Why it is time to pump the brakes on crowning the Jets this early

We’re in completely satisfied season within the NFL. 

Everyone seems to be undefeated. Everybody’s draft picks look wonderful. The gamers getting back from harm look prepared for a giant comeback. The coaches have give you new and thrilling plans. The whole lot is rosy. 

Jets followers, you’ve been via this sufficient. Could and June all the time really feel good round right here. It’s November and December that often harm, and typically September and October, too. 

The optimism concerning the Jets has been overflowing this spring. The league gave them six prime-time video games, believing they are going to be must-see TV. ESPN wrote an article predicting they might win the Tremendous Bowl. 

The Jets know all about offseason banners and what can go fallacious as soon as the season comes. There are causes to imagine on this roster, beginning with a wholesome Aaron Rodgers beneath middle. However I’m right here to pump the brakes on the Tremendous Bowl parade. Hey, somebody has to. 

There are some issues I can foresee tripping up this workforce as I’ve watched this spring. Listed below are 4 causes the Jets may not be pretty much as good as individuals assume: 

1. What if Aaron Rodgers just isn’t the identical Aaron Rodgers? 

I do know this might be blasphemy. Look, Rodgers has been as marketed throughout this spring’s OTAs. He makes a minimum of one throw in each session that makes you say, “Wow.” He has given the Jets’ social media workforce content material for days together with his no-look passes. 

However take a deep breath. That is spring. Rodgers is meant to appear to be this when there aren’t any pads and no move rush. It could be an precise story if he didn’t look good. 

I really feel like everyone seems to be assuming the Jets are going to get MVP Rodgers from 2020 or 2021. However are we positive that’s what they’ll get in 2024? His most up-to-date MVP is now three years in the past. His ultimate season with the Packers was fantastic for many quarterbacks, however not Rodgers. His 12 interceptions have been the second-most in his profession, and his 26 touchdowns have been his second-fewest in a season the place he performed a minimum of 10 video games. 

He missed all of final season with the torn Achilles, so now he’s going to be coming again after a full season away and three years faraway from a extremely good yr. He’s 40 years outdated. There will probably be a decline sooner or later. Simply 4 quarterbacks have posted a passer ranking of 80 or above as soon as they hit 40 — Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Warren Moon. 

Wouldn’t it be a shock if Rodgers joins that record? Completely not. However I additionally don’t assume everybody ought to simply assume a 40-year-old coming off a significant harm goes to gentle up the league. 

2. Can they keep on the sector? 

Well being is a matter for each workforce within the NFL, however the Jets have loads of key gamers getting back from accidents, and at superior age. Rodgers is on the high of the record. Can they hold him upright for 17 video games? Tyrod Taylor is an improve at backup quarterback, however you continue to don’t need him taking part in greater than 2-3 video games, and he has sturdiness considerations of his personal. 

The most important free-agent acquisitions all include well being considerations. Extensive receiver Mike Williams is coming off a torn ACL. Sort out Morgan Moses had pectoral surgical procedure after final season. Sort out Tyron Smith has not performed 16 video games since 2015. 

That’s loads of “if they will keep wholesome” gamers on one roster. 

3. Ought to we belief the offensive coaches? 

Nathaniel Hackett has had a tough couple of seasons. The Jets have been abysmal final yr on offense in his first yr as coordinator. His transient stint as Broncos head coach went about as unhealthy because it probably may. 

Rodgers has advised Jets followers that they need to imagine in Hackett as a result of he does, they usually labored effectively collectively in Inexperienced Bay. However coach Matt LaFleur ran the offense for the Packers. Till we see the Jets offense truly flourish, it will likely be arduous to place religion in Hackett or your entire offensive workers. 

4. What if the protection takes a step again? 

In addition to Rodgers returning to kind, it seems like the opposite assumption round this workforce is the protection will probably be nice. It’s robust to take care of the extent of play this protection has, ending within the high 5 in every of the previous two years. It could not be surprising if there’s a little dropoff this season. The protection misplaced Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers up entrance, and can attempt to change their manufacturing with Will McDonald and Haason Reddick. 

It might work, however there may be additionally an opportunity this protection slips. The opposite issue is that this protection has stayed very wholesome over the previous few years. A couple of gamers have missed a number of video games, however there has not been a significant harm that might take a look at their depth. If that occurs, can the protection survive it?