NFL

Jets still face questions as regular season approaches

The preseason is mercifully over and now the Jets can shift into preparation mode for the regular season, which opens Sept. 7 against the Raiders at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets began training camp five weeks ago with plenty of questions. Let’s take a look at how those questions were answered during camp and the four preseason games:

1. Is Geno Smith better and can he hold off Michael Vick?

A quarterback competition never developed in Cortland as Smith never stumbled to open the door for Vick.

Smith had a strong training camp. He looked more confident and showed a greater command of Marty Mornhinweg’s offense. He was intercepted

once in three preseason games, and played well in the final one against the Giants.

“Now he just even walks the building with more confidence, more command,” quarterbacks coach David Lee said this week. “He’s not cocky, he’s a humble kid, but boy, he’s a confident quarterback right now at this point in time.”

Now, we have to see how it translates into games where the defenses get more complicated. Smith looks more comfortable running the ball this year, and that should help cut down on interceptions. Instead of forcing the ball, he’s tucking it and taking off.

If Smith gets off to a slow start, the biggest story in town will be how long Rex Ryan waits to replace him with Vick.

2. Who is the team’s No. 2 wide receiver?

The Jets signed Eric Decker in March to a five-year, $36 million deal, giving them their top wide receiver. The question was about who would line up opposite him.

David Nelson won the job with a strong camp. Nelson is not flashy, but is very consistent. He is a reliable pro who has good hands and runs crisp routes. Jeremy Kerley solidified himself as the team’s slot receiver with a good preseason.

Stephen Hill remains a question mark and may not make the team when the Jets make their final roster cuts Saturday. Hill started off camp looking as if he were ready for a breakout year. But he faltered late in camp, as the old problem of drops returned.

Hill also was very quiet in the preseason games. He was barely targeted, and had one drop in the preseason finale Thursday in Philadelphia.

Greg Salas is pushing for Hill’s roster spot. Salas opened some eyes in training camp, and plays special teams, which gives him an edge on Hill.

3. How does the cornerback situation look?

This could not have gone worse for general manager John Idzik, who took fire in March for passing on big-name free agent cornerbacks. In August, the roars got louder as projected starter Dimitri Patterson struggled early in camp, missed the middle of camp with injuries, then went AWOL and was suspended for the end of the preseason.

Dee Milliner had a strong start to training camp, but suffered a high left-ankle sprain that could cost him the beginning of the season. The Jets moved Antonio Allen from safety to cornerback. After some early struggles, Allen suffered a concussion and his status for the season opener is up in the air.

All of that leaves the Jets looking at Darrin Walls and Ellis Lankster if Milliner and Allen are hurt and Patterson is released, as is now expected.

League sources said the Jets have been burning up the phones searching for a team willing to deal a cornerback, but nothing has materialized yet.

For now, it remains the biggest weakness on the team.

4. How will the new guys fit in?

The Jets added Decker and running back Chris Johnson in free agency, two key pieces they hope improve their offense.

Training camp gave the Jets no reason to believe these guys won’t deliver. Decker had some injuries, but clicked with Smith when he was playing.

Johnson improved as camp went along and played his best in his final preseason game, against the Giants.

These two look like good signings by Idzik.