How good is Jerricho Cotchery?

Jerricho Cotchery is not a speed burner, but he's not really slow either. He's tough, actually tough as nails. Standing 6-0, he's not particularly tall yet you also wouldn't call him undersized. You would call him good, but how good? A question many Jets fans may have to ask themselves with the latest offseason development.

2007 was a career year for the physical wideout from North Carolina State. He once again did what he does best, being a tough possession receiver and racking up big numbers after the catch. He matched his career high in receptions from the year before (82) and he collected a personal best 1130 receiving yards. That places him 16th among NFL mide receivers and actually fits right in with what many people think about the 25-year old. He is a great number two receiver, but a number one? Ehhh... now I wouldn't really disagree with that notion as Cotchery surely lacks some things to be a true elite receiver in the NFL. We are talking TO, Moss or Larry Fitzgerald type here. Because outside of these guys, "Cotch" has to fear no comparison around the league.

If we take another look at his stats we see he actually only played 15 games last season. If we assume that he would have gotten his yard average in his only missed game against Miami, then his rank among the NFL receiving corps looks a lot more impressive all of a sudden. Adding an average of 75 yards to Cotchery's total of 1130 would give him 1205 for the season. I know, I know, I'm playing with a lot of numbers and speculation here but hey, how unrealistic would it be that Cotchery catches balls for 75 yards against the oh so great Dolphins?! Anyways, back to the numbers game. With 1205 receiving yards Cotchery would suddenly rank 8th in the entire NFL. The guys in front of him? Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall and Braylon Edwards. Pretty good group if you ask me. And right behind them... the underappreciated Jerricho Cotchery from the New York Jets. Yes, from the same Jets team that started the season with Chad Pennington at quarterback. A guy who was lucky that the wind didn't carry his passes backwards. And yes, also the same Jets who replaced Pennington with first year quarterback Kellen Clemens who was just getting used to the league.

Ok, let's see, what else can we take into consideration when we want to judge Mr Cotchery... ahh of course, the wideout next to him: Laveranues Coles. In the four games without Coles, who is widely regarded as the Jets' main receiver, Cotchery upped his average to 81 yards per game. He surely missed his buddy! Maybe he will miss even more as the Jets and Coles are in the middle of some heated contract talks and rumors has it that Coles is even considering sitting out some time for not getting a new deal. That would leave the Jets pretty thin at wide receiver with... yes, only Jerricho Cotchery! New York will likely add a rookie or two, but can you count on these guys?! Who knows. But after a terrific season last year the Jets know one thing. No, not only that the Patriots can't get Cotchery's knee to the ground (what a play that was). No, the Jets also know that they got one hell of a receiver in Jerricho Cotchery. Number one, two or ten.... it doesn't matter, this guy is one hell of a football player!