Jet optimism abounds, but there are warnings
PHILADELPHIA — Darnold-apalooza has given Jets faithful renewed hope that something great might await down the line, but how should green-and-white clad crazies feel entering the 2018 season?
The starting rookie quarterback certainly has a bright future, but there are plenty of other reasons to wonder about the present. Todd Bowles is the ultimate company man, so it’s not surprising that he believes that his team can make some noise this season.
“You always feel good because you haven’t played a game yet,” Bowles said in the run-up to the preseason finale against the Eagles on Thursday night. “From a chemistry standpoint, I feel very good, but we’ve got some ways to go before we get to the opener and before we get settled in to who we are. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep working. But I like the team.”
There are indeed some reasons to feel optimistic about this group, but are there enough pieces to become relevant and avoid an eighth consecutive season without a taste of the playoffs?
There’s plenty of confidence on One Jets Drive, that’s for sure.
“It’s always one of the best parts about coming to camp: watching the team come together,” team leader Josh McCown said. “I had a blast and doing that work to see this offensive improve. Just to see some of the guys that we added, whether it is Terrelle Pryor or Isaiah Crowell go out there and make plays in the preseason or the little nuances… Coach (Jeremy) Bates putting his spin on this offense. I think that has been good work for all of us. We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s been a good start.”
There have been encouraging signs, but it’s impossible to ignore some of disconcerting signs in the preseason.
The five starting offensive linemen didn’t take a single snap together in the preseason. That’s troubling given that they’re learning Rick Dennison’s new zone-blocking based scheme. It’s unclear how effective left tackle Kelvin Beachum, recovering from a foot/ankle injury, will be in the season opener. One thing was abundantly clear this month though: The Jets have no viable backups at either tackle spot.
Wide receivers Quincy Enunwa and Pryor took limited snaps in the preseason due to injuries, prompting fair questions about how in sync Bates’ offense will be out of the gate. For as good as Darnold has looked this offseason, he’s not a miracle worker (yet).
Bowles’ secondary has the potential to be his anchor, but the top four defensive backs have only played together for a grand total of two quarters this preseason. Communication on the back end will be critical. The quartet of Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Trumaine Johnson and Mo Clairborne could have used more game reps together in August. The formula isn’t overly complicated: The more reps you have together, the lower the chances of communication breakdowns. There’s also the elephant in the room: The lack of a consistent pass rush.
The effectiveness of Gang Green’s talented defensive backs will be mitigated if their teammates can’t get consistent heat on the quarterback. There’s are no elixirs on the roster, so Gang Green has made smart inquiries to try to pry an edge pass rusher off another roster (See: Oakland’s Khalil Mack and Jacksonville’s Dante Fowler).
It takes two to tango, of course, so Bowles & Co. will have to roll with what they have on the roster barring a trade this weekend.
From the kicker to the punt returner to the coverage teams, the Jets have a litany of special teams questions entering the season.
The preseason finale against Philly will give a few guys in the roster bubble a chance to prove their versatility and value on special teams.
Although the Jets have been far from perfect in all three phases, Bowles senses that his team can surprise some people this season.
“I see chemistry,” Bowles said. “Obviously, you have to play to prove yourself, but I see chemistry and that’s all you can see so far: on-field chemistry. You’ve got to play in games to create your identity and that kind of reputation. So that remains to be seen, but I’m encouraged by what I see.”
Time, of course, will tell whether the summer optimism turns into something more.