New York Jets CB Antonio Cromartie feels lack of offseason contributed to 2011 collapse
New York Jets last season showed little team spirit and it was no surprise that later in the season problems between players on offence led to the team imploding on the field.
Ending up with a poor 8-8 record and failing to qualify for the playoffs the Jets were roundly criticised for not being a cohesive unit.
This year though things look different.
Early in the offseason quarterback, Mark Sanchez and wide receiver, Santonio Holmes the two players who were involved in the biggest feud of the 2011 season patched up their differences.
The franchise as a whole started giving out the feeling of camaraderie and head coach Rex Ryan’s plan of building a united team with a cornered mentality is starting to show.
Cornerback, Antonio Cromartie in an interview on Tuesday with the Star-Ledger blamed the lack of a complete offseason last year for the team’s implosion.
He said that the players did not get to blend well with each other which led to problems but this year the team is ready.
He said:
“We have an offseason. That’s the biggest thing, we have an offseason. Last year we didn’t have an offseason, and I think all the focus we put into last year didn’t -- we weren’t able to blend well last year. I think the offseason we’ve had now, everybody can get a feel for everybody else and just go out and play football.”
Cromartie is also looking to see the team have a big season and said that his personal goal of the season was to just go out and win.
He said:
“To win. That’s it. I don’t have any (personal goals), I just want to go out there and go win.”
The Jets will be looking to forget the problems of last season and get back into the playoffs this year.
Both the franchise’s offence and defence looks good on paper and the team looks pumped up to show the entire National Football League (NFL) that last season’s problems were a one-off and the team is ready to once again go on the hunt for that elusive Super Bowl ring.
Tags: