New York Jets

New York Jets: What are Todd Bowles’ Expectations In Year Four?

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Entering his fourth year as the New York Jets head coach, Todd Bowles is in a position in where he’s obligated to take this team to the next level. Christopher Johnson handed Bowles a two year extension after seeing significant improvements on a roster that was thought by many as being at best mediocre in this leagues standards.

After finishing 10-6 in his first year at the helm, Bowles was thought to be the answer after the erratic Rex Ryan era. With many aging veterans and a lack of stability at the quarterback position, Bowles and Macagnnan were forced to start from scratch and develop a team that fit their philosophy and objectives.

The New York Jets building blocks:

With building blocks including Leonard Williams, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye and this year’s first rounder, Sam Darnold, the Jets have positioned themselves in becoming a threat in the AFC for years to come. Aside from the core nucleus, Macagnnan has provided Bowles with enough cap space to mix and match his pieces on both sides of the ball ( $20 million in 2018 & $87 million in 2019).

With incoming free agents such as Trumaine Johnson and Avery Williamson on defense and Spencer Long and Isaiah Crowell on the offensive side of the team, the Jets are bound to become a force to be reckoned with. With all the optimism surrounding Gang Green this upcoming season, a major red flag still presents itself. Todd Bowles needs to prove that he can mesh well with his new offensive coordinator, Jeremy Bates. Bates is the third offensive coordinator in as many years for the Jets, which raises concerns on how much Bowles should involve himself in the play-making calls on the offensive end.

Todd’s forte has always been on the defensive side, which can go back to the days of being the assistant coach of the year in 2014 as the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator. He has a knack to highlight players strengths, while minimizing their weaknesses which coincide with his aggressive play calling.

The only problem is that these traits have not reached its full potential on the offensive side of the ball. In my opinion, coach Bowles needs to allow Jeremy Bates to run the show with minimal supervision when it comes to the playmaking on offense. All in all, Todd Bowles as well as Mike Macagnnan are on the right path in making this team a fearsome force for years to come.

With Tom Brady nearing his final years as a player, the opportunity to take the reigns of the AFC East has never presented itself so clearly than it has now. The influx of young talent the Jets possess with the foundation set in place in the organization itself in the ability to develop and getting productivity out of its players should allow Coach Todd Bowles to take a giant leap in the AFC.

We Might Have To Wait A Year For The Jets To Click On All Cylinders

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New York Jets, Sam Darnold

New York Jets fans have experienced years of up and down play, but things seem to be on the upswing. Despite the fact that there were signs of success in the 10-6 season three years ago, nothing else was to come from that year besides a winning record.

The last time the Jets had seen the playoffs was during the Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan days nearly 10 years ago. This was also the last time the Jets had a winning record until 2015. Now we have seen two 5-11 records in a row and patience is running out for everyone. The amount of rebuilds for the Jets in the off-season are more than anyone can count, and we all ask ourselves – what makes this rebuild so special?

All of the pieces on offense are coming together:

The quarterback situation has been taken care of, with Sam Darnold showing signs of improvement, and Teddy Bridgewater bringing competition to the table, as well as his talent. His overall record as a starter is 17-11, and was on the verge of showing out on the Vikings before he tore his ACL in a practice drill in 2016. Now he has overcome adversity and is ready to play football again, something that I know I am looking forward to.

The running game has been addressed, signing Isiah Crowell and Thomas Rawls along with the reliable 3rd down back Bilal Powell who always seems to make plays for gang green. This running game could shape up to be a good one with two hard runners and one versatile shifty spread back. Not to mention the amount of space for the wide receiver core who is all together healthy now! Each receiver showing they can go out there and snag the football and now each are united to become one of the most underrated receiving cores in football.

Jermaine Kearse, Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and the new addition of Terrell Pryor should make this Jets offense one to watch in this upcoming season. The offensive line used to be the foundation, but it can be addressed in the next draft and the next free agency.

Look out for the Jets’ defense! 

It seems as if it’s going to be restricted air space for years to come for this Jets Secondary, with Claiborne resigned, as well as picking up Trumaine Johnson, the best corner in free agency this year. And how can I not mention the two stud safeties in Jamaal Adams and Marcus Maye, as well as the hitstick power of JJ Wilcox.

The defensive line may have appeared to have taken a hit with the loss of Muhammad Wilkerson, but it was for the best. It made little sense to pay up for a player who no longer wanted to be there, no matter how good he was. With that being said, there is still standout defensive end Leonard Williams and defensive tackle Steve McLendon. And maybe if we’re lucky, the Jets could possibly get some upside from third round draft choice Nathan Shepherd.

Bowles is ready!

Just signed through 2020, Bowles finally has the secondary he dreamed of. Being able to run the team the way he wants to; I know the fourth has passed, but we should see some more fireworks this season come September.

Can Terrelle Pryor Be A Difference Maker For The New York Jets?

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This offseason, the New York Jets decided to bring in Terrelle Pryor on a one-year $4.5 million contract. Pryor is just two years removed from a 1,000-yard season. However, injuries derailed him in his lone season with the Washington Redskins.

The real question is whether the polarizing 29-year-old can produce for the Jets offense coming off of ankle surgery. New offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates will likely retain the West Coast scheme that brought success to quarterback Josh McCown through 13 games. Pryor should fit well in this scheme, utilizing his size as an advantage on multiple levels of the field.

A Look At The Talent

Pryor joins a receiving corps that has talent despite their lack of wins. Robby Anderson has been operating as the number one receiver and would’ve had 1000 yards last season if McCown hadn’t gotten hurt. Anderson can blow the top off of a defense, but off the field issues could possibly lead to a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy.

Last year’s big addition to the offense was Jermaine Kearse, who the Jets acquired by shipping off Sheldon Richardson. Kearse played well, posting a career-best 65 receptions for over 800 yards. He was a much-needed infusion into the offense opposite Robby Anderson. Kearse was an integral target who helped make the Jets offense competitive.

Although Quincy Enunwa missed the entirety of last season due to a gruesome neck injury, he should make an impact on the Jets offense this season. In 2016, Enunwa had 58 receptions for over 850 yards. Enunwa and Anderson both have the makings of a number one receiver.

So How Do They All Fit Together?

The concern is that Pryor, Anderson, and Enunwa are all big-body, number one receiver types. Pryor and Anderson in particular do not operate inside the numbers. Looking at this group of receivers, it’s hard to predict who is on the field for three-receiver sets.

How Enunwa returns from injury will dictate the answer to that question. It is fair to say that we can expect Anderson and Pryor on the outside, with Kearse playing more in the slot. Enunwa has always struck me as a Y-receiver who can play from the slot as well.

Anderson and Kearse have both earned their playing time. However, teams don’t bring in free agents with the intention of having them on the bench. Pryor can make a difference for this team if he’s healthy, as he showed in his final season in Cleveland. The Jets top four receivers give them a lot of targets, and we can’t forget about young players such as Ardarius Stewart, Chad Hansen, and Charon Peake. Whoever is at quarterback throughout the 2018 season, they should have a plethora of options.

Can the New Running Back Duo for the Jets Lead to a Winning Season?

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The New York Jets haven’t had a stud running back since Thomas Jones in 2009, but they may have a more than serviceable tandem in 2018. Now that present Jets running back Bilal Powell and newly added running back Isaiah Crowell are combining their talents, opposing defenses may have a run for their money.

Crowell was traded from the Cleveland Browns following their 0-16 season. With Crowell having a total of 1,035 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns last season, it’s safe to say Crowell had a decent season. In all fairness, the twenty-five year old was a part of a team that finished 0-16 in 2017, so he couldn’t do all the work himself.

Can Crowell perform for the New York Jets:

Many people remember Crowell at his best in previous seasons and trust me, he can provide quality performances. On the other hand, Powell also had a very decent season finishing with 942 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Powell did most of the rushing in the backfield, while former teammate Matt Forte played sparingly and only averaged 12 yards per game.

In regard to last season, the Jets offensive line was not strong at all. Wesley Johnson played very poorly at the center position and missed blocks up the middle causing him to lose his spot to Spencer Long, a former center for the Redskins who was newly signed to the Jets during the offseason. On top of that, Jets guard Brian Winters was injured the previous season, so the Jets’ offensive line was not reaching its full potential.

Third year head coach, Todd Bowles believes that “a chemistry is growing among the players” and is searching for a chance at a playoff appearance. Along with Powell and Isaiah is former Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls. Rawls finished with 251 total yards and 0 touchdowns in the 2017 season. If Bilal plays as mostly a third down running back, then Thomas Rawls may make his way up the roster and contribute to a successful Jets season.

 

 

 

Jets’ Todd Bowles May Finally Have His 1-2 Punch At Corner

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Winning football games in the NFL is no easy task for any team since game plans are designed weekly to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. To no surprise, the New York Jets had a tough time finding a solution at the corner back position. As a result, the Jets allowed 30 touchdown passes last year. The lack of play making in the cornerback position left no choice for Mike Macagnnan to spend a chunk of their cap space on a legit shutdown corner.

The new signing for the Jets:

In comes the best free agent corner in the market, Trumaine Johnson. With the third largest guarantee in Jets history (34 million), Gang Green expects Johnson to pair up with Morris Claiborne, who was resigned this past off season for one-year and 7 million and create a fearsome pair at the cornerback position. This would enable Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers to play their style of defense with more confidence, meaning having two ideal press corners that can play physical at the point of attack allowing the front seven to pressure the quarterback and dial up more blitzing packages to create more turnovers.

The duo presents stable veterans that have been in the league since the year they both entered in 2012. Trumaine Johnson offers consistent, play-making ability and is a tone-setter, both with his leadership and the ability to shut down the opponents number one receiver. Morris Claiborne was the Jets’ best cornerback last year until injuries took a toll on his body as the season came to a close.

Claiborne has always been capable of being a shutdown corner, but his only issue has been the ability to stay healthy at a consistent basis. Injuries aside, the Jets were confident enough in resigning Morris for another year after seeing his potential in their system last year.

I truly believe this 1-2 punch can mesh well together and become one of the most efficient pairings in the NFL. Alongside stud second year safeties in Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, the Jets may have of the most fearsome secondaries in the league. You have two playmakers that can easily shut down the opposing teams best receivers and give the front seven enough time to get to the quarterback and disrupt their offense. The signs are pointing the right way and last years stuggles may well be behind us as long as both corners can deliver.

New York Giants Vs Jets: Which Is The Better Team Looking Into The future?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

While many analysts and fans believe that the New York Giants should have spent their No. 2 overall pick on a top-tier quarterback, the move to take one of the most enticing running backs in the last decade cannot be overlooked.

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is as close to a generational talent as you can get coming out of college, and having Eli Manning for the next two years puts the Giants in a good position to win in the short term and further develop Davis Webb.

The offense took massive strides over the offseason, as they signed left tackle Nate Solder and drafted guard Will Hernandez. The mentality of the team has shifted on its axis, and the culture change will prove to be one of the driving factors towards the overall success of the team.

The New York Giants have a new crop of rookies and a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. You won’t want to miss out on any breaking news stories, updates, or every-day activities! Sign up for FREE to receive premium content delivered straight to your email.

But what makes them different than their home-town rivals, the New York Jets, and are the Giants in a better position to succeed?

The Jets chose to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick. They selected USC signal caller, Sam Darnold, who brings a dynamic style of play to their offense and has the ability to develop into a quality player in the NFL.

MUST READ: The truth about Odell Beckham Jr.’s impending mega-deal

While Darnold has struggled to find a rhythm in his first few weeks as a professional, all rookies tend to have hiccups in the beginning of their professional career – unless you’re Saquon Barkley of course (joking).

The primary difference between the teams are their age, and the status of their rebuilding. The Jets have used the NFL draft to organize their defense and put a fresh and young product on the field. With players like Jamal Adams, Darron Lee, Lorenzo Mauldin, Morris Claiborne, and Leonard Williams, the Jets are on the right track to success. In 2017, their defense ranked 22nd in the league, primarily due to their youth agenda and inexperienced roster. The Giants on the other hand ranked 31st overall, struggling to stop the run. Despite the influx in injuries for the Giants, the defense struggled as a result of the offenses incapability to manage the clock. In 2018, we should expect to see a major turnaround.

The offensive side of the ball:

With the Giants selecting Barkley, they will receive a dynamic back that can run, catch, and block. Eli Manning has never had as complete a back as Barkley, and we should expect head coach Pat Shurmur to bring the best out of both players.

A starting unit consisting of Manning, Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, and a new offensive line, should immediately put the Giants in a position to succeed offensively. The major question in play for the Giants will be: How long will it take for the players and coaches to develop a balanced chemistry? 

Often times it can take at least one full season to develop the inter-workings of a team, and that fact alone may set the Giants back one season, putting Manning on the back end of his remaining two-years with Big Blue.

Luckily, good signs have been leaking from OTAs in regard to Davis Webb. Check out his latest progress here!

For the Jets, things have also looked good in terms of progress. Success has been hard to come by for Gang Green on the offensive side of the ball, but the drafting of Darnold and signing of Isaiah Crowell should put them in a solid position moving forward.

While their team as a whole will take another two-seasons to see a significant turnout due to the inexperience on both sides of the ball, they will likely be in a better position five-years down the line. The Giants on the other hand are set up to success on the short term, but if Webb pans out, they could be looking at success for the next decade.