Flag On the Play: NY Jets

**Flag on the play is a weekly article on The Kick is Good blog that focuses on teams or players that are trending downward**

For as much negative press that the New York Jets receive, for as ridiculous their loud mouth coach's comments can be (stating at last year's combine that his 2013 team was the most talented one yet), for as many paternity suits that now number one cornerback Antonio Cromartie has faced...this organization has actually been one of the most successful in the past decade.

I know...now i'm the one sounding ridiculous. But the proof is in the pudding...and in this case the pudding is the team's record over the past 12 seasons

Here is the Jets record since 2000

00": 9-7 (missed playoffs but over .500)
01": 10-6 (lost in wild card round to oakland)
02": 9-7 (won AFC East, Won first round playoff game vs. IND, Lost Divisional round game to OAK)
03": 6-10 (no playoffs)
04": 10-6 (won wildcard game vs San Diego, Lost in Divisional round to PIT)
05": 4-12 (no playoffs)
06": 10-6 (lost wildcard game to NE)
07:" 4-12 (no playoffs)
08": 9-7 (no playoffs but over .500)
09': 9-7 (won wildcard game vs. CIN, won Divisional round vs SD, lost Conference champ vs. IND)
10": 11-5 (won wildcard game vs IND, won Divisional round vs NE, lost Conference champ vs PIT)
11": 9-7 (no playoffs)
12": 6-10 (no playoffs)

Overall that record comes out to 106- 102, an over .500 winning percentage with 6 playoff appearances and two conference championship appearances. That's a pretty good resume in my opinion (consider that the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills have a combined 3 playoff appearances over that same span). The Jets success is masked by the fact that the Patriots have been a dynasty in the league since 2001, winning 3 superbowls and 10 division championships during the same exact time.

At this point you are probably wondering why I think this team is trending downward after praising it's success over the last decade. The main reason is faulty management and poor drafting over the past five seasons. It is funny how a bad draft pick can cause an entire fan base to become paranoid for years to come (see picking Vernon Gholston 6th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft). Since Rex Ryan has been head coach the team has only drafted one highly productive starter/impact player, Muhammed Wilkerson. In a league that is all about building your team through the draft and supplementing it with free agents, one player out of 21 picks is not a good percentage.

During the Ryan administration the team has focused more on free agency. In 2010 they brought in Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Jason Taylor and Ladianian Tomlinson as free agents. They signed Holmes and Cromartie, two players with a checkered past, to long term contract extensions. Even though Holmes restructured his deal for this year they are still paying him a significant amount of money towards the cap that is preventing them from going out and making moves to make the team better. Don't be surprised if Holmes is a "cap-casualty" in 2014. Even if the Jets cut him they don't have any player in their wide receiver corp to replace him. Young receivers Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley show potential but still need to be coached up..a dangerous thought for a Jets coaching staff that are all coaching for their jobs this season after missing the playoffs for back to back seasons.

New general manager John Idzik has done a nice job trimming some of the fat this offseason. Cutting ties with Eric Smith, Bryan Thomas, and Bart Scott saved the team a lot of money but also left them with some major holes on the defensive side of the ball. All three of these players were starting caliber, but probably only starters on a Jets team that was lacking defensive talent. These players will be contributing in reserve rolls on their respective teams for the rest of their career. The problem for the Jets is that they haven't replaced these "mediocre" players with players of better quality. Antwan Barnes was signed from San Diego but has had an underwhelming career up to this point. Can he break out in New York...I don't think so. The losses of Sione Pouha (Indy) and Mike Devito (Chiefs) hurts both in the locker room and on the defensive line. Young players like Kenrick Ellis and first round draftpick Sheldon Richardson will have to step up. Although I am am in favor of upgrading your roster with younger players there is usually a learning curve in the NFL. Something tells me the Jets line will be taking a lot of punches to the mouth. The safety position isn't much better. Yeramiah Bell is an older player but was still solid for the team last year and better than any option they currently have on the roster. Laron Landry was too rich for their blood and used them to get the big contract he was looking for. Although I would not have paid him 24 million dollars over four years I think Jet fans are in for a rude awakening when playing teams with good tight ends. Get used to the names Josh Bush and Antonio Allen as your safety tandem (sprinkle in Dawan Landry as well)

The offensive side of the ball is equally as messy. Mark Sanchez's albatross of a contract makes him un-moveable. He might also be the best quarterback on the roster which is a scary proposition. Geno Smith is young and hopefully the future for the team at the QB position but is not ready to start right away. The offensive line has two new guards. They traded a 4th round pick for running back Chris Ivory who has never been able to stay healthy for a season. And the other running back they signed, Mike Goodson, was arrested last month for possessing marijuana and a hand gun in the state of New Jersey (charges are still pending).

This team is definitely in rebuilding mode. If this team doesn't make the playoffs (and my money is against it) team owner Woody Johnson and GM Idzik will probably be looking for a new coaching staff next January (just what they need, more change!). Ultimately, I think Idzik has a plan to make this team a contender. Look at the Seattle team that he helped build over the last 4 years. 4 good drafts later they are a superbowl favorite for 2013. 2016 is a far cry for Jets fans but that should be a fair assessment of when the team should be a contender again.

As for this year..a somewhat favorable month of September (vs Tampa, @ New England, vs. Buffalo, @ Tennesee) and December ( vs. Miami, vs. Oakland, @ Carolina, vs Cleveland, @ Miami) could give fans some hope of a respectable record. The month of October is a killer with games against the Patriots, Steelers, Bengals, Falcons and Saints, teams I believe are all ranked in the top 10 of the league.

This Jets team will probably be one of the worst in the league. Other than Oakland or Jacksonville I don't see any teams with less talented/ proven players than they have. I expect them to be picking in the top half of the draft again next season.

I can hear Jet fans across the tri-state already yelling "oh the pain!"

[Paul James' blog post was written for "The Kick is Good", a blog written about the upcoming NFL 2013 season. Find more posts at http://thekickisgoodblog.blogspot.com  #506iv #Flagontheplay and follow him on twitter @PJ_thekicksgood ]