Top 3 players who must shine vs Jacksonville

Nov 8, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the second half of the NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Jets won, 28-23. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets will be facing the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight in their first preseason game of the year. These top three players must shine if they are to remain on the roster for 2016.

Football is back. Tonight, the New York Jets will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first tune-up game of the 2016 season. You could say that both teams exceeded expectations in 2015 and as a result, they were an attractive destination for many free agents this past March.

Gang Green lost Damon Harrison, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Chris Ivory and Demario Davis to name a few, although they hauled in several big name guys to make up for the departures. You can expect newbies Steve McLendon, Ryan Clady, Matt Forte and Jarvis Jenkins to step in and make an impact immediately. Rookies Darron Lee and Jordan Jenkins will look sharp this upcoming year as well.

The Jaguars parted ways with Clay Harbor, Stefen Wisniewski, Andre Branch and Sam Young, but they upgraded superbly. They added Ivory, Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Kelvin Beachum, Prince Amukamara and a handful of other free agents in hope to finally pull themselves out of the muck. Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack are two tremendous first-round caliber picks who make that defense even scarier than it already is. Don’t forget about Dante Fowler either.

The Jets have their stars ready to hit the field, however there are a number of players who have no other choice but to turn heads this preseason. If they fail to produce, general manager Mike Maccagnan will not be afraid to give them the axe when September hits. Without further ado, here are the top three players who must stand out in game one.

Next: 3. A tight end looking for redemption

3. Tight End Jace Amaro

Jace Amaro is one of those guys who has to show up, despite the limited role he may receive in the offense. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, he seems to be coming along. The Texas Tech product suffered a shoulder injury which ended his 2015 campaign in training camp, so he’s looking to bounce back in a huge way.

The last time he hit the field was in his first season and he didn’t look bad one bit. Especially given how horrible the team was at the quarterback position that year. Amaro finished 2014 with 38 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns sharing reps with Jeff Cumberland. In the red-zone was where he did most of his damage.

Even though offensive coordinator Chan Gailey utilizes the tight end minimally, this is a game where he should test the waters with the group. Amaro was a second-rounder and it’d be devastating to let him go to waste so soon. He deserves a lot of playing time against the Jaguars and he needs to excel.

Next: 2. A cornerback defined by injuries

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) catches a 33 yard pass with New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner (27) defending during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

2. Cornerback Dee Milliner

New York has their fair share of cornerbacks, although Dee Milliner is the one with the most weight on his shoulders. The former 2013 first-round selection needs to show head coach Todd Bowles that he can produce and most importantly, he needs to show the staff that he can stay on the field. Milliner hasn’t played a significant amount of snaps since 2014 and it’s time to find out what he can truly do.

In his rookie year, he had his ups and downs without a doubt. He got off to an extremely slow start however, he finished strong with three interceptions in the last two contests. In the Week 16 outing, he contained the red-hot Josh Gordon and in the following week he kept the Miami Dolphins out of the NFL Playoffs.

Gang Green would be smart to rest Darrelle Revis and make Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, and Milliner the primary cornerbacks for the night. The Alabama product desperately needs experience and Jacksonville’s pass-happy offense might be exactly what can kick-start his return. He’s the player to watch on the Jets’ defense tonight.

Next: 1. A quarterback with everything to prove

Nov 1, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw a pass against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Jets 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Geno Smith

This game is meaningless for the most part, but not for quarterback Geno Smith. The West Virginia graduate is clearly on the hot seat and these could very well be his final four games in green and white. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is back, Christian Hackenberg isn’t going anywhere, and it’s highly unlikely the Jets move on from Bryce Petty after one season.

There’s always a chance New York keeps four quarterbacks, although four is a lot of roster spots dedicated to a position that can survive with two. Smith simply just has to prove he still belongs on this team. In three years, he’s racked up 5,836 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. He poses a threat on the ground with his 638 yards and seven touchdowns, however the turnovers are too difficult to overlook.

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The Jaguars’ defense is as young as can be, so Smith will have his opportunity to light it up. He won’t have Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker to target, but other weapons will be there for sure. Amaro, Kenbrell Thompkins, Quincy Enunwa and Bilal Powell are guys who won’t let him down in terms of trying to impress Maccagnan. It’s time for Smith to show he’s not a quitter.

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