2005 preview: Jets
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New York Jets
Head coach: Herm Edwards, sixth season
2004 record: 10-6
2004 rankings: Offense, 12th (339.9 yards/game); Defense, seventh (304.9 yards/game)
2005 strength of schedule: Eighth
From SportingNews.com: AFC East overview
Oh, what could have been.
The Jets have had all offseason to ponder the pair of missed field goals that kept them from the AFC championship game, not to mention rid themselves of a pair of scapegoats – kicker Doug Brien and offensive coordinator Paul Hackett. But it's hard to say New York would have challenged the Patriots in the AFC title game. Realistically, a trip to the divisional playoffs looked like the ceiling for the Jets in 2004.
Despite an injury to quarterback Chad Pennington, the Jets held together remarkably well in a tough AFC. They unveiled a younger, faster defense that could be the core of a future Super Bowl team.
OFFENSE
New offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was a steal, but there are still only two ways to view this unit. If Pennington is healthy, it has top-10 potential. If he's not, it's going to struggle in mediocrity.
Nobody is absolutely certain where Pennington's shoulder rehab is going to be when the season kicks off, and that's a major worry. Even with solid backup Jay Fiedler, this offense would struggle to make another strong playoff push.
As for the rest of the unit, the additions of Heimerdinger, tight end Doug Jolley and wide receiver Laveranues Coles make it a better offense – even with the losses of running back LaMont Jordan, offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie and wide receiver Santana Moss. Coles is a more reliable option in Heimerdinger's offense than Moss would have been, and free-agent pickup Derrick Blaylock is a quality backup who can handle 10 to 15 carries a game behind Curtis Martin.
But even if Martin has another spectacular season and the veterans click in Heimerdinger's scheme, championship hopes begin and end with Pennington.
DEFENSE
Last season's plan to improve the speed and run-stopping ability was a smashing success. Truly, this is a defense that could develop into one of the league's top three or four units.
Linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton were a huge improvement in the run game, and Dewayne Robertson appears ready to become one of the league's top-10 defensive tackles. Robertson's continued improvement as a run-stopper should help cushion the loss of defensive tackle Jason Ferguson and take some pressure off Ferguson's replacement, Lance Legree.
While Shaun Ellis and John Abraham have been one of the NFL's top defensive end tandems, the pair might be truly elite if Abraham could stay healthy for a full season. The bulk of improvement this season is going to have to come from the secondary, where the strong safety spot needs more reliable play and the retirement of Donnie Abraham leaves the Jets depending on free-agent signee Ty Law to pick up the slack.
New York probably overpaid a little for Law, considering how little leverage he had, but the move will pay off when he returns to form late in the season. If healthy, Law is a player who could make this defense Super Bowl-caliber in the postseason.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This unit added major components through the draft in kicker Mike Nugent, cornerback/returner Justin Miller and safety/coverage maniac Andre Maddox. After Brien's postseason flop against Pittsburgh, the Jets drafted Nugent in the second round specifically to be a 12-to-15 year answer at kicker. That's why, of all the Jets' offseason additions, he might be the biggest. His sparkling leg will put New York into scoring range after crossing the opposing 40-yard line.
PREDICTION
The Jets will finish 10-6 and second in the AFC East.
