NY Jets: 10 Things That Need to Happen This Offseason

The New York Jets' disappointing season is over. They failed to get into the playoffs and once again failed to make Rex Ryan's bold Super Bowl prediction come true.

There must be some serious changes this off-season. The Jets had enough talent and coaching this season to at least be in the playoffs. However they failed to make it into the playoffs because they did not have the right talent and coaching.

Things have to change for Gang Green!

Out with Brian Schottenheimer, in with Mike Martz

It seems as if every Jet fan wants to get rid of Brian Schottenheimer. While all the blame should not just be put on the offensive coordinator, it is easy to make him the scapegoat because the Jets offense was 25th in the league in yards per game. They were also 21st in passing offense and 22nd in rushing offense (which is supposed to be their bread and butter).

The offense struggled early on in the season and Brian Schottenheimer was unable to make the necessary changes to his offense that would allow them to improve. Therefore "Schotty" has to go.

The Jets have to move in a different direction. That direction should be Mike Martz.

While the Jets may not necessarily have had the best defense in the league, it was still one of the best. Many of the top teams in the playoffs like the Packers, Saints and Patriots, have high powered offenses with not so great defenses. Imagine any of these three teams with the Jets defense.

Mike Martz is a solid offensive coordinator. Bringing him in will give the Jets a defensive specialist in Rex Ryan and an elite offensive coach in Martz.

Mark Sanchez needs some help and it appeared that Brian Schottenheimer may have been stunting his growth. In order for the Jets to become a top offensive team and really compete with the Patriots, they need to make this change.

While it is possible Martz may look to get one more shot at head coaching, he may just be looking to do what he does best, run the offense. If so, the Jets have to go and get the Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator.

Work Hard with Mark Sanchez

When it comes to pure talent, Mark Sanchez does not lack much of it. However he has struggled to make the jump to an elite quarterback in this league.

While Mark Sanchez's struggles are a little exaggerated because of the expectations for this team, there were no denying he did struggle this year.

Sanchez is still only a third-year quarterback. Could he play better? Yes absolutely. Could he play worse? Again absolutely. 

Some fans are ready to consider Sanchez a bust, yet he is only in his third season and has as many road playoff wins as any other quarterback in the history of the league.

In order for Mark Sanchez to take the next step he needs to lead an offense with an identity. The Jets need a new offensive coordinator (Mike Martz) that will work with Mark Sanchez this off-season in order to make him the quarterback he is capable of being.

Mark Sanchez needs to stop staring down his receivers, protect the ball better both in interceptions and fumbles, become more accurate down the field, and learn when to throw the ball away instead of forcing a pass.

For Jets fans, a fair comparison of where Mark Sanchez is in his development as a quarterback comes with the man that he shares MetLife Stadium with: Eli Manning.

Sanchez First Three Years Stats

9209 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, 51 interceptions, 55.3 completion percentage, 73.2 QB rating

Eli Manning's First Three Years Stats

8049 passing yards, 54 touchdowns, 44 interceptions, 52.9 completion percentage, 69.4 QB rating

What Sanchez's Stats Should Be Next Season

3900 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 62.5 completion percentage, 88 QB rating

Fix the Offensive Line

The biggest problem with the Jets this season was their offensive line. The offensive line was inconsistent and caused the entire offense to struggle.

The running game was hurt by the offensive lines struggles and Mark Sanchez took a beating this season.

The Wayne Hunter experience was awful. He was probably the worst offensive lineman in the NFL this season and at times looked like a high school player playing against NFL players.

The Jets need to keep Brandon Moore, center Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Nobody on the Jets should have the names Hunter, Slauson, or Mulligan on their jersey next season. Mark Sanchez needs to feel comfortable in the pocket if he is going to make a jump to an elite quarterback in this league. 

Keep Holmes

After all the drama with Santonio Holmes and the Jets in their final regular season game against the Miami Dolphins, it is easy to say "just get rid of him." 

But it isnt that easy to just get rid of him because this past season was his first of five years on his contract in which he is making top receiver money.

Mark Sanchez and his wide receivers failed to be on the right page this year. This may be because his three top wide receivers consisted of a distracting player (Santonio Holmes), an older player who was in jail and missed significant time, and a rookie.

The Jets lost three of their wide receivers from the previous season as well and Mark Sanchez needs to have a consistent target for multiple years because he can not continue to have new receivers every year.

The Jets have to try and mend the problem with Santonio Holmes and keep him on the team. The Jets have to work to keep him in line and focused on the team and winning the game.

Get a Fast Running Back to Compliment Shonn Greene

Shonn Greene is a solid running back in the NFL. He broke 1,000 rushing yards this season, even with a bad offensive line.

They need to get a fast complimentary back to put alongside Shonn Greene to help give the Jets a change of pace. Joe McKnight is not the answer and Ladainian Tomlinson should ride off into the sunset and retire.

This will help Mark Sanchez because it will open up the play action with a stronger running game.

A nice fit would be Darren Sproles, or a player like Darren Sproles.

Another way to go would be to get another power back in Peyton Hillis. Hillis is a solid receiving back that will take over as Sanchez's check down option. The only problem with this is possibly money, as Peyton may be too expensive for the Jets.

Get Another Receiving Tight End

Sanchez's favorite target is Dustin Keller, and rightfully so because Keller is a sure-handed big target for him. Teams however realized this and focused on shutting down Keller.

The Jets should look to get another receiving tight end that teams will have to turn their attention to. 

Top offensive teams like the Patriots are starting to build their offense around having a two tight-end set that helps spread the field. The Jets should look to get another receiving tight end so that they can open their running game and wide receivers.

One possible player that may be available is Jeremy Shockey. Shockey is a veteran tight end who is capable of catching the ball. This will also be interesting with the Giants, Shockey's former team.

Get a Consistent Pass Rusher

Aaron Maybin is one of the best stories on the Jets and in the NFL. The former first round pick failed to produce a single sack in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills before being brought in by the Jets. He ended the season with six sacks and four forced fumbles, in limited playing time.

The Jets struggles under Rex Ryan have always been getting to the quarterback without blitzing. Ryan throws many blitz packages at the QB, but never seems to be able to get to the QB. Maybin seemed to be the only person able to get to the quarterback at times. 

The Jets need to get an every down player who is able to get in to the backfield.

Find Someone Who Can Cover the Freaking Tight End

I cannot watch the Jets allow mediocre tight ends to look like the best player in the league, and good tight ends to look like the greatest TE ever.

As good as Rex Ryan is defensively, he has not figured out how to stop tight ends. 

The tight end does the same pattern against the Jets, a quick slant over the middle of the field, that turns into a big play. The Jets should use David Harris or another player to hit the TE, which will slow him down and make him easier to cover.

The Jets need someone with enough size to be rough and cover tight ends, and enough speed to keep up with them.

Out with Nick Folk, in with Anybody Else

Plain and simple, Nick Folk stinks. He misses field goals like it is his job.

While he did start the season off strong, he failed to make big field goals down the stretch that had big impacts on the game.

Compare that to Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter, made huge field goals with ease against the Jets which wound up being huge field goals in the game.

The Jets need a more consistent field goal kicker that is able to hit long field goals when needed and not miss easy 30 yard field goals.

DO NOT Guarantee a Super Bowl Again

One thing that is for certain is Rex Ryan can absolutely not guarantee a Super Bowl again. 

At first his loud mouth and cockiness were embraced by football and the Jets because it was a breath of fresh air after Eric Mangini. Now it is beginning to become old news and start getting annoying. If the Jets can't back up their coach's words, he will become merely a laughing stock around the league.

The Jets don't have to play the role of the bad guys and put a target on their backs because they are not good enough to do so.