2001 JETS
	Vinny Testaverde threw 25 interceptions last season.
	Head coach: Herman Edwards (1st year). 2000 record: 9-7. AFC East finish: 3rd. 2001 preseason: 2-1. Season opener: Sept. 9 vs. Colts. Schedule | Depth chart

The Herman Edwards Jets are a much-needed fresh start in search of a better finish.

With a new head coach, general manager, West Coast offense and Buccaneers-style defense and special-teams system, there is so much new that it is only natural to expect the Jets will suffer early growing pains.

That is why the most critical game the Jets will play this season is their Sept. 9 season opener at home against the Colts.

Win the game against the Colts' vaunted Three Horsemen of Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison, and the Jets will have a positive feeling from the get-go. Win that game, and the early training-camp losses of their best run stuffer, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson (shoulder) for the season, and rookie wide receiver Santana Moss (knee) until midseason, won't seem so damaging.

By beating the Colts, the Jets will have begun to validate the championship belief Edwards has preached daily with evangelical fervor.

"No one in this room has a trophy for the Jets from last year," Edwards told his team early in training camp. "That's what you play for, to become a world champion. The bottom line is, you've got to really, really believe and trust each other."

His players believe that the dynamic Edwards, 47, was the right coach at the right time to mentally and physically restore a team that was run down by the hard-driving Al Groh, who left abruptly last Dec. 30 to take over as coach at his alma matter, the University of Virginia.

Players blamed Groh for working them so relentlessly last year that they ran out of gas in losing their final three games to fall just short of the playoffs.

Now the players have a coach they like, the belief in themselves and the talent. The question is, can they compensate for the expected early growing pains?

Offense
Quarterbacks: Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington give the Jets an ideal tandem -- a savvy, 37-year-old veteran helping groom a 25-year-old quarterback of the not-too-distant future. Testaverde is entrenched as the present. Pennington remains an improving work in progress. Testaverde has impressed with his Lance Armstrong-like work ethic this offseason. In order to adapt to offensive coordinator Paul Hackett's version of the West Coast offense, Testaverde moved his family from Tampa, Fla., to Long Island so he could be a fixture at the team's complex during the offseason. West Coast authority and 49ers special consultant Bill Walsh believes Hackett will help Testaverde recapture his 1998 Pro Bowl form and distance himself from last year's league-worst 25-interception nightmare. Testaverde reported to camp 10 pounds lighter and is primed by the arrival of tall target Matthew Hatchette, along with the second-year progress of Laveranues Coles. Pennington has the new system down mentally. It is just a matter of relaxing and letting his athletic ability take over. Punter Tom Tupa will serve as the third quarterback, with rookie Tory Woodbury likely destined for practice-squad development.
Grade: B-plus.

Running backs: Curtis Martin is an unstoppable force of will who hopes to improve with the addition of a complement in rookie LaMont Jordan, the team's second-round pick from Maryland. Fullback Richie Anderson went to the Pro Bowl last season after leading the team with 88 receptions. Anderson and Jordan will get a fair number of carries to keep Martin fresh for December and January.
Grade: B-plus.

Receivers: Wayne Chrebet finally has some help. With the arrival of Hatchette and the development of Coles, Chrebet should be more dangerous as a receiver who can mine the middle of the field and exploit mismatches. Coles will give the Jets the vertical speed they'll miss until Moss returns from arthroscopic knee surgery. Hatchette has the size (6-3) imperative for the slant patterns of the West Coast offense, and Windrell Hayes and Kevin Swayne give the Jets excellent depth. Much of the success of the West Coast offense depends on second-year tight end Anthony Becht emerging as a featured weapon. Becht still needs to improve his run blocking, which became more of a glaring weakness following the preseason loss of Jake Moreland to a sprained knee. Scott Slutzker and James Dearth provide decent depth at tight end.
Grade: C-plus.

		The Jets need a great season from Vinny Testaverde. They have the receivers now with Wayne Chrebet, Laveranues Coles, Matthew Hatchette and rookie Santana Moss. Curtis Martin is one of the league's best running backs. I like receiver Kevin Swayne out of the Arena Football League as well. The offensive line is older, anchored by center Kevin Mawae. They have all the tools, but it all depends how Testaverde. He ruptured his Achilles two years ago and then struggled last year without Keyshawn Johnson. But he has some weapons now. The Jets have everything in place and pretty good defense. If he plays very well like he did three years, the Jets will be great.

Offensive linemen: The Jets have a talented, athletic group of linemen who are entering their third season together. No offensive line protected its quarterback better than the Jets did Testaverde last season, allowing just one sack for every 46 dropbacks. But the ground game struggled down the stretch. Martin managed only 110 rushing yards in his final three games. The plan is to pump up the rushing attack this season. Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae gives the Jets fullback-type quickness off the ball as the line's anchor, and offensive tackles Jason Fabini and Ryan Young have outstanding technique and strength. Offensive guards Randy Thomas and Kerry Jenkins are quick enough to fire out and block downfield, allowing Martin the proper cut-back lanes. J.P. Machado, David Loverne, rookie Kareem McKenzie and the possible return of veteran offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott provide the Jets good depth.
Grade: B-plus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: The pass rush is a strength. The run defense is a big question mark. Second-year defensive end John Abraham has Jevon Kearse-like speed off the edge, and if he starts getting chipped by running backs, look for second-year defensive tackle Shaun Ellis or fourth-year defensive end Eric Ogbogu to benefit. The loss of Ferguson is a huge blow and puts more pressure on the inexperienced Ellis and fellow defensive tackles Maurice Anderson, Jason Wiltz and rookie James Reed. Rick Lyle and Shane Burton offer proven defensive end depth.
Grade: C-plus.

Linebackers: Pro Bowler Mo Lewis is the defensive soul of the Jets at one outside linebacker spot. Middle linebacker Marvin Jones has shed 10 pounds to help his pursuit, and James Farrior and James Darling make a strong weak-side rotation. Courtney Ledyard is a hard-hitting special-teamer.
Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: The acquisition of former Buccaneers free safety Damien Robinson solidified what was the defense's weakest link last season. Robinson teams with strong safety Victor Green to form an intimidating, hard-hitting tandem backing shutdown cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman. Ray Mickens is one of the league's best nickel men, while Nick Ferguson and Chris Hayes also will see playing time.
Grade: B-plus.

Special teams
This is where the Jets will miss Moss most, considering that his explosive speed was expected to vastly upgrade the league's 27th-ranked punt return game. The Jets acquired Chad Morton from the Saints to return kickoffs and punts and help as a third-down back. Tupa is a top-notch punter, and John Hall has shown every sign of rebounding from last year's erratic season, when he missed a league-worst 11 field-goal attempts. Coles and Jordan will handle kick return duties.
Grade: B.

Jim Corbett covers the Jets for Gannett Suburban Newspapers in New York.

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