Jets

Jets’ receiver Santonio Holmes is not a believer in two-quarterback systems

stevenlourie Jets, News

According to a report by Pro Football Talk, Jets receiver Santonio Holmes does not believe a two-quarterback system can work in the NFL. This is noteworthy because the Jets are planning on running the closest thing we have in the NFL to a two-quarterback system with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Holmes is essentially saying he doesn’t believe in what the coaching staff is trying.

This might not be as big of news if Holmes didn’t have his already negative history in New York. Holmes was a real locker room cancer last season and disrupter of team chemistry on a Jets team that disappointed and missed the playoffs after back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances and an 8-5 start. Former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson said last week that Holmes will likely check out mentally (at best) in a run heavy offense, which is what the Jets are planning on using. Anyway you add it together, it doesn’t look like things are going to end well for Holmes in New York.

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Jets’ Darrelle Revis to skip start of Training Camp?

stevenlourie Jets, News

Darrelle Revis did not skip the Jets’ mandatory minicamp last month, but it does not appear the Jets are in the clear with him as he could still skip at least the start of Training Camp. Count ESPN’s Chris Mortensen in the group of people who believe Revis will skip the start of Training Camp as he said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that he would be “surprised” if Revis showed up for the start of camp.

Revis has been paid like the top cornerback in the league he is over the past 2 seasons, making 32.5 million, but is owed just 13.5 million over the next 2 seasons and probably wants to be paid that 16.25 million dollar rate into the future. In fact, I’m guessing Revis’ understanding when he signed the heavily frontloaded deal was that the Jets would pay him as the top cornerback in the league for 2 years and if he continued to be the best cornerback in the league over those 2 years, they’d give him a long term deal in the 2012 NFL offseason.

It’s now the 2012 offseason and Revis held up his end of the deal. At the very least, he’ll want more than the 60 million over 5 years that Nnamdi Asomugha got from the Eagles last offseason when he was almost 4 years older. The Jets should want to avoid a hold out at all costs with Revis because he is their best player and a bright star on a team does not appear to be in a good position. Also, the last time he held out (2010, for his current deal), he got out of shape like Chris Johnson did last year and was not quite his normal dominant self.

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Jets’ Vladimir Ducaase, Joe McKnight both acknowledge this is a “make or break” year

stevenlourie Jets, News

In separate interviews with the Newark Star-Ledger, both Vladimir Ducasse and Joe McKnight admit this is a “make or break” year for them. Both Jets are heading into their 3rd seasons in the NFL, going in the 2nd and 4th rounds respectively in 2010. Ducasse is a versatile player who has not been able to crack the starting lineup anywhere, including right tackle, where the terrible Wayne Hunter allowed 11 sacks last year. He’s currently a reserve guard.

McKnight, meanwhile, has averaged just 3.9 YPC in his career, including 3.1 YPC last year, on just 82 carries. McKnight is currently the #2 back behind Shonn Greene, an uninspiring lead back on a run heavy offense, but lacks talent and showed up to OTAs out of shape this offseason. I would not be surprised at all if neither of these players were with the Jets in 2013.

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LaDainian Tomlinson thinks Santonio Holmes may be a problem in run first offense

stevenlourie Jets, News

Now that LaDainian Tomlinson is officially retired and a former-Jet, he can say negative things about the team without it affecting him. In one of his first appearances since his retirement ceremony, Tomlinson appeared on Rich Eisen’s podcast and spoke about, among other things, the Jets and their transition to a more run first offense this year. The Jets have talked about getting back to ground and pound this offseason, hiring Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator and trading for Tim Tebow. They have also told lead back Shonn Greene to expect an increase in carries off the career high 253 he had last year, though it’s unclear if he’s the type of back worthy of that.

One of the things Tomlinson mentioned is how this transition will affect mercurial receiver Santonio Holmes. On the matter, Tomlinson said “Santonio was brought there to be the No. 1 receiver and catch a lot of balls. So, if Week 6 they haven’t thrown the ball more than 15 times a game and Santonio is not getting his catches you may hear some things: him speaking out, him saying things that may rub some teammates the wrong way.”

Holmes has already become one of the league’s biggest locker room cancers over the past year and if that continues into next season, that might be the last straw, especially if he continues to not perform on the field (he had a career low 51 catches for 654 yards, with 8 touchdowns last year). The one thing that could keep him on the team in 2013 is the way his contract is structured. They’ll owe him a large portion of his 2013 salary regardless of whether or not he’s on the team.

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New York Jets Fantasy Football Projections

stevenlourie 2012 Fantasy Football Preseason, 2012 Team Fantasy Football Previews, Jets

I wouldn’t recommend drafting Mark Sanchez because he could easily lose his job to Tim Tebow midseason and I wouldn’t recommend picking up Tebow until he’s actually starting.

RB Shonn Greene (NY Jets)

7/1/12: Greene has he has been led to believe by the coaching staff that he will exceed the career high 253 carries he had last year. They don’t seem confident in backup Joe McKnight with LaDainian Tomlinson gone and they want to get back to running the football more. Greene isn’t very talented, but he’ll get you volume yardage as he could be one of the league leaders in carries if he stays healthy.

The Jets didn’t add another back until the 6th round this year, even though they lost LaDainian Tomlinson, who was their #2 back. Some take this as a sign that they believe in Greene’s ability to take the next step as a back, but I take it as more of a sign of confidence for Joe McKnight than anything. Remember, this team had a lot of interest in moving up for Trent Richardson, which would have made Greene the #2 back. Greene should have similar production to last year, maybe a little better if Tebow takes over as the starting quarterback and forces front 7s to focus on his ability to run the ball as well. Just ask Willis McGahee how valuable that is. Tebow would probably vulture some touchdowns though, but Mark Sanchez could too. He scored 6 times last year on the ground.

Projection: 270 carries 1220 rushing yards 8 total touchdowns 30 catches 220 receiving yards (192 pts standard/222 pts PPR)

RB Bilal Powell (NY Jets)

Bilal Powell looks like the favorite to be Shonn Greene’s primary handcuff. He’ll only see passing downs at first, but Greene is a pretty average runner who only has fantasy value on volume. It wouldn’t shock me if Powell impressed and started eating into his workload on a run heavy team. He’s an interesting handcuff for career and late round sleeper.

Projection: 90 carries 410 rushing yards 3 total touchdowns 22 catches 180 receiving yards (77 pts standard/99 pts PPR)

WR Santonio Holmes (NY Jets)

8/21/12: Holmes has missed a lot Training Camp and the Preseason with various injuries. The Jets’ passing offense isn’t going to be very good anyway so I’d like him be someone else’s problem.

Holmes will be limited by the Jets’ poor offense, but he should have a bounce back year after last year. Remember, this guy had 52 catches for 746 yards and 6 touchdowns in 12 games in 2010 with the Jets. He’s spent this offseason working out with Mark Sanchez so he’ll play better if Sanchez is the starter. And if Tebow is the starter, well he’ll have an upgrade at quarterback in that situation.

Projection: 50 catches 650 receiving yards 6 receiving touchdowns (101 pts standard/151 pts PPR)

WR Stephen Hill (NY Jets)

8/21/12: If I were to own a Jets wide receiver, it probably would be Hill. Holmes can’t seem to stay healthy and while Hill is incredibly raw, he’ll be targeted around the goal line an awful lot at 6-5, just like Plaxico Burress last season, who caught 8 touchdowns. Burress caught 45 passes for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns last year. Hill, even as a rookie, should be able to get those numbers, with upside if Holmes misses any time with injury and/or Tebow becomes the starter. If Tebow becomes the starter, Hill could very well be his top target because, with Tebow, it doesn’t matter so much if you aren’t a great route runner, as long as you are athletic (see Thomas, Demaryius).

The Jets most likely won’t be a very good passing offense no matter who the starter is and Stephen Hill is incredibly raw. However, if Tebow takes over, he could have the same chemistry throwing to Hill as he did throwing to a similar player in Demaryius Thomas last year. Hill will also be a red zone threat the way that Plaxico Burress was last year. Burress didn’t play well, but still managed to score 8 times. There’s some upside here late.

Projection: 42 catches 670 receiving yards 7 receiving touchdowns (109 pts standard/151 pts PPR)

TE Dustin Keller (NY Jets)

8/21/12: Dustin Keller had a breakout season last year, catching 65 passes for 815 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading a miserable receiving corps. I thought his production would go down this season because the receiving corps around him would be improved, but it doesn’t look like it. Keller should once again lead this miserable bunch in receiving. If you miss out on one of the top tight ends, Keller is a nice fall back option in the mid rounds.

Keller had a career high 65 catches for 815 yards and 5 touchdowns last year, but with Holmes bouncing back and Stephen Hill coming in, I expect those numbers to dip, especially if Tebow, who rarely threw to tight ends, takes over as the starter at some point.

Projection: 60 catches 760 receiving yards 5 receiving touchdowns (106 pts standard/166 pts PPR)

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