4 New York Jets Who Must Shine in Preseason Week 4 to Make the Team

Going into Week 4 of the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, the likes of Mark Sanchez, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene, Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress (among others) will watch from the sidelines as their backups will fight for the remaining roster spots on a Jets team that still has some holes.

Whether or not Sanchez calls the plays in Philadelphia like he did last preseason, he will see Greg McElroy play the majority of the game under center with a surrounding cast of receivers, running backs, and offensive linemen who have yet to prove themselves. The same is true for a defense that will need to prove something to Rex Ryan about the depth of a team already without a proven pass rusher from the front line.

While money and draft order selection will play a role in who gets cut and who stays with the New York Jets, tough decisions will have to be made before Gang Green takes on the Dallas Cowboys at the new MetLife Stadium on opening day.

Here are four players who need to shine Week 4 to earn a spot on the Jets roster.

1. Nick Novak

The kicking battle between Nick Folk and Nick Novak is Folk’s job to lose as he comes into the 2011 season on the heels of a clutch, game-winning field goal against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card playoff game.

Folk returns to New York fresh off signing a one-year deal, which does not necessarily guarantee him a place on the team come the regular season. That said, No. 2 has the experience and the edge so far in the battle for the kicking job.

Novak will need to out-kick Folk by a wide margin for him to make the roster as the starting kicker. Being a bit of an unknown commodity to the Jets, he will need to prove to Rex that he is the more reliable and clutch kicker, which will be difficult to do because of New York’s familiarity with Folk.

Both will battle to the finish, with each of the kickers taking turns attempting field goals, extra points and kickoffs.

Ultimately, Novak has a chance to make the team, but he will need to shine versus the Eagles.

2. Brashton Satele

Brashton Satele already knows what it is like to get cut from a team in the preseason, and many Jets fans got a glimpse of it on last season’s Hard Knocks series. Satele was famously told to “open up a pizza shop” during training camp last year because of his struggles to stay healthy and play consistently at the linebacker position.

Satele was released by the Jets as a final roster cut in 2010, but he was then signed to the practice squad during the regular season, and now finds himself again fighting for a spot on the roster once things are all said and done.

The undrafted linebacker out of Hawaii recorded an interception Week 2 of the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, but it will take more than that to earn Rex’s respect.

He will need to play well against the Eagles if he wants to emerge as part of the Jets roster in a crowded and talented group of linebackers. 

3. Chris Bryan/T.J. Conley

The Jets lost an underrated player in the offseason. To add insult to injury, they lost him to their in-stadium rivals, the New York Giants. I am of course talking about punter Steve Weatherford.

Many might not care a whole lot about who their punter is, but for those who think this way, I urge you to remember what happened to the Giants when Matt Dodge curiously punted the ball to DeSean Jackson in the final seconds of that infamous loss to the Eagles.

Punters are especially important to a team predicated on good defense and good field position like the Jets.

The loss of Weatherford leaves Gang Green with a dilemma at the punter position with T.J. Conley and Chris Bryan auditioning for the job. Both don’t have much experience in the NFL, especially Bryan, who is used to Aussie rules when it comes to kicking the football.

T.J. Conley has had the better preseason, averaging 46 yards per punt with a long of 58 yards against the Giants. Chris Bryan has averaged about 40 yards per punt with a long of 51 yards.

One of these punters will have to emerge as the clear-cut favorite after the Eagles game. The battle can go either way, so both will have to perform to have a shot at making the team. 

4. Dan DePalma

Dan DePalma was considered a long shot to make an NFL roster once the draft was over and he wasn’t selected. The former West Chester University wide receiver and local boy from Verona High School in New Jersey has made a name for himself so far in the preseason, impressing the Jets coaching staff in the return game.

The former Division II receiver has drawn comparisons to another former Division II star who shares the same first name. Danny Woodhead and Dan DePalma both entered training camp as undersized receivers, and look how Woodhead turned out.

DePalma has been positive in the return game, but he faces tremendous competition at the wide receiver position. He will have to beat out Patrick Turner, fifth-round pick Jeremy Kerley, seventh-round pick Scotty McKnight, Logan Payne and Courtney Smith to earn the right to sit behind Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason.

A tough road lies ahead for DePalma. Week 4 against the Eagles in the preseason will be his final chance to show what he can do for the team. The same is true for the rest of the backup receivers previously mentioned. All will need to shine if they want to make the Jets' roster.