The New York Jets are a team in turmoil right now. They entered the season with Super Bowl hopes and leave it without even making the playoffs. During their loss to the Dolphins in Week 17, several Jets players called out WR Santonio Holmes for his quitting on the team. Later, during the cleaning out of the Jets practice facility, several Jets got themselves into hot water by cursing at the media or giving the middle finger to photographers as Bart Scott did. Then, last night, Offensive Coordinator was basically told either he goes or he finds a job elsewhere. He's gone and former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano is in his place. Time will tell if Sparano can get the Jets offense moving in the right direction.
The Jets problems really stem from poor drafts. Yes, poor drafts. Aside from Darrelle Revis, who is on his way to becoming the greatest Jet to ever wear the uniform, the Jet's drafts have left a lot to be desired. What's worse, the best players not named Revis and Mangold whom the Jets have drafted are all playing for other teams right now. Let's take a quick look:
In 2000, the Jets had four first round draft picks and used those to nab John Abraham, Shaun Ellis, Chad Pennington, and Anthony Becht. Pennington's career was derailed by injuries. Becht was not worthy of a first-round pick in retrospect. Ellis and Abraham were supposed to be cornerstones of the Jets defense. Ellis left after last season as a free agent to the Patriots and Abraham was traded to the Falcons for a first-round draft pick, #29 in the 2006 Draft which was used on Nick Mangold. Abraham was the best pass rushed the Jets have had since Mark Gastineau hung them up. Ellis would have a nice career with the Jets but he was never the impact player Abraham was. The Jets have been searching for a pass rusher ever since. Granted, the 2000 Draft is known as a big bust draft and the Jets walked away with one of the best players in the draft in Abraham but they traded him.
In 2001, the Jets drafted Santana Moss with the 16th pick in the draft was another good pick. However, Moss has made more of an impact for the Redskins than the Jets. He was traded to bring former Jet Laveranues Coles back in 2005. Moss went on to have the best season of his career and has recorded 3 1,000 yard seasons since leaving the Jets. Coles is pretty much done with football now while Moss is still 31 years old and able to put up some pretty decent numbers.
In 2002, the Jets wasted a first round pick on DE Bryan Thomas with the 22nd pick. Two picks later the Baltimore Ravens selected Ed Reed. Clinton Portis was selected with the 51st pick. Andre Gurode was taken by the Cowboys with the 37th pick. Thomas is still with the Jets, albeit on injured reserve. He is a backup linebacker but is considered one of the worst first-round picks in recent Jets history.
In 2003, the Jets selected DT Dewayne Robertson, who was supposed to be the answer to the Jets struggles against the run. Robertson has not played football since 2008, never living up to any expectation that came with being the 4th overall pick of the draft. The Jets passed on a lot of good talent, such as Nnamdi Asomugha who was taken with the 31st pick, Troy Polamalu with the 16th, Dallas Clark with the 24th, Larry Johnson with the 27th, or Willis McGahee with the 23rd.
In 2004, the Jets selected LB Jonathan Vilma with the 12th overall pick. Vilma has been an excellent lineback, sadly, most of that work has come with the Saints. Vilma was traded to the Saints for a 4th round pick in the 2008 Draft and what turned out to be a third round pick in the 2009 Draft. Vilma should be the leader of the Jets defense right now but instead he is leading the Saints defense.
In 2005, the Jets didn't have a first round pick. Why? Because they traded it to Oakland for TE Doug Jolley and a second round pick. The JEts leadership felt there wouldn't be any good prospects available at that pick. Roddy White was taken with pick #27. TE Heath Miller was taken by the Steelers with the 30th overall pick. Logan Mankins was taken with the 32nd pick.
In 2006, the Jets selected two offensive linemen in D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. These were two solid picks and they are two of the best offensive linemen the Jets have had. Too bad the others on the line weren't this good.
In 2007, the Jets made another great pick in Darrelle Revis. Imagine if the Jets had taken Nnamdi in 2003 or Troy Polamalu. Wow.
In 2008, Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller were taken. Gholston was supposed to be the answer as a pass rusher. He was awful and never even recorded a sack in his career with the Jets. He is no longer with the team. Keller, the third tight end the Jets have gone through since 2000 using a first round pick either by trade or draft, and the 4th since 1995 (Kyle Brady). Keller was the Jets leading receiver this past season and looks like he could be the answer at tight end for years to come. Gholston was the 6th overall pick. Surely they could have found someone better. Jordy Nelson was taken with the 36th pick in the same draft. But, to the Jets defense, not many guys who were drafted in the first round in 2008 have made an impact with the team that drafted them.
In 2009, the Jets picked QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez looked like he was going to be the answer to the Jets QB woes. Going into this season he looked like he might be ready to make the next step. After all Sanchez did help lead the Jets to two consecutive AFC Championship games. Now, there are reports that Jets players are sick of Sanchez and are lobbying for a trade for Peyton Manning. Many question Sanchez's drive and commitment. This is all very harsh for a QB that has not even been in the league for 4 years.
In 2010, the Jets used their first rounder on Kyle Wilson. The jury is still out on Wilson but he doesn't look to be anything more than a nickel corner. Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham were both available but the Jets had taken Keller two years before.
The 2011 selection of DT Muhammed Wilkerson seems like it might be a solid pick. Wilkerson won't make a Pro Bowl anytime soon but he should be a decent player, able to play both DE and DT depending on the need.
Three picks used to solve a problem at TE. Three Pro Bowlers traded away in Moss, Abraham, and Vilma. The Jets have been forced to look for answers in the free agent market, settling on older veterans and underwhelming draft choices taken in later rounds. A quick look at the Jets roster and one has to wonder why the Jets have swung and missed so many times in the draft. Sanchez's top two receivers were both brought in from other teams. Holmes was brought in through a trade with Pittsburgh and Plaxico Burress was brought in from his prison hiatus. The Jets did sign Derrick Mason at the beginning of the year to give Mason an extra target. That didn't work out and Mason was released after only a handful of games.
Head Coach Rex Ryan can only do so much with the talent on the roster. Without anyone getting to the QB on a consistent basis, the Jets defense is forced to rely on blitzes which can leave the team exposed for a big play. Give any QB time and eventually they will make a play, Revis or not. This is more indicative of GM Mike Tannenbaum, who also almost lost Revis during a contract dispute a couple of years ago. The GM has failed this team because he hasn't done his draft homework. No QB, not even Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning, can win when the supporting pieces are not in place. The Jets best chance at a Super Bowl was last season and there were no significant upgrades to the holes the team had, mainly in the pass rush department or on the offensive line. No really big playmakers were added at WR or RB, giving the Jets a very basic offense. Holmes has ability but Burress was coming off of a long stint in prison. Mason's best years were behind him and the Jets drafted two wide receivers in the 2011 draft, Jeremy Kerley and Scotty McKnight. McKnight never stepped foot on the field this season because of injury and Kerley never made an impact. With no second round pick, the Jets drafted Kenrick Ellis from Hampton in the 3rd round. He collected 7 tackles. Fourth rounder Bilal Powell carried the ball only 13 times all year and averaged just 1.6 yards per carry. QB Greg McElroy was placed on injured reserve. Wilkerson was the only one in this draft that had a real positive impact on the team with 3 sacks and 49 tackles. Kerley, who made the second largest contribution had 29 catches for 314 yards, was really a non-factor until later in the year. He didn't even have a catch until Week 5.
The Jets have failed to surround Mark Sanchez with the necessary pieces for success. Right tackle Wayne Hunter was not the answer. Vladimir Ducasse, the Jets 2nd round pick two years ago, has not developed into a starting offensive lineman as the Jets had hoped. The Jets problems are the result of poor decisions by Tannenbaum and nobody else. For the Jets team to put the burden of this past season on the shoulders of Mark Sanchez is not only unfair, it is wrong. Was Sanchez on the field when Denver marched over 90 yards on the game-winning drive?
What can the Jets do to improve? Well, they need to decide on whether or not Mark Sanchez can lead this team after this offseason. Can the Jets players who spoke out against Sanchez put their opinions away and play with him at QB? Can Sanchez deal with the criticism? Personally, I think giving up on a QB after only three seasons as a starter is foolish. It's not like he was putting up Jamarcus Russell numbers. Then, they need to figure out what to do with Santonio Holmes. Did he quit on the team? If so he has to go. There are some impact receivers like Steve Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, Mario Manningham, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, and Marques Colston to name a few that are going to be free agents. The only QB worth a shot would be Matt Flynn but he has one start under his belt. The Jets are pretty much stuck with Sanchez at QB unless they work out a trade. In the pass rush department, Robert Mathis, John Abraham, and Mario Williams are the best available. Abraham is getting old, Williams is likely to be re-signed by Houston so that leaves Mathis. Mathis would give the Jets something they lacked all year, a guy who can get to the QB. Maybe Aaron Maybin improves on his team-leading 6 sacks and emerges as the player many thought he could be when he was drafted by Buffalo.
The point is, Sanchez isn't going anywhere. If the Jets trade their draft picks for Peyton Manning they are foolish. Manning is 36 and coming off a potential career-threatening injury and is slated to make over $26 million. That money could be better spent on filling the holes that have been created by poor drafts. Like right tackle, guard, and defensive end. Maybe a safety since Jim Leonhard can't stay healthy. A running back to replace the aging LaDainian Tomlinson wouldn't be a bad idea. It doesn't look like the Jets are high on Bilal Powell or Joe McKnight, although McKnight showed some explosiveness on kick returns. If I owned the Jets I would replace the GM and get someone who knows how to draft well. That would go a long way to building a team that Jets fans can be proud of.
C'mon Jets fans, let me know how you would fix your team.
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