In terms of evaluating on-field performance heading in to this off-season, you won’t get a much smaller sample size to work with than the Jets will with Wide Receiver Chris Owusu. \u00a0The wideout played just 79 snaps in five games for Gang Green, but when he was on the field he took\u00a0full advantage of the few opportunities he was presented.<\/p>\n
Owusu,\u00a0signed by the Jets after being let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late September had registered just sixteen catches as he was buried deep down on\u00a0Tampa Bay’s depth chart in just over two seasons. \u00a0When the Bucs chose to drop Owusu, the receiver hungry Jets decided \u00a0to give him a shot.<\/p>\n
It was a week fourteen\u00a0loss in Minnesota\u00a0when Owusu made what may very well be one of the best catches <\/a>in the NFL this season. \u00a0It was only a seven yard grab on 3rd & 7 in the second quarter, but it showed incredible concentration and hands on the part of Owusu. \u00a0The receiver pulled in a pass while trying to make a leaping grab on a Geno Smith pass that sailed \u00a0high and he was grabbed and spun to the ground by Minnesota CB Josh Robinson. \u00a0As the ball popped popped high in the air while he was dragged down, Owusu located the ball and corralled it with his right arm before it hit the turf. \u00a0One play, just seven yards, but an eye-opening effort from Owusu.<\/p>\n Fast forward to week 17 in Miami, where Owusu was in on 28 plays, (a season high with the Jets) and managed to make another circus catch<\/a>\u00a0early on. \u00a0This time it was a leaping 36 yard grab in double coverage that helped set the tone in the first quarter of what would end up being the best game of QB Geno Smith’s career. \u00a0Owusu would eventually cap that same drive\u00a0taking\u00a0an end around\u00a0from Smith down the right sideline. \u00a0Owusu covered 23 yards virtually untouched for his second career touchdown and a 7-3 Jets lead. \u00a0After his impressive grab and long touchdown run, Owusu wasn’t done. \u00a0He later tacked on an 87 yard kick return, giving him 146 total yards on the day.<\/p>\n A 6′ 195 lb speedster out of Stanford who posted a 4.36 40 at the NFL combine in 2012, Owusu clearly has the speed to succeed at this level. \u00a0If the plays he made in just a handful of chances this season is any indication, this could very well be a young player manages to stick around as the Jets look to re-build a roster in dire need of offensive playmakers.<\/p>\n