New York Jets: What We've Learned Through Week 4 of Preseason
The 2015 season is nearly upon us, which means that all the New York Jets' hard work of the offseason is about to either pay off or fall short of hopes and expectations.
We won't know those answers for sure until the end of the season, but as the preseason has gone along, we've come to learn certain things about the Jets' prospects for 2015.
Whether it's players vying for roster spots or starting jobs, players getting healthy or injured or any other developments, the picture has come increasingly into focus over the course of training camp and four weeks of preseason games.
Here's what we've learned about the Jets to this point.
The Jets Lack Depth at Tight End
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The Jets may not get much production out of the tight end position, whether it's by choice or by force. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey doesn't make much use of his tight ends usually, and that's a good thing, because the Jets don't currently have a lot of depth at the position.
Second-year tight end Jace Amaro was sent to injured reserve on Tuesday, which means Jeff Cumberland and Kellen Davis are currently the Jets' top two tight ends. Cumberland has plenty of experience with the Jets, but he isn't considered a particularly explosive receiving threat. Davis is a savvy veteran, but he is more of a blocking tight end at this point.
In 2014, Cumberland had 23 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and Davis did not notch a single reception on the season.
The Jets will probably be spreading the field out with three or four receivers on nearly every play, so they probably weren't hoping for much production from the tight end position this season anyway. It's a good thing, because they probably won't get much anyway.
Chris Ivory Is Primed for a Career Year
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The spread offense may not seem to be a favorable scheme for a running back, but if the Jets are wise, they'll make use of Chris Ivory on a heavy basis.
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com points out that Ivory may not get 30 carries a game, but his role may expand in the passing game due to the tendencies of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"Chris Ivory is primed for a career year. He's had his best camp since being traded to the Jets in 2013, mainly because he's healthy. ... This year, his role could expand in the passing game. He's not a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, but his receiving numbers could be up because Fitzpatrick likes to throw to his checkdown options. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he catches three or four balls per game, which would give him about 20 touches per week.
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In 2014, Ivory caught 18 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. If he catches three or four balls a game, as Cimini predicts, he'll finish the season with around 50 receptions.
Backup running back Bilal Powell could cut into Ivory's role in the passing game, but Ivory should be the one who is on the field the most overall. He's the most talented back on the Jets roster, and the offense will move much better with him on the field than without.
Jeremy Kerley's Roster Spot Is Safe
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There's some uncertainty about wide receiver Jeremy Kerley's future with the Jets, but there is total clarity on his status for the present.
In a recent mailbag, Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media points out that it simply doesn't make sense for the Jets to cut Kerley this season even despite their current logjam at the wide receiver position.
"Yes, [Quincy] Enunwa has gotten a lot of time at that No. 3/slot receiver spot. But the Jets can really use Enunwa like a hybrid receiver/tight end. There is still a role for Kerley on this team. Plus, the Jets would have to eat a dead money salary cap figure of $4.4 million if they cut Kerley. He counts $2.6 million toward the 2015 cap if he's on the team. Next year, his dead money figure drops to $1.8 million and his cap figure rises to $3.1 million. If he isn't a factor this year, the Jets could cut him next year—and save cap space.
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The Jets don't need to feel pressured into cutting Kerley for any reason. They have plenty of salary-cap space and with so much change on offense and at the wide receiver position in particular, they could use a little consistency and stability on that side of the ball.
Kerley may be a niche player who will line up almost exclusively in the slot, return kickoffs and punts and not do much else, but he has value to the team—especially with two big-bodied receivers like Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker dotting the ends of the offense.
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Stevan Ridley Could Be Staring out the Season on the PUP List
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The Jets knew exactly what they were getting when they signed running back Stevan Ridley to a one-year contract back in April; he's a hard-nosed runner, but he's coming off reconstructive knee surgery. The latest news indicates that they do not expect Ridley to produce for their offense anytime soon.
"We have some quality running backs right now and they're all playing good," said head coach Todd Bowles, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, "so Ridley can take his time and get healthy."
Between Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy, the Jets have plenty of depth at the position, and they're not in dire need of a running back at this particular moment.
Ridley had a breakout campaign in 2012, notching 290 carries for 1,263 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns, but in the two years since then, injuries and fumbles have led to a major dip in production; he posted just 272 carries for 1,113 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns from 2013-2014.
Of course, that kind of production would go a long way in a No. 2 or 3 role in the Jets backfield, but with so much depth in the backfield, they don't need Ridley immediately.
Willie Colon Will Be the Jets Starting Right Guard
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The Jets only had one major competition for a starting spot, which is surprising for a team that went 4-12 in 2014. Nonetheless, that competition has come to an end with the announcement that Willie Colon will man the right guard spot.
"He was the more aggressive of the ones that were competing for the position," said head coach Todd Bowles. "He wanted it more. He came out and played like it and he proved it."
Colon was competing with Brian Winters, Oday Aboushi, Jarvis Harrison and several other young backups, but the veteran incumbent came into camp, worked harder than the rest and in the words of Bowles, didn't make as many mistakes as the other guards.
"He came back to camp in shape, he wanted it more," Bowles said. "He played like he wanted it more. He was the hungriest. He showed, he didn't bust as many assignments as the rest of them. He played tougher, he played more physical than the rest of them. So, he's the starter."
The Jets are now settled on every starting spot on their roster and ready to go for the 2015 regular season.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.
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