Professor

New York Jets "Underrated offense could surprise in '07" - Realfootball365.com

the New York Jets stunned the football world last year by finishing 10-6 and earning a playoff berth after a lackluster 4-12 campaign in 2005. The main story line in the team's eye-opening turnaround was rookie head coach Eric Mangini, who managed to get the most out of what was considered a roster that wasn't exactly overloaded with top-flight talent.

The 2007 Jets, unlike a year ago, have plenty of expectations heaped on them, and one area to believe improvement will come is on the offensive side of the ball. New York's 'O' ranked a meager 25th in total yardage last season, and it was just 30th in yards per rushing attempt.

This offseason, however, the Jets took one big step to improve their ground game by trading for veteran running back Thomas Jones. The 5-foot-10, 220-pounder amassed consecutive 1,200-plus-yard seasons with Chicago, helping the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI last February. And in the team's 29-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts , Jones accrued 112 rushing yards on only 15 carries in what proved to be his final game with the Bears. Assuming the 28-year-old maintains his effectiveness with New York, it will have gained an above-average ball carrier.

In 2006, the Jets were stuck with a poor backfield that included the likes of Kevan Barlow and Cedric Houston piling up over 100 carries. The lone bright spot was rookie Leon Washington, who had 920 total yards (650 rushing, 270 receiving) and four touchdowns, but he doesn't quite seem like featured-back material just yet. With Jones in the fold, Washington can slide into a complementary role, giving the Jets a high-caliber tandem at running back.

Aside from acquiring Jones, the Jets didn't do much else to change their offense this offseason, and that's probably a good thing. Returning, of course, is rock-solid starting quarterback Chad Pennington (16 regular-season starts, 3,352 yards, 17 touchdowns), who rebounded strongly from past injury issues to help the Jets reach the playoffs in '06.

Pennington, whom many still consider an injury risk, will be even better protected this season by an O-line that will improve simply from experience. The Jets' top two picks of last year's draft -- tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold -- both had good rookie seasons, and they should continue taking positive steps in the pass-blocking department in '07.

The 30-year-old Pennington still has two very good receivers in seven-year veteran Laveranues Coles and the ever-improving Jerricho Cotchery. The 5-11, 193-pound Coles had one of his best seasons yet last year, racking up a career-high 91 receptions for 1,098 yards and six touchdowns. Cotchery, 24, matched Coles with six scores and added 82 grabs and 961 yards of his own.

The Jets' offense was undoubtedly somewhat of a hindrance for the team last year, but expect it to be better in the upcoming campaign. Jones will fortify the running game, the O-line should progress and keep Pennington safe, and the same two underrated wideout options remain on New York's roster.

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gruntbygod

Thats about as simplistic as you could possibly get.

I personally think the Jets played over their head last year. their not a bad team, I think they are more of a .500 team. I could see Buffalo having a better record this year

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Professor

The reason that I see then doing better is that they have receivers that trust their QB and a QB that trusts his receivers, I think the bigger ? is if penny can stay healthy again. They have a solid oline that is young and getting better, the defense can be alot better but only time will tell on that one, they always play competitively within the division. I could see them doing well.

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gruntbygod

To me, they werent as good as their record last year, and I think are going to take a small step back. I see 7-9 wins. I agree about their O-Line, and Jones is an upgrade. But to me, Penny is decent, not great. Coles is solid, not great. Cotchery is decent, not great. And their defense was borderline bad last year. I just dont see 10 wins again

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Professor

coles is better than average, he even looked good while in the pit of hell called washington.he plays well with penny and plays through pain, jones and washington is a nice backfield with a solid oline getting better, buff did not upgrade thier offense at all and are about to find out what lee evans and loserman are all about, they are going the opposite direction, they lost a ton on defense and offense and didn't do enough to upgrade

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The-Hammer

I don't know, I think that the Jets are still good for another 10 wins, I wouldn't be surprised if they got 11. They're still a young team with leadership at the right place. If Pennington stays healthy, and the D improves, they're still a playoff caliber team.

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Beast!!

gruntbygod

IDK, The Bills improved their O-Line, and added Lynch, they could have improved the WR core opposite Evans, but I think Lynch will help out their. What they really needed was a saftey valve type player, and Lynch is that out of the backfield.

On defence, Clements was vastly overrated, and not even their best SB last year, McGee was much better. And I wouldnt be surprised if Youbooty plays better this year than Clements did last year. Fletcher was and while thats gonna sting, he had to go. Spikes did little for them last year. They have built up good depth on their D-line, and Poz and Crowell are good LB's.

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ball in the baskett

getting thomas jones i think was there best move in the offseason and they will have a pretty good offense this year

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Professor

you give the bills defense and oline a hell of a lot more credit than I do, considering some of your reasoning why the jets are gonna falter it doesn't make sense, the jets defense is sweet and those LB's are nice.

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gruntbygod

So the 20th ranked D is sweet? The Jets were bad on D last year. McGahee turned them into his personal woman twice last.year to the tune 0f 275 yards in his two game against them.

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