5 questions facing the Jets in training camp

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New York revamped its secondary, by reuniting the star cornerback duo of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie via free agency. Todd Bowles' regime will begin with a ferocious front seven and a speedy defensive back quartet that will allow him to employ his trademark blitz-oriented packages.

The Jets possess the talent to make a run at the playoffs, but a lot of things will need to work in their favor if they are to ascend from the AFC East basement.

Here are five questions facing the Jets in training camp:

Is this the year Geno Smith turns the corner?

The Jets made a number of upgrades to their roster that would lead some to believe that the team sports a legitimate chance at making the playoffs. Yet, Geno Smith must improve drastically if the Jets are to fend their other three AFC East opponents and make a quantum leap.

Smith's horrific 25:34 career touchdown/interception split is a running joke, and his propensity to make a number of gaudy, inexplicable throws remained a recurring theme during his second professional campaign. In the final game of the 2014 season, however, Smith uncharacteristically recorded a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating.

How will the team utilize Leonard Williams?

New York's defensive line was already the envy of almost every team in the league, and that was before defensive end Leonard Williams was selected with the sixth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. On a line that boasts stars Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and a premier run-stopper Damon Harrison, playing time may be hard to come by for the USC standout.

Richardson's four-game suspension should make Williams a lock for the starting lineup in the first month of the season, but the Jets will have to get more creative to make the most of their personnel from that point on. Considered by many to be the best defensive prospect in the 2015 class, Williams is too good to keep off the field.

Will there be enough touches for Chris Ivory?

Chris Ivory emerged as the Jets' feature back in 2014, rushing for 821 yards and six touchdowns on 4.1 yards per carry. His performance wasn't good enough to convince management to give him the job outright, and now Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy, and Bilal Powell will all battle with him for touches.

Entering training camp, it remains unclear whether Ivory will be the focal point in a running back by committee or become the team's primary back. With a host of options at his disposal, Todd Bowles may need to vet the entire roster before coming up with a distribution plan.

How will Darrelle Revis aid Calvin Pryor's development?

Calvin Pryor exhibited flashes of stardom during his rookie season, after the Jets selected the safety in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Pryor was the lone member of the Jets' secondary that performed well in 2014, but the equation changed after the team reunited star cornerback duo Revis and Cromartie, via free agency.

Bowles utilized safety blitzes more than almost any other defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals, and it'll be fascinating to see if he utilizes Pryor as a de facto linebacker by stacking eight players in the box routinely. Revis is arguably the league's premier shutdown cornerback and Cromartie does an excellent job of taking away the opponent's second receiver. As a result, Pryor should be able to take more calculated risks.

Entering training camp, the Jets must figure out whether it's sustainable to allow Pryor to freelance, with Revis and Cromartie rarely getting burned.

Is Jace Amaro due for a breakout sophomore season?

Jace Amaro was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft to provide Smith and company with a viable safety valve that could open up the middle of the field. Once considered a potential first-round pick, Amaro got off to a quick start but disappeared down the stretch and his consistency is somewhat troublesome.

If Amaro can emulate his performance in the first half of 2014, the Texas Tech product could be poised for a breakout campaign. Amaro's potential improvement is a catalyst for the Jets' offense to take off, and his progress ought to be monitored closely for Jets and fantasy football fans alike.