Ron Borges

The Jets are a team facing a massive rebuilding process after slipping to 4-12 last season, and it will all start with the shoulder of quarterback Chad Pennington.

Rookie coach Eric Mangini finally announced the obvious after the third exhibition game and officially named Pennington the starting quarterback. But he has had his shoulder surgically repaired twice in the past two years, and that is a concern that will not go away simply because he threw accurately and made good decisions in exhibitions. There was a time not so many years ago when Pennington was among the most efficient young quarterbacks in the NFL. Although he lacked superior arm strength, he made up for it with sound decision making and accurate throwing. He can still do those things if he can stay in one piece, which will remain the subtext of much of this season.

Pennington had enough left in his arm to win the job in part because backup Patrick Ramsey failed to show he has been broken of his habit of ignoring both his secondary receivers and oncoming pass rushers.

Unfortunately for the Jets, the running back situation is worse than ever because Curtis Martin opens the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he's out for at least six games if not, in the end, gone for good.

The Jets addressed that the best they could by acquiring Kevan Barlow from the 49ers. He's better than what they had, but he's no Martin. A year ago, Barlow averaged 3.3 yards a carry for the 49ers, and that he's considered an upgade over Derrick Blaylock and Cedric Houston says more about them than him.

The offensive line will start two rookies, No. 1 picks D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, at left tackle and center, and veteran Trey Teague will provide depth at both positions. Ferguson probably will have some growing pains, yet they still should be better than what was in front of Pennington a year ago. So it's an upgraded, although not yet polished, group that should be better by the end of the season.

Defensively, the biggest change is that Mangini wants the Jets to play a 3-4 even though their personnel made clear it is better-suited for the 4-3. How much of a problem this causes the Jets' defense, which was 12th in the league overall last season but a porous 29th against the run (136.6 yards a game), remains a subject of debate. Mangini seems stuck on running the principles of the defense he learned at the feet of Bill Belichick despite the fact he has no true nose tackle, which is essential in the 3-4. Dewayne Robertson is being asked to play the position, but he lacks the ideal wide body or the inclination to play that most unselfish of positions.

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In the 3-4 they also are forced to go with an undersized inside linebacker in Jonathan Vilma, who seems best suited to play the more traditional middle linebacker position in a 4-3. Vilma was one of the few bright spots on the Jets last season, but at 230 pounds he lacks the size to take on 300-pound guards play after play as an inside linebacker. He was much more successful the past two years using his speed because he was protected by two tackles who allowed him to run and make plays. If Vilma can't make plays this season, who will on defense?

Hot seat
Brian Schottenheimer. The Jets' new offensive coordinator has never called a play as a coach on any level of football, including high school. Now he inherits an offense with a question mark at quarterback, a subpar running game and an offensive unit that a year ago was 29th in the league in scoring, barely averaging two touchdowns per game. There will be many eyes in New York on Schottenheimer, who came to the Jets after serving as quarterbacks coach in San Diego under his father, Marty.

Overheard
The Jets finished last in the NFL a year ago in time of possession. Mangini knows for his team to have any chance of improving, that has to change. To do that he has to develop a running game even without a great back. That's where he has to hope his rookie linemen come through because if they don't, they won't hold the ball for long.

Outlook
If the Jets were a stock, you'd sell them short. Patience will be required to get this job done, because the Jets have slipped considerably. Young GM Mike Tannenbaum showed the resolve necessary to get this job done in his first draft when he rejected the temptation to go after a big-name quarterback. He instead grabbed Ferguson to anchor his line, then came back at the end of the round and got another offensive lineman rather than trying to do something more dramatic. Good start to a long season.

Prediction
Third.

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