Tenacious D In New York

  Take Brett Favre away from an offense and insert Rex Ryan as your head coach.  What do you get?  If history keeps its course the New York Jets will have a tenacious defense that quarterbacks will fear on Sundays and an offense that pounds the ball down opponents throats on the ground.

  With the additions of DT Kris Jenkins and LB Calvin Pace the Jets defense was able to cure their ground game woes of 2007 allowing 125.2 yards a game, ranking 9th in the league.  However a almost non- existent pass rush allowed any quarterback to look like Peyton Manning, deservedly ranking the Jets defense at a humiliating 29th in the league, allowing an abysmal 234.5 pass yards per game. 

  Even with shutdown and Pro Bowl CB Darrelle Revis, quarterbacks were able to take advantage of having all day in the pocket and inconsistent play in the secondary.  The Jets had a carousalat CB opposite of Revis, rotating rookie CB Dwight Lowery with inconsistent CB David Barrett.  Things got so bad the team had to call up 14 year veteran DB Ty Law late in the season for some help.

  Under Head Coach Eric Mangini and Defensive Coordinator Bob Sutton the Jets simply refused to blitz and sat back while quarterbacks picked them apart.  Under the new regime of Head Coach Rex Ryan the Jets defense will have a new swagger and several different looks.

  During his 10 year tenure with the Ravens, Ryan was a part of a defense that never ranked lower than 6th in the NFL.  Since 1999 his defenses were first in points allowed, fewest rushing yards per game, most shutouts, most takeaways, and had the best third down conversion defense.

  Ryan has not walked into a situation where he has to start from scratch but instead has several pieces that can bring the Jets defense up to this level.  Add Prowl Bowl LB Bart Scott and S Jim Leonhard who followed Ryan to New York from Baltimore into the mix and this defense can make the team legitimate contenders in the AFC East.

  In addition the trade for Pro Bowl CB Lito Sheppard now gives the Jets two potential shutdown corners which will allow the Jets linebackers to blitz more frequently.  A piece that may be more important will be the impact of S Kerry Rhodes who many feel was snubbed from Pro Bowl appearances in 2006 and 2007.

  Withspeed coming from now the outside in LB Calvin Pace who recorded a career high 7 sacks in 2008 and the inside with Bart Scott who had 9.5 sacks in 2006, quarterbacks should no longer feel comfortable in the pocket.  With 349 pound NT Kris Jenkins clearing the way in front of them, this defense has the potential to be downright scary.

  The Jets expect S Kerry Rhodes to return to 2006-2007 form when he combined for 9 interceptions after having a down year with only 2 takeaways.  S Jim Leonhard will allow Rhodes to wander freely and use his athletic ability.  The inconsistentplay of S Eric Smith and S Abram Elam took away chances for Rhodes to take the gambles that paid off for him earlier in his career.

  The team will also look completely different on the other side of the ball.  With the departure of gun slinging Brett Favre and the addition of rookie QB Mark Sanchez don't expect the Jets to be going throwing down field on a consistent basis.

  With an offensive line that is one of the best in the league headed by Pro Bowlers LG Alan Faneca and C Nick Mangold the Jets will focus on their run game and not turning the ball over.

  Having two Pro Bowl running backs in the backfield that bring two different dynamics to the table gives the Jets more reason to keep the ball on the ground.  RB Thomas Jones had a career high 13 touchdowns last season earning him a trip to the Pro Bowl.  RB Leon Washington, compliments the big bruising Jones nicely with an ability to break any play for a touchdown and also recorded a career high 6 touchdowns in 2008.

  The departure of No. 1 receiver Laveranues Coles leaves the Jets thin at wide receiver.  Behind possession WR Jerricho Cothery, who now becomes the teams No. 1 option, are WRChansi Stuckey and WR Brad Smith.  Stuckey only has 32 career receptions and Smith 53.  The Jets may find a nice surprise in WR David Clowney who has break away speed but missed most of 2008 due to a broken collarbone. 

  The Jets special teams unit under coordinator Mike Westhoff usually ranks in the top of the league.  With speedy return man Leon Washington the unit always posseses the threat to put a quick six on the board.  The departure and disappointment of K Mike Nugent leaves the kicking duties to K Jay Feely who was consistent in 2008 and has much experience kicking in the windy Giants Stadium.

  Aspirations for the 2009 Jets are high and a new attitude to the organization has been felt.  The Jets defense looks to have the personal and potential to be one of the best in the league under the leadership of Ryan.  Familiarity under Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's system should benefit the Jets offense, a unit that has several question marks.