Over the past five seasons, the New York Jets haven't had a single player go over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. That's not some exclamation point meant to define the era, it's part of a bigger point. Four of those years consist of the unofficial Mark Sanchez era -- a period that has been defined by very good defense and consistently inconsistent play on offense. (The high point for passing yards per game during this period was 21st in the NFL, in 2011.) We tend to call the Jets a team built on defense, one that needs to "control the ball." Except the running game also has fallen apart over the past two seasons, as the Jets have averaged 3.8 yards per carry each year. Add it up and you have an official period of decline over the past two seasons consisting of 8-8 and 6-10 records. It's an outmoded way of thinking to say offenses need to establish the run or establish the pass. Teams play to their strengths, and you don't consistently do something likely to be less successful just to set up something better. The fact with the Jets over the past two seasons is it really hasn't mattered what they have tried to do. The running game has been completely devoid of explosiveness, and the passing game under Sanchez has been simply bad. One side hasn't been able to set up the other, because neither side can consistently offer a threat. Bottom line: The offense has been the problem. And despite where the offense is in terms of personnel, I still don't believe the Jets are in some total rebuild mode. Here are some reasons why and why the draft can be a part of the solution. The defense is still strong The 2012 Jets were sixth in total defense. Think about that based on what this defense was dealing with. It lacked any consistent pass rush off the edge; it lost the best corner (Darrelle Revis) in the NFL early in the season; safety play wasn't great; and it saw decline years from Bart Scott, David Harris, Calvin Pace and LaRon Landry. Oh, and the offense was a three-and-out machine. Add up all the problems and that still-good No. 6 ranking represented the worst defense statistically in the Rex Ryan era. The Jets can be better at every position they were lacking in 2012, and the defensive line is going to be a major strength with the continued development of recent first-rounders Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples. I don't care what you give Ryan to work with, he's going to scheme his way to a top-10 defense. I don't think this unit is going to take a step back. The passing game should be better: Santonio Holmes' return from injury will boost New York's passing attack. Yes, that's a relative statement given how bad it was in 2012, but even if Sanchez is under center in 2013, the passing game should improve. The loss of Dustin Keller doesn't help, but the return of Santonio Holmes gives the passing game at least one reliable target it lacked last season. Wideout Stephen Hill was bound to see major growing pains as a rookie given the college system he came from, but he should take a step forward in 2013. I still believe they need to find more help in the draft, but whether it's Sanchez, David Garrard or someone else entirely throwing passes, the passing game has no place to go but up. Same with the running game: Sorry, but regardless of what you think of Shonn Greene, his absence in 2013 isn't a setback. He lacked the ability to make defenders miss and isn't even the power back some consider him -- just 2.1 yards per carry after contact, which was good for 44th among qualifying runners last season. The current combination of Bilal Powell and Mike Goodson isn't impressive, but it offers more than Greene and the draft could provide further help. Draft options: So what can the Jets do in the draft? For one, the Jets can improve the defense by adding a pass-rusher offenses truly need to account for on every play. An athletic freak such as Barkevious Mingo or a productive pass-rusher such as Jarvis Jones are among the options for an upgrade at No. 9. Even if the offense is bound to be a little better in 2013, I still think the Jets need to add at least one "fear factor" element via the draft. By that I mean a player who can create explosive plays or clear matchup problems. Because the value range for that player isn't really at No. 9 -- unless they go for a guy like Tavon Austin or Cordarrelle Patterson that early -- the Jets could consider trading down to pick up an extra first-, second- or even an early third-round pick. This is a draft with a decent amount of depth at tight end, so finding a replacement for Keller in Round 2 or 3 could be an option, and adding another wideout who can cause safeties to play a little deeper -- Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers and Terrance Williams come to mind -- could be had after the first round. The Jets also need help on the offensive line (right tackle was a pass protection issue last season), but they could certainly find help at that position beyond the first round. One other reality of this draft that could help the Jets is the fact that the safety class is really deep. Even if it's a third- or fourth-round pick, the Jets could find some immediate help at that currently depleted position. Finally, there's the big question at quarterback, but this isn't a draft class that offers any assurances of an immediate upgrade, even over Sanchez or Garrard. With Jacksonville, Oakland, Cleveland, Arizona and Buffalo all drafting ahead of them, there is no chance Geno Smith slips to No. 9, and taking any other quarterback that high would be a massive reach. Could they grab another QB later in the draft? Absolutely. But no one in this class will offer help for Week 1 of 2013. Drafting well offers no certainty that the Jets will make major strides in 2013. But by health, subtraction and development alone they could have a chance to be a little better at the skill positions. Remember that Ryan also has an uncanny ability to piece together an above-average defense and there should be reasons for hope. It all starts at quarterback, but at least the new front office is taking a healthier approach to the idea of competition at the position headed into a new season. Every year we see teams we reflexively wrote off before the season make major strides and land back in the playoffs. The Jets were a total disaster in 2012 yet were still 6-10. This isn't a total rebuild; it's a team that could get better both through the draft and because, in some areas, it'll be hard-pressed to play any worse. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...13-nfl-draft-best-draft-options-new-york-jets
Pretty optimistic article, and echoes what many Jets fans on this board (myself included) have said about this team moving forward.
The 2012 team wasnt that bad. Lost 3 of the best players on the team. Holmes, lol Keller Revis And still won 6 games with no name WR's, no TE and a bum at RB. Edit. And the distraction, waste of space back up QB.
We pretty much hit rock bottom last season, no-where to go but up. He still brings up freaking Mingo, I just can't take him seriously.
I agree with almost everything except when he mentioned saftey play. It was actually decent last year, and again enough with the Mingo to Jets at 9.
Mel makes every point ive been making in the anti sanchez threads. Now that Mel printed what ive been saying...maybe my detractors are correct....:rofl2:
I know. I can't stand the thought of grabbing him at 9 :/ Other than that, this article is excellent. Exactly what I have been saying. We can only get better and we have the needed front office to do it now
First, I don't like the premise of the article; IMO he was told what to write about. I think that if he was told to describe the Jets as a rebuilding team and how they can draft to win a SB in 2-3 years he would've argued that. For the passing game he must be assuming that Braylon's returning or something... I don't think losing Braylon, Greene, at least one OG, and another year of Sanchez makes this team better (without delving into the argument any greater). He just basically says "can't get any worse than last year!" without realizing that the Jets are one Holmes-esque injury between today and mid-season from becoming far far worse than last year. He specifically mentions the loss of Keller but doesn't even name-drop Cumberland. He says the Jets can "consider" taking a TE, but, to be realistic, how could the offense possibly be guaranteed to go "nowhere but up" without definitive focus on the offensive side of the ball during the draft? His first draft suggestion is... Mingo. If the Jets draft defense in Rd 1, barring any significant transactions between now and opening day, the Jets' offense would be guaranteed to regress. He dismisses Greene as a non-loss without even explaining how Goodson fits the WCO much better than Greene, he just leaves the argument to "they are inherently better" which is an over-simplification. His article surely resonates with Jets fans but he does little to persuade anyone pessimistic about the Jets to feel otherwise.
I agree with this article 100% Can somebody please school me on this Mingo character. I'm a little bit out the loop as far as all of the draft prospects go. Sure I can Google it, but I want it from a NY JETS fan prospective. Thanks!
Guy is a physical specimen. 6'4 240 lbs and ran the 40 in a 4.58. The reason we all don't want him is he is very raw. He seems like a guy that needs time to turn into something great. Many are referring to him as another Aaron Maybin. Fast, shows promise, but does not have results to show for it. He was not all that great in college either, which has turned a lot of people off. I am a ALL in with drafting Jarvis Jones at 9. He may have ran his 40 slow, but he is proven talent. Led the nation in sacks in the hardest college division. Looks to be an instant impact player, which is what we need right now.
Funny, the Jets really were a disaster last year, yet won 6 games and honestly should have defeated the Texans, Patriots (1st Match-Up) and Titans which would have put them at 9 wins. The Chargers and Bills games would have been different too if the Jets had won the other games first. It really is interesting to think about.
Many won't believe it, many will put the jets at less than 4 wins, but this teams should be much better than last year entails, and even last years team had positives that people can't get by the buttfumble to see. The offense should have a better time this year, the Defense is only gonna get younger and better at the pass rush, this team is on the way up despite not winning the free agent sweep stakes. I'm not expecting double digit wins, but if somebody were to ask me over or under from last years record of 6-10, I say over.
I agree with Mel honestly. Once the offense gets going and puts up just 25 points a game we can be a playoff team. The #1 pick should be Jones or Jordan or trade down, not worth taking Warmack at that spot and Idzik has done a good job of filling some holes this off season. We are not done yet either. It's a blessing in disguise that we finished so bad, now we have better picks and can improve the team without throwing money around carelessly.
If Idzik takes another bum TE in the 2nd or 3rd, we'll know it's SOJ. No other organization embarrasses itself overreaching for TEs (Kyle Brady, Anthony Becht, Doug Jolley for 1st rounder, Johnny Mitchell, trading up for Keller in the 1st) quite like the Jets, while totally blind to legit prospects actually worthy of higher billing (Gronk, Jimmy G).
Thanks for posting. Finally an insider article that I'm interested in. Safety play was actually good, and the reason we didn't miss Revis as badly. I don't know what the dude is smoking to say that Landry had a decline year??? He had a pro bowl year, probably the best of his career. I do agree with the article for the most part, but that part jumped out at me like "Whaaaaaaaaa?"
The counterargument to this is that aside from perhaps Dion Jordan ALL the OLB prospects are raw. Even Jarvis Jones has things he has to work on & frankly I wonder where he fits in the Jets base 3-4 look long term. He may end up being a sub package guy only. Mingo,Jones,Werner,Ansah.. they ALL need work in different areas. I believe the reason why Mingo is the only one dealing w/ some slight from Jets nation is b/c of the lack of production his junior year. That said their is alot of data coming to the surface that suggests that Mingo was put into alot of QB contain type situations & if you go back & watch the tape that is confirmed. Additionally the guy is taking on a ton of double/chip blocks in pass blocking situations which opened alot of opportunities for his teammates like Sam Montgomery.That MUST be factored into his evaluation as a prospect. What Mingo brings to the table that maybe superior to some of the other OLB prospects, is an elite first step, speed & length. What he needs to work on is his strength/size & his inside leverage both on inside counterrushes as well as in his run D. He's like a sub-package/pass rusher only his rookie year. But as he learns professional technique & adds strength he could develop into an elite weakside multi-formational edge rusher.
