It also put Ryan on the hot seat and Sanchez somewhere close to the door. The pair faces the incredibly tough task of having to prove their worth during a year in which the team is in major transition under new GM John Idzik. (photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr)
Front office/coaching changes so far: Fired Tannenbaum, hired Idzik. Fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, hired Marty Mornhinweg. Promoted Dennis Thurman to defensive coordinator. Special teams coach Mike Westhoff retired.
Key free agents: S Yeremiah Bell, DL Mike DeVito, WR Braylon Edwards, K Nick Folk, RB Shonn Greene, TE Dustin Keller, S LaRon Landry, G Brandon Moore, G Matt Slauson, LB Bryan Thomas.
First round draft position: No. 9.
Draft picks by round: One in each round.
THREE POINTS OF EMPHASIS:
- Under a GM who can't be as obsessed with free agency as Tannenbaum was, the Jets will begin building through the draft. With a major crop of starters hitting the open market, New York will establish a foundation of young talent and entry-level contracts to replace departing veterans who were too expensive. With the money they'll free up by releasing Bart Scott, Jason Smith and Calvin Pace, they'll have a little room under the cap to sign a major-contributing veteran or two, but the Jets will be young the next two years. That might be a good thing, as New York desperately needs to bolster its pass rush.
- Gang Green's first order of business is to create a legitimate quarterback competition. Sanchez will be a Jet in 2013, but he won't be handed the job on a silver platter like in years past. Idzik will bring in a free agent at least capable of starting for a year as a stopgap, and the Jets have to take a swing on a quarterback in the draft -- regardless of round -- to try and develop.
- With Pettine out and Thurman being promoted, not a whole lot will change on that side of the ball from a scheme perspective. However, the offense will have a completely new look under Mornhinweg and his West Coast system. Not only does the quarterback have to fit, but the Jets need a decent pass-catching option out of the backfield. Shonn Greene has to be a goner, and while I like Bilal Powell on passing downs in pass protection and Joe McKnight's explosiveness, they'll need to add a versatile tailback to the mix.
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