 2008 New York Jets Preview The Jets had reason to believe they could remain playoff contenders last season but sputtered to a 4-12 record. Neither Chad Pennington nor Kellen Clemens showed much effectiveness at the quarterback position. Enter Brett Favre, who was cast aside by the Packers. Can Favre make the Jets contenders again? Peter Stein gives his take on how the Jets stack up this season.
2007 Record -- 4-12 (3rd AFC East)
Head Coach - Eric Mangini
2007 Review
The Jets had reason to believe they could remain playoff contenders, after having secured a wildcard spot the previous year. But New York sputtered to a 4-12 finish, with neither Chad Pennington nor Kellen Clemens offering much effectiveness at the quarterback position.
Worse yet, the Jets entered the 2008 preseason with the same two
quarterbacks fighting for the starting job. That was until a certain trade you may have heard about. Or maybe not; it didn't get much coverage in the media.
Yeah, right.
OFFENSE
Of course, that trade involved the NFL's all-time passing leader Brett Favre coming to the Jets for a conditional draft choice. Favre has now worn the uniforms of Bart Starr and Joe Namath, with Favre's own personal #4 sewed on each. That's like Eddie Van Halen getting to display his unique talents on the guitars of Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix.
Favre showed no signs of wear last year. Though he was 38 by season's end, he had amassed 4,155 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes, leading the Packers to a 13-3 mark and a berth in the NFC Championship game. When Favre was intercepted by the New York Giants' Corey Webster in overtime of that game, it set up the Giants' conference-winning field goal, and when Favre announced his retirement in March, it appeared that interception would be the last NFL pass he would ever throw.
Not to be. After ESPN's summer soap opera dragged on for over a month, with the rumor mongers sending Favre to Minnesota, Chicago, Carolina, Tampa Bay, the Jets, and even back to Green Bay, he finally ended up in a green uniform again. But this time it was Jets green.
If he stays healthy, which hasn't been an issue throughout his 17-year career, Favre should lift the Jets back to playoff contention. How could a guy with 61,655 career passing yards, 442 career touchdown passes, and 160 regular season wins not help a team? Especially a team that won only 25 percent of its games last year.
But here's the thing. Just because Favre has started 275 consecutive games doesn't mean he is immune to a prolonged injury. And if Favre does go down for a while - a notion hard to fathom, but still possible - Clemens would seem to be the Jets' best remaining option now that Pennington is a member of the division-rival Miami Dolphins, and Clemens hasn't shown he's anywhere near ready to take over. Last year, Clemens passed for a decent amount of yards (1,529) for about half a season's work, but threw only five touchdown passes against 10 picks, and had a mediocre 52 percent completion rate. Rookie Brett Ratliff has been impressive in preseason, but third string is probably the best he can hope for this year.
The running game should be fairly solid with Thomas Jones, who is just a year-and-a-half removed from playing in Superbowl XLI while a member of the Chicago Bears. Jones led the Jets with 1,119 rushing yards last season, but gained only 3.6 yards per carry and rushed for just one touchdown. Back-up Leon Washington finished a distant second with 353 rushing yards, but he also averaged five yards per carry and ran for three touchdowns. Jesse Chatman was signed to be mostly a third-down specialist.
The Jets are abandoning the H-back formation they employed unsuccessfully for most of last year, and will go with a fullback again. They imported one of the game's best for that position when they signed Tony Richardson away from the Vikings. Richardson is a great blocking back - just ask Adrian Peterson - and has decent hands if Favre needs an extra safety valve on passing downs.
The Jets' receiving corps is in good shape with starters Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Neither will remind Favre of the Sterling Sharpe days, but each does possess decent pass-catching skills. Cotchery led the team in receptions (82) and receiving yardage (1,130); Coles' six touchdown catches were a team high. Coles has been out recently with a leg injury, and has been replaced by Brad Smith, who used to play quarterback at Missouri. When Coles is healthy, Smith and rookie Marcus Henry will provide depth, as will Chansi Stuckey, who lost the entire '07 season to injury.
Tight end Chris Baker is a very good receiver, but contract squabbles with Baker led the Jets to draft Dustin Keller out of Purdue, and to sign ex-Packer Bubba Franks. Having a history with Favre might help Franks get more balls thrown his way.
Signing longtime Steeler Alan Faneca to play left guard would have likely been considered the Jets' best off-season catch until Favre landed in the Meadowlands. Favre himself may deem the Faneca signing the Jets' most significant, because he will now have Faneca - a seven-time Pro Bowler - and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson - the Jets' No.1 pick in 2006 - protecting his blind side.
The Jets also looked to free agency for help at right tackle, importing Damien Woody to play that position. Woody - a member of two New England Patriots' championship teams - and Faneca bring three Superbowl rings to the Jets' starting line.
Brandon Moore will be the starter at right guard, with Nick Mangold starting at center.
DEFENSE
Shaun Ellis and Kenyon Coleman return at defensive end, and each is a solid player at his position, although Ellis has been slowed by a hand injury in preseason. The big news on the front line is newcomer Kris Jenkins, who was acquired for a pair of draft picks from the Carolina Panthers. The 335-pound behemoth will start at nose tackle, making it harder to run against New York.
The Jets are banking $42 million on Calvin Pace, who was signed to play outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 defense. Pace had 6-1/2 sacks for the Arizona Cardinals last year.
New York drafted linebacker Vernon Gholston out of Ohio State, and he will eventually start opposite Pace, but the more experienced Bryan Thomas may hold onto the job a bit longer. David Harris and Eric Barton are very capable starters on the inside.
Former Pitt standout Darrelle Revis lived up to his potential as a rookie last year, and he will again start at right corner. Justin Miller, Dwight Lowery, David Barrett and Hank Poteat have been vying for the starting left corner position, and though Miller is currently No. 1 on the depth chart, Lowery has impressed in preseason.
Strong safety Kerry Rhodes is back after leading the team with five interceptions in '07. Abram Elam won the starting free safety job last year, due in part to a leg injury suffered by Eric Smith in the Jets' 2007 training camp. But Smith is now listed ahead of Elam on the depth chart.
Special Teams
Placekicker Mike Nugent wasn't much of a threat on field-goal attempts of 50 yards or more last year, connecting on just one of four from that range. Within 50 yards, Nugent was fairly dependable, hitting 81 percent (29-of-36) of his field-goal tries.
Punter Ben Graham had an unspectacular '07 season, but has the job to himself because former Penn State punter Jeremy Kapinos was released in June.
Washington handles most of the kickoff and punt returns, but Revis may get a shot at the latter. James Dearth is a quality long snapper.
Outlook
With the arrival of Favre, the Jets are suddenly legitimate playoff contenders again. And with Tom Brady's foot injury keeping him out of preseason action thus far, New York may even have the audacity to think about a division title and who knows what else?
Winning nine or 10 games is a more realistic goal. Competing for the Superbowl could be a stretch, especially with New England, Indianapolis, San Diego and Jacksonville terrorizing the same conference.
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