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Report: Bowles brings hope


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Jets offseason report: Overhaul under Mike Maccagnan, Todd Bowles brings hope

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY

 

In his first four months on the job, general manager Mike Maccagnan has made his imprint on the New York Jets. The result is a team that appears much closer to competing for a playoff spot.

 

Maccagnan's predecessor, John Idzik, failed because he didn't do nearly enough. Though the Jets entered the 2014 offseason with plenty of holes, Idzik sat passively during free agency while other teams spent their money. Everyone watching the Jets from afar knew they lacked depth throughout the roster. Those deficiencies were a big reason why the team sputtered to a 4-12 finish that prompted owner Woody Johnson to fire Idzik and coach Rex Ryan.

 

In came Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, both rookies in their respective roles. The pair, thanks in part to $50 million-plus in salary cap space, went to work reshaping the roster. Coupled with a best-player-available strategy in the draft, the early reviews on the new regime have been positive.

 

"I think we got some good football players," Bowles said following the NFL draft. "I think we got guys that create healthy competition, and that's what you want going forward. You want to bring the best out of guys. We tried, going into (the draft), to bring guys in here to create healthy competition, and that's what we did."

 

The real test, however, comes in the fall.

 

Quarterback

Incumbent Geno Smith operated as the starter during offseason practices. But veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, assuming his broken leg is fully healed, could make a case for himself with a strong preseason if Smith falters. Fitzpatrick has experience with new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's system. The Jets selected Baylor star Bryce Petty in the fourth round of the draft, but Bowles called him a developmental project. It's safe to assume Petty won't see the field in 2015, barring injury.

 

Running back

The Jets declined Chris Johnson's option, leaving the team with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell as its backs. But New York was aggressive in bolstering the position, signing veteran Stevan Ridley, formerly of the New England Patriots, and acquiring Zac Stacey in a trade with the St. Louis Rams during the draft. Ivory likely remains the top back, but expect the Jets to ride the hot hand in terms of who gets the bulk of carries from week to week.

 

Wide receiver

Maccagnan's trade for former Chicago Bear Brandon Marshall gives the Jets their first bona fide No. 1 receiver in years. And though New York released Percy Harvin, Maccagnan used a second-round selection to pluck speedy Devin Smith out of Ohio State as a needed vertical threat. Eric Decker, last year's major free agent score, returns after serving as the leading receiver in 2014 (74 catches, 962 yards, five touchdowns). And with the extension of slot wideout Jeremy Kerley's contract, the Jets suddenly have a deep, capable corps.

 

Tight end

Jeff Cumberland re-signed for three years and $3.7 million. Last year's second-round selection, Jace Amaro, has plenty of potential and could be on the verge of a breakout season after 38 receptions for 345 yards last year. But for that to happen, quarterback play has to be far more consistent.

 

Offensive line

Most of the front five will return in 2015, but the Jets should start to think about the future. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson struggled last season, and the Jets might need to consider drafting his replacement in the near future. Center Nick Mangold, who (like Ferguson) is heading into his 10th season, continues to be the anchor and joins guard Willie Colon and right tackle Breno Giacomini as last year's holdovers. The new addition is guard James Carpenter, who signed as a free agent after playing with the Seattle Seahawks last season. Carpenter could also be an option at tackle.

 

Defensive line

The rich got richer. When former Southern California star Leonard Williams fell to the Jets with the sixth pick of the first round, they opted to go with the best player available and drafted him. So now New York has fellow former first rounders Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, two of the top young defensive linemen in the NFL, and Williams, despite playing in a 3-4 scheme. "You can never have enough D-linemen," Bowles said. However Wilkerson, unhappy a new contract has not been forthcoming heading into the final year of his deal, skipped much of the team's offseason program. Damon Harrison returns as the nose tackle for 2015.

 

Linebacker

The Jets secured one of their leaders when they re-signed veteran David Harris, the team's leading tackler the past three years. Productive Demario Davis is back inside, next to Harris, as are edge rushers Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples. One addition who could bolster the pass rush is third-round draft pick Lorenzo Mauldin, whom Bowles called a hybrid player who would line up on different spots on the field.

 

Secondary

If there's one position group in the league that was completely overhauled by free agency, it's the Jets secondary. New York went from having Darrin Walls and Marcus Williams as starting corners to all-pro Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, with talented Buster Skrine in the slot. Safety Marcus Gilchrist also signed. And with Dee Milliner, the No. 9 overall selection in the 2013 draft, still on the roster, a glaring weakness has suddenly become a strength for the Jets, though they'll be looking for more from last year's top pick, Calvin Pryor.

 

Special teams

Nick Folk continues to hold on to kicking duties after converting 32 of 39 field goal attempts last season. Punter Ryan Quigley (45.9-yard average in 2014) also returns. With the Jets releasing Harvin, look for Saalim Hakim to take over on kickoff returns while Kerley continues fielding punts.

 

Coaching

The Jets have 16 of a possible 22 coaches who are entering their first season with the franchise, and that's not even counting Bowles, who was a secondary coach with the team in 2000. Gailey isn't the only new coordinator with Kacy Rodgers taking over on the defensive side, though Bowles should have plenty of input there given his recent success in the role for the Arizona Cardinals.

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  • 3 weeks later...

"I counted down instead of counting up

and got the times mixed up" Geno Smith

Geno could get away with an assinine statement like that LAST YEAR, because Rex simply didn't give a crap. Geno is the key to the Jets season this year as Mac and Bowles have improved every level of the offense and defense. If Geno proves that he cannot read defenses it won't matter if Gailey 'dumbs it down' because at some point teams will force you to make a quick decision on a critical play. That is where Geno was supremely lacking his first two years. Personally, I hope he comes of age so to speak and produces decent - if not spectacular - numbers.

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says the guy who"s first 900 posts on this board were slamming rex ryan,exclusively

 

hardly, but I do bash Rex more than strictly necessary mostly because there is absolutely no doubt he is horrible (bottom 5 HC in the NFL), but with Geno because of his situation there is still hope.

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hardly, but I do bash Rex more than strictly necessary mostly because there is absolutely no doubt he is horrible (bottom 5 HC in the NFL), but with Geno because of his situation there is still hope.

I could care less about the reasoning, I was just pointing out the irony

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