After just one preseason game, many around the NFL are already convinced that the New York Jets are equipped with the receiving group.
The world has officially entered The Twilight Zone. Yes, that Twilight Zone, the brainchild of Emmy Award winner Rod Serling that featured one crazy story after another.Stuff is happening in this world. Stuff that you’d never think was possible. The name of Donald Trump could potentially take the throne as POTUS; riots and murders are going down simply to prove a point; and Bruce Jenner is no longer Bruce Jenner (the name). (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
As nutty as those examples are, however, there’s one aspect of this world that’s actually backing The Twilight Zone point more than anything else.
The New York Jets are loaded at the wide receiver position.
The team who hadn’t been able to find a playmaking receiver since Keyshawn Johnson and drafted Stephen Hill in the second round the NFL Draft, is, currently, quite healthy out wide.
Actually, some might say they’re more loaded than any other team across the land.
Like previously mentioned, we have now entered “The Twilight Zone.”
Join us as we move through the personalities who make up the deepest receiving group in the league and why it’s the case.
Begin Slideshow
The Top Two Dogs
We know about Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. These two studs are coming off of the organization’s best one-two WR punch in history. B-Marsh put up insane stats Jets fans could only prior dream of, while E-Deck backed him up with over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns himself.
The overall pedigree and performance of a season ago speaks for itself.
Forget the studs, though. Instead, focus on what’s behind them. This is what makes the Jets WR group the deepest in the league.
Next: Hybrid Time
Quincy Enunwa
Quincy Enunwa is a special player. While his stat-line from a season ago wouldn’t drive that point home (22 receptions and 315 yards), what he brings from a matchup standpoint creates unique offensive principles.
Enunwa’s 6’2”, 225 lbs. frame puts him in the conversation of a hybrid tight-end/wide receiver. What really cements his role is how established a blocker he is. Chan Gailey is afforded the right to line Enunwa up anywhere on the field and expect dominant blocking. This is a big and often overlooked deal when receivers are being bandied about.
Already, as seen on Thursday, Enunwa is paying dividends playing the Y out of Gailey’s spread:
Granted, the Jags linebackers did a terrible job getting depth while in zone, on both plays, but Enunwa can really move at that big frame.
This “most improved stuff” we’re hearing about could be the real deal in 2016.
Next: Explosion Anybody?
Jalin Marshall
For months we heard about Jalin Marshall. We heard about how the undrafted running back/wide receiver hybrid out of Ohio State had such a chip on his shoulder that he was tearing up New York Jets minicamp.
And then, we saw him in Week 1 of the preseason.
The hype is real ladies and gentlemen. While his 40-speed will never be what NFL execs would like to see it at (4.6+), Marshall’s vision and explosiveness is real.
He showcased it on the kick return:
Barring any unforeseen disasters, J-Marsh has already made the squad as a return guy. What’s best is how Gailey and the Jets are also using him offensively.
He caught a 10-yard ball from Geno Smith while playing with the second unit. He was also subbed in as a the fourth option with the first unit while the big boys are on the field.
Marshall’s hype is legit my friends, and the Jets love him. Like Enunwa, he’s going to bring absurd uniqueness to this offense.
Next: Another Rookie
Charone Peake
The seventh-rounder out of Clemson was receiving a tad too much hype upon his arrival to Florham Park, NJ. I mean let’s be honest, “How often do seventh-round wide outs excel at the next level?”
Equipping the hype makers with credence was his first taste of actual NFL action.
Peake was the lone Jets weapon to catch a touchdown against the Jags last Thursday. It came on a 3rd-and-9 late in the first half that followed J.Marshall’s explosive 84-yard kick return:
The route was a basic one and Geno delivered a perfectly placed ball, but Peake did a tremendous job back shoulder while getting both feet in bounds.
This kid could be the goods and he’s only the Jets fifth option.
Next: Plenty More
Devin Smith & The Rest
Even after five wide receivers, New York has more to offer.
Remember Devin Smith? He’s the speed burner out of Ohio State who tore his knee up a season ago. This kid’s the lone weapon on the offense who runs a scary straight line time and could add an absurd level of value to this rather slow-footed group.
When he gets back, Fitzpatrick will be surrounded with yet another needed element in making this group scary good.
Then there’s Jeremy Ross, Kenbrell Thompkins and Robbie Anderson. Ross and Thompkins, especially, are two solid vets who can easily hold down No. 4 or 5 jobs for many teams in the league.
Next: Conclusion
Final Analysis
So, if not the New York Jets, then who? Who in the NFL has the deepest receiver grouping?
There are other candidates.
The Pittsburgh Steelers would most definitely be in the running if stud Martavis Bryant wasn’t a bonehead off the field. Antonio Brown could be the best in the league, and Markus Weaton is solid, but the rest just doesn’t match up with what the Jets have.
The Houston Texans have a solid top three in DeAndre Hopkins, Cecil Shorts III and Jaelen Strong. The Atlanta Falcons top duo of Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu is strong.
The Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and even the New York Giants are among the elite as well.
Through it all though, considering stud presence and depth from top to bottom, the New York Jets, yes, the New York Jets, have the deepest receiving grouping in the National Football League.
Never has a Twilight Zone episode been so screwed up.
Just beat the damn Patriots. Made that damn division a race!