I think these are all fair and reasonable points. While I think he has already done a lot of positive things, each of those future decisions are vitally important, and will give a more complete picture of what kind of GM he is and will be. Based on his actions so far, I have supreme confidence that he will surmount every obstacle and challenge that comes his way the best he can, and that will be better than any of his predecessors by a LONG shot. Sure with $50 million to spend, he should have improved the team. Any GM should be able to, but not all would. Some would have signed big names just for the sake of making a big splash on the back pages of the tabloids, regardless of whether their skills fit our systems or their personalities/character matched what we are looking for. Some would have signed square pegs to fit into round holes. Some would have tried to sign players and failed because they were too cheap (Idzik). I'm not sure that many would have traded for Marshall with his track record. I'm not sure that many GMs would have signed Fitz. They may have opted for McCown, or one of the other vet FA QBs or may have rolled with Geno. Some GMs wouldn't have stayed put and taken Leonard Williams. They would have been too aggressive and either traded up (Tanny) or "reached" for a player at a position of need. Some would have made no changes in the scouting dept. (Idzik). Some would have been slower to act, been more deliberate, and more hesitant (Idzik), and thus have missed some opportunities. Some would have been a poorer judge of talent (Bradway).
Not hard for me to accept the Jets season so far. They're past recent history for first year coaches proves that out. + changing /adding key players to the offence (Fitz and Marshall) + new OC - + strngth of schedule...what is there to be surprised about? If they hadn't lost those 2 stinkers to Oakland and Buffalo......
Both brought in by the hated Idzik, Chan Gailey is lights out the best OC the Jets have had in many a moon. The man flat out knows how to bring out the best in an O. I posted that early in preseason. The addition of Marshall easily the best personnel move this year, followed by bring in Fitzpatrick to solidify the QB situation. on d, bringing in the island (duh) and Cro. (who is playing well in the last few games) Putting Pryor back in a suitable position. drafting williams. The Jets have made all the right moves to achieve a winning record this year. (hope I am not counting my chickens before they hatch) Lam
Wouldn't it be nice if Fitzpatrick turned into Rich Gannon-redux late in his career and gave us a few good years?
This is true, but I think there is definitely a difference. 2008 Favre hid his shoulder injury, so 8-3 quickly spiraled down. That 2011 team was so weird and I think so lucky to even be 8-5. Between the locker room crap and their up and down play I wasn't surprised they lost out. I'd be shocked if we don't win at least 2 of 3 to end here.
I am really thankful for what this team has given us so far this year, and I'm in an "Expect nothing - appreciate everything" frame of mind. This year's product sure beats last season's dismal effort, and while I still feel we are too focused on the short-term, I appreciate the thrill of winning and being a highly competitive team. I'm also thankful for seeing some decent offense - It's been a long time coming!
I thought he threw a couple of questionable passes yesterday. I recall 2 th D got their hands on but dropped. He has not done much of that of late. He seems to be morphing into a more disciplined guy. I especially like the way he runs and when he chooses to run
Geno didn't have these assets or coaching etc...etc... he won training camp etc... etc... low down dirty, sucker punch etc..... If that doesn't poke the fires then how about.............If Tom Brady was banned for those 4 games the Steelers would probably be a game ahead of us and the Bills would be right up our butts ready to rob us in week 17 if the Cheifs somehow choke on their powderpuff finish.
Oh, one other cool thing worth mentioning. I wasn't at the game yesterday but when we went for it on 4th and 1 I had the impression Bowles was initially going to take the points but then the TV showed the fans in the stadium egging him on. I thought he looked and smiled for just a second and then put the offense back on the field. Did anyone else notice this or am I just hallucinating
Seems to be a pattern with the Jets. Good draft followed by numerous poor ones Save cap space by not paying anyone (because most of our draft picks are not worth it anyway) Hire a new coach Splurge on FA's and open a 2-3 year window of competitive play Roster is neglected do to no cap space Player misused on our roster find success elsewhere Rinse, repeat. Hopefully the cycle ends on Macs watch. We won't really know for a few seasons, but this one has certainly been fun.
Bowles did show a lot more emotion yesterday than he has so far this year. Seemed a lot more comfortable too. Maybe being up 20-0 does that for a HC...
I noticed it too, and to be honest I wanted to go for it. But I bet he got a text from Parcel's saying " If you start thinking like a fan you will be sitting up there with them". I still liked the call going for it.
Dude life is to short to keep saying "Maybe next year" ,They don't hand out trophys to teams that miss the playoffs ....we are going on 6 years without an appearance.This is why this team is what it is for so many years......we throw parades for stats and improvement while watching other teams play in January.With a top 10 offense and a top 5 defense not making the playoffs would make this year a dissapointment.Who knows about next year and who cares I care about right now not the future.Fitz,Marshall,Revis,Mangold and D Brick aren't getting any younger
I half agree with you but honestly just go be a patriots fan then and be a whiny bitch when your team doesn't win every single game. Teams don't go from 4-12 to Super Bowl. I'd prefer if we can rise out of the dumps and become one of those perennially good teams. Have a top ten offense every year, have a top 5 defense every year. Then we will be in the playoffs most years.
If life is too short to keep saying "Maybe next year", why are you still a Jets fan? We have no control over how the team does or the decisions they make. The only control we have is how we react to what they do and how they play. What's the point of choosing to be miserable and to find nothing to celebrate? Just because we choose to focus on some positive, doesn't mean that dooms the team to be stuck. Life is too short to say "maybe next year," but it's not too short to make yourself miserable by just getting frustrated that they didn't make the playoffs and not trying to find some joy, some reason to celebrate or to have hope for the future? I submit that life is too short to waste it being upset, frustrated and depressed because your sports team didn't do as well as you had expected/hoped. Did you seriously think the Jets would make the playoffs any of the last 2-3 seasons? I sure didn't. I knew the team was going nowhere until both Rex and Idzik were gone. We went 6 years without a playoff appearance because the GMs sucked, the HC sucked and there was little talent and no depth. That was then, this is now. Did you expect the Jets to make the playoffs this season with a rookie HC and new CS, new systems, lots of new players to get to know each other and develop chemistry, a suspect (at best) OL, old and slow LBs, and no TEs? If so, I submit that you're not being realistic and are setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration. For those of us who thought the Jets could possibly make the playoffs if everything went perfectly, this has been a fun season and we have lots of reasons to be happy and hopeful. You say you don't care about next year, yet you're focusing on the past and lumping the present in with it. At least the future has't happened yet. There's hope. There's no changing the past, however, and the past, with changed circumstances and personnel has no bearing on the present or future. This is a different team now. We have what looks to be a competent, professional GM, the best OC we've had in forever, and what looks like an up and coming HC. I understand being disappointed about not making the playoffs if we don't. We all want to make the playoffs, and I think all of us will be disappointed. The difference is in not letting that disappointment blind us the the positives or spoil our attitude. It's not a matter of being satisfied or just celebrating stats and improvements. Those things can help lessen the pain and still bring us some satisfaction and joy in the midst of the disappointment, however, and one might as well find some things to be happy about rather than just making one's self miserable. That doesn't make one a better fan. IMO if we didn't make the playoffs and still had Idzik and Rex, then there would be no reason for hope or optimism for next year. As it is, while we will be disappointed in not making the playoffs (if we don't), we will at least have reason to have hope for the future. We will have things to celebrate like being relevant this late in the year, of having had an exciting season, even with its ups and downs. We at least had a chance to make the playoffs. The last couple of years, we've had no chance. We will have had offensive play that we haven't seen the likes of in many years. We have some young developing talent. We have a dependable veteran starting QB and don't have to rely on Geno. We have better depth than we had. Some of our issues/problems have been addressed, and we are a step or two closer to where we all want to be, not at the same awful place, or getting worse. How many rookie HCs lead their team to a 5-6 game improvement in their first season, much less make the playoffs in their first season? That's not something to be happy and get excited about? Do you honestly think that if Rex had remained as HC that the Jets would have had one thousand yard receiver, much less two, AND a thousand yard rusher, much less a top 10 offense? Why not focus on the positive changes and the things we have to be hopeful about rather than the one negative of not making the playoffs?
