays. Great defensive coaches like Ryan are so successful because they run schemes that provide their players opportunities to make plays. This isn’t a read-and-react defense in New York — it’s an attack-first defense that players love.

Along the defensive line the Jets are efficient, but not great. NT Kris Jenkins can be great if he plays hard for 16 weeks, but I could see the club drafting a defensive end at No. 17. There’s always room for upgrades.

On paper, I like this defense a lot under Ryan, and it will be counted on to make play after play, give the offense a short field and score. Can it be done? I think so, but it will face some offensive weapons in the AFC East and will be tested every week.

DRAFT POSSIBILITES

The Jets could go in any direction in the first round. I see wide receiver as their most pressing need, but only if the right player is available since they don’t need to reach at No. 17. A quarterback would be nice, but he isn’t going to help in ’09, so stick to positions that will translate to production this fall — and plan for the future later.

PICK No. 17

1. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

2. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

3. Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

Next: Detroit Lions

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