People around the New York Jets say the frustration was palpable in the wide receiver room last season. Robby Anderson was unhappy because he wanted more targets. Quincy Enunwa was chafed because he felt stereotyped as Mr. Bubble Screen. Jermaine Kearse was befuddled by his lack of involvement, convinced that offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates had it in for him. Not surprisingly, all three players had a down season.
Instead of starting over at the position, which they could have easily done, the Jets swapped out Kearse for free-agent addition Jamison Crowder and changed the high command on offense. Out went Bates, whose locker room popularity rivaled that of a wet towel, and in came coach Adam Gase. Part of his job is to make the receivers happy and productive. The organization believes the talent is there and that all it needs is to be coached up -- a view shared by a former great.
"I didn't understand why they didn't get Robby the ball more -- and it's not up to [Sam] Darnold," said ex-receiver Wesley Walker, who is a member of the Jets' Ring of Honor. "They have to have the offense, the coaching, the coordinator. No matter what the talent level is, you have to be able to develop that talent within your offense and figure it out. They haven't been able to do that, so that's going to be interesting this year. I think they do have the talent."
Yes, they have talent, but they're still one move away from being an exceptional group. Critics will say the Jets still lack a No. 1 receiver, but that's a vague term. What they really need, to go along with Anderson's deep speed and the inside prowess of Enunwa and Crowder, is another outside receiver who can win consistently in the short and intermediate zones. Darnold ranked 28th in completion percentage outside the numbers, while throwing seven interceptions on those attempts (second most in the NFL), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Jets didn't draft a receiver with any of their six selections, the free-agent class (not great to begin with) is pretty much wiped out, and the team doesn't have a pipeline of young players because of poor drafting in recent years. (ArDarius Stewart, anyone?) The good news is the 2020 draft is supposedly loaded with receiving talent, but that won't do them any good this season. It's Anderson, Crowder and Enunwa ... and pray for no injuries.
Instead of starting over at the position, which they could have easily done, the Jets swapped out Kearse for free-agent addition Jamison Crowder and changed the high command on offense. Out went Bates, whose locker room popularity rivaled that of a wet towel, and in came coach Adam Gase. Part of his job is to make the receivers happy and productive. The organization believes the talent is there and that all it needs is to be coached up -- a view shared by a former great.
"I didn't understand why they didn't get Robby the ball more -- and it's not up to [Sam] Darnold," said ex-receiver Wesley Walker, who is a member of the Jets' Ring of Honor. "They have to have the offense, the coaching, the coordinator. No matter what the talent level is, you have to be able to develop that talent within your offense and figure it out. They haven't been able to do that, so that's going to be interesting this year. I think they do have the talent."
Yes, they have talent, but they're still one move away from being an exceptional group. Critics will say the Jets still lack a No. 1 receiver, but that's a vague term. What they really need, to go along with Anderson's deep speed and the inside prowess of Enunwa and Crowder, is another outside receiver who can win consistently in the short and intermediate zones. Darnold ranked 28th in completion percentage outside the numbers, while throwing seven interceptions on those attempts (second most in the NFL), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Jets didn't draft a receiver with any of their six selections, the free-agent class (not great to begin with) is pretty much wiped out, and the team doesn't have a pipeline of young players because of poor drafting in recent years. (ArDarius Stewart, anyone?) The good news is the 2020 draft is supposedly loaded with receiving talent, but that won't do them any good this season. It's Anderson, Crowder and Enunwa ... and pray for no injuries.
