ESPN Season Preview

ESPN did their AFC East season preview (or more specifically their off-season review) today. Click here to see the Jets off season review.

I will certainly have more to comment about the Jets offseason and the Jets roster in the next couple of weeks heading into Training Camp. But something in this ESPN article caught my eye. It was under the heading "What they're missing?", in the second of three sections of the article.

Under that sub-question ESPN's, or more specifically Mark Vanderberg's answer to that question was two fold. 1) A backup quarterback and 2) Special Teams playmakers. Key points, and I am not going to argue. However, we may wonder why he didn't include a linebacking Corps and a Secondary. Those are more important missing pieces that are on the field during half the football game. More like 3/4 of the game the way the Jets had been playing last year.

Mr. Vanderberg also stated the Jets "settled" on Justin McCareins instead of Owens, Keyshawn or a draft full of receivers. I will argue that the Jets used the draft to try to fill a bigger need: defense. No need to waste a first round pick on an easier to find quality wide receiver, when what you really needed was a hard to find fast athletic linebacker.

John Clayton in his piece asked the following question:

"Justin McCareins caught 47 passes last year, but can he become a 60 catch wide receiver?"

Maybe John can explain to us why ONLY 13 more catches in a season makes someone THAT MUCH more valuable. Let's remember, McCareins wasn't playing in a run and shoot offense last year. 47 catches on the Titans in your rookie season is a nice year. How many passes did Coles have in his first year? 22. In his second year? 59. Someone should tell John Clayton to take it easy on McCareins.

One last stat for John. McCareins yard per catch last year? 17.3. Coles since his rookie year hasn't gotten to 15 yards per catch.