Youth movement leads to unreasonably low expectations
By Michael Pallas
The expectations for the New York Jets in 2017 are unreasonably low, given the changes made.
Many fans and pundits look at the young and inexperienced New York Jets roster coupled with a tough schedule and see a dark season for Gang Green. There’s one thing we should learn from the past, and that is the NFL is the most unpredictable of all sports.
Here’s how some experts feel the Jets will finish:
Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated: 3-13Rich Cimini of ESPN: 5-11Richard Janvrin of Bleacher Report: 1-15
With all of the said, one writer believes the Jets will finish .500.
Most people would probably say that there is more talent around the current crop of quarterbacks than there was in 2013 when Geno Smith made his debut in the NFL. Somehow, he was so terrible that the team went from 4-12 in 2012 to 8-8 in 2013.
More from The Jet Press
- NY Jets should target TE Hunter Henry in free agency
- NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
- NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
- NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
- NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency
The league is no long a defense-based league as it once was. All the rules favor offense and scoring.
Todd Bowles told Brian Costello of the New York Post:
You rebuild as far as people and names, but you don’t rebuild in terms of trying to win or not win. We’re trying to win all the time.
People scoffed at the notion that Bowles would try to pull the wool over our eyes and claim the team wasn’t rebuilding while that what they were doing.
Smith was run out of town for a lack of talent. Now this team is so bad that it can’t even finish .500.
The Jets finally have a tight end who they can incorporate into the offense, a quarterback with good NFL arm talent, and solid wide receivers.
In addition to that, they added two safeties for their defense to help their coverage problems. That in turn, will help the pass rush.
Rich Cimini of ESPN quoted linebacker David Harris:
“We know we didn’t have the best year last year. We are a young team, but I think we’re going to surprise people.”
That may seem ludicrous to say, but there’s one thing the NFL has taught us over the years: expect the unexpected.