Yeah forget J-Mac...there has been enough hype about him for the last few years and he has never stepped up. Time to hand over the reins and give Jerricho a shot. I even think Tim Dwight might be a better option than J-Mac at the number 3 spot in some situations because of his speed. I really don't think McCariens has any speed. He is decently tall and should be a possession receiver, like Brian Finneran. On deep passing downs, I would rather have Coles, Cotchery, and Dwight out there. J-Mac is certainly the slowest of those 4. If J-Mac can get rid of the drops, I think he can be a key guy on 3rd and 7 or better, and on normal routes inside 15 yards, be after 2oo4 and 2005, I just don't think he can be the deep threat we expected him to be coming from the Titans.
I don't think it's fair to really gauge J-Mac, especially given last season. The one thing he proved in the season when our QB was healthy is that he can catch. A WR is typically only as good as the QB who gets him the ball. Last year he had some key drops - as did Coles. But the year before that, he proved that he's a good #2 man - unfortunately S. Moss wasn't a good #1 for us. West Coast offense didn't need J-Mac to be a sprinter running all the way up field, so his speed wasn't an issue. Possession receiver is pretty accurate for him.
My braekout on the Jets this year is more a position than a player, TE. I dont know if it is going to be Baker, Jolley, Dreesen, or one of the two Polish? kids that i am not going to attempt to type their names right now, but I think we are going to be very productive from the TE spot. Personally, I am hoping to see a fair number of 2 TE sets. I think we have a lot of pass catching ability out of the position and Shottenheimer is not afraid to go to his TE, nor is Belli, which makes me think Mangini will follow suit. Either way, I think the TEs will score more TDs than the WRs this year. Hows that for a prediction. I like Cotchery a lot as well, but with Coles, JMac, and Dwight he is really going to have to shine early to get his # called regularly. For the bad guy breakout player (non Jets), I am going to say Kevin Jones. I find it tough to accept that the Detroit O is as bad as they have been and he has to step it up or he will not have a job for very long.
I agree with most of what you say, but I think that MacCareins' 2004 season is decieving. He came up big in the second half of the season, but he was very inconsistent in the first half of the year. He had a shakey start and dropped many catchable balls. Last season, he showed no motivation or effort and seemed to run in slow motion. People want to give him a pass because of the QB situation, but I feel as though that was typical JMac. If anything, it was his surge and success at the end of the 2004 season that was out of the norm.
patrtick ramsey is ganna break out, they dont know what the hell they are doing in washington, this kid is tough and has a brett farve like arm, give him some protection and a little running game, i think he can be a force to reckon with....i also thin cmart is ganna be top 5 in rushing, call me crazy, but anytime anyone questioned him he responded, i know he's older, but i hvae faith in the only constant for the jets the past 6 years
Cotchery has a great shot at a breakout season, and if we can get decent enough play from the QB and OL, then he will. I really believe in this kids potential.
I agree with your assessment on how the TEs will be utilized, and expect a mild break through year for either Baker or Dreesen...
I think Kerry Rhodes is going to have a monster year. You can practically credit 3 or 4 of Ty Laws picks to Rhodes tipping it right to him or forcing the QB to throw in a spot he didn't want to because of coverage. I also think Chatham is eventually going to break his way into the starting line up and provide a spark to our defense when we need it. Personally, I don't think we're in that bad of shape and will compete in every game that we play. Heart and drive will motivate this team.
I can agree that Baker could have a breakout season, but I don't think he will get enough passes thrown his way to make a difference.
Bryan Thomas OLB - I think he will breakout in his new role in our 3-4, continuing to be effective against the run and contributing around 6-8 sacks. Jtuds... When will you realize Jesse Lumsden is nothing out of the ordinary?? I bet he doesn't even make his team past training camp.
Dude he is already the 3rd RB on their depth chart and things I have read by fans that were at thei mini-camp...American fans....mention that besides Portis he was the best looking RB there. You can't say he's nothing out of the ordinary...almost every NFL RB with his size is considerably slower, and most NFL RBs with his speed are alot smaller. So I would say he's anything but ordinary.
I'm gonna put my money on Chris Baker really breaking out for us this year... He showed some MAJOR flashes last year before his injury, and I think Schott's offense is going to rely heavily upon the play of the TEs... I think Jolley will flop, and Baker will be our starter, and a damn good one at that.... He should be a good, reliable target for whomever our QB may be....
Reading through this thread, I was thinking I'd shock people and say Thomas. Beat me to it. Maybe break out player isn't the right word though... surprise player might be better. He has some tools that could be very effective in the 3-4. He could go into a stance, and align in the 4-3, and vice versa. That kind of versatilty could give opposing offenses fits at times.
Lavernous Coles. Not really a "breakout" from the perspective that he has already played at a pro bowl level in past seasons. 2005 was a subpar year (by no fault of his own, only 73 catches and 845 yards). They have enough arms this year to get the ball to him. He'll finish with 95 catches and 1200 yards and be the only pro bowler from the jets offense.
