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This is the last of three articles that will break down my predictions for the Jets' 53-man roster.
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Quarterback: Mark Sanchez, Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge
The two obvious ones here are going to be Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens. Both will compete for the starting job, and the loser will be the backup. Sanchez has reportedly had some very good days and some average days, but he will quickly adjust to the offense.
He has impressed the team, media, and fans with his professional attitude and the way he conducts himself despite being under such pressure of being the franchise quarterback of a team that hasn't seen the Super Bowl in over 40 years.
It is up in the air on who is actually going to win the starting job, though head coach Rex Ryan has gone on record saying that he was one of the only coaches on the Baltimore Ravens in support of Joe Flacco as the starter in his rookie season last year. It shows that he would not be afraid to throw Sanchez right into the fire in week one.
On the other hand, you also have another quarterback battle going on behind those two. 2008 fifth-round pick Erik Ainge is competing with 2009 undrafted rookie free agent Chris Pizzotti. At this point, I would say Ainge has the upper hand, but Pizzotti is not far behind. Ainge will and should win this battle.
Running back: Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Shonn Greene
The talk of the offseason beyond Mark Sanchez has been the contract holdouts of running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. It has been stated by agent Drew Rosenhaus that Jones will report to mandatory camp this week.
The Jets reportedly won't budge on the contract. He is due to make $900,000 this year after receiving $13 million of the $20 million, four-year deal he signed back in 2007 during the first two seasons.
Washington seems to be the hardest one to overcome at this point. His contractual stance keeps him from putting on a practice jersey, and he is hell-bent on getting a new contract. The Jets are wary because of the uncertainty with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Players Association and Owners.
This one could last well into the summer, but in the end, the Jets will reach an agreement with arguably their best player on the field.
2009 third-round pick Shonn Greene will fill the role as the Jets' third running back this year. The coaching staff reportedly loved him so much that they chose to hand over the bulk of their second day draft picks to move up to grab him in the top of the third round.
Greene will be there for the Jets in the tail end of games when they need him. His fresh legs in the fourth quarter could tear apart an opposing defense. This coincides with Rex Ryan's willingness to pound the ball on the ground this year.
Fullback: Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson is the ultimate professional and is just as much responsible for Thomas Jones' career season and Pro Bowl appearance last year as the offensive line was.
Richardson has played the blocking fullback role for many running backs who have surpassed 1,000 or more yards in a season on the ground, including Priest Holmes three times (2001, 2002, 2003), Larry Johnson (2005), Chester Taylor (2006), Adrian Peterson (2007), and Thomas Jones (2008).
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