2010 RECORD: 11-5-0
(2nd in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Rex Ryan
Offense: Getting the passing game to soar higher will be in the hands of quarterback Mark Sanchez once again in 2011.
The third year quarterback passed for 3,291 yards last year and had 17 touchdown passes along with 13 interceptions. Mark Brunell, Kellen Clemens and and rookie Greg McElroy are vying for the backup job.
The receivers will have some new faces in 2011 as Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards are gone, being replaced by Derrick Mason and Plaxico Burress.
Burress hasn't played since 2008 after serving a prison term and will join Santonio Holmes (52 catches, 746 yards and six TD) as the primary targets for Sanchez in the Jets' air attack. Mason, who comes over from Baltimore, caught 61 passes for 802 yards and had seven touchdowns in 2010.
Tight End Dustin Keller, who led the Jets last year with 55 receptions for 687 yards and five scores, is back. Reserve tight end Matt Mulligan and rookie wideout Jeremy Kerley are also available.
The strength of the offense the past two years has been the running game and the Jets feature Shonn Greene (766 yards, 4.1 ypc average, two TD) and LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 914 yards (4.2 ypc average) and scored six touchdowns last season. L.T. also caught 52 passes for 368 yards out of the backfield. Joe McKnight (189 yards, 4.8 average) could get some more carries in 2011. John Conner is the fullback.
The offensive line, which does a good job both run and pass blocking, is anchored by center Nick Mangold. The guards are Matt Slauson and Brandon Moore and the tackles will be D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Wayne Hunter.
New York finished 11th overall on offense, averaging 351 yards a game while scoring 367 points in 2010. The running game averaged 148 yards (4th in NFL) while the passing game averaged 203 yards, which ranked 22nd in the league.
Defense: As was the story in 2009, the defense was the strong point for the Jets last season, as they finished third overall, allowing 291 yards per game. The run defense ranked third, giving up 91 yards a game and the pass defense allowed 200 yards, which was good for sixth in the NFL. In addition, the Jets allowed 304 points last year.
The Jets 3-4 scheme will have Sione Pouha at nose tackle with Mike DeVito and rookie Muhammad Wilkerson (Temple) at the ends. Marcus Dixon, Kenrick Ellis and Ropati Pitoitua are also available.
The linebacking corps is solid, featuring players such as outside men Calvin Pace (5.5 QB sacks) and Bryan Thomas, who had six sacks. The inside linebackers are Bart Scott and David Harris. Jamaal Westerman, Josh Mauga, Nick Bellore and Aaron Maybin add depth to the unit.
The secondary once again will feature shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis, along with Antonio Cromartie (three interceptions) and safeties Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith. Others include Brodney Pool, Dwight Lowery, Drew Coleman and Marquice Cole.
The Jets like to get after it defensively, blitzing from all angles and that helped produce 40 sacks last season. The interceptions were down from the year before as the Jets only picked off twelve passes in 2010.
OUTLOOK: Head Coach Rex Ryan is a boisterous man who holds nothing back and emboldens the team's brash attitude.
The Jets have been in the AFC Championship Game the last two years and have come up short. Like the Houston Oilers of the late 1970's, who knocked on the door, then pounded on the door, Ryan would like to see the Jets take the third step (which Houston never did) and "kick it in."
Their goal is the Super Bowl and Ryan makes no bones about it.
If Sanchez, who still is prone to throw the pick at the worst times, can continue to cut down on the mistakes and the running game doesn't falter at all, then the Jets should have a better year, which is what has to happen in 2011 if they are going to advance to the Super Bowl.
The defense is solid, but also must step up in the post-season, where they have had letdowns in the AFC title game the last two years.
Beating New England (on the road) in the playoffs was huge, but now is the time and the Jets will not be happy unless they get to (and win) the Super Bowl, which probably won't happen again this season.
Look for a 11-5 finish once again and a road loss to close out the Jets in the post-season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Dallas
Week 2- vs. Jacksonville
Week 3- at Oakland
Week 4- at Baltimore
Week 5- at New England
Week 6- vs. Miami
Week 7- vs. San Diego
Week 8- BYE WEEK
Week 9- at Buffalo
Week 10- vs. New England
Week 11- at Denver
Week 12- vs. Buffalo
Week 13- at Washington
Week 14- vs. Kansas City
Week 15- at Philadelphia
Week 16- vs. NY Giants
Week 17- at Miami
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