Welker On Revis Island?: Shouldn't Revis Cover Wes Welker, Not Randy Moss?

The 2010 offseason was all about the New York Jets. Their Hard Knocks tv show and their head coach Rex Ryan's bold Super Bowl predictions created a lot of buzz around New York area

Well, after an awful, emotionless showing by the Jets in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, the Jets find themselves staring at a possible 0-2 start.

Life does not get easier for the Jets on Sunday as they welcome their hated, division rival Patriots to the new Giants Stadium.

After an easy victory over the Bengals in Week 1, New England comes into New York with an offense that can beat you in every single way. It is a more versatile offense than they had in 2007, where they set a team record for points scored in a season, and indivdual records of 50 touchdown passes and 23 touchdown receptions.

This offense has a better running game, with veteran Fred Taylor, and super utility back Kevin Faulk, giving the Patriots a great balance in all running situations, and with the two stellar rookie tight ends, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, the blocking will be excellent.

Hernandez and Gronkowski give the Patriots much more than blocking, they will give Tom Brady two solid pass-catching tight ends, something Tom has never had. With perennial All-Pro receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker still a huge threat, the Patriots have one of the better offenses in the NFL.

Luckily for the Jets, their defense is very solid, ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season. They are lead by the best cornerback in the league, Darrelle Revis. Revis' offseason was well documented, as he held out for a new contract, hoping to become the highest paid cornerback in the league, but ultimately settling for a bit less.

Revis' resume against top-tier wide receivers is amazing. He held several top wideouts well under their usual stats last year, including Randy Moss and Andre Johnson. But with the Patriots having so much depth in the receiving corps, plus two excellent tight ends, who should Revis cover?

Wes Welker is the biggest threat the Patriots have on offense, and Revis should cover him the entire game. Welker is the best slot receiver in the NFL, and is one of the quickest, sharpest cutting receivers in the league. Even after tearing his ACL and MCL in his knee during last year's season finale in Houston, Welker looked very sharp in Week 1, scoring two touchdowns.

Revis is fast enough to cover Welker, and also has enough quickness to stay with him. Welker is too good for a linebacker to cover him, and too quick for a safety to keep up with his routes. If Revis takes away Welker, Tom Brady's safety blanket is gone, and he may have to force the ball deep down field to Randy Moss, where Antonio Cromartie, the Jets' newly acquired former All-Pro corner, can capably defend Moss.

If Cromartie is getting beat, the Jets can give safety help with Jim Leonard because the Patriots do not have another deep threat.

I understand Revis and Moss have had their war of words in the past, and this week they've been talking to each other again. Personal battles are very important to the corner vs. receiver matchup, more than any position battle in the NFL.

However, Revis has got to realize that him covering Moss is not to the benefit of the team. If Welker is not covered by Darrelle, he will be able to get any route he wants, and Tom Brady can pick up five-, six-, and seven-yard gains whenever he wants.

Rex Ryan is a brilliant defensive coach, and he is equipped with the league's most talented defense. He would be wasting Revis' abilities to use him on Moss, when Antonio Cromartie has great experience covering No. 1 receivers from his days with San Diego.

The Jets need this game a lot more than the Patriots. New York is at home, and 0-1. If the Patriots beat them, and the Dolphins win, the Jets are quickly down two games in the AFC East to start the season.

The Jets can beat the Patriots, but they must use their players abilities intelligently. Take Welker out of the game, and the Patriots offense is much easier to defend.

The Jets cannot let the Patriots score early and often, because quarterback Mark Sanchez's performance last week versus Baltimore was absolutely pitiful. The Jets can't win a shootout, so the defense must play well.