Jets Takeoff

When: Today at 1 p.m. (Ch. 2,3)

Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

Line: Texans by 4.5

What to expect from the Jets: The Jets will try to establish the run in an attempt to take some of the pressure off of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is the first rookie to start at QB for the Jets since 1960. He is the first rookie quarterback since 1985 to start for a team that had a winning record the previous season. And teams are 8-19 over the last three seasons when their quarterback is making his first start. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington will get plenty of touches. When Sanchez does throw, expect high-percentage passes. Defensively, the Jets are without Calvin Pace and Shaun Ellis, and all eyes will be on second-year linebacker Vernon Gholston. Despite being one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Darrelle Revis will have his work cut out for him going up against Andre Johnson, who had 115 catches a year ago.

What to expect from the Texans: Houston is 12-4 at home over the last two years andthey have their eyes on the playoffs. Quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Steve Slaton, and wide receiver Andre Johnson comprise a potent Texans’ offense. Schaub will start despite an ankle injury. The Texans are strong defensively, led by DE Mario Williams, who has 26 sacks the past two seasons. Expect Houston to come after Sanchez much like the Ravens did in the second game of the preseason.

Prediction: Week 1 games are always difficult to predict. Factor in a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach and it becomes that much more difficult. The Texans are strong at home and look poised to contend for a playoff spot this year. The Jets are missing two key defenders and questions still remain at wide receiver. Sanchez should do enough to give Jets’ fans hope, but this is a tough spot for Gang Green. Texans 20, Jets 16

The New York Jets open the 2009 season today in Houston, and here are the key storylines heading in:

Mark Sanchez: All eyes are on Mark Sanchez, who will become the Jets’ first rookie starting quarterback in 492 games. After starting just 16 games at USC, Sanchez is front and center, having beaten out Kellen Clemens for the starting job after just one preseason game. The Jets’ gameplan is simple: Run the football and play defense, thus taking some of the pressure off of the rookie quarterback. But the pressure will come from opposing defenses, much like the Ravens showed in Sanchez’s first start of the preseason. All first-year quarterbacks experience ups and downs, even the ones who go on to hall of fame careers. Sanchez looks like the type of kid who has the mental strength to make it through an NFL initiation. Today, we’ll begin to find out just how poised and ready he is.

Wide Receivers: Jerricho Cotchery is a given, but everyone else is a question. Laveranues Coles is gone. Though the Jets plan to be a running team, Sanchez must have targets to throw to. And as good as Cotchery is (71 receptions last season) other receivers must emerge or the Jets will struggle on offense. Chansi Stuckey and David Clowney are being counted on as complements to Cotchery. At least one must emerge as a viable target or Cotchery could have trouble getting open and the Jets will become too predictable on offense. Tight end Dustin Keller will be another interesting target to watch.

Running Backs: This is a huge strength. Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Shonn Greene comprise one of the deepest backfields in the NFL. The Jets will try to establish the run, and assuming the offensive line lives up to expectations, they should find success. The key: Get the ball in Washington’s hands as much as possible. The Jets talk about 300 touches for the all-purpose back. That should be music to Jets’ fans ears as he’s one of the most dynamic players in the game.

Defense: The Jets have the pieces on defense, even with the suspensions of Calvin Pace and Shaun Ellis. Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes are as good as they come in the secondary and the addition of Bart Scott was one of the best Jets’ free agent signings in recent years. Ryan is a defensive guy who built a great one in Baltimore. When at full strength, the defense should be the strength of this team. Perhaps the most interesting player to watch will be Vernon Gholston, who must prove he was worthy of being the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Special Teams: The punting situation is a concern as the Jets have moved guys in and out at a rapid pace leading up to the opener… Washington is one of the most valuable players in football… Every time he returns a kick or punt the Jets will expect big things… Jay Feely is a solid kicker… Expect the Jets’ special teams coverage to be good.

Head Coach: Rex Ryan is a rookie head coach and that poses serious questions as well. His performance, much like Sanchez, will be evaluated week to week. His father, Buddy, said this when Rex got the Jets job: “Don’t mess this up. That’s my team.” Jets’ fans shouldn’t expect Ryan to “mess this up.” Ryan has the energy and enthusiasm that you like to see from your head coach. He proved to be a great defensive coach with the Ravens. The stage is much bigger now that he’s the head coach of the New York Jets. Ryan has talked tough since getting the job. Today in Houston it’s time to start backing that up.

Jets Takeoff is taking off! Welcome to all readers.

I guess the best place to start is to explain why I’m here writing about the New York Jets, and what type of coverage, commentary, and posts readers can expect on this blog.

The story of how I became a Jets fan is this: The first thing I remember about football at a young age was owning a Tony Dorsett jersey. My favorite player was Danny White. My favorite uniform was silver, blue, and white with a star on the helmet. Only one problem: The Dallas Cowboys weren’t on television every week. I certainly wasn’t going to root for the Giants. And there was something special about Ken O’Brien, Al Toon, and Freeman McNeil that led me to the Jets during my early years. The Jets were the team I could watch every week, and that’s exactly what they became. Long before Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys and fired Tom Landry, it was J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets for me.

So I grew up with Joe Walton and eventually Bruce Coslet and Pete Carroll. I followed the tenure of Rich “I have no answers” Kotite. Kotite was right, he didn’t have any answers and after two seasons he didn’t have a job. I was in college when the Jets allowed Bill Parcells to shop for the groceries and he restored credibility to an organization desperate for it. And I watched every week as Al Groh kept the Jets mediocre for one season before resigning and heading to Virginia. And then there was Herm “You play to win the game” Edwards who, “Hello,” didn’t win enough games. In came Eric Mangini and so did one year of the playoffs, then two disappointing years to follow and he was out the door like so many Jets coaches in the past. The point is I’ve been wearing green since I can remember. The green of James Hasty, of Blair Thomas, of Rob Moore, of Johnny Mitchell, of Boomer Esiason, and countless others who didn’t win a lot of games but who were all winners to me. They were Jets. And so were Keyshawn Johnson and Curtis Martin and Chad Pennington. They did win some football games and gave Jets fans hope and some Sundays to remember. Today, at 33, I have the jerseys and the sweatshirts and the hats and I never miss a game. Sundays are spent with the Jets.

Now, I get to write about Rex’s Jets, report on the development of Mark Sanchez (and Jets fans better hope he develops), and watch as a first-year head coach navigates his way through an unforgiving league. Will the Jets be able to replicate the defense Ryan built in Baltimore? Will a wide receiver emerge along with Jerricho Cotchery to provide Sanchez with a consistent target? Will the offensive line keep the rookie on his feet? How great will Leon Washington be now that he’s looking for the type of money great players receive? These are just some of the questions heading into the season, and in two days we’ll begin to find out the answers. Jets Takeoff will be here every step of the way. I hope you’ll be here with me.

I’m truly honored to be writing for such a respected news organization, and I’m excited about being able to write about the New York Jets. I hope readers will gain insight and perspective from my posts, and I look forward to interacting with Jets fans as we watch our team play each week. So welcome to the site. I hope you come back often.

Jets Takeoff is ready for takeoff!