These first four games feel almost like a second preseason today. As much as things changed when the season went live in early September, they could change that much again with the addition of Braylon Edwards to the Jet offense. It's not because Braylon Edwards has the potential to be a 90 catch player, which he does (potential being the emphasis of that statement.) It's because suddenly, the Jets have the personnel to throw down the field successfully out of running sets, which gives them the flexibility they've lacked thus far in 2009. Everybody knows the ability of the Jet offensive line, and the talents of the Jet halfbacks, including newcomer Shonn Greene, who gave us a nice preview of the future in limited action last week. If teams continue to defend the run game the way they have so far with 8 and even 9 players in the box, the Jets have Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller on the field. Thats three players, all with dangerous combinations of speed and, more importantly, size, a young quarterback's best friend. Add in the speed and big-play ability of Leon Washington out of the backfield, and this team is as well equipped to pass the ball out of running sets as any team in the league. All of this points to the return of something we haven't seen much so far this season: the play-action pass. Hopefully Sanchez did some work on his ball fake in the offseason, because he should have plenty of opportunities to show it off. The flipside, of course, is that if teams use a cover 2 shell against the Jets running formations to limit throws down the field, Brian Schottenheimer will gladly call 50 run plays and see how many rush yards his backfield can deliver. Teams will have a tough time deciding what aspect of the Jets offense to take away, because all of these guys have shown they have the ability to put points on the board. If they continue to stack the box and challenge Sanchez to win through the air, he could end up with pro bowl numbers by seasons end. The only negative aspect of this trade, as several players have been quick to point out, is the players you lose. Without Stuckey, it's unclear who works the slot when the situation dictates; obviously we're no thinner at the position than we were, but by trading a wideout for a wideout, we got better without getting deeper. If the Jets find themselves playing catch-up very often, they may suffer from that lack of depth, but with this defense and this running game, it's hard to imagine that happening very often.
im hoping that this trade opens up the run game more. Obviously it will out J Co and Keller but maybe with edwards going deep getting double coverage the O line can finally open up some holes for LW and TJ. Its not even about making those deep passes its just the threat of being able to make those deep passes that will help out the offense.
They are giving Wallace Wright some reps for the slot duties and from what we are hearing him and Sanchez have some chemistry
The offensive line is gonna have to show more in the run blocking game though. I know they're facing 8 in the box a pretty decent amount of time (but not nearly as long as many people on this board think), the O-line needs to get a better push for teams to respect the rush game.
I was just going to say, that I see Wright or Smith getting more time in the slot over the next couple games. We need to find that slot presence. I foresee this new look opening the holes needed for TJ, LW, and even Shonn, to make this run game a little more potent.
People also forget to mention that Edwards is a big guy who can block opposing corners and safeties downfield. So you really have a 2 pronged improvement in stretching the defense vertically and being able to seal off lanes for the run as well.
Absolutely correct. O-line needs to step it up BIGTIME! Sanchez needs to have time to throw or it won't matter if Fitzgerald and Johnson are running downfield for us.
just hoping edwards plays with more fire now that hes on new team, a team thats actually in competition. randy moss sucked when he was on the raiders and suddenly transformed when got to the pats (brady was probably responsible for that but still), hopefully same thing happens to Edwards.
he's coming from the 0-4 browns with mangini to rex's 3-1 jets.i imagine he'll be as grateful as a starving dog being taken in,and that will show on the field.i love this trade
If Edwards can't be motivated playing for Rex Ryan and this team then IDK where he could play. The way Rex Ryan speaks and the way the players talk they make it sound like being a New York Jet is a place where you want to be. I know it's all about the money but I think this will become a place free agents want to come.
that is such a wonderful thought! how can you not love it? its just about as awesome as it could possibly be. it's time for this team to step it up big time.
The next 2 games may be the J-Co show. People will be down on Edwards for only getting 2 or 3 catches per game. But J-Co will not be double teamed as much. Expect J-Co to have 3 straight 120+ yard games.
i think keller will become a wes welker type of deal with the addition of edwards now. (not sure if someone mentioned this already)
With this pickup, I think it'd be great to see another one of our receivers step up and fill in that 3rd spot. Stuckey would have been great there, but he's gone now. In training camp this year, there were talks of Wallace Wright and Mark Sanchez having good chemistry; hopefully, we can see some of that shine through sometime this season...
