State of the Franchise - New York Jets

2017 Record: 5-11

Last playoff Appearance: 2010/2011 – Lost in AFC Championship Game

Coach: Todd Bowles (20-28 in career as HC)

GM: Mike Maccagnan

2017 Performance

The Jets’ 2017 performance, much like the validity of marmite as a condiment or Boris Johnson as a functioning human-being, is very much an ‘eye of the beholder’ type of thing. On the face of it, a second consecutive 5-11 year is poor enough for the Bowles-Maccagnan axis to start sweating severely under the pressure and glare of the New York media.

In light of the mass purging of veterans in the offseason, and subsequent predictions of 0-16 records, the season does have some moments of light. Therefore, it’s hard to really put a label on it. A school report may recommend an improvement in attitude whilst acknowledging the results needed to improve.

There were a mixture of very good and very bad performances. Amongst the former, there was the dismantling of both the Dolphins and Bills at Metlife, the spirit shown to beat the Chiefs in an early-December thriller and the solid efforts, even in defeat, against the Patriots and Panthers. In the latter, we have the risible start to the season, at the Bills and Raiders, the loss of a 14 point 4th quarter lead in Miami and the capitulation in Denver to end any lingering play-off dreams.

That there were play-off dreams at all is probably why our front office and coaching staff have not really felt the heat, for the most part. Bowles had a roster bereft of experience and quality at the start of the season and managed to squeeze an awful lot out of such a limited group. For all his flaws (for the love of God, Todd, learn how to use a timeout!), he has earned the opportunity for another crack in 2018.

Maccagnan’s stripping down of the roster seemed like a determined effort to improve the attitude in camp as well as giving us a shot at one of the ‘superstar’ QBs in the 2018 draft. Whether that works, long-term, remains to be seen although it can be noted that most of 2017 proved him right to have got rid of: Revis, Mangold, Decker, Harris, Gilchrist and Marshall all of whom had little to no impact elsewhere around the league after their departure. Clearing the decks for younger, hungrier players certainly seems logical and commendable.

Of course, this grace doesn’t extend forever. The roster ended 2017 as one of the league’s weakest and it’s very clear that many flaws remain. Even though Josh McCown had a career year, across his 12 starts, an upgrade at QB was always essential. Similarly, in a comment which could have been copy/pasted from any of the last 10 years, the Jets lack a decent, consistent pass-rusher. Elsewhere, the offensive line evokes wonderful memories of chocolate fireguards and the majority of cornerbacks, on the books, just aren’t particularly good (hello Buster Skrine).

There were highlights; Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye both had rookie years which indicate that the safety positions may be, erm, safe for many years to come. Robbie Anderson emerged as a genuinely dangerous wide receiver (let’s just put our fingers in our ears about his off-field issues) and Leonard Williams continues to be a beast, even if his sack count didn’t justify that title (a downside of playing alongside a disinterested Mo Wilkerson).

So, yeah, the roster isn’t completely hideous but, if that is the most positive thing you can say about a roster, it doesn’t exactly set the pulse racing a little bit like the Jets’ 2017 season.

2018 Roster Moves

Where to begin? The Jets went into Free Agency with enough money to make Scrooge McDuck blush and, in to the draft, with a good number of picks (including 3 in the top 50). Meadowlands buzzed with excitement and was not disappointed.

After a prolonged, heavy flirtation with Kirk Cousins ended with him deciding the Vikings was a much better fit, the Jets looked towards adding a couple of veterans instead. Josh McCown was re-signed and Teddy Bridgewater added on a decent contract. Maccagnan set about the job of securing a nice shiny new franchise QB. In a shock trade announced (what felt like) a lifetime before the draft, the Jets sent their 3 top 50 picks this year, and next year’s 2nd rounder, to the Colts for the number 3 pick.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know by now that the Jets landed the (generally) concensus No.1 Quarterback in the draft, Sam Darnold. Darnold is, probably, the best suited to the New York media, of all four of the draft’s top Quarterbacks, in that he is phenomenally laid back and doesn’t seem affected by any outside insanity. Darnold has ignited excitement amongst the fanbase and given Jet fans real, significant hope for the future. Whether it is fulfilled, only time will tell, but, for now, it’s hard to pop the rare sense of optimism felt amongst Gang Green.

Of course, outside of the bubble of mania surrounding Darnold there were plenty of other moves completed in the offseason. Signing solid veterans: Spencer Long (Center), Isaiah Crowell (RB) and Terrelle Pryor (WR) adds some experience to a below-average offense. Giving mega-money to cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, should allow Todd Bowles to fully implement his much-loved defensive schemes.

In the draft, the selections of DE, Nathan Shepherd, and CB, Parry Nickerson, were the highlights of the lower round picks. All the picks have question marks but show lots of promise (which, to be fair, could describe every single draft pick ever…..except Christian Hackenberg).

Let’s be honest, the Jets’ pre-season is all about one man. He’s young, he wears 14 and he’s got the most beautiful hair this side of Chris Hemsworth. The success of the Jets’ 2018 offseason will live, or die, with the success, or failure, of Sam Darnold.

2018 Starters

Offense

QB: McCown (unless Darnold really impresses in offseason)

RB: Isaiah Crowell

WR: Robbie Anderson

WR: Jermaine Kearse

WR: Terrelle Pryor

TE: Eric Tomlinson (or Jordan Leggett, or Chris Herndon…bald men, fighting, comb)

LT: Kelvin Beachum

LG: James Carpenter

G: Spencer Long

RG: Brian Winters

RT: Brandon Shell

Defense

DE: Leonard Williams

DT: Steve McLendon

DE: Henry Anderson

OLB: Jordan Jenkins

OLB: Josh Martin/Lorenzo Maudlin

ILB: Darron Lee

ILB: Avery Williamson

CB: Trumaine Johnson

CB: Morris Claiborne

SS: Jamal Adams

FS: Marcus Maye

Special Teams

P: Lachlan Edwards

PK: Cairo Santos

LS: Thomas Hennessy

2018 Outlook

Barring a minor miracle, it’s likely to be a continuation of the playoff drought for the Jets.

The roster may have been improved (quite a bit) in the offseason and last year’s,

already promising, young players may have had a year’s more experience under their

belt. Of course, there’s also Sam Darnold and his lovely hair.

It’s still a poor roster. The offensive line is less of a line and more of a roughly drawn

gaggle of individuals shambling around trying to stop a defense getting to their QB. They

still don’t have a pass-rusher worthy of the name. They still will, more than likely, start the

older-than-time, Josh McCown, at QB in Week 1. So, those hoping for a 10-win season may

end up feeling sad, and disconsolate, come December.

A 6-10 season, with Darnold playing half the games and looking every inch the franchise

QB,will buy Bowles and Maccagnan another year (which would absolutely need to be a

playoff year). A 6-10 season, where Darnold looks average behind a leaky offensive line and

Bowles seems to have lost the locker-room, and, well, you know the rest.

Predictions are the games of fools and anybody who makes them ties themselves to a lifetime of online ridicule purely for the mortal sin of being unable to see into the future. In light of that, I can confidently state that the Jets will finish the season 7-9 and go into the 2019 offseason full of hope.

When Sam Darnold, and his gorgeous mane of ginger locks, guide them to 5 wins through the last 8 games I’ll say ‘bring on January’ so I can bask in the glory my future-telling will surely bring!

Written By Paul Maughan, NFL Analyst, New York Jets