Top 3 needs after Week 2 of 2017 preseason

We knew going into the preseason the New York Jets had a lot of holes on the team, and they were made clear by the Lions in Week 2.

The New York Jets are young. So, many of their holes can be sorted out. With that said, they are glaring right now.

All of these should be staring the Jets’ brass in the face after Week 2 of the preseason. It will take time and patience to get it all right, and as long as the Jets look like they’re moving in a positive direction, fans should be willing to exhibit patience.

There’s a lot to take in in the first two weeks of the preseason with this young team. Let’s try and sort things out and see what their top needs are at this point in time.

Next: 3. A dynamic wide receiver

3. A dynamic wide receiver

The Jets wide receiver core is very young and inexperienced. They average 24 years of age and two years of NFL experience between them.

It was clear early that the Detroit Lions didn’t fear Christian Hackenberg nor any of the receivers. They stacked the box early and dared the Jets to beat them through the air, but for some reason, the offense didn’t even try.

The Jets receivers have had a case of the dropsies during the preseason, which doesn’t help their cause. Until one or two of them emerge as deep threats they will continue to see eight-man boxes.

Without a dynamic wide receiver, the defenses the Jets face can focus on the run and play man-to-man all game long. It’s essential for one of them to emerge, or for the Jets to find one.

Next: 2. A franchise quarterback

2. A franchise quarterback

The Jets have been searching for the guy to replace Joe Namath since 1977. Quarterback is the most important position on the field, but that doesn’t mean it should be priority number one when there are even more glaring holes on the team.

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The quarterback is expected to be the leader of the team, and he is also expected to do the most because he touches the football on every play. However, the quarterback is also the most dependent position on the field.

A quarterback needs many parts to be successful for him to succeed. He needs the offensive line to be able to hold up on the run and the pass, and in turn, he needs a successful running back so the offense can remain balanced.

Additionally, he needs receivers to get open and catch the football when he throws it to them. Right now, the Jets don’t have their guy, but they might in the future.

Next: 1. Offensive line overhaul

1. Offensive line overhaul

The quarterback is the most essential skill position player on the field. However, the overall position rankings by importance are as follows:

1) Offensive Tackle (depending on the throwing hand of the quarterback, generally LT) 2) Center 3) Quarterback

In the last two decades, the Jets have been at their best when they had above average to great play from two main positions. Those positions are left tackle (Jumbo Elliot, D’Brickashaw Ferguson) and center (Kevin Mawae, Nick Mangold)

In 1998, when they acquired Elliott and Mawae, they went to that season’s AFC Championship Game. Then, in 2006, the Jets used two first round picks on Ferguson (fourth overall) and Mangold (29th overall).

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Those two draft picks helped lead to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance in 2009-10. Even if you find a guy who has the talent to be a franchise quarterback, it does him no good to be flat on his back.

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