The 2013 Jets season ended with the team dousing head coach Rex Ryan with Gatorade and having a raucous postgame celebration in the locker room. It was a strange scene for a team ending a season 8-8 and without a playoff appearance, but it showed how good the Jets felt about the way they finished.
Now, they hope to start 2014 as they finished last season, when they won three of their final four games. That goes especially for quarterback Geno Smith, who ended his rookie year on a high note, playing his best football of the season.
Ryan is back for his sixth season, something that seemed unlikely at this time last year. He feels good about a team that upgraded on offense and returns one of the best defensive fronts in football.
The biggest question about the Jets is their secondary, where injuries and a lack of talent could cause Ryan headaches.
Offensively, new wide receiver Eric Decker and running back Chris Johnson could be just what Smith needs to take the next step as an NFL quarterback. They have had some good moments in the preseason and the optimism around the Jets offense is the highest it’s been in three years.
Ryan is coaching for his job … again. The team gave him an extension after last season, but it is truly just a one-year deal unless he makes the playoffs. The Jets have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. They have not missed the postseason for four consecutive years since the six-year drought between 1992 and 1997.
If the Jets are home again in January, it’s hard (but not impossible) to imagine Ryan returning in 2015. Ryan and the Jets are confident that won’t happen.
A look at the 2014 Jets:
Offense
The Jets were encouraged by what they saw from Smith at the end of his rookie season, when he led the team to wins in three of the final four games and cut down on the turnovers. Smith finished his rookie year with 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. If he could reverse those numbers this year, the Jets would take it. If Smith stumbles, backup Michael Vick is waiting in the wings and the Jets won’t hesitate to turn to him.
The Jets finished 25th overall in offense last year and 25th in passing offense. The 2013 team had fewer weapons than a world peace rally.
General manager John Idzik went out and got some help for Smith and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. The Jets signed Decker, the top wide receiver available when free agency began, to a five-year, $36 million deal. There are questions about whether Decker is a true No. 1 wide receiver and how he’ll fare away from Denver and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Make no mistake, though, Decker is an upgrade over what the Jets had.
The Jets have some unknowns playing opposite Decker. David Nelson looks as if he’ll be the other starter when the season starts. Nelson is a sure-handed receiver, but he is not going to overwhelm opponents.
Slot receiver Jeremy Kerley is underrated. The Jets went 0-4 when he was injured last season.
In the backfield, the Jets added Johnson, who never has rushed for fewer than 1,000 yards in any of his six NFL seasons. He is coming off knee surgery, but has looked fast in the preseason and could give the Jets a home-run threat out of the backfield. He will be teamed with bruising Chris Ivory and versatile Bilal Powell to give the Jets a strong rushing attack.
Rookie Jace Amaro and veteran Jeff Cumberland should give Smith two nice targets at tight end. Amaro had some early struggles in training camp, but finished strong and could have a major impact.
The offensive line returns almost intact with one new addition at right tackle, Breno Giacomini. Stalwarts Nick Mangold at center and D’Brickashaw Ferguson anchor the line. Willie Colon returns at right guard. Second-year player Brian Winters should be the starter at left guard again after beating out Oday Aboushi in camp.
Vick may see time in this offense even if he is not the starting quarterback. The Jets have talked about using his talents in the wildcat formation and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him out there with Smith at times.
Grade: C+
Defense
You almost have to give the Jets’ defense two different evaluations. The front seven looks as if it can be one of the best in the NFL. The secondary looks as if it might be one of the worst.
Ryan is going to have to spend some extra time in his laboratory devising defensive game plans this year to cover up for the deficiencies at cornerback. If the Jets can pressure the quarterback, it might not be too bad. If they give the QBs too much time, watch out.
Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, anchor the line. The duo was a big reason the Jets were third in run defense last season. Wilkerson also had 10½ sacks, a number he thinks he can increase in 2014. Richardson had 3½ sacks as a rookie and spent the offseason working on pass-rushing moves.
Veteran Calvin Pace is back on the outside after a 10-sack season in 2013. The Jets are counting on improvement from third-year outside linebacker Quinton Coples, who had just 4½ sacks last year. Coples was slowed last year by an ankle injury and the adjustment to linebacker. This year, there are no excuses for the 2012 first-round pick. The team added veteran Jason Babin just before training camp to bolster the pass rush.
David Harris and Demario Davis are back at inside linebacker. Davis could be the most improved player on the team.
That leaves the secondary where there are more question marks than the SATs. Dimitri Patterson was the projected starter when training camp began, but then he went AWOL and the team released him. With no Patterson it will be Dee Milliner, who is nursing a high left ankle sprain and may miss the season opener, and either Antonio Allen, who moved from safety to corner in camp, or Darrin Walls. Quarterbacks could light this group up this year.
At safety, the Jets have veteran Dawan Landry and first-round pick Calvin Pryor, who looks like the real deal.
Grade: B
Special teams
The Jets are on their third special teams coach in as many years after having stability at the position for years with Mike Westhoff. Thomas McGaughey takes over for departed Ben Kotwica, a Westhoff disciple. It will be interesting to see if there are many philosophical changes.
Nick Folk is back at kicker, armed with a long-term deal now. Folk made 33-of-36 field goals last year, including a few game-winners. He has become a reliable kicker for the Jets after a few inconsistent years.
Ryan Quigley returns as the team’s punter. He averaged 45.5 yards per punt in his first season with the Jets.
The Jets drafted Jalen Saunders in the fourth round to be their primary punt returner. A mysterious medical incident — later revealed to be a seizure — led to him driving off the road before a preseason game, and now his status is a question mark.
Kickoff returns barely exist in the NFL anymore, and that’s good news for the Jets. They don’t have a standout returner. Saalim Hakim is the most likely man for the job.
Grade: C
Coaching
The Jets players showed how much they love playing for Rex Ryan last year with the way they finished to save his job. The team rallied around him with little to play for and won three of their final four games.
Ryan has his work cut out for him this year as a defensive coach. The deficiencies at cornerback are glaring. Can Ryan hide them? Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is by Ryan’s side again, trying to help him out.
Mornhinweg had a strong first season as the Jets’ offensive coordinators. The statistics did not reflect the job Mornhinweg did with a rookie quarterback and little around him. This year, Mornhinweg is going to have to manage a running back group with three legitimate runners and just one ball. He also has to figure out who can play receiver besides Decker and Kerley.
Grade: B
Three bold predictions
2. Despite another mediocre year, the Jets will bring back Rex Ryan for the 2015 season. It’s a similar script to last year with a strong finish and endorsements from players keeping him safe.
3. Tight end Jace Amaro will win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Amaro had some early struggles in training camp, but finished strong. He gives Geno Smith a reliable target that Smith will lean on.
Brian Costello’s yardsticks
MOST IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER: This team will go as Geno Smith goes. It’s always easy to point to the quarterback, but the Jets need him to take a step forward if they are going to do anything this year.
MOST IMPORTANT DEFENSIVE PLAYER: The secondary looks as if it will struggle. The antidote for that could be a strong pass rush and the Jets need 2012 first-round pick Quinton Coples to provide it. Coples is out of excuses. It’s time to produce.
ROOKIE TO WATCH: Tight end Jace Amaro can cure a lot of the Jets’ offensive woes. It won’t be a big deal who is at wide receiver opposite Eric Decker if Amaro can be a reliable receiver. The Jets expect big things from him.
STAR ON THE RISE: The most impressive player in training camp was third-year linebacker Demario Davis. This will be his second season as a starter and he looks comfortable. He has become the leader of the defense and people are going to notice him this year.
BIGGEST GAME: Dec. 21: vs. Patriots. I expect the Jets to be in playoff contention in December and this game will be huge. Their rivals will come to MetLife Stadium in Week 16, and there should be a lot riding on this one. Will Tom Brady end the Jets’ postseason hopes?
BIGGEST COACHING DECISION: The Jets signed Chris Johnson in April to bolster the rushing attack, but they already have Chris Ivory, who played well last year. It’s going to be interesting to see how they divide the carries and keep both guys happy.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF … Jeremy Kerley leads the team in receiving again. The Jets signed Eric Decker to the big contract, but defenses are going to focus on him, leaving Kerley one-on-one opportunities. If Kerley can stay healthy, expect a big season in his contract year.
SURE TO MAKE FANS GRUMBLE: The first time the Jets run the wildcat this year … and the second time … and the third. The Jets are toying with using Michael Vick in the wildcat. It will still drive fans crazy.
PREDICTION:Â 8-8
This Jets team is improved from last year, but a brutal schedule early on and a shaky secondary are going to keep them from improving on last year’s record. Another season at .500 and another year of no playoffs.