Jets writer Andy Vasquez goes position-by-position through the offense in advance of training camp.Andy Vasquez, Staff Writer, @andy_vasquez

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The Jets weren't good enough in 2017 at a lot of positions. That's just how it is for a 5-11 team. 

But their offensive line was particularly disappointing. They were supposed to be an experienced and reliable group. Instead they were dogged by injury, inconsistency and allowed 47 sacks — seventh-worst in the NFL. 

Things are supposed to be different this year. The Jets have upgraded a key position and got healthy at another. So what to make of this offensive line? Our position-by-position preview continues as we get closer to July 26, and the start of training camp. 

The depth chart

(Projected starters in bold): (LT) Kelvin Beachum, (LG) James Carpenter, (C) Spencer Long, (RG) Brian Winters, (RT) Brandon Shell, Travis Swanson, Antonio Garcia, Brent Qvale, Dakota Dozier, Ben Ijalana, Jonotthan Harrison, Ben Braden, Dakoda Shepley, Darius James

The breakdown

The Jets signed Long to replace Wesley Johnson, who had a disappointing season after the departure of longtime center Nick Mangold. Long is coming off quad surgery but should be a big upgrade and provide stability throughout the line. Beachum, Carpenter and Shell all proved themselves competent in 2017. Winters struggled mightily as he dealt with an injury — more on that in a moment — but should be improved. 

Swanson, a free-agent pickup, started 42 of 53 games in his first four seasons in Detroit. He will almost certainly make the team as a backup center/guard. Expect Garcia, a new addition from the Patriots, to push Qvale, Dozier and Ijalana for a backup job. 

 

The big question

Can Winters get back to old form?

Winters signed a four-year, $29 million ($15 million guaranteed) extension with the Jets before the 2017 season, and then went on to have the worst year of his career. But that was for good reason: He played most of the season with torn abdominal and abductor muscles.

Winters, who suffered the injury in Week 2, called the pain "horrendous" and said he "wasn't able to do anything." But offseason surgery fixed all that, and Winters says he's poised for a big year. He's only 27 and in the midst of his prime, so if Winters does play the way he's supposed to, it could transform this line. Part of the reason Johnson struggled last season was because Winters wasn't 100 percent.

But with a healthy Winters, the line should be the consistent experienced unit it is supposed to be. The Jets certainly need that this season, because the Jets can't afford to have any of their quarterbacks — Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater, or Sam Darnold — taking major punishment. 

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com