NY Jets Thoughts From The Airport

As I sit in the airport, currently delayed, on a return flight from Las Vegas to JFK I thought this would be a good time to share my thoughts on the Jets with you.  I mean after all it is June and if you are reading this, you are the definition of a die-hard fan.  So here goes (in no particular order):

Rex Ryan 2.0:  I had the pleasure of discussing the Jets with Jason McIntrye of Big Lead Sports.com this week.  He asked me what I thought about the Jets this season and I told him they will be improved.  The biggest reason for that improvement is going to be Rex Ryan 2.0.  I wish I could take credit for that line, I first heard it on our New York Jets message board (thanks JIF).  Anyhow, this is a new Rex Ryan we are looking at here and I don’t mean in the slimmed down physical sense.  Sure there are many roster improvements and a new coaching staff, but I am talking about Rex maturing as a head coach.

Think about this Jets fans, Rex Ryan’s big failure of a season had the team at 8 and 8.  He has raised the bar and he is completely sincere when he says the goal is to win a Super Bowl.  Has Rex been perfect?  No, but he is learning from his mistakes.  Enter Rex Ryan 2.0 and watch out NFL.

The Mega Mall:  There was an article the other day that the Jets and Giants are trying to block the mega mall next to the stadium.  I am not an economist so I won’t try and discuss the economic impact of the mall either way.  But I only have two requirements and then I say they should be allowed to open it:

1. Change the exterior color.  Congratulations if you are the one that designed that funky exterior.  Now kindly go find another line of work.
2. Knock down the ski slope.  We are not going to ski indoors in NJ.  If this ski slope was your idea, please check with the exterior designer and brain storm on what job you should do next.  But you probably want to take, “idea man” off the list off possibilities.

Once both of those things have been done, let’s open this mall up.  The teams are worried about traffic problems?  Seriously, traffic problems?  There is a reason that fans fire up the grill after the game is over and tailgate while the parking lot empties.  That reason is called traffic problems.

Offensive Line:  Take a deep breath before you read this one.  Exhale.  One more deep breath.  Okay, ready for it?  I believe in this offensive line, specifically Wayne Hunter.  Was he bad last year?  Absolutely. Let’s write off last year off and give him a clean slate.  He has had a full offseason this year and he enters the season with a renewed offensive commitment to having the Jets return to their ground and pound roots.  Wayne Hunter played very well for the Jets when he filled in for Damien Woody late in 2010, he can get back to that level.

One more deep breath please, okay, I am also not writing off Vladimir Ducasse yet. You want him cut, I know you do.  The jury has been deliberating for awhile but I implore you to hold off on returning your verdict.  I wish I could take credit for this one, but I read the other day that Vlad might have been the player that was impacted by the lockout the most.  He was drafted as a project and spent time at Tackle, Guard and blocking Tight End.  He needed the offseason program and didn’t get that because of the lockout.  Will he ever reach his potential?  Time will tell, I just ask that you hold off on writing him off.  (Thanks to Slats from the JN forum for the lockout thoughts on VLad).

Those are my thoughts for now, my plane just arrived so I will be JFK bound soon enough.  Speaking of soon enough, the season is just about one month away.  JetNation will have a full training camp preview, so hang in there Jets fans.