Jamie Dukes is a fucking half-wit. I'm not saying the points he made weren't valid, but any schmuck with basic knowledge of the Jets could have made those observations. We don't have a big time wide receiver? We might be starting a rookie quarterback? Calvin Pace's suspension might hurt our development? Thank you Jamie, for keeping us up to speed on breaking news.
To be honest, what else can we do to have an 'elite D' at this point. We dont have a 15 sack guy. But we have arguably the best or second best CB in the league and arguably the best or second best NT in the league. We have no weakness on our D and it would appear that we may very well have the best secondary in the entire league. I think barring injuries we have a top five D statistically and among the tops in takeaways as well. I understand what Dukes is saying but lets not forget Keller as a receiving threat either. SD has had a potent running attack and piss poor WR corp for as long as I can remember. With the three headed monster that is our backfield, along with a top 5? Oline - Cotch and Keller will be able to hold down the fort. I also think whoever we have behind center, he is going to be asked to throw the ball only 20 times a game or so. I realize that we should be keeping Super Bowl expectations in perspective - but a playoff birth and a 10-6 record is not so far fetched. Who would have ever said Miami would go from 1-15 to 11-5. We have so much more in place than they did last year. The trenches being the most important part of that. I am extremely optimistic, not blinded , but I think 10-6 can happenwith this group.
It's very far fetched considering we don't know what we have at the QB position. Well one of them I know is a flop and the other is a rookie
I think the weakest part of the D is the bench. We saw what happened last year when they took Jenkins out. Same is true if Revis comes out. LB is a bit more solid, but not much.
We have the same receivers as last year minus Coles. Coles had an off year where he dropped a lot of normally catchable passes by his standards. Coles also had the weakest output of any season he's played with the Jets. So by downgrading Coles, we somehow went from being a 9-7 team (that possibly could've won more if not for Favre's arm falling off and Mangini being such a Mangina)... to being a team that is far worse? I don't buy it. We've upgraded everywhere EXCEPT wide receiver, but our one loss wasn't exactly Al Toon...
I think that is very fair. So, barring injury I really beleive this is a top 5 unit in the NFL. I think the Coles loss is a significant loss, but not an insurmountable one. Gates and Vincet Jackson is a hell of a combo. Why can't we give Cotch and Keller the same chance? Rookie QB or no rookie QB, I'll take a kid that is not going to force things and hit his check downs rather than what we finished the year with last round. Having the OL that we do with the running attack that we do, I am not worried about the QB situation. Our RB's will run the clock and our D will keep the score low. Our QB is not going to be asked to or expected to win games. Its cliche, but he has to not lose them. The talent level that is all around him, outside of the number 2 WR is role is quite impressive. I can not remember a team that looked as promising as this one. In my memory our entire D, OL and RB situations have not been this good any time recent.
I do not assess an analyst by whether they say good or bad things about the Jets. I base it on the substance of their comments. Generally I think he is more often than not dead on. In this instance, I think his comments about the Jets are accurate. I will leave the Vick comment alone because he is entitled to his opinion. What has he said comparing white players to black players that "says all I need to know" about Mr. Dukes....
Enough of a loss to make us that much worse of a team? Especially when you factor in the continuity of the o-line, running game, and improvement of Keller?
We will likely have a rookie QB and only one established WR to throw to- that is huge. Maybe Sanchez gets it quikcer than most, if that happens we'll be good but you have to expect growing pains. We can win 10-11 games but realitically I think we should expect around 6-7.
Ftr I said 8-8 to be optimistic, which is not far worse than 9-7, at least in my book. Far worse would be 5-11. The receivers last year didn't scare anybody. Now other teams will be even less scared. Your last sentence is factually incorrect. No position on O has been upgraded, including Qb. We may POTENTIALLY see more out of Sanchez at some point than we saw at Qb last year, but not so far. On D, Lito for the rotating cast of characters at #2 db is a slight upgrade. Leonhard and Scott are the only real upgrades on the whole team as far as I can see. Meanwhile, who backs up Keller? Faneca is a year older. Jones replicating last year? Unlikely. How is the DL improved? So, we have a question mark at Qb, an even weaker wr corps, no TE bench, and upgrades with Scott, Leonhard and somewhat with Shepard. And a tougher schedule. Coming off a lousy end of last season. Hey I hope they go undefeated. Am I putting my money where my hopes are? Not so much.
Factually incorrect....yes and no. Having an entire line playing together for the second straight year (a line that was already pretty good ) is an upgrade. TE position. Having a rookie coming off a very productive season - coming in as the starter in his second year in a system he is comfortable in is a upgrade. These positions are made up of the same 6 bodies as last year but I think everyone will agree that the 2009 versions are more promising than the 2008.
I agree with those who say they don't see jet fans being OVERLY optimistic... Many of us are just hoping for a playoff spot and see the potential... I disagree about weapons - As long as the QB play is good, Leon Keller Cotch plus whoever else is as much or better than the Giants.. They can get it done... And the spot I disagree most on in the Defense taking a long time..Though losing Pace is a killer but, I credit mangini A lot for building and putting together personel for a Rela good Defense - I think most of us agree that Mangini himself put the clamps on what this defense can be and it's a unit just waiting to bust out and lean on TALENT over sitting back Vs mediocre QBs.... Last year Jenkins was also getting used to the system... Add Bart Scott and Leonard to a defense that IMO already had top 10 potential and I think the sky is the limit... Sure over time it'll get even better - Hope for HEALTH as well. But, yeah, at this point it's hard to debate when you have basically no experience at QB... Thanks for snapping us out of it Jamie. The schedule may unfold right with tough games at the start - We need this team to jell and the QB spot to jell as the team goes 8 or 9 wins but, sets itself up for next year.
And for the record from someone who loved the Brett Favre thingee and would do it again..... Brett Favre was mismanaged and injured to the point that, to end the season we had piss poor QB play. Technically we might say we have an upgrade at QB right now as we sit.... Schedule is tougher but, come on now, it's not like we lost a healthy Peyton lighting things up..
Jamie Dukes can suck my dick. I am concerned about the WR corps, who isn't but stfu. I don't know anyone saying the Jets are going to go all the way or anything even close.
I think these are all excellent questions and I watched this episode of NFLN and thought he was on point with his assessment. I believe in time that this team WILL gel under RR, and Sanchez will be more like Carson Palmer than like Matt Lienart (sp). One of these other WRs will compliment Cotchery, with Ellard as their position coach, and this defense will get better once Pace is back from suspension. Everything I'm reading about Gholston, I'm NOT comfortable with him at the OLB position opposite Thomas and hoping Murrell comes along. There are TOO MANY ifs with this team and as much as I love my Jets and like RR all these ifs make me nervous. It ALL has to play out in order for this team to surprise anyone. I think they will be tough to beat this season, but will be a more versed team NEXT season after a year under Ryan's system. Just my honest opinion.
Are you saying in spite of, or if it weren't for the D we'd be worse? 7-9, 8-8 sounds about right. WR and blocking TE are going to be situations that will hurt us down the line unless Kareem Brown or one of these walk ons turns out to be the next Antonio Gates. As far the WR position, there is 'POTENTIAL' but I've always hated that word when describing athletes. A lot of athletes have potential, it's a matter of turning that into something solid.
