IMO this is a better team than the one that won 10 Games last year, but it will be hard to match last years wins total because we have a much tougher schedule.
I say its a better team because I get the idea that some of you are underrating this team.
DEFENSE
1. Its year two for this regime and there are no changes to the system, same HC and DC, so less thinking.
2. By all accounts Leonard Williams looks primed for a big year now that his growing pains are behind him, could be a monster year for the Big Cat and this D-line.
3. Sheldon Richardson might be our most talented player on defense and last year he missed four games, whereas this year its only one game barring injuries.
4. We're weaker at NT, but its so much of a passing league that the NT is no longer vital, more of a two down player.
5. I believe the biggest upgrade this year will be in the LB core. We've gotten younger, faster and more athletic. Some see it as a question mark, I see it as an upgrade.
6. Ditto the CB spot opposite Revis. I was against bringing back Cromartie last year because his play had slipped badly the year before he left, and he was equally as bad last year. We have some quality youth at CB and I'm looking forward to an upgrade at this position as well, whether its more Marcus Williams or a healthy Dee Milliner.
7. Lastly, last year Pryor played like a first round pick and I believe the arrow is still pointing up on his ceiling.
So overall I expect this defense to be significantly better than it was a year ago, not a little better, but markedly better, and last years unit was TOP 5 I believe?
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OFFENSE
1. Again, another year in Gailey's system for Fitz, Marshall, Decker and Co. should allow them to play faster, less thinking.
2. The sky is the limit for Enunwa as a #3 WR with a terrific size/speed ratio. Fitz, Marshall and Decker are all bragging about how good he looks, even Bowles commented on it.
3. IMO Ivory was a bit overrated by Jets fans, a one dimensional runner who offered little as a receiver and wore down as the season progressed, which was a pattern for him. If Forte has anything left in the tank, I think the Forte/Powell duo will be an upgrade and a lot harder to defend, because both are dual threat RB's. Khiery is a better 3rd SY/GL RB than Zac Stacy, so its an upgrade at RB across the board in my view.
4. When we lost Amaro last year, we lost any chance of the TE position being any kind of factor in these games. I know the jury is out on Amaro, but a healthy Amaro at least gives us a chance to have a receiving TE who can make plays when defenses overload to cover Marshall, Decker, Enunwa, and Forte/Powell out of the backfield.
5. I know its early, but the early returns on Jalin Marshall are encouraging, could give us another playmaker out of the slot, or at least compete with Devin Smith when he gets healthy, and he also has a big upside as a punter returner, a position we pretty much got nothing out of last year with Jeremy "fair catch" Kerley.
6. Obviously the O-line is the biggest question mark. Mangold is slipping a little bit and Clady has a long history of injuries, so you really have to cross your fingers there. Carpenter is a beast at one OG spot, but who knows what to expect from the other, and if Qvale or Shell doesn't beat out Breno at RT, expect another year of awful play from that position too. Lets be honest, if there's a unit that can really undermine the teams success this year, its this one. We need Clady to stay healthy and a couple of young guys to emerge this year at OG and RT.
7. Lastly, I know most of you are not crazy about Fitz, truth be told, neither am I, but he has a lot of talent around him and its not impossible that he can repeat last years performance if the O-line holds up. I know that was a career year for the beard, but that had a lot to do with the talent at the skill positions and IMO its only gotten better.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. Folk is Folk, you expect him to be rock solid, but I see a massive upgrade at Punter with this kid Lachlan Edwards. This dude has a bazooka!
2. Whoever winds up returning punts this year, and my money is on Jalin Marshall, I think its going to be a huge upgrade there as well.
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So in closing, I think this is a better football team than the one that won ten games last year, but its gonna be much harder to win ten games due to a ridiculous schedule. Not impossible, this team is talented enough to make the playoffs in my view, but its going to be a lot harder.
I say its a better team because I get the idea that some of you are underrating this team.
DEFENSE
1. Its year two for this regime and there are no changes to the system, same HC and DC, so less thinking.
2. By all accounts Leonard Williams looks primed for a big year now that his growing pains are behind him, could be a monster year for the Big Cat and this D-line.
3. Sheldon Richardson might be our most talented player on defense and last year he missed four games, whereas this year its only one game barring injuries.
4. We're weaker at NT, but its so much of a passing league that the NT is no longer vital, more of a two down player.
5. I believe the biggest upgrade this year will be in the LB core. We've gotten younger, faster and more athletic. Some see it as a question mark, I see it as an upgrade.
6. Ditto the CB spot opposite Revis. I was against bringing back Cromartie last year because his play had slipped badly the year before he left, and he was equally as bad last year. We have some quality youth at CB and I'm looking forward to an upgrade at this position as well, whether its more Marcus Williams or a healthy Dee Milliner.
7. Lastly, last year Pryor played like a first round pick and I believe the arrow is still pointing up on his ceiling.
So overall I expect this defense to be significantly better than it was a year ago, not a little better, but markedly better, and last years unit was TOP 5 I believe?
==
OFFENSE
1. Again, another year in Gailey's system for Fitz, Marshall, Decker and Co. should allow them to play faster, less thinking.
2. The sky is the limit for Enunwa as a #3 WR with a terrific size/speed ratio. Fitz, Marshall and Decker are all bragging about how good he looks, even Bowles commented on it.
3. IMO Ivory was a bit overrated by Jets fans, a one dimensional runner who offered little as a receiver and wore down as the season progressed, which was a pattern for him. If Forte has anything left in the tank, I think the Forte/Powell duo will be an upgrade and a lot harder to defend, because both are dual threat RB's. Khiery is a better 3rd SY/GL RB than Zac Stacy, so its an upgrade at RB across the board in my view.
4. When we lost Amaro last year, we lost any chance of the TE position being any kind of factor in these games. I know the jury is out on Amaro, but a healthy Amaro at least gives us a chance to have a receiving TE who can make plays when defenses overload to cover Marshall, Decker, Enunwa, and Forte/Powell out of the backfield.
5. I know its early, but the early returns on Jalin Marshall are encouraging, could give us another playmaker out of the slot, or at least compete with Devin Smith when he gets healthy, and he also has a big upside as a punter returner, a position we pretty much got nothing out of last year with Jeremy "fair catch" Kerley.
6. Obviously the O-line is the biggest question mark. Mangold is slipping a little bit and Clady has a long history of injuries, so you really have to cross your fingers there. Carpenter is a beast at one OG spot, but who knows what to expect from the other, and if Qvale or Shell doesn't beat out Breno at RT, expect another year of awful play from that position too. Lets be honest, if there's a unit that can really undermine the teams success this year, its this one. We need Clady to stay healthy and a couple of young guys to emerge this year at OG and RT.
7. Lastly, I know most of you are not crazy about Fitz, truth be told, neither am I, but he has a lot of talent around him and its not impossible that he can repeat last years performance if the O-line holds up. I know that was a career year for the beard, but that had a lot to do with the talent at the skill positions and IMO its only gotten better.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. Folk is Folk, you expect him to be rock solid, but I see a massive upgrade at Punter with this kid Lachlan Edwards. This dude has a bazooka!
2. Whoever winds up returning punts this year, and my money is on Jalin Marshall, I think its going to be a huge upgrade there as well.
==
So in closing, I think this is a better football team than the one that won ten games last year, but its gonna be much harder to win ten games due to a ridiculous schedule. Not impossible, this team is talented enough to make the playoffs in my view, but its going to be a lot harder.
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