Refueled? How 2009's NY Jets Stack Up Against The AFC East

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

With training camps completed and rosters close to finalized, we now take a closer look at how the new look New York Jets stack up against the competition within their division.

The Men in Charge

The Jets aggressively pursued the outgoing Rex Ryan to be the new leader of the franchise.

Ryan wasted little time in proclaiming that neither he nor his team would be intimidated by another coach or team in the AFC East, singling out the Patriots' coach Bill Belichick and starting a trash-talking battle with Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.

He also wasted no time importing three members of his vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense, which helps. Clearly, Ryan's attitude is a stark and necessary change to the Jets' way of life if they were ever going to be taken seriously as playoff contenders.

That being said, Ryan has much to prove. He is pedigreed in the art of developing and implementing defensive units and packages that utilize player strengths and take advantage of offensive units' weaknesses, but this is his first head coaching job ever.

It's trial by fire in the competitive AFC East as he stands opposite the likes of Belichick and Parcells disciple Tony Sparano on the sidelines four times per regular season.

Belichick is, of course, Belichick, and Sparano has the complete support of his front office and proved that he can effectively game-plan according to his talent, winning the division last year.

In Buffalo, Dick Jauron is on the hot seat and under pressure to produce an exciting offense—at least more exciting than scoring zero points. After managing to score no points in the preseason, Jauron fired his offensive coordinator last week and scrapped the no huddle "K-gun" offense.

Jauron's defenses have traditionally been solid in his other stops when he has served as coordinator, but he has yet to build anything worthwhile in Buffalo. Look for that trend to continue, as Jauron will undoubtedly be sunk by his roster.

With more seasoning and another opportunity to remake the roster in his mold, look for Ryan to make his mark on the Jets and this division very soon.

The Generals

When a franchise invests what the Jets have invested in Mark Sanchez, immediate results are expected. Experience cannot be substituted for at the QB position and growth needs to be seen from week to week.

Jets personnel and fans have witnessed this already in preseason, as Sanchez made some bad reads, threw an INT, and took some sacks only to bounce back after those moments and lead his huddle once more against some of the stronger defenses the NFL has to offer.

Sanchez showed confidence and patience in himself and teammates to make plays and his capacity for growth and making plays was such that incumbent backup Kellen Clemens would've had to play like Brady to force the team to stagnate Sanchez' further development in order to name him the starter.

And speaking of Tom Brady, yes...he's back.

Flanked by weapons such as Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Brady successfully translated his leadership skills and grittiness from his time as a "game manager", into his new role as "fantasy first round draft pick."

Brady has the arm and the intelligence to air the ball out deep down-field, as well as a knack for performing well in clutch moments. Clearly he is at the top of the sport when healthy, and for the first time in his career Brady's health is a question mark in 2009.

Outside of Miami, the general belief is the Dolphins' successes of last season won't be easily duplicated this year.

With teams more prepared to defend the wildcat offense this year (with many teams even copycatting the scheme themselves) while playing the tougher schedule of a division winner, a quick hook for the weak-armed Chad Pennington in favor of the younger, stronger Chad Henne could be looming if the team gets off to a slow start or the offense sputters.

In Buffalo, incumbent Trent Edwards is healthy once again to start a season and has a shiny new toy to play with this season in Terrell Owens.

Lining up opposite the solid Lee Evans, Owens could have plenty of opportunities to make plays in the passing game with Edwards under center for 16 games, particularly with the mandate from ownership that the Bills score points.

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