(Sports Network) - New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said at the start of
his team's 2012 training camp that not making the playoffs last season made
him sick.
He didn't say if a temperature came with that feeling, but there is a new
fever gripping the Gang Green: Tim Tebow nation.
But Ryan and the Jets hope that their new backup quarterback isn't the biggest
story of the upcoming campaign as they try to get back to the postseason.
Following back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances -- both with starter
Mark Sanchez under center -- the streaky Jets failed to grab a playoff spot a
season ago due to a trio of losing streaks that led to an 8-8 mark, with the
team dropping its final three games of the year.
With the Jets still in some control, a 29-14 loss to the New York Giants in
Week 16 essentially sunk the season. One could even pinpoint the exact play
in which it all went wrong -- a 99-yard touchdown pass from the Giants' Eli
Manning to Victor Cruz late in the second quarter that put the G-Men ahead for
good.
"Oh, I was sick," said Ryan of last year's results. "Because I knew that, and
I told our guys that if we get in [the playoffs], that's the main thing. If
you get in everybody forgets what happens, but I still think that we could
have done damage. It hurt me because I believed it. I almost felt like I was
the only one that believed it. And that wasn't the case, but I kind of felt
that way."
Cruz's score was a rare slip-up for a Jets' pass defense that is one of the
best in the league. However, the offense ranked just 25th in total yards,
though the team still managed to average a respectable 23.6 points per game.
So, New York and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer amicably parted
ways at season's end and Ryan added former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony
Sparano.
Sparano, of course, made the Wildcat offense all the rage in 2008 while with
the Dolphins, and he may have the perfect candidate to run it in New York
after the Jets acquired Tebow for a pair of draft picks during the offseason.
Tebow took over the Denver Broncos starting job during last season and helped
guide the club to an AFC West title -- with the same 8-8 mark that failed to
produce a playoff spot for the Jets -- as well as a postseason victory over
the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Broncos acquired quarterback Peyton
Manning during the offseason, leaving Tebow without a starting job.
He doesn't figure to start in New York either, as Ryan has continued to
proclaim there is no quarterback controversy and that his starter is Sanchez,
who signed a contract extension in March that added three more years to his
deal.
"Now clearly we have a starting quarterback, it's Mark Sanchez, period,
there's no question about it," said Ryan during camp, while joking that he
would put Tebow in protection if it would help the team win. "We're going to
do whatever it takes to win...Mark is our quarterback. As much as people are
trying to make it a quarterback controversy, it's not. Mark is our starting
quarterback, and Tim is an excellent football player like we've said."
Ryan, though, did acknowledge that the Wildcat will be a part of the offense
this season, and that doesn't seem to bother Sanchez.
"I trust Coach Sparano with it and however he thinks the best way to use it,
that's what we'll do," Sanchez said. "I know the entire offense has full faith
in him and we're excited about the scheme."
Tebow is just one of a few new players who are expected to contribute this
season. New York does return 20-of-22 starters from a year ago, but not all of
them are guaranteed their same spot.
Competition never hurt anybody.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2012 edition of the New York Jets, with a
personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2011 RECORD: 8-8 (2nd, AFC East)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2010, lost to Pittsburgh in AFC Championship
COACH (RECORD): Rex Ryan (28-20 in three seasons)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tony Sparano (first season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Pettine (fourth season)
OFFENSIVE STAR: Mark Sanchez, QB (3474 passing yards, 26 TD, 18 INT)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Darrelle Revis, CB (52 tackles, 4 INT, 21 PD)
2011 OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 25th overall (22nd rushing, 21st passing), tied
12th scoring (23.6 ppg)
2011 DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 5th overall (13th rushing, 5th passing), 20th
scoring (22.7 ppg)
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Stephen Hill (2nd Round, Georgia Tech), SS Yeremiah Bell
(from Dolphins), FS LaRon Landry (from Redskins), QB Tim Tebow (from Broncos),
WR Chaz Schilens (from Raiders), WR Jordan White (7th Round, Western
Michigan), OT Jason Smith (from Rams), DE Quinton Coples (1st Round, North
Carolina), ILB Demario Davis (3rd Round, Arkansas State)
KEY DEPARTURES: WR Plaxico Burress (free agent), TE Matthew Mulligan (to
Rams), RT Wayne Hunter (to Rams), SS Jim Leonhard (to Broncos), QB Mark
Brunell (free agent), QB Kevin O'Connell (free agent), RB LaDainian Tomlinson
(retired), C Robert Turner (to Rams), DE Ropati Pitoitua (to Chiefs), OLB
Jamaal Westerman (to Dolphins), CB Donald Strickland (free agent), CB Marquice
Cole (to Patriots), S Brodney Pool (to Cowboys), S Tracy Wilson (to Titans)
QB: Sanchez is one of only five quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to win 30
career games (including playoffs) in his first three NFL seasons and has
taken the Jets to within a game of the Super Bowl twice, but now has the
polarizing Tebow looking over his shoulder. One has to wonder how long it will
take for Jets nation to jump on the backup's bandwagon should the "Sanchize"
struggle. A duplication of Sanchez's 2011 season should keep the fans on his
side, as he threw for a career-best 3,474 yards and 26 touchdowns, tied for
the second-most by a Jets quarterback in a single season. The 25-year-old also
found the end zone six times on the ground, meaning Tebow isn't the only
signal-caller on the roster who can make plays with his feet. It may take a
lot to happen for Tebow to take over the No. 1 quarterback spot, but he should
still see plenty of time on the field in the Wildcat. He ran for six
touchdowns in just nine games as a rookie in 2010, then passed for 1,729 yards
in 14 games (11 starts) last year, completing 12 touchdown passes to six
interceptions while running for 660 yards and six scores. Greg McElroy enters
his second season in the league as the third quarterback.
RB: Shonn Greene begins his second season as New York's featured back and made
15 starts a year ago, running for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns while adding
another 30 receptions. While the 226-pound Greene will be the key to the Jets'
ground-and-pounding the ball, he may not figure as much into the red-zone
offense with Tebow on board. LaDainian Tomlinson's offseason retirement opens
the door for return specialist Joe McKnight (134 rushing yards, 13 receptions
in 2011) to back up Greene after he ran the ball just 43 times in 2011.
Second-year back Bilal Powell should also be in line for more carries as the
third man on the depth chart. Clearing the way for the rushers will be
fullback John Conner. Nicknamed "The Terminator," the 245-pound owns just 21
carries in his two-year career and is the only true fullback currently listed
on the roster.
WR: A quick look at the Jets' group of wide receivers won't have a lot of
names popping out at you, and that could be an issue for Sanchez. New York
does have a true No. 1 in Santonio Holmes (51 receptions, 8 TD), but he has
been slowed in training camp by a rib injury. He is the lone starting wideout
to return as the Jets opted to not re-sign the 6-foot-5 Plaxico Burress, who
matched Holmes with eight touchdown receptions last year and was one of the
big reasons why the Jets led the NFL in red-zone efficiency, scoring
touchdowns on 36 of their 55 trips inside the 20-yard line. New York did add a
burner to its roster by trading up in the second round of April's draft to get
Stephen Hill, who has good hands to go along with excellent speed and solid
blocking skills. His main obstacle early on in the NFL could be that he did
not run a lot of different routes while playing for Georgia Tech's option
attack. Still, Hill is in line to be the first rookie wide receiver to start
in Week 1 for the Jets since Wayne Chrebet in 1995. Second-year wideout Jeremy
Kerley (29 receptions, 1 TD) also returns as the slot receiver after holding
that role as a rookie, while the Jets signed Chaz Schilens (23 receptions,
2 TD with Raiders) in the offseason to add to the mix. Further backups like
Patrick Turner and rookie Jordan White (7th Round, Western Michigan) don't add
much experience.
TE: Sanchez's security blanket is tight end Dustin Keller, who led the Jets
last season with 65 receptions and 815 receiving yards. Keller added five
touchdown receptions to his rising stock, and his catch total was the most by
a tight end in franchise history since Mickey Shuler nabbed 70 in 1988. Given
the lack of depth at the wideout spot, Keller should see plenty of targets
from Sanchez again this season. Jeff Cumberland is the main reserve and is
looking to bounce back from a torn Achilles that sidelined him for the
majority of the 2011 season. The loss of Cumberland led to previous third-
stringer Josh Baker playing in 11 games, but he was placed on injured reserve
following a knee injury suffered during the preseason.
OL: The Jets return four of their five starting lineman from 2011, with the
lone change coming at right tackle. New York first tried to shake up the spot
by trading for Carolina Panther Jeff Otah just before camp, but he failed his
physical and the deal was voided. Wayne Hunter made 16 starts there last year
after a solid performance in the previous season's playoffs, but was overtaken
by Austin Howard, a third-year vet out of Northern Iowa, in the preseason. New
York then agreed to deal Hunter to the St. Louis Rams for right tackle Jason
Smith, the underachieving second overall pick of the 2009 draft. The rest of
the line looks the same and is anchored by left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson,
who is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl selection and has started every
game since being selected fourth overall in the 2006 draft. Left guard Matt
Slauson holds down his position for a third straight year next to four-time
Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold. Adding to the longevity of the line is right
guard Brandon Moore, who has made 121 straight starts and comes off his first
Pro Bowl appearance as well. Young linemen Vladimir Ducasse and Caleb
Schlauderaff add depth at guard.
DL: Given the Jets' strength in defending the pass, the pressure is always on
the front seven to play the run strong. New York's three down lineman will be
under the tutelage of new defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who will hope that
2011 first-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson (49 tackles, 3 sacks) can build off
his excellent rookie campaign. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound end has excellent size
and strength and started every game last year. Nose tackle Sione Pouha had
the most tackles of any Jets defensive lineman (58) in 2011 and also had a
sack, while Mike DeVito (34 tackles, 1 sack) is solid at the other tackle spot
but missed four games last year due to injury. Pouha will have to hold off
second-year pro Kenrick Ellis, who is looking for more playing time after
being used sparingly as a rookie, while 2012 first-round pick Quinton Coples
will try to work his way into the mix at end. The North Carolina product has
great strength and lateral mobility, meaning he could develop into both an
impact run-stopper and pass rusher at the NFL level. However, he'll need to
shake off his reputation from his college days of taking plays off. Marcus
Dixon (16 tackles, 1.5 sacks) is also part of the line rotation.
LB: New York has one of the game's top inside linebackers in middle man David
Harris (86 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 INT), and he showed his versatility last year
by contributing in pressuring the quarterback, making tackles and picking off
passes. Harris matched the club high for picks and returned one for a
touchdown in 2011. Outside linebacker Calvin Pace (72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1
INT) finished third on the team in tackles in his fourth season with the Jets,
while opposite-side starter Bryan Thomas was limited to only four games last
year -- his 10th in the league -- because of a torn left Achilles tendon
injury before re-signing this offseason. Fellow veteran Bart Scott (66
tackles, 4.5 sacks) enters his 11th NFL season alongside Harris and the
Jets may have taken his future replacement in 2012 third-rounder DeMario Davis
(Arkansas State). Pass rusher Aaron Maybin was solid in limited time a season
ago, notching six sacks with four forced fumbles in 13 games without a start.
DB: No team can match the cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis (52 tackles, 4
INT) and Antonio Cromartie (45 tackles, 4 INT), but the duo will have new help
behind them in safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell. New York added the two
through free agency, and Bell (107 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) shouldn't miss a
beat playing in the AFC East after spending his first eight seasons with the
Dolphins, including each of the last four as a starter. He went over 100
tackles each season as a regular and owns six career interceptions. Landry (48
tackles, 1.5 sacks), meanwhile, has been limited to just 17 starts in the past
two seasons due to injury after having three healthy years after the Redskins
made him the sixth overall pick of the 2007 draft. Those additions could push
2011 14-game starter Eric Smith (89 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT) into a backup
role, while veterans Jim Leonhard and Brodney Pool were not re-signed. Whoever
starts will have the luxury of playing behind Revis, a four-time Pro Bowler
considered the top cover corner in the game. With him leading the way, the
Jets have held quarterbacks to an NFL-low 68.7 passer rating since 2009.
Cromartie is another former Pro Bowl corner, a position where 2010 first-round
pick Kyle Wilson (41 tackles, 2 INT) as well as Ellis Lankster, add further
depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Jets opted to bring in veteran kicker Josh Brown, formerly
of St. Louis, to challenge incumbent Nick Folk, but the latter kept his job in
camp and Brown was released. Folk has hit on 76.9 and 76.0 percent of his
field goal tries in his two years with the Jets, going 5-of-11 from 50 yards
or longer over that span. New York's offense usually benefits from good field
position, as McKnight led the NFL with an average of 31.6 yards per kickoff
return and Kerley notched an average of 10.9 yards per punt runback. Punter
T.J. Conley stuck 32 of his 92 punts inside the 20-yard line and averaged 42.7
yards per punt last season, while long snapper Tanner Purdum returns for his
third season.
PROGNOSIS: Last season's results -- an 8-8 record and no playoffs -- may have
humbled the Jets a bit, and that could be a good thing. If not for the
addition of Tebow, New York certainly would have flown a little more under the
radar this year. Instead, the Jets' passing game features a host of
uncertainty thanks to a looming quarterback controversy and a lack of
playmakers at the receiver spot. Sanchez did enough last season to entrench
himself as the starter, but missing the playoffs certainly dampened that
resume. A fast start is a must for him lest the masses cry for Tebow. Luckily
for New York, the defense is once again solid and should carry its weight all
season long. With few light spots on the schedule, the Jets will certainly
need to improve on their 3-3 division record from a season ago.
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