freeman mcneilYou may want to avert your eyes: This preview will be chock-full of breathless optimism. We’re getting real homer here: A positive spin on everything and everyone. Yes, even Vernon Gholston. Obviously we stop short of predicting a playoff berth … but seriously, 8-8 isn’t out of the question. Not a joke: We wrote this preview while wearing a Bart Scott jersey and watching a 3-0 win over the Redskins in 1993. (Beta!) As a Jets fan growing up in Northern Virginia, we hung our hat on that win for years. It’s Sooooo On: The new coach is a defensive guru. They got a trash-talking, hard-hitting linebacker in Bart Scott via free agency. The secondary was upgraded, big-time. They have a new QB, potentially a 3-headed trio at RB, and the coolest twittering kicker in the league. Five Key Players:

1. Mark Sanchez, QB: That enchanting smile, that tight spiral, that demolition of Penn State … we had him as our No. 1 QB on the draft board in January. He’s a face-of-the-franchise guy, a chick magnet, and hopefully, a cornerstone for the next decade. The first year will be bumpy, and he might end up with 20 TDs and 15 ints, but the good news is that he only has to face one Top 5 passing D from last year, and that’s Tampa, which won’t finish in the Top 10 this year.

2. Vernon Gholston, LB: He was arguably the biggest bust in the 2008 draft class. In 15 games, he had just 13 tackles and no sacks. At his best, he’s a punishing LT-type passing rushing behemoth (6-foot-3, 264-pounds). At his worst, he’s on the bench because he doesn’t listen, like LaVar Arrington.

3. Lito Sheppard, CB: Five years ago, he was on the cusp of becoming an elite CB. Last year, he was dreadful, and the Eagles traded him. The Jets have one of the league’s top corners in Darrelle Revis. Problem is, they had nobody on the other side last year. If Sheppard plays like he did even three years ago, the upgrade should be noticeable for the Jets. Optimism: Rex Ryan hearts the secondary.

4. Bart Scott, LB. Should be the defensive leader from Day 1. We are not concerned that he is friendly with Jenn Sterger. Eager to see him re-acquaint himself with Reggie Bush in week 4. Guarantee: He will knock at least two QBs out of games this season. Even if it’s for a play or a series or a quarter, it’ll happen.

5. Kris Jenkins, DT. Played above his head for the first half of the season, and faded a bit down the stretch. He just turned 30, and everyone thought he was done prior to last season. The hope is that Rex Ryan can coax a full year out of him. The 7th best rush defense in the league last year hit a low point against Seattle when a makeshift O-line helped Maurice Morris rush for 116 yards. That shit’s going to unacceptable this December.

The Biggest Bust of the Many, Many Draft Busts: Blair Thomas, 2nd overall in 1990. He was a star in college, so you can’t kill the Jets for the pick. What’s painful – besides Thomas gaining just 2,000 yards in four embarrassing seasons with Gang Green – is that following RBs from that draft eventually reached the Pro Bowl: Emmitt Smith, Rodney Hampton, Leroy Hoard, Chris Warren, Barry Foster, Brian Mitchell, Johnny Johnson (later traded to the Jets, and was a nice player) and Terry Allen. /Pounds Fist into Desk, Angrily

Embarrassing Franchise Moment, Part I: Keyshawn vs. Wayne Chrebet. Loved Keyshawn in New York. And then he called the hard-working Chrebet a “mascot.” Idiot. Related: Gosh, this was a great correction.

Embarrassing Franchise Moment, Part II: Marino’s Fake Spike TD in 1994. Thank goodness video of this doesn’t exist on the web. This game was either nationally-televised or one of the networks cut into the game late. The Jets were 6-5, playing at home, and poised making a run at the playoffs. Then Marino drove the Fish into the red zone, and with time running out, he pretended as if he were going to spike the ball to stop the clock, nearly every player on the field stood still, and then he lobbed the perfect pass over the head of Aaron Glenn (pretty sure it was him) and the Jets lost. It was demoralizing. We begged our parents to let us stay home from school the next day to wallow. Didn’t happen.

Last year: Not worth talking about. They were 8-3, much gloating ensued, and then they went 1-4 and missed the playoffs. Optimistic spin: The schedule down the stretch was unfavorable, especially for a fossil of a QB. After winning at New England and previously-unbeaten Tennessee, the wheels fell off, partially because they had to go to San Fran, come home, then go to Seattle. Hey schedule-makers: Thanks. Pricks.

Sizing up the schedule: at Houston: Texans have a better QB, better WR, better DL, better LB. Still, no need to fear these guys. Winnable. New England: Loss. Tennessee: Beat ‘em handily last year and we think the Titans take a step back this year. Winnable. New Orleans: At least Brees isn’t in the Dome. Hoping for bad weather. Probable loss because the pass D was so bad last year, but not ready to concede anything to constant underachievers. at Miami: The Dolphins aren’t great. Winnable. Buffalo: The Bills should be improved, but this game’s winnable. at Oakland: Two years in a row the Jets have to go across the country to play these scrubs. Don’t embarrass yourselves again, guys. Please? Miami: Wouldn’t surprise us if the Jets swept the Fish. bye Jacksonville: Like the Jets’ chances here more than we do in Houston. at New England: Loss, maybe a bad one. Carolina: See notes on Jacksonville. And yes, Revis can shut down Steve Smith. at Buffalo: Will be content with a split against the Bills. at Tampa Bay: The Bucs will be one of the worst teams in football. Win. Atlanta: Winnable. at Indianapolis: Loss, unless the Colts have a postseason spot locked up and they rest their starters. Cincinnati: Not buying the Bengals hype. Win. By our jaded count, if the Jets can split with the Bills and Dolphins, notch wins against inferior teams like Tampa, Cincinnati and Oakland, they’ll need just three other wins to get to .500. The good news: some of the winnable games are at home (Tennessee, Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta). All four of those teams are rush-first teams. The Jets rush D is better than its pass D.

Conclusion: After being absolutely crushed last season following the 8-3 start, we have lowered expectations this year and are really focusing on 2010. As long as the young guys see plenty of PT – Sanchez, Greene, Gholston – we’re confident that 2010 will be a playoff year.

2009 NFL Previews

NFC East: 2009 Dallas Cowboys Preview | 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Preview | 2009 New York Giants Preview | 2009 Washington Redskins Preview

NFC North: 2009 Chicago Bears Preview | 2009 Detroit Lions Preview | 2009 Minnesota Vikings Preview | 2009 Green Bay Packers Preview

NFL South: 2009 Tampa Bay Bucs Preview | 2009 Atlanta Falcons Preview | 2009 New Orleans Saints Preview | 2009 Carolina Panthers Preview

NFL West: 2009 San Francisco 49ers Preview | 2009 St. Louis Rams Preview | 2009 Arizona Cardinals Preview | 2009 Seattle Seahawks Preview

AFC East: 2009 New England Patriots Preview |