The Jets are likely headed for a so-so rebuilding season in which they integrate the key 4-3 players into the 3-4 and basically stand still on the offensive side of the ball. If they are to take a step forward there are a few key indicators that we can watch for. These are the 5 keys that I'm watching for early on to get a clue on how good or bad the Jets will be in 2007. 1. How good is Nick Mangold? If he's really an all-pro waiting to be recognized then the Jets have a chance to be better than mediocre on the offensive side of the ball. You can compensate somewhat for mediocre talent eslewhere on the line with exceptional play from your center. If Mangold is just a good player or gets hurt watch out, the floor for this team could be a lot lower than we think. 2. How is the QB play early on? Chad's going to start the season. If he can contribute positives to the offense then the Jets have a chance to preserve the status quo from last year and have a shot at the playoffs. If he looks overwhelmed, as he did at the beginning of 2005, then the Jets will have to rely eventually on Kellen Clemens and the rebuilding aspect of the season will become apparent. 3. Is the middle of the 3-4 solid yet or is it as porous as it was last season? The big questions revolve around Dewayne Robertson and Jonathan Vilma as they did last season. If both of these guys have figured out the 3-4 then the Jets defense has a chance to be good. If not then we're going to be looking at a defense that is shaky at the core and incapable of beating good teams consistently. There are a lot of good teams on the schedule this year. 4. Are the Jets playmakers ready to reprise their up-tone seasons last year, and will they get the opportunity? Laveranues Coles, Jerrico Cotchery and Leon Washington gave the Jets more sudden pop from the line of scrimmage than they've had in nearly two decades. Yards after the catch became a big factor for the Jets for the first time since 2002 and the Jets won several games as a result. These guys need to show us more of the same because Chad can't drive 80 yards for a TD these days, he needs a 40 yarder in there somewhere to avoid kicking a FG. 5. How prepared is Eric Mangini for the rigors of what may be a down season? Making the players run laps worked really well on the way to 10-6. It will go down like rock stew on the way to 6-10. Gotta find some ways to motivate that are not punitive or this ship could be taking on water at the midway point of the season. So, in order I'll be watching Mangold, Chad, D-Rob, Vilma, Coles, Cotchery, Washington and Mangini against the Pats and Ravens. Those are basically the people who are going to tell me where we're headed this year.
All good points. We really don't know what the Jets are going to do at this point and all of the above will be good indicators of where we are and where we're going. It may look bad... but there are a lot of positives as well... 1) We're not going into the season with Derrick Blaylock as our feature back. 2) We're two years into the system, and two years without Chad dealing with an injury in the offseason, this should make for a more technically sound execution of the gameplan. 3) As noted above, we have a lot of gamebreakers this year and that may often times serve to help get us out of some jams that we never would've gotten out of under the Herm era. 4) Just remember as well, while we may have a very daunting schedule, we also are a tough game on other teams schedules. It is not a one way road.
1. I think Mangold is the real thing, which means that he's already an average center and has the potential to be one of the best. But I agree that, if he goes down with an injury, it would be absolutely devastating. 2. I think Chad will be Chad, for better or worse. We've all discussed him ad nauseum so no need to go on here. 3. I think that Robertson and Vilma are both gonna step up in the 3-4 big time this year (Vilma, moreso) because there is a better supporting cast around them to take the pressure off. Kimo is gone, thankfully. And there's some new guys on the D-line that look like they should make an immediate impact. 4. I think the playmakers are prime to continue doing great things. Coles, Cotchery, and Leon are all explosive players. And, hopefully, we can add Thomas Jones, Brad Smith, and possibly Chansey Stuckey to that list as well this season. 5. Definitely a big question how Mangini will fare in his sophomore season. I think he's the real deal. He's a great game manager and, more importantly, the coaching staff and the players have remained almost entirely the same so I don't see any reason why things should be different this season. And I do not buy the argument that the schedule is tougher. I've looked at the schedule and I just don't see it. The Jets have it very easy down the stretch, all things considered. Obviously very tough first 2 weeks but after that I think it's a very manageable schedule. The players I am watching most closely are D-Rob (not totally sold on him even though I think he'll do better this year), Revis, whatever DE winds up taking over for Kimo, and Harris in whatever capacity he winds up playing in.
actually, i think it's this attitude that gives sunshiners a bad rep -- an unwillingness to even consider a negative possibility.
Couldn't disagree more. Not being down on the team before a single snap isn't sunshining, it's wait-and-see-ing. Of course the season could be dismal, but I believe we're in better shape than we were a year ago and more than capable of kicking on towards the playoffs. I could be wrong, but we'll find out when the games start.
you have every right to your opinion. but im not sitting here, saying, "this site is full of people who think it's gonna be a good season and a good season only." i consider both outcomes, positive and negative, and i discuss both. so when someone starts a thread - be it positive or negative - i'll provide my input. some people, if the thread is negative, don't even want to consider the points, no matter how valid they are.
I think the post should have been correctly titled as 5 QUESTIONS about the Jets upcoming season. In that context, Br4dw4y5ux article would not have come across with such a negative tone. There are POSITIVE keys to look at when viewing the pending season. But, every team has big question marks going into a season and it is not horrible to examine them.
I probably should have written the article and kept it in Notepad for editing before I posted it a day later. The 24 hour rule is a sound one. The keys that I'm watching, with the exception of 4 and 5 are ones that I have real doubts about. I should have figured out how to differentiate 1 to 3 from 4 and 5.
Very good points; here are my thoughts on this: 1. on Mangold: It remains to be seen. He's entering his second year, and there's been quite a few examples of athelets who did nothing but shining in their respective rookie year, then hit sophomore wall in their second year. If Mangold hits his wall in his year 2, expect knee-deep shit, as the line has no one else to fall back on. 2. QB Play: whether Pennington plays like doggie doo-doo or not, now is not the time for Clemens. He has impressed me quite a bit during this preseason, and I am not as skeptical about him as I used to be. For this reason, I don't think it's right time to put him in. As much as he has grown, he's still immature to a degree. What's more, the line can't protect him - maybe next year, after the FO addresses the OL and DL through another draft. Till then, Chad will have to hold the fort. Nothing against Chad - I myself was somewhat of a Chad homer, but his time is about done unfortunately. 3. I don't see this year's 3-4 getting more solid than yesteryear's version. The problem with DRob is not that he lacks understanding (as it was apparent in the later part of last season's campaign.) He just lacks the bulk, and I don't think that problem can be solved overnight. Expect tough year from DRob, and in turn, Vilma. I seriously thought the Jets could go for Alan Branch last year - and was hoping for it too - but that didn't happen. Will have to see this year. 4. About the playmakers; they did have quite a few contributions here and there, but I'd say that it'd be too much to ask that much from them all over again this year. Since Chad can't deliver with his arm, this means the offensive productivity will decline significantly - this is more or less because now every NFL team has a season's worth of tapes to prepare for. They will KNOW what they have to do to prevent the YAC from hurting them. The better the team, the stiffer the competition. 5. Mangini will be also in his second year. It remains to be seen if HE hits his sophomore wall. Obviously, he must have run out of that "motivational" tricks he employed last year (or so I think.) and re-runs are never as effective as the first-time runs. If he hits his wall, again, expect knee-deep shit. They are my thoughts.
