The NY Jets are a limited National Football League organization, to say the least. After many bumbling decisions made by the front office, the Jets 2013 campaign can be described as competitive but dismal. What a dichotomy.
The Jets put an inferior offensive product on display every Sunday, led by a rookie quarterback who may or may not be the future of Gang Green.
The flip side of the offensive debacle in 2013 was the Jets defense. The defense kept the Jets competitive during contests when the offense was disgustingly inept and the special teams were anything but special.
The Jets have many decisions to make regarding the free agents within the organization. More importantly, the Jets must identify those veteran free agents from around the league who may be able to help the Jets win. Decisions. Decisions.
Gang Green has re-signed Head Coach Rex Ryan to a new multiyear deal. Under Ryan, the Jets rank 16th in winning percentage and won 3 of their last 4 in 2013.
With Gang Green having a grip on only one of the three phases of football, you can expect the Jets to be active on the offensive side of the ball during this 2014 free agency period which begins March 11 at 4pm EST.
This column will provide perspective into the NY Jets 2013 campaign, position grades, and what to expect from Gang Green in 2014.
FRONT OFFICE
The purpose of the front office is to generate revenue. It’s nice and neat to believe the goals of those in the front office are to put talent in place for team success, but if that were at the forefront, Timmy Tebow would never have stepped foot in Florham Park.
In theory, winning is the ultimate money maker. However, when the front-office suits decide that a big name can get the organization the spike in revenue it needs faster than winning will, signings like Mr. Tebow occur.
The power of trust at this level of football cannot be underestimated. There is a direct correlation between trust, team chemistry, and on-field success. Team chemistry begins in the front office and trickles down to the locker room as the pieces come together.
I’m a firm believer that coaches coach, players play, and those responsible for putting together a competitive team should be responsible for just that. Talent is like oxygen in the NFL: you need it to survive. In football terms, talent is necessary for success, and success, in turn, equals increased revenue.
Those placed in decision-making positions are most accountable for the lack of playmakers on the NY Jets roster. Owner Woody Johnson sometimes appears to be taking a page from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Johnson had his fingerprints all over the Tim Tebow debacle. Johnson has also influenced other poor personnel decisions of far less magnitude that will never see the light of day.
Being the owner of an NFL franchise does not make one an effective evaluator of talent. Rather, having disposable income means the owner can buy players recommended by those whose expertise entails talent evaluation.
Many different dynamics go into placing the right players into a locker room. It took Jerry Jones decades to assemble the talent in Big D just to be competitive during the regular season.
General Manager John Idzik must figure out an effective way to gauge the pulse of the Jets while having at least one hand tied by Johnson.
Unfortunately, the ability for those in the front office to relate to players is limited. No rapport is developed, thus no trust is gained. Poor personnel decision leads to members on the roster becoming disinterested if those bought in cannot help put up wins.
J-E-T-S OFFENSE
The 2013 NY Jets offense was painful to watch. The 8-8 record is an illusion and does not give a true indication into how bad the Jets actually were on offense.
With limited depth at the wide receiver position, and a first-year quarterback engineering things, the Jets were often dominated on offense.
A final ranking of second to last through the air is simply not acceptable. Having no confidence in such a young battery put Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg in glaring compromising positions throughout the season.
Operating with a limited playbook is not a formula for success and is a sure way for looses to outweigh wins.
Gang Green’s passing attack struggled throughout the 2013 campaign. The Jets finished toward the bottom of the NFL in all major offensive passing categories. The offense only accounted for 13 passing touchdowns, ranking last in the NFL.
When there is inferior quarterback play, the team will struggle to find wins. It takes more than just a “game manager” for team success in today’s NFL.
Trent Dilfer may have “managed” the Baltimore Ravens offense during the Ravens Super Bowl XXXV run. However, it was the other two phases of the game, defense and special teams, that brought the 2000 World Championship to Baltimore.
J-E-T-S DEFENSE
The NY Jets defense was the foundation for this team. The defense was aggressive, physical, and played fast. It quickly became a familiar scene to watch the Jets defense begin a drive defending opponents as they took over possession inside Jets territory.
With Head Coach Rex Ryan possessing a beautiful defensive mind, and Defensive Coordinator Dennis Thurman being a man of high football intelligence, the Jets defense carried the team in 2013. Ranking 22nd in giving up 335 yards per game, the Jets defense came to play.
There is superior talent on this side of the ball. The late season acquisition of Ed Reed will strengthen a secondary that is in need of veteran leadership. The presence of Reed will only aid in the development of the young guys like Dee Milliner and Antonio Allen while boosting the effectiveness of Antonio Cromartie.
Being released by the Houston Texans may be that shot of adrenaline needed in what appeared to be an alone, bored, and uninterested Ed Reed. Reed had an obvious disconnect with the Houston Texans organization. If Ryan is able to effectively stoke that fire and Reed is able to flash the skills that will one day land him in Canton, look out for this unit in 2014.
J-E-T-S SPECIAL TEAMS
Football is a game of inches. Special teams is where those inches add up and can prove to be the difference between winning and losing.
Kicker Nick Folk was solid, converting 33 of 36 field goals while hitting all 3 attempts from 50+ yards. Punter Ryan Quigley ended the 2013 season punting 72 times with 21 punts landing inside the opponent’s 20 yard line.
Where I would like to see Special Teams Coordinator Ben Kotwica and the Jets improve is in the return game. Josh Cribbs and Jeremy Kerley handled the bulk of the return duties. Darius Reynaud was bought in to give some spark to a return game that hasn’t had a consistent return man since Brad Smith.
Reynaud, who spent part of the 2013 season with the Tennessee Titans, contributed to the return game, as did Kyle Wilson, Clyde Gates, and Antonio Cromartie. Cribbs returned 20 kickoffs, averaging 24.5 yards per return.
I expect the Jets to find an explosive return man in this year’s NFL draft. While refining his position-specific skills, the Jets will use this young man to make the team relevant in the return game.
Athletes abound, and this is an area that the Jets must address. If addressed properly, an explosive return guy can make the Jets a better team immediately. Kerley and Gates can provide depth, which will allow Cromartie to focus on full-time cornerback duties.
Special Team Final Grade: C+
QUARTERBACK
Geno Smith was handed the keys to the offense and immediately drove off the road into a ditch that he was unable to find his way out of. Smith completed 266 completions on 480 passing attempts with 12 touchdown tosses and 21 interceptions.
The Jet’s offense at times appeared to be content treading water while hoping the defense or special teams could pick up the slack. I respect Geno Smith and his willingness to compete; however, he simply was not ready for show time in his rookie year.
Smith did some good things and flashed glimpses of being a solid backup. But Smith has a lot to learn about the game, about on-field demeanor, and how to effectively deal with detractors.
A veteran presence bought in to compete for the starting quarterback spot will only help with Smith’s development, and essential if the Jets have any long term plans for Smith.
Quarterback Final Grade: D
RUNNING BACK
Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell combined for 4.3 yards per rushing attempt and rushed for a combined 1,530 yards. Solid numbers for a group that often faced defenses with 8 and 9 defenders in the box. Ivory and Powell are powerful runners who do a great job falling forward and scrapping for extra yardage. Mike Goodson is another talented runner who only adds depth. This is a solid group.
Running Back Final Grade: B+
WIDE RECEIVER
A successful rushing attack can open up things for the passing game in the same way an effective passing game can make room for the run. Having the pieces in place, though, to execute such a simple concept is another story.
Santonio Holmes is a number one wide receiver in the National Football League. Averaging 19.8 yards per catch in another injury-riddled season, Holmes possesses top twenty talent at the wide out position. Unfortunately for the Jets, this is where the talk of ability at the wide receiver spot begins and ends.
Jeremy Kerley chipped in with 523 yards receiving on 43 grabs, and Clyde Gates brought some quickness to the position. David Nelsen, at 6`4“, is a big target, but had a spotty 2013 campaign finishing with just 423 yards and just two touchdowns with six starts in 12 games. Jeff Cumberland led the team with only four touchdown receptions.
Kellen Winslow and Geno Smith seemed to have nice on-field chemistry. When in the lineup, Smith found Winslow a reliable target who provided solid yards after the catch.
Wide Receiver Final Grade: C-
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line paved the way for 12 rushing touchdowns and 2,158 total rushing yards during the 2013 campaign. The offensive line demonstrated the ability to fire off the ball and open holes for the running game. However, this is only half of the equation.
Jet quarterbacks were sacked 47 times and accounted for only 13 touchdowns through the air. Communicating pre-snap pass protection and identifying defensive schemes was a problem. The O-Line assumes half of the responsibility for pass protection. The rest of the burden falls on the shoulders of the quarterback.
With guard Willie Colon and tackle Austin Howard both free agents, the Jets must do everything in their power to keep continuity in this unit. Re-signing these two is a start to doing just that.
Offensive Line Final Grade: C+
DEFENSIVE LINE
This unit is active, agile and athletic. This bunch is physical and understands how the game of football is played. The most promising trait of this group is youth.
In each of the last three drafts, the Jets have spent first round picks on defensive linemen. Muhammed Wilkerson is an ascending stud, leading the team in sacks with 10.5 and flashing signs throughout the season of a top tier defensive lineman. Quinton Coples finished the season with 4.5 sacks and Sheldon Richardson completed a rookie campaign with 78 total tackles sprinkling in 3.5 sacks.
The D-Line is talented, disruptive and very well coached.
Defensive Line Final Grade: B+
LINEBACKER
David Harris and Demario Davis both finished the season with over 100 tackles. Harris led the team with 124, total stops while Davis had 107 tackles, enough for second most on the squad. Calvin Pace finished just a half a sack short of tying for the team lead.
Consistently, this group was solid against the run and was able to respond despite the situation or field position.
Linebacker Final Grade: B
DEFENSIVE BACKS
If Ryan is able to re-ignite the Ed Reed of old, Reeds addition will help this unit as he was able to come away with three interceptions in limited action. Dawan Landry was solid at his safety spot, and Antonio Allen finished the season with 61 tackles.
Veteran Antonio Cromartie seemed to lose focus at times while in coverage. Nevertheless, he does possess top-tier cornerback skills.
Dee Milliner showed promise during his rookie year but also experienced some adversity. Milliner soon experienced the ups and downs of life as a first-year cornerback, struggling mightily at times in both coverage and in run support.
The secondary had 13 picks in 2013, but gave up way too many plays over the top and thus underachieved.
Defensive Back Final Grade: C
PROGNOSIS
If the NY Jets are to be competitive during the 2014 campaign, production from the quarterback position simply must improve. Without solid quarterback play in today’s NFL, there is no chance for significant success, only the possibility of mediocrity.
It is no secret that Geno Smith is not ready for the keys to the car, not yet. Gang Green must realize that there is nothing wrong with the quarterback they drafted needing a bit of grooming.
To not bring in a quarterback through free agency that is proven and reliable would be a tremendous disservice to the guys in that locker room.
If the Jets feel that Geno Smith is their field general of the future, it’s imperative they find a solid veteran presence and get that guy in that quarterback meeting room yesterday.
Confidence, or lack thereof, is catchy and will infect the offense like flu in a kindergarten classroom.
The good news is that the game time repetitions that Smith and his band of receivers had in 2013 is priceless as there is no substitute for experience. However, this will only prove to be relevant if it translates to on-field synchronization and wins in 2014.
NY Giants post season wrap up: 2/25/14.