The Jets are rumored to be interested in Randy Moss. That statement alone says how far the Jets franchise has come in such a short time. I know what you’re going to say. Randy? At this point in his career? With a young quarterback? How does this show the Jets have come far? Under head coach Eric Mangini the Jets possessed the talent necessary to be a heavy hitter in the NFL, but didn’t have the leader to make them believe that together anything is possible. Say what you want about Rex Ryan, but like it or not football is a game that lives and dies with emotion. A team that believes it is better than everyone it goes up against, not because they are arrogant but because their confidence rests in each other, is a dangerous team.
The biggest difference in Jets teams under Sanchez is their ability to win games when they don’t play their best. In the past whether it was Herm Edwards or Eric Mangini when a Jets team didn’t play a perfect game on defense, offense and special teams they were going to have a hard time winning games. The ability to rise to the occasion late in games and create big plays comes from a certain belief in yourself and your teammates. Under Rex Ryan the Jets had games where they blew leads or turned the ball over too much, but they were able to overcome these mistakes through creativity and the proverbial ice water in their veins. The importance of a team having a coach who they know believes in them, cannot be understated.
It’s no secret the Jets’ identity comes from its defense. It’s ironic that the conservative Jets teams of the past strived to have a dominating defense like the one Ryan has built. Even more so than the offense, defensive players thrive on emotion and momentum. Because of this the only way to build a dominating defense that has the ability to protect a young quarterback or a weak offense is to instill a mentality that sets your team apart from the rest of the league. Unfortunately, these sorts of tactics do not share their roots with humility.
Even the recent victories at home against the Patriots illuminate the change in team identity from the past. When the Jets went into New England and schemed their way to victories under Mangini, it didn’t have the same effect as when Rex Ryan proclaimed that they were not afraid of the Patriots, only to show up on Sunday and dominate the game in all aspects. The fact that the Jets would consider signing Randy Moss, is an example of how far the newfound identity has spread. General Manager Mike Tannenbaum would not have considered a signing like this in the past, the same could be said of last off season’s signing of Santonio Holmes. The difference is that the Jets have the type of locker room that is strong enough to stay together and make the most of talented players who may have made mistakes off the field in the past. The playoff victory in Foxboro, and the scene of Ryan running up the sideline is a summation of the ascension of the Jets towards the NFL’s elite. However, they are not there yet, they have only achieved the team unity that is so rare in today’s sports. They must use that strength to win a championship or they will be lost to time, trapped in oblivion amongst teams like McNabb’s Eagles and Kelly’s Bills.