I still believe the Jets can win 9 games because their defense will once again be very good...not dominating but good.
If that defense can keep opposing teams under 20 points on average most of the season,I think their offense could muster enough to score more than the opponent about 1/2 the time.
The Jets season will rely on defense and 2 offensive players who must have all pro seasons or unexpected play...Those 2 key guys are Holmes and Greene,of course Sanchez is going to have to be the one that allows them to prosper by not making dumb plays as he is susceptible of doing.
I truly believe that anything at or below an 8-8 record for the Jets will be the end of the Rex Ryan era in NY....I could see Tanny under pressure as well,
Woody does not appear to me to be a guy that will accept mediocrity to continue much longer without change.
I think if they go 9-7, Ryan deserves serious consideration for Coach of the Year. I think their ceiling is 8-8 because they lucked out of quite a few games last year (Romo's meltdown at the end of the game, facing Tyler Palko in KC, Getting Matt Moore on his first game as a starter, and facing Luke McCown with the Jags) and I don't think they are any better this year.
I think their offense is much worse than last year and they haven't found anyone to replace Burress or Tomlinson. Burress sucked outside the red zone, but he was a big part of them going from the worst red zone offense in 2010 to one of the best. I don't buy into Stephen Hill and never did, but he is so raw that he won't be a huge threat this year even if I am wrong. Tomlinson was also a threat in the passing game and they replaced him with McKnight who is really just a pure special teamer.
On defense, I think their LB corp is old and slow. They still haven't shown they can pressure the QB (all of their sacks came by the second and third teams and rarely pressure the QB). Their stats last year were not indicative of how they were. They were closer to average than elite and I don't know if they are significantly better especially if their offense continues to put them in bad starting positions.
I am also betting that fans will miss Schottenheimer by the end of the year. I don't think he is a great OC, but I think he knew that Sanchez was a limited QB and tailored the offense to minimize his weaknesses. Sparano is more of a rushing offensive type of guy and I don't know if he will realize the limitations and tailor the offense the same way. That could set up disaster.
BTW, the likihood of either Holmes or Greene having an All Pro season is unlikely. Greene is a limited straight line runner who can't make plays on his own and finally cracked 1,000 yards last year. Holmes has never had a great season as the clear cut #1 (his best year he was #2 to Hines Ward). Teams can double team him without fear because there is no one else who can't be covered in single coverage.
