fantastic thread especially for the :beer: I say.. Stuckey & Gholston edit: Keller and Leonard are my number 2 picks Also, nyjetsrule you said daniels and you meant douglas. Also, jgangstahippie7:18 you are wrong too (imo). Keller will have more reception yards than any other player on this team this year IMO.
I think Shonn Greene is going to be an absolute beast for us in short yardage and goal line situations. On the defensive side, Hollywood is going to light it up in this defense with a capable cover safety across from him.
Offense: Kellen Clemens Why? Just because. It would be our luck. If this were to happen, we could only hope it would turn out like the situation that the Chargers faced. Defense: VG I'm still fearful he's a workout warrior, but I'm hoping Rex Ryan can tap into his physical potential and utilize him properly. I'm also assuming one year of NFL experience should help.
Offense: Wallace WrightHe has been a special teams ace since joining the team, and seems to catch every ball that has been thrown to him over the last couple years (all 6 of them). With no clear-cut #2 or beyond, I feel like Wright might impress and become an intrigal part of the offense. I don't see him catching 50+ balls, but I could definitely see 30-40 receptions, a couple TDs, and a good possession/3rd down WR Defense: Vernon Gholston Hard not to pick Gholston as the "Breakout Player" on defense, cause he has no where to go but up from last season. In Ryan's scheme, hopefully he can focus on his specialty, rushing the passer. None of this "read and react" BS that Mangini had him focusing on (side note: he should absolutely learn that eventually, but one step at a time). If Gholston can pressure the QB, rack up some sacks then thats a breakout performance in my books.
Keller on Offense Gholston on defense - Hopefully Ryan can put some fire in his belly or a bomb under his arse!!!
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Leon on offense, but yeah, the obvious picks would be the WRs that will get extra PT with Coles' absence (Stuckey, Clowney, Smith - No one talks about him yet he's mentioned in every article not as dropping passes but as catching passes, mostly touchdowns). Keller was all but taken out of several games after dropping that 1st pass in San Fran by Mangini, so of course you can expect Keller to have a bigger year, even with Clemens/Sanchez at QB. Hell, especially with one of those two at QB. As far as the defense goes, everyone wants Gholston to perform well (and if he doesn't have to think as much when he's on the field, then he sure as hell can't perform any worse) but there are some far more obvious options on defense: Kerry Rhodes was covering deep almost all of the time last year, so his stats are bound to go up to their previous form in Ryan's defense. The other player that should really light things up is Calvin Pace: He started off the beginning of the season well, then disappeared as he was thrown into coverage more and more. There were quotes from him when asked about the defense's dropoff in production last year that he said that they can't get sacks if they're in coverage, and I'm sure that Ryan will make sure that he's rushing the passer plenty. As for not so obvious choices . . . Well, that's where the Gholston part comes in, along with Lito Sheppard. All this talk about Gholston being a workout warrior is crap - I was suggesting the Jets draft Gholston way before the combine, and when you watch him on the field, you'll notice that he's never going full speed when the play is in front of him - When people say that he was thinking too much, that really is the truth. If you watch the play get behind him, there's only one thing for him to do there, and that's to chase down the ball carrier, and you see him flying to the ball carrier in those situations. There's no lack of hustle when there's no thinking to be done. Bright guy? Maybe not at all. Ryan should just tell the kid to just play football, and he should be fine. You never know, though. He could be one of the most epic busts of all time. I just think that you need to build his game one piece at a time, not all at once. As far as Sheppard goes, he has a LOT of money riding on this season. If he plays well, then he either gets a huge contract from the Jets or goes to free agency and gets a huge contract from someone else. If he doesn't, then he may be done as a starter in this league, or at least done as far as starting money goes. So to recap for those whining TL;DNR: -Clowney, Stuckey and Smith will all have increased numbers simply from Coles being gone and them getting increased snaps. -Rhodes and Pace were kept in coverage away from where they should have been to make plays in Mangini's defense last season, and thus if they're put to the task of doing what they do well (underneath coverage and pass rushing, respectively) more often (which they should), then they'll undoubtedly rack up better stats. -The question marks of "breaking out" are Gholston and Sheppard, who both have something to prove and were shackled in their own ways by their previous coaches.
On offence: David Clowney for sure, got a good feeling about the guy, his deep threat will allow him to rack up some yards. Think Washington has a massive year this year, he will get into the game a lot more, and really show his worth. On Defence: Vernon Gholston, because he can't be any worse Kerry Rhodes, now he has a solid safety alongside him, it will enable him to ball hunt David Harris, same as Rhodes just with Bart Scott there
I agree that Clowney will come up as a play maker for us. I do not agree with what you said about him hopefully being better than Coles. IMO, if he turns out to be the same player Coles was, that will be more than enough.
Shaun Ellis. I think Shaun Ellis is going to have a great year under the new system because of all the pressure that will be applied around him on the pass rush. Ellis was drafted to play 3-4 end in an attacking front and he's finally going to get that chance. 12 sacks if Ryan's defense works. 8 if it's just half decent.
Offense: Chansi Stuckey. If there's a breakout on offense, it'll be from the WR position. I've seen hands, routes, and elevation from Chansi. Barring a trade for a B. Edwards/Burress-type player, Stuckey is the guy who, I think, will emerge as our #2. And a solid one, to boot. Defense: The breakout comes from the linebacker position. Our secondary is expected to perform. Rhodes, Sheppard, and Revis are recognized already, and our D-line isn't surprising anyone. David Harris becomes the Bart Scott to Bart Scott's Ray Lewis. Or something like that. The safe money is on Harris coming back from injury to be a steady, under-appreciated (around the league) #2 linebacker. Gholston gets double-digit sacks. Breakout performer of the year.
If the offense has a big year I figure Schott gets a HC job and hires KC as a free agent. This is KC's contract year, I expect big things from him.
I like Keller and I think that he will be considered one of the best TE's in the NFL. But if teams double team Cotchery its not going to be fun for anyone on the offense. So I think Stuckey will have a breakout year. Teams will no longer double Cotchery and Cotch, Stuckey, and Keller will run wild!
