2010 New York Jets Season Preview

When looking ahead at the 2010 New York Jets Team Preview, there are several noteworthy items on the agenda and changes to point out for a team that made it to the AFC Championship game a season ago. The Jets made perhaps some of the biggest off-season acquisitions of any team in the League heading into 2010, as they will sport new looks at different positions in spite of the post season success enjoyed last go-around. They almost had to however, as they lost several notable players of their own.

The theme for the Jets in 2010 could be along the lines of "New Stadium, New-look, New heights." Head coach Rex Ryan has plenty to look forward to after his team went 9-7 last season. They squeaked into the playoffs only to get past Cincinnati and San Diego before blowing a second-half lead in the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2009, the Jets were led on offense by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez out of USC. Sanchez came into a dream offensive system for a starting rookie quarterback, as the Jets were tops in the entire NFL in rushing, at 172 yards per game. However, the loss of leading rusher Thomas Jones and Leon Washington will make for a new-look running attack in 2010, with some questions still to be answered. The Jets made moves in the 2010 NFL Draft to address the running back issue by picking up Joe McKnight out of USC in the fourth round as well as free agency.

On the defensive side of the ball the Jets ranked No.1 in total defense, scoring, and against the pass. The Jets lost corner back Lito Sheppard and Safety Kerry Rhodes to free agency.

It is hard to improve upon being No.1 in the NFL in defense, but the Jets organization brought in two players that they believe will make them even better on that side of the ball in corner back Antonio Cromartie and defensive lineman Jason Taylor. Both are big plays guys, in particular Cromartie, who is arguably the most athletic player at his position.

Not to be outdone on offense however, the Jets also brought in a pair of players for that side of the ball as well. LaDainian Tomlinson will don green in the 2010 NFL Season, as well as Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh. These high-profile acquisitions makes the Jets one of the most active teams in the off-season as they have made it clear they want to win, and they want to win now.2010 New York Jets Coaching Staff & Changes Rex Ryan possesses the confidence and abrasiveness it takes to make it as a head coach in New York. He has never shied away from the camera and never curved his comments to the media. Heading into his second season at the helm, Ryan took New York to an 11-8 record last season, that includes a 2-1 post-season mark.

Under Ryan are two coordinators that exhibit their head coaches philosophy and are on the same page. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is also entering his second season with the team, and had the Jets defense superior to all others throughout the course of 2009. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is entering his fourth season with the Jets, and will have the task of continuing to bring along Sanchez and develop him to achieve a more balanced offense, then the run-heavy scheme in place now.2010 New York Jets Key Free Agency Acquisitions & LossesAcquistions
CB - Antonio Cromartie from San Diego Chargers
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson from San Diego Chargers
WR - Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh Steelers
DE - Jason Taylor from Miami Dolphins

Losses
K - Jay Feely to Arizona Cardinals
RB - Leon Washington to Seattle Seahawks
CB - Lito Sheppard to Seattle Seahawks
RB - Thomas Jones to Kansas City Chiefs
S - Kerry Rhodes to Arizona Cardinals2010 New York Jets NFL DraftRound 1: Pick 29 - CB, Kyle Wilson (Boise State)
Round 2: Pick 61 - OT, Vlad Ducasse (Massachusetts)
Round 4: Pick 112 - RB, Joe McKnight (USC)
Round 5: Pick 139 - RB, John Conner (Kentucky)
2010 New York Jets QuarterbacksSanchez started out of the gate well last season but struggled during the middle of the year. However, he was effective for the Jets during their playoff run and if he can develop from that heading into 2010, it could be a good year for the young quarterback coming off of his rookie campaign. Ryan got on Sanchez last season for trying to force the issue and create plays out of nothing. Additionally, he asked Sanchez repeated to slide instead of taking the hits when he scrambled. That transpired into a minor injury Sanchez suffered in the year, from which he learned to slide following.

When looking ahead at the 2010 New York Jets Team Preview and quarterback Mark Sanchez, he will have a talented running back tandem and receiving corps for his to throw to, especially with the edition of Holmes to the set.

Last season, Sanchez threw for 2,444 yard and 12 touchdowns. The team ranked in the bottom of the league in passing yards per game however, with just 149. It was not as big of an issue as it could have been because of the successful run game. Still, Sanchez will need to make strides if the Jets hope to make it to Super Bowl XLV. He had knee surgery in the off-season but will be 100 percent come training camp and opening weekend.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Quarterback Depth Chart
QB - Mark Sanchez
QB - Kellen Clemens
QB - Erik Ainge2010 New York Jets Running BacksRarely does a team part ways with two of their top running backs, when the year before they led the league in total rushing. However, that is exactly the case with the Jets heading into 2010 from last season. Leading rusher Thomas Jones left for Kansas City, and top kick returner and running back Leon Washington has a new home in Seattle. While that would be a cause for panic for some teams, the Jets feel they have lost nothing. They kept who they feel to be their best asset in Shonn Greene, who was very productive in the playoffs. Additionally, the signing of LaDainian Tomlinson should be a nice compliment to Greene as the former Charger and NFL MVP makes a new home for the first time in his NFL career.

Green is a big-play guy who is capable of making the long run at any moment. The same can be said for Tomlinson, albeit he may not have the full spark he had in the pinnacle of his career. Still, Tomlinson is a dangerous running back for which teams will have to game plan for the duo.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Running Back Depth Chart
RB - Shonn Greene
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson
RB - Chauncey Washington
2010 New York Jets Wide ReceiversLast season the Jets made a big move in acquiring Braylon Edwards from the Cleveland Browns to improve their receiving corps. This season, the Jets add Santonio Holmes, the former Super Bowl MVP from the Pittsburgh Steelers. New York is hopeful that Holmes will be the missing piece to the puzzle, and give Sanchez the play-maker that he needs to spread out a defensive secondary. Holmes has had some past off-the-field troubles, but insists that is all behind him. From the outside looking in at the 2010 New York Jets Preview relating to the receivers, much improvement has been made with the addition of Holmes.

The Jets held onto Edwards, who will be in a contract year this season. Jerricho Cotchery has the best hands on the team, and it a great go-to guy for Sanchez. This trio of Holmes, Edwards and Cotchery has the potential makings to be something special, if Sanchez can get the ball to them.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Wide Receiver Depth Chart
WR - Braylon Edwards
WR - Santonio Holmes
WR - Jerricho Cotchery
WR - Brad Smith

Projected 2010 New York Jets Tight End Depth Chart
TE - Dustin Keller
TE - Ben Hartsock2010 New York Jets Offensive LineThe 2009 Offensive Line of the New York Jets could be considered the best of all last season. All one would have to do is look at the offensive rushing statistics from 2009 and the Jets would appear at the top of all other teams. Still, there is always room for improvement and the Jets made a big move by releasing Alan Faneca, who has been to nine Pro Bowls. The Jets just gave left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson a new contract and in place of Faneca will likely step in Matt Slauson. He will be the only new member on the front of the line, and the Jets expect to be every bit as good as last season up front.

They implement a zone-blocking format, which they execute very well and under coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and line coach Bill Callahan expect to improve even more.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Starting Offensive Line
LT - D'Brickashaw Ferguson
LG - Matt Slauson
C - Nick Mangold
RG - Brandon Moore
RT - Damien Woody2010 New York Jets Defensive LineThe Jets defense ranked fourth in the AFC against the run thanks in large part to their front four. The Jets get back tackle Kris Jenkins, who missed the majority of last season due to knee surgery. Still, New York lacks depth at the lineman position, and it is a virtual certainty that Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will develop defensive schemes to help with this in a 3-4 base. This set takes the focus and dependence off of the defensive line. Shaun Ellis and Mike DiVeto will be on the interior of the line, as well as Ropati Pitotua, who is a huge 6'8 300-pounder.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Starting Defensive Line
DE - Shaun Ellis
NT - Kris Jenkins
DE - Mike DeVito2010 New York Jets LinebackersThe linebacker corps for the Jets is a veteran unit, but they are good. The addition of Jason Taylor, at age 36, only adds to the average age of the group, but he brings experience and a solid skill-set. Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas are hybrid players who can play the position of outside linebacker or line up by the tackle as a defensive end. On the inside, Bart Scott and David Harris will clog the middle of the field for run support and pass support as they played a large part in the No.1 ranking against the pass in 2009. The versatility of the linebackers for the 2010 New York Jets will allow Ryan to come up with and implement a myriad of blitz packages to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and quarterback.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Starting Linebackers
OLB - Calvin Pace
ILB - David Harris
ILB - Bart Scott
OLB - Bryan Thomas 2010 New York Jets SecondaryThe team was No.1 against the pass in 2009, but continuing with the theme of the team, broke the group apart. The team parted way with three players in the secondary, including Safety Kerry Rhodes, but they still have Darrelle Revis. The addition of Antonio Cromartie will also help out and if he can bring back his production level circa 2007, this duo of defensive backs could be something special. The Jets still have plenty of depth in this corps, as Brodney Pool will step in for Rhodes and fill his big shoes. At the end of the day, the Jets still have arguably the top shut-down corner in the NFL in Revis, and the potential for that in Cromartie. They will be solid in this department.

Projected 2010 New York Jets Starting Seconday
CB - Darrelle Revis
CB - Antonio Cromartie
SS - Jim Leonhard
FS - Eric Smith

2010 New York Jets Preview