2014 Record: 4-12-0 (4th in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Todd Bowles
New Players in 2015 - WR Brandon Marshall; DB Darrelle Revis; DB Antonio Cromartie; QB Ryan Fitzpatrick; LB Joe Mays; DB Buster Skrine; OL James Carpenter; LB Jamari Lattimore; DL Kevin Vickerson.
OFFENSIVE RANK in 2014 - 22nd in NFL (326.6 ypg)
DEFENSIVE RANK in 2014 - 6th in NFL (327.2 ypg)
Offense: Geno Smith (2,525 yards passing with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions) returns in 2015 as the apparent starting quarterback. Challenging Smith in camp for the top spot will be 11-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had 2,483 passing yards with 17 TD passes and eight interceptions last year with Houston.
The Jets have added wide receiver Brandon Marshall (61 receptions for 721 yards and eight TD with Chicago last year) to the arsenal in order to bolster the passing game. Eric Decker led the team last year with 74 receptions for 962 yards and five touchdowns and will line up on the other side.
Jeremy Kerley (38, 409, one TD), rookie Devin Smith (Ohio State) and tight ends Jeff Cumberland (23, 247, three TD) and Jace Amaro (38, 345, two TD) are other options in the passing game.
The running game has Chris Ivory back following his 821 yards on the ground which led the team. In addition, Ivory scored six touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per rush. Bilal Powell (141 yards, 4.3 ypc and one TD) played sparingly last year and will be on hand to spell Ivory in the backfield.
The line has center Nick Mangold, tackles Breno Giacomini and D'Brickashaw Ferguson and guards James Carpenter and Willie Colon.
Defense: Damon Harrison (nose tackle), Sheldon Richardson (tackle) and Muhammad Wilkerson (6 1/2 QB sacks) is the defensive end. They are the anchors up front for the Jets, which had an excellent run defense last season.
In addition, Richardson led the team with eight QB sacks, but may not be available at all this season pending legal issues that recently surfaced on top of a four-game suspension already imposed for the 2015 season.
Kevin Vickerson and rookie Leonard Williams (USC) will provide depth up front.
The outside linebackers are Calvin Pace (five sacks) and Quinton Coples (6 1/2 sacks) while Demario Davis (3 1/2 sacks) and David Harris (5 1/2 sacks) man the inside spots. Backing up are Joe Mays and Jamari Lattimore.
The secondary has some new (well make that familiar) faces back at the corners as Darrelle Revis (two interceptions) and Antonio Cromartie (three picks) return to the Jets for the new season. The safeties are Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor. Jaiquawn Jarrett, who led the Jets with two picks last year, provides depth in the defensive backfield.
OUTLOOK FOR 2015 - Coming into the 2015 season, the key for the Jets to improve will be on offense. They averaged just over 17 points per game last year, which ranked 28th in the league.
Protecting quarterbacks Smith and/or Fitzpatrick is crucial as well, as the Jets allowed 47 sacks last year. Improving in the running game would also help the team this season.
The defense is solid, especially against the run, where they allowed only 93 yards rushing per game. The pass defense should get a boost with Revis and Cromartie roaming back there. The Jets can get after opposing passers as they amassed 45 QB sacks in 2014.
New Head Coach Todd Bowles takes over after Rex Ryan was fired (he's now the Head Coach in Buffalo) and will have the task of getting the team back to respectability. Playing in the AFC East, the team is looking up at not only New England, but the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins as well.
The offense will need to step up this season and the team is counting on the addition of WR Brandon Marshall, a former Pro Bowl player, to return to form after a sub par season with Chicago. That would do wonders for the passing game and if Ivory and Powell can form a solid running tandem, the team could move up in the standings.
That's a tall order for the Jets, but it's not insurmountable either. Look for a 5-11 season this year as the Jets employ a new system with a new coaching staff as they look to build for the future.
2015 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 2 - at Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 - vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4 - at Miami Dolphins (London, England)
Week 5 - BYE WEEK
Week 6 - vs. Washington Redskins
Week 7 - at New England Patriots
Week 8 - at Oakland Raiders
Week 9 - vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10 - vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 11 - at Houston Texans
Week 12 - vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 13 - at New York Giants
Week 14 - vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 15 - at Dallas Cowboys
Week 16 - vs. New England Patriots
Week 17 - at Buffalo Bills
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