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Given that we're right in the heart of the dead season, I thought now would be a pretty good time to look at what the other teams in the league have been up to. I thought I'd start the journey off with the Jets.
Record last season: 9-7
Major departures: Head Coach Eric Mangini, QB Brett Favre
Major Additions: Head Coach Rex Ryan, QB Mark Sanchez
Free Agent signings: Jim Leonhard, Larry Izzo, Donald Strickland, Marques Douglas, Bart Scott
Recent History:
Last season, the Jets decided to go 'all in' on the season by signing expensive free agents and making the trade for Brett Favre. It was a gutsy decision by the club, especially because it was really only a move to secure a wild card berth in the AFC. With Tom Brady and the Patriots dominating the conference, there was no way that the Jets were going to win the division. But, as the Super Bowl had shown, anything is possible in a one game scenario. And then, fortune shined on the Jets.
In the first game of the new season, Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury. The path to the AFCE title was now clear for the Jets. It was now just a matter of integrating the new veterans into the system and making a deep run into the playoffs. And that's exactly what looked to be happening, as the Jets broke out to an 8-3 start, including wins over the surprisingly resilient Patriots and a Tennessee Titans team that had been considered the best team in the conference until the Jets destroyed them.
Unfortunately for the Jets, the win over the Titans was the high water mark for the season. Favre had suffered a biceps injury and would not be effective for the rest of the season. Jenkins, another major addition to the club, began to wear down as the strain of having to carry the run defense on his back, along with too many pounds on his frame, took its toll on his stamina. After a very promising 8-3 start, the Jets collapsed and lost 4 of the last 5 games. The team finished just 3rd in the division at 9-7 and the housecleaning began. Mangini was fired. Favre retired.
Off season news:
Sanchez has reportedly been up and down in his early days as a Jet. While this is not surprising for a rookie, the team needs Sanchez to claim the starting job right away if they are going to contend for the playoffs this season. Clemens has shown little in his NFL career to make anyone think he can lead a team to the promised land. In running back news, Thomas Jones is not happy with his contract, and the impact of his displeasure remains to be seen. Also, the wide receiver position is extremely weak, and the Jets have been named as one of the teams showing real interest in Plaxico Burress if he's allowed to play this season.
Most news out of Jets land is that the defense has been far ahead of the offense. This should come as no surprise, as the defense has a chance to be pretty good this year, if the team can find a way to get Kris Jenkins both some help and some rest during the games. Unfortunately, for Jets fans, the news on a couple of defensive players has been less than stellar. Gholston is reportedly continuing to struggle as he tries to adapt to the NFL, and Calvin Pace will miss the season's first 4 games due to a drug suspension.
Outlook:
With the quarterbacks struggling, and with one of the weakest wide receiving corps in the NFL, the Jets offense could be miserable this season. The offensive line isn't terrible, but it's nowhere near as good as it should be when you consider the individual players. This team is going to need to see rapid progress from the QB position, or the Jets season could be over early. The team's first 4 games are against Houston, New England, Tennessee and New Orleans. With Pace missing those games and the Jets being on the road against the Texans, New York could very well be the underdog in all 4 games. An 0-4 start is not out of the realm of possibility, and 2009 could quickly become a lost season for the Jets if things don't break in the team's favor early.
Prediction:
I don't expect a double digit win season from the Jets. In fact, I don't expect them to finish above .500. The combination of a difficult schedule, a weak receiving corps and inexperience at the QB position will sink the team's playoff hopes. 8 wins may be generous. A season with as few as 5 wins would not shock me.
P.S.: If anyone would like to breakdown other NFL teams, please feel free to do so. If not, I'll do my best to get to every team before the season begins, but I can't make any promises that I'll be able to do so. Also, please keep in mind that late developments can have significant effects upon a team and a change in the predictions of people making them. The signing of Burress would dramatically improve this team's receiving corps, just for an example.
Record last season: 9-7
Major departures: Head Coach Eric Mangini, QB Brett Favre
Major Additions: Head Coach Rex Ryan, QB Mark Sanchez
Free Agent signings: Jim Leonhard, Larry Izzo, Donald Strickland, Marques Douglas, Bart Scott
Recent History:
Last season, the Jets decided to go 'all in' on the season by signing expensive free agents and making the trade for Brett Favre. It was a gutsy decision by the club, especially because it was really only a move to secure a wild card berth in the AFC. With Tom Brady and the Patriots dominating the conference, there was no way that the Jets were going to win the division. But, as the Super Bowl had shown, anything is possible in a one game scenario. And then, fortune shined on the Jets.
In the first game of the new season, Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury. The path to the AFCE title was now clear for the Jets. It was now just a matter of integrating the new veterans into the system and making a deep run into the playoffs. And that's exactly what looked to be happening, as the Jets broke out to an 8-3 start, including wins over the surprisingly resilient Patriots and a Tennessee Titans team that had been considered the best team in the conference until the Jets destroyed them.
Unfortunately for the Jets, the win over the Titans was the high water mark for the season. Favre had suffered a biceps injury and would not be effective for the rest of the season. Jenkins, another major addition to the club, began to wear down as the strain of having to carry the run defense on his back, along with too many pounds on his frame, took its toll on his stamina. After a very promising 8-3 start, the Jets collapsed and lost 4 of the last 5 games. The team finished just 3rd in the division at 9-7 and the housecleaning began. Mangini was fired. Favre retired.
Off season news:
Sanchez has reportedly been up and down in his early days as a Jet. While this is not surprising for a rookie, the team needs Sanchez to claim the starting job right away if they are going to contend for the playoffs this season. Clemens has shown little in his NFL career to make anyone think he can lead a team to the promised land. In running back news, Thomas Jones is not happy with his contract, and the impact of his displeasure remains to be seen. Also, the wide receiver position is extremely weak, and the Jets have been named as one of the teams showing real interest in Plaxico Burress if he's allowed to play this season.
Most news out of Jets land is that the defense has been far ahead of the offense. This should come as no surprise, as the defense has a chance to be pretty good this year, if the team can find a way to get Kris Jenkins both some help and some rest during the games. Unfortunately, for Jets fans, the news on a couple of defensive players has been less than stellar. Gholston is reportedly continuing to struggle as he tries to adapt to the NFL, and Calvin Pace will miss the season's first 4 games due to a drug suspension.
Outlook:
With the quarterbacks struggling, and with one of the weakest wide receiving corps in the NFL, the Jets offense could be miserable this season. The offensive line isn't terrible, but it's nowhere near as good as it should be when you consider the individual players. This team is going to need to see rapid progress from the QB position, or the Jets season could be over early. The team's first 4 games are against Houston, New England, Tennessee and New Orleans. With Pace missing those games and the Jets being on the road against the Texans, New York could very well be the underdog in all 4 games. An 0-4 start is not out of the realm of possibility, and 2009 could quickly become a lost season for the Jets if things don't break in the team's favor early.
Prediction:
I don't expect a double digit win season from the Jets. In fact, I don't expect them to finish above .500. The combination of a difficult schedule, a weak receiving corps and inexperience at the QB position will sink the team's playoff hopes. 8 wins may be generous. A season with as few as 5 wins would not shock me.
P.S.: If anyone would like to breakdown other NFL teams, please feel free to do so. If not, I'll do my best to get to every team before the season begins, but I can't make any promises that I'll be able to do so. Also, please keep in mind that late developments can have significant effects upon a team and a change in the predictions of people making them. The signing of Burress would dramatically improve this team's receiving corps, just for an example.