It comes as a bitter task to try and re-assemble a team that
I have despised since its existence, or my existence for that matter. Coupled
with the fact that I have certainly enjoyed watching the ‘vein of my
existence’, continue to self-destruct year after year, I have absolutely no
desire to see this poorly ruined organization resurrect in any way, shape or
form. I mean, it’s the Jets. Are they not to suppose to be terrible for
all-time? #GreenDoom (What are the chances of Woody Johnson liking this?)
But
for the sake of all objectivity, let’s say I was not a Patriots fan. Let’s say
the Patriots were not the greatest team of all-time. Or the greatest
organization in all of sports. Bill Belichick was not a Buddha dressed in sweats,
and Tom Brady was not the second coming of…but I digress. Let’s say this was
the case, If I cared to rebuild the Jets, this is how it should get done.
The Jet Mind-Set: Defense Wins in the AFC
The
Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins, Bengals, Browns, Chargers and Texans are 7 out of the
12 teams in contention for a playoff spot heading into this weekend. What do
they all have in common? They all do not have an offense that ranks in the top
10. Matter of fact, only the Bengals and Chargers have offenses in the top 20
(in terms of total yards). While the focus of the offseason will be centered
around whoever will rebuild the Jets offense and however they do it. There is
no denying that the Jets need to improve on an offense that scores 16 points
per game (good enough for 29th in the league). But the good news is
the do not need to create an offense that scores 30 points per game either.
Slight and subtle changes may be just enough to get the Jets back on the right
track. They need another reliable receiver to go along with Decker and Percy
Harvin, should he return, but they don’t need Calvin Johnson. They need a more
reliable every down back, but they don’t need DeMarco Muray, and they need
something stable at quarterback, someone who can protect the ball, but they don’t
need Tom Bra…let’s not even try to imagine that!
What the Jets need to build around: The Front Seven
The
Jets have one of the best defensive lines in all of football. Muhammad
Wilkinson, Sheldon Richardson and Quinton Coples is one of the youngest, most
dynamic grouping in the league that the Jets needs to build around in order to
find success once again. The way you build around this young grouping is by not
simply trying to rebuild the offense, which most Jet fans would agree is the
weakest portion of the team, but to strengthen the other components of the
defense. The Jets need to become more stable and athletic at linebacker
position and need to find more reliable pieces in the secondary that can create
turnovers. Dee Milner can compare himself to Deion Sanders if he chooses too,
the fact remains the Jets ranked 19th against he pass, and they have
only five interceptions on the year.
While
the obvious thing the Jets need to do is rebuild the offense, the strength lies
in its defense, they have the components to become a dominant defense once
again. The room for error on the offense will depend upon the Jets future moves
for the defense.
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan
While
Jet fans are eager to rid themselves of General Manager Jeff Idzik, the likelihood
of that happening is as slim as Woody Johnson closing his twitter account. What
Jet fans need to understand that this entire season was by design, and Johnson
must have signed off on Idzik allowing this “bottoming out” season to take
place. Now whether it was a part of larger conspiracy to rid themselves of Rex
Ryan or to just put themselves in a better spot in the draft, remains to be
seen. But what we will see is a new head coach in New York.
The Jets need a more established ‘head
coach’ to take the reigns in New York. They have had coordinators (like Rex
Ryan), wiz kids (like Eric Mangini), projects (like Herman Edwards), and guys
name Al (like Al Groh), but the last time they hired a true, established head
coach was Bill Parcells. The Jets need to head back in that direction once
again and this time they can hire another, Super Bowl winning coach in Mike
Shanahan.
Shanahan’s
tenure in Washington received a bad rep because of the RG III situation, but
seeing how that situation played out this year with a new coach, perhaps it
wasn’t a Mike Shanahan issue. While it would not be the sexiest hire, it would
be the most logical, considering the coaching candidates that are available.
The Jets can dream about Harbaugh but in all likelihood he would not make that
big of a move. But a good head coach, like Shanahan could make a huge
difference.
Free Agents: Nate Irving-ILB, Brandon Flowers-CB, Ryan
Mathews-RB
Now
of course this is all contingent on the notion that all of these guys do not
resign for their respective teams. However the Broncos have bigger fish to fry
(like Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas) and the Chargers may be looking to go
in a different direction at running back due to Mathews injury history. Flowers
would be one of the best corners on the market, and chances are the Chargers
would not be able to pay him what he would garner on the open market.
Having
said all of that, these are three perfect fits with the Jets. Irving and
Flowers not only cover up the weakest spots on the defense (with the exception
of safety) they solidify the groups to go along with Wilkinson, Richardson, and
Coples. Mathews, despite the injury history, has proven to be a good runner and
could really benefit by running in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme.
Draft Pick: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
While
the Jets would be clamoring for a quarterback in the draft its imperative to
understand what was said earlier: “They don’t need Tom…” And if they try to
convince themselves that Mariota or Winston could be something close to that
and they try to trade up and it doesn’t work it would set the Jets back for
years. If you though the Mark Sanchez move proved to be devastating, this would
be worse.
Instead
they need to settle on the best player in the draft, and select Amari Cooper. A
receiving combo of Cooper, Decker, and Harvin would instantly give the Jets one
of the best receiving corps in the league, and when was the last time you could
ever say that? Cooper is a high character guy who can run every route, in any
position. It would be a slam-dunk pick for the Jets who have missed more
lay-ups in the draft than any other team in history. If the Jets want to go
down the right path to success, they need change their karma at the draft.
Trades: NYJ trades their 6th Round Pick to the
Minnesota Vikings for QB Matt Cassel
Now before all Jet fans get in an
uproar, again I ask that you consider the following…how much worse is Matt
Cassel from the likes of Kyle Orton, Ryan Tanniehill, Andy Dalton, Ryan
Fitzpatrick/Tom Savage/Ryan Mallet combo, Brian Hoyer/Johnny Manziel combo, and
Alex Smith? You might even say he is better than a few or more of those guys
mentioned. Again, you do not need to have an elite quarterback to compete or
win in the AFC if you have a solid defense. I am not suggesting that Matt
Cassel is the future for the Jets, but going into to the offseason next year,
does anyone see who their “future” is at that position? While the Jets may not
find their future quarterback next year, they can still make a low-risk
maneuver to sustain a stable offense.
Matt Cassel does not turn the ball
over at any kind of alarming rate, and with a good supporting cast, something
he never had in Kansas City or Minnesota, he could move the chains with as much
efficiency as an Alex Smith does. Cassel would provide the Jets with just what
they need, and he could possibly mirror the consistency of a Vinny Testaverde
or Chad Pennington (talk about high praise).
While jet fans have become enamored
with their recent history and clamor to see Rex Ryan retained and try to
recreate the seasons of 2009 and 2010. But perhaps the Jets should look deeper
into their past and try to recreate what made them successful prior to the Rex
Ryan tenure. A true head coach, a stronger defense, and even though they cannot
get their hands on their own Tom Brady, they could certainly benefit by getting
one of his backups.
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