How to Fix ‘em: New York Jets
By: Matt Harmon
Year in Review:
Oh boy, where to begin? So much went wrong for the Jets in 2012 it’s hard to sum it all up in this yearly review blurb. Well, we know the quarterback position, and the entire offense under the inept Tony Sparano, was a nightmare. Mark Sanchez has gone into full on regression mode, and he simply cannot be allowed to start for this team again. Of course the Cult of Tebow didn’t help matters. I feel bad for Tebow, he clearly never got a fair shake at this job and the way Sparano used him in his “awesome” wildcat packages was just a total disgrace. Sparano was fired and rightfully so; he is one of the worst offensive coaches we have ever seen. Still, Tebow isn’t the answer and he will be playing elsewhere next season. On the defense they were good, but not great. However, an offense that can actually sustain drives and stay on the field would go a long way for the defense. It looks like Rex Ryan is going to keep his job, and I have mixed feelings on that decision. I respect Rex as a pure X’s and O’s football coach, and consider him to be one of the best defensive minds of our time. Never the less, Rex has mismanaged this team and has been a big part in creating a bad culture that has come back to bite this team. I never liked reports that he would so strongly pit the offense and defense against each other in practices. Its good to create competition on your team, but when one side of the ball is so clearly the weak link of the squad, you naturally create dissention and mutiny in a locker room which wasn’t exactly assembled with choir boys. Rex gets another year to prove he is the leader New York needs, but with a new General Manager facing a nightmarish cap situation and no good way out of the Sanchez mess, I can’t say my confidence is high.
Top Five Team Needs:
Offseason Moves:
(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/N/new-york-jets-logo#.UPocvqVnL18)
Year in Review:
Oh boy, where to begin? So much went wrong for the Jets in 2012 it’s hard to sum it all up in this yearly review blurb. Well, we know the quarterback position, and the entire offense under the inept Tony Sparano, was a nightmare. Mark Sanchez has gone into full on regression mode, and he simply cannot be allowed to start for this team again. Of course the Cult of Tebow didn’t help matters. I feel bad for Tebow, he clearly never got a fair shake at this job and the way Sparano used him in his “awesome” wildcat packages was just a total disgrace. Sparano was fired and rightfully so; he is one of the worst offensive coaches we have ever seen. Still, Tebow isn’t the answer and he will be playing elsewhere next season. On the defense they were good, but not great. However, an offense that can actually sustain drives and stay on the field would go a long way for the defense. It looks like Rex Ryan is going to keep his job, and I have mixed feelings on that decision. I respect Rex as a pure X’s and O’s football coach, and consider him to be one of the best defensive minds of our time. Never the less, Rex has mismanaged this team and has been a big part in creating a bad culture that has come back to bite this team. I never liked reports that he would so strongly pit the offense and defense against each other in practices. Its good to create competition on your team, but when one side of the ball is so clearly the weak link of the squad, you naturally create dissention and mutiny in a locker room which wasn’t exactly assembled with choir boys. Rex gets another year to prove he is the leader New York needs, but with a new General Manager facing a nightmarish cap situation and no good way out of the Sanchez mess, I can’t say my confidence is high.
Top Five Team Needs:
- Quarterback: Mark Sanchez is done, at least in New York he should be. It’s hard to declare that about a player who is still so young but he has regressed every year he’s been in the league and his confidence is completely shot after the Tebow situation. His contract makes it tough, but New York has to eat that money and get rid of him. Its best for both player and team. However, with Rex still on board we can never rule out him stubbornly sticking with his guy. New York needs to explore every avenue possible to upgrade the quarterback position. A fresh start at quarterback would signal Rex is learning from his mistakes and evolving as a coach.
- 3-4 Rush Linebacker: This has a spot that been a problem for the Jets ever since Ryan arrived on the scene. His scheme is able to manufacture a lot of pressure with blitzes, but that comes at the expense of the coverage unit. A consistent three down pass rusher would go along way for this team.
- Skill position players (WR/TE/RB): The Jets are supposed to be based on “Ground and Pound” but when was the last time they had a really good running game? Shonn Greene averaged a very paltry 3.9 yards per carry. He could be a decent committee back, but he shouldn’t be a starter. He is a free agent anyways. An every down back, who can contribute in the passing game, would really help whoever the quarterback is. Tight end Dustin Keller is a free agent and must be retained. As for the wide receivers, Santonio Holmes may not be back at his salary number, and while Stephen Hill is young and talented, an influx of talent should be made here.
- Right Tackle: This has a spot that has bothered the Jets the last two seasons. Wayne Hunter was terrible in 2011 and Austin Howard didn’t fare much better last season. An upper echelon starter would help get the running game going again and complete a well-rounded offensive line.
- Safety: LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell are both free agents, and at 35 years old it’s hard to see Bell being a starter again next season. Landry is a little bit of a wacko, which makes him a perfect Jet, and he actually managed to stay healthy last year. I wouldn’t over pay for him, but he should be brought back.
Offseason Moves:
- John Idzik hired as General Manager: I have mixed feeling on this hire. On one hand I understand the Jets hiring a salary cap guy as a GM because of their hellacious cap situation. However, didn’t they just fire a guy who was a supposed cap wizard because he was clueless about making football personnel decisions? This looks like the type of hire that works in the short term, but given that Idzik has no personnel experience it could hurt them in the long term. Grade: C
- Marty Mornhinweg hired as Offensive Coordinator: I like the idea of implementing a west coast offense, but I don’t like this hire. With Rex Ryan being so inept at working an NFL offense I wanted the Jets to hire a coach who could be trusted to totally run that side of the ball. I do not trust Mornhinweg at that level. He hasn’t been out of the shadow of Andy Reid for a long time now, and frankly he hasn’t shown much ability as a play caller. I would have preferred Hue Jackson or Pat Shurmur. The Jets will probably be making another offensive coordinator hire this time next year. Grade: C-
(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/N/new-york-jets-logo#.UPocvqVnL18)
