Last week UK Jets published a comprehensive look at what went wrong for the Jets in 2011. This week we will take a look at some of the positives.

Most Jets fans will be eager to forget the 2011 season. This is quite understandable really; the season didn’t so much end in Miami as implode. The actions of Santonio Holmes and the revelations about locker-room chemistry created a media storm which looks to run for a few weeks yet. Sadly this was not the only disappointing moment for the 2011 Jets. This season the Jets were swept by the Patriots, “Tebowed” by the Broncos, humbled by the Giants and blown out by the Eagles.  It was also a season which lacked the emotional highs of 2009 and 2010. There were fewer last gasp comebacks and of course there was no playoff run.

But for fans to completely write off this season and forget about it would be wrong. That would overlook some of the positive things the Jets have done this season and be a disservice to the players who gave their all and had a good year. (No, not you Santonio Holmes.)

Let’s start by looking at two rookies who shone this year, Jeremy Kerley and Muhammad Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was the 30th overall pick of the 2011 draft. The 315lb defensive end out of temple formed part of a refreshed and revitalised D-line. Wilkerson’s performance was solid, he had 46 tackles and 3 sacks in 2011. Not a spectacular year by any measure, but good production from a late first rounder. Wilkerson’s most memorable moment in 2011 was a sack for a safety against Jacksonville – his first career sack. The addition of Wilkerson and the continued emergence of Sione Pouha (who followed a UK Jets award winning 2010 with another amazing year) means the Jets are set on D-line for the foreseeable future, presuming free agent Pouha re-ups with the team.

The slot wide receiver position looked like it was going to be a troublesome one for the Jets. The problems began when veteran Jet Jericho Cotchery was cut. Amid some confusion former Baltimore Raven Derrick Mason was brought in. Mason never really settled in New York and, following media reports of a wide receiver revolt against Jets offensive co-ordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Mason was traded. The Jets receiver corps was looking thin. Plaxico Buress was always expected to take a few games to get up to speed and Santonio Holmes was not having an impact. The Jets needed someone to step up to help with a failing passing game. Rookie Wide Receiver Jeremy Kerley did an admirable job stepping into the offense. He finished the season with 29 receptions for 314 yards and a touchdown. He played an important role on third downs, as well as on special teams and in running the Seminole/Wildcat/Horned Frog. Not a bad level of contribution for a 5th round pick in his rookie year. As well as showing a lot of potential for the future Kerley should be praised for continuing to work hard in an offense which it is now emerging was a difficult unit to be a part of.

Rookies weren’t the only young players on the Jets roster to give fans something to be happy about. Two second year players also made a positive impact on the team in 2011. Cornerback Kyle Wilson and running back Joe McKnight were both drafted in 2010, both struggled in the 2010 season and both took major strides forward in 2011.

Kyle Wilson was drafted with the Jets’ first round pick in 2010 amid the controversy over star corner Darrelle Revis’ contract renegotiation. He struggled to raise his game to NFL standards, even when he was moved down the depth chart following the return of Revis. His rookie season was largely disappointing, especially considering his first round status – Wilson was error prone and seemed unable to adjust to the speed and physicality of the professional game. Wilson, however, decided hard work was the way to improve his on field performances. He spent the lockout months training with and learning from Revis in Arizona, along with extensive individual work, and it has paid dividends on the field this year. Wilson has become more consistent, less error prone and had two interceptions in 2011. He has earned the praise of his teammate and mentor, Darrelle Revis: “He’s playing unbelievable for us and it’s only going to get better. He wants it. He wants to be great and he’s on the way to doing it.”

Another second year man who turned around a rather disappointing rookie year is Joe McKnight. The lasting image of McKnight’s rookie campaign is of a lazy, unfit and spoiled ex-USC star. Between stories of him throwing up at mini-camps and his poor attitude to teammates and coaches during training camp, there was talk of him being a bust. His poor performance earned the attention of one of the Jets toughest coaches, Special teams co-ordinator Mike Westhoff. Good coaching and hard work turned McKnight into a pro-bowl alternate. Westhoff moulded McKnight into a kick-returning specialist, allowing him to take over the role vacated by Brad Smith. Aside from a few worrying turnovers McKnight performed in his role admirably and the Jets continued to be a threat on special teams. In 2012 McKnight will look to become more of a feature in the run game, with his speed he will be a nice change of pace from Greene and LT.

The addition of Aaron Maybin was another bright spot for the 2011 Jets. Maybin was a complete bust for the Buffalo Bills, who drafted him with the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft. After a disappointing period in Buffalo he was waived. He was claimed by the Jets during training camp and there was some concern in the fanbase that we had signed another team’s Vernon Gholston. Maybin proved to everyone he was no Gholston in his very first game, sacking Joe Flacco. From there he didn’t look back and finished the season as the Jets team leader in sacks. For the moment it is unlikely he will be anything more than a situational pass rusher, but it is certainly very handy having a capable speedster on 3rd and long. The Jets should definitely try to bring him back in 2012 and happily he has already signalled he wants to return to Florham Park.

Following the 2011 campaign the New York Jets offense has quite rightly come in for some criticism. Offensive co-ordinator Brian Schottenheimer lost his job and quarterback Mark Sanchez is facing criticism from all angles. However when it came to playing in the red zone the Jets’ offense excelled. The Jets scored a touchdown on 65.38% of their trips to the red zone. This is the 2nd highest TD rate in the NFL. This isn’t a fluke of statistics either borne on the back of fewer attempts than other offences; the Jets had an average amount of red zone attempts per game.  A large part of the Jets success in the red zone is surely due to the organisation’s decision to hire offensive guru Tom Moore to consult on red zone offense. The addition of Plaxico Burress was also a key factor in this improvement. If the offense can maintain this efficiency moving forward the Jets will be in a good position to succeed in 2012.

I have no doubt that players mentioned in this article will have a role to play in making the team successful in 2012. In 2011 it became apparent that our last two drafts have been largely good and another strong draft in 2012 could set us up in an excellent position for the future. We also saw some improvement from our quarterback and offensive system inside the redzone, something which will hopefully be carried over into the Sparano era. 2011 will quite rightly be remembered as a disappointing year for the Jets, but hopefully lessons will be learned and in 2012 the Jets will come back stronger by building on some of the positives that certainly existed this year, despite what the doom-mongers would lead you to believe.