Content available exclusively for subscribers
I agree with what he said, but for different reasons than he said it. Let me explain . . .
He did an interview with ESPN’s Rich Cimini last weekend, and Buster Skrine said the Jets aren’t “rebuilding.”
“You can’t rebuild in New York,” Skrine told ESPN. “Because [the media] will eat us up,”
Perhaps that is true that the media wouldn’t stand for rebuilding, but that isn’t the reason the
Jets are avoiding the “R” word.
Why aren’t they rebuilding?
First of all, they are in the third year of the “MacBowles” program. What management team in their right mind starts rebuilding in the third year of their plan?
Secondly, the Jets have missed the playoffs six years in a row. They are in no position to make it seven in a row without even trying.
But third, and most important, the NFL system is set up for parity. No other league has more personnel rules and regulations to promote parity than the NFL. A perfect example is the extra 2017 third round pick the Jets were granted for free agents they lost in 2016. As you now the draft and waiver wire pecking order is based on the 2016 won-loss records – worst to first.
By the way, don’t say “parity.” NFL legendary personnel man Gil Brandt corrected him last week when I used the word.
“It’s not parity, it’s competitive balance,” Brandt said.
So with so many rules favoring the teams that struggled the previous year, “rebuilding” is a foolish word, foolish concept.
Brandt said the league would love for every team to go 8-8.
So teams should be competitive every year. I’m not saying be a Super Bowl contender every year, but be competitive. At the very least, remain in wildcard playoff contention until early December.
The is no excuse for any team to approach things like the 1-15 Cleveland Browns last season. That is ridiculous in this league.
So the Jets aren’t rebuilding. It’s not because of the market, it’s for the other reasons I just explained.
“Sometimes you have to figure out the right formula for the team, and I trust Coach Bowles,” Skrine told ESPN. “Every morning, he’s up at 4:30. I trust Maccagnan. I trust everybody. I know they’ve got something up their sleeve. They’re going to make it work.
“At the end of the year, Bowles said, ‘I’m not going to let y’all down this year. We’re going to make it work. We’re going to come in and I know things are going to change.’ I know, going into next season, it’s going to be a different atmosphere. I’m looking forward to it.
“I know Coach Bowles, when he says something, he means it. We’ll probably be one of the most organized teams in the league. We’re a young team. When you have a younger team, you can tailor your team exactly how you want it to be. I think that’s how they want it to be. I think we’re going to have a good year.”
The 2016 Jets were a bad mix of hired guns (just taking the Jets’ money) and also players given to mental errors.
I’ve covered the Jets for 20 years. I’ve never seen worse pass defenses, more blown coverages. People are fast to blame Ryan Fitzpatrick for everything that was wrong, but I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, pass defense was the Jets #1 problem last year. The NFL is a passing league. You can’t win playing pass defense like the Jets did last year. Why do you think they were blown out so much?
I’m not going to predict a “good year” just yet, but I do think the Jets will have a better football culture in 2017. There will be more guys with the right attitude, right approach.
And I think they can be more competitive than they were last year, if they go with a veteran QB who can manage the game.
I think MacBowles now know the roster they put together last year was a toxic mix.
March 31, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.
