New York Jets Training Camp Preview: 5 Questions on Offense With the New York Jets ready to hit the practice field on July 26th it is time to take a look at some of the questions that need to be answered during training camp. In this post we will look at the Jets offense, a unit that has struggled the last couple of years. 1) Who will be the Jets starting quarterback? The biggest story throughout the offseason has been the quarterback competition between the incumbent Mark Sanchez and the rookie Geno Smith. Sanchez is the early favorite to win the job for week one, but many are hoping that Geno shows enough in camp to make this a tough decision for Rex Ryan. My guess is that if the competition is close the team will go with Geno Smith as the organization is ready to move on from the Mark Sanchez experience on and off the field. Note: Another battle to keep an eye on is between Greg McElroy and Matt Simms for the third string quarterback spot. Quarterback coach David Lee has spoken highly about Simms and it will be interesting to see if he can beat out McElroy. 2) Do the Jets have enough playmakers at the wide receiver position? You can make a very good argument that the wide receiver group is the weakest unit on the Jets roster. Gang Green’s best receiver Santonio Holmes is coming off of a major injury and will be starting training camp on the PUP list. Holmes availability for week one of the regular season remains a question as does the length of time it will take Santonio to get acclimated to the new offense. Jeremy Kerley will be looking to build off of his solid 2012 season where he had 56 catches for 827 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kerley showed the ability to make some big plays but could be the target of opposing defenses if Holmes is unable to return. Stephen Hill enters his second year with raised expectations and a goal of becoming a reliable pass catcher. Hill has a tremendous amount of talent and speed, but struggles to consistently catch the football. In order for the Jets to have any type of success in the passing game Stephen must take his game to the next level in 2013. Clyde Gates is the Jets fourth receiver and will be battling with Jordan White, Ryan Spadola, Ben Obomanu, and Zach Rogers for playing time and a roster spot. 3) In Winslow the Jets trust? As of now it appears that Kellen Winslow will be the starting tight end for the New York Jets with Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland backing him up. Winslow has the ability to be a major contributor in the west coast offense if he can remain healthy. Remember that Kellen only played one game in 2012 and has dealt with some knee issues. Jeff Cumberland showed some flashes last season (29 catches, 359 yards, 3 tds) and could earn some serious playing time if he continues to evolve as a pass catcher. Konrad Reuland is a versatile player that could be used in a variety of roles in Mornhinweg’s offense. Don’t be surprised if Reuland pushes Cumberland for playing time during camp. 4) Running back by committee? The Jets running back group has the potential to be the strength of the offense. The addition of Chris Ivory and Mike Goodson this offseason added the power and speed that the unit desperately needed. Now it is just a matter of dividing reps between these two playmakers along with Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell. Which running back will be the “go to” guy for offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg? 5) Can Marty Mornhinweg resurrect the Jets offense? Marty Mornhinweg is taking on a daunting task of resurrecting an inept Jets offense. The cards are somewhat stacked against Marty as he has to implement his new offense while dealing with an intense quarterback competition and a perceived lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position. Mornhinweg has been known to be creative with his offense so he could take advantage of the talent at the running back position and the offensive line. At the end of the day it will all come down to the quarterback position and what Marty can get out of Sanchez and Smith.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 15:48:43 +0000
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