Leadership...

...we have very little on the 2010 NY Jets. The Hard Knocks show has been a real sleeper for me. As a fan I found it boring, as I have said in the past. However, it did give me some insight on a few things. The main theme has been the lack of discipline and leadership on this team.

Our assistant coaches are an excellent group. Rex has them tuned up and everyone is speaking the same language. If we have a poor season it's not going to be the coaching staffs fault. Schotty always seems to get the brunt of the criticism, and that's part of the job when you are the offensive coordinator. Rex is also an obvious lightning rod because of his bravado. Believing in your team, being confident and thinking positive are usually admirable attributes. For whatever reason Rex is constantly attacked for this. The coaches are not the problem.

Our offense lost it's emotional leader in Thomas Jones. Even though Tomlinson looks and sounds inspired, and is a much more dynamic player than Jones, it's nearly impossible to walk into a new locker room and just take over as the leader. It's also very hard for a 2nd year QB to be the man 100% at this stage of his career. Mark is on his way, but there is no substitute for experience.

We needed Jones to keep these young players in line. The one guy who could probably do it is Jericho Cotchery. He has worked his way up over the years and is an amazing clutch player. I am sure everyone in that locker room respects him, how could they not? The only problem is that he is not that kind of man. He is quiet, understated and does all of his talking on the field with his play.

I think back to the days of Chrebet, Martin and Pennington and wish we had just one leader like that on our team today. On defense we have Jenkins, Scott, Ellis and Leonhard. Even Harris and Eric Smith have stepped up. Without #24 we should be a dominate unit. Our offense is the real problem.

I didn't think much of the decision to dump Jones or Faneca, but i think these moves were made with only dollars in mind. They had both declined and were scheduled to make serious cash this year. But, as I watch our offense sputter on the field and sulk on the sideline I see how important TJ was. I also see what a gaping hole we now have on our O-line at the LG position. Slauson and Ducasse look like high school players, and whoever wins this so called "competition" (by default) will be a major liability to us going forward. Faneca was expensive and starting to slip, but he was a leader and a savvy veteran.

My only hope is that somehow LT starts the season the way that C-Mart did back in 2004. Most people had started to write Martin off and he came out of the gates on fire. If Tomlinson helps us win those first few games his voice will start to resonate in the locker room. It's a long season and the Jets are an unpolished group heading into the season opener. Sometimes soldiers have to be in a real battle to learn how to fight... and to band together.

I hate that so much of our season rests upon the shoulders of an old RB who is way past his prime and has shown questionable heart over the past few years. That being said, LT has really shown burst and ferocity on the field and looks and sounds like a hungry player off of it. He not only gives off the impression that he is focused and prepared for a big 2010 campaign, but he also seems to be having a lot of fun. I hope he can bring all of that to the huddle on gameday.