A look at the players the New York Jets selected in the 2011 NFL Rookie Draft.

1.  Muhammed Wilkerson…DE…Temple…6’4, 308 lbs.

Wilkerson led Temple in tackles for a loss (13) as well as quarterback pressures.  He is capable of playing both the interior line position as well as end in the 3-4 scheme.  He has underrated quickness and a huge wingspan.  The Jets expect him to penetrate the opposing backfield on a regular basis and to be a generally disruptive force.

2.  Kenrick Ellis…NT…Hampton…6’5, 346 lbs.

A wide-bodied run stuffer who earned All-American honors after tallying 94 tackles his senior year, Ellis could significantly aid the Jets’ ability to contain opposing offenses.  However, a felony assault charge hangs over his head currently.  If he manages to escape punishment, Ellis could eventually develop into a “Williams Wall” force in the league.

3.  Bilal Powell…RB…Louisville…5’10, 207 lbs.

Powell’s selection means the Jets may have some concerns about Joe McKnight’s ability to develop into an effective complement to Shonn Greene as they both boast the same skill set.  He’s a tough runner who hits the hole hard and falls forward consistently.  His work ethic may endear him to Rex Ryan early.

4.  Jeremy Kerley…WR/KR….TCU…5’10, 185 lbs.

Kerley was drafted to replace Brad Smith if the latter ends up being a free agent.  He doesn’t quite have Smith’s level of versatility, but he does possess excellent speed and underrated receiving ability.  He is also capable of handling the quarterback position during gadget plays.

5.  Greg McElroy…QB…Alabama…6’2, 200 lbs.

Though he is a highly cerebral player, McElroy doesn’t possess the ideal size nor the arm strength to be an NFL starter.  However, he is a very capable game-manager and could provide a solid backup presence behind Mark Sanchez.

6.  Scotty McKnight…WR…Colorado…5’11, 182 lbs.

McKnight is a project receiver who is a personal friend of Mark Sanchez.  He doesn;t excel in any one particular area and may be a candidate for the practice squad

Attempting to project which player the New York Jets will take in the 2011 NFL Rookie Draft is a tough task, but of one thing I am certain:  He will play on the defensive side of the ball.
 
Coach Rex Ryan came to New York with the reputation of being a defensive wizard and the Jets have improved under him.  However, it was their inability to stop Pittsburgh’s offense last January that led to their ouster in the AFC Championship game.  With key offensive pieces like quarterback Mark Sanchez and running back Shonn Greene in place, Gang Green will want to focus on becoming one of the top three defensive units in the NFL.
Here are some strong possibilities for the Jets to take with the 30th pick.
 
Phil Taylor-NT-Temple University: 
Taylor is a mountain of a man (6’3, 334lbs.) who possesses enviable agility in shedding blocks.  He also has a nose for getting into the backfield and disrupting the play.  The Jets have Kris Jenkins playing the role right now, but, after consecutive seasons of serious injuries, may be willing to part ways with him.  Taylor could rotate in with Sione Piouha to form a powerful run-stopping duo.
 
Cameron Jordan-DE/LB-California: 
The Jets could draft Jordan and hope that he turns out to be everything Vernon Gholston wasn’t:  A game-changing hybrid who presents matchup nightmares for opposing coaches.  He is fast, strong, agile and contributes in ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet (like drawing double-teams and deflecting  attention from others.)     His stock is on the rise after an excellent Combine performance.
 
Akeem Ayers-LB-UCLA:
Choosing Ayers would give the Jets another pass rushing linebacker, something that a team that plays in the same conference as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning can always use.  He is versatile and can also drop into coverage against tight ends.  He is a bit raw in comparison with some other prospects, but Rex Ryan could fall in love with his abilities.

For a guy whose career was supposed to be all but finished, LaDainian Tomlinson proved an awful lot of people (including yours truly) wrong last season.

The ageless LT took the reins from a tentative and uncomfortable Shonn Greene in the first half of the season and showed a burst that recalled his earlier days of domination in the league.  Naturally, he began to wear down as the season continued, but he did perhaps show that he could still be quite effective in a reduced role even at the advanced age of 32.

Greene is still surrounded by a ton of legitimate questions about whether or not he’ll be able to handle the feature back role of Coach Rex Ryan hands it to him this year.  He faltered greatly at  the goal line last season (just two rushing touchdowns), had only one game where he eclipsed the 100 yard mark and was not much of a factor in the passing game.  His performance should improve as he gets more carries, but, if it doesn’t, the Jets are going to be stuck without a Plan B.

One possible guy to make an impact in 2011 is Joe McKnight.  He failed to carve any sort of a significant role for himself last year (aside from his 158 yard rushing day in a meaningless Week 17 game against Buffalo) but he does show promise.  If Greene again stumbles out of the blocks, the Jets could turn to the speedy McKnight to bail them out.  They will just have to hope that he is in shape and has put his fumbling tendencies behind him.

One of the largest questions the New York Jets faced coming into the 2010-11 season was whether or not neophyte signal caller Mark Sanchez would be able to take the next step in his development to lead the team and become a top tier quarterback who will be capable of winning a Super Bowl championship.

That question has been answered….sort of.

Statistically, there is no doubt:  Sanchez improved his Completion Percentage (54.8%), his yards per game (205.7) and his touchdown/interception ration (17-13).  These were all crucial areas for him to exceed and, in doing so, he became more of a game-changer than a game-manager.

However, he did fail to produce at critical times and, once again, the Jets fell short of the ultimate prize by losing for the second straight year in the AFC Championship.

The Jets did surround him with some top notch receiving talent in Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.  The question remains whether or not they will be able to keep that group together, though.  The acrobatics of Holmes and Edwards, coupled with the steadiness of Cotchery, contributed greatly to Sanchez’s success.  If they are forced to part with any of them, his progress could take a step back.

The running game will also figure prominently in his prognosis.  LaDainian Tomlinson may be out of gas at this point and Shonn Greene has not shown the consistency to be counted upon as the primary force in the backfield.  If defenses are able to key more on Sanchez, it will almost certainly negatively affect his performance.

Another year, another Super Bowl dream ended one game short.

While many fans are happy that the New York Jets once again drove deep into the NFL playoffs (an accomplishment worthy of admiration), there is some growing concern about the team’s inability to get over that one last hump to glory.

Gang Green started the season with a huge target painted on their backs, courtesy not only of their own growing bravado, but from being the featured team on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show.   Coach Rex Ryan entertained millions with his profanity-laced tirades that were interspersed with a self-deprecating sense of humor.  He portrayed the Jets as the team to beat in the entire NFL and opposing squads came motivated to knock them down a peg or two.

The season’s obvious low point came with the 45-3 drubbing suffered at the hands of the rival New England Patriots, a humilation witnessed by millions on Monday Night Football.  There was scant sympathy for the Jets as their big mouths set them up for a fall.  However, they acheived redemption by knocking the Pats out of the playoffs, proving that revenge, when delayed, can sometimes be even sweeter.

The problem New York faces now is in keeping this team together for another run.  Quarterback Mark Sanchez, cornerback Darrelle Revis and other important pieces of the future are locked up, but tough decisons loom in terms of whether or not Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Antonio Cromartie and LaDainian Tomlinson will return.

For all the success they had, there were still major problems with the Jets’ gameplan.  Their defense, while a strong unit, still failed to dominate in the mold of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Part of this could be attributed to the early season loss of NT Kris Jenkins (for the second straight year) and Revis being hampered by a hamstring injury.  However, the fact remains that, too often, the Jets failed to make the important stops this year.

Another key question is whether or not Sanchez can continue to make forward strides in his development.  While he certainly matured quite a bit this season, he still suffered unaccountably bad performances and has not proven himself in the mold of a leader as of yet.  An awful lot of the Jets future hinges upon him, an uncomfortable situation to be sure.

Too little, too late…the story of the 2010-11 season for the New York Jets.
Overcoming an early case of jitters that caused them to fall behind 24-0 at one point, Gang Green nearly pulled off the unimaginable as they stormed back to score 19 points against the tough as nails Pittsburgh Steelers defense, eventually losing the game 24-19.
The root cause of the loss was the Jets inability to stop Pittsburgh’s running game.  Rashard Mendenhall racked up 121 yards and a touchdown.  The Steelers moved the ball with ease on the ground, allowing them to dictate the pace of the game.
New York quarterback Mark Sanchez showed moxie in leading the comeback as he threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.  He was also the victim of a controversial call when Pittsburgh’s William Gay stripped him of the ball on a sack when his arm appeared to clearly be going forward.  The call should have been ruled an incomplete pass but instead Gay ran the ruled fumble back for a touchdown that ended up being the game’s difference maker.
The Jets defense showed some nice resilience after being overwhelmed initially, though.  They intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice, sacked him two more times and recorded a safety. 
Still, the Jets came out completely flat and handed the game to Pittsburgh in doing so.  You simply cannot fall behind on most NFL clubs (let alone the Steelers) by such a large deficit and expect to emerge victorious. 
The old sports adage is:  “You must first lose in order to learn how to win.”  If that’s the case, then Rex Ryan’s team now has a graduate degree in the practice.  This game marked the second straight AFC championship game the Jets have lost under Ryan, proving that they still need seasoning to take that final step.  The question will be, though, whether or not they can keep this current squad together to make a third run.

I’ll be starting my offseason content soon.

January 23, 2011

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh PA

6:30 pm

Keys to a Jets victory:

Offense

1.  Establish the run early- With frigid conditions expected, it would be unwise of the Jets to go on a pass heavy attack unless absolutely necessary.  Pittsburgh is incredibly difficult to run on, but this is the time when Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson have to sacrifice everything they have in an attempt to gain ground.  If the Jets can’t run, this one will be over before it starts.

2.  Take advantage of Edwards vs. McFadden- Braylon Edwards has already proven this offseason that he can be relied upon to make the tough, important catches.  He has had success against Bryant McFadden before and will present a physical mismatch over him again.

Defense:

1.  Attack Big Ben- The Steelers’ quarterback is bigger than either Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but he tends to take far more sacks than either of them do.  The Jets will need to get sustained pressure on him all night long in order to get him off his game.

2.  Corral Mendenhall- In order to  consistently bring pressure against Big Ben, the Jets will have to constantly put him passing situations.  That means that Rashad Mendenhall must be limited greatly and not allowed to break any big runs.  This is a monumental task for the Jets D, but the game could very well rest on their ability to do so.

Prediction:  Steelers 17, Jets16

The New England Patriots had every right to be confident coming into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.  Not only were they a formidible opponent on their home field and had all facets of both theor offense and defense running smoothly, they had demolished these very same Jets back on December 6 with a humiliating 45-3 pasting.

The oddsmakers, the “experts”, the writers (including me) and the fans of the NFL all came to the same conclusion:  Easy win for Bill Belichick’s crew. 

Thing is, though, someone forgot to tell Rex Ryan and the rest of Gang Green that they shouldn’t have bothered showing up.

Bolstered by a tenacious defense that sacked New England quarterback Tom Brady five times, the Jets rode Mark Sanchez’s arm and Shonn Greene’s legs to an upset victory in Foxborough.

Sanchex, who was utterly dominated by the Patriots in that earlier loss, emerged as a new man during the game.  Settling down after some early jitters, he threw three touchdown passes and completed 16 of 25 attempts.  More importantly, he led the Jets, calming them and guiding them through the storm of noise that the New England faithful attempted to provide.

Shonn Greene had a coming out game of sorts as well, rushing for 76 yards and the winning touchdown.  He pounded the powerful Patriots line time and again wit inside runs, eventually wearing them down.

While Jerricho Cotchery led the team with 96 receiving yards, it was Santonio Holmes who turned in the greatest display of skill.  Running a fade pattern in the endzone, he outleaped his defender and showed impressive body control, getting both feet down in the narrowest of spaces to put the Jets up 21-11 in the third quarter.

As far as redemption stories go, though, the defense took the cake.  DT Shaun Ellis played like a man possessed, sacking Brady twice during key moments.  S Eric Smith made several key plays to go along with his team-leading 10 tackles.  LB David Harris interceoted an errant Brady pass and nearly ran it home for the pick-six.  Finally, Darrelle Revis lived up to his reputation as he locked down his assignments nearly the entire game.

The Jets now travel to Pittsburgh to face an equally daunting task in the Pittsburgh Steelers.  It won’t be easy at all, obviously, but keep in mind that the Jets have now defeated two of the greatest quarterbacks who have ever played the game in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. 

They showed what they are capable of, riding a wave of emotion provided by a pre-game speech from former Jet Dennis Byrd, a man who overcame even bigger odds.

It  just might be time to start believing the hype.

Sunday January 16,2011

4pm

Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

Keys to Jets Victory:

Offense

1.  Sanchez the Great:  The kast time these two clubs played, Bill Belichick embarrassed the young signal-caller by confusing the heck out of him with elaborate blitzing schemes.  If Sanchez is going to shake this label of not being able to perform in cold weather against good defenses, now is the time to do so.  He simply must play with confidence that he has rarely shown.

2.  Kill the clock:  Simply put…this game rests squarely on the Jets’ ability to run the ball effectively.  If they can do so, they can take the Pats fans out of the game, kill the clock and force the Patriots into obvious passing situations.  If they can’t, then they’ll place too much pressure on Mark Sanchez to win the game and the whole offense will fall apart.

Defense

1.  Give Brady no time- Tom Brady had all sorts of time to pick the Jets defense apart last time the two teams played.  As New York could not effectively rush him, they may copy Cleveland’s gameplan from earlier this season of dropping as many as nine players into coverage occasionally.  In any case, if Brady is allowed to get going, the Jets have no hope of winning.

2.  Mark the tight ends- While Wes Welker and Deion Branch get the majority of looks in the passing game, tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have shown they can do tremendous damage when the ball is delivered to them.  The Jets linebackers need to be organized and react quickly when one of them gets open.  To let them roam free would be to invite disaster.

Prediction:  Jets 24, Patriots 21

The New York Jets have endured theor share of doubters this season…and with some good reason.

The opening day loss to Baltimore, the Monday night debacle in New england and several other moments during this tumultuous season have given plenty of grist to the mill for those who believe this team is overhyped.

However, the Jets shut more than a few mouths on Saturday night as they beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on a thrilling last second field goal by Nick Folk.

The final drive was an unfamiliar one for the Jets as they are used to having this sort of magic executed upon them instead.  Antonio Cromartie returned the kickoff 47 yards to put the team in position, then quarterback Mark Sanchez completed several key passes (including a gorgeous rainbow arc to Braylon Edwards, who outleaped the Colts defender) to move Gang Green into field goal position.  After that, Folk (who has missed several pressure kicks in his career) was able to seal the improbable victory.

For a guy who was considered dead and buried prior to the season, Ladainian Tomlinson has proven that there is life after thirty for an NFL running back.  He ran for 82 yards and scored both Jets’ touchdowns.

The defense limited the prolific Manning to 225 passing yards and one touchdown.

New York now gets a rare chance at redemption as they travel to Foxboro Stadium to face the team the team that humiliated them 45-3 earlier this season.  Unlike the Colts, the Patriots are healthy and appear motivated to do more damage to the Jets credibility.

Rex Ryan, though, plans on a different ending this time around.