DE - We're fine here NT - Howard Green LB - Westerman / Izzo (not to mention we upgraded Barton) CB - Sheppard definitely improves depth S - Upgraded big time OL - Slauson is 1 better than last year, even if not enough TE - dropoff, though Keller should be much more productive WR - downgrade QB - Sanchez and Ainge looking much improved - better depth RB - Definite upgrade Coaching - MAJOR upgrades Essentially, your argument revolves around not having seen anything yet... which is logical. I guess you can say I'm putting my rep on the line because I'm daring to believe that these guys are going to be great. I do BELIEVE they are going to be great. And of course I hope I'm right.
My prediction isn't just founded in hope, it's based on my perception of the Jets. It's very easy, almost a cop out to just say "well we haven't seen anything therefore we can't predict anything good"... that's so... obvious... and lame. The reason people make predictions is because they don't actually know something. If you actually knew what was going to happen, you'd be rich because you'd be lining up the bets in Vegas. WSW's argument is very logical... and boring. Of course we've been burned in the past, of course a multitude of things could go wrong, of course this is football and you're never quite sure what is going to happen. When I look at the Jets... I see: -A rookie QB with greatness written all over him. -A diverse set of running backs that as a group can do just about anything a running back can possibly do. -A scrappy group of receivers with good hands who will do enough to win games. They aren't great, but they're definitely better than oh say the Giants receivers who couldn't catch a cold. -A tight end whose a rising star in the league and should have an Antonio Gates like season. -An offensive line whose among the NFL's elite... and PS, offensive line might be the single most important unit on an NFL team. An elite offensive line means our entire offense overachieves. -A defensive front 7 absolutely loaded with stud players including David Harris, who I see as one of the best rising defensive stars in the NFL, and Kris Jenkins who may very well be the team MVP at this point. -A ballhawking secondary that is fast, rangy, and tough. With Revis shutting down one side of the field, and a fierce pass rush from our front 7 which definitely was not displayed in full force this preseason, I'm expecting a lot of turnovers out of this unit this season. -A coaching staff with an aggressive winning attitude. Last season I stated that the thing the Jets lack most is fire and swagger... they have that now, multiple times over... having been under Mangini's system just a year ago, this is outstanding. Sure, the Jets have problems... we don't have our punter yet, and Gholston still looks like a ghost... Pace will be sorely missed the first 4 games... If someone on the oline, especially Mangold, were to get hurt, we might be in a bit of trouble... The positive dramatically outweighs the negative. I don't deny that things could get ugly in a hurry... but based on what I know about football, what I know about our roster, and based on my perceptions of the way teams operate, I think the Jets are in a position to shock the league NOW.
I just listed a multitude of reasons why the Jets are going to be 12-4 this year. That's not an argument?
I could list a multitude of reasons why we are all going to be made extinct by robots in 100 years. Does that make me sane?
What exactly does sanity have to do with any of this? I'm talking football and now it's shifted to my sanity? Do you have an argument against my thoughts or not?
If Sanchez doesn't play like a rookie, and I don't think he will; if the defense cleanses itself of penalties; and if the team pulls the trigger on Brandon Marshall, the Jets could easily be a 12-4 team.
I share some of your optimism, but we still won't score much. And it's unfair to call Ryan a major upgrade yet. And QB is the same backups as last year, that's not better depth. Ainge isn't the difference. And in other spots, while we may be slightly deeper, we really didn't do much. We need to stockpile some young depth next season.
It probably is a bit premature to call Ryan a major upgrade right now... however, if you want to look at it from the perspective of Ryan calling the shots on defense... would you rather have Ryan or Sutton doing it? I think in that regard it's a slam dunk upgrade. From a head coaching perspective I guess we'll see. Ainge's improvement is important in the sense that Clemens will be easier to replace moving forward. Ainge looked legitimate this preseason and if he actually he is, he could be a #2 for the Jets for years to come... so that's more of a long term depth thing. We definitely do need to stockpile youth next season... I agree completely there. The offensive line needs an infusion of talent on the 2nd string badly.
I've seen some excellent arguments made against your stance and they are pretty much useless. You will believe that we are going to win 12 games until we've lost 5. I have much longer to wait before I believe we are safe from the robots. As least yours is temporary insanity.
Some excellent arguments have been made against my stance, I just disagree with them. What's wrong with trying to prove my point and stick to my guns rather than just oh yeah sure I'm wrong whatever... My insanity may be temporary, but then again you felt that way last season when we argued about Jones, and Jones went on to lead the AFC in rushing last season. I know you feel his lightbulb "just turned on" but I saw things before that happened to lead me to believe it actually would happen... sure enough it did. Why shouldn't I feel the same way about this season? We can agree to disagree which is fine... but I don't think I'm stepping on anyone by arguing my case.
By all means, my man. I love your posts, but I just think you're setting yourself up for a huge disappointment. This is much different than the Jones debate.
Normally I don't have this kind of crazed frenzy sunshiner hysteria going into the season... but this doesn't seem like a normal Jets team to me. I probably am crazy and setting myself up for disappointment, but based on everything I know about football, my gut tells me that the majority are wrong on this Jets team. I don't even know how else to describe it outside of the logical arguments I've made... it's just a gut feeling that this team is going to be amazing beyond our wildest beliefs... and not just this year, but for a long time. I really don't see SoJ happening here.
You know Im gonna have to agree with you here. I really think this Jets team will be solid. Im not quiet sure if we'll win 12, but I know damn right we aint a 6 win team. I had predicted a 10-11 win season. If we go below .500, it would be disappointing. But if we end up 9-7, I wouldnt.
While I totally agree with this post cman..asking guys like you..and me..I know your age buddy..lol...to be patient is starting to get a little difficult. The problem I have with patience with this particular team and coaching staff is this: Why exactly do we need to be patient with this roster except for the qb position and learning a new defense. If this team is a all star receiver, a rookie qb who needs time to grow and a lineman that can rush the qb, away from hitting the next and perhaps final level...I have that type of patience. But those flaws still make this team a playoff contender for this year perhaps and a team that makes the playoffs and perhaps runs with it next year. Thats what I need to see. The only pass I will give this coaching staff and front office this year is going with a rookie qb this year..and nothing else. This front office and coaching staff decided not to pick up a veteran qb or a veteran receiver. Thats fine. I can live with that as a fan. I will throw a real shit fit if the final pieces of this puzzle are not addressed next year..be it through the draft or free agency. So yeah...Im all for the patience part..but I was told to be patient with Herm..to be patient with Mangini..and now with a damn good cast of players on this roster and a few holes to fill that were never addressed...Im being told to be patient again. In my heart I look at this roster..and this coaching staff and I say to myself if...IF...IF...Sanchez can play two years mentally beyond where he is now..this team can win this year. Not sure how far they could go..but its a playoff roster in my opinion. Very good offensive lines dont grow on trees. If Sanchez can play as one of the more mature rookie QB's to come into the pro's, I do expect this team to make a solid run for the playoffs this year.
Jay, where the hell you been at pardner? Thought you defected to the Giants or somethin.. When I say patience, I'm talking year two for definitive improvement. I'm saying give VonRyan a pass this year just to settle his big azz in the Chair, evaluate his roster after a full season, for his system to take hold on the team, and for our Kid QB to grow a bit. Not to mention jettison alot of the dead weight on the Roster and replace with quality depth. I would say that VonRyan won't have the 5 years Herm got to produce. At most, he'll have 3 to walk the talk. I think Mangini may have set a new standard here. Too bad his future will be tied to Tanny's as well as far as personnel decisions, draft day deals or hopefully NO draft day deals. We won't even bring up Woody and his damned PSL's. While I realize neither one of us is getting any younger (tag, you're it..), We've learned how to live with the Jets. That being said, We're closer than we've been in a while and with a little dare I say LUCK, we might make the playoffs in 2010. Our problem is that the rest of the AFCE has gotten tougher and is on the road back to being one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. We have talent, everybody has talent too in the division and we're the only team starting a rookie QB, implementing a new system on defense, and breaking in a new, neophyte HC. I think we're perhaps a year away and 3 major players from a bonafide playoff run. When those issues are addressed (hopefully without trading away the next 5 drafts), we'll be ready to seriously contend. If the FO/CS somehow screws le pooch on this? I'm done with them as I probably won't be alive when they next make the SB as they'll probably will have a stadium of their own by then.
It very well could be a long frustrating season. But,lets wait until a real game is played before we get too upset. I'm not expecting much this year,just hopefully some clear building blocks. But hey,you never know.
You make some excellent points. Here I was all set to not get my hopes up but be patient with the team overall, and then these points make me reconsider that. In other words, I like you want to have a better understanding of what I mean when I say patience. Yes, Ryan and Sanchez get a pass this year, up to a point. At least they should inspire confidence regarding future development. I am less inclined to be patient if, as I expect, the team seems to be held back by mediocre wideouts. I just don't see where the points come from this team. Going into the season with this group seems like it is wasting a very good OL (at least the starters) and running backs. Balance is important in the NFL, and this O does not have it, and that has nothing to do with Ryan and Sanchez being new. On the other side of the ball the Lito pickup looks extremely questionable, and the line looks no better than last year. It also remains to be seen whether the pass rush will be there, but at least the safety and ilb's should be upgraded. The real problem comes after this year. I fear the lines between the ones that rise for the younger players may not intersect with the ones declining for the older players, and several of the older good players do not appear to have backups who will take up the slack, meanwhile #2 wr and CB remain big holes. In other words, I am not so sure time is on this team's side, although of course it would be huge if Sanchez develops into a franchise Qb.
