Before I get into any subject matter regarding the title of this thread, I just want to say that I couldn't be happier with having Rex as our head coach and Sanchez as our QB. This season's team was just too old to get over the hump. We needed younger, better players on the DLine that we just didn't have. We needed younger, better players in the LB corps that we did not have. We needed more experienced and talented players in the defensive backfield that we did not have. And yet, with holes at all three levels of the defense, we made it back to the AFCC game and within 5 points of a victory. Losing Kris Jenkins hurt us. Losing Ropati Pitouitua probably hurt us. Shaun Ellis' knee injury definitely hurt us, although not as much as it probably hurt him. We have a lot of prospects at DE right now between Kroul, Gilbert and Pitouitua. We have a prospect at NT with Tevaseu. We have chances in our DLine. We have no guarantees outside of DeVito and Pohua. Hopefully, these chances pay off. We needed better pass-rushers in the LBs and we didn't get them. Anyone expecting Jason Taylor to come in and wreck up the place as a starter was misguided. He was supposed to be a rotational player with few snaps and a talented DLine in front of him. As far as I'm concerned, he did as well as most OLBs in the NFL would have with what was in front of him. An enemy for years, he gave everything he had to this team. I'll salute him for that. We still need younger bodies, though. I'm hoping for Jeremy Beal or Jabaal Sheard to find a home with the Jets after this draft. Rex would certainly be able to profit off of a player of their stature and talent. Kyle Wilson was ridiculed for weeks after weeks on this board. Moving from the outside where you have a sideline to help you to the inside where WRs can go in any direction is almost like moving to a different position. There's a reason the guys who play that spot are called "nickel backs" and not "3rd CBs". Kyle Wilson will be a defensive weapon next season. Revis struggled heavily when he was asked to play the inside as a rookie by Mangini and look what he is now, a CB who can cover any WR from any point on the field. Don't get me wrong, we have holes on this team that need to be filled. Sione Pohua is going to be 32 years old and despite his lack of overall wear as a football player, there is still the fact that a 32 year old body doesn't repair itself as well as a 28 year old body. We're going to need help at NT, regardless of wether or not we get back a guy who is recovering from a knee injury after recovering from a knee injury after recovering from a back injury. On offense, we have weapons. We have Mark Sanchez and he will be our QB for years to come. He showed his strengths in this game. Coming back from an injury early in the game, leading the offense in the second half. Even the expressions of frustration at the offense when we weren't getting the play calls in on time. He knows how to win games. He did it at USC and he can do it here. He'll be the leader this team needs. He'll be the QB to deliver us. I don't believe anything else. We have at least one HB to win games for us. Shonn Greene is a beast. He's a fucking bull charging out of the backfield. He's the player the Jets offense should have been centered around this season. He's the player the Jets' offense should have been centered around in the first half. A tough, physical, big back who can run between the tackles, hurt defenders and fall forward. He is the identity this team needs. Someone who can hurt people. He can literally do what QBs and WRs typically are alluded to doing. We have the WRs. Even if we do not bring all of them back, we have the players on this team to make people hurt. Between Braylon and Santonio, we have a great #1 WR on this roster. Whichever one of them earns the #1 spot deserves it. Between Cotchery and the other, we have a great #2 to help Sanchez in the possession game. If we keep all three of them, we have the best 3 WRs in the league and with Sanchez's extra experience, they're only going to do more damage. Add Brad Smith to this mix and the outlook only looks better. There are bright points on this season and to call this team the same losers of Jets' old is asinine. We are looking at a great future with this team. There's no way around it. This team is destined for something better. I love our HC. I love our QB. I love this team. Here's to 2011/2012, whichever one comes first with an NFL season.
I agree with this 100%. We need to get younger on the defensive line and if we get an elite pass rusher watch out. We need to keep Harris and we need to learn how to throw the ball more often by being less predictable.
Need a legitimate rush linebacker. Younger on the d-line and a running back. Or McNight has to show up next year. And so does Kyle Wilson. Sign Harris, Cro?, Edwards, Holmes. If possible. Brad Smith is gone. Everyone else? Pretty good. Oh Shotty.........
We have a lot of talent on this team. We have some flexibility with our strengths. We need to close a few gaps; NT, DE, OLB, Safety, RT, but nothing we cannot cover with a stop-gap for one more season. If we can get younger and better at two of these positions between FA and the draft then we're going to be in great shape to come back to this level next season. It's time to rise.
Thank you for this. Your post actually made me feel a bit better during what is an obviously terrible night.
How the fuck is a better OC going to fix the defense? Even if we limit the reps for the opposing offense we still have a defense with a DLine and LB corps filled with guys who are one step slower and one year older. I'm all for replacing Schottenheimer but that alone isn't going to stem the bleeding.
Is it this year that Cro's pik gets bumped up? But definitely gotta get some youth on that D-Line and PR/LB's Ellis, JT, Thomas, Jenx, Pryce, Even though Pouha had his best season he's gonna need a backup. Add to that Pace isn't the PR we hope and Gholston has set us back a few fukin years already
Yea, we lose a 2nd for Cro instead of a 3rd. DLine needs some help, for sure. We have a lot of prospects at DE and one at NT but we need to draft in some top talent. Someone is probably going to get the tag-and-trade to get us back a 2nd rounder.
