Tough one. I'd say the 2006 Jets have a lot going for them that I didn't see in the 2004 Jets, particularly offensively, but the 2004 defense had some great days.
2004 obviously started a lot better, 5-0, but we lost Pennington in early November and he wasn't healthy when he came back. Also, we lost our best defensive player, John Abraham, around this time of the year and he never came back at all. So at this stage of the year, I'd have to say the 2006 team is a lot stronger. And the kicker is a lot better. :grin:
2006 by virtue of coaching alone. We play every game like it's our last, and can't remember the last time I saw consistent, conservative coaching on the O- side of things. 2004 couldn't hold 2006's jock....
2004 easily... we had one of the best rushing attacks in the the league with a deep threat in moss, and our defense played very good.
QB: edge 2006 since Chad is healthy RB: HUGE Edge 2004 WRs/TEs: edge 2006 OL: edge 2004. I think this line has the makings of a dominant one but they aren't there yet. DL: edge 2004, Robertson is playing very well this year but was also gerat in '04. Ellis was much better and Thomas was startring to show signs of life. LBs: Barton and Vilma were better but Hobson is better this year. Slight edge 2004 DBs: Edge 2006. kerry Rhodes is our best defensive player. Sts: edge 2006 Coaching: Edge 2006, I love the approach of this team. Everyone knows how I like herm but I love this staff and I love the approach they take. I don't always love the daring decisions but I'll live w/ them. Overall I think '04 was better simply b/c of the great ground attack.
2004 had less holes overall as a team, Curtis Martin and Lamont Jordan combining for over 2000 yards helped, 2004s O-Line was so much better it's not funny...... Fabini-Kendall-Mawae-Moore-Mckenzie, also that was when Chad could actually throw deep to Moss..... Overall now, we are alot healthier as a team, Coles is a warrier out there, starting every game since his second year, and Thomas is actually on the field compared to John Abraham this year.....
2004 - Hackett and Herm 2006 - Shottenjunior and Mangini It's a no-brainer. That 2004 team had more raw talent but the boring ball-control, soft defense game plan was excruciating and cost the team what should have been a Superbowl run. The Jets are way more exciting now and a much more difficult team for other teams to scheme for.
Pretty much sums up my feelings as well. I think the 2004 has a slight edge because it had more overall talent, but it's close, and I will feel more confident going into a playoff game with Mangini/Schott Jr. instead of Herm/Hackett.
What could this coaching staff have done with that 2004 roster? Bottom line though, I'd take this team only because this team has a healthy QB and a CS that plays to .... yep, I'll say it...win.
2004 was probably better. We had a helluva running game that year, and this year, we're more of a smoke and mirrors team, and that's a testament to the coaching staff that we've been able to succeed like that. Although, the way our defense has played of late, 2006 might be better. There's a better passing game this year, much better rushing game that year.
2004 was heavy with talent, but the coaching staff caused the team to underachieve. 2006 has less talent, but is overachieving because of the coaching staff.
QB- 2006 Edge since Chad wasn't healthy the 2nd half of 2004. RB- HUGE, HUGE, HUGE Edge 2004, we had one of the best running games in the league that year and it could have been the best had Herm been able to figure out a better running back rotation. I liked Herm, but that was probably my biggest problem with him. WR/TE- 2006 Edge. McCareins was probably our best in 2004, 2006 he barely plays. Baker isn't as good of a blocker as Becht but he's a much better receiver. OL- 2004. 2004 we had one of the best run blocking lines in the league. Way better than this year. I'd say 2006 has a slight pass blocking edge DL- 2004 Say what you want about Abraham, but when on the field he made plays. Our whole line had a very good year that year. LB- Individually I think we are better this year, but as a whole unit I think 2004 was better, as I think we had a better grasp on the defense. DB's- Way better in 2006. 2004 I think this was the one unit that really kept us from having any chance of winning a championship, even if one of Brien's kicks go in and we move on. ST's. Better kick returner, better punter, better kicker, 2006 by far Coaching 2006 Mangini has done a great job. It's hard to say. I'm a believer that if you can stop the run and run the ball you can win, and in 2004 we did both those things very well, this year we haven't. I think if you took our 2004 team at the beginning of the year with a healthy Chad and a healthy Abraham, I'd take that team. But at this point in the season I'd take the 2006 team.
The 2004 team was better overall namely because of Curtis and the rushing attack. However, if you take the talent we had in 2004 and mix it with the coaching (and kicking) we've had this year then you have yourself a bonafide superbowl contender.
2004 was better. The defense was very good, 7th in yards and 5th in points allowed? Martin was on fire, Chad's playaction was very effective, etc. They went into San Diego and won, and we all know what happened the next game, had Doug make a kick then it'd be Championship game at New England, but I digress... I like this team, but this team can be stopped offensively.
04' would give 06' fits on the ground, but the play calling would have them fall short in the end. Special teams would win it for 06'.
It hurts more and more knowing that Brien, not once, but TWICE denied us the chance to knock off the Pats in the AFC Champ. Game.
Biggest difference maker on D we had in 2004, that I have not heard anyoneme mention-- Jason Ferguson. He deserved to go to the pro bowl in 2004. His play freed up the rest of the DL and the LBs. That was the most physical, attacking Jets D I have seen in a long time as a result. Our secondary's lack of talent was overcome by the ability to generate a pretty good pash rush with only the Dline. If the offense continues to improve through the next few weeks I'd give the edge to this year's squad, though. We just couldn't score points that year without fighting for every inch... and that killed us twice against the steelers and also against the Pats.
