Looking To 2009: What The Jets Should and Should Not Do

The Jets experienced yet another "almost" season in 2008, looking hot in mid-season only to collapse at the end, due to the inability to fix weaknesses and not learn from mistakes.

Blame who you want for this year, but with a new coaching staff, a team with many of the right pieces in place and only a few holes to plug, the Jets could be on the verge of greatness in 2009. 

If they are to succeed this upcoming season, here are some of the things they will need to do, as well as some of the traps they need to avoid falling into:

·           Do whatever they can to get Favre to retire and do so before free agency starts. 

Yes, before and during the Titans game, he looked great, but his loss of athleticism with age, as well as his detachment from the team, has created instability in the locker room and a lack of trust in the future Hall of Famer.

There are a number of young QBs on the team and around the league who have shown promise and could easily become the Jets' future leader.

·           Avoid the "win now!" mindset.

Yes, the goal for every team at the beginning of every NFL season is to win the Super Bowl, but a team must be built. Trying to buy a team almost never works; the Raiders are proof of that.

·           Find a playmaker or play makers for both sides of the ball.

It's good to have an all around decent team, but having the type of player that an opponent must plan their game around containing will make all the difference in the world.

Not only is that extremely difficult in and of itself, but it also frees up the rest of the team to make plays as the opponents' focus is elsewhere.

One good player can make the rest all look like Pro Bowlers.

·           Get rid of the "B" word, "bust." Unproven does not mean incompetent.

There are a number of positions on the team that many fans want filled with either a proven star or high end draft pick that are already manned by players who just need a chance.

There are already gaps that the Jets know they need filled and it would be a mistake to ignore them trying to fill a position, because there is a question mark.

For example, there has been much talk about them picking up USC quarterback, Mark Sanchez, in the first round.

With Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff, who showed great leadership this past preseason, why tell them they are not good enough before they even have a chance?

With the Jets' receiving corps consisting almost entirely of number two receivers and a line backing team that could neither pressure opposing quarterbacks or drop into coverage effectively, why waste a first round pick on a rookie who, like Clemens and Ratliff, is unproven in the NFL?

·           In the first round of the draft, do not fall into the trap of "we don't need him, but he's too good to pass up." 

This coming draft is packed with talent and it would be a huge mistake to draft a position that is already filled.

If they can be sure that who they want is still going to be there a few picks later, it would be much smarter to trade down rather than throw away their first rounder.

If Maclin, Heyward-Bey, Laurinaitis or Cushing is off the board, it has been suggested that the Jets pick up a running back like Chris Wells.

Jones has a few years left, and Washington is a great big play back; no need to waste a pick here.

All in all, the off-season comes down to common sense: the coaches and GMs need to go after players and develop areas they need, not just what they want.

There needs to be a certain amount of patience with the team as well.

The New York media is brutal enough as it is.

Fans and coaches alike need to be confident in the team, let budding players grow, and build the team of the future.