By all indications, the New York Jets will not be a team that contends for a Super Bowl in 2017.\u00a0Possessing a roster that holds major question marks in several vital areas, most notably the quarterback position, the team simply doesn’t have the pieces in place to make a run. That being said, the team\u00a0can still have a successful season while rebuilding for the future. If the Jets can achieve the\u00a0below three goals, the season will be an overwhelming\u00a0victory.<\/p>\n
It’s been quite a while since the Jets have had enjoyed longterm stability at the quarterback position. After a one year exodus from mediocre\u00a0quarterback play in 2015, the Jets quickly regressed back to their old ways in 2016. After an impressive 2015 season Ryan Fitzpatrick<\/strong> <\/a>threw seventeen interceptions in only 11 starts in 2016, and Bryce Petty<\/strong> <\/a>added seven picks of his own\u00a0in his limited time at quarterback.<\/p>\n Petty presented flashes of excellence, including during a riveting comeback victory against the San Francisco 49ers.\u00a0Christian Hackenberg<\/strong> <\/a>remained firmly entrenched on the sideline, even as the season quickly became a lost one. Fitzpatrick is now gone, replaced by fellow journeyman Josh McCown<\/strong><\/a>. At best, McCown will serve as a stopgap for a year as Petty and Hackenberg wait in the wings. At worst, he’ll be a second coming of 2016 Ryan Fitzpatrick.<\/p>\n Either way, at 38 years old,\u00a0McCown won’t be the team’s longterm answer at quarterback.\u00a0The Jets hope desperately that either Petty or Hackenberg will be able to serve that role, especially after exerting\u00a0a large amount of\u00a0draft capital on both players. If either one takes command in the upcoming season,\u00a0and inserts themselves as the team’s franchise quarterback, 2017\u00a0will be a successful year for the New York Jets.<\/p>\n After a disappointing, controversy-riddled 2016 campaign, it can be easy to forget Muhammad Wilkerson<\/strong><\/a>‘s\u00a0former dominance. The defensive lineman has consistently performed as one of the game’s best players since being drafted\u00a030th overall in the 2011 NFL draft, save for last year. A plethora of factors contributed to Wilkerson’s underwhelming 2016 season. A lingering leg injury\u00a0hampered him for the better part of the season, and a woeful secondary undoubtedly affected his production. That being said, “Big Mo” doesn’t exactly receive a free pass for his dreadful season. His work ethic came under fire, and his unruly conduct ultimately necessitated a benching in Week 11. Four and a half sacks is unacceptable production for a player of Wilkerson’s caliber.<\/p>\n Desperate for star power, the New York Jets urgently\u00a0need Wilkerson to rekindle\u00a0his former prowess . If not, it could be Mike Maccagnan’s head on the chopping block. The general manager did, after all, sign Wilkerson to a monster contract just weeks removed from a broken leg. On a more uplifting note, if Wilkerson plays to the utmost of his abilities,\u00a0he and Lenoard Williams<\/strong> <\/a>could form one of the most formidable defensive tandems in all of football. The 2017\u00a0season will be a make or break\u00a0one for Wilkerson, just one year removed from\u00a0signing a five-year, $85 million contract.<\/p>\n In a season plagued by disappointment, receivers Robby Anderson<\/strong> <\/a>and Quincy Enunwa<\/strong> <\/a>emerged as beacons of hope for the future. Enunwa transitioned from being a fringe roster player to an explosive deep threat. The third-year man from Nebraska caught\u00a058 passes for 857 yards, even in an offense muddled by ineptitude. Anderson, an undrafted rookie from Temple, recorded\u00a037 catches for 471 yards, both good for seventh among all rookies.<\/p>\n Enunwa and Anderson have proved their value in the offense. Now, the Jets can only hope the tandem ascends into true stardom. If the Jets have two pro-bowl level receivers to couple with Eric Decker<\/strong> <\/a>and Bilal Powell<\/strong><\/a>, their offense just might stand a chance in 2017.<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\nMuhammad Wilkerson returns to Form<\/h3>\n
Young Receivers Develop Into Stars<\/h3>\n