Dustin Keller Must Step Up as New York Jets' No. 2 Option

Break out the Ben Gay and Werther Originals, the New York Jets are apparently in the market looking for "experienced" receivers.

With the San Francisco 49ers signing Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery released and Derrick Mason potentially coming on board, you have to wonder if Al Toon and Wayne Chrebet's phones are working and whether the carrier pigeon sent to find Don Maynard got lost?

Joking aside, moves like signing Mason hint at desperation. 

At 37 years old, is Mason the best choice available at the No. 3 wideout spot?  Mason's had a solid career in Tennessee and Baltimore, he may in fact have something left in the tank, but when looking at the Jets depth chart the situation gets a little scary. 

In an ideal world Plaxico Burress would be the Jets No. 3 option given he is two years removed from the game and will likely need time to shake off a significant amount of rust. 

Sports Illustrated's Don Banks alluded to this point a few weeks ago following Plaxico's release, "Frames like his don't grow on trees in the NFL. But it will be a complementary role at least to start with, with likely no team willing to bank on him as anything more than a No. 3 receiver in 2011."

Before yesterday, assuming that Braylon Edwards was out, I pictured Cotchery, if healthy, getting a shot at the No. 2 spot and it seems that he felt the same way... 

At any rate this now leaves Santonio Holmes at No. 1 with a lot of the heavy lifting to deal with. 

Perhaps what makes the situation all the more uncomfortable for everyone is Mark Sanchez's development.  

We want to love him, but still can't quite trust him, and deep down know he needs all the help he can get.  Seeing him learn on the job week after week is the equivalent of watching someone try to learn how to drive a manual transmission...full of starts, stops, lurching bursts forward and painful stalls.  

Some day he might figure it out, but by then it could be too late. 

Meanwhile the combination of Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson should be serviceable in the backfield if they can stay healthy and continue to get the offensive line's support to push them up field.  No need to get fancy here, just simply need them to chew up yardage and move the chains.  Joe McKnight could be a nice change of pace if gets some touches too.  

With all of that outlined, that leaves us with Dustin Keller. 

This year Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith are all gone; therefore it's up to Keller to step up. 

Over the past two seasons with Sanchez at the helm Keller's numbers have been fairly solid as he became one of the quarterback's favorite targets last year and led the team in receptions.  It seemed whenever Dustin factored into the game plan the Jets moved the ball with ease; when he didn't the offense tended to stall.  

For this season, Keller in effect needs to become the Jets' No. 2 target and make plays as Sanchez's short to mid option down field.  If he can assert himself early on it will give the vets coming in the necessary time to get acclimated and the confidence Mark Sanchez desperately needs to get himself and the Jets to the next level.  No easy task, especially for a tight end, but it could end up making all the difference. 

As for now with training camp finally under way, I advise you to sit back in your rocker, enjoy a glass of prune juice, and hope that the Jets passing catching "elder statesmen" can stay upright. 

By the way, does anyone have Keyshawn's phone number?  We might need to give him a call...