Okay-- I think the jets will be very good in 2008, after a average (8-8 at best) 2007. Yes, I hope I'm wrong, and I hope we win the Super bowl this year. But here's why IMO we're poor this year and great next: 1. Very tough schedule this year--not the creampuff schedule we enjoyed in playoff years 2004 and 2006. 2. Pennington looks bad. I figures jets brass is going to put up with Chad's wounded ducks only one more year. Don't get me wrong, Pennington is a tough, smart QB with a heart as big as Texas, but you can't make an atom bomb without uranium--He does not have the arm to get you deep into the playoffs, if he even gets us very close there this year. His dink and dink passes have as much zip on them as a high school QB, and I think this preseason showed the the defenses know that and are jumping the routes. I look for Clemens to take over if the jets fall out of contention and look for Kellen to star in 2008. 3. OL/DL Bender will take a year to learn OG, D'Brick needs time, Drob never has and will never live up to king's ranson Dumbway gave for him, and the jets still have no pass rush. They need a fast, fast LB coming around the corner if they continue with the 3-4 (which they will). 4. I think Revis, Harris and Stuckey play major roles in the 2008 jets--I look for Stuckey to jump past Brad Smith and McCarrens in 2008 and be at least the #3 WR. Much of this post is pretty obvious, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think we're looking at a step back in 07, and full speed ahead with a few tweaks in 2008. Now anyone who disagrees can let me have it.
It's too easy to say that. Too much is unpredictable in the league, so it's impossible to predict two years ahead.
I think your theory holds some substance but a lot hinges on your 2nd point regarding Pennington. I have no reason to doubt he will have a great year simply because he has consistently done that in face of serious setbacks. When I see a fully fit Chad have a bad year then I'll start to have doubts about him. For the record I think he will have a huge year.
Honestly, I don't think anyone knows what to expect from the Jets, which I guess is a bad thing. There are a lot of questions going into the season: CP, OL, Running Game, entire defense. Only given we have is special teams which does help out both offensive and defensive units. Offense: Probably less suspect than defense, this unit will be good if and only if Thomas Jones and Leon run the ball effectively every game. CP did show last year he could win without a running game but with a suspect OL, asking him to drop back 30+ times a game = disaster. Defense: I was really hoping this unit would be the strength of the team by adding a true NT, pass rusher, and CB. Looks like we got 1 out of 3. The front 7 is still not stopping the run. The whole bend, not break thing, I think we are all tired of seeing. If Revis, asking a lot here, can be a shutdown corner, it does change the defensive scheme, maybe sneak a safety up to help with the run defense but thats a lot to ask of a rookie. In any case, don't t judge the team until the bye week, looking at the schedule we will probaly be 0-2 by week 3. Hopefully by then some adjustments are made and we can hopefully finish with a decent record and contend with for a playoff spot, but once again for that to happen we need a lot of things to fall into place. @OP, agreed, Year 2 = minor setback, Year 3: deep into playoffs if FO stays the course after a rocky year 2.
