Dec

29

Finding the good in an otherwise bad year

Posted by Michael Sciannamea

December 29, 2007 |

Darelle RevisWhen your team is 3-12 entering the last game of the season, it’s hard to find many positives in a dismal year. However, there are signs that the Jets will be in a position to improve next year with a solid foundation of young and veteran players.

Of course, the offensive line, the defensive line, and the quarterback play are the prime suspects in this awful season. But here are (in no particular order) the good things/players that give me and other Jet fans hope that the 2007 season was an anomaly and that 2008 will bring on better tidings.

  • Darrelle Revis — the Jets traded up to get him with the 14th pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he hasn’t disappointed. He’s an aggressive playmaker, and he has done fairly well in covering the opponents’ best receiver. He could very well become the NFL’s best shutdown cornerback in the near future.
  • David Harris — he was the team’s second-round pick in the draft and after replacing the injured Jonathan Vilma, he has been a tackling machine. He’s got good speed and can cover both backs and receivers over the middle as well as the outside. He already is a force and will anchor the linebacking corps for a long time to come.
  • Jerricho Cotchery — he is now clearly the team’s #1 receiver. On a team whose offense has not produced much, he has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark despite missing time with a broken finger. He and Kellen Clemens should make a decent pass-catch combination next season. The Jets do, however, need to draft/acquire a speedy wideout to augment Cotchery and/or replace Laveranues Coles.
  • Thomas Jones — despite a poor offensive line in front of him, he has gained over 1,000 yards. Let’s hope the organization can acquire a good veteran lineman to help the running game. In addition, there are some reports that the Jets may consider drafting Arkansas running back Darren McFadden next year, but the team has other glaring needs that need to be addressed. Running back is not one of them.
  • Leon Washington — the team MVP has been a revelation as a kick returner. I have said before and will now say again that I would like to see him utilized as a third-down “change of pace” back (much like Bruce Harper was back in the 80s), so let’s hope the coaching staff can learn to use him as an offensive weapon to take pressure off of Clemens and Jones.


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