New York Jets Look To Shed Conservative Image Under Rex Ryan

One of the major criticisms of the Jets offense during the Eric Mangini era was a lack of aggression, both on offense and defense.

Even when the team traded for gun-slinging quarterback Brett Favre last August, the now-fired coach seemed intent to run the ball and throw short passes rather than utilize the downfield passing abilities Favre built his Hall of Fame career around.

This led Favre to force balls downfield often in an effort to add the big play to the Jets offense, leading to a league-high 22 interceptions.

At times, Favre would throw the ball into double coverage 40 yards downfield on first or second down, resulting in many interceptions that served essentially as early-down punts.

Many say Favre's unfamiliarity with the Jets playbook played a major factor in Mangini's cautious approach. But Mangini was just as reserved with weak-armed Chad Pennington at the helm.

Many times over the past three seasons, it seemed like the Jets were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.

Enter Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. As the Ravens defensive coordinator for the past four years, Ryan knows all about aggressive play on both sides of the football and will bring a much different attitude to the Jets' sideline.

Sanchez is more Pennington than Favre when it comes to arm strength, but his poise, accuracy, and leadership intangibles should allow the Jets to mix things up offensively.

Throwing the ball downfield isn't the only way to get aggressive offensively and while the Jets will rely heavily on the run to protect Sanchez (or Kellen Clemens, if he wins the job), they will have plenty of opportunities to shed their cautious offensive image of the past three seasons.

With Ryan's blessing, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will look for ways to keep defenses off balance, both by utilizing the play-action pass and various gadget plays.

Brad Smith could see an increased role in the offense with the departure of Laveraneus Coles, and as a former college quarterback he provides the Jets with multiples avenues of creativity.

While the Jets won't overwhelm anybody with their wide receivers, they have game-breakers at running back and tight end in Leon Washington and Dustin Keller.

These two can cause serious matchup problems for any defense and should play an even larger role in what could be a wide-open Jets offense this season.

Defensively, expect the Jets to play with the aggression of the Baltimore defense Ryan used to oversee.

With the additions of Lito Sheppard and Jim Leonhard stabilizing the defensive backfield, the Jets will have the freedom to get aggressive with their front seven. Expect them to blitz more out of their 3-4 alignment with the knowledge that if they don't get to the quarterback the secondary will be able to hold its own in coverage.

The addition of former Raven Bart Scott in the middle, along with David Harris should allow Calvin Pace to concentrate on rushing the passer, a skill he has refined with 13.5 sacks over the past two seasons. And if Ryan can get improved play from Vernon Gholston or Bryan Thomas, both have the potential to be dangerous edge pass rushers.

With nose tackle Kris Jenkins clogging up the middle and creating space for Scott and Harris to flow to the ball and stop the run, this could be a fun defensive unit to watch in 2009.

In just one year, the Jets could transform from a defense that allowed big plays through the air to an opportunistic unit that can turn opposing offenses' mistakes into turnovers and great field position.