NY Jets Look for an Aerial Attack

In a franchise-remaking offseason, the New York Jets acquired a new head coach, a quarterback of the future, and four new defensive starters.

Now the team faces two big question marks heading into the 2009 season: who's under center in Week One against the Texans, and where is he throwing the football?

GM Mike Tannenbaum aggressively traded up for USC QB Mark Sanchez in April's Draft, establishing the rookie as the franchise quarterback. Now Sanchez aims to fill the club's void under center, and he'd like to step in from Day One.

Sanchez has told the media that his aim is to battle with veteran Kellen Clemens, and like any competitor, win the job. The two actually share the same agent, David Dunn. Sanchez called Clemens after the draft to establish good relations between the two.

Regardless of who ends up winning the job, the starting quarterback will be under the microscope. If the starter is Sanchez, he will have to answer questions about how a rookie signal-caller can lead an NFL team to victory, especially one who actually declared a year early from college.

Clemens was a second-round draft pick, but played uneven during his only extended playing time in 2007. That year, he threw 10 interceptions against only five touchdown passes.

A lingering question surrounding Gang Green is the one area management did not address in the offseason: wide receiver. Laveranues Coles left for Cincinnati, leaving a major hole opposite starter Jerricho Cotchery. Currently, three players are vying for that starting job: Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith, and David Clowney.

All three combined for 45 catches last season, a little over half of Coles's 70 receptions. While the Jets like the upside of the trio, none have proven the ability to last for an entire season and produce like a starting NFL wideout.

This combination of questions at QB and WR could result in teams stacking the box defensively against the Jets. In a worst-case scenario, opposing defenses will simply put eight or nine players close to the line of scrimmage, and dare Gang Green to pass the ball down the field.

If Sanchez or Clemens struggles and can't find a reliable second receiving target, the offense could be in for a long year.