The Jets are expecting a major change in the 2019-20 season, and new head coach Adam Gase is tasked with leading the way.
Gase took to the podium on Wednesday ahead of the Jets' first training camp practice on Thursday, and discussed a wide variety of topics about his new team this season. His roster has the capability to break their eight-year playoff drought. His coaches, including defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, will be bringing new schemes and plays to revitalize the team on the field. And a new GM in Joe Douglas was the final touch in rebranding the Jets' culture.
All of that smells like a team ready to turn the tide, and Gase believes that will be the case as the season progresses.
"We're going to play meaningful games at the end of November and December," Gase told the media. "That's what we're going to do."
Gase and the Jets will have to get through training camp first to break down who the best 53 men are for the season. New faces like Le'Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley are immediate upgrades to their respective positions, and Gase admitted that everyone on the roster is ready to make this change a positive one.
"I think everybody in the building -- there's some good juice going on in the building," he said. "It's going to be about how we come together. We know we all start at 0-0."
Gase elaborated on how OTAs looked this summer, and he was very pleased with how his team "grinded" on a daily basis.
"I like how they work. I love how meetings went in the spring. I love the attention to detail. I love how our players went out on the field and put their head down and grinded. I love the way we compete. Those are good attributes to have before we actually put the pads on.
"So now it's gonna be, when we get going in camp, how are we going to handle adversity? That's really going to be the key for us. How are we going to handle when something goes wrong? Which way are we going to go? Who's going to step up? That's what we need to know?"
Here's what else you need to know about what Gase said ahead of camp...
Gase not worried about Quinnen Williams' contract
The Jets' No. 3 overall pick has yet to sign his rookie deal, with SNY's Ralph Vacchiano hearing that it's the payment schedule of his signing bonus that is holding up the ink from touching the paper. Gase would obviously love to see Williams on the field at the start of camp, but he knows things like this happen sometimes.
"This is part of the end of the draft process. When he's ready, he's ready," Gase said. "When they're ready to get it done, whenever that happens it happens. We'll coach the guys that are here.
"This is the norm. This happen. When you get Top 5 picks, it takes time to get through these sometimes."
Le'Veon Bell is going to hit the ground running
Bell was very limited when he came to Florham Park for the mandatory minicamp, but that won't be the case again when camp starts. Gase knows Bell is in football shape, and has confidence that his private work this offseason prepared him for the NFL grind.
"He'll be fine. He'll jump right in there," Gase explained. "He's in good condition, so he'll be alright. He's a football player, he's done this for a long time. He's been training all spring, all summer."
The Jets will still be cautious, though, with Gase making sure to say that he has a strategy for Bell's workload.
"We're going to be smart. He's not going to walk out of this camp with the most reps he's ever had."
Gase is loving Sam Darnold's progression in Year 2
The results may not have been on the scoreboard, but the Jets came away loving what they saw in the rookie Darnold last season. With his sea legs under him, so to speak, many are looking for Darnold to significantly improve after learning what the NFL is going to be throwing at him every Sunday.
He is learning a new offense under Gase, but the coach has been impressed by what he's seen from Darnold.
"I really like how he came along through the spring, the jumps he made," Gase said. "There's some noticeable jumps from week to week in terms of his confidence with the offense."
Darnold will also look to be more of a leader in Year 2, and Gase knows he'll be doing so in his own manner.
"He's going to be him," Gase said. "However, he goes [about it]. When he speaks, they listen. He knows when to speak up. He knows when he needs to put his head down and work...He has a good way about how he interacts with his teammates and how he leads."
Gase will be his own biggest critic this season
As we said, the expectations are high for Gang Green. With that, a lot of eyes will be intently staring at every move Gase makes this season. Owner Christopher Johnson and the rest of the Jets want to see their on-field product reverse the script.
So does Gase feel that pressure from those above him? Not really.
"The only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself. I put more pressure on myself than anyone else is going to. These guys are going to come in here and work, and we're going to make sure as the season goes, we're going to progressively get better."