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What New York Jet Fans Should Look for in the Final Two Preseaon Games
Published: August 28, 2009
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Two preseason games down and two preseason games to go. The New York Jets, like all teams in the NFL, still have a lot of items to iron out heading in their final two preseason games.
Game three of the preseason is usually the most telling. It’s the game where your starters play the most and a coach can really see what he has heading towards the regular season.
Game four of the preseason, despite the starters usually only playing one or two series, is usually one of the most competitive. The reason being is lesser position battles are settled and the last roster spots are determined. It’s a game where a young player can really make his mark on a team.
If you are a Jets fan, there are a lot of things to look for in the final two preseason games.
Here are the five most important things to look for when the Jets line up against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
1. Mark Sanchez
Now that Mark Sanchez has officially been named the starter, it’s time for him to get to work. I will give Sanchez a mulligan against the Baltimore Ravens last Monday night. Whether it’s preseason or regular season, making your first NFL start against one of the games best defenses is a tough task.
Sanchez will play the entire first-half against the Giants, and you want to see Sanchez develop some chemistry with his wide receivers and tight end. If Sanchez can complete some passes to Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller down the field, that will be a good sign for Jets fans.
2. How will Brian Schottenheimer handle Mark Sanchez
Watch Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s playcalling. With a rookie QB, you expect the Jets to run an ultra-conservative offense, but at some point the Jets are going to need to get creative in order to score points.
In 2006, the Jets ran one of the most creative offenses in the NFL, but last year the Jets’ offense was very vanilla. Blame it on Brett Favre or Eric Mangini, but this year they need a nice mix from Schottenheimer.
A good start would be getting the ball in Leon Washington’s hands as much as possible. Washington was grossly under-utilized last year, so this year look for him to be Sanchez’s safety blanket.
If Schottenheimer can use Washington this week against the Giants like he did last week against the Ravens, the Jets will be in good shape.
3. Who Will Be The No. 2 Wide Receiver?
Unless the Jets make a last minute trade for Brandon Marshall, they will run out a threesome of inexperienced wideouts opposite Cotchery. Chansi Stucky, David Clowney, and Brad Smith have all gotten a look as the No. 2 receiver in training camp.
However, as recently as Wednesday, David Clowney has started practicing with the first-team offense. Clowney, who has the ability to stretch the field, has the fifth most receiving yards this preseason (135 yards) behind Troy Williamson, Chris Henry, Jon Stupar, and Chad Ochocinco.
If Clowney plays the flanker, look for Stucki play more in the slot in a three wide receiver set.The slot is where most football analysts and fans feel Stucki is best suited for his skills.
4. Can Vernon Gholston Handle Being A Starter?
Ready or not, Vernon Gholston will be making his first NFL start Saturday night against the Giants. This move makes sense given Calvin Pace will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season and Gholston will be asked to fill Pace’s shoes for that time frame.
It’s put up or shut up time for the former first-round pick out of Ohio State. Look for Gholston to play the “rush” position in Rex Ryan’s defense. It’s a position similar to what Terrell Suggs played in Baltimore.
If Gholston doesn’t show anything in these next two preseason games (only one tackle last week against the Baltimore Ravens), the Jets might have a glaring hole in their defense for the first four games of the regular season.
5. Injuries On Defense
DT Kris Jenkins (calf), CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring), and CB Donald Strickland (foot), practiced full again on Wednesday and will play against the Giants.
The Jets have been playing short-handed all preseason and on Saturday will finally get to see what their defense might look like in Week One against the Houston Texans. There are two things you should look for on Saturday night:
- Kris Jenkins is the key to the Jets’ defense. When he got banged up and slowed down last year, the Jets’ defense wasn’t the same.You want to see him plug the hole against a very good Giants’ rush offense.
- How will the Jets gel as a defense on Saturday night. A new coach, a new scheme, with new players, and coupled with injuries makes it hard for any defense to gel as a unit. There is always talk of an offense having a “flow,” but you want to see if the Jets can “flow” on defense.
There’s the main things you should look in the Jets last two preseason games. The NFL regular season is right upon us. Are you ready for some football!!!
I know I am.
