Because the FO didn't properly plan for now 3 years ago. They built a solid foundation but didn't build any depth. NOW teams only get anywhere because they survive injuries and have a solid rotation. They have 2nd stringers constantly challenging the starters in the trenches. We lack a solid rotation and any meaningful depth in both trenches. Our offensive and defensive lines live and die by the starters. I've seen plenty of evidence of this in the preseason. When Mangold and Faneca and Jenkins were out, they were trying every trick in the book to mask it. But coaching, even great coaching, is not enough to compensate in those areas. I'd love them to surprise me and win 12 games like you are predicting, but I know in my heart that it's not happening this year. I've seen too many championship teams built well top to bottom to believe that the Jets can do it this year. It's not to say I won't be rooting my heart out every Sunday. I just know that we're not there yet.
They aren't planning for three years from now either (other then at QB maybe). They are built to win now. Where will Faneca, Jenkins, and a host of others be in 3 years?
Don, you just may have hit the essential issue squarely on it's head. When this FO/CS starts to display the vision required to plan 3 years or so in advance, only then will we start to build a championship caliber roster. We can't go on trying to win NOW because "now" never happens. It takes planning and execution. You have to have a philosophy and a well thought out plan. Faneca, Jenkins, Pace, Ellis and so on will all be gone from the roster by then. We'll still have a core of young, veteran guys and unless Tanny has an epiphany and starts stocking picks and drafting for need/depth, we'll be no better off 3 years from now than we are today.
We had Leon Johnson, Keth Byars, Jerold Sowell and Richie Anderson on that team. Guys who could do some damage out of the backfield. They may not have been used as much but they all brought something to the table.
Last year the Jets made some other moves than picking up Favre, of course. Faneca, Pace, Jenkins all were picked to win now (then). They didn't. Now the team has a rookie HC, a rookie Qb, no depth anywhere but lb, a very thin group of receivers, most of whom are unproven, and a big question mark at #2 CB. Given all that, people talking a big win total, and playoffs, make me wish I was smoking what they are. Of course if the season goes as I expect, somewhere between 6 and 8 wins, if that, the ones predicting greatness will most likely be the first to lose patience. This could all change if: They sign a solid wideout The lines (again) avoid major injuries The CS outsmarts everyone else (particularly in making better use of Leon) Sanchez plays as well as Flacco Someone steps up opposite Revis. I don't think all those things will happen. I don't even think half of them will. Maybe none will. If Sanchez makes progress and the D plays better, though, I will be satisfied, except I do not understand the thinking in going with this group of receivers. THAT I lay on Tanny's doorstep.
Didn't Leon get hurt early in 98? 97 he was a beast, but I don't remember him ever being that good again, due to injury.
Maybe. That was sad because he was like a free player we got and he was tremendous until he got hurt and then that was it.
How about we wait until we play Houston. We haven't played a meaningful snap of football and you guys are already quitting on your team.
Thinking your team might not be that good and rooting for your team to win every Sunday regardless doesn't make you a quitter on your team. It's the bandwagon homers who think the team is winning 14 who quit on their teams after a couple of tough losses.
The Jets don't lack the personnel to go deep into the playoffs. The Jets are deep at every position except o-line and tight end. Outside of that, we've got depth all over the team. Find me one other team in the league who has quality depth at EVERY position? Hell look at New England, they're the leagues elite class and they don't have depth at QB, which is one of the most important positions... they traded it away to Kansas City, and just found out that their third round pick is a total bust. If you look across their current starting unit, they have some holes on defense that the Jets don't even have. Will they be better than us? Maybe... but it's not a slam dunk like some people seem to think. There is no team with an elite 53 man roster, all you need is a talented starting roster and enough players capable of getting the job done on the back end that in case someone goes down you don't miss a beat. I agree that if someone on our offensive line takes a serious injury, it's going to hurt the Jets bad... but we don't even know yet whose going to be cut next week that could possibly change that situation for us. With over 700 players getting released by teams around the league, I'd argue that there's got to be some offensive linemen out there who can help the Jets this year. As for Ryan, we haven't seen a regular season game yet so it's a bit difficult to tell what learning he will need to do. We do know that he's taking over the Jets head coaching position with a TON more experience than Eric Mangini had when he became the Jets head coach - and by the way, when Mangini took over, Schotty was also a rookie, and our team then wasn't as talented as it is now - and they managed to go 10-6. As for clearing out the dead weight and gaining "mojo" - that's a bit of a generalization. Every team is clearing out dead weight every season. No team is perfect, thus every team has its warts, including the team that wins the Super Bowl. Gaining "mojo" - it's been proven that rookies can do this, why not us? I understand that you personally may want to learn about the Jets this year, but from the perspective of the coaching staff, there is no such thing as fact finding this year - there's either winning or losing. The Jets have an extraordinarily talented roster right NOW and to lose with that roster would not only be disgraceful, but incompetent. Rex has been around the league and his father way too long to have to grow into the spot the way that someone like Herm or Mangini had to. I'm sure he'll pick up a few things but the learning curve just won't be as high for him. The media and a majority of the fans are tempering their expectation, but if you really look at who the Jets are now then I don't see how you possibly can. I EXPECT the Jets to win right now. I don't know if they're capable of winning the Super Bowl just yet... but the playoffs absolutely should be an obtainable goal, even with all our rookies, even with our schedule.
I'd rather have what we have now. Jones has proven to be productive behind a good offensive line. Who out of that group you listed is more explosive than Leon Washington? Who had more upside than Shonn Greene? Who is a better blocker than Tony Richardson? We have a pretty awesome group of running backs right now.
Where along the way would you have changed something the Jets did? Obviously Gholston is looking like a mega-BUST but everyone knew that was a high risk high reward pick when it was made. Gholston still might end up panning out but who knows. The draft is imperfect, and no team has a 100% success rate on its picks. Between drafting and free agency moves, the Jets have put together a team that will compete for years to come. What good is having a lot of depth if there's no one to start whose capable of winning games? Hell, just look at the wide receiver position now - it is ALL depth and no quality #1. The only area the Jets seriously failed to address was the o-line. I'd argue that the depth on the rest of the roster is fine. The Jets definitely need to pray that someone becomes available after the cut downs in order to bolster that unit. Even if the Jets aren't ready to win a Super Bowl, they absolutely are ready to run for the playoffs.
Why exactly are Faneca and Jenkins going to be off the roster in 3 years? Faneca is 32 and Jenkins is 30. Linemen have been known to have long careers in the NFL - Ted Washington, Kevin Mawae anyone? What about Pace? He's 28... where exactly is he going anytime soon? This is just flat pessimism.
You would rather have Thomas Jones, Leon and unproven rookie who can't finish a pre-season game than Curtis Martin in his prime, Keith Byars, Jerald Sowel, Richie Anderson and Johny Johnson pre knee injury? I don't see it unless Leon proves that he can be on the field a lot more than Jones.
1998 rushing - 500 attempts, 1879 yards, 12 touchdowns 2008 rushing - 422 attempts, 2004 yards, 20 touchdowns Would I rather have Curtis than anyone else on our roster? Definitely. The rest of the group you mentioned over what we have? Definitely not. The 1998 o-line vs the 2009 o-line? Definitely the 2009 o-line. Last year Mangini largely squandered Leon Washington, and the Jets added a great rookie in Shonn Greene to the mix. As an entire unit, the Jets running game is far better than it was in 1998. And this is saying nothing about Curtis Martin, who is one of the 5 greatest Jets to wear the uniform.
For one thing, I think Jenkins' weight will be his ultimate undoing. Faneca will be 35 by then which is a bit long in the tooth even for a OLine guy. Pace? dunno but 3 years from now, will he still be on his initial contract or a new one? Same question about Faneca as well. Yep, you can call it pessimism but I call it 40 years of experience watching this team. Marvin Jones and Mo Lewis got older but nobody did anything about it until it was too late. Same for Curtis Martin as he retired on them and they had no one to step up. Tanny has an uncapped year to work with in '10 so lets see what the former bean counter can do to improve depth and plan ahead. When it comes to Tanny and the New York Jets Football Organization, I take the Missouri route. That being: show me.
Where do you come up with Shonn Greene being a great rookie? I think if this line stays healthy, it might be better in the front 5, might. Fabbini was outstanding in 98 he was plugged in and didn't make any glaring mistakes. Mawae was the best center in the league in 98. Fanneca gets a big edge at Guard over anyone on the 98 team but Mawae was so good at pulling that I don't think it's as big on edge as it looks on paper. Elliot was pretty much on the back side but so is Woody. The 98 team also had a Mauler at TE who could actually seal the edge. Brady couldn't catch a cold but he was a monster in the running game. We also had a great down field blocking WR in Keyshawn Johnson. You also can't just give me stats when the 98 team scored more points, had more total yards and more 1st downs than last years team with Favre and Coles.
Their contracts will be up. The Jets hardly ever resign vets like that even if they do have something left in the tank. These guys may not.
