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Sporting News Prediction On Jets | By J.P. Pelzman


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Camp countdown '08: NY Jets ( SN prediction: 8-8, 2nd in the AFC East )

J.P. Pelzman / For Sporting News

Sporting News continues its breakdown of all 32 NFL teams while counting down to the start of training camp. Today's team is the Jets:

Coach Eric Mangini often talks about how each season is "unique." Nothing carries over from one year to the next. He'd better be right, since there's not much for the Jets to take from their disappointing 4-12 season in 2007.Instead, the team tried to move forward with a flurry of offseason moves. On offense, the Jets signed left guard Alan Faneca and right tackle Damien Woody to plug a leaky line. On defense, they added outside linebacker Calvin Pace and traded for nose tackle Kris Jenkins to shore up a unit that didn't have enough compatible pieces to properly run the 3-4 scheme during Mangini's first two seasons at the helm.Next, the Jets drafted edge rusher Vernon Gholston with the sixth overall pick, having realized that the only way to challenge division kingpin New England is to consistently pressure quarterback Tom Brady.But for the Jets make a run at the AFC East title this year, or even rebound from last season's mess, the new additions must step in and make a difference right away.

Offense

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer uses multiple formations, pre-snap motion and even some no-huddle to confuse defenses. He also employs gimmicks like direct snaps to running backs.Schottenheimer will continue to call the plays, but it should be interesting to see how much influence new assistant head coach Bill Callahan has on the game plan. Callahan, who will work with the offensive line, ran a traditional West Coast offense when he was the coach at Nebraska.

Defense

The Jets run a 3-4 scheme very similar to the one used by New England, where Mangini served for a year as defensive coordinator. Mangini remains very hands-on with the defense, although Bob Sutton is entering his third year as the coordinator.The Jets primarily employ zone coverage in the secondary and don't blitz all that much up front, instead opting to use schemes and games to get to the passer.

The book on: Shaun Ellis

A rival sizes up the Jets' defensive end:

"He is a big, powerful end. He is strong, a solid technician, and a good effort guy. Most of his pressure comes off of power and not speed. He probably hates the 3-4. Most defensive ends prefer the 4-3 because they only have to control one gap and have a better shot at getting sacks and pressures and making more money."Guys like (New England's Richard) Seymour are fine with playing 3-4 as long as they are compensated for it. But Ellis is plenty strong enough and looks like your typical 3-4 end."

Bottom line The Jets addressed most of their pressing needs in the offseason, especially on defense, but it could take time for all those new parts to mesh. The revamped offensive line must come together quickly and allow the Jets to control the ball, because the attack still doesn't have quick-strike potential. Nor does it have a clear leader behind center heading into camp.Improvement is expected, particularly with a fairly favorable schedule, although the team will need to make four West Coast trips for the first time in its history.The Jets still aren't close to the Patriots' level, but 8-8 seems like a realistic finish. The playoffs are at least a year away. SN prediction: 8-8, second in AFC East.

J.P Pelzman covers the Jets for the Bergen (N.J.) Record and Sporting News.

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I'll take an 8-8 season with a grain of salt, but with the talent this team has all th QB has to do is game manage (aka, don't make stupid mistakes in the second half of games) and this team SHOULD win atleast 10 games. If they fail to game manage it, this team is 7-9 or 8-8.

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I'll take an 8-8 season with a grain of salt, but with the talent this team has all th QB has to do is game manage (aka, don't make stupid mistakes in the second half of games) and this team SHOULD win atleast 10 games. If they fail to game manage it, this team is 7-9 or 8-8.

Pretty much what I was going to say. I think a lot of people are still underrating this team, and I'm not being ****y. Clemens, with some experience and some more help, should be MUCH better this season.

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It's all about the defense. We'll run the ball but won't score alot. If the defense isn't top 10, we're a 7 win team.

My prediction is the defense is good(Top 10) but not elite. We win 9, maybe 10 but are no match for the Patriots/Chargers, etc. At least we should be thinking playoffs in December. We are at least another year away from a real playoff contender.

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Most - 11 (We've made significant upgrades in just about every position. On Paper I think we're a playoff team, the talent is there.)

Least - 4 (That's just what happens when everything goes wrong, being a Jet fan you can never rule out everything going wrong.)

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