New York Jets 2015 Training Camp Profile: Jace Amaro

As the New York Jets look to improve upon their miserable 4-12 season last year, one area that will need to undergo a dramatic transformation is their passing offense. In 2014, the Jets combined to score a meager 16 receiving touchdowns, 3rd worst in the league.

The much heralded arrival of wide receiver Brandon Marshall should have a immediate impact on the passing game. If he is able to stay healthy and develop chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith and fellow wide receiver Eric Decker, the Jets may have their first competent passing offense in years.

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While he has not received nearly as much attention as Smith, Marshall, or Decker, another vital piece of the Jets’ offense this upcoming season is tight end Jace Amaro.

A 2014 second round pick out of Texas Tech, Amaro developed into an elite receiving threat throughout his college career. Take a look at his stats from Pro Football Reference:

His rookie numbers in the NFL are a bit more modest: 38 receptions for 345 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. However, there are multiple reasons to expect that Amaro will take a big leap forward this year.

First, the Jets’ quarterback situation should be significantly better this season. Smith has another year of experience under his belt and a solid receiving corps. On the chance that Smith continues to struggle, Ryan Fitzpatrick will serve as an adequate replacement.

Additionally, the Jets, upon the hiring of Chan Gailey as their new offensive coordinator, will be running a new spread offense. This pass heavy approach spreads out multiple receivers and should result in a noticeable stats boost for Jets pass catchers.

Sep 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro (88) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, having a season of NFL experience under his belt already, it should open the door for Amaro to have a solid season. Although there are always Odell Beckham type players that take the league by storm from the very beginning, the majority of players require time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

Going into training camp, expect Amaro to continue to develop into a solid starting tight end. Because the Jets now have a plethora of talented receiving options, Amaro may not put up flashy fantasy numbers. However, a respectable season of 500-600 receiving yards and about 6 touchdowns is a reasonable expectation.

No one will ever confuse the 2015 Jets’ offense with that of Kurt Warner‘s St. Louis Rams, but if Amaro can provide Smith with another top red-zone target, it may become respectable again.

Next: Geno Smith: 5 reasons why he might fail in 2015

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