2015 Season Predictions: AFC East Preview

Sep 8, 2013; East Rutherford, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback

before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Faytok/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets: 

Key Additions: CB Darelle Revis, CB Antonio Cromartie, CB Buster Skrine, WR Brandon Marshall, RB Stevan Ridley, G James Carpenter, RB Zac Stacy, SS Marcus Gilchrist, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick DL Leonard Williams, WR Devin Smith, Coach Todd Bowles

As one can see by the long list of names above, the New York Jets were extremely active during free agency and also drafted some high-caliber players. The area they seemed to really focus on was the secondary. The brought both Revis and Cromartie back to New York, and added Skrine and Gilchrist as well. In my opinion, Revis is the best cornerback in the NFL and is therefore a huge signing for the Jets. He will shut down the opposing teams No.1 wide out and allow the rest of the secondary to be more creative. They completely overpaid Cromartie, as he aging and is becoming more and more burn prone, as Peyton Manning put on display more than once last season.

Skrine will be a very capable slot corner and Gilchrist is also a very solid strong safety. The secondary was one of the biggest weakness of the Jets last year, but through these additions it should become a strength. The front seven was already very good and adding Williams will simply make it even better. Bowles was a great defensive coordinator in Arizona, and though he didn’t have nearly as good of a front seven as he does now in New York, he was able to consistently pressure the quarterback. With this stacked defense, Bowles should be able to giving opposing offenses nightmares.

The offense will be the question mark, but they too added some very capable players. Brandon Marshall is still a stud wide receiver and will give Geno Smith (or whoever the QB will be) another very good target. Drafting Smith, simply adds another capable target to what is now looking like a scary good receiving corps. The additions of Ridley and Stacy were a bit surprising to me as they both don’t bring anything new to the table, as they are both similar to Chris Ivory, though not as good. Still it gives them depth. Carpenter could help the Jets establish more of a running game and Fitzpatrick likely won’t be more than a back up, still they added some skill on offense and a lot of depth.

Key Losses: Wr. Percy Harvin, DE Kendick Ellis, QB Michael Vick, RB Chris Johnson,SS Dawan Landry

With the slew of additions, one would think that the Jets would have at least a few notable losses, but outside of Harvin I was really stretching to put any of these players as key losses, especially since the latter three still remain unsigned. Harvin was the only actually good player that this team lost, and Brandon Marshall is by far better than Harvin, so that loss won’t hurt too much. All the other players were also replaced by better and younger players, so none of these losses should have a large impact.

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

(87) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Verdict: 

I think my prior analysis makes it clear that I believe this team has gotten a lot better. This defense is extremely good and will be one of the best in the NFL. The only weakness they have on defense could be the inside linebackers. The offense also looks quite complete. The receiving corps of Decker, Marshall, Kerley, Smith, Cumberland and Amaro is extremely good. I have always thought very highly of both Ivory and Ridley at running back. The offensive line could be a slight issue, but I think they should be able to be decent at least.

The problem is the most important position of a football team. Smith improved a bit from his rookie season, but still was very bad last year. He is what will hold this team back. If he can play like he did in the last game of the season or anywhere close to that they will be a contender. If not, Fitzpatrick might get a chance at some point, but he simply isn’t good enough. This team is very good in most positions, but that can all be counteracted by one player. I actually do think there is a chance Smith could have a good year and this team could win, but still it is more likely that he stays below the Andy Dalton line and the Jets end up being a decent team.

May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive lineman

(62) watches organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Predictions:  

Best Case Record: 12-4

Worst Case Record: 6-10

Prediction: 9-7

Team’s Offensive MVP: WR Eric Decker

Team’s Defensive MVP: CB Darelle Revis

Rookie Standout: DE Leonard Williams

I think the Jets will start of the season well and surprise a lot of people with an upset win @ Indi with whom I think they matchup with very well. Later they take care of all the bad teams and take a game against both Miami and Buffalo. I think they might be sitting in a good postion right up till the end, but their last three games are brutal and I think they will likely lose all three. I think they are very much in the mix this year and there is a good possibility that they could add two more wins and make the playoffs, but that will depend greatly on Geno Smith and I simply am not willing to bet on him. The Jets’s defense is good enough to beat any team which should make it an exciting 2015 season.

Next: The runner up?