New York Jets: Can Chris Owusu replace Devin Smith?

Due to the rib injury that will keep second-round pick of the New York Jets Devin Smith sidelined for 4-6 weeks, Chris Owusu will be the next man up to take over the role as the No. 4 wide receiver on the depth chart. Smith took a big hit from safety Jaiquawn Jarrett on a pass over the middle and actually punctured a lung on the play as well. With that being said, Owusu may be seeing a good deal of playing time to begin the year as Smith recovers. The Stanford alumni will be looking to build off of his impressive conclusion to the 2014 season.

More from Jets News

In the Week 17 finale against the Miami Dolphins, Owusu had 146 all-purpose yards to help lead the Jets to a 37-24 win. He hauled in a 36-yard catch, ripped an 87-yard kick return and took a 23-yard reverse to the house for his second career touchdown.

If Gang Green had noticed his talent sooner, they might have had more production from the offense earlier in the season. Instead, he only contributed in the final four games.

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Chris Owusu (14) makes a catch in front of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson (21) during the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

What gives him a shot to fill Smith’s shoes is his blazing speed that makes him easily one of the fastest players on the team. Him and fellow wide receiver Saalim Hakim may be New York’s two best options as far as return men go. Owusu without a doubt has the experience and skill that it takes to return kicks in the NFL. It’s a shame the Jets took the entire season to put him back there.

In his four years at Stanford, Owusu returned 80 kicks for a total of 2,132 yards to go along with 3 touchdowns. All three of those touchdowns and almost 1,200 yards actually came in his sophomore season. With Kerley already a proven veteran to return punts, the Jets don’t need any help in that area. Although, if Gailey plans on using Kerley a lot while Smith is out, Owusu could end up being the temporary punt returner. This is because Kerley might get overworked in that particular case. Roles as both the kick and punt returner would not be bad for Owusu given his athletic ability and breakaway speed. The only question is if he can produce in Gailey’s spread offense.

As the No. 4 receiver to begin the season, Owusu will be doing most of his work out of the slot. Gailey likes to get creative in his 3 and 4-WR approaches, so expect Owusu to be used in situations where he can showcase his speed. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Gailey’s offense from 2010-12 ranked #1 amongst the league in 4-WR sets.

Owusu should be isolated in many one-on-one coverages when he’s on the field, therefore all it takes is a little separation for him to take the top off a defense. Not only is he ridiculously fast, but he has hops too. In terms of tracking down a deep ball, he has the potential to be just as effective as Smith with how high he can jump. Speed and good leaping ability is a scary combination for defenses facing a vertical threat like Owusu.

Overall, this is Owusu’s job to take. The only players realistically competing with him for the spot are T.J. Graham, DeVier Posey, and Shaq Evans. Walter Powell, Quincy Ewunwa, Jonathon Rumph and Austin Hill are long shots to make the final roster while Hakim is pretty much a return specialist. If Owusu can show he’s capable of making plays down the field, he may be Gang Green’s unsung hero to kickoff the new year.

Next: New York Jets: Who will standout at WR?

More from The Jet Press

Home/Jets News