Anyone hoping for a training camp filled with juicy bombshells dropped as part of a contract squabble between Darrelle Revis and the Jets is going to be sorely disappointed.
Revis showed up for his physical on Thursday morning, ending speculation that he would be staging a reprise of the 2010 holdout that was one of the most entertaining HBO storylines in recent years that didn't include Larry David, Peter Dinklage or the music of New Orleans.
Revis' arrival was expected based on reports in recent days, but that doesn't mean there weren't a few sighs of relief when he opened up and said aah for Jets doctors.
Had Revis not shown up, his future would have been the biggest question hanging over the Jets as they made their way to Cortland for training camp. Now that we've crossed that off the list, we can move on to other pressing issues for the Jets to sort out if they are going to erase the lingering bad memories of last season.
Is switching to a more conservative offense actually a progressive move?
Remember the loss to the Giants on Christmas Eve last year? The one where the Jets called 63 passes on their way to a 29-14 loss that essentially nailed the coffin shut on their season?
You probably do, and you also probably remember all of the other games when the Jets tried to rely on a passing offense that was incapable of consistently moving the ball. And you definitely remember all of the defensive touchdowns that the Jets gave up because their offense couldn't hold onto the ball.
That added pressure on a defense that appeared to slip from the heights of the previous two seasons, but the reality is that almost all of the slippage was due to the offense putting the defense in adverse situations. Parting ways with Brian Schottenheimer and replacing him with the simplistic notions of Tony Sparano's ground and pound might not be exciting, but it should result in fewer moments when the Jets offense actively helps the opposition get on the scoreboard.
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That, in turn, should help the defense put forth the kind of performances that built its reputation in Rex Ryan's first two seasons. It won't guarantee a more productive offense, but it should mean closer, low-scoring games and that's a formula that the Jets liked quite a bit in 2009 and 2010.
Are the Jets serious about their Tim Tebow plans?
Backup quarterback, red zone quarterback, read option quarterback, personal protector on the punt team, member of kickoff coverage team and occasional kickoff returner. These are the jobs that the Jets have hinted or outright proclaimed Tebow will be filling during the 2010 season.
Honestly, the only one that doesn't fit is backup quarterback. If the Jets see Tebow as an intriguing football player that can help the team in a variety of ways, all of the other jobs make perfect sense. Risking injury to your backup quarterback and leaving yourself with no option in case Mark Sanchez flames out again makes no sense, which, for better or worse, means the Jets' decision-making process is operating according to specifications.
What about the quarterback controversy?
The Jets have claimed over and over again that no such controversy exists, but words aren't going to do the trick unless they have someone capable of Jedi mind tricks. The proof will only come if Sanchez is able to play well enough to quiet any thoughts of going all Tebow all the time.
There's reason to believe the simplified offense is Sanchez's best chance of making that happen. The less he has to do, the more successful he tends to be and Schottenheimer's complex system certainly got the best of Sanchez last season.
Have the Jets filled their biggest holes?
In a perfect world, the answer is yes. The jury's still out in the real world, though.
LaRon Landry and Jeff Otah would be huge upgrades at safety and right tackle, but neither player was healthy last season and neither one is healthy enough to practice when camp officially gets going on Saturday. If they can't answer the bell, the Jets will turn back to Eric Smith and Wayne Hunter and that's as guaranteed to flop as a soccer player receiving minimal contact.
What rookies are worth watching?
First-round pick Quinton Coples will start at defensive end and the Jets need him and second-year end Muhammed Wilkerson to put a few more teeth into a front seven that didn't generate nearly enough danger for offenses last year. Second-round pick Stephen Hill is the only deep threat in sight and the only non-Santonio Holmes wideout who looks like he could have a serious impact on the offense.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City. You can follow him on Twitter and he is also a contributor to Pro Football Talk.
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