QB: Mark Sanchez is our franchise QB for years to come, but Vinny Testaverde was at his best and had the 2nd best QB year of any Jet in our history. Sanchez may throw 20+ TDs with all these weapons but due to the age and the experience factor, I'm going to have to go with Vinny. Advantage: 1998 Jets RB/FB: Curtis Martin is the best RB and possibly the best Jets player ever. In 1998 he was hampered by many injuries including a MCL tear and a tailbone injury to name a few. Though he had one of his worst statistical years in his career, this is about overall talent. Leon Johnson was his back up and was one of our better returners we have had in team history. FBs Keith Byars and Jerald Sowell were opening up holes and Byars was a solid receiving option out of the backfield. The 2010 Jets have a full stable of RBs led by Shonn Greene and future HOF LaDainain Tomlinson. Shonn Greene showed a lot of promise in the 09' playoffs and LT should have a better year behind our oline. Tony Richardson is as good as it gets for a FB. Though this may change at the end of the year, there are too many question marks about the 2010 backfield to overcome a unit with Curtis Martin. Advantage: 1998 Jets WR: Pro Bowler Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet were a formidable duo back in 98'. Each had a 1,000 yard season and were wrecking havoc on NFL secondaries. KJ at 6'4" 220 was a huge target and an awesome red zone threat while Chrebet was Mr. Reliable on 3rd downs. Dedric Ward was our 3rd WR. The 2010 Jets are led by Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery. Braylon Edwards is a big target who can go over the middle or burn CBs downfield, Holmes is a clutch, deepthreat and J-Co is our reincarnated version of Wayne Chrebet. I think Keyshawn is the best of the bunch but the 2010 Jets have way too much overall talent to not surpass this group. They may not post better individual numbers, but comparing Dedric Ward to Jerricho Cotchery is a joke. Advantage: 2010 OL: Oh man this one is going to be tough. In 1998 we had the best oline in the NFL. Entering 2010 we again have the best oline in the NFL. I think D'Brick is better then Fabini. Fabini is a better run blocker but D'Brick is becoming a pretty good one himself and is easily more athletic than Fabini. Brick is definitely a better pass blocker. I think Faneca is better then Matt O'Dwyer though I may be wrong. Mawae vs Mangold I don't know lol. They are both the best at their position at this time. I'd say its a push. Brandon Moore is better then Kerry Jenkins. And Jumbo Elliot is better then Woody. Advantage: 2010 DL: We were a 4-3 in 1998 and are now a 3-4 team in 2010. Jason Ferguson, Anthony Pleasant, Rick Lyle, and Ernie Logan vs Kris Jenkins, Shaun Ellis and currently Mike Devito? Fergie was good but not even close to as good as Jenks and Ellis for that matter. This one is easy. Advantage: 2010 LB: Again different systems so based on head to head. Mo Lewis, Bryan Cox, Marvin Jones vs David Harris, Bart Scott, Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas(JT?). Mo Lewis was the man and was All Pro in 1998. He probably was the best sack artist of the bunch though you can make a case for Pace. Harris is much better then a 34 year old Pepper Johnson. Bart Scott is awesome against the run, he sheds blocks like a beast and is the crazy vocal leader that Cox was for us. Bryan Cox is the best Bryan of the bunch. He is noticeably better then Bryan Thomas. It is hard to judge because of uneven numbers. If Marvin Jones was healthy that year I would of went with 1998 but that is not the case. Advantage: 2010 CB: Aaron Glenn was the best CB in our history prior to the arrival of Revis Christ. Love you Glenn but it is a no contest. Cromartie has as much talent as any CB in the NFL. He is also a ball hawk and a 25 year old former All Pro. Otis Smith was excellent for bump and run but doesn't have anything close to the talent level that Cromartie has. I think Cromartie is going to have a big year for us. Ray Mickens is easily better then Lowery. Overall Revis and Cromartie are too much to overcome for the 1998 unit. Advantage: 2010 S: Victor Green was an awesome playmaking safety for us. Leonhard is a gritty intelligent player, but I'll take Green all day. Jerome Henderson/Kevin Williams vs Brodney Pool is hard to say because we haven't seen Pool play yet. But I know he is very athletic and has good ball skills, its just a matter of staying healthy. Williams was blaa and Henderson was promising prior to his career ending injury. Advantage: 1998 K: John Hall kicked only 71% that year and never had a year like Folk. He had a big leg who was never accurate. Nothing to get excited about but I'd say Folk almost by default. Advantage: 2010 P: Both punting games are trash and used multiple punters to get by. Whatever Advantage: Trash Overall I think the 2010 team is more talented. The 1998 Jets went 12-4 so I think worse case scenario we should win nothing less then 11 games.
I think the 2010 team has much more talent, especially on the defensive side. What the 1998 team had however was a Super Bowl winning coach (as much as I love Rex, it's only his 2nd year), and a veteran QB coming off his best season. Also had Curtis Martin in the prime of his career. I think the 2010 team might actually be the most talented Jets team on paper that I've ever seen.
It's silly to compare a team that hasn't even played a game together yet with one from the past. That said, Keyshawn & Wayne vs Braylon, Santonio, and Cotch, yeah the 2nd group looks better on paper, but when two of them put up over 1K yards together in the same season, then we can make that call. Ground game is again a who knows? What if LT impresses? When if SG starts where he left off and dominates? There are so many question marks. Martin only put up 1287 yards and 3.5 YPC that year. I think these guys can do better, no? Defense should be better, but what if last year was a fluke? I mean overall the 2010 team looks better on paper. However, that's why we actually play games. Good teams on paper means very little.
The 99 team may have actually been more talented than 98.. except for that whole no backup qb thing..
its not even close. The 2010 Jets could very well be the most talented team EVER in the history of the nfl. Now that doesnt mean it could or should translate to an undefeated season since there are other factors (chemistry, how effectively sanchez can perform, attitude ,how hard players try etc etc) But from a raw talent perspective, I do not imagine there being another team even coming remotely close to where the jets currently are.
I don't know just to name a couple, those Cowboy and 49er dynasty teams may have something to say about that. But overall I agree this may be the most talented Jets team ever assembled.
If we can solidify the trenches and add a pass rusher in the draft, then this might be the most talented team the franchise has ever fielded.
I think it's pretty crazy that we have 13 former first round picks starting for us, most of them on the offensive side of the ball. I'll bet you can't find another team with that many. Mark Sanchez Nick Mangold D'Brick A. Faneca D. Woody B. Edwards S. Holmes D. Keller D. Revis S. Ellis D. Cromartie B. Thomas C. Pace Not that being a 1 rounder garauntee's you'll be great in the NFL, but it's impressive to me none the less.
As was Ghost. LT is pretty washed up at this point in his career, but a washed up LT can still be useful in limited doses.
Make that 12. Forgot about Calvin Pace(18th overall) :grin:. It's definitely impressive. Your 100% right being drafted in the 1st rd doesn't mean your going to be great, but it does show how talented you are. And we have plenty of talent.
Just think of how many guys we have with a realistic shot of getting selected (but unable to attend)to the pro bowl. Maybe 9 guys on offense (10 if Sanchez makes huge strides) And at least 6 guys on defense (possibly more depending on the linebacker situation) If Folk returns to form thats 16, and if we still have Leon youre talking 17 fricken guys. This team is just insane (Yeah I know the probowl means shit, but still having 17 guys who you wouldnt be surprised if made the probowl, just wow)
On paper, I think 2010 gets the nod as far as all-around talent. however, '98 had a big edge in Testaverde, the most important position on the field.
:drunk: I love our roster right now. I LOVE it. But if you're about to bestow the Greatest Team Ever label on them right now you have to be out of your mind. We're a contender, let's leave it at that. And I'd say the 2010 team is better on paper than the 98 team. And the 98 team was damn good.
It's statements like this that make rival fans want to troll Jets message boards. You don't say something like this before the season begins. That's what the early 90's Redskin fans were doing. Bad karma, dude.
