Audible: Who is the key?
Posted on July 19th, 2009 by Corey Griffin
Thanks to E. Weeks for handling today’s links for me. It’s an extremely slow news day, so we’re turning control of the site over to you guys.
We all know that there are several lynchpins to this team’s 2009 success, but what I want to know is the ONE guy that you think could make or break this season. Is it Mark Sanchez? Kris Jenkins? Kerry Rhodes or Bart Scott? Perhaps given Calvin Pace’s suspension, Vernon Gholston?
Who do you guys think is THE GUY this year?
Filed under: Audible
With our current situation at WR, I think it has to be Thomas Jones, at least until Shonn Greene proves he can take over. Without TJ providing Sanchez or Clemens with that security on the ground game, the Jets offense could be in a lot of trouble.
I know we have Leon (hopefully), but Leon is a different type of RB, a break your ankles kind of RB. I do believe that Shonn Greene will eventually take Thomas’ place, but you can’t expect that from the beginning.
The foundation of the Jets offense this year was originally planned to be built around the running game, and if we don’t have our top back from ‘08 here to get the ball from the Rookie or the unproven Vet, opposing defenses will be able to draw up schemes against the offense without much effort.
This article suggests Leon Washington’s contract will be a hot topic this week:
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Sunday-at-the-Post-6417.html
I think our season rests in the hands of Brian Shottenheimer. The defense is going to be giving us field postion, all season long. It will be up to the offense to take advantage. If they do, we are competitive. If not, it will be a long season. Last season, Shottenheimer went away from the run, when we were rolling and he forgot about players like Leon Washington, Dustin Keller, and Chansi Stucki, for most of the season. As I have said many times on this blog — It is put up or get out time for Schotty.
David Harris
RKNYC – I’m sure it will be a hot topic this week in the media, but I don’t envisage anything happening. The Jets will call Leon’s bluff, if anything. Maybe I’m being pessimistic, but considering the source is Michael “The Jets are in cap hell” Lombardi and the fact that his only source appears to be a link that speculates wildly on an entry in an agent’s twitter feed, I’d suggest he knows less than we do on the subject.
As for the original question, I’ll say, uh, Damian Woody.
considering most people seem to think last years collapse was Favre or Manginis fault.Rex or whoever our QB is would have to be THE GUY.
Because he hasn’t missed any time, he is almost taken for granted, but Nick Mangold is certainly key. He will be in charge of all of the line adjustments initially, especially if Sanchez starts. Joyner’s run block metrics also showed how good of a run blocker he was, and I think everyone agrees how important the running game is going to be this year.
Bassett,
I left an e-mail for the jets regarding Leon’s contract and agree that he deserves to get an excellent extension.
I am a new commer to your site and can honestly saw I love it and check in a couples of times each day. The news and insight is better than any beat writer following the Jets.
I think the QB is the critical factor this season. Mark has the best chance to start.
TY, Charles
On defense – Kris Jenkins. He’s such a beast. He’s the lynchpin to the D. If he is not in there wreaking havoc, we can’t stop the run and it’s a lot tougher to pressure the QB. I hope he stays healthy.
On offense – Sanchez. I think we can still have a fairly successful season even if he’s not ready for prime time in year 1. But if he comes out and makes plays, the sky is the limit.
As for the RB situation, I think Leon is a special case b/c of his diverse skill set. But as much as I like TJ, the truth is a power back is a power back, and if Shonn Greene picks up the system he will be a fine replacement. The O-line will create the space for operation ground and pound. TJ is not the key.
GO JETS!
I AGREE WITH BRAD R. AND THEY NEED TO GIVE LEON A NEW CONTRACT!!! I WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY AND ON OUR TEAM
The key is Vernon Gholston. If he can succeed in his role, the Jets are actually much closer to having a successful ‘08 Ravens model than people think.
The Jets are a third down pass rusher away from being an elite defense or at least being close to one, and that’s one thing a role Gholston could be able to fill. He was barely given any opportunities last year, and in camp he’s being featured heavily in nickel/dime packages, lining up mostly on RTs(typically the less gifted pass protector of the tackles). He was already better in this role in limited action he had last year than Thomas and Bowens, it’s a real head scratcher why he wasn’t out there in that position down the stretch last year when the Jets’ lack of pass rush was just as killer as Jenkins wearing down and Favre’s play.
Everyone listed will be key to this season being boom or bust.
Leon ! if he can be used like westbrook we would have a good offense.
How about a little special teams love…..tj conley and jay feely…..
if tj conley wins the punting job which i think he will…..he needs to be just as good as he was in college with his 47 yard punt average…….
reggie hodges 35.5 yard net average was good enough for 28th in the league and his 42.8 overall kick yardage average wasn’t much better at 25th in the league…. ben grahams 32.0 net average was good enough for 38th which means he’s worse than some replacement punters…..I dont know what tj conley’s net averages were in college…but i assume than its better than that…..the punter is always such an overlooked position but its key to success
4 or 5 extra yards everytime you punt can add up to hundreds or yards in field position every year…..an extra 5 yards on a punt can force an opposing team to punt instead of kick a field goal….
as for feely…..how many games in the nfl were won and lost by field goals last year…….feely can be the key to a few wins or loses for the jets this year…….especially if they are going to be scrapping for points and leaning on the defense to stay in games…..
feely went 24 for 28 in field goals last year and i think a few of those game in the first game or two so he was pretty solid…..if i figured it out right opponents starting field position was the 28 yard line on average…that could be a little better….but he’s a pretty decent kicker and he and conley can play a much bigger role than people are giving them credit for right now
The buck stops at the hallowed FO, the Front Office, El Woody and T-Rex. Start with greenback pacifiers for our 2 starting RBs, that’s in Woody and Mr. T’s province. Also a vet WR and TE possibly?
Grocery’s covered, it’s all on the Big Blowhard to prove he can make this team walk his talk and that comes down to smart and cool game management better than Herm, at least as good as Mag-Genius, hopefully better. It’s about putting Vernon, Kerry, Kris, etc. in the best position to have an impact. Even if that’s resting on the bench. It’s about burning Schott’s ass if he’s being an ass and not putting the ball in the hands of our playmakers like Leon (assuming he’s still with us, FO) and Dustin and any emerging talent.
Finally, it comes down to the choice of Kellen or Mark. That’s Rex’s call. Mag-Genius didn’t sit Farve when he fell apart along with the season. That would’ve taken huge testicles that did not come with that version of a Jet coach. Hopefully, the Big Guy has the right size to damn the torpedoes and put the best player on the field each week.
i think “the guy” is actually five guy’s……the o line
I agree with Harvlis that it’s Schotty.
But if one must pick a player it’s Sanchez. And all he’s got to be is above average. If he can throw for 16 TDs, 10 picks, and about a 60% completion average I think we’ll win 10 or more games. If he throws more picks than TDs we’re in for a long season.
I gotta go with D’Brickashaw. A rookie QB not asked to do too much will be fine if he has protection.
I am impressed by Harvlis’ and StyDoe’s posts. When I read the article, I came up blank. No way could I think of a single player whose performance would be sufficient. VG, Sanchez, Lito/Lowery/Strickland will all be important. But none are likely to be able to ensure victory on their own.
Lil Shott, OTOH, has gotten his chance to prove that he is the real deal or just a wanna be (my suspicion not buying into the Eric made him do it analysis). He has been granted the ideal opportunity to demonstrate his ability to get the most out of players. No mediaot thinks highly of our WR. None think much of starting a rookie Qb or Kellen Clemens. If our offense is even in the top third of the league, lil Shott will get his HC job, much as Rex got his the year someone else got the HC job he coveted.
Yet lil Shott has a stable of good runners, a solid (if depth free) OL, a rookie Qb who played for a national championship and held himself together for the most part (or a KC who at least knows his system and had something to get drafted in the second round) and at least our unknown WR are fast and can catch.
Kewpies to both Harlis and StvDoe for brilliant analysis that is outside the nine dots. I be impressed.
harlan
On defense, the guy is Kris Jenkins. Just refer to last season.
On offense, it’s a toss up between Mangold and TJ. With our QB and WR situation, our running game is obviously key for us.
I predict Clemens will start and his play will be the key to the Jets making the playoffs.
The other scenario for KC will be if Sanchez starts and falters, then KC will be inserted, and then he will be the key.
Let me be clear, I hope whoever starts at QB plays great, and that I’m hopeful Sanchez is our long term answer at QB.
I have to agree that it’s time for Schotty to realize the promise of 2006. He’s the offense’s key (besides OL health, which you could say for any NFL team). My main criticism of Schotty, as many of you note, is that he doesn’t commit to the run. Now, he has excuses. In ‘06 and ‘07, the OL was marginal, at best, and the RB talent (besides Leon) was abysmal in ‘06. I expect more of the Chargers style offense. Establishing the run makes Keller a dangerous weapon (like Gates and Gonzo in KC). No more shotgun on 2nd and 6 or less. More play action, sprint outs, etc. Plus, developing Sanchez is one of the short and long term goals of the Jets. Schotty has to get the most out of him, while minimizing the chances for rookie mistakes.
On defense, the key is the no. 2 CB position. If Lito returns to his All-Pro form, the defense will be scary good because with Jenks, Harris and Scott, the Jets will be very difficult to run on.