The point of this thread isn't to say we should all panic and think our team is doomed. Just that we have no sure thing on the offensive side of the ball. NO ONE on our O (if you conisder the OL as 1 unit and not 5 individual players) has ever produced consistently at a high level in the NFL. We can be hopeful all we want, and trust the Jets FO and their judgement... but every single part of our O is a gamble so it is indeed HOPE/FAITH and not a rational analysis/projection. 1) Our OL: This is the only part of the offense where we actually have some solid players. Mangold, Ferguson and Moore are sure things both in terms of talent and character. However the OL is a unit... although good players make other players job's easier they can't actually DO their job. You can have Einstein's head (Mangold), Popeye's right arm (Moore) and Usain Bolt's left leg (Ferguson). However if your right leg is amputated (Hunter) you're not going to be able to get the job done on the football field. I left out Slauson as I think he's an average starting LG whose job is made easier by playinge between to greeat players. Considering his shoulder was destroyed last year he actually played well. Still, 2 great, 1 very good and 1 average player can't take on the job of the 5th guy on the line. This is why we have a competent OL only with a 6th OL or a blocking TE on the field. 2) Our RBs: We're a run first team. Ground 'n pound. And our backfield is composed of: - Greene, who has only had 1 season with more than 1k yards. On top of that he has never been the clear cut #1 RB and get's dinged up pretty often. I like him as a compliment to another RB but not as a 3 down back. - McKnight, who like the WRs on this team has a lot of potential but, as a RB in the NFL, hasn't really done anything to solidfy his role as a consistent contributor. - Powell, in two off-season hasn't shown shit. Almost never saw the field in his first NFL season. As big a question mark as can be, at a position where usually it's easier to contribute early on in a player's career. - Ganaway, a 6th rd rookie who hasn't shown anything so far. Again, no facts to base optimism on, just hope/faith. - Conner, a Fb that makes spectacular blocks sometimes... but is neither consistent nor has reliable hands (not an option on 3rd down). 3) Our TEs: Keller is good at catching (although more consistency wouldn't hurt), decent at blocking/protecting and doesn't have elite size (which wouldn't hurt in the red zone). Cumberland is a converted WR coming of an Achilles injury. Baker is a hybrid TE/FB again lacking typical TE size (6'3"). Both haven't really done much in their career. Considering the ideal TE in Sparano's scheme is a big, powerful TE with great blocking skills again here we have more question marks then certainties. 4) Our WRs: Holmes is the only WR on the roster to have ever produced in the NFL, and he is a little bitch with a questionable relationship with the team. Kerley and Schilens have marginal production and the latter is an injury waiting to happen who has never shown his (supposed, it's not like he was a 1st rd pick) potential. Hill, as talented and a physical specimen as he is, is a rookie who played in a system that's as far as can be from a pro-style. Turner has a very limited role. All in all I think we only have question marks on our roster... Holmes because of attitude/character, the others because of having never done anything in the NFL. (I'm not saying they suck, for all I know Kerley and Hill might have a pro bowl season... just saying it's all based on hope and not on facts). 5) Our QBs: Not going to go into detail... but again here we only have question marks. Sanchez hasn't shown the consistency needed at the position. It's not all his fault (just like it's not all to his credit when things go well) but I think everyone is expecting more poise and command of the position by now. Tebow is a question mark because he is so far away from the typical NFL QB. 6) Our scheme/coaching: Sparano is in his first year both as OUR OC and as an OC. Character-wise I'm sure his "no bullshit" approach will benefit the team (and Sanchez in particular), however it's not like he's come in after being part of the "greatest show on turf". Hopefully these gambles pays off in the season (when it really counts), for now we are the only team to not score a single TD.
Last year, Greene played 16 games. Last year was the first time Greene was our clear cut #1, hence first time breaking 1k
Ok, point taken. However he is the only solid contributor in our RB corp... do you agree? Also he's scored 10 TDs in 3 years.
uhh we cant? i just hope that if this season is gonna be as bad as i think it is, that they really suck and at least get a good draft pick
An offense needs to be great at something. Either running between the tackles or running around the ends or great at screens or have an unstoppable short passing game or have a dangerous long passing game or tight ends that can't be covered or great in the red zone or great at something. Last season the Jets were great in the red zone. The best in football. They had Burress. Don't expect them to be great in the red zone this year - if they even get there. Jets offense is'nt even good at anything let alone great. I know its only preseason but I see a disaster in the making. I hope not!
it comes down to field position with the special teams and creating turnovers so the offense can get more opportunities to score, be it a TD or a field goal. the offensive line is what i'm the most worried about especially at RT. tebow should help with the running game in the wildcat. hill has talent but is definitely raw.
there is definetely a HUGE discrepancy in talent between the offense and defense, but I suppose you reap what you sow. When Holmes is injured or has his head up his ass the offense just has NO playmakers what so ever. And they are finding out your OL is only as strong as its weakest link. I was never in favor of the Sparano pick up anyway and every offense suffers its lumps with a new installation. Best case scenario: Holmes recovers for a nice year and the rookie Hill suprises, helping Sanchez out behind that OL and one-dimensional rushing attack and the offense finishes somewhere between 20th and 15th. Pretty sad when thats the CEILING. Worst Case scenario: Holmes is a non-factor most of the season for whatever reason and Sanchez just get destroyed back there leading the Jets to stuggle big time 32nd-25th offense... (which is possible)
Greene should never be a No.1. RB. He's a real liability in any third down situation.. He is poor in short yardage, pass blocking and recieving. This team is going to miss LT a lot more than they think they are. Greene's role should never have been extended more than it was when Jones was here, that is the perfect role for him to spell the starting RB on early downs and later in the game when you are winning and just pounding the rock. Barely cracking 1000 yards in 16 games isn't impressive. Especially when you play for a team that preaches "ground and pound"
i don't think greene will be the only guy running the ball most of the time. i think they'll use a 3 headed RB system or maybe 2 depends on how mcknight and/or bilal play in the pre-season.
because we've havent done any play action passes and I have enough confidence that the FO with do SOMETHING to fix the RT spot. also the running game looked pretty good against the giants tough dline
I think Sparano is one of the more creative OCs in the game and will use Tebow and the play action pass a lot more strategically than the vanilla plays we have used so far. We have an offense that can game plan around another teams weakness with some creativity, and use or lack of use of Tebow and hill on the deep pass in play action. We haven't even cracked the surface of how this team will be used schematically and that can only make us better.
So what is the Jets strategic advantage of holding back plays in the preseason or running basic vanilla plays as Rex so calls them? Seriously what is the advantage? Wouldn't one think that they need to practice their plays and strategies in preseason games so they see how they work and don't work and how they can improve them? So they are going to go into the regular season without practicing any in game strategies and plays for what reason? So other teams dont know what they are doing maybe? That is an obserd reason because after game 1 against the Bills every team will know. So maybe they aren't showing anything just so they can maybe surprise the Bills in game 1? It just doesn't make sense. Practice makes perfect. The jets aren't hiding some secret weapon. They are morons.
Talent-wise, you're right, this offense doesn't have a ton of talent. I'm with you on that, I realized it around week 4 last year. But I'll try to be optimistic because I don't think it's all doom and gloom. First, you have to go by the assumption we'll have a top 5 defense, if not top 3. If not, then we're pretty screwed this year barring some major offensive unforeseen breakthroughs QB: Sanchez is still a 4th year quarterback. The book hasn't been written on him yet. It's not particularly positive right now, but it can change in a blink of an eye. He needs to have time to throw. He was pretty accurate on the short passes with a heavy rush by the Giants for the most part, except that interception. RB: All of our runningbacks are in their 4th year and younger. While runningbacks usually are best early in their careers, there are many examples of older (i.e. mid-late 20's) backs who come on and produce for a bit. If not, RB is a position you can sometimes get off the waiver wire. A lot of it is dependent on the offensive line. WR: Holmes is a good player and a guy who can make plays. Everyone else will be better because of him because he'll draw attention. Hill at least is a threat to stretch the field and to make plays in the redzone with his size and speed. Plaxico couldn't do the first part. Kerley and Turner are a year older and hopefully a year better, despite Kerley's start. And if Schilens is on the field, he's not a bad player. TE: I think we need one more player here. Hopefully, we can get a late cut from a team with a lot of TEs (New England?). Keller is a solid receiving tight end, nothing more. Cumberland and Baker have talents of their own, though I worry about Cumberland after the ACL. Baker is more of an h-back. I still really want a blocking tight end. We got Mulligan in early September, maybe we can get someone like him, minus the penalties (Mulligan sucked for that). OL: We need a right tackle. Period. I was touting Austin Howard as a potential option months ago, I don't think he's that good, but that might be an upgrade on Hunter. If we get that upgrade, we have a stud in Mangold, a good left tackle in Brick with the potential to be great, and solid enough guards. If not, Ducasse has been improving at guard, he could possibly take the job at guard if either player underperforms. All in all, we can make a couple of plays with this group to stretch the field and move the ball, if Sanchez has a little bit of time to throw. We don't have to be a great offense, just an offense that controls the ball, stringing short passes to move the chains and not turn the ball over. But wait, there's Tebow. And if the rest of the offense is underperforming, Tebow is a talented runner in his own right, and maybe the Wildcat can be something. Tebow can actually throw, too, so if defenses crowd the line, we can try Hill, Holmes, Cumberland, Keller or Schilens deep. Final cuts always includes some talent. Tannenbaum always tries to take advantage of this, I'm sure he'll try to do something. His job is on the line. We need an RT and a TE. Everything else, I think we'll be okay with, and if we need a runningback, we'll get one. Really, we just need to not turn the ball over. Score enough points to win, use enough tricks to keep defenses off balance. Basically, copy last year's 49ers blueprint, who tried something similar.
Two words: Tim Tebow. The media told me this. Tebow will not lose faith...neither should you. It's only a game, guys. Have fun no matter what happens with your team. That's my advice, if I may be so bold as to offer it.
