Midseason mark shows Jets are better than we expected

It’s been a disappointing season for the New York Jets but they’re better than we all expected.

For those New York Jets fans who pulled for a disastrous record, the first eight games of 2017 have been a disappointment. I didn’t anticipate three wins in 16 games.

For those “serious” Jets fans, who put their money behind the team with season tickets and the purchase of team paraphernalia, it’s been a mix of optimism and disappointment. They deserved a good show and, so far, the 2017 Jets have provided a lot of that.

For the objective football fan, the Jets’ 3-5 record in the deliberately balanced NFL seems about right: a squad good enough to compete, but saddled with insufficient talent, too little experience at too many positions, and not enough playing time at this juncture to build necessary cohesion to hold up under pressure for four quarters. This young team has hopefully benefitted from the numerous ups and downs.

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A big salute to QB Josh McCown, center Wesley Johnson, RB Bilal Powell, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, LB Demario Davis, SS Jamal Adams and FS Marcus Maye for achieving beyond expectations. That four of them were 2017 imports to the team is a feather in the cap of Jets’ personnel people.

Their performance even got me – one who wanted the Jets to run the table with as many losses as possible to get the best possible first-round draft pick (QB) – to pull out my better side, to pull for a win and get me upset when things blew up in Miami.

This season has always been about discovering the players who could and should be pieces of the Jets in 2019, 2020 and beyond (when Gang Green is in playoff position). I’m pulling for continued individual improvement in games 9-16 and the emergence of a player or two from the practice squad. I’m hoping – but not expecting – an improved pass rush. It may not be in the cards. How many years can we wait for the same “fearsome foursome” to put the heat on opposition quarterbacks before we recognize that it’s not going to happen?

Are there “keepers” on the offensive line? The second half of the season may answer that question. Ditto for which of the young receivers can be counted on – as long as McCown remains the starter. At some point though, that may not make any sense if Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles feel there is any potential in their youthful backup QBs.

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Oh and to be consistent with where I started this commentary, let’s stipulate that none of the three stud college quarterbacks (USC’s Sam Darnold. UCLA’s Josh Rosen or Wyoming’s Josh Allen) that the Jets might have an interest in have anyone’s heart aflutter.

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