We’re ready for the kickoff and so are the newest Jets, eleven of whom were playing college ball at this time last year, (which includes the six who have been assigned to the practice squad). Five rookies made the final roster, as the Jets released some older, deader wood, and replaced it with youth and inexperience.
Some of the freshmen are expected to make an immediate contribution, and others will hopefully make a positive impact as the team heads deeper into the schedule. Here’s my rundown on the newest, youngest guys. Feel free to agree, disagree, and discuss.
CB Darrelle Revis– His holdout is a thing of the past, and he has spent extra time working with the coaching staff, and has played in a couple of preseason games. Out of Pittsburgh, he will be playing a lot more and a lot earlier than some expected, due to other CBs being banged up. He was very impressive to this training camp observer, and it was similar to watching Vilma in his rookie camp. You just knew they had what it takes to make it at the next level. Revis has the makings of being a special player, and just wait until he puts some Punt Return moves on and breaks an ankle or two of would be tacklers.
LB David Harris– The Michigan grad is looking to step into the ILB spot and will be on the field this season. He has already shown he is a formidable run-stopper, and only needs the playing time to get better. He hits like a truck. Like the rest of the class, it must be expected that he’ll make some rookie mistakes, but look for this guy to bolster the run defense, and allow the CS to rotate him in for Barton (entering his tenth season) and Vilma, who needs to regain his touch for making big plays.
LG Jacob Bender- After spending the first part of camp working at the right tackle spot, he was shifted over to left guard, where he will have the responsibility of protecting the QB’s blind side, along with Brick. It’s well documented that his career at Nichols state was mostly spent as a run blocker. Expect some bumps in the road along the way, but Bender is catching a huge break by not having to debut against Richard Seymour. He could end up being near the top of pleasant surprises when all is said and done.
WR Chansi Stuckey– drafted out of Clemson, he’s another rookie who had an impressive preseason. He is ten pounds lighter than Cotchery, which puts him closer to Coles’ size. He has sure hands, runs crisp patterns, and the hunch here is that he will be good for a game-turning play or two this season, either as a returner or WR.
DE Mike DeVito– the feel-good story of the week, this unheralded rook out of Maine U has shown a great motor, lots of hustle and determination, and he is also a candidate to get in some games this season to spell some of the starters. The fact that his parents are riding down to Sunday’s game on their bike is way cool.
CB Manny Collins– this Rutgers grad got the call to come into Jets camp after a couple of early injuries to CBs, and he has managed to hang around, getting cut and then resigned to the Practice Squad.
WR Chris Davis– out of Wake Forest, call him the most surprising rookie to be resigned to the PS. He is small and has had a couple of drops, but the CS must have seen enough from him that they liked.
QB Brett Ratliff– his biggest contribution this year will probably be running the scout team, along with Tui. He has some very nice skills he developed while at Utah, and good size at 6’4â€?, 225. He didn’t get much of a chance in the preseason games, but evidently showed enough during practice.
LB Jason Trusnik– out of Ohio Northern, he’s another draftee who the Coaching Staff didn’t play too much in the Pre Season games, but they must have liked what they saw in practice. He’s hardnosed and has great size at 6-4, 250.
OL Robert Turner– he didn’t show enough to stick with a depleted OL, but this New Mexico grad will serve as insurance if anyone on the OL goes down.
RB Danny Ware– after leaving Georgia after his junior year, he went undrafted, and was cut by the Titans in the spring. He then came into Jets camp and lit it up, turned some heads, got some fans for his play, and was resigned to the Practice Squad after missing the final cut.
This could turn out to be an incredible draft for the Jets, but we really won’t know for at least a year or two. Is there a Rookie Of The Year in the crop? A future Pro bowler? Could there be a bust, and a couple of jags? Could be. Guess we’ll have to watch them play to find out. For five of them, it starts on Sunday.