The Todd Bowles era has finished at MetLife Stadium. The Jets have suddenly become interesting with a bunch of huge offseason moves as well as another top 10 draft pick and an “offensive guru” in Adam Gase to work with Sam Darnold. More on that later. Let’s fly back a year to the 2018 Jets in our season recap.
Jets 2018 Season
The Jets started to intrigue the league last season after drafting Sam Darnold. Despite a disappointing season, where they finished 4-12, there were some bright spots. In Week one, Darnold looked great. Well after his first throw that is! He lead the Jets to a huge win over the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, after his first career pass ended up a pick-six. After a clear rookie mistake, Darnold threw for 198 yards and two TD’s in the rest of the game, winning 48-17.
They and Lions were both bad football teams, however, with the Jets lacking any real depth or quality in their roster. After Week 1, the Jets lost three straight, going 1-3 in the first quarter of the season. To round out the year, the Jets won just 3 in 12, securing the 3rd overall draft pick.
Darnold missed a few games due to getting hurt around November. After returning from that injury, Darnold improved and showed signs of what’s to come for him in his career. He only threw one INT in the last month of the season, throwing for 6 touchdowns and completing 64% of his passes.
Jamal Adams, Jason Myers and Andre Roberts were all selected to the Pro Bowl after impressing in a pretty damn awful team in 2018. Adams is one of the best young DB’s in the league and was the leader of the Jets defense in only his second year as a pro. Myers had a cracking year in the kicking game, making 91.7% of his Field Goals. As for kick-returner, Andre Roberts, he was first or second in every stat possible in his position.
So what’s changed (2019 Offseason)
Well first off, there’s a new head coach in Adam Gase, as a Dolphins fan, I love this move! Gase causes a whole load of drama and will at some point fall out with Gregg Williams, his defensive coordinator.
The dude can squeeze out wins, which is evident from his time in Miami, but the football is dire. I am fully intrigued to see how this offense will be different from an apparent “offensive guru” who had the 31st ranked offense last year. I have quite a bad opinion on Gases offense, find out more here.
Earlier I mentioned that the Jets have become interesting, this is because they’ve spent a whole load of money. Below are their highest-profile moves;
- Kelechi Osemele, Guard, Traded for 2019 fifth-round draft pick, with Oakland
- Le’Veon Bell, Running Back, Signed a 4-year contract with $27 million guaranteed.
- CJ Mosely, Linebacker, Signed a 5-year contract, with $43 million in guarantees.
One other impressive move was signing slot receiver Jamison Crowder from Washington. Gase loves slot receivers, developing the likes of Jarvis Landry and Albert Wilson in Miami. He does, however, struggle with deep threats, with Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker not fitting in the system. I for one am intrigued to see how Robby Anderson gels with his scheme.
Next was the NFL Draft, the Jets selected;
- Round 1, Pick 3 (3) – DL Quinnen Williams – Alabama
- Round 3, Pick 4 (68) – LB Jachai Polite – Florida
- Round 3, Pick 29 (92) – T Chuma Edoga – USC
- Round 4, Pick 19 (121) – TE Trevon Wesco – West Virginia
- Round 5, Pick 19 (157) – LB Blake Cashman – Minnesota
- Round 6, Pick 24 (196) – CB Blessuan Austin – Rutgers
Quinnen Williams, the best player in the draft, will partner his namesake Leonard Williams in a now stacked defense. One person who won’t play in that defense is Jachai Polite, he was already a risky pick for various reasons, which resulted in him not making the 53 man roster.
So, to finalise…
The Jets are a sneaky wildcard contender if everything goes right, but let’s face it, we’re talking about the New York Jets. I really worry for those hyping up the offense, it won’t be promising at all. Unless you like Bubble Screens that is! I project for the Jets to be around .500. Maybe 10-6, if everything goes right. Those new uniforms are fire though!!
To finish up, here’s the full Jets 53 man roster. From New York Jets.com
- Quarterbacks – Sam Darnold, Trevor Siemian
- Running backs – Le’Veon Bell, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell, Trenton Cannon
- Wide receivers – Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, Quincy Enunwa, Josh Bellamy, Braxton Berrios
- Tight ends – Ryan Griffin, Trevon Wesco, Daniel Brown
- Offensive linemen – Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Ryan Kalil, Brian Winters, Brandon Shell, Chuma Edoga, Tom Compton, Jonotthan Harrison, Alex Lewis, Brent Qvale
- Defensive linemen – Leonard Williams, Quinnen Williams, Henry Anderson, Steve McLendon, Nathan Shepherd, Foley Fatukasi, Bronson Kaufusi, Kyle Phillips, John Franklin
- Linebackers – C.J. Mosley, Neville Hewitt, Jordan Jenkins, Harvey Langi, Blake Cashman, Frankie Luvu, Tarell Basham, Albert McClellan
- Cornerbacks – Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole, Nate Hariston, Arthur Maulet, Bennett Jackson
- Safeties – Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Matthias Farley, Rontez Miles
- Punter – Lachlan Edwards
- Kicker – Kaare Vedvik
- Long snapper (1): Thomas Hennessy
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