[mmarra82]

Opening Day in the NFL is this weekend and things look promising in New York for the Jets. Coming off a 10-6 season last year, and the AFC East Crown, the Jets used the off-season to fill some holes of last year to improve. Among the additions this season are: tight end, Dallas Clark, guard Steve Sciullo, tackle Scott Anderson, defensive end Aaron Smith, defensive tackle Kenny Peterson, linebacker Clark Haggans, linebacker Khalid Abdullah, cornerback Andre Dyson, and rookies, safety Ernest Shazor, cornerbacks Justin Miller, Abraham Elimimen, tackle Jammal Brown, guard LeQualan McDonald, tight end Alex Smith, and running backs JJ Arrington, and Anthony Davis.

Gone from last season are: running back Lamont Jordan, tight ends, Anthony Becht, and James Dearth, wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Marcus Robinson, guard Dave Yovanovits, tackles LJ Shelton and Lance Nimmo, defensive ends Shaun Ellis and Josh Evans, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, linebackers, Hannibal Navies, Jason Glenn, and Al Singleton, cornerbacks Aaron Beasley, and Jason Webster, safety Tyrone Carter.

The team looks solid in most areas, offensively, a possible concern could still be the consistency of the running game. Sciullo is an upgrade, however, he still is not the perfect fit for a team that is looking to run the ball. Sciullo is more of a pass blocker. The Jets will be counting on Claridge to step up his performance from last season and hope that Martin can still get the job done. Many around the league feel the Jets should have looked for a running back in the draft or through free agency. The passing game looks ready to take off. Pennington is developing in leaps and bounds and the team has an offensive line ready to pass protect. The passing game will be what this offense relies on this season.

Defensively the team has a new look, once again. Two out of the four starters on the D-Line are new, gone are Ellis and Ferguson and in are Smith and Peterson. Ellis underachieved and therefore was easy to see move on, however, Ferguson came off a good season, and snubbed the Jets by not letting them have a chance to counter his offer in Seattle. The Jets quickly signed Peterson, a young developing DT, who lacks the run stuffing ability of Ferguson, but can rush the passer.

The secondary was overhauled as well. Gone are Beasley and Carter, and new are Dyson and Shazor. This may not be the answer early, but should come around and be one of the Jets strenghts this season.

The team is in decent position with the cap, and barring any run of injuries should find itself competing for the division crown once again. Figure an 11-5 season for the Jets, with New England at 10-6, Buffalo 8-8 and Miami at 5-11.