Because the Jacksonville Jaguars put together to play the New York Jets in Week 15, we sat down with MacGregor Wells of Gang Inexperienced Nation to study extra concerning the opposing facet.
Query 1: Is the Aaron Rodgers period all however over?
I actually hope so. Rodgers has been an unlimited disappointment. We didn’t essentially count on Rodgers to return to MVP type this season, however his decline has been a lot worse than anticipated. Rodgers has performed like a bottom-quartile beginning quarterback for the Jets this season. This regardless of having an honest offensive line and wonderful weapons in Garrett Wilson, Breece Corridor and Davante Adams. One other season, during which he would flip 42 years previous, would seemingly see much more decline. One would suppose that the brand new Jets entrance workplace, whomever they could be, wouldn’t need to run again the Rodgers experiment that has up to now produced a 3 – 10 document. Nonetheless, this being the Jets, we are able to’t rule out any degree of stupidity and ineptitude.
Query 2: Ought to the Jets clear home and begin a full-on rebuild within the offseason, or is the roster gifted sufficient to compete sooner fairly than later?
Good query. Jets followers aren’t united of their view on this. Some need to tear all of it down and begin recent. Others see a gifted soccer staff that has underperformed and is perhaps a playoff contender subsequent yr with the proper offseason strikes. Personally, I lean in the direction of the tear-it-all-down method. The dismal 2024 season and the anticipated full overhaul of the entrance workplace and training employees current a possibility to utterly re-make this franchise. I believe the Jets ought to embrace that chance. Embrace the suck. Commerce away anyone who just isn’t anticipated to be with the Jets in 2027, and anyone who doesn’t need to be with the Jets, and anyone anticipated to be in decline by 2027. Filter out all of the lifeless wooden, get the wage cap so as, commerce for as many future draft picks as attainable, and permit the staff to suck for 2 years. Take the resultant 3 years (2025, 2026, 2027) of excessive draft picks and selectively commerce down or commerce into future years to build up much more excessive draft picks. Goal to compete at a excessive degree in 2027 and past.
Such an method would little question take a look at the persistence of followers who haven’t seen a playoff berth since 2010. There are grownup Jets followers who don’t have any reminiscence of a playoff sport. That could be a massive drawback. However for my part, most followers acknowledge this isn’t working and one thing drastic must be carried out. Take the disaster and make it a possibility for a greater future. That’s my opinion. I doubt Jets proprietor Woody Johnson shares this view.
Query 3: What changes ought to the Jets make to its offense and/or protection for the remainder of this season?
It’s too late for any in-season changes to be significant for the 2024 season, and the brand new employees about to be employed for 2025 received’t care what changes had been made in 2024. Subsequently, the one changes that matter for my part are changes to enjoying time. Particularly, the Jets have to deal with the ultimate few video games as developmental video games for no matter younger gamers who might need a future with this staff. Play the draft picks of the previous few years and sit the veterans who don’t have any future right here. The Jets received’t do that. However they need to.
Query 4: Who’s an under-the-radar participant that Jets followers ought to proceed tuning in to observe?
The 2 rookie working backs, Isaiah Davis and Braelon Allen, subbed in for an injured Breece Corridor final week and seemed fairly good. The Jets have a choice to make by the tip of 2025 concerning whether or not they need to supply Corridor a second contract. Seeing how the 2 rookies carry out the remainder of this season may make that call simpler. On protection, Leonard Taylor III is an undrafted free agent rookie who has been a pleasant addition this season. He could also be auditioning for the 2025 teaching employees for a beginning job subsequent yr.
Query 5: The Jaguars are 3.5-point underdogs this week based on FanDuel Sportsbook. Do you count on the Jets to cowl, and do you might have a favourite participant prop for the sport?
I by no means count on the Jets to cowl. The Jets have a terrific knack for dropping in new and progressive methods each week. On paper, the Jets could have the sting, significantly with Mac Jones beginning rather than an injured Trevor Lawrence. Nonetheless, on paper, the Jets had been imagined to be a playoff staff this yr. The Jets are on-paper kings. On the sector they’re paupers. I don’t know how this sport will play out. Maybe the Jets will play as much as their alleged expertise degree for as soon as. This looks as if a really unpredictable sport between two groups that each could also be enjoying principally simply to get this over with.
As for participant props, I don’t gamble, so I’m not a lot use in that respect. Nonetheless, if there’s a guess as to what number of interceptions Mac Jones will throw, I’d take the beneath. The Jets have two interceptions all the season, each by Brandin Echols, who will seemingly be on the bench for this sport.
Due to MacGregor for taking the time to reply our questions!
What are your ideas on the Week 15 matchup, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback!