The Wide Receiver Cannundrum

February 25, 2009, the Jets decided to part ways with eight-year, veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles and the obvious question that Jet fans raised was, quite simply: Why? The man consistently put up solid numbers when the ball was thrown his way and was one of the premier posession receivers in the league. Yes, his production slumped slightly since 2006, where he put up over 1,000 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes, but he was still a consistent target and threat that opposing defenses had to account for. The one, two punch of Coles and Cotchery was a very formidable receiving tandem, so why break it up when you don't have what one would call depth at the wide receiver position. The obvious assumption Jet fans made was that the team would find Coles' replacement in free agency or by way of trade in the form of either: Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin, or Braylon Edwards. However, the Jets have yet to make a move for a wide receiver, which leads one to believe that the team will address the issue by means of the draft, all indications are that the Jets will use the 17th overall pick on a wide receiver, potentially someone along the lines of Percy Harvin out of Florida or Hakeem Nicks, the talented play-maker out of the University of North Carolina. Currently, the Jets are lacking a receiver with real big play ability, aside from Cotchery the other slots are question marks. Right now, going into the 2009 season the wide receiving corps looks like this: Jericho Cotchery in the number one slot and a combination of Brad Smtih, Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, and possibly Marcus Henry, who was a second day pick in last year's draft. The lack of talent at wide receiver could prove to be a real detriment to the offense, considering that the team is still devoid of a quarterback, which will in turn cause opposing defenses to completely disregard the Jets passing game, or lack there of and stack the box and show alot of 8 man fronts in order to stop the two headed rushing threat of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. If things don't change in a hurry, this year's offense will make last year's week 13-17 offense look like the 2007 Patriots. Personally, I don't see why the team did not make a move for Torry Holt, he has proved he still can play and will come at a reduced price because of his age, he would provide that "homerun" threat the Jets are searching for. One receiver the Jets should have on their radar is Ramses Barden, a 6"6, 228 pound Senior out of Cal Polytech, he would be a great late round pick and has the potential to mature into a Plaxico Burress type player, (minus the shooting himself in the leg part). No one is quite sure what the Jets will do to address the wide receiver vacancy but one thing is certain, they better do something soon or we could be looking at a miserable 2009 season.