Assessing the 5 Biggest Holes on the New York Jets Roster

Looking back to early March, the New York Jets roster certainly looks very different after the draft and free agency. However, despite several key moves the Jets have made, there are still several holes on the Jets roster that are cause for some concern. 

Here are the five remaining holes on the Jets roster and how they can still go about filling them.

1. Right Tackle

Going into the offseason, one could argue that right tackle was the biggest position of need for the Jets. Wayne Hunter's inability to hold down the right side of the line could be directly linked to Sanchez's regression as the season went along. 

The Jets seem to disagree with such a notion and appear to be ready to head into the 2012 season with Hunter as the starter once again. He will have some competition from two veteran tackles in camp, but Jets fans can assume that Hunter can be the starter on opening day. 

The good new is Hunter really cannot get a whole lot worse. Perhaps a simplified system under Tony Sparano will do him some good. After all, he did play well in the 2010 playoffs, so he does have some ability. 

I don't expect the Jets to bring in any more outside free agents, but that does not mean Hunter will be the unquestioned starter if he struggles. If it comes to it, Stephon Hoyer, Ray Willis or even Vladimir Ducasse will get a chance in the middle of the season (that is assuming, of course, they all make the team). 

2. Free Safety

Few players were more heavily criticized last season than Eric Smith, and for good reason. Every time a tight end or slot receiver caught a ball, Eric Smith was running behind him in a trailing position. 

Smith is actually a decent player in sub-packages, but he could not be more out of position as a free safety. 

The Jets responded by bringing a ton of bodies via the draft and free agency, but only one player fits the mold of a free safety: Josh Bush, the Jets' sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest. 

Bush may get some playing time on the regular defense, but he will not start; LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell will be the starters (assuming Landry is healthy). While both players are best suited to play strong safety, Landry has played free safety before. While he is not the ideal coverage player, he covers a lot of ground in a hurry and has a knack for being around the ball. 

While Landry is not the ideal free safety, he cannot possibly be worse than what Smith gave the Jets last season. 

3. Outside Linebacker

The Jets finally got their big-time pass-rusher in the draft; problem is, they got a defensive end, not a rush linebacker like everyone expected. 

Just like last year, Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace will be the starters at outside linebacker in the base. Neither player has shown much as a pass-rusher recently, but both are more than competent against the run. 

Which is where Quinton Coples comes in. 

Coples has been trying his hand at outside linebacker in OTAs, which hardly comes as any surprise. Coples is athletic and versatile enough to rush from any position, whether it is as a 3-technique defensive tackle, with his hand in the dirt from the 9-technique, or standing up as a linebacker.

I also expect the Jets to go into more four-down linemen in passing situations, given their incredible depth at the interior of the defensive line. They will also use Aaron Maybin to hunt down any quarterbacks trying to run away Coples' penetration from the opposite side.

Coples will mostly play the 5-technique on first and second downs, but when third down rolls along, expect Rex to use Coples to make up for the Jets' lack of a pass-rusher at linebacker. 

4. No. 2 Tight End

This is a position that the Jets can fill in several ways.

Jeff Cumberland, and undrafted free agent out of Illinois, showed some promise as a pass-catching tight end before an injury early in the season stunted his development. The Jets thought outside of the box when they brought in Hayden Smith from an Australian Rugby league to potentially be a blocking tight end. 

With guys like Visanthe Shiancoe still available on the open market, do the Jets take the chance that these two guys are ready to contribute, or do they go the safe route and sign a veteran to fill the spot?

Personally, I would be surprised if the Jets spent valuable cap room on a veteran, but I would not rule out the possibility. Whether or not the Jets go that route will largely depend on how these two youngsters look in training camp. 

5. Slot Corner

Yes, we know that Kyle Wilson had a bounce-back year after getting benched in the middle of his rookie campaign, but I feel as if fans are overrating the improvements he made. 

While Wilson is physical enough to play in the slot, he still gave up far too many completions. It was no secret that the key to beating the Jets was to go right into the middle of the field, right where Wilson lines up.  

To be fair, Wilson was put in a tough spot, getting thrown into the slot position with so many other talented players around him. Not only is it difficult to make the transition from outside corner into the slot, but with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on the outside, opponents are naturally going to attack the middle of the field instead of challenge that duo. 

However, Kyle needs to take one more big step if he wants to be the long-term solution as the slot corner. As we saw with the Eagles last year, not having a quality slot corner could have rippling effects on the entire defense. 

Wilson, a former first-round pick, is a talented player who can get the job done. But without Donald Strickland and Drew Coleman around anymore to bail the Jets out if Wilson struggles, there is more pressure on Wilson to perform this year than ever before.