New York Jets: 5 Reasons They Could Miss Postseason

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May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles speaks to the media after the organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the 2015 season, expectations are higher than normal with the New York Jets. Sure the former regime under head coach Rex Ryan always had bravado and spewed confidence, but it was not something that was felt among many people outside the organization.

Now, with a new regime in placed headed by Mike Maccagnan in the front office and Todd Bowles on the sideline as head coach, there is something brewing with Gang Green. The Jets were extremely aggressive during the offseason, upgrading multiple areas of the team. Trading for Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears was only the start, as the Jets also signed back Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. They didn’t stop there upgrading, as they also signed Buster Skrine away from the Cleveland Browns and Marcus Gilchrist from the San Diego Chargers.

With all of the additions, the Jets are looking at arguably their most talented roster in a number of seasons. They gave their offense more weapons, as they also traded for running back Zac Stacy and signed Stevan Ridley to add to their running attack in addition to Marshall at receiver. Last season the secondary was barren for talent, and now the Jets have arguably the most talented one in the NFL, as Dexter McDougle and Dee Milliner, former top picks, are working their way back from injury and will only add more depth and talent to the team when healthy.

The Jets are a popular pick now to crash the playoffs, but there is no guarantees in the NFL. Offseason winners more often than not fall short when things begin to matter. Will that happen with the Jets? If it does, it is because a couple of things went wrong for them. Here are five things that could keep the Jets from ending their four year playoff drought.

Rookie Head Coach

Being a rookie at anything always takes an adjustment period. But going from coordinator to head coach could be the toughest, as the tasks and responsibility are on a whole different level. For Todd Bowles, this is what he and the Jets will be facing this season. Bowles has three games of head coaching experience as an interim coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2011, but having a team of his own now with the Jets is a totally different animal.

The Jets did a good job adding some veterans to his staff, such as Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator and has previous head coaching experience. He should be able to help Bowles adapt to his new role, but at the end of the day it will come down to Bowles ability to control all three facets of the game, offense, defense and special teams, instead of just defense as he was doing previously as a coordinator.

Bowles will undoubtedly have a hand in the defensive game plan, but will he have the same success overseeing the whole team instead of just coordinating? The Jets have had success in the past with rookie head coaches, most recently with Rex Ryan. Ryan was able to make the conference finals for two consecutive seasons to start his coaching career with the Jets; will Bowles be able to have the same success?

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