Five players to watch: Jets Preseason Week 1

The Jets kickoff the preseason tonight in Houston (8 PM, ESPN). Here are five players to keep an eye on.

1. Wayne Hunter

The veteran steps in as a full-time starter for the first time. He’ll take the place of the retired Damien Woody. The Jets have built one of the strongest offensive lines in the NFL around Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson.  Matt Slauson seamlessly transitioned into the left guard spot vacated by Alan Fancea last season. Hunter’s a good pass protector but will need to hold up well in the run game, as the Jets love running right.

2. Muhammad Wilkerson

Another spot vacated by a veteran is along the defensive line, with Shaun Ellis now a member of the hated Patriots. It’s rookie 6-4, 315 lb. Muhammad Wilkerson out of Temple who has been anointed the starter from day one by Rex Ryan. Wilkerson was a dominant lineman in the MAC , recording 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his senior season. The Jets will need him to adjust to being a NFL DE quickly, as Ellis, their longest tenured player, still had dynamic moments at that spot (see Jets/Patriots Divisional playoffs).

3. Jeremy Kerley

Not a top pick, like Muhammad, the fifth-round selection out of TCU has impressed as a jack of all trades in Florham Park. Brad Smith’s gone but the Jets would like Kerley to fill his role. He’s already atop the depth chart as kick and punt returner and has been taking snaps from the Wildcat. Smith was a valuable gamechanger but never really developed as a receiving threat. Kerley can out-do Smith if he can become that in the slot.  With Plaxico Burress out, he should see even more time tonight.

4. Kyle Wilson

There were high expectations for corner Kyle Wilson going into his rookie season. Thrown into the fire fast, the first round pick struggled and never really got going. Year two is a new opportunity for Wilson to become the strong cover corner the Jets are hoping he’ll be. It doesn’t hurt that Wilson gets to learn from Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the game’s best.

5. Jamaal Westerman

We all know one of the Jets’ biggest defensive deficiencies last season was the lack of a pass rush. For Rex Ryan’s defense to reach its maximum potential, there needs to be edge rushers who get to the quarterback. Vernon Gholston was anything but that and he’s now gone. Calvin Pace has not proven to be effective enough at doing it. Westerman has been a contributor predominantly on special teams in his two seasons but Rex Ryan is talking him up, so take notice if he can perform starting tonight.

A very, very good football day

As a Jets fan, there have been many bad days of football this season, as recent as last week's disaster against Atlanta. There have been fourth quarter leads blown and painful last second touchdowns. The really good have been few and far between over the course of my just over a decade of Jets fanhood.

December 27, 2009, week 16 is one of the best I can remember in a long time. Usually, the Jets do not get the breaks. They haven't won a Super Bowl in 40 years. When they have a chance at the AFC Championship game, Doug Brien misses not one, but two game-winning field goals.

But this Sunday was a rare one, where EVERYTHING went the Jets way. Keep in mind, the Jets needed Dolphins and Jaguars losses, and a loss from either the Ravens or Broncos, to control their own destiny. So, look at the timeline of perfect events unfold:

1:00
- Here in NY we only get the Giants/Panthers game at 1:00. I'm not particularly excited, as this game does not hold any meaning to me. But it's the Giants' last game in Giants Stadium. Yes, the Jets also play at Giants Stadium. I do not like this fact. I also do not like the fact that the stadium has been a house of horrors for the Jets seemingly every December. And it just seems like the Giants have all the luck. Scott Norwood, wide right. Lawrence Tynes misses two field goals at Lambeau Field but gets a third chance and sends the Giants to a Super Bowl. David Tyree makes a miraculous catch using his helmet and the Giants win the Super Bowl.

So, there was something very cleansing about seeing the Giants not only lose in their final game at Giants Stadium but look absolutely bewildered. It was not a close game. The Giants were down 31-0 and lost 41-9. They got crushed in an important game they needed to keep their playoff hopes alive. A good start to the day.

- That game wasn't really important to the Jets...it was more just funny to see. But looking at the score ticker, the significant games all started to fall perfectly during the 1:00 hour. Houston up 24-0. Pats up 14-0, then 21-0. Texans and Pats both win. Then the Steelers hold on to beat the Ravens by three.

4:00
- The Jets go into the game against the Colts with control of their own destiny. Unbelievable. They are looking decent, but Manning is just so good. Brad Smith has an amazing return, the longest play in franchise history. But then Manning strikes back and gives them the lead...the point I said in my head, the Jets are good but he's just gonna beat them if he has the ball last. Then Santa Caldwell provides a Christmas miracle, the Colts starters come out, Painter's in and the Jets lead for the rest of the day.
- The 4th quarter honestly may have been the most relaxing quarter of Jets football I've watched all season. There was nothing to complain about. They just ran the ball over and over, as the clock whittled away. Jets win.
- To cap off this round of games, the Eagles win on an Akers field goal, beating the Broncos and giving the Jets a shot at the 5 seed.

SNF
- Cowboys beat the Redskins, Giants are officially done. Week 17 is meaningless for them.

An all-around good day of football watching. But you know what, it was almost...too good. EVERYTHING went right. Next week, the Jets play Cincinnati in a win-and-in game on Sunday Night Football, the first time the Jets have been on SNF since it has been on NBC. All they need to do is win, against a Bengals team that may be resting starters. But Week 16 was so good that Jets history tells me it will all come crashing down in Week 17. I really hope not.

Other NFL notes:

- Jim Zorn said the Redskins were 4-13 in his post-game press conference. Someone is looking ahead to the 18 game season. Washington currently sits at 4-11.

- Enough of the 'Fire Jim Caldwell' nonsense. The guy is 14-1 as a head coach. I don't necessarily agree with his decision to pull the starters (as much as it did help the Jets) but he has earned the right to make that decision.

- Did the Saints seriously lose to the Bucs at home?