New York Jets
Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) celebrates after a blocked pass in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets had several players that had disappointing seasons in 2016. Here are four key players that need strong bounce-back campaigns in 2017.Not very much is expected from the New York Jets in 2017. There's nothing wrong with that. Jets fans realize the team is rebuilding, mostly through the draft, and that's the intelligent way to begin the process of turning around a team that suffered through a dreadful 5-11 campaign last year.The chances of competing for a playoff berth in the AFC seem slim at this point but that doesn't mean that the upcoming season is not an important one. Gang Green has to show that they're pointed in the right direction and several players need to have strong bounce-back campaigns to not only aid New York's chances of winning but also to stabilize their own careers.The 2017 NFL season is vital to four Jets in particular. This quartet must prove that they can be productive performers even though the win-loss record may not reflect a playoff contending contingent when the dust eventually settles on the upcoming season.Let's take a closer look at these four players that have much to prove moving forward:Next: No. 4: Austin Seferian-Jenkins Dec 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (88) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The New York Jets defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
The 24-year old tight end is suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season due to his DUI arrest last year while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets claimed him on waivers after Tampa Bay released him last Fall and Seferian-Jenkins "rewarded" his new squad by recording just 10 receptions for 110 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. With the addition of tight end Jordan Leggett, a fifth-round draft pick this year, there will be pressure on Seferian-Jenkins to produce or Leggett could quickly pass him on the depth chart.
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The University of Washington product seems to be taking steps to revive his career. According to Pro Football Talk, Seferian-Jenkins has lost 25 pounds and stopped drinking on Jan. 21. He attended rehab on an outpatient basis four days a week. The 6-6, 258-pounder seems truly recommitted to turning his football career and more importantly, his life around.
This is a crucial season for Seferian-Jenkins. Leggett could be nipping at his heels and the Jets desperately need to get some production from the tight end position. These numbers are well known by now – in the last two seasons (32 games), Jets tight ends have caught a grand total of 26 passes. What an embarrassment.
By all accounts, it appears that Seferian-Jenkins is working hard to live up to the high expectations that come with being a second-round draft choice (in 2014 with Tampa Bay). It's none to soon because his Jets career could be on the line in 2017.
May 23, 2017; Florham Park, NY, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) catches a pass during organized team activities at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
3. Eric Decker
The 30-year-old veteran wide receiver suffered through a season to forget in 2016 – he played in just three games due to hip and shoulder injuries. Those injuries required off-season surgeries so the question heading into the new season is pretty basic – is Decker fully recovered and, if so, how productive can he be going forward?
The University of Minnesota product has been participating in OTA's so far while wearing a non-contact jersey, per Rotoworld. He is performing in team drills so everything is looking optimistic so far and Decker is hopeful of participating fully in training camp in late July.
When he was on the football field, Decker was still a real threat last year – he had nine receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns in those three contests. If he can remain healthy, Decker will move into the number one receiver role now that Brandon Marshall has departed for the New York Giants. He'll team with Quincy Enunwa and rookies ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen to give Gang Green a talented group of wideouts.
If he can stay healthy.
That's still a big "if" at the present time. However, the signs appear to be quite positive as the Jets move closer to minicamp on June 13. It's an important season for Decker as he tries to re-establish himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL.
Oct 23, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91) on sideline during second half against the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium. The New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-16.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
2. Sheldon Richardson
A former first-round selection (13th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft, Richardson has had back-to-back disappointing campaigns for the Jets and has heard the trade rumors swirling for some time now. Whether he is still a Jet once the 2017 season commences in Buffalo on Sept. 10 remains to be seen but if he is still on the roster he needs to improve his performance dramatically moving forward.
The University of Missouri product has missed six games over the last two seasons and reached the nadir of his career when he recorded a career-low 1.5 sacks in 2016. He's still young at 26 years of age so Richardson is still in his prime years. However, the former Pro-Bowler has a lot to prove to the coaching staff and to himself about whether he can regain that Pro Bowl form of three years ago.
Richardson's $8.1 million salary is fully guaranteed so he won't be easy to trade coming off two down seasons. He is slated to be a free agent in 2018. Whether he is with Gang Green this coming season or not, Richardson knows that 2017 will be a critical year for him. He has much to prove on the gridiron.
Dec 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stands in the pocket while New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) tries to rush during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
1. Muhammad Wilkerson
The Jets were supposed to have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL last year. However, aside from Leonard Williams, their performance was hugely disappointing. One of the biggest culprits was Wilkerson, who suffered through one of the worst seasons of his career in 2016.
The University of Temple product recorded just 4.5 sacks last year, the fewest since his rookie season in 2011 when he had only three. You really have to wonder if the broken fibula he suffered in the 2015 season finale against Buffalo hampered him all of last year. Wilkerson did not look like the same Pro Bowl player that he was the year before. He was slow coming off the ball and his performance against the run was subpar as well.
Head coach Todd Bowles thinks he knows the reason why Wilkerson had such a down year in 2016, as per rotoworld.com:
"I'm sure he played hurt most of the year," Bowles said. "We had to give him some off-days. Usually, those things take about a year-and-a-half to come back from. He came back early and gutted it out. Hopefully, he's gotten better and he can go back to being himself."
The Jets desperately need the 6-4, 315-pounder to return to form. Management has committed $86 million to Wilkerson. Like his line mate Sheldon Richardson, the upcoming season is a crucial one for Wilkerson to re-establish himself as one of the premier defensive linemen in the game. If he can accomplish that, the Jets once again should have one of the most feared defensive lines in the entire NFL.
