New York Jets: 10 Reasons Why They Will Miss The Playoffs
2010 is supposed to be the year of the New York Jets.
They starred in the HBO series Hard Knocks.
Plenty of noise has been made about their bravado and swagger, their vocal head coach and smash-mouth defense.
Now just one week into the season, plenty is being made about their shortcomings.
After an underwhelming loss to the Ravens, the Jets looked more like an 8-8 team than a team that is projected to play in the Super Bowl.
Here are ten reasons the New York Jets won't make the postseason this year.
10. Bullseye
1 of 10
NFL football players don't need extra motivation to get up for a game.
However, when given extra motivation, it's scary what some of these guys can do.
For all of Rex Ryan's bold statements and all of the episodes of Hard Knocks, the league has taken notice.
Now the Jets have to back it up.
More than any team in the NFL, even the defending champion Saints, the Jets now have a Rex Ryan-sized target on their collective back.
Teams will come out each week with a goal of embarrassing the Jets and shutting them up.
It is difficult enough to win each week in the NFL. Now with every team gunning for you, the road just got that much rockier.
9. A Deep AFC
2 of 10
The AFC boasts numerous teams capable of making the playoffs this season.
Namely, the Houston Texans have emerged as a contender to make a run at their division, or at least a Wild Card berth.
Add them to the list with the Ravens, Bengals, Colts, Chargers, Steelers, Patriots, and Titans, and there is going to be a real battle for playoff spots.
If the Jets don't win the division, they may find it tougher than last year to secure a Wild Card spot.
8. The New England Patriots
3 of 10
The New England Patriots made a statement against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That statement? Don't forget about us.
While many were handing the Jets the AFC East, the New England Patriots just quietly went about their business this summer.
Now that the time has come to play football, Bill Belichick and his boys prove that they will be ready for whatever comes.
Each week the Patriots will have a superior game plan to go along with Tom Brady tossing the ball around to Welker and Moss.
Add that to an improved defense, and you have to think twice before making the Jets the AFC East favorite.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
6. Secondary Issues
4 of 10
The secondary was supposed to be the strong point of this defense.
Revis Island is designed to shut down an entire half of the field, and with the arrival of Antonio Cromartie and rookie Kyle Wilson, passing on the Jets seemed nearly impossible.
Then the Ravens exposed some flaws.
Cromartie struggled in single coverage, often whiffing on the bump and run and finding himself unable to close on receivers.
Wilson shows promise but looked as inexperienced as he truly is and was beat for some deep plays.
Unless they secondary can balance itself out, teams may find success taking deep shots against the Jets.
7. Kris Jenkins' ACL
5 of 10
For the second straight year, Kris Jenkins has torn one of his massive ACL's.
When you run a 3-4 defense, so much of its success relies on having a world-beater of a nose tackle.
Now without their's for the remainder of 2010, the Jets will have to make do with Matt Kroul.
Without Jenkins to anchor the d-line, the Jets will have to rely more on blitzing to stop the run.
5. Wide Receiver Issues
6 of 10
The Jets traded for Santonio Holmes this summer.
He will be back after his suspension ends, but he will certainly not solve the Jets' problems at receiver.
Braylon Edwards is consistently one of the league leaders in drops and cannot be relied on.
Brad Smith is athletic but is still a converted college quarterback and not an elite NFL receiver.
With a quarterback of Mark Sanchez's ability and experience, the Jets need a receiver capable of making plays and bailing him out.
They just don't have that.
4. Running Back Issues
7 of 10
The Jets ran the ball as well as anyone last season.
Then they let Thomas Jones leave, handing the reins over to second-year player Shonn Greene.
The acquisition of LaDainian Tomlinson was supposed to ease the burden on Greene, but now may lead to some questions.
After Greene had fumbling issues in week one, LT got many of the late game touches while Greene watched.
Now Rex Ryan is faced with either sticking with a rookie who they labeled as the future of their running game or going to a superstar veteran with a lot of miles on his legs.
While the running game can still be a strong point for the Jets, Week 1 left many wondering if it may also be an Achilles' Heel from a moral and consistency standpoint.
3. Rex Ryan
8 of 10
Rex Ryan in one of the best coaches in the NFL.
That point cannot be argued.
However, in 2010, Rex Ryan may find himself standing in the way of his team's success.
Ryan's arrogance and swagger have become the topic of many conversations and has molded the personality of his team.
Now the coach must not let his ego get the better of him.
Ryan made so many statements that gained national attention, he must not be consumed with living up to all of them that he refuses to adjust and adapt.
By calling Revis the best defensive player in the league, Ryan was partially responsible for the cornerback's prolonged holdout.
It is common for a coach to become so obsessed with proving he is right and a genius that he ends up beating himself.
Ryan must humble himself a bit in order for the Jets to reach their full potential in 2010.
2. Mark Sanchez
9 of 10
Mark Sanchez took the NFL by storm in his rookie season last year.
People were expecting Sanchez to take the leap to elite NFL quarterback.
But after his 2010 debut, they are now wondering if the "San-chise" has what it takes to lead the Jets.
Sanchez looked rattled throughout the game and struggled to make throws when the Jets needed him to, especially on third down.
We have seen many quarterbacks bring down potentially great teams in the past, and Sanchez will have a lot of improving to do to avoid joining that list.
1. Mark Sanchez
10 of 10
Sanchez is such a worry right now that he deserves the top two spots.
If you watched Hard Knocks, you would see a guy who should feel like the world is at his feet. A guy who should have an ego the size of New York itself.
What you do see is Mark Sanchez constantly down on himself and lacking confidence.
You see a quarterback who is told by his coaches more often than not to check down and make the easy throw; to just manage the game.
To be the starting quarterback for the most boisterous team in the NFL, you have to have a swagger that is unrivaled.
Sanchez needs to own his role and become the leader of this team not just vocally but in attitude.
If Sanchez does not improve his confidence, he cannot be trusted to make big plays and lead this team into the playoffs.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
