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I keep hearing the Jets are going into full rebuilt mode. Is the truly the case or just a media narrative. Let’s take a closer look . . .
Why are people saying they are rebuilding?
Just because the released an injured right tackle, left tackle and center who were making a lot of money?
Just because the released a placekicker?
What does rebuilding really mean in the NFL?
Does it mean you start four rookies on defense like the Atlanta Falcons did this year? They went to the Super Bowl.
“Rebuilding” is a dumb word to use in the NFL.
The better word is “retool.”
And that is what Todd Bowles will likely say when asked about what the Jets are doing.
Look-it, the Jets have missed the playoffs six years in a row. They got blown out six times last year.
Do you think it’s now apropos to write-off 2017 and claim you are “rebuilding.”
And if they have the guts to release Darrelle Revis in the coming weeks, is that further evidence they are “rebuilding.”
No, it means they are getting rid of an aging players who played poorly last year, and not much better the year before. That is what it means.
People love to put labels on things.
How can Todd Bowles/Mike Maccagnan go into full rebuild mode in Year Three of their regime? How does that make any sense. And if they have another lousy season like 2016, you think they survive?
The Jets don’t need to rebuild, they just need to make better personnel decisions.
Mr. Coffee’s first two drafts leave you wanting more. So far, they landed just one impact player – Leonard Williams. Mike needs to step up his game and draft a little better. Darron Lee has a lot of potential, but didn’t have a good rookie year.
Also, they need to do a better job in free agency. Right out of the gate in 2015, they signed four defensive backs – Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist. They spent a fortune, and their pass defense was substandard the last two years. You could make an argument, that Gilchrist, was the best of the group, and that is by default. Cromartie was released after one year. The Revis contract was one of the worst in NFL history. Skrine has been wildly inconsistent. This secondary spending qualifies as a boondoggle.
The Jets traded for Ryan Clady to play left tackle and he got hurt again.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall both took a step back in 2016.
I’m not going to bore you and go over every personnel move from the MacBowles regime’s first two years, but it needs to get a lot better.
How about finally going out and getting a top-shelf edge pass rushers. Stop procrastinating!
The point here is simple – the Jets don’t need to rebuild. They need to retool, and their personnel department needs to step up.
Don’t spend like drunken sailors in free agency like 2015. Spend efficiently on guys who fit the system and aren’t individual contractors, hired guns.
Grab a QB like Brian Hoyer, Mike Glennon, A.J. McCarron or Chase Daniel, and have them manage the game.
The NFL is set-up for parity. For instance, the Jets were just given an additional third round pick as a compensatory pick for losing free agents. This is another mechanism to promote parity. This is a very deep draft, so the Jets should get another good player with this pick, if they draft well.
The Jets should trade Sheldon Richardson for a few draft picks or perhaps a player and draft pick.
I don’t want to hear this “rebuilding” rhetoric.
Just do a better job in player personnel and re-tool.
Look, I’m not saying the Jets are going to the Super Bowl if they have a good off-season.
But if they do a better job in the draft and free agency, they should be a better team than last year. Honestly, the league isn’t that strong, aside from a few teams.
February 27, 2017
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