NFL preview: Jets issues and answers
Plaxico Burress of the New York Jets stands on the field before a pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Sept. 1, 2011) Credit: Getty
ISSUE: Mark Sanchez has been designated as one of the captains. Is he ready to lead this team to new heights?
ANSWER: He should be. Sanchez has done everything in the offseason to put himself in position to succeed, ranging from putting together the West Camp in his native Southern California to helping gather 40-plus teammates for player-organized workouts in New Jersey prior to the lifting of the lockout. His grasp of the offense is better than it's ever been and the Jets have surrounded him with a bevy of weapons. He knows it's on him to produce.
ISSUE: Can Plaxico Burress stay healthy?
ANSWER: That's the $3.017-million question. Burress was besieged by injuries during his Giants days and got off to a slow start with the Jets. He was hobbled by a sprained ankle that kept him shelved for two weeks, though the Jets maintained he would have been able to play if it had been the regular season. Burress also tweaked his lower back, an injury that didn't cost him any time. But it seems as if it's always something with the talented wideout. He's probably as motivated as ever to play through any injuries so he can get one more lucrative contract.
ISSUE: Can Wayne Hunter replace Damien Woody at right tackle?
ANSWER: This may be the biggest challenge facing the Jets, especially when you take a close look at their extreme lack of quality depth among the reserve linemen. Hunter made a few starts when Woody was hurt last year, but now the pressure is on him to produce and make a seamless transition after being handed a four-year deal.
ISSUE: Is Shonn Greene up to the task of being the "bell cow," as Rex Ryan likes to call him?
ANSWER: Greene hasn't been the main man since his final season at Iowa, but he's embraced the role and said he's ready for it. The queries surrounding the third-year back: Can he stay healthy for an entire season after battling a rash of injuries in his first two, and are his fumbling woes cured? If either problem continues, Greene may find himself losing carries as he did last year.
ISSUE: Will those dreaded three words "no pass rush" be uttered countless times once again?
ANSWER: Some of the defensive players, notably those up front, basically cringe when they hear that phrase. Rex Ryan is hoping a deep defensive line rotation will keep the players fresh, and help them have something in reserve as the game wears on. There are also plans to insert third-year linebacker Jamaal Westerman on third down to chase after the quarterback, earning him the title "DPR," as in designated pass rusher.
