Take a dash of terrible playcalling, a dab of bust, and a whole lot of underachiever and you’ve just found the perfect recipe for the Jets 2007 defense.

Defensive Line - It’s not that they don’t try. You can see the grimmaces and strained muscles and hear the grunts on game film, but for all the might, for all the effort, there’s been little result. The pass rush is non-existent and whatever run-stopping ability they discovered in the second half of 2006 has failed to carry over.

DE Shaun Ellis looks more and more like a goner as days pass and has led many Jets fans to wonder if that massive contract extension was a mistake and whether his production was due to having John Abraham opposite him. Ellis’ pass-rushing ability appears spottingly, at best; likely a combination of the ineptitude of the line and Ellis’ declining skills.

NT Dewayne Robertson, what else can we say? It’s become apparent that the 300-pound miscast is coasting at this point, knowing that he’s as good as gone at the end of this lost season. Robertson was a bad fit in Mangini’s system from the getgo, and while he has had some bright moments, he’s still seemed lost most of the time. He’s unable to take on blocks, and while trying to take on multiple linemen, he’s lost his ability to get to the passer. online free pokerpoker game download7 card stud strategiestexas holdem poker,holdem poker site texas,texas holdem poker strategyfree texas holdem download7 card stud rules7 card stud gamespai gow pokerfree online video pokerinternet gambling poker,internet poker,card game internet pokeronline poker lawpoker oddsplay money pokerpoker freelive online pokerfree texas hold emtexas hold em poker onlinecaribbean pokerhow to play pokerfree online poker tightpokervideo poker downloadwin 7 card studonline video pokerplaying poker onlinepoker card gamegambling pokeronline poker sitetexas holdem,texas holdem download,free texas holdem downloaddraw pokervirtual pokerfree money online poker,free poker online,free online poker tightpokerfree texas hold em pokeronline casino pokerinternet gambling pokeronline poker softwareonline poker freefree poker moneylimit 7 card studonline poker schoolfree poker gamefree 7 card stud pokerfree poker softwareplay texas holdem onlineonline poker no downloadfree omaha poker,hi lo omaha poker rule,omaha pokerfree online poker game,free texas hold em poker,free pokeronline poker 7 card stud7 card stud gamebest card credit rate transfercompare credit card offer The third man on this lost unit, free-agent acquisition Kenyon Coleman, has been serviceable, if not solid. However, it’s clear that Coleman is not the answer on this unit and is merely a rotation player, not worth the 20+ million he received in the offseason. Coleman’s got a good motor, but it’s difficult to make an impression when you’re fighting a losing battle down after down.

Backup d-linemen Eric Hicks, Sione Pouha, and C.J. Mosley have each had an individual moment to shine, but for the most part have been ineffective and unnoticeable. Neither Pouha nor Mosley is the answer in the middle and Hicks is just an aging veteran hanging on. Look for the Jets to massively overhaul this entire unit in the offseason, particularly in the draft. They need to replace Ellis and Robertson as well as increasing depth.

Linebackers - David Harris has been a revelation; Victor Hobson and Bryan Thomas have disappeared; Eric Barton is serviceable and Jonathon Vilma is on the next train out of town.

In the two games since taking over for Vilma in the starting lineup, Harris has compiled 41 tackles, 30 of them solo tackles. Most of them are likely due to missed tackles and/or assignments by fellow ‘backers, but Harris has been a clear impact player the past two games, particularly against Buffalo. He has proved to be one of the best, if not the best, value pick from the 2007 draft. The rest is a whole other story.

Hobson started off as his consistent, usual self, but has disappeared as the season began its downturn. Thomas likely is swimming in all his new contract money ala Scrooge McDuck and I personally wouldn’t care if weren’t on this team next year. He’s shown no heart this year whatsoever. Eric Barton is what he is. He’s a better fit on the outside in the 4-3, but on the inside of the 3-4 he’s a decent rotation player with a good motor and solid pass-rushing and coverage skills who is more suited to a backup role. I’d be mildly surprised if he returned next season.Vilma, on the other hand, has clearly been ostracized by this system and some would say by the regime running the organization. His mysterious knee injury and subsequent surgery have hidden the fact that Vilma was having a second terrible season in the 3-4. He was pushed off the ball far too often and was completely unable to utilize his range, instincts and speed in this assignment-driven system. His trade value prior to the injury was late 1st round, but his injury may have shifted that to the 2nd and who knows what impact the Jets desire to move him will have on the proceedings. Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn into another Pete Kendall.

Backups Brad Kassell and David Bowens have been completely non-existent and don’t expect to see either of them return. In my opinion, Bowens has been completely misused and I’m still confused as to why we haven’t seen him more in an attempt to jumpstart the pass rush. Really a shame. Did someone say Terrell Suggs or Quentin Groves?

Secondary - Much like the linebackers, it’s been a rookie and then everyone else. Rookie CB Darrelle Revis has been outstanding this season. He’s made rookie mistakes but as late as the second Buffalo game, Revis clearly established himself as the #1 corner on this team for the years to come. He’s got good ball skills and as shown by Revis’ team-leading 47 solo tackles (not a good thing), is a sure open-field tackler. Revis’ next challenge will be learning to cover taller, more physical wide receivers like a Randy Moss. Don’t expect to see him playing in the slot after this year.

While Revis was supposed to shore up the corner spot opposite last year’s starter Andre Dyson, it’s been Dyson and fellow cornerback David Barrett that have collapsed and proven unreliable. Both are guarantees to be gone by next season as both have given up big plays at inopportune times and have proven so invisible in pass coverage that teams have chosen to attack them instead of the rookie, Revis. Backup cornerbacks Hank Poteat and Drew Coleman again have proved to be just that and should land on the 2008 roster as depth players backing up Revis and whomever else is brought in to start opposite him and in the slot.

As far as the safeties go, it’s been a lost year for SS Kerry Rhodes, likely due to having to forgo many of his playmaking abilities to try to provide a stabilizing presence in a misshapen unit. There’s been only a couple games when Rhodes has been let loose on the defense and been able to make the plays that he made last year. Here’s my question though, has Rhodes had to forego his special talents to help a bad secondary or has the secondary become worse because Rhodes hasn’t been allowed by defensive coordinator (and Satan’s right hand man) Bob Sutton to play by the line of scrimmage and roam the field? It’s likely a mixture of both, but I tend to lean on the latter instead of the former.

Rhodes’ opposite safety spot has been a revolving door this season. From Erik Coleman to Eric Smith to Avram “One Big Mistake” Elam, it’s been a constantly shifting face at free safety in an attempt to find something that works. Elam has shown an ability to make the big hit, but sometimes to the Jets detriment. Smith had overtaken Coleman in the preseason but an injury set him back and we’ve yet to see him 100% this season. Coleman, the once-golden-boy of the Jets secondary is clearly on the outs and has lost his place in the Jets future. He’s been unable to cover consistently for the better part of 2 seasons and has yet to duplicate the success of his rookie year. The Jets will likely look at New England free agent corneracks Randall Gay and Asante Samuel in the offseason to shore up the outside and could go into next season with Elam and Smith fighting for the starting FS job.

(Special Teams and Coaching still to come…)

Before we can hypothesize what this team will look like next year, we need to figure out what it will look like next year. So, like we did after 4 weeks, let’s look at the team that has so befallen expectations.

(Note: No grades this time around, we don’t need to be reminded again.)

Quarterbacks - A month ago, I wrote “Clemens is unlikely to see the field unless the season gets completely out of hand.” Well, it’s out of hand, pocket and time at this point. It’s a season lost to the football gods and it’s time to see what Clemens offers. In his first start since the second game of the season, it was immediately evident that Clemens’ arm is much stronger than Pennington’s. It was none more evident than when Clemens rolled left and threw across his body to Justin McCareins 20 yards downfield. Also apparent was the advantage Clemens has in the legs department. Clemens scrambled for several first downs and was the second-leading rusher with 48 yards on the day. Never to be confused with Vince Young or Michael Vick, Clemens figures to be more along the lines of a Ben Roethlisberger who can create time in and out of the pocket with his legs and give his receivers the extra time they need to get open as well as tuck and run if needed.

Where Clemens clearly lacks though, is accuracy, sporting just 51% accuracy on the season. However, that’s to be expected from a young quarterback and when he misses he misses high, which is better than missing to the other team. It will be interesting to see how Clemens handles the rest of the season. This bye week should give him a good chance to reflect on second career start before a tough second half of the season that includes matchups with Tennessee, Pittsburgh, New England, and Dallas.

Former starter Chad Pennington has gone the way of Browning Nagle, Richard Todd and Ken O’Brien, and after being unable to fulfill expectations is likely to be on another team next year. It’s an unfortunate end to a good career for the former Marshall standout. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Chad, and hope he lands on his feet next year… as well as landing the Jets a late round draft pick.

Running Back - Umm, can we just scrap this year and start over? Although Thomas Jones is at the age where most running backs suddenly “lose it”, this year seems more attributable to the offensive line, an unbalanced offense and spotty playcalling than Jones’ sudden loss of ability. There’s been several series and games when Jones has show the ability to make something out of nothing and to bounce plays outside for extra yardage. Jets fans have got to hold out hope that if the line is fixed up this offseason and Clemens’ presence and strong arm balances out the playcalling, then Jones could return to the 1,200 yard back of yore.

On the flip side of the coin, it’s likely Leon Washington’s role in the offense will continue to be minimal given his sudden revelation in the kick return game. However, Washington’s speed and ability to read the field makes him ideal on short passes and screens, giving the Jets offense a dangerous option if they choose to use it.

Wide Receiver/Tight End - Laveranues Coles’ concussion interrupted what could be Coles’ best season as Jet. Paired with Jerricho Cotchery, the duo gives new quarterback Kellen Clemens a dangerous tandem that isn’t afraid to go across the middle. Although Cotchery’s touchdown numbers are down, his receptions, yards, and yards per catch and yards after catch averages are all up and are likely to surpass the career highs he set last year. Developing WR Brad Smith is an athletic beast and an absolute sponge when it comes to learning the positional nuances. His growth in a season and a half is nothing short of extraordinary and Smith figures to develop even more when he has a full offseason and training camp to commit to learning the position.

With Pennington no longer under center, McCareins likely has a chance to audition himself for teams for next season and perhaps increase whatever trade value he has. TE Chris Baker continues to show his pass-catching ability and I’m thoroughly convinced that the Jets should go out and sign a Kyle Brady type in the offseason to stay in and block so Baker can be utilized more in the passing game. (Note: I said a Kyle Brady type, not Kyle himself.) Yes, that’s right, I have no faith in Joe Kowalewski or Sean Ryan to be the 2nd TE the Jets offense needs.

Offensive Line: I think the phrase “you win some, you lose some” adequately describes the Jets offensive line–either that or “terribly inconsistent.” There’s been rays of life; i.e. LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson shutting down elite pass rushers Jason Taylor, Aaron Schobel, and Osi Umenyiora in consecutive weeks. However, there’s been horrible, horrible misjudgments; i.e. Adrien Clarke. C Nick Mangold has had a solid second season, although certainly not the pro bowl season everyone expected and RG Brandon Moore has proven that he is a solid right guard, but certainly prone to replacement should one surface. RT Anthony Clement has certainly seen his time and it’s only a matter of time before he’s somewhere else. While I think Clement could be a decent depth player, he’s not a starter anymore and his play thus far this season has likely doomed him in the eyes of Jets management.

Honestly, it’s a mixed bag at this point and it’s become apparent that LG Pete Kendall really was the glue that kept the line together last season. However, it’d be rash to consider the line with Kendall this year as Clement and Moore have clearly regressed. Likely, the Jets will head into the draft looking for at least 3 new offensive linemen in an attempt to mimic the success of the better teams in the league.

(Defense and Special Teams to follow tomorrow…)

Hey folks, like Jay-Z and MJ from retirement (twice), I’m back from a much-needed respite. Sorry for the absence, but it’s a one-man show around here and unlike certain organizations (*cough*JetsCentral*cough*), I don’t have the funds to outsource talent.

I’ve been quite busy with things in the world, errands, a job search, work, and certain social appointments.

Anywho, I’m getting back into the swing of things, so today will be the first return and then as things pick up after the bye weekend we’ll get back into all-out mode.