Give the Jets’ General Manager John Idzik Jr. his props. He has had a fairly productive off-season thus far with many key acquisitions already in tow that promise to take the beleagured team out of their mediocrity…finally!
With a trio of new players already added to the team and the draft yet to come, it appears as though the Jets are flying high into the 2014-2015 season.
Given the free agents available to the Jets management this offseason, the moves that were made might not have been the greatest of all time but they were the smartest ones possible. Was there really a much better wide receiver available out there besides Eric Decker? What that pickup does is afford Geno Smith, assuming that he will be the starting QB, another passing option with a seasoned veteran (Decker was a third round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2010 draft).
If you’re thinking that the only reason Decker caught 24 touchdown passes over the past two seasons was because he had Peyton Manning as the QB then you are partially correct. Decker is also a talented receiver. Geno Smith, on the other hand, is no Peyton Manning, but remember that Decker did catch 8 TD passes in 2011 and they were all from Tim Tebow!
And speaking of a seasoned veteran, could the Jets have picked up anyone better at running back than ex-Titan Chris Johnson? Two years-$8 million and they lost no one! Six years of 1,000 rushing yards or more and a back who can catch a pass out of the backfield. He had four passing touchdowns as recent as last season to go along with six of the rushing kind. Has C.J. lost a step? Yep! Absolutely! But a Chris Johnson at 75% is better than any other RB that was out there at 100%.
#28 Ex-Titans RB Chris Johnson,who can bust one for major yardage at any time, will bring his talents to the N.Y. Jets this season. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Johnson, (AKA) CJ2K, will compliment a backfield that includes Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. The group will help Geno Smith because, as we have seen, he tends to panic when all of his options have disappeared. However now he now has a back who can run a 4.24 and catch a screen or handle a dump off when called upon. If the Jets don’t overwork him, CJ will pay dividends as he will be out to prove all the doubting Thomases out there that he still can bring it.
The Jets also went out and grabbed themselves a backup or potential starting quarterback; Michael Vick. What we like about this acquisition is that Vick, as most know, is similar in the way he plays to Smith and as such, will be able to better mentor the youngster. The one blaring negative however, is that Geno Smith is prone to turning the ball over and that’s Michael Vick’s biggest liability…
What takes place for Idzik next could be his biggest challenge to date in readying his team for the upcoming season. There are two holes left to fill on the club; the first is at the cornerback position and the second, talented players who can put pressure on the quarterback. Idzik is fortunate in that this could be one of the deepest drafts in recent memory and the Jets will have an added edge with their 12 picks to better themselves- at those two positions in particular.
Disgruntled Jets fans are growing weary with all of the promises made too often that are never kept. Don’t look for headcoach Rex Ryan to predict that the team will win the Super Bowl this year but you better believe that unless the Jets make some noise and get to the post season, Ryan will spend the 2015-2016 season watching his former team on TV along with the rest of us…
G.M. John Idzik will give headcoah Rex Ryan all the tools he needs to be successful this season. If Rex can’t get the job done it will be his last. Photo: AP
FANTASY FURNACE 
That premise is not going to happen , unless Geno Smith is able to cut down on the interceptions thrown and at present too many excuses , are being made for an overhyped player who has yet to learn anything or show real leadership when faced with real adversity .
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Not sure I agree with you Al. The addition of a valid back in Johnson and another very capable WR on Decker will take a world of pressure off of Smith. They also have 12 picks in this year’s solid draft, one of the most potent drafts in years.
This team could very well surprise a lot of naysayers out there…
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Essentially the coaching staff has remained the same and do you honestly believe that you’ll see a real progression in Smith’s play after a season in 2013 where the kid simply learned nothing during his final four games ? Think about it . Merely , because of a few signings people are in awe because it’s the Jets ? That’s like giving Sarah Palin a box of Crayola and asking her to draw her own rendition of the Sistine Chapel , knowing that she has no experience when it comes to art and it’s the same with Smith as an NFL quarterback . Look at the frequency of Smith’s int’s ratio per game which was among the highest in the league . Many of those plays were avoidable , but he tried to be the hero. What the hell is Rex Ryan teaching the kid as a head coach ?
Decker will rue the day , having left the Broncos simply because of money .
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I wasn’t as crazy about the Decker signing but you’re right, it is a solid football move. Underline ‘football’ and not splashy, which is what too many teams try doing when it comes to free agent WR’s (Read: Miami Dolphins). Decker will get his for sure, and best part . . no drama. As for CJ, it’s nice to have a guy like this in your backfield. Good stuff, Fantasy Man. As per usual.
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Thanks Cayman! Now lets just hope they have a good draft and can do something with the added talent. How do you think the off-season has gone so far for your Dolphins?
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You don’t have to agree , but show me , where you see an improvement coming from , in terms of Smith’s play unless you’re of the belief that Vick fits the bill ? You can’t just throw something out there and simply have nothing to back up your premise . Leave that to the dumb @ss politicians .
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I’m not saying that Geno Smith will turn out to be the second coming of Dan Marino but give the kid a break Al. He won 8 games lady year, more than John Elway and Peyton Manning when they were neophytes.
If Smith was plying in say Seattle or Tampa Bay just how much scrutiny do you suppose he would be under.
I never said that the Jets were going to compete for the Super Bowl; what I intimated was that they will be an improved team given their off season acquisitions and 12 draft picks.
If you don’t think that Decker and CJ and all those picks will better the team then we will have to agree to have a fundamental difference of opinion. And that’s alright…
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Given what the Jets now have invested in both Vick and Smith monetarily , and should the wheels on that vehicle begin to fall off . How quickly do you think that the Jets fans’ patience will remain ? Besides have you even looked at the makeup of the coaching staff , but you’re talking about giving him a break ? Rex Ryan hasn’t sought to bring in a good quarterbacks’ coach (click on link to view) . What improvement is there likely to be ? Come on regale me with those difference ? Decker has left Manning solely for the money offered by the Jets and not because of the opportunities . You’re naive to think otherwise . Vick and Smith combined on their best day couldn’t tie Peyton Manning bootlaces and you’re talking about improvements with the Jets’ receiving corps which c was among the worst in the NFL last season (31st out of 32 teams) .
Scrutiny comes with the position (QB’s drafted in the NFL since inception of the NFL Draft) of quarterback (QB’s taken in the 2013 NFL Draft) or hadn’t you noticed ? Geno Smith was said to be one of the most accurate and efficient quarterbacks coming out of college in 2012 , but his stats with the Jets certainly did not bare that out at all . Show me where over the course of the season Smith’s play actually improved in 2013 ? The kid was throwing INT’s like he was in attendance at a wedding , throwing confetti , celebrating the bride and groom’s nuptials . Has apathy become the norm amongst sports’ fans in general ?
You also seemed to have overlooked Smith’s behavior during the draft (2012) , when he cried off like a bi#ch , because he wasn’t taken in the first round ( 2nd round pick) , but he and his handlers claimed, that the reason why he left the venue was because he was not required to be there . If that doesn’t indicate to you the lack of maturity of Geno Smith , then you must still, have a high opinion of the guy in simply only looking at his alleged skill-set .
tophatal ………………..
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