It Can't Get Worse for Jets In 2015 … Right?

If it’s all about how you start and finish, the Jets should have had a bye in Saturday's Wild Card round and be waiting to face off against an overmatched opponent next week. They made quick work of the Raiders in the 2014 season’s opening game and were actually more impressive in the finale, when they dispatched the Dolphins by 13 points.

Unfortunately, Gang Green had to play 14 games in between, and with the notable exception of an impressive victory over the AFC North-winning Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets were mostly awful over that stretch. They did fine running the ball (though that’s a strength that obviously becomes less important when you’re trailing by a significant margin, as they all too often were) and were pretty good stopping the run on defense.

But when it came to passing, the Jets were an abject failure, on both sides of the ball. Geno Smith was bad, Michael Vick may have been even worse -- and both were much better than the Jets porous pass D, which, had it not been for one freakishly good game by Jaiquawn Jarrett, might have been the single worst in NFL history.

Now, change is in the air in Florham Park, and while it makes sense that that can only be a good thing after a 4-12 campaign, there’s plenty of trepidation among Jets fans. But, with the New Year upon us and the sincere (if likely irrational) hope that things will be getting better for Gang Green, here’s a few thoughts on how that might happen:

I’ve already said I think that whether or not Woody Johnson thinks Doug Marrone is the man to replace Rex Ryan, he should worry about a GM first, so I repeat myself.

With regard to a GM, I don’t know who they should hire, but I would suggest asking all the candidates for a five-year plan and also a six-month plan, as in how to improve the team via free agency and the upcoming draft. Hire the guy with the best plans.

Wow, that was easy. Now for Percy Harvin. Yes, his talent is electrifying. But his production often isn’t, and while he hasn’t been much of a headache in the locker room yet, history suggests that that’s soon to happen. Harvin had just 1 TD in eight games with Gang Green, and when he missed the last game of the year, Chris Owusu played as well as Harvin did at any time as a Jet. Let Harvin go.

As for the draft, it’s even simpler: if Amari Cooper is available at No. 6, he’s the answer. If he’s not, trade down. It’s hard to find a true difference-maker at the 6 spot. In the 15 drafts from 1996-2010, there were only three: Walter Jones, Torry Holt and Richard Seymour. Better to assemble more young talent on a team that sorely needs it by moving down… unless the otherworldly Cooper is somehow there. Let’s hope the new GM recognizes great talent when he sees it.  

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