MR. RODGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD

“That Super Bowl trophy is looking a little lonely” exclaimed Aaron Rodgers as he met the media for the
first time. Most Jets fans don’t even recall that Super Bowl win from 1969 but many are excited this is the year.

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Remember 2008 when another 39 year old QB from Green Bay came to Gang Green and expectations soared? That year saw a very impressive 8-3 start but late season injuries and an ineffective Brett Farve led to the 9-7 finish and no playoff appearance.

 

Anticipation is high again 15 years later and why not, Rodgers will have the best young WR in the game in 2022 Offensive Rookie of the year Garrett Wilson. Lining up next to the former Ohio State star will be two familiar faces to Rodgers in Allen Lazzard and Randal Cobb. Mercole Hedman Jr who has scored three times in the postseason the last four season is a free agent pickup that becomes every more important with the recent retirement of veteran Corey Davis. Rounding out the receivers will be two veteran TE’s in CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. Conklin was the #2 receiver fore the Jets in 2022.

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With the addition in training camp of former Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook , the Jets now posses one of the most formidable running attacks in the NFL. Second year RB Breece Hall looks to bounce back from an injury in week 5 last year and with the versatile Michael Carter able to catch swing passes from Rodgers,
this offensive becomes very dynamic.

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The offensive line was riddled with injuries last year and the hope is that young LT Mecki Becton and Alijah Vera Tucker will be healthy and ready to open holes for the running game and protect their new leader. The Jets also welcome back Laken Tomlinson who has been a rock and Duane Brown and Connor McGovern making this quite possibly the most underrated offensive line in the NFL.

 

Switching over to defense the Jets mantra is “All Gas and No Brake”, this is where that mission statement shines the most. A rush attack that will remind Jets Fans of the “NY Sack Exchange” from the 80’s will be making its return. Edge rushers Johnathan Franklin Myers, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, Michael Clemons and Bryce Huff will be causing havoc on opposing QB’s. The interior line is also scary as DT Quinnen Williams already a top run stuffer but now a menace to the QB. The Jets also used their first round pick in 2023 on Will Mcdonald IV, who as a outside pass rusher has impressed this
preseason.

Calling the signals for this group will be the Veteran Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley at middle linebacker who bounced back last year and looks to follow up with another Pro Bowl selection. Mosely will have Quincy Williams (The brother of Quinnen) working along side of him and Jamien Sherwood and Zaire Barnes who were FA pick ups during the off season.

The reason this defense took a huge step in 2022 was the play of it’s secondary. Defensive Rookie of the
Year Sauce Gardner is quickly stamping himself as the premier corner in the league, and when you pair
the Sauce with D.J. Reed you will see why the defensive line will be stacking up the sacks this year, NFL
Qb’s will find it very difficult to throw against. Michael Carter III and Bryce Hall can step up into the slot
and Jordan Whitehead and Tony Adam will patrol the safety positions. Veteran Kicker Greg Zuerlein will
be a weapon when the game is on the line.

Unlike in 2008 this team will rely on defense to keep the games close, and keeping games close will only
give the Jets in 2023 a better than chance to win than any team in recent memory. Remember in years

past the goal was to make the playoffs, something the Jets have not made since 2010, but this year it is different, this year the prognosticators see the Jets as contenders for the world championship. Why not, the Jets will have a top 5 defense and a future HOF QB with a chip on his shoulder, so is it a longshot to believe this team can win in the highly competitive AFC East? Is it a longshot the Jets will compete very well against the equally NFC East, the division the Jets play this year.

 

This is why we play the games and 2023 should be the most exciting in memory as we go visit “Mister
Rodgers' Neighborhood”

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