Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2015 regular season. Today, the New York Jets.
2014 in a nutshell: Despite possessing a top-10 defense, the quarterback-starved squad scores fewer points than all but four teams and wins just four games, a franchise-low dating back to 2008.
Why 2015 could be different: They’ve got a new regime in place, bringing an end to the Rex Ryan era. Embattled quarterback Geno Smith has a broken jaw and might not be the answer anyway, but they’ve got the steady Ryan Fitzpatrick as well. They also added veterans Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Brandon Marshall in the offseason.
Major additions: Revis, Cromartie, Marshall, Fitzpatrick and new head coach Todd Bowles.
Major losses: Smith for the early part of the season thanks to the broken jaw he received from a teammate. Ryan, Michael Vick and Percy Harvin are also gone.
Breakout watch: Second-year safety Calvin Pryor — a first-round pick last May — couldn’t have any more support in that defense.
Position to watch: The defensive line is stacked but Sheldon Richardson is already facing a four-game suspension and is dealing with new charges for allegedly resisting arrest. He was the best player on this team last season so they may have to immediately rely heavily on first-round rookie Leonard Williams.
Prediction: The Jets look better on paper, but the problems facing Richardson and Smith will be too much to overcome in a division that features three very good teams. They’ll win five, maybe six games.
