Jets-Rams: Questions Loom as New York Opens Preseason Against Lowly St. Louis

Last year saw the New York Jets walk off the field dejected amidst celebration by the Miami Dolphins—who captured their first division title in eight years.

It would be the last time Jets fans would see Brett Favre, Laveranues Coles, Mike Nugent, and head coach Eric Mangini, as their once bright season had burned up right in front of their eyes.

The offseason brought many changes for Gang Green, as Favre would retire (again), Coles and Nugent signed elsewhere, and Mangini got axed for his team's dismal effort down the stretch—where they went 1-4 instead of capturing their first division crown in six years.

However, GM Mike Tannenbaum diligently worked to keep the team competitive by bringing in two-time CB Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard from Philadelphia, as well as Pro Bowler ILB Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard, both from Baltimore.

He would also court their former defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Rex Ryan to join the Jets for the next four years.

Surely the man who brought in Favre less than a year before couldn't pull off another stunning acquisition, could he?

Fortunately for Jets fans, he did just that by making the biggest draft day trade in franchise history to secure QB Mark Sanchez from USC.

The Jets would trade for the Cleveland Browns' fifth overall selection and send their first and second round selections (along with Kenyon Coleman, Brett Ratliff, and Abram Elam) to land Sanchez, who they signed to the biggest contract in team history by inking a five-year deal worth $50 million, with more than half in guarantees.

Now Sanchez will try to win the position outright from veteran Kellen Clemens, who can't seem to catch a break every time training camp opens up.

Clemens will get the start tonight against the St. Louis Rams, who the Jets manhandled 47-3 in week 10 last year. However, he will only feature in a few series before making way for Sanchez in his NFL debut.

Just like last year against the Redskins, the stadium will be filled to see the newest Jet with much hope and promise.

Ryan, who too will be making his own debut, has said that he doesn't see Sanchez's debut being too long, as he will allow Erik Ainge to play out the entire second half.

The Jets will also have a battle for the No. 1 punter job, with both Reggie Hodges (who finished the 2008 season as the Jets’ punter) and undrafted rookie free agent T.J. Conley trying to stake an early claim to the job.

The team will also introduce rookie Shonn Greene at the back position where, he'll spend his time learning from Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.

WR Chansi Stuckey will try to maintain the lead to be tops on the depth chart ahead of Jerricho Cotchery, as the team never made any moves to replace Coles.

Friday's game will see the Jets play their new 4-3 defense brought in by Ryan, but fans and viewers should not expect them to show their new skin the entire game.

With the preseason too hard to predict, I will take the high road and save my predictions for the regular season; this game, and their three after, are only quizzes in the test that is the NFL.