2009 Wrap-Up: The Jets had a roller coaster season in 2009, much as you would expect when you have a rookie head coach and a rookie starting QB. They got off to a 3-0 start including an upset over New England in week 2 and the Super Bowl talk was all the rage. Then the other shoe dropped with 3 straight losses and cries for Sanchez to be sent to the gallows. The rest of the season went back and forth but they ended up winning the last 2 games over the Colts and Bengals, even if they were somewhat handed to them, to get into the playoffs.

Once in the playoffs though the defense showed everyone just why they were the top ranked defense in the league. They really slowed down both the Cincinnati and San Diego offense and almost did the same to the Colts before they got their act together and Peyton put the game on his shoulders and picked apart the Jets’ defense.

Ultimately you have to call the Jets’ season a success, but they have a bunch of holes they will have to fill if they want to get back to the playoffs in 2010.

Positions of need:

1. Defensive End – Both starting DEs, Shaun Ellis and Marques Douglas, will both be 33 in 2010 and there is no real depth on the roster. Ellis was decent in 2009 with 6.5 sacks, but they mostly came in 3 bunches of 2. Mike Devito is the top backup and made some nice plays in the rotation, but looked lost at other times. They need to add a young explosive player and some depth.

2. Outside Linebacker – The Jets struggled to find anyone to replace Calvin Pace when he was suspended for the first 4 games of the season, with Vernon Gholston once again showing he is huge bust so far. Bryan Thomas is steady, but definitely not splashy. They need to get some youth to fill out their depth charts that might actually become a future starter. There is some hope that Rutgers’ grad Jamaal Westerman might be one of those guys, but he hasn’t proved to be steady enough yet to start.

3. Wide Receiver – You will probably not find a bigger hater of Braylon Edwards than I am and there was nothing I saw this year that has changed my mind. Edwards and fellow WR Brad Smith are two more players that would be termed as restricted free agents if no new CBA is reached. With Braylon you’re looking at a supposed #1 WR that in 15 games with the Jets only topped 50 yards receiving 4 times and only had at least 5 receptions twice. I know some of this can be blamed on the rookie QB, but he has only has one solid season in the NFL and they need someone with more of a proven track record to improve this passing game. Cotchery is a decent #2, but beyond that there are no real steady players.

4. Offensive Guard – The Jets actually have two very good starters in Alan Faneca and Brandon Moore, but Faneca is 33 and Moore will be 30 this year and they have no depth behind them. Matt Slauson is huge but is still very much an unknown.

5. Cornerback – This team needs to get rid of that bum Darrelle Revis, as he can’t seem to cover anyone. Ok, ok just felt like throwing in a little humor here. We all know who Revis is and the type of season he had, but the other side had some issues. Lito Sheppard never regained that former Pro Bowl form and that was when he wasn’t hurt. He is owed a $10 million roster bonus in 2010 and will most likely not be back. Dwight Lowery has decent ball skills and technique, but his lack of speed can be a real killer. They need to bring in another corner if they want to continue their defensive domination.

6. Nose Tackle – This is mainly just to give them some depth. Most felt that the Jets would be devastated by the loss of Kris Jenkins early in the season, but Sione Pouha did an excellent job at stopping the run in Jenkins’ absence. Both Jenkins and Pouha are getting up there in age and they need to bring in some youth to build on for the future.

7. Quarterback – This is not a knock against Mark Sanchez, but Kellen Clemens is a free agent, although he will become a restricted free agent if no new CBA is put in place. If a new CBA is done, then Clemens will no doubt look to hook up somewhere else. The other 2 QBs on the roster, Eric Ainge and Kevin O’Connell are both projects and the Jets need to look into bringing in a veteran to back up Sanchez.

2010 Outlook: The Jets ended 2009 on a high note and will look to build on that in a division that now shows that the Patriots can be had. If they can make some solid additions to their receiving corps their offense can take the next step. They already have the #1 rushing offense in the league, although they may lose veteran Thomas Jones to free agency, but even with that, 2009 rookie draft pick Shonn Greene gave all Jets’ fans some hope with the excellent running skills he showed in the playoffs.

If the defense shores up the few holes they have, they will once again be a top defense in the league and quite possibly be an early favorite to win the AFC East.

Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, 2010 NY Jets, Jets Team Needs, New York Jets, NFL, NFL draft, NY Jets