The energy around the New York Jets feels positive and optimistic, which is something entirely new for fans.
You know what they say: “Don’t put too much stock into what happens at practice.”
“It’s only OTAs.”
“Let’s see if he can do that against a real defense.”
“Every fanbase is optimistic about what happens in the offseason.”
Those disclaimers certainly need to be kept in mind by fans of any NFL team, but things feel different at 1 Jets Drive this year. The vibes around the team are refreshingly positive, which does not feel familiar for New York Jets fans or those who have covered the team in recent years.
On the field, the Jets had the majority of their roster show up to a voluntary period of practices despite months of rumors speculating that most players around the NFL would not be showing up. Players have continuously praised the environment that has established in a way that has been rarely heard regarding this franchise in the past.
In terms of what has happened in-action on the practice field, the offense has been performing with harmony and grace that Jets fans have not seen from the unit in . . . well, there probably has never been a time in the history of Twitter practice updates in which the Jets’ offense was outplaying the defense in practice.
Zach Wilson looks comfortable, Elijah Moore has been dominant, and the unit is humming along as smoothly as it is supposed to in light-contact practice sessions featuring t-shirts and shorts.
Off the field, the culture that Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh have talked so much about is clearly coming into form.
Wilson and Dan Feeney have spearheaded huge groups of players heading out to New York Islanders games together. Wilson is frequenting local restaurants with teammates and hosting practices.
The camaraderie and chemistry between players on the roster has been quite the sight to see for a franchise that has dealt with so much nonsensical off-field drama for so long.
The energy coming out of Florham Park is undoubtedly more optimistic than it has been in a long time. Most importantly, that claim can be backed up with legitimate reasons for optimism. It does not feel like fans or analysts have to rationalize or make up reasons to be confident. This organization is operating as a competent NFL franchise, and that alone is enough to signal that things are changing.
Just think about the additions that they made. Zach Wilson, Carl Lawson, Corey Davis, Robert Saleh – all of these guys were consensus top-tier options to fill the Jets’ biggest holes – and the team went out and snatched them up. Jets observers do not have to sit around and invent reasons to feel good about moves they were not initially happy about or did not want in the first place. No, sir. The Jets went out and addressed the majority of their biggest holes with the best available options, all of whom complement each other well from a scheme and culture standpoint.
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On the latest episode of the Cool Your Jets podcast, Ben Blessington and Michael Nania discuss the specific reasons that Jets fans have the right to feel legitimately excited about what transpired during the OTAs period. Plus, they answer a bevy of mailbag questions from fans of the podcast, including:
- Stat-line prediction for Quinnen Williams?
- Who will win the Curtis Martin Team MVP Award?
- Are the Jets waiting for Nick Foles to be released?
- Who is the most underappreciated player on the roster?
- How should the Jets handle the Jamison Crowder situation?
- What is an ideal price point for Morgan Moses? If signed, where should he line up?
