I know I'm new here on this thread, but I thought I'd throw this out there: Watching the Jets this year makes me despair. After 54 years watching them, most of them losing seasons, and mostly being clueless, I thought that Maccagnan and Bowles were finally going to turn the corner. I realized that last year was misleading, and that this year's brutal first part of the season was also not going to be an accurate indicator of their quality, but still...They just don't look like a team, and some of them (Revis) look like they've quit, and that says a lot about the coaching. So, where do we begin to turn this around? My first thought is: Sell the team and move it, and give us a new franchise to start from scratch, but that's not going to happen, and even if it did, I'd soon be crying about the pains of building a new team from scratch. But then I read an article in today's SI MMQB called "The Tale of Two Seasons", about how Atlanta turned things around, and also in that same thread, about how teams may have to re-thing how they evaluate QBs. Maybe the Jets aren't that far away as I think. So after that long-winded intro, my question is: What do you think the Jets can realistically do to turn things around?
Fix the OL, get a legit passrusher and a true, young, blue chip skill player on offense. They need to do at least one of these things this offseason or you may as well not watch next year.
Build a monster offensive line that can support a solid running game and keep young quarterbacks upright while they develop into superstars? If you have a dominant offensive line, you can make things happen no matter how bad everyone else is. If your offensive line sucks, it really doesn't matter how good everyone else is, because your RB can't get going, your QB is running for his life, the TE has to block, the WRs aren't involved in anything, and the defense is exhausted because they are on the field all game. What good is a franchise QB is we have another Wayne Hunter blocking for him? Your QB can't win for you if he's on IR.
1-Tell the Owner to stop living in the past, stop bringing in past players because he wants to cater to some of his fans that are also living in the past. 2-Build the other side of the trench, they have solidified the defensive line, now it's time to build up the OL. 3-Fire Gailey and hire an OC who believes in a balanced scheme that uses a TE, 60/40 pass and run. 4-Stop tying up the bulk of the salary cap in one or two players. Spread the money amongst as many positions as possible. I would rather have a bunch of good football players then one or two great ones and everyone else is below average because the jets can't afford to pay anyone else.
So you're saying that QB's like Marino, Manning, Favre, Brady were great year after year because they had great offensive lines year after year? Sorry not buying it. Great QB's (along with good O coordinators) know how to play to their strengths and minimize weaknesses. Good case in point = Dallas Cowboys. Everyone said they had a great offensive line last year but they ended the year 4-12 with 4 different QB's only one of which had a winning record (Romo.) Besides, a good offensive line is 5 players. In today's NFL it's very difficult to keep 5 guys who are considered exceptional and keep them. First get the QB, then build around him. Case in point = NY Giants. Eli's rookie year, he was terrible (1-6) and the O line was a major reason. Next year, FO went out and got some good players to put around him and he went 11-5. Bottom line = great offensive line is no guarantee you'll have a good offense. However, a great QB is money in the bank.
Welcome to the board. Fans with 54 years of rooting for this cursed team are always welcome imo. I assume that "realistically" doesn't include Woody selling the team, so following are the things I think need to happen. With regards to the poll, an "All of the Above" would have been a nice choice. Coaching One, the CS needs to go. Bowles clearly doesn't have what it takes to be a successful HC in the NFL imo. His DC Kacy Rodgers doesn't either. It's hard to tell about the assistants, because they could be getting overruled by the coordinator or undermined by Bowles lackluster attempts at being a HC, but as far as I can tell only Inside LB Coach Mike Caldwell might be doing a good job. Joe Danna, DB Coach or Tim Atkins, Defensive Quality Control Coach sure aren't. Chan Gailey's offense and play design might be good, but his play calling isn't, nor is his support of Fitz. Karl Dorrell seems to be doing a very good job with the WRs. Steve Marshall OL Coach and his assistant, David Diaz-Infante appear to be doing a pretty good job considering the talent with which they have to work. STs have shown some improvement, but not enough and Lachlan Edwards seems to be regressing, so Brant Boyer needs to go as well. FO Mac should be given complete control of the football operation by Woody, including the ok to gut the team of older, more expensive vets, blow up the team and rebuild with no pressure to "win now." He should know that he doesn't have to bring in any older FAs to help produce wins, and can focus on youth, energy and speed or whatever else that Mac thinks is needed to build that contender by season 3. He should be told that the Jets need to get some players in the 2017 draft that make an immediate impact, and that he and the new HC he hires will be given 3 years to build a winner/playoff team. If they haven't within the 3 years, they will be gone. Hopefully, that means that Mac will look for a HC with previous HC experience who already knows how to develop young players, who will command respect, who will be a good motivator, hold players accountable, and preferably be a former OC. Personnel Petty and Hack should be competing for the starting QB job next TC. If Mac wants to bring in a Glennon or Foles to compete as well, fine, but no Romo, Cutler, Fitz or over the hill QB. The #1 priority during the offseason is to fix the OL, especially both OT positions. Since they may not be a good draft for OTs, if Mac needs to sign a veteran stop gap for a season, OK, but he needs to have a pair of young bookend tackles by the 2018 season. This will remain a top priority until the OL is rebuilt/fixed. Priority #1A is finding a pass rusher. Like the OL, this will remain a top priority until the Jets have a dangerous pass rush. In combination with our DL it will take a lot of heat off of our secondary and make them look better, and help keep opposing offenses off the field. Priority #2 is fixing the secondary. Hopefully Pryor can be salvaged and be a consistently productive member of the secondary. Hopefully Burris can develop into at least a quality #2 CB. That would help, but Revis and Gilchrist must go. The Jets need to add a new #1 corner and FS. Priority #3 is fixing STs. This means giving up no more KO or PR TDs or long returns. It means finding a dangerous, speedy, elusive return man, and fixing the blocking. Field position is key for any team, but especially for young, rebuilding teams. Priority #4 is improving the rushing attack. Fixing the OL and adding a TE who can block well will go a long way towards helping here. Forte still has some tread on his tires. Powell was underutilized. Khiry Robinson may be back and able to help, but hopefully the Jets can add both a power running back and an elusive RB with great speed. The power RB could function as a FB at times blocking for the speedy RB or Powell. Hopefully, the speedy RB would double as the PR/KOR. Priority #5 is finding a quality TE who can both catch and block. This will help the OL with pass protection and help the rushing attack, and can be a young QBs best friend.
A great offensive line doesn't guarantee anything-- it does dramatically improve the odds of success. You don't think the Jets' history would look a little different if Namath's knees and Penny's shoulder had missed out on some of those hits? How many games did Marino, Manning, Favre, or Brady miss due to injury? What good is your "money in the bank" if it's sitting on IR?
We are saying that QBs like Trent Dilfer could win a SB because he had a dominant OL that allowed them to have 2, 1000 yard RBs because they controlled the LOS. Kept their defense rested and dominant. We are saying that Ben Rothlisberger could be developed and did not have to carry the team because they had a dominant OL that could control the trenches, allowed them to run the ball and asked him to make plays as needed. We are saying that John Elway finally won a SB when they relied more on their great OL and Terrel Davis running than they did his arm. The only QB that came out of the womb throwing bombs for TDs was Dan Marino. Every other QB you mentioned was developed, even the great Montana had a ridiculous OL and HOF coach to help him get started.
I think improving the OL play is important, but it's not just about getting stud OL-men. Denver has had years of great OL, but what enables them to do that is great OL coaching, and knowing what to look for in players. Also, having a great RB makes the line look a lot better. So what I wold add to your comment is they need to improve the OL coaching and if possible, get a stud RB.
I would like to supplement your excellent post by pointing out that Marino was drafted onto a Dolphins team that had 3 Probowl O-linemen on it. Ray Foster x2 Dwight Stephenson x5 Ed Newman X4 Oh, and the other two guys, Ronnie Lee, and Jon Giesler, were his OTs from 84-89. Not a bad way to start a career. It sure helps a QB develop when their O-line is stout.
Absolutely! I'm not saying that it's Oline and then put you and I on the field. It's a matter of establishing a foundation and building with quality materials afterward.
