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2007 Team Report: New York Jets

Quarterbacks

Starter: Chad Pennington
Backup(s): Kellen Clemens, Marques Tuiasosopo

Starting QB: Chad Pennington was named the 2006 NFL Comeback Player of the Year after starting every game for the first time in his career. Unlike the prior two offseasons, Pennington isn't rehabbing from rotator cuff surgery and questions about his health will be put to rest if he can start another 16 games in 2007. Pennington's 16th place fantasy ranking last year was more a product of his ability to stay healthy than being a consistent fantasy scorer. The Jets ranked 21st in pass attempts last year and should not be expected to pass much more often in 2007.

Backup QB: Kellen Clemens only threw one pass last season, but was impressive as a rookie in training camp. Clemens is a former second-round pick known for his strong arm and he moves up the depth chart with the departure of Patrick Ramsey. While it seems unlikely that Clemens will play absent a Pennington injury, he should be able to nearly match Pennington's fantasy production if he is forced to start. Tuiasosopo, the ex-Raiders quarterback, is the team's third QB.

Running Backs

Starter: Thomas Jones
Backup(s): Leon Washington
Fullback(s): Darian Barnes, Stacy Tutt [R]

Starting RB: Thomas Jones resurrected his career in Chicago averaging 93.7 total yards per game since signing with the Bears in 2004. Only LaDainian Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson and Jones have rushed for at least 2,500 yards, 15 TDs, a 4.0 YPC and recorded 50 receptions the past two seasons. Jones rushed for 301 yards and four scores in the playoffs prompting the Jets to trade for the disgruntled veteran. The Jets never found a replacement for Curtis Martin and Jones should be the stopgap for at least a year.

Backup RBs: Leon Washington contributed significantly as a rookie in 2006. Washington's big-play ability was the only rushing threat for New York; other Jets RBs averaged an awful 2.9 yards per carry. Washington became more involved as a receiver in the second half of the year recording 20 receptions in the final eight games. He'll be the third-down back this year and should provide a nice complement to Jones.

Fullback: Darian Barnes joins his fourth team in five seasons and the 250-pound former Dolphin is a one-dimensional blocking back. Stacy Tutt was a quarterback at Richmond and will try to make the team as an H-Back.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery
Backups: Brad Smith, Justin McCareins, Wallace Wright, Chansi Stuckey [R]

Starting WRs: Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery form one of the better WR combos in the league. Both have above-average speed and hands, and neither is afraid to go over the middle to make the tough catch. Coles is the only receiver in the NFL to play 16 games each of the past six seasons and earned his reputation as one of the league's toughest players while playing through multiple injuries last year. Coles had just three drops on 151 targets, easily one of the top ratios in the league. Cotchery had his breakout year in 2006 after shining in training camp despite little regular season results during his early years in the league. Cotchery had two 70-yard TD receptions against the Patriots including one in the playoffs last year. While the Jets offense had him running shorter routes most of the time, he has the ability to tack on chunks of yards after the catch.

Backup WRs: Brad Smith played some QB, RB and WR for the Jets last year, and is one of the more exciting young players in the league. Smith (6'2") and McCareins (6'2") are the Jets tallest receivers and will fill the WR3 and WR4 roles. McCareins, once thought to be at risk of getting cut, played well in camp and has reasserted himself as the team's 3rd option. Wright and Jackson figure to add depth and provide competition during camp.

Tight Ends

Starters: Chris Baker
Backups: Sean Ryan, Jason Pociask, Joe Kowalewski, James Dearth

Baker is a strong blocker, but his use in the receiving game dropped significantly in 2006. The emergence of Cotchery seems to limit Baker's potential as a fantasy threat. Pennington still likes throwing to Baker in the red zone and he may grab half a dozen TDs this year if Thomas Jones is ineffective as a goal-line back. Sean Ryan will see some time in the Jets 2-TE sets, but is a one-dimensional blocker with poor hands.

Place Kicker

Mike Nugent : After the Jets traded to draft Nugent in the second round in 2005, he had an uneventful rookie year. He started off 2006 very poorly, missing two FGs and one PAT on opening day. Since then he's been almost perfect. His only other miss the remainder of last year was from 52 yards, and he finished 24 of 27 (88.9%). He made 34 PATs. His 106 points put the Jets near the middle of the pack in kicker scoring, a place they've been seven of the last eight years. Nugent's kickoffs improved only slightly in his second year, still leaving plenty of room for more improvement. CAMP UPDATE: Mike Nugent made field goals of 19 and 34 yards, and added two PATs in the game against Minnesota. He also showed off his new and improved leg (actually just improved), by continually putting his kickoffs in the endzone.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Justin Miller; Leon Washington; Brad Smith

In his two years in the NFL, CB Justin Miller has proven to be one of the better kickoff returners. As a rookie he averaged 26.3 yards on 60 returns and scored once. In his second year he averaged 28.3 yards on 46 returns and scored twice. One thing that might stand in the way of a third straight top ten finish among fantasy returners, is possible ramifications from being arrested during the off-season for assault. RB Leon Washington had the second most returns (6) last year, but averaged only 13.2 yards.

Punt Returners: Leon Washington; Chansi Stuckey; Darrelle Revis

Leon Washington will be the team's primary punt returner at least to start the season. Washington took over for Tim Dwight last year and did reasonably well. Rookie Darrelle Revis is probably going to take over the PR duties at some point this year, and rookie Chansi Stuckey will be a factor, too, particularly if Washington and Revis need to focus their energies on their roles as major offensive and defensive contributors.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Adrian Clarke, C Nick Mangold, RG Brandon Moore, RT Anthony Clement
Key Backups: Adrian Jones, Wade Smith, Jacob Bender [R]

D'Brickashaw Ferguson started all 16 games but struggled at times during his rookie campaign. He should improve significantly in 2007. Fellow rookie, center Nick Mangold, also stepped in and played all 16 games. He quickly established himself as one of the best young centers in the game. The other starters are veterans who can get the job done. This unit should continue to improve throughout the year. Pete Kendall, unhappy with his contract status, was traded to the Redskins in mid-August. He was running with the second team anyway, behind LG Adrian Clarke.

Team Defense

The Jets were one of the bigger surprises in 2006 and even though their defense gave up yards in bunches (ranked 18th), their scoring defense ranked among the best in the league (6th). Head coach Eric Mangini installed a brand new defensive scheme, modeled after the Patriots defense, which meant a lot more 3-4 fronts. The defensive line doesn't generate a lot of pressure on opposing QBs, but their job is to tie up blockers and provide the linebackers with room to make plays. One year after leading the league in tackles, Jonathan Vilma seemed to struggle in the Jets new defense. Meanwhile, outside linebackers Bryan Thomas (who was converted from DE) and Victor Hobson thrived. The secondary is led by strong safety Kerry Rhodes, who was the defense's most valuable player a year ago, but the cornerbacks are average at best. This was a defense in transition that figures to improve in their second year under Mangini, and the special teams is a strength thanks to the presence of Pro Bowl returner Justin Miller.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Shaun Ellis, DE Kenyon Coleman, NT Dewayne Robertson
Backups: DT Sione Pouha, DE Eric Hicks, DT CJ Mosley

Starting DL: Shaun Ellis has had some ups and downs in his career, but has generally provided solid 2-way play since moving full-time to defensive end. He's unlikely to reach double digit sacks in this system, but made a smooth transition to the 3-4 and should continue to anchor the defensive line. The Jets signed Kenyon Coleman to a 5-year contract, but he remains relatively unproven after spending most of the last four seasons with the Cowboys as a reserve. Although Dewayne Robertson has played very well at times, he hasn't lived up to the huge expectations that were heaped upon him when he was drafted #4 overall. Robertson is not a prototypical NT as he's more of a penetrator who can shoot gaps and disrupt plays rather than clog up space to stop the run.

Backup DL: Kimo von Oelhoffen is an experienced veteran who can fill-in as the starter if Coleman stumbles, but his career is winding down at this point. Bobby Hamilton will be 36 years old when the season begins, but he's only missed 2 games in the past 7 years. Sione Pouha showed signs of improvement last year and will be counted on as the team's backup NT. Eric Hicks, Michael Haynes, and Andre Wadsworth were once highly touted players who are getting once last chance to keep their careers alive. CJ Mosley has some experience and will likely provide depth behind Robertson inside.

Linebackers

Starters: ILB Jonathan Vilma, ILB Eric Barton, OLB Bryan Thomas, OLB Victor Hobson
Backups: OLB David Bowens, ILB David Harris (R), ILB Brad Kassell, LB Cody Spencer

Starting LBs: The linebackers are clearly the strength of this defense, so we can likely expect the Jets to run even more 3-4 fronts this year. Jonathan Vilma led the league in tackles during the 2005 season and established himself as perhaps the best young linebacker in the league. The Jets switch to a 3-4 defense led to a huge drop in his numbers (68 solo tackles down from 128 the year before), however, and he struggled to consistently shed blockers and make plays. Eric Barton rebounded from an injury-plagued 2005 to post very respectable numbers in 2006. He appears to have become expendable with the drafting of David Harris, but may be able to hold him off for a season if the Jets keep him around. Bryan Thomas was drafted as a defensive end and was looking like a bust with very little production over his first four seasons. He was converted to OLB last year though, and responded with a breakout season putting up nearly 60 solo tackles and 8.5 sacks. Victor Hobson also responded well to the scheme change. He began the year with just 3 sacks in his first 3 seasons, but was given a lot more opportunities to rush the passer and finished with 66 solos and 6 sacks.

Backup LBs: David Bowens was signed in free agency and should contribute primarily as a pass rush specialist after recording 18 sacks over the last 3 seasons in Miami. After falling futher than most expected him to, David Harris was snapped up by the Jets who traded up in the 2nd round to get him. Harris is a smart player who rarely makes mistakes and should provide a solid complement to Vilma at ILB. Brad Kassell spent several years as a starter with the Titans and provides solid depth. Matt Chatham, primarily a special teams player, spent the first 6 years of his career with the Patriots before following Mangini to the Jets a year ago. Chatham will likely begin the year on the PUP list with a foot injury. Cody Spencer is another special teams player. Anthony Schlegel was a 3rd round pick a year ago who failed to make any type of impact.

Defensive Backs

Starters: SS Kerry Rhodes, FS Erik Coleman, CB Andre Dyson, CB Darrelle Revis [R]
Backups: CB Justin Miller, CB Hank Poteat, CB David Barrett, CB Drew Coleman, FS Eric Smith, SS Rashad Washington

Starting DBs: The secondary was victimized too often in 2006, but they did make a lot of big plays themselves. Kerry Rhodes established himself as a leader on defense and was a legitimate contender for defensive player of the year after finishing with 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. His safety partner Erik Coleman is a consistent tackler, but he hasn't been able to live up to the expectations that were created by his great rookie season. After recording 2 sacks and 4 interceptions as a rookie, he's only managed 0 sacks and 3 interceptions in the past 2 seasons combined. Andre Dyson provided some much needed stability for the Jets, starting every game at left cornerback until he was injured in week 15. Although somewhat undersized at 5'10", Dyson is a good cover corner with solid ball skills (21 INTs in 6 seasons). The Jets hope they solidified the other spot when they traded up in the first round to land Darrelle Revis, the first cornerback taken in this year's draft. He has all the tools to become a shutdown defender and is also an excellent punt returner. Revis was late to sign and missed a lot of training camp as a result so he may not begin the year as a starter.

Backup DBs: The Jets have a lot of CBs with starting experience who will compete for playing time. The team had high hopes that Justin Miller would develop into a starting CB for them, but after 2 seasons he hasn't made much progress and is probably best suited as a nickel back. His value to the team comes primarily on kick returns, where he made the Pro Bowl a year ago and is one of the league's elite. Hank Poteat was released by the Patriots mid-season, but quickly signed with the Jets and became a starter. David Barrett is a good tackler who has been a starter for most of his seven seasons in the league. Drew Coleman was a 6th round pick a year ago who adds depth and contributes on special teams. Eric Smith was a 3rd round pick in last year's draft who collected two interceptions in limited playing time and could push Erik Coleman for playing time at free safety. Rashad Washington has been with the Jets for 3 years and plays mostly on coverage units.

Last modified: 2007-09-02 13:32:09