The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: The New York Jets at Midseason

Once again it’s been another rollercoaster season for New York Jets fans and we’re only halfway through.

After an electrifying, pulsating start which included a huge scalp in New England, the Jets were surprising everyone as optimism spread like wildfire across the Big Apple.

But as they head into their Week 9 bye, the Jets stand at 4-4 after being 3-0. The team may have peaked too early or the bye may come at a crucial time for Coach Rex Ryan and his squad. Either way, there have already been plenty of ups and downs for the Jets.

The good

- The Jets lead the league in rushing yards with an average of 177.6 yards per game.

It was clear from the outset that the offense would be heavily rush-orientated and running backs Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and rookie Shonn Greene have all contributed.

The Jets have run the ball more than any other team so it is encouraging that it is proving effective. Statistics can sometimes only tell you so much but it is heartening to know that the Jets are also tied first for rushing touchdowns with 12 scores so far.

- Rex Ryan has clearly stamped his authority on this defense.

Only Denver has allowed less yards and the Jets’ D has the mean, aggressive, stingy streak that many thought they would have. Sacks may have been a problem early on, but in the last two games they have begun to get to the quarterback.

Cornerback Darrelle Revis is maturing into a defensive linchpin in the team and if he continues in this rich vein of form, the Pro Bowl surely beckons again.

- The week five acquisition of Braylon Edwards seems to have been an astute one.

He has already produced some outstanding catches and his chemistry with quarterback Mark Sanchez will be important for this team’s future success. Edwards seems to be loving life in New York and his rejuvenated attitude is paying dividends on the field, too, where he has looked a completely different player than the man he used to be in Cleveland.

- The only side that has comprehensively beaten this team is the 7-0 New Orleans Saints.

In that game, the explosive Drew Brees was kept to less than 200 yards and the Saints didn’t tie this one up until late in the fourth quarter. Had Sanchez not thrown three interceptions, the Jets may well have been looking at 4-0 and a very different attitude coming into this bye week.

The bad

- Starting 1-3 against divisional opponents with the defeats coming against back-up quarterbacks.

Chad Henne started both games for the Dolphins in the absence of former Jet Chad Pennington and Ryan Fitzpatrick was substituted in for Trent Edwards early in the Buffalo game.

The Jets fumed that they made Henne look like Dan Marino in the original match-up but they contained him superbly in the return fixture. Fitzpatrick did nothing of any great note against the Jets but he didn’t turn the ball over which in the end, was the difference.

- Miami doing a sweep over the Jets was certainly not in the script

Both games, particularly the home fixture, could quite easily have gone New York’s way. The games were lost for different reasons. The Wildcat ran wild in Florida whereas back in New York, Ted Ginn Jr’s electrifying pace accounted for two scores. Come Week 17, the Jets may well rue these missed chances.

- In different games, different elements of the team have failed to step up.

Against Buffalo it was the offense, in Miami it was the defense and when Miami came to the Meadowlands it was the special teams unit which ultimately cost the whole team.

Perhaps if there was a more specific problem, it would be easier to pinpoint where the Jets need to improve. As it is, all three parts need to be functioning correctly for the Jets to come out on top.

- The loss of Kris Jenkins may well prove to be the biggest disappointment of the year.

Jenkins was pivotal in the 3-4 defense and his ability to stop the run was central to Ryan’s plans. His loss is not being felt so far but down the stretch this may really hurt the Jets.

The ugly

- When faced with less than perfect conditions, Sanchez threw five interceptions against Buffalo.

The Californian kid may be used to the sun kissed beaches back home but in New York he better get used to the cold blustery afternoons. During the game, his pale face and gaunt expression were worrying.

He was far more at home in Oakland the next week but this is the east coast and he’ll be wishing for a warm cup of soup rather than a hotdog most of the time.

- The botched field goal attempt against Buffalo could well have won the Jets the game.

 In a scrappy affair which neither side looked comfortable in, Jay Feely’s 50-yard attempt could have won it for the Jets. As it was, Steve Weatherford couldn’t handle the snap and the Bills made their field goal later on.

Feely has been outstanding this season and he showed last week that he can make 50-yard attempts when called upon. This was a sickening defeat for the Jets.

- The special teams unit handed the Dolphins the victory last Sunday after conceding two kick-off returns to Ted Ginn Jr.

The first may well have taken the Jets by surprise but the second was inexcusable particularly when you consider the array of missed tackles on Ginn. He should have been stopped on the 20 yard line. As it was, that unit twice gave Miami back the momentum and heaped enormous pressure on Sanchez and the offense. A certain Jason Trusnik will no doubt have been watching and shaking his head.

- Rex Ryan has been experiencing teething problems as head coach.

Ryan isn’t a young guy and he’s been around the league a long time but he has often looked like a rookie when making some calls. He persisted to call two-point conversions last Sunday and his team didn’t succeed in making them. His reluctance to use timeouts in a hectic fourth quarter in Miami may well have also cost the Jets that night too.

The conclusion

Overall there is a lot of growing up to do on both sides of the ball. This is a young team with confidence in abundance but to get anywhere in this game, they will need to show maturity. The trash talking needs to transcend onto the pitch before this team can be truly feared.

Jets fans are famed for their glass half empty philosophy but there are plenty of positives to take from what they’ve seen so far.

Perhaps this season will merely be remembered as the beginning of the Sanchez era or perhaps it will just be consigned to the history books. The next nine weeks will decide just which way it will go.