I don't want an offensive lineman all three rounds in 2-4, but the line definitely needs to be fixed. It's tough to predict what we'll do in free agency, but I really think two guards would need to be taken if none are signed. A left guard improves both D'Brick and Mangold in an ideal situation, and Willie Colon is okay I guess, a good run blocker but if we want any quarterback to succeed they need to be protected. Looking into a replacement for D'Brick would be ideal as well.. I think the Jets should entertain the idea of moving him into guard because he's simply not as quick and athletic as he used to be which was what he hung his hat on. I don't think this will happen though, so guard needs to be a focus. A safety would help, but the safety play has not been the downfall of this secondary. It's been the atrocious coverage by the corners. We get killed outside the numbers, much more so than over the middle of the field, especially on 9 routes coupled with horrible tackling. That's on the corner and the linebackers if they are not blitzing. I don't really value it as anything more than a mid round pick especially with all the deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball. Bringing in a veteran to compete really just sets the position back a couple more years. Are Josh McCown, Chad Henne or Shaun Hill going to lead this team to a championship? I highly, highly doubt it, which is why I really think the Jets need to invest their time in young guys to try to solidify the position for a decade rather than another stop gap that assures the fact that the Jets need to draft a quarterback yet again the following year. I also don't want to see the Jets drop a first round pick on someone next year which essentially ends Geno's time with the team. He's shown a spark, but the guy needs time to develop. He was hurt in camp, on top of coming out of a spread offense in college. Look at how Alex Smith struggled being thrown into the fire. Ancient history or not, there's so many 'facts' that justify firing a head coach because he doesn't win a Super Bowl. That's all well and good, but the facts need to be straight before they're thrown out there and completely false. If winning the Super Bowl was the standard for simply being a good coach in the NFL, are Jeff Fischer, Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith, Andy Reid, John Fox, etc. all bad coaches? Not at all. It's one of the hardest sports to win a championship in, that's why I don't get all this 'Rex hasn't won one yet, so he should be fired' garbage comes from. Like it or not, the Rex era has been one of most successful era's in Jets history. Couple that with the fact that we rank at the bottom of the league in quarterback play and that's pretty impressive.
How much of that falls on the coordinator as well, if you're going to blame the head coach? Schottenheimer Jr. and Sparano were both horrible playcallers. Granted, Rex may or may not help the progress of a quarterback. Are you behind closed doors? Have you seen Rex hands on in terms of his communication with the quarterback? The whole mantra that Rex knows nothing about offense is getting a little absurd. He's not an offensive mind, but I don't think offense is a foreign world to him. The only thing that needs to stop happening with young quarterbacks is the handcuffing of them. Throw them out there and let them go get it. The only game they really handcuffed Geno was the Ravens game, but while Sanchez was rarely allowed to let it loose. I think that speaks more to the coordinator than the head coach, as we have a competent guy calling plays now which is why Geno is generally allowed to let it fly a bit more. You learn a lot about a guy that is given the whole playbook and thrown into the fire and despite what many think about Geno, he hasn't folded.
no doubt the OC plays a big role in QB development, as does the quarterback coach. Two things though. 1) The HC chooses his OC. I understand it's debatable whether he got to pick Schotty but he did stick with him for a while and he definitely picked Sparano. 2) Does the fact that others are involved in the development of the QB absolve the head coach of any responsibility? At the very least shouldn't the HEAD coach be monitoring the situation from 1000 feet and making sure the proper development is happening? Do I need to be behind closed doors to know Rex hasn't gotten anything out of his QB's? I don't think Rex is even really interested in the offense. When Geno goes to the sideline to talk with MM and other QB's Rex walks the other way.
Thanks for your response and clarification regarding the OG position. I don't think Brick would work at OG. He's not strong enough or a good enough run blocker. I think LT is the only position he can play with any degree of success, and that is ebbing. I'd love it if the Jets could find a great LT prospect in the 2nd-4th rounds to groom to replace Brick. Usually, those guys have to be taken in the first round, and often in the top 20. I don't disagree that the CB play has been pretty awful, but I do think FS is a lot bigger need than you do. For the last 10 years or so, I have thought the Jets' most glaring need was a pass-rushing OLB. They still haven't drafted one, but with the addition of Barnes, and improvement in the pressure the DL is getting on opposing QBs, the FS position has now surpassed the OLB as a need imo. The team needs a ballhawk in the secondary to generate more TOs. Milliner will probably develop into a good cover corner. Wilson has turned into a pretty good slot corner. Unless they sign a CB in FA or draft one that's a ball-hawking type of player, I still think that FS is a glaring need. We're also gonna have to disagree regarding the vet QB. Nothing you've said says why signing a vet is going to set Geno back. If Geno beats the vet out and the vet is relegated to being a backup, how does that hurt Geno? QBs can develop without having to play. If Geno is the starter, they NEED a veteran backup, especially since there are gonna be playoff expectations next year following FA and the draft regardless of whom is HC. You can't have a rookie QB backing up Geno. I don't think Rex should be fired simply because he hasn't won a VLT. I do think part of the reason he should be fired is that I don't think we will be able to win a VLT as long as he is HC, but there are many more reasons why I think he is not a good HC. IMO, someone can be a good NFL HC if his teams almost always finish with double-digit wins, are always well-prepared/coached, show up, play hard and fight to the final gun, and are a perennial playoff team regardless if he ever wins a VLT or not. The things is, the whole reason they play is to win the VLT. If a HC has been around for a long time and not won, I can understand why some fans would want to see him fired. Marty Schottenheimer was the perfect example. He was a very, very good during the regular season, but for some strange reason, he or his teams would always choke/self destruct in the playoffs. For a team with as awful a history as the Jets, I can understand why some, perhaps most fans would gladly settle for a coach that perennially has his teams in the playoff conversation, but at some point, unless you think said coach can correct whatever is causing the "choking", you might want to seriously consider moving on in order to have a chance to win the VLT.
It was actually 3-4 games immediately following the Bye. Rex admitted that was on him. He had done the same thing before and obviously never learned his lesson. Do you think he finally has? I wish I could say that I think he has, but sometimes one's nature is a very difficult thing to overcome. While Rex talks a good game, in the clinch, he often gets passive and ultraconservative and plays not to lose. You'd think someone as aggressive as he is would be more of a gambler. I think that passive part of his personality reflects a basic insecurity in him. Fear controls him too much. It has never been part of MM's body of work to go passive or ultra-conservative and go ground and pound. Rex has done it with all three OCs and admitted it. Rex calls the shots. He can overrule coordinators. If he's to remain HC, he needs to learn to over come his fear/passivity and be more aggressive and fearless.
I think the conservative approach is what has suited the teams and the situation rather than being a glaring hole in the philosophy. Rex hasn't had a quarterback that demonstrates control of the line of scrimmage. Sanchez played at USC for one year with a good running game and talented college receivers. Pro style offense? Yes, but I doubt he was ever given control to get the team into the right position or given more than a two read play especially since his first read was always open. I think the handcuffing of Geno is a reflection of Rex wanting to try to stay in the game with defense and running the ball and you have to remember that Rex had to be considering that he was coaching for his job and particularly to get into the playoffs. He saw his best option to win would be a run heavy attack with a rookie inexperienced pro style quarterback and garbage at receiver (especially in that five game stretch where he was missing Kerley, Queen Holmes and Winslow/Cumberland). Who could blame the guy for favoring a run heavy attack when he can try to rely on a good defense? Let me say this before I end up getting called a Rex lover or whatever. Do I like Rex? Yes I do. Is his coaching style flawed? For sure and in some pretty big spots at times. However, my whole mentality of keeping Rex is that he is the best fit for this team. I honestly think an offensive mind could do wonders if they were brought in and given reigns to build the offense how they like it particularly with the defense already pretty much built outside another secondary player or two. The problem with this is that the Jets should've done all of this last season. You don't fire a general manager, then pretty much make sure that he keeps the current head coach, then let that combo choose a quarterback, then fire the head coach. It's such a poor ripple effect. Bring in a new head coach, and Geno is basically toast because you really can't handcuff a new head coach with making him keep Geno. This is really an organizational problem rather than a Rex problem. The pieces simply don't really fit together. You're really talking about a team that would be in complete disarray from the previous regime. You also have to look at the way that the organization should be run from a philosophy standard point. This team overachieved this year whether anyone wants to acknowledge that at all... Are you really going to go out and fire the head coach that kept us in the playoff hunt til the very end of week 15? With a roster that might have the least offensive talent in the entire league?
The problem is that we have had two quarterbacks who have a fondness for turnovers. Middling QB play without the picks and fumbles and the handcuffs stay off, but nothing kills you like turnovers. It's hard to fault the head coach for emphasising that.
I disagree. I believe the conservative approach is what fits Rex's philosophy. Like his old man, he hates offense. In his view, it's a necessary evil, but he wants to limit it as much as possible. He wants to win with D. He's done it with all three OCs and done it too often for it not to be his security blanket if you will or fail safe. He's done it in the 4th Qtr. and at the end of games and wound up costing the Jets games. I can blame the guy. He got to the break and into playoff contention at 5-4 precisely because he went away from his norm and let the offense be aggressive. Did Geno throw a lot of picks? You betcha, but he was learning and the team won more than they lost. Is it any coincidence that once Rex got fearful and put the brakes on that the team went on a 3-game skid and Geno couldn't even complete 10 passes a game? No. That's ALL on Rex. It's a MAJOR FLAW in his personality and coaching philosophy imo. I don't think he will ever overcome it, either. I just don't think he's smart to see that playing "not to lose" is what actually causes most teams to lose. In order to do their best, players have to be relaxed and comfortable and play on instincts. If they play like they're walking on eggshells, trying to be too careful and thinking too much they're gonna screw up. It's inevitable. It's human nature. Rex just doesn't understand that. I totally disagree that Rex "kept us in the playoff hunt until week 15. It was his decision following the BYE that knocked the team out of playoff contention with three straight horrific losses. As opposed to what you said, this team is not built to win with that conservative approach. The OL isn't good enough to keep the rushing attack going. Geno isn't a "game manager" type QB. The defensive secondary is too much of a liability and they don't have any real ballhawks back there to create TOs. Thus he's not adjusting his philosophy and play to the talents of the team, but rather trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, then he wonders why it doesn't work. I totally agree with you that he should have been fired following last season and Idzik allowed to hire his own HC at that time. Hopefully, Woody is intelligent and honest enough to realize that he created this stupid situation, and will back off entirely and allow Idzik to make ALL the decisions regarding the football team. I'm not convinced that Geno is toast, either. Do you really think Idzik has already given up on Geno? I sure don't. I think he will hire a HC who will either keep the WCO or utilize a system where Geno's talents are the best fit. Hopefully, he's intelligent enough to know that if he hires a new HC that dramatically changes the offensive and defensive systems, that it will set the team back for several years. He should know that if he does make a change, he HAS to hire a HC and that HC in turn has to hire coordinators who will use the same basic systems with maybe only slight tweaking.
Sorry, but that's simply not true. Geno rarely turned the ball over in college. He has had a lot of turnovers this season, but to say that he is fond of them or likes them is just plain silly. His TOs this season have been due to being forced to play before he was ready. When one is having to think to much about the basic fundamentals, while adjusting to a totally different offensive system, learning to read complex pro defenses, and working with different receivers almost every game such that he couldn't develop any kind of chemistry or rhythm and timing with his receivers (not to mention that he really didn't have any really talented receivers to throw to who can catch the ball with their hands, fight for the ball and come back to the QB when necessary), one's instincts and talent can't take over. With an off season to work on his fundamentals and watch film, I fully expect Geno to come back next season a much better QB, who has better accuracy and makes better reads and decisions.
I don't understand what you want the guy to do? Geno was turning the ball over at a horrible rate through the first four games. How can you blame Rex or the coordinator for trying to make that stop by calling more conservative games, especially after seeing this team take down New England and New Orleans within a 3 week span. He saw that this team could win if they possess the ball, play defense, and let Geno move the chains with his legs every once in a while. He was trying to win games. I don't get what decision Rex made that lost us the Buffalo game? It's not as simple as just 'find a guy to utilize the WCO or Geno's strengths. A new system is a new system, whether it's a good fit or not. That means time learning all the new concepts and terminology, which takes away from the comfortability of the quarterback, and sets back progress. Quarterbacks who change systems every other year struggle immensely. This team did win with a more conservative approach!
Nothing TO rip apart--You're right. Rex has no idea how to coach an entire TEAM--that is why he has invested HIS last 4 number picks on defense. Thanks to Rex, the jets will have to spend the next 2-3 drafts trying to get some offense. Picking 3 defensive lineman three years in a row #1 is insane. Anyone who believes that Rex should stay as part of the massive rebuild that the jets need on offense is forgetting who GOT us to this position (Rex). Keep accepting his mediocre (non-playoff) records that he has posted the last 3 years and mediocrity at best is what you'll get in the future!
Yes, Rex came in with Tanny's seniority, told Tanny screw you and Rex did all the drafting, scouting, and signing. Tanny and the scouts were told not to do anything except pick up paychecks.
I have a question for those of you who don't put much if any blame on Rex for the offensive woes. How long would you be willing to watch the offense perform at the level it had in recent years and still sick with Rex?
I don't think the best offensive mind in the game can do anything when you're saddled with poor QB play. Look at Brian Billick in Baltimore, their offense was mediocre and he was the OC of the 98 Vikings.
Next year. And remember it's the passing offense not just the whole offense. If you blame Ryan for the offenses, you have to credit him for finding a run game that led them to the playoffs two years in a row with a so-so QB
Rex gets blame of course since he's the head coach however he has never called an offensive play his whole tenure here so he can't get the complete blame either. If you really sit back and take an unbias look at the Jets under Rex Ryan you would come to realize just how amazing it is that we have even been competitive giving we've only ranked top 20 offensively once and the myriad of turnovers the offense has committed. Bottom line whether Rex stays or go we MUST improve offensively and stop turning the ball over so much or we will never win anything.
Once he actually has some talent on that side of the ball. If they underperform and there is no progress than can him. I think I've already stated I'm not against a new head coach for the sake of saving Rex. I'm against a new head coach because the best option for making another run at this is Rex.
