Lets start with the not so good. That being the inability to address the need in the secondary. The Jets failed to capitalize on the market for secondary help, which could end up hurting the club. Right now, Gang Gree's secondary is composed of Dee Milliner (hurt will miss the opener), Kyle Wilson, Dawan Landry, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Calvin Pryor, Antonio Allen and Dimitri Patterson (we all know what kind of trouble he's been causing lately). Its strange top see a Jets secondary that doesn't have either Darrell Revis or Antonio Cromortie in it at all. The Jets knew going into the year that the secondary was going to be a weak spot. The only thing they did to address it was draft Calvin Pryor in the first round and sign Dimitri Patterson for $3 million, making many fans of the team scratch their head. This is going to pose a problem for the club during the early part of the season, as during a six week stretch, the team faves six of the more potent passing offenses in the entire league.
The front seven that the Jets have, they will be good enough to be a top five defense in the league and keep the team in a lot of the games. Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison are going to have that Jets’ defensive line as another force to be rekoned with. All three are Pro Bowl-caliber players, capable of disrupting offenses. That could take some pressure off the secondary if they can stifle the run and get to the quarterback, something linebackers Quinton Coples, Calvin Pace and Jason Babin will be counted on to do. So that front seven is going to be a major disruptive force in this league.
The other question facing this Jets team this season is going to be some of the offense.
If the secondary starts to falter, the the new look offense could be thrown into a slugfest. This year, hands down, Geno Smith will have the starting job outright, with Michael Vick on the roster as sort of a fail safe just case something happens to Smith. Now how far the offense can go will be determined on which Geno Smith shows up. Will we see the Geno Smith looking like a rookie or will we see a composed, above average quarterback leading this team? So that's as much a question as how well the secondary is going to play. But there is some big pluses for the Jets on the offensive side of the ball.
As far as Smith goes, he now has some weapons to work with in the passing game. The Jets now have a number one receiver to throw to in Eric Decker. Decker is a very good receiver and will be looking to solidify the top tole in the receiving game with the Jets, who haven't really had a top guy the past few years. Now the team has their top guy, to go along with Jeremy Kerley in the slot. Only question the Jets have in the passing game is who will fill in as the number two wide out. Some thought it would be Stephen Hill, but he didn't work out with the team, so its up to the likes of Kerley and David Nelson to fill that role behind Decker. To go along with that passing game will be a revamped running attack. Chris Johnson was brought in over the winter, which will make a big impact on this team and the running attack. Johnson isn't going to be the 2,000 yard rusher we saw back in 2009, but he is still a 1,00+ yard runner. Combine him with the soild running of Chris Ivory, and the Jets have a good running game to work with.
Here's the Jets schedule for this season:
1 September 7 1:00 p.m. EDT Oakland Raiders MetLife Stadium
2 September 14 4:25 p.m. EDT at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field
3 September 22 8:30 p.m. EDT Chicago Bears MetLife Stadium
4 September 28 1:00 p.m. EDT Detroit Lions MetLife Stadium
5 October 5 4:25 p.m. EDT at San Diego Chargers Qualcomm Stadium
6 October 12 1:00 p.m. EDT Denver Broncos MetLife Stadium
7 October 16 8:25 p.m. EDT at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium
8 October 26 1:00 p.m. EDT Buffalo Bills MetLife Stadium
9 November 2 1:00 p.m. EST at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium
10 November 9 1:00 p.m. EST Pittsburgh Steelers MetLife Stadium
11 Bye
12 November 23 1:00 p.m. EST at Buffalo Bills Ralph Wilson Stadium
13 December 1 8:30 p.m. EST Miami Dolphins MetLife Stadium
14 December 7 1:00 p.m. EST at Minnesota Vikings TCF Bank Stadium
15 December 14 4:05 p.m. EST at Tennessee Titans LP Field
16 December 21 1:00 p.m. EST New England Patriots MetLife Stadium
17 December 28 1:00 p.m. EST at Miami Dolphins Sun Life Stadium
This is going to be a very interesting season for Gang Green. Geno Smith had some growing pains in his rookie season, now he has the year experience under his belt and he has a few more reliable weapons to work with this year. That will lead to a vast improvement in his game. The passing and running games for this Jets teams are both improved from a year ago. The front seven on this Jets team may be one of the top in all off football, but the secondary still leaves something to be desired. If the Jets secondary can step up and be an average to solid secondary, then there's no telling how far this Jets team can go.
Best Case Scenario: 9-7 maybe 10-6
For this to happen, a couple of things have to fall into place. The biggest thing, again, is going to be the secondary. That secondary has to play well to help out the front seven. Also Geno Smith has to get a good handle on the ball. If he can cut down on his interceptions and manage the clock the Jets are going to be in great shape.
Worst Case Scenario: 7-9
The Jets are going to faulter if Geno has a repeat of the way last year started, he ends up looking like another rookie quarterback instead of a 2nd year pro. Also if Eric Decker can;t handle being the top guy at receiver it won't help Geno's cause much. Then again there is the secondary which isn't viewed too highly.
Final Prediction: 9-7
This team is a little bit different then last year's squad. Geno has that experience and now has a few more targets to throw to. He has more confidence in his game and it will help in a big way.
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