26-year old WR Brad Smith will likely be the full-time kickoff returner for the Jets in 2010.  Smith played in 13 games for the Jets last season and he returned 10 kickoffs for 310 yards (31.0 avg) with 1 TD return (a 106-yarder!).  He has now played in 60 games in his career with the Jets and he has returned 24 kickoffs for 536 yards (22.3 avg) with 1 TD return.  I expect that Smith will do a solid job of getting the offense good starting position in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JETS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  B

The Jets boast one of the most physical offensive lines in the NFL as they can almost run the ball at will.  LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson improved his run blocking last season to go with his already solid pass blocking as he made the Pro Bowl last season.  Rookie 2nd round pick Vladimir Ducasse out of  U.Mass is likely going to start at LG for the Jets this year.  He will likely be a solid run blocker from day #1 but he has always had problems with speed rushers so he will have that to work on.  Center Nick Mangold is quite possibly the best run blocking center in the league.  He gets off the ball really fast and he picks off moving targets on the second level of the D very well.  RG Brandon Moore is a beast as a run blocker but he still needs to improve his pass blocking.  RT Damien Woody is getting up there in years but he still doesn’t get beat very often.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JETS O-LINE in 2010:  A

47-year old head coach Rex Ryan is just like his daddy (Buddy) was.  He is a straight shooter who doesn’t take any crap from anyone.  I remember last season right before the playoffs started, Ryan proclaimed that his team should be the favorite in every game the rest of the season.  Then they beat the Bengals and Chargers on the road before falling just a little short in the AFC Championship to the Colts.  The Jets were 9-7 (56.3%) during the regular season last year and they were 2-1 in the playoffs in their first season under Rex Ryan.  They have made a lot of nice improvements to the roster so look out for the Jets in 2010.

The Jets are banking on 25-year old kicker Nick Folk putting last year behind him.  He played in 14 games for the Cowboys last season and he only made 18 of 28 field goals (64.3%).  Folk also nailed 36 of 36 extra point attempts last season as he finished up with 90 points for the Cowboys.  Folk has now played in 46 games in his NFL career as he has connected on 64 of 81 field goals (79%).  He also also made all 131 of his extra points.  Folk now has 323 points in his NFL career.  The Jets better hope he returns to the player he was in his first two years or they might be leaving a lot of points on the field.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JETS KICKERS IN 2010:  C

The New York Jets look loaded at WR, especially after week #5 when Santonio Holmes will be elgible to play.  27-year old Braylon Edwards gives the Jets a pretty good deep threat who needs to drop less passes in 2010.  Edwards played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Jets & Browns last year and he caught 45 passes for 680 yards (15.1 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 74 games (69 starts) in his 5 years in the NFL and he has caught 273 passes for 4,238 yards (15.5 avg) with 32 TD grabs.  Edwards gives Mark Sanchez a nice, big target running down the field.

28-year old Jerricho Cotchery will be the other starting receiver and he’s pretty solid.  Cotchery played in 14 games (12 starts) for the Jets last season and he caught 57 passes for 821 yards (14.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 89 games (60 starts) in his six years with the Jets and he has caught 317 passes for 4,081 yards (12.9 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Cotchery has also carried the ball 15 times for 82 yards (5.5 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Cotchery is a solid receiver who can make acrobatic grabs that defy nature and logic.

26-year old Santonio Holmes was stolen by the Jets for a fifth round pick in last April’s NFL Draft.  He will have to sit out the first four games due to suspension but look out when he returns.  He will instantly be the best deep threat on the Jets because he’s lightning fast.  Holmes played in 16 games (all starts) for the Steelers last season and he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards (15.8 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He has now played in 60 games (48 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has caught 235 passes for 3,835 yards (16.3 avg) with 20 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards (4.1 ypc) in his career to date. 

26-year old Brad Smith is a pretty effective player for the Jets.  He plays QB in the Jets’ version of the Wildcat as he is a better runners than a receiver.  Smith played in 13 games (2 starts) for the Jets last season and he caught 7 passes for 63 yards (9.0 avg) without any TD grabs.  But he also carried the ball 18 times for 207 yards (11.5 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  Smith has now played in 60 games (15 starts) in his four years with the Jets and he has caught 60 passes for 513 yards (8.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 60 times for 468 yards (7.8 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Smith has also completed 2 of 4 (50%) passes in his NFL career good for 45 yards (90.6 QB Rating).

25-year old David Clowney will likely be #5 in line at WR when Santonio Holmes returns to action.  Clowney played in 13 games (3 starts) for the Jets last season and he caught 14 passes for 191 yards (13.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 15 games (3 starts) in his two years with the Jets and he has caught 15 passes for 217 yards (14.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JETS WRs in 2010:  Weeks 1-4:  B      Weeks 5-16:  A