The Jets' 2003 season got derailed before it even started, as N.Y. had suffered severe free-agent losses in the offseason, including top WR Laveranues Coles, KR & 3rd-down back Chad Morton, G Randy Thomas, and PK John Hall (all of them to Wash.!) Then, emerging young QB Chad Pennington sustained a broken wrist on his passing hand in the third exhibition. With the offense geared for his quick West Coast throws, the Jets started 0-4 behind the somewhat rusty Vinny Testaverde, who had been held out of the final preseason game for fear that he might get hurt. Still, Herm Edwards' players-virtually out of the playoffs after a month--never quit. Pennington returned to the starting lineup in the 8th game, with N.Y. finishing 4-5 SU (3-5-1 vs. the spread).
N.Y. (only 18 ppg LY; 25th in rushing; only eight rush TDs) has moved more aggressively TY to address its shortcomings. Insiders say Edwards wanted to 1) stabilize the WR situation, 2) improve defensively (mostly, add speed), and 3) get younger overall (Jets were one of the oldest teams LY). The diminutive Santana Moss (74 for 1105 LY) will get help TY at WR from 6-2 Justin McCareins (FA via Tenn.) and from muscular 6-0, 212 No. 4 pick Jerricho Cotchery (N.C. State). Both were tabbed for their suitability to the West Coast offense.
For defensive speed, N.Y. used its top pick on smallish but super-fast Miami MLB Jonathon Vilma (already showing leadership in minicamp & offseason workouts) & its No. 3 pick on Oklahoma CB Derrick Strait. Quality S Reggie Tongue has moved over from Seattle. LY's top pick, squatty DT Dewayne Washington, was a disappointment, so he's lost 10-15 pounds to regain some quickness. Veteran LBs Marvin Jones & Mo Lewis are gone. Still, Edwards' vet DL must stop the run better after giving up a soft 143 ypg on the ground & 4.2 ypc. Edwards, a former DB as a player, is seeking ways to get more ints. than LY's lowly 11. One hope is that the speedy Vilma will be a valuable weapon in the deep-middle coverage in two-deep zone schemes.
Speaking of Edwards, Game Two at S.D. is of personal importance, as Edwards graduated from San Diego State, is an ardent backer of the program, and has a son (Marcus) playing WR for the Aztecs.
Bottom Line--Chad Pennington still has not started a season at QB in N.Y. (he didn't become No. 1 until the 5th game of 2002). With a little better injury luck, the Jets appear improved just enough to make a run at wildcard spot (catching AFC East champ N.E. is another matter).
Exhibition Notes: Edwards is a solid 9-4 SU & vs. the spread (5-1 as dog) in the preseason. Jets had covered 11 straight in NYJ-NYG series until winning 15-14 LY laying 2½
SCHEDULE: The road slate is not very strong, as the Jets have seemingly winnable visits to San Diego (9/19), Miami (10/3), Buffalo (11/7), Cleveland (11/21), Arizona (11/28), and Pittsburgh (12/12). Home affairs with San Francisco (10/17), Miami (11/1), and Houston (12/5) don't look particularly hard either. The toughest matchups will be the home-and-home with New England (10/24 on the road, 12/26 at home) along with tilts against Baltimore (11/14 at home), Seattle (12/19 at home), and St. Louis (1/2 on the road).
N.Y. (only 18 ppg LY; 25th in rushing; only eight rush TDs) has moved more aggressively TY to address its shortcomings. Insiders say Edwards wanted to 1) stabilize the WR situation, 2) improve defensively (mostly, add speed), and 3) get younger overall (Jets were one of the oldest teams LY). The diminutive Santana Moss (74 for 1105 LY) will get help TY at WR from 6-2 Justin McCareins (FA via Tenn.) and from muscular 6-0, 212 No. 4 pick Jerricho Cotchery (N.C. State). Both were tabbed for their suitability to the West Coast offense.
For defensive speed, N.Y. used its top pick on smallish but super-fast Miami MLB Jonathon Vilma (already showing leadership in minicamp & offseason workouts) & its No. 3 pick on Oklahoma CB Derrick Strait. Quality S Reggie Tongue has moved over from Seattle. LY's top pick, squatty DT Dewayne Washington, was a disappointment, so he's lost 10-15 pounds to regain some quickness. Veteran LBs Marvin Jones & Mo Lewis are gone. Still, Edwards' vet DL must stop the run better after giving up a soft 143 ypg on the ground & 4.2 ypc. Edwards, a former DB as a player, is seeking ways to get more ints. than LY's lowly 11. One hope is that the speedy Vilma will be a valuable weapon in the deep-middle coverage in two-deep zone schemes.
Speaking of Edwards, Game Two at S.D. is of personal importance, as Edwards graduated from San Diego State, is an ardent backer of the program, and has a son (Marcus) playing WR for the Aztecs.
Bottom Line--Chad Pennington still has not started a season at QB in N.Y. (he didn't become No. 1 until the 5th game of 2002). With a little better injury luck, the Jets appear improved just enough to make a run at wildcard spot (catching AFC East champ N.E. is another matter).
Exhibition Notes: Edwards is a solid 9-4 SU & vs. the spread (5-1 as dog) in the preseason. Jets had covered 11 straight in NYJ-NYG series until winning 15-14 LY laying 2½
SCHEDULE: The road slate is not very strong, as the Jets have seemingly winnable visits to San Diego (9/19), Miami (10/3), Buffalo (11/7), Cleveland (11/21), Arizona (11/28), and Pittsburgh (12/12). Home affairs with San Francisco (10/17), Miami (11/1), and Houston (12/5) don't look particularly hard either. The toughest matchups will be the home-and-home with New England (10/24 on the road, 12/26 at home) along with tilts against Baltimore (11/14 at home), Seattle (12/19 at home), and St. Louis (1/2 on the road).
