New York Jets still have strong defence without Jenkins, but what of the offence?
For the second consecutive season the New York Jets have lost their prized defensive tackle, as Kris Jenkins is out for the season after re-injuring his left ACL in the Jets' season opener against the
Baltimore Ravens Monday night.
The 31-year-old, 6ft 4in, 360lb defensive stalwart failed to make it through the entire game after falling awkwardly in the first half and will now miss the remainder of the season. Sione Pouha will be
expected to fill some very large shoes left behind by Jenkins and the New York Jets have signed nose tackle Howard Green to help take the pressure off.
But even with Jenkins' loss, the defence of the Jets isn't their biggest liability. That dubious honour goes to the offence, which will need to improve if they want to go all the way.
Same situation, new season
It must all seem like a bad case of deja vu for the Jets who were forced to watch Jenkins go down for the entire season last year after a week six match up against their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills.
It was the same tandem of Pouha and Green that stepped in then, and they are together again and will be expected to lead the Jets defensive line from now on.
The big question will be whether or not Pouha and Green can get the job done, and how will Rex Ryan tinker with his defensive system as the Jets look to follow up where they left off after last season
with the league's top defence.
Defence still looks strong without Jenkins
Although the loss of Jenkins might seem like a death blow to the Jets it is in no way the major turning point for their season that it might initially seem.
In 10 weeks last season without Jenkins the Jets defence barely missed a beat as they ended up giving up the least points of any team (a mere 236), the fewest passing yards (2459), and fewest overall yards
(4037). Much of the core of the defence that accomplished that last season is back this season.
The backfield has even improved as Darrelle Revis is back after holding out through the entire training camp, and the Jets have added Pro Bowl corner Antonio Cromartie. Also in the wings is first-round
pick Kyle Wilson.
The linebacking corps is as stout as ever with David Harris, Bryan Thomas, and Bart Scott all returning. Calvin Pace is also back, but currently injured. The Jets also added the veteran Jason Taylor in
the off-season. Taylor is a six-time Pro Bowler, former defensive player of the year (2006), and is entering his 14th season and first as a member of the Jets. His veteran presence will be something the Jets staff will look to in order to help the team move
forward.
With most of the defense still in place the pressure then falls on the shoulders of second-year men QB Mark Sanchez and RB Shonn Greene, and the rest of the Jets offence that has been assembled and is
expected to help them climb the hurdle from AFC runners-up to Super Bowl champions.
Still far to go
The Jets proved in their opening game that they are still a team that will rely on their defense to help them win games as they lost to a 10-9 score.
Greene, who was expected to be the Jets number one rusher was benched after letting the ball get away from him, forcing off-season free agent signing LaDanian Tomlinson to step in. Tomlinson's ability
to run the ball is not in question as his five Pro Bowl selections and record with the San Diego proves, but he will be unable to help the Jets move the football if the Jets can't occasionally go through the air, or convert on third down, as they were unable
to do against the Ravens.
It would be easy, then, to lay the blame square on Sanchez's shoulders. But it was key miscues that were at the heart of why the Jets were unable to move the ball when they had to, and not because of any
errant passes or poor decisions on Sanchez's part as he was criticized for last season as a rookie.
Bottom line
Despite all the hype they have received this off-season, the Jets are for real. They will compete among the best teams in the AFC this season and should challenge for the division title and make the play-offs.
In order to be truly feared though, it is the offence that has to step up and start executing on the field.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will be the man scrutinized for whatever the Jets do on offense and will certainly be under the microscope this season. The Jets defence, despite some recent
setbacks, should be as strong as ever.
It's the offence that will need to step it up.
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