We have three games left and all three opponents are balanced, dynamic squads who are coached well. We don't have a realistic shot at the playoffs, but we do have a shot at the two top seeded teams in our conference thanks to the scheduling Gods.
In reality the Colts and Bengals will probably rest a lot of their starters. It is so important that we finish the 2009 champaign playing solid football. Right now the heat is off of Rex and Mark and thats because of one simple reason... we are winning games. In NY there is only one thing that matters... WINS. If we drop these final few games, and Greene and Sanchez continue to struggle, the offseason will be full of distractions.
As fans we need to prepare ourselves for a few things in 2010. First of all Mark Sanchez will not look like Peyton Manning next year. He will still be learning and still making mistakes. It doesn't take 1 season to learn how to play QB in the NFL. Luckily he is surrounded by a pretty solid team, so it should help expedite the learning process.
Secondly, Thomas Jones has done an amazing job this year, but he will probably hit the wall very soon. RB's in the NFL don't decline gradually, they fall off a cliff. Expect to see some new faces in our backfield. I hope to see a lot more touches for Shonn Greene in 2010, and it's hard to say if Neon Leon Washington will be able to perform at the same level. I feel confident that the Jets will extend him with a contract that is loaded with performance based incentives, but will he still have his burst and elite agility?
3rd: I would also expect some big changes on the D-line. We are currently ranked as the number one defense in the NFL, and we are top 10 in every important category except for one. We are ranked 17th in total sacks... we need to improve our pass rush. Sean Ellis has his best days behind him. He has overachieved a little this year, but it time to get some youth at the DE position. We haven't had solid, 'bookend' DE's since the heyday of Ellis/Abraham. Richard Seymour is miserable in Oakland and will do anything to get out of the Bay area.
He will be a free agent after the season, but Oakland has the right to franchise him. They won't let him leave without any compensation. I'd offer Ellis and maybe even Thomas Jones as bait for a game changer like Seymour. I'm sure he would love to be back in the AFC East and have a shot at sticking it to Belichick twice a year. He has at least 3 more solid seasons in him, and a veteran on the weak side of the line and another at DT (Jenkins) would be nicely complimented by a young (possibly a rookie) DE on the strong side.
There are a few guys who could end up elsewhere in 2010 who may be considered expendable. Some of these players have shown me flashes of greatness. For many years I felt Brad Smith was a waste of a roster spot. I am starting to feel he can become an important part of our offense in 2010 if he can get some consistent touches, and if he is also allowed to throw the ball once in a while. He is a true triple threat, I wouldn't make him the centerpiece of the offense, but I would target him at least 2 or 3 times as a receiver, and let him take a minimum of 4-5 snaps as a wildcat QB. With 6-8 touches, including some option plays where he can run or throw the ball, he can make an impact.
Another player who is finally on my radar is Danny Woodhead. I wasn't very impressed with him as a preseason RB, but now that I have had the chance to see him as a slot receiver who can also play out of the backfield, I am starting to see what everyone else has been excited about. This guy is elusive and has excellent burst. A wildcat package with Smith, Woodhead and Washington could be pretty damn scary next year if used effectively.
One more guy who may get his walking papers at season end is Brian Schottenheimer. He has been criticized very heavily this season, and he has had a handful of questionable calls. I felt that our first game vs. Buffalo was his only 'bad' game. He was way too aggressive with his game plan, but I do understand why he was trying to spark our offense. Other than that game I would grade his play calling as an A+. The passing game has looked sloppy and out of sync... that has a little to do with a rookie QB, but it's not all #6's fault. I don't think this team is getting enough reps in practice and either Schotty or Rex are to blame for that. Even though we are a bit to 'player friendly' in the coaching department, I'd like to see us hold on to our entire coaching staff.
One final note. I would like to see Kellen Clemens move on. It' not because I don't like him, it's because he is young and it's not fair for him to simply waste away on the bench. He deserves a chance to compete for a starting job, and thats not going to happen here. Some potential teams that could use his services would be the Raiders, the Seahawks, the Panthers and the Rams. I really like his arm and skill set... he just needs more playing time so he can develop the confidence to navigate the pocket a little better.
With all this being said, we still have 3 games left in 2009, as I mentioned before. We may be out of the playoffs, but these next few weeks will have long lasting ramifications.
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