I was thinking about this thread last night after the game and @forevercursed is on to something! Think back to 1995. The Jets were (3-13). Then 1996. Even worse, (1-15). Then Parcells took over and the Jets instantly went (9-7) in 1997 and (12-4) in 1998. The Jets have some pieces. They also lost SEVERAL games in 2017 and 2018 that they could have won with better coaching. That is not even debatable. So hiring the next Head Coach of the New York Jets will play a big role in them becoming perennial contenders or continuing to be at the bottom of the league. If they somehow, by the grace of God, pick the right guy: it could be an amazing next decade for Jets fans. (As crazy as that sounds at the current moment)
Sure, we can be good as soon as next year and SB contenders as soon as 2020. But because we have the Johnsons it's at least as likely we'll retain Mac, hire a coach nobody else wants, and keep losing.
I would say that if Mac remains as GM, the odds of our getting the right HC, getting the talent we need in FA and the draft in 2019, and the team being good then and a contender in 2020 are slim and none. They have to be astronomically against that happening if for no other reason than the Johnsons.
I want this to be true but a lot would have to fall the Jets way before fans would believe. First get a competent GM. One with a strong scouting background. You can get a flunky to be the bean counter for salary cap issues. Let the GM hire the coach so that they both have a vested interest. Unlike this square peg, round hole things we have now thanks to Ron Wolf and Charlie Casserly. The Jets right now have sporadic talent and that is a problem since they have been drafting top 10 for a while. Enunwa, Darnold, Herndon and maybe Anderson if he can stay clean. Defense I don't know if it's a product of bad coaching holding these guys down or they just plain suck. Lot of work to be done but the gaps can be close with the right team in place.
A big part of the problem is the current power structure. With both the coach and GM reporting directly to ownership there is no one vision for the team when you have one guy trying to win now and another just as concerned with the future. We need to Make one guy in charge of football decisions, be it a new GM, or a new coach that has the final say. This two headed monster experiment is a disaster.
I think our future is bright as well. The only concern I have is that some people view our franchise as a joke and some FAs won’t want to sign here for that reason.
That changes instantly with the right hire. Say John Harbaugh is hired the Jets are no longer a joke. Anyway in most instances money is the deciding factor and that is something we will have in abundance.
I think you need to adjust your expiration date for players nowadays. 30 isn’t the cliff it used to be. O line man can play well well into their 30s. Adding a 28/29 yo left guard on a big contract isn’t going to be a problem that hold the team back. It would actually be beneficial if we end up going with a rookie left tackle. Faneca was huge for brick early in his career.
