Past- Present- and Future

The New York Jets are surpassing everyone’s expectations. In many ways they are probably surpassing their own. They have had more than a forgiving schedule and at 4-3 after seven games it only gets better. Right now not only is this season looking promising but their future is as well.

After the Jets basically traded Edwards to Kansas City, Jets fans felt that they were going to be the bottom feeders in the NFL. But Eric Mangini is not willing to accept being a bottom feeder
Mangini has gotten where he is by pouring his heart and soul into whatever he has done in his career. He started out as an intern with the Browns and now he is a head coach in the NFL. I admire Mangini because he is one of few people who pursue their dreams until fruition. More importantly Mangini knows what you need to do to be successful. Championships have to be earned and teams aren’t going to lie down for you, it takes months if not years of hard work. Mangini probably knows this better than anyone.

Herman Edwards was a great motivator, however many actually questioned his overall football intellect and game management. He had success in New York, but always seemed to be on the wrong end of a bad coaching decision. I am a believer that its not a horrible thing to make a decision that doesn’t pan out the way you might want it to as long as you believe in what you are doing. Last weekend we saw the Jets call a play action pass on third and short that produced a touchdown. They had a 7-0 lead at the time so obviously the safe call is just running down the throat of a weak Detroit Lions line. But Mangini took a risk and it paid off. Even if it didn’t, people like seeing a coach who is willing to go for the throat when you have the opportunity, sometimes you just didn’t see that from Herm.

Mangini’s iron fist rule of training camp definitely rubbed some players the wrong way, but now players are buying into why that two-a-day in 100+ degree weather was necessary. If the Jets wind up doing well, they will know that they put all their effort into it; just as if they don’t do well they will know it wasn’t because there was a lack of effort.

The Jets have a lot to look forward to with some of the young talent they have. Jerricho Cotchery is starting to show people why Eric Mangini was raving about him during training camp. From making that unbelievable play against New England to his effort this past week where he took some tough hits, you can tell Cotchery may be the nucleus of this teams receiving corps in the future.

Then you have Leon Washington. Yes, he had a stellar effort against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. What is important is that he has shown that he has good vision on the field and an ability to make cuts and break away from defenders when he has to. I believe Curtis Martin has had a tremendous influence on Washington. Look at the way he runs, he is not the fastest guy but in traffic he makes cuts that are very similar to the way Curtis Martin used to run. He gets that extra yard when needed, just like Martin used to.

The brightest lights of hope for the Jets are on the offensive line. D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold are going to be the foundation and future of the Jets offensive line. Ferguson has only allowed one sack and that’s impressive considering the defensive ends he has had to face. So far he has faced both Jason Taylor and Dwight Freeney, two of the elite pass rushers in the NFL.

Nick Mangold the Jets drafted with the pick they acquired from Atlanta when they traded John Abraham. How good was that move? Abraham is out for the next 3-4 weeks, that was something the Jets had to deal with too often. I questioned this pick at first but now you see what the Jets are trying to do and it makes sense. After seeing two quarterbacks go down in the same game, it became blatantly obvious that they needed to get youth on a line that was rapidly aging.

Right now the Jets are following their coache’s mantra by playing one game at a time and not peeking at their upcoming schedule. They’re not thinking about how after New England and Chicago it’s a cupcake schedule that could amazingly get them into playoffs.

Going by the Jets past most fans would expect them to lose some of the games that they should win in the next coming weeks. The fans expect that at some point, the Jets will let them down. Here’s the thing; Eric Mangini will not allow that not happen. Not this year, not any year; he is building a foundation not with high price machinery but with skilled tools that will get it done whether it be this year or in the future.