The season is over... what have we learned?

Here are the facts:

Rex Ryan has won the complete confidence of his team, GM and owner. Great job changing the culture around here, but I do have issues with how he ran his mouth in the beginning of the season. Confidence is great, and I was really excited as a fan to see the tactics he was using to motivate the players at the end of the season. Stating that he felt we were the best team in the playoffs was perfectly fine. Frankly, you don't belong in the post season if you don't have that level of confidence. He really toned things down in the final 2 months of the season, but he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in the early going, and that why so many things that he says are blown out of proportion now.

That being said, he has a very high standard and the players are aware of what is expected of them as individuals and as a team. Rex made some major 'in game' coaching mistakes this season, including attempting a 52 yard field goal at the start of the second half yesterday. That was the real turning point of the game, and it was down hill from there. I feel 100% confident that he will learn from his rookie mistakes and get better as time goes on.

Mark Sanchez has started 18 NFL games, including 3 in the post season. His record is over .500 and he has two playoff road wins on his resume. Thats pretty impressive for a rookie. Lets remember how may seasons it took Peyton Manning and Tony Romo to record their first playoff win. Romo is still waiting for #2. It turned out that starting him from day 1 and sticking with him provided some invaluable experience. it was a huge gamble that paid off. There will certainly be growing pains in 2010, but I expect to see him grow by leaps and bounds.

Our offensive line is the most dominate unit in the NFL. They protected the rookie very well and lead us to the #1 rushing attack in the league. If we had an elite RB like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson there is no telling what records they could break. Faneca and Woddy are getting a bit long in the tooth, but we should get at least another 2 solid seasons out of them. If a talented RT were to fall to us in the draft I wouldn't object to picking him up.

Braylon Edwards is a rare talent, but he is not consistent. I don't see him going anywhere because Lito Sheppard will likely be dropped very soon. Last year we gave up a 3rd round pick for Favre and got one season of service out of it. This year we spent a 3rd rounder on Sheppard and he will most likely also end up as one and done. To give up a draft pick and a player like Chansi Stuckey for only a partial season from Edwards would look pretty bad in the press. So Edwards will probably be in the green and white in 2010. For better, or for worse.

Jericho Cotchery is a #1 wide-out. No question.

Shonn Greene was an excellent value in the 3rd round. Mr T. has been ultra confident during the last few drafts trading away multiple picks to move up for players like, Revis, Harris, Keller, Sanchez and Greene. All have either turned out to be home runs, or are on their way out of the park as we speak. Pretty damn impressive. Question is... how did we miss so badly on Vernon Gholston?

Vernon Gholston is a waste of space. There is no doubt he has some amazing physical gifts including uncommon speed and strength. But, if you can't hack it in either the Belichick/Mangini 3-4 scheme or the Rex Ryan 2 gap... you are not worth a first round pick. His main problem seems to be desire. If he ever gets hungry he may become a terror in this league. But, I am pretty sure he is eating very well with the millions he has already collected from Woody Johnson.

We had the #1 defense this year and our defensive line still needs major work. We have one of the best DT in all of football. Kris Jenkins is a beast, but he is also injury prone and old. If next year wasn't an uncapped season I would say dump #77 now. But since his salary isn't a factor in 2010 I think we should give him a chance to see if he can rehab his injury and be our starter again. He is a real leader and a very high character guy. We need a big bodied young player to be his apprentice.

Sean Ellis really shocked me this year. I feel he has been lazy and unproductive for the past few seasons. When Big Jenks went down Ellis really stepped up. He can still have an impact in 2010 but again we need a young DE to play behind him and learn. His days are numbered.

At the other DE spot we have a gaping hole. I proposed a trade for Richard Seymore of the Oakland Raiders. He is miserable there and would love a chance to get back to the AFC East to try and punish Belichick. Osi Umenyiora would be a nice pick up as well. A player like Kerry Rhodes would be nice trade bait for either of these game changing linemen. The Giants will be open to moving Osi and he could fill two spots for us. In a four man front he and Calvin Pace could play DE with Ellis and Jenkins inside. And, in a traditional 3 man front Pace and Umenyiora could move to OLB. Just a thought.

So there are the facts. Rex and Mark have set the bar very high in year #1. For as long as they are part of this organization, anything less than a Superbowl will be considered a failure. And that my friends is exactly how it should be.

This will be the most exciting offseason for the Jets in my 25 years of following them. In my heart I feel this is the beginning of something special.