Year after year I keep wondering, who are the New York Jets. Recently, I thought they were a team with a motivated owner (I was half correct). They have finally figured out that the Jets Are a "Defensieve" ball control team (like the steelers of yester-year), I was kind of correct after the success in 09&10. I soon found myself running into that very same question in 2011? Who are the jets? A team that was built to win now. Well, we have an upstart QB (at the time), a game breaking weapon that was just re-signed, long term, gurenteed $ at WR. The best DB dueo in the NFL and we just drafted a nice DE in round 1; a brusing back who is the "bell cow",we are set for the next 3/7 years! So the jets, fell apart in front of my very eyes in 2011, lost their identity, as it was now PUBLIC. We defined who we were and told the entire NFL, this is how you stop the Jets. Make them beat you with #6. shotty abandoned the run game and #6 couldnt respond. Our game breaking WR was now on his own, and couldn't produce, he's dead to me BTW. 2012, well I don't know what to write, and leads me to the topic I'm the title. It's a god damn roller coaster ride every year with this team. It starts at the top, as with any organization. There is no easy way out in this game. Pick a path and stay TRUE to it. Strengthen your weaknesses when you can, but don't ever,ever, lose your identity. But you need to define it first...
The Jets want to be a ground and pound defensive team, yet they don't have the personel. They need to address those issues, bring in players that fit that style of play.
Well, we could continuously draft a QB in the 6th round until we strike gold with the next Tom Brady, or We could finish dead last year after year until we draft the next Andrew Luck, or We could build a suffocating defense designed by Rex Ryan to hold 'elite teams' to under 20 points and then keep the ball for over 30 mins a game by handing off to a power running game and kick 7 FGs.
You could ask the same question about ~25 teams in this league. They're all searching for their franchise QB.
i will never understand statements like this. is this supposed to make it better that the jets are in the same bad situation as other teams? is this supposed to rationalize jets shortcomings/failures? and why should you as a jets fan give a damn about what's going on with any other franchise? i don't get this type of fan mentality at all
That's how it is. I wasn't giving the Jets a "pass" for it, it's hard to find a QB that sticks, and until then it's constant shuffling.
first off i don't think "25" teams are looking for a starting qb still don't get why it matters at all what's going on with anyone else but ur team
It doesn't. OP is talking about "identity", so I ask who in this league even has an "identity"? The Pats? Steelers? Uh... Falcons?
Their a middle of the pack team that's been on the decline due to losing players who played key roles in previous years. Their a defensive minded team that needs to stick to that and upgrade the qb position. Despite my views on them being a middle of the pack team, I feel with a good draft and upgrades on the offensive side of the ball they can be back in contention. Them not quitting on this season says something positive about their identity though
what exactly do u mean by "identity" anyway? btw for some teams winning is their identity-however it's done
All great teams have/had an identity. Bears, Always know for their Defense. They are committed to drafting and developing players on that side of the ball NO MATTER WHAT. Giants, Have consistently had a top tier Defense and a power running game, they draft accordingly and develop. I could name 15 other teams with an identity at one point in time that DEFINED their success over a stretch of years. Usually it is an organizational philosophy, starting with the owner/GM. They then bring in their guys to execute said philosophy. The Jets are a rudderless organization that evidently lacks the identity we are all searching for. Besides being media relevant...
I agree completely with everything you said. Personally I think they should stick with the defensive minded approach they've developed in the Rex Ryan era and develop the identity of a defensive minded team year in year out. Almost every year you know the steelers and ravens are going to have one of the better defenses in the league and it allows then to compete year in year out. Defense has worked with this team in 09 and 10 when it had the pieces to be elite and defense has kept this team hanging around the past 2 seasons. The jets haven't had a great qb since Namath that will put up numbers consistently so defense is the route to go. If they end up ever getting an elite qb then great but a consistent defense can mask a bunch of the problems on offense if the offense doesn't turn the ball over regularly. Cough cough mark Sanchez cough cough
Isn't it clear were a defensive-minded team? Our coach is fuckin Rex Ryan. The D will always be solid under him.
It would be nice if it were solider though. Good run defense is kind of fundamental to overall defensive effectiveness.
What am I saying is, they need to sustain that defensive mindset. The steelers have been a defensive team for as long as i can remember. The ravens since 1999. I'd hope the jets have that similar longevity in terms of being defensive minded. The steelers and ravens have changed coaches but the philosophy has stayed the same. I would like the jets to have that type if consistentness and longevity for the long run.
They will sustain that mindset if they don't fire RR. Has our D been a weakness at all while he's been here? It's clear our problems are on offense. Sanchez hasn't progressed the way they'd like and you are seeing them adjust as the season goes on. But the D remains the strength of the team. Pittsburgh has sustained excellence on D because LeBeau has been there the whole time and has the pieces he needs. Baltimore is starting to fall apart on D now without RR or Pagano.
The Steelers have drafted 9 LB's in the last 6 years. They know what makes their defense tick and they have stayed at it until they found the right pieces to keep it going. What commitments have the Jets made that are similar in scope? You have to really focus as an organization to maintain success over time. That's what has made the Steelers great and it's why they have kept their heads above the muck that ebbs and flows around every franchise.
So the Steelers have an 'identity' because they draft a lot of linebackers? Eh. They have Dick LeBeau, that's most of their sustained defensive success. And their offensive identity is fluid: At one point they were a lull you to sleep then hit you with gadget plays team, other points ground and pound, more recently they're a more aerial offense than they get credit for. The Broncos have a superior defense to the Steelers this year but if you ask anyone what their 'identity' is, that answer would revolve around Peyton Manning. I think the term is overrated. Your 'identity' is whatever you happen to be good at at a given time, and/or an area of focus in terms of player personnel. Five of our last six first round picks have been on defense. I would say that is focusing on a defensive mindset. Success doesn't come from stacking one area, it comes from your picks panning out.
A top tier defense? They've finished better than 17th in total defense exactly once (2008, 5th) in the past 8 years. Sure they create pressure with their DLine, but they have consistently had a top tier defense.
