As the season begins....

It seems like only yesterday that the endless Jets tweets were coming in from the first days of training camp at Cortland. Here we are over a month later with the regular season only days away. Amidst all the roster moves happening this weekend, I took some time to reflect on the team's growth, development, performance and on-going concerns over the preseason. Here are some thoughts lingering in my mind this week, as well as some interesting preseason facts:

1. The much talked about "QB Battle" is over - we survived and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. The one thing I can't help but think is how lucky we are that Eric Mangini is not the head coach this year. Sanchez wasn't kidding when he said how being named the starter really changes you, your confidence and mental preparation for the season ahead. Had Mangini been around we'd still be roaming around wondering!

2. Two names have dominated Jets news articles this preseason - Mark Sanchez and Vernon Gholston. If a Jets player is in the news this much it better be for a good reason - and one of these names hasn't been attracting too much positive attention.

3. Rex Ryan and the Jets have found a new home for annual training camp in Cortland, NY. Players bonded, Hairy Tony's has a skirt steak sandwich to die for, and Ahmad Carroll & Robert Turner went to the mall together....I'd say that spells success no?

4. Thomas Jones' biceps have grown by inches every time I see him....Do they make custom jerseys to fit those guns?

5. Some Long Island fans are a lot angrier than I thought. Many fans actually boycotted this year's Family Night practice at Hofstra as a result of feeling abandoned by the Jets after 40 years of camp being held there. While I understand, I do hope they'd want what is best for the team and show their support.

6. Leon Washington should win an award for being the most unselfish player in the NFL. We've been following his contract situation for months. Despite all the distractions - Leon has still managed to put football and the Jets first.

7. Sanchez's pump fake is just too good.....he's going to have plenty of angry safeties after him this year.

8. It's amazing how one coach can change a team's confidence and attitude by leaps & bounds in such a short time. From Kerry Rhodes stating "we will be the best defense in the league this year" to D'Brickashaw setting sights on the pro-bowl, Rex Ryan has helped this team do a complete 360. Hoping this new attitude leads to wins on the field as well.

9. A 200m dash between Usain Bolt and David Clowney would be ridiculously fun to watch. This preseason has left us yet again pondering...."Who can cover the Clown?".

10. Brian Schottenheimer has an important year ahead of him. This is his time to calm Jets fans worries of having nightmares every time his name is mentioned - similar to the agonizing years of Paul Hackett's horrendous play calling. With a trio of good running backs, a great O-line, and an explosive defense - Schotty has enough positives to work with this season and prove his worth now that the Mangini handcuffs have been taken off.

11. After 4 preseason games - the Jets lead the league with 18 total sacks. The highest total previously was 19 by the Patriots in 2003. Not bad for playing a "vanilla defense".

12. The NY Jets have scored the most points in the league this preseason with a total of 108 points. They were tied for second with 13 total TD's behind New Orleans who had 14.

13. If I had to pick the top 3 concerns going into the 2009-2010 season I'd say they are :

1) #2 CB opposite Revis

2) depth of D-line - can they stay healthy

3) #2 WR - who's the deep threat when J.Co is double teamed

All in all the preseason was a successful one. A QB has been named, the team has started to build some chemistry, and no major injuries were had. Let's hope the positive points from above carry over to a successful regular season and dare I say post-season as well.

Who will stay...Who will go? My predictions for the final 53

The time has come! While Jet fans have been anxiously awaiting the end of preseason football, the current 75 players on the New York Jets roster may have some mixed feelings about it. D-Day this year is this Saturday September 4th, the day in which approximately 20 of the Jets players will be cut from the team. According to league rules, the Jets must have a 53-man roster by 4pm this Saturday. Lucky for us, the Jets will be allowed to have 2 extra players on the roster to accomodate for the upcoming suspensions of Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace ( always something positive to a negative situation!)

These players have worked hard trying to secure their spots as this new exciting season begins. I've taken a stab at my predictions for the final 55-man roster. I think there were less positional "battles" then I originally thought a few weeks/months ago after seeing these guys perform at camp and 3 preseason games.

Wishing nothing but the best to those who are cut....hopefully some will make it on the Jets practice squad soon enough!

Offense:

QB:

Sanchez

Clemens

Ainge

RB:

Jones

Washington

Greene

Richardson

Caulcrick - (need some security to back-up Veteran T.Rich since heavy emphasis this year on running game)

WR:

Cotchery

Stuckey

Clowney

Smith

Wright

Allison - (I know Marcus Henry's size would be more beneficial - something tells me Rex likes this guy)

TE:

Keller

Brown

Simmons -(if Rex decides to use Hunter at TE more often, possible to see Simmons cut & Kracalik added to OL)

Dearth (LS)

OL:

Ferguson

Woody

Fanceca

Moore

Mangold

Slauson - (familiar with OL coach Callahan from Nebraska - have to go with the rookie!)

Turner

Hunter - (looked decent lining up at TE at practice last week)

Defense:

DL +1:

Ellis

Jenkins

Douglas - (played for Rex 2001-2004, 2008 - filling in the Coleman void)

DeVito

Green - (played for Rex 2002 season)

Pouha

Pitoitua

Potter - (for Ellis 1 game suspension)

DB:

Revis

Sheppard

Lowery

Strickland

Rhodes

Smith

Leonhard

Cole - (tough one between Cole and Coleman - too many mistakes by Coleman in preseason games)

Ihedigbo

Carroll

LB +1:

Pace

Harris

Gholston

Scott

Westermann - ( a definite! )

Thomas

Murrell - (has shown us great pass rushing skills)

Trusnik - (could use solid player like him on ST)

Cummings - (for Pace 4 game suspension)

Special Teams:

K:

Feely

P:

Pakulak - (I'll take anything but Hodges right now....still missing Ben Graham!)

Some good...some bad...some ugly...

It's safe to say that last night's match-up between the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens didn't pan out exactly the way I would have liked it to. Quarterback performance aside, there were some other issues that really could make a difference in what this team does this year. Here are some of my thoughts from the game:

1. I never expected Mark Sanchez to walk on that field last night and wrap up that starting position against a team like the Ravens. I think Rex made the right decision in having Mark start and get some reps against Baltimore's infamous defense. When asked about playing against Lewis & Reed Sanchez stated:

"Oh, they were flying. They were flying around. You practice for it and you see it on film. These guys were doing it. You’re trying to keep one eye on Ed Reed and one eye on Ray Lewis and a D-lineman gets you."

Sure he was rattled and looked shaky and made mistakes....but what else would you expect at this point in his rookie year. If you go back and look at any successful QB's rookie preseason stats and you'll find some similarities. The 2 delay of game penalties stand out just as much to me as the interception/ near interception do. He needs to be able to manage this offense effectively, something again I hope he learns with a few more starts under his belt.

2. I'll say it again - Kellen Clemens does not have what it takes to be a starting QB in the NFL. You would think that after Mark's performance Kellen would walk out on the field with the determination to outshine Sanchez and fight for the starting spot. As we all know that didn't happen. While Clemens did have slightly better stats last evening - after 4 years in the league he should be performing better. There was no need to force that pass to Brad Smith...again he should know better at this point. That interception looked all to similar to what we've been seeing the past month at camp from him. Enough is enough already.

3. David Clowney is really trying to make a name for himself and earn that #2 WR position. Thank goodness someone is! He needs to get some playing time in with the starters, I need to see his speed when matched up against some top corners in the league. Oh and David....next time just keep your helmet on please...

4. Not a great game to see who is still in the running for this #2 WR position. Out of 32 passes, nobody had more than 2 catches. Brad Smith disappointed me last night. He's not making a strong case for himself with an offensive pass interference penalty that wiped out a 25-yard gain and a dropped pass in the end zone that would have been a 39-yard TD.

5. The Bart Scott/ David Harris duo is a match made in heaven. A playmaking union that all Jet fans should be extremely excited about.

6. Darelle Revis needs to be healthy SOON! The Jets secondary had some ups and downs last night. Lowery continued to struggle against mediocre WR/TE's. Lito Sheppard was a little too inconsistent in his performance as well.

7. Disappointment is always worse that anger in my eyes - and that's how I describe my sentiment towards Vernon Gholston. How could such a big huge hard hitting playmaker turn into a ghost on the field?!? He continues to struggle when lining up to engage with blockers. In order to start for Pace those first 4 games, he's going to have to do more than just be the direct cause for a sack here and there. If Jamaal Westerman keeps it up - he could be pressing Gholston for some playing time. Maybe that's the competion Gholston needs to step up.

8. Leon Washington does it again. He prevented a huge meltdown in the first half. Yet again stepping up for the team when they need him. With his running, kick returns and a TD reception - Leon did it all, yet again showing his versatility and value to the team.

9. Crossing my fingers that the OL stays healthy. Mangold & Faneca are an integral part to having the running game succeed as they did against a difficult defense like Baltimore.

10. Reggie Hodges -he either booms huge punts at camp - or we get avg 36.3 yarders like last night....maybe Rex needs to bring yet another punter in to challenge him for this spot. I don't know about you - but I'm really missing Ben Graham.....thanks alot Mangini.

It's pre-season - a time to evaluate, learn and change. There is a ton of film to be watched and analyzed, and plenty of decisions to be made. I'll say it again - in looking forward to the season ahead....I'm surprisingly pretty optimistic.