New York Jets: Winners and Losers at the Season's Quarter Mark

The New York Jets have had an uneven start to the 2011 NFL season and sit at 2-2, third place in the AFC East, at the season's quarter mark. 

The Jets started off great with a thrilling comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys, followed by a thumping of the Jacksonville Jaguars. At that point the Jets looked like one of the better teams in the league. 

What a difference two weeks makes. 

The Jets lost two straight on the road, including an embarrassing performance against the Baltimore Ravens on national television, and are now at a crossroads as they travel to take on the New England Patriots in Week 5. 

Before we move on to the Patriots, let's take some time to reflect on the first quarter of the season and who the winners and losers are.  

Loser: Shonn Greene

Shonn Greene is not the feature back the New York Jets had hoped he would become when they traded up to select him in the 2009 NFL Draft.

After flashing in his first two seasons, Greene had a golden opportunity this year to seize the running back position for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, Greene has been a disaster through the season’s quarter mark.

Some of the blame goes to the offensive line (and believe me, I’ll get there), but it also falls on Greene’s shoulders. When the holes have been there he has shown no explosion and he has gotten stuffed at the line far too many times. Through four games his longest carry has been 15 yards.

It won’t be long before he starts losing carries to LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, and Bilal Powell.

Winner: Darrelle Revis

The New York Jets are not living up to expectations as a team, but cornerback Darrelle Revis certainly is.

No opposing receiver has done much of anything this season against Reis. The only time defenses have had success is when they picked on mistake-prone Antonio Cromartie.

Revis is shown so much respect that they don’t even attempt to throw in his direction. Offenses have attacked the Jets defense over the middle and on the ground. The Jets defenses isn’t in the same class as it was the past two seasons, but it isn’t because of Darrelle Revis. 

Loser: Offensive Line

The offensive line has been the foundation of the New York Jets over the past few years led by stalwarts Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson. That couldn’t be farther from the truth this season.

It started off rough in Week 1 with Mark Sanchez getting hit so many times he underwent a concussion test after the game. Nick Mangold injured his ankle in Week 2 and the line has been in shambles ever since.

It reached a peak in Week 4 as Mark Sanchez was seeing Baltimore Ravens defenders in his face as soon as he dropped back. He was strip sacked twice, with the Ravens returning both fumbles for touchdowns. It got so bad that they had to put Vladimir Ducasse in the game.

At this point it is clear Wayne Hunter, Colin Baxter, and Vladimir Ducasse should be nowhere near a NFL starting lineup. If the line play doesn’t improve, I don’t see how the Jets offense can play better. 

Winner: Dustin Keller

When the New york Jets failed to bring back Braylon Edwards in the offseason, many people were concerned about who would be the second option in the passing game behind Santonio Holmes.

Dustin Keller has put those questions to rest with his play in the season’s first quarter. Save for Week 4 where the offense did nothing, Keller has notched at least five receptions and 60 yards in every game. He is on pace to eclipse 1,000 yards for the season.

Now in his fourth year in the league, it seems Keller has put it all together and is developing into one of the better receiving tight ends in the game. 

Loser: Calvin Pace

Coming into the season, much was expected of Calvin Pace. Pace was brought in to be the New York Jets ace pass rusher in 2008 and has been a disappointment, failing to record double digit sacks in any of his three seasons with the team.

Injuries have plagued Pace the past two seasons, but he was deemed 100 percent before the start of this season. Pace started off well, notching a sack in the season opener, only to be quiet since then.

With no other experienced pass rusher on the team, the Jets need Pace to step up and so far he has failed to do so. With the news today that Bryan Thomas is out for the season, the pressure only increases for Pace.