2009 Jets' Outlook: Change Is in The Air, But Fans Know What to Expect

As the Jets’ 2008 season came to a close, the feelings running through my mind were those of most Jet fans. 

Disappointment?  Sure.

Disgust?  Absolutely.

Embarrassment?  You got it.

Disbelief?  Not so much.

For a franchise about to embark on its 40th season since its last Super Bowl victory, there is little in the way of levels of ineptitude that can surprise anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, after the Jets demolition of the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans to move to 8-3, I was giddy. 

I laughed at the thought of the Jets possibly having passed on Brett Favre in the offseason.  Through 11 games the fountain of youth had taken up permanent residence in the Meadowlands.  Forty was the new 20.  In typical Favre fashion there were bad interceptions, but there were great moments.  Six touchdowns to dismantle the Cardinals.  Huge throw after huge throw to beat the Pats in Gillette.  The aforementioned win over Tennessee. 

The New York tabloid hype couldn’t come quick enough.  I ate it up.  I bragged to anyone and everyone. 

I should have seen it coming.  I didn’t want to.

The Jets run defense, which hadn’t allowed a single 100-yard rusher over the first 11 games allowed three in its final five, and was routinely gouged.  Kris Jenkins, brought in for the sole purpose of closing down holes inside, wore down.

Through the first 11 games, the Jets pass rush at times looked New York Giants-esque, compiling 36 sacks.  Over the final five games, six sacks.  Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton forgot how to call a blitz.  Given all kinds of time to throw, Jay Cutler and Shawn Hill shredded the New York secondary.  Seneca Wallace was coolly efficient in a blizzard.  Chad Pennington was his usual mistake-free self.  In its lone disruptive performance against the Bills, the defense showed up to harass J.P. Losman into three interceptions, though it took a miracle fumble recovery by Shaun Ellis to pull that one out.

Brett Favre kept firing away despite his arm being ready to fall, single handedly keeping the defense on the field too long with costly interceptions.  Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and head coach Eric Mangini inexplicably turned their backs on the team’s strength, a rushing attack that would finish the season ranked No. 9 in the league in rush yards per game (125.2) despite being only 19th in rushing attempts, while the team’s lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position was continually exposed.

As quickly as a deep playoff run flashed before my eyes, it was gone.  Another torturous offseason lay in waiting.  The Brett Favre experiment had failed.  The “Mangenius” was on the hot seat.  The Jets didn’t even have a high draft pick, though they had seven Pro-Bowlers(!?!).

But then it all changed.  Mangini was out, the straight-shooter Rex Ryan was in.  Ravens All-Pro linebacker Bart Scott followed his former coach to lead a linebacking core that was too slow and lacking playmakers. 

The Jets acted quickly to erase the memory of Brett Favre, moving up boldly in the NFL Draft to select USC’s Mark Sanchez, a kid with the moxie and motivation to take on New York.   Two-time All-Pro cornerback Lito Sheppard was brought in to aid rising star Darrelle Revis in an underachieving secondary that was largely responsible for allowing 234.5 yards passing per game (29th in the NFL in 2008).

So here we are.  It’s up to you now, Mr. Ryan, to make things work.  Sanchez or perennial back up Kellen Clemens have to gain the respect of a veteran team and lead them on the field.  A no-name receiving core has to make enough big plays to keep opposing defenses honest.  The contract situations of your two most important offensive players, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, can’t linger too long. 

Maybe most importantly, your smash mouth style of defense has to infiltrate a unit that was pushed around in the second half of last year.

This Jets team is talented enough to be a playoff team, but do all that and there’s a chance things might be special. 

Now would I be shocked if it doesn’t happen?

It’s only been 40 years.