An Interview With A Jets Fan

Brian from the world-renown The Jets Blog agreed to talk with me about the upcoming season. If you want to know what he thinks about his team’s AFC matchup with the Pats tomorrow (and, trust me, you do) you can read that here.

Do you think the Jets have a shot at the playoffs, winning the AFC East, the AFC Championship, or Super Bowl this year?
I think the Jets have a shot at going to the playoffs by way of the Wild Card. I do expect the team to be more of the 9-7 variety, though. The Patriots look ridiculous this year, but they are one Kimo von Oelhoffen Special (a flop onto Brady’s knee) away from being a very mediocre team, in my opinion.

It seems everyone in New York is happy with the job Mangini is doing. Do you think that attitude will change if the Jets don’t make the playoffs?
Let’s just say that expectations are high, I think most fans expect to be back in the hunt, I wish I was as optimistic. All the same, I would be interested to see how not making the playoffs would play out … but not more interested than going to the playoffs. I think fans would give him a reprieve this year, as the competition for the Jets has stepped up in 2007 versus last year, with an especially nasty set out of the chute home versus New England and then away at Baltimore.

The one thing that’s nice about the Jets schedule is that they have a very easy travel schedule, which could help keep their routine more consistent than other contenders.

If Mangini can beat the Patriots at least once this season, he gets a “Get Out of Jail Free” Card guaranteed.

The Jets training camp has been full of drama (Pete Kendall, Revis’ contract, Thomas Jones’ injury). Will that have any effect on the way they play early this season?
I definitely think so. Revis contract dispute will hurt, but I will say he did look good versus the Giants. If Thomas Jones isn’t ready to go, Leon Washington can be magic, but he’s not a 30 carry a game kind of player yet, right now he’s suited to the breather/change of pace role. The addition of Jones means that one of Pennington’s biggest strengths (his play action) is nullified again like last season.

As far as Kendall, his absence is going to hurt unless the Jets find a scrapheap player. The damage of his departure is somewhat minimized by the fact that he’s a Guard, but he is a Guard you can count on to make his blocks, and not get knocked onto his heels … it could be a tough adjustment.

What is the Jets’ biggest strength heading into the 2007 season?
The coaching staff, hands down. Mangini’s game planning, preparation, dedication to finding opponent’s weaknesses on offense and defense is one of the biggest strengths that this team has. He has assembled a similar thinking staff, most notably in Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer who threw almost everything at teams last year to keep them on their toes. Schotty saved the kitchen sink for this year.

What is their biggest weakness?
Line play on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, they didn’t extend Dewayne Ferguson who is going into his last year of a contract and isn’t right to play the 3-4 Nose, and it remains to be seen if Kenyon Coleman is the answer on Ferguson’s right.

Offensively, the loss of Kendall will sting, and they haven’t seemed to have found a competent replacement for him in either Adrien Clarke or draftee Jacob Bender. I think Adrian Jones could be competent at Guard, but I don’t know if they have something against him, or just think he just flat out can’t start.