Jenkins, Scott, Revis, and Rhodes... These are the only players on our Defense who can truely be considered "Top Tier". Not to mention, one of them is an aging veteran who has the potential to be gone in two or three years. Pace, Harris, and Ellis... These are the guys that are considered Average-Slightly Above Average. Two of these fellas are getting up there in years and are gonna need "Depth Players" behind them to get some play time. With that being said. We're playing with a Seven-Man Defense. I really don't have any confidence in Bryan Thomas, Vernon Gholston, or Kenyon Coleman. Sheppard and Leonhard are unproven guys. It's really depending on which version of Sheppard we get; the '06 version, or the '08 version. The key pickups we've made are all on Defense. We need to create depth here, so that essentially we've got lots of fresh legs on the field. I wouldn't mind trading our picks for some hot Defensive Pickups, but Ryan's already said he wants his Draft Picks. That's fine... Right now our Defense gets a B-. A solid mix of young studs with knowledgable aging veterans makes us a force. Now, I'm not saying we'll be Pittsburgh our first year under our new coach. Think Tampa Bay... Now for the Offense... Jones, Washington, Richardson This is actually a double edged sword here. All of our Offensive studs happen to be in the backfield. Not too much of a problem here; we've got out own version of Thunder and Lighting. I really believe we should pick up one more sub-par back to rotate out there to keep Jones and Leon fresh. Keller, Ferguson, Faneca, Mangold, Moore These are our slightly above average players. They're not always making plays, but they're good enough to be consistant if put in the right situations. Ratliff, Woody, Stuckey, Clowney, Cotcherry These are the guys that have some proving to do. Sure, they've shown glimmers of hope, but not enough for them to be placed on the above average players list. Hopefully these boys will shine next season. All in all, our Offense gets a C. We've got a solid ground game, but other than that we've got a young team that needs to prove themselves. We don't need any pickups to be starters, which already puts us in a better position than teams like Cleveland, Cinncy and Detriot. We just some solid backup players to keep our boys fresh. Anyway, that's my two cents. I figured I'd make a realistic thread regarding where our team stands, seeing as how everybody seems to be in the mood of putting our team on a pedestal like we're Indy, or Pittsburgh.
Be prepared to get flamed, but I agree with most of what you posted. However, you'd have to look at other teams to see how well the Jets can compete with what they have. Plus, great coaching can make up for a lot of shortcommings and the Jets might finally have that.
Good post. I think that's a pretty fair assessment. I'd hesitate to group Ratliff with any of those players now simply since he hasn't actually played. For instance, I couldn't put him in the same category as Cotchery since Cotchery has actually caught passes in real games. Also, I think it's a little too early to say great coaching staff. We have a first year HC. Granted, lots of potential, and I have high hopes, but not great yet until he's been head coach for at least 1 game. But I think this is a good thread overall.
I think your grades are a little harsh, on defense we have some talent. I disagree with saying that pace is old, he is 28, and to say it is a seven man defense is ridiculous. Thomas is nothing spectacular but he is not a chump either and with gholston resting him, its at least a formidable tandem. Shepard and leonhard are not all-pro players at this point but they should do their jobs adequately, Ryan would not have brought in leonhard if he thought he was a product of the system, and would have had to see something in shepard to go out and convince Tanny to spend the picks on him. So the defense is closer to an B+ with potential for an A if Gholston has anything to offer. As for the offense there are some concerns. The QB situation for some is fine, but realistically if you looked at another team and there QB's were Clemens and Ratliff, you would say who the hell is Ratliff and that they have no chance of playoffs. I like them both actually but it probably will be the down fall of this years team. The running game is fantastic jones is good but he is close to the end, and washington is ill nasty but not an every down back. The line is above average with a year of chemistry, and a balance of experience and youth, would like to see Ferguson improve his run blocking this year though. Keller has tons of potential but is not as developed as a blocker as he needs to be, but will be a huge help to the inexperienced QB and should have a big year. Cotchery is a solid 2 receiver and to expect anything more is unfair, and to not give him that is disrespectful, he solid but not spectacular. Then all the other receivers are unproven and should do no more then slot work until they prove something. Stuckey could be used as a 3rd down target, Clowney as a vertical threat, take 1 or 2 shots a game. As a whole i would give the offense a C+, Completely contingent on the success of the QB, which has a lot to do with who else is brought in at receiver.
Mangold is only a slightly above average player? Are you insane? And how is Pace "getting up there in years?"
I think Pace can be in there as a top tier guy if he is used the way he should be....and I think Jenkins will switch between top tier and above average. On offense, Mangold and Faneca are top tier and Ferguson is near the upper part of above average but needs to run block better to be top tier.
Overall not a bad assessment. I for one would switch TJ with Mangold on your list, but all in all its a good look at where we stand. One thing this year is goign to prove is if our players are as good/bad as we've come to belive in the ast two season or was it a coaching/system problem. REx runs a very different version of the 3-4 that should get the most out of our guys, but do our guys have the talent to pull it off. Also, we are going to find out if Clemens or Ratliff are the next Jets QB, or if we really need to draft someone to be a franchise guy. Along with that, Shotty should have full freedom to go back to his offense, not the toned down version for Farve. I expect to see more of the Shifting and misdirection that we became used to in 06 and 07, not the more simple sets used last season. No matter the outcome, 2009 is going to tell us a ton about what we really have and I'm all for it.
As for Faneca, this was statistically his worst year ever, and it has been known that he isn't the force he was once. You can't put him as a top tier just due to his name
So it seems, if you're basing it on interviews and Offseason moves. I have full confidence in Rex, but to call him great already would be premature, no?
good post, the only thing i would say is that i see mangold as being a top tier guy. he has been really solid for us so far and i can only see him getting better. hopefully some of these unproven guys can really help the team out this year, i think we have a lot of potential as a team and if ryan is as good as a coach as he sounds... we could be seeing playoffs
Faneca is WAY overrated. He's the THIRD best lineman - on the Jets! - after D'Brick and Mangold. I believe he has entered the Ronnie Lott as a Jet zone and we will see an even more steep decline this year and next.
I Mean some of it i can agree with but some shit just makes no sense. Faneca and Mangold are better then average and Pace is still fairly young and Cotchery in my opinion has proven himself with a couple of big seasons for us.
Of course not. I was using hyperbole to challenge the previous poster's assertion that our coaching staff was "great." Of course at least our HC is not great...at least not yet...since he's yet to HC a game. I used hyperbole by saying he wouldn't be great until he coached at least 1 game. And now that I've actually taking 30 seconds to explain the obvious, I will proceed to kill myself. Carry on.
At this point you just need to be better than Mangini by one game. Defense for instance - Mangini did a decent job and assembled a defense that showed flashes last year as one that could be one of the best in the league then they stopped being aggressive and played a lot more read and react... Take the best of last year Jets defense - add the upgrades at MLB, S and CB and add deception and agreesiveness and BAM, yeah, I can see Rex leapfrogging Mangini / Sutton pretty fast.... On offense simply allow Schottenheimer to do what he knows how to do and what made him one of the top HC candidates not too long ago.... Sometimes being a "Better HC" simply means tweaking what the last guy did and allowing the people around you to do their thing. Mangini's was a classroom guy - players admitted he couldn't translate that to the field.... That's Rex' specialty!!!
I think Pace put in the right system could be great we cant have him in coverage all day he has to rush the passer. Ellis had a great season last year with 8 sacks for a 3-4 DE that is a hugh year you could say he is great.
That was exactly what i was wondering. I also don't understand why Cotchery is viewed with such a lack of respect. I think he's got great hands and good size and also runs well after the catch. I mean what more do you want from a WR? I'd put him on my list of offensive playmakers. Also, why would you want to add a "subpar RB"? I also think the depth everyone is crying about will be built through the draft. I've said this before, this team is still under construction. Everything is built on a solid foundation. We've got one. Just relax and enjoy the ride people.
I agree with him being overrated. However, he brings leadership to our O-Line and Brick and Mangold played a lot better with Feneca in between them.
