Are the Jets Ready for 2008?

Are the Jets ready for 2008? Well after spending so much money in the offseason on a revamped team, they better be! No seriously, with the additions to the offense (Faneca, Woody, Favre, Richardson, Keller) and to the defense (Pace, Jenkins, Lowery), the Jets are primed to have a season more like 2006 than that of 2007. With 2007 in the rear view mirror, 2008 takes center stage and the Jets are ready for a run at the playoffs. With Brett Favre taking the reins at QB, the Jets now have an offense that will be explosive, as WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles are ready for the bullet-throwing Favre. Their offense now is a lot less predictable because of the addition of Favre and Thomas Jones will be better off because of it because now the Jets have a passing game coupled with that revamped running game, thanks to Alan Faneca and Damien Woody clearing paths for TJ to run. Their offense in 2007 was atrocious, ranked 26th in total offense, 25th in passing YPG and 19th in rushing YPG, in large part because of an offensive line that couldn't block my grandmother (she's got a cane too, and grandma, I know you'll read this, I love you very much). They gave up a whopping 53 sacks. No wonder there were 19 total team INTs last season. When your constantly running for your life, what do you expect?! TJ might have had over 1000 yards rushing, but his YPC was 3.6. Also contributing to the awful offense was the poor play from the QBs. When Pennington was in there, his noodle arm produced 9 INTs and 10 TDs and Clemens produced 5 TDs and 10 INTs. Not a very good tandem if you ask me. But with Pennington in Miami and Favre in NY, things will be different as the Jets are a) relevant around the league for the first time in 40 years and b) have a threat that has not been present since Joe Namath was around, as Favre can stretch the field and find any receiver on the field in not just the 2nd window, but the 3rd window as well. Expect big seasons from Coles, Cotchery and rookie TE Dustin Keller, who is drawing comparisons to Dallas Clarke in his ability to go down field. An offensive addition that has gone overlooked is that of Tony Richardson. Richardson last season cleared paths for Adrian Peterson over in Minnesota, so get excited Jets fans because this season he is clearing paths for Thomas Jones. Now onto the defense. Under defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, the Jets have been a considerably better team after the bye week. Why that is, no one really has that answer. However, last season the Jets defense was not very good before or after the bye week. The only bright spot was the pass defense, which ranked 9th in the NFL in large part thanks to a great core of players in Kerry Rhodes, Darrelle Revis and David Harris. The Jets were ranked 18th in total defense, 9th in passing defense (as you just read), and an atrocious 29th in rushing defense. Let's just say that now that Dewayne Robertson has taken his buffet table with him to Denver, the Jets are much better off because with a stop gap, double team attractor (if that even makes sense to you) in Kris Jenkins, the Jets linebackers and ends will be free to make tackles, and rush the QB, which in turn will create more INT chances for guys like Rhodes, Revis and rookie CB Dwight Lowery. So expect Calvin Pace to have a similar season as to the one from 2007 and expect Rhodes to actually make the Pro Bowl this year, along with Revis. The Jets defense is bound to be much better, in large part because of Kris Jenkins. Now David Harris, Eric Barton and the rest of the LBs will be free to roam the field, taking out RBs and WRs at will. This is why I was upset when Vilma was traded. Aside from him being my favorite Jet, he would have fit in perfectly now that Jenkins is here because he would have been free to roam just like Harris and make the plays he was making when the Jets were in the 4-3 defense. The last two seasons he struggled because he was facing double teams, and as a smaller player, he was struggling because he couldn't get to the QB because Robertson did not warrant double teams. Now that Jenkins is here, Vilma would be the Vilma of old, but unfortunately he is a Saint now. Expect a good rookie campaign from the CB from San Jose St, Dwight Lowery. It seems as though he has locked up the CB spot next to Revis because he did not play against the Eagles on Thursday and we know that Coach Mangini does not play the starters in the 4th preseason game. Lowery has a nose for the ball. It showed in college, and it showed in each preseason game he played in as he had a a pick in his first two games, one being a game saving red zone pick against the Cleveland Browns. In addition, be patient Jet fans because Vernon Gholston is a project at linebacker because in college he played with his hand down, but he is too small in the NFL to play there. So be patient because it will take some getting used to for him. And finally, expect big things from Dustin Keller because if he can stretch the field like everyone thinks he can, then he will be a huge asset in the passing game, especially since Brett Favre already likes throwing to him. Final Analysis: the Jets will be successful if the offensive line protects Brett and if Kris Jenkins can stuff the run and attract double teams. My prediction: 11-5 with a win at home against the Patriots, a wild card berth and they lose in the AFC Championship game to the Patriots as the Pats play the winner of the Saints v. Cowboys NFC Championship game, but the Pats lose anyway in the Super Bowl......again.