Opinion: What About Us, Don?
Have the Jets become one of the most improved teams out there? SI.com’s Don Banks doesn’t seem to think so. Today, Dan Breen lends his thoughts on the issue.
So Don Banks of SI.com presented his list of “five teams who bettered themselves this offseason” the other day. Now, we know Banks isn’t enamored of what the Jets have done to this point in the offseason, and that’s fine – some of the acquisitions have been high risk, there’s no doubt about it. They’ve spent a lot of money, too. But there are also potentially high rewards, aren’t there?
Sure, Jenkins could be overweight and injured; but he can also be a dominant player. Faneca could decline rapidly, but he could also continue to be one of the best guards in the league. Maybe Pace was a one-year wonder, or perhaps he’s the “monster” that at least one scout believes him to be. Some of the moves will hit, some of them will miss. Tangini’s future likely depends on there being more of the former than the latter.
But here’s the thing; Banks appears to base his assessment on the increased number of games that his five “most improved” teams (Cleveland, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta and Detroit) will win this season. He envisions the Browns going from 10 to 12 wins (uh, OK); the Eagles improving from 8-8 to 11-5 (maybe); the Saints improving from 7-9 to 11-5 (I’ll buy that, the Saints underperformed last year and appear to have made several quality additions); Atlanta winning 7 games as opposed to 4 last year (not unless they get a QB); and Detroit going from 7-9 to 9-7 (I guess; they’ve gotta get lucky sometime, and Matt Millen can’t be wrong all the time, right?). So the “most improved” teams will win between two and four more games than they did last season.
Well, OK… but by what rational measure would he not expect the Jets to win at least 2-4 more games last season? Risks aside, they’ve added a Pro Bowl guard and improved at right tackle; they’ve addressed, with a well-regarded player, perhaps the biggest problem in their defense, the nose tackle position; and they’ve added a young pass rusher, hopefully solving one of their other defensive concerns. And this before the draft, when they’ll add perhaps two or three quality players.
According to Football Outsiders, they played one game under their expected wins last season, against the toughest schedule in the league; this year, they’ll play an easier schedule, having added at least five or six improved starters. I don’t think the Jets will challenge the Patriots for the division, and they may not even make the playoffs. But I’d have to imagine that they’ll win at least eight games next year… in which case, they clearly belong among the most improved teams in the league.
Maybe Don Banks doesn’t like their moves. But I’m not impressed with his analysis here.
19 Responses to Opinion: What About Us, Don?
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Seth (Rochester, NY) says:
I have given this a lot of thought and like what The Jets have done. I agree it is high risk and high reward, but if the players they signed are truly team player it will help this team mesh. The experts can say anything they want. Half will be right and half will be wrong. I hope Banks is very wrong.
On the “old” topic The NFL Draft. If Atlanta does get Oakland’s second round pick for Hall. I can see Matt Ryan slipping to us with Gholston being taken earlier. I think we have to do it in that case…or talk to Baltimore very quickly in the 10 minutes we have. There pick is only a few being us and we could pick up an extra second rounder.
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ramble914 says:
The best way to respectability is by winning! Plain and simple. If we win all the offseason moves will be viewed as genious, if we lose its the “same old Jets”. Let’s hope we win.
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Ilan says:
I took a look at Banks’ article and Cleveland, New Orleans and Philly I get but Atlanta and Detroit? What have they done? Atlanta’s added Turner but got rid of their two most productive offensive weapons Dunn and Crumpler not that they were much and traded their moody but best defensive player in Hall.
Detroit? You must be kidding me. They no longer have starting running back although they should be able to get one in the draft their back-up Bell has trouble picking up the blitz which is not usually the strength of rookies either. They have improved their defense but am I the only one here who still thinks that their o-line is one of the five worst in football?
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Harlan Lachman says:
When we win at least four more games next year (there have been too many moves for recently high performance players for at least several to pan out), I think we can all count on two things:
1) Neither Banks, Cimini, Lebs, et. al., will admit they were wrong about the moves. This will be especially true if the Browns’ surrendering of draft picks does not pan out.
2) Cimini and Lebs will find even more things to attack; while they are incapable of adding any real knowledge to the Jets’ fan base because they are so ignorant and lazy, they are adept at brownosing players upset with their play (in the player’s mind their playing time or salary or both).
Thank god for thejetsblog.com and alt.sports.football.pro.ny-jets.
harlan
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j says:
Who cares what the writers have to say. They all have alterior motives.
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KevT says:
The biggest joke in Banks’ analysis is Philly. They added Asante… Big deal. They still have no good WR’s for McNabb to throw to and he is on the downside of his career and a few concussions short of retirement if you ask me. Next up is the Lions, who are always potential losers, then Cleveland, who are just as streaky as the Jets. This makes me all the more motivated and it should motivate those at Weeb Ewbank Hall.
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Am I the only Jet fan who is not enamored with the boatloads of cash they have shelled out this offseason. I understand most of the moves, aside from the ridiculous amount they gave the Pace, but they still have one quarterback with no arm and another who can’t read defenses.
Can anybody make a rational argument that the Jets will be better than the Patriots or Colts next season? Cause shouldn’t that be the point. Maybe I’m just being overly pessimistic and maybe the hope will come at the start of the season.
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Nikolas says:
What sports writers write is irrelevant. Who cares what they think.
We as Jets’fans who know our team best, we do know that this offseason we did improve our team. Our team last year if the OL was not a mess -in my opinion-was a playoff team. But any way, I bet that this year the team will win 11–12 games and they will go beyond the first round of the playoffs. The offense is almost complete, the defense needs a good CB and that is it. This team has no weakness!!! -
I wouldn’t go that far nikolas. This Jets team should be improved but they still have to contend with the Pats (Brady), Colts (Manning), Chargers (an ok Rivers), Steelers (Roethlisberger), Browns (Anderson?) and Jaguars (a consistent Garrard). Plus, the Texans (Schaub/Rosenfels) are an improving team as are the Bills (who don’t get enough credit), and a potentially good Bengals (Palmer) team. Thats a lot of good teams with some spectacular and some solid QBs. I do think the Jets will challenge for a playoff spot but as for guaranteeing they will get one I don’t know. They need to have more explosiveness on offense. One of the reasons I advocate looking long and hard at McFadden.
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J says:
Simon, I have to agree with you. I’m afraid this team has just spent a lot of money to go for short-term mediocrity.
I appreciate the team recognizing changes had to be made, and that finally they need players that will fit the scheme. But they’ve chosen a very poor FA year to go on their spending binge. I hope this offseason’s spending doesn’t hamper the team in coming years. It’s not worth it to make that sacrifice just to attain mediocrity.
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billvv says:
The review of the contracts by Cimini showed that the FO had your very concerns in mind when the wrote them. This will not be cap-suicide.
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It appears that the “Band Aid” moves are being made to save Tangini’s Ass. Only time will tell, if they had another 4-12 they would be gone.
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jet4lif says:
I agree with Nikolas, all these moves with draft to support the short term fixes its a 11-12 win team. And with these huge proven maulers on the line we should be able to move into the second round.
If we trade back and get a good CB in mid-first round, we’ll be good. -
HOZ THE JET says:
everybody is talking about how much money we spent in free agency but the point is we still 4 mil.under the cap and when we dump d.rob we will be about 11 to 12mil. under so how many other teams in the league did what we did ,if you ask me the front office is just genius especially if all these moves work out!
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Common Ilan… Texas, Browns,Steelers,Bills Bengals? I think the reason many of the Jets fans are pessimistic is because they do not like Chad’s arm. An overated weakness in my opinion. Give Chad enough protection and he will slice you in pieces.The guy came from injury and led an inferior team -at least on paper- to a 10-6 season. Last season was all the fault of the FO. Even Manning and Brady would look bad behind maybe the worst line in football. The Tangini regime should be ashamed of themselves by trying to make Chad the scapegoat. It was their fault, and their fault only. I think they learned at least some lessons.
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I don’t know how you add a couple of pro bowlers, role players and upgrades who fit the defensive scheme and not consider the Jets one of the most improved teams through FA. I think the issue that is overshadowing our moves is the iffy QB situation. The game is won and lost in the trenches as they say, and thats exactly where Tanny focused. The addition of Faneca alone should put us in the Top 5.
Detroit and Philly? This guy Banks is just a hater without a clue in my opinion…I just don’t get it – but in the end who gives a d*mn what he thinks?
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Can anyone tell me why we should care with Don Banks or any othe the other media writers think? Anyone at all?
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cbiscuit says:
Banks is the same dude that puts out mock drafts before free agency has even started. What a moron.
it’s funny how nobody likes our moves but loves clevlands and others if we draft run dmc they going to say we should of draft ghoulston,if we draft ghoulston they going to say we should of draft run dmc so we always in a lose lose situation all we have to do is win on the field an proove all the critics wrong a then they will all come back on the jets bandwagon!!!