Around The NFL: Interview w/ Jets Gab Editor Andy Green

As the NFL season gets closer, we will start to talk with some writers from teams around the league about their clubs and their outlook for 2013.

Today we chat with Andy Green, who writes for JetsGab. The 43rd season for the Jets was rather awful, as Rex Ryan’s bunch, a team that the Steelers played in the AFC Title game in 2010, are coming off a 6-10 season.

In year two, they are looking to regroup, and will try to do it with a QB battle, and a number of players that have to step up if this team is going to ever get better. It could be the last shot for Ryan.

Here’s five questions about the Jets and their outlook for the 2013 season.

1. It’s the Question we all want to know – Who Starts Opening Day vs Tampa – Smith or Sanchez? Why?

It’s the question everyone wants to know, including myself. Geno Smith is the future of the New York Jets there is no doubt about that, but I’m still torn between Smith and Sanchez.

Smith has had an excellent camp and has far exceeded expectations. He certainly brings the “wow” factor to the offense and provides the Jets with the opportunity for a big play, but he doesn’t have the same level of experience and grasp of the offense as Sanchez. The incumbent Sanchez has also had a solid camp. He hasn’t been spectacular by any means but he has excelled in the short passing game, and has shown great leadership and understanding of the new offensive system employed by Marty Mornhinweg. Sanchez’s biggest problem is that Jets fans are frustrated and bored with him; Smith represents a fresh start and a new level of excitement. If Sanchez does start, the slightest mistake will draw a huge amount of criticism from the Jets faithful so he will have to win and win convincingly in order to keep his job.

That being said, Sanchez has been given the start for the first pre-season game on Friday and if he protects the football and moves the ball he should keep the job regardless of Smith’s performance. At this point the Jets aren’t close to being Superbowl contenders. They should start Mark Sanchez, let him play his way out of a job, and take the pressure off Geno Smith for when he does take over.

2. Do you think Rex Ryan is on the hot seat after not making the playoffs the last two seasons?

The Jets have become the laughing stock of the league and to the outside world it appears that Rex is on the hot seat, but internally I believe he is a lot safer than people realize.

The Jets are effectively rebuilding at the moment. They brought in a new general manager in John Idzik in the off-season, who had every opportunity to let Ryan go and start fresh, but he kept Ryan around. Not only did he keep him around but he has clearly included Ryan in the majority of personnel decisions. Rex Ryan’s fingerprints are all over the Jets 2013 draft class as the team drafted 2 defensive players in the first round — Dee Millner and Sheldon Richardson. If Ryan is truly in the hot seat, I think we would’ve seen a different approach in the draft.

While I don’t consider Rex Ryan to be on the hot seat he has to show improvement in 2013 to keep his job. That doesn’t necessarily mean how the Jets perform as a team, but more how the Jets defense performs. Rex Ryan’s forte is the defensive side of the ball, and his defense is essentially the sole reason the Jets went to back-to-back AFC Championship games. Ryan is taking back control of the defense this season, and if he can transform them into a prototypical Rex Ryan defense his job is safe for another year at least.

3. Who is going to run the ball for the Jets in 2013? Right now is former Saints back Chris Ivory really slated as the starting back?

I don’t think the Jets even know the answer to this question.

They have a few contenders on the roster, but they are all yet to practice with the team in training camp. Chris Ivory, the predicted starter has an injured hamstring, and Mike Goodson, who signed with the Jets in the offseason, was arrested in May and hasn’t even shown up to camp. Bilal Powell has been tremendous in camp, but few believe he has what it takes to be a starting back and carry the load.

There’s still over a month left until the first game, and the common consensus is that Ivory will indeed become the Jets starter providing he recovers enough to practice with the team. However, if the injury lingers the Jets might have to look elsewhere. There are still some veteran running backs left in free agency that could help the team.

4. The Jets Defense has really undergone a transition this offseason, how good or bad do you think they will be in 2013?

Out of all their additions in 2013 the biggest is their head coach. Rex Ryan will take over all aspects of defense coaching this season. The Jets defense was ranked 20th in points allowed in 2012, far removed from their number one rank in 2009. However, with Ryan calling the shots, the pieces are in place on the field to become at the very least a top-10 defense again in 2012.

The defensive line will generate a strong pass rush with Muhammed Wilkerson, and first round draft pick Sheldon Richardson. At linebacker, last years first round draft pick Quentin Coples, making the transition to a 3-4 linebacker, has had a great camp. And while there are questions at safety, the corners have the potential to become one of the better tandems in the league with Antonio Cromartie and first round rookie Dee Milliner.

5. New York has a former Steeler on the O-line, and he’s currently listed as a starter, that being Willie Colon. What do you expect from him in 2013?

Colon has already embraced his head coach and it looks like he may become the vocal heart and soul of the offensive line. Colon fired back at the media during training camp when discussing the Jets low expectations in 2013, telling reporters that he plays with a lot of pride and fight and the outside expectations are all the motivation he needs. I love Colon’s passion for the game and the upcoming season. Having grown up in he area he seems incredibly proud to be a Jet. As Steelers fans know he had some tough luck with injures while in Pittsburgh, but if he can stay healthy, he can complete the left side of the offensive line between two of the Jets best, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.

6. Last but not least – what do you think the Jets record will be in 2013, and will they make the postseason?

A lot of people have already written off the Jets in 2013, and that appears to be the team’s rally cry for the season. Playoffs are probably not in this team’s immediate future, but I honestly think they could surprise a few people. While no schedule is easy in the NFL the Jets do have a flurry of winnable games on the slate – with teams such as the Raiders, Browns, Bills and Panthers. And if their defense does improve the way I expect they will upset a few teams along the way. I predict that the Jets will finish a very respectable 8-8, as they make steady improvements on the previous 2 lackluster seasons.