Hype is an amazing thing. It can make a great player hated, serve as a mechanism for unrealistic expectations and become a gravitational force for attention. The New York Jets have made it all three.
Rex Ryan has done nothing but bring hype to the Jets since he took over last season. Some of it has been good considering the team certainly no longer feels like the Giants' less talented little brother, but some of it has led the Jets into an incredibly uncomfortable position.
After all, in what world do we live in that an early morning Braylon Edwards DUI arrest easily trumps a much more important and tragic story such as the apparent suicide death of Denver Broncos' Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley?
But that is the world the Jets are living in now and regardless of how many big personality players are inhabiting the Jets' locker room (aka the 'Animal House'), the man who is responsible is the same man who must fix the problem, yes I mean Rex Ryan.
The second year coach has done a world of good for the franchise. He has identified himself with the fan base, befriended his players to a point where they play hard for him and to this point has proven himself as maybe the best X's and O's coach the team has had since Bill Parcells. But an undeniable string of ugly events has cast a dark shadow on the team, changing its perception from the lovable underdogs of last year, to a hated band of misfits this year. It must stop now.
Ryan has to prove that he can put his foot down, the obvious next step in his coaching maturation. He has to create a divide between him and his players and that is something that will be tough, but necessary for him to do. If he doesn't, there will be story after story on the misfit Jets, some of them could potentially trump the Edwards incident, the foul language on Hard Knocks, the Ines Sainz debacle and even Ryan himself flipping the bird to some obnoxious Dolphins fans.
His own career depends on it. Honestly, how many incidents/distractions will it take for the Jets zoo to run them out of contention? With a team of trash talkers and players with substance/personal conduct issues, what clout will he hold if he looks for another head coaching job if he can't prove he can control a team?
The change should start with Braylon Edwards Sunday night. the NFL and NFLPA labor agreement prohibits the Jets from suspending or deactivating Edwards for the game, but the Jets have already said he will not start. The question is, will he play at all, and if so, how much? The right move would be to sit him the entire game and make him (or at least try) learn a lesson about putting his team in a bad situation.
More likely, Edwards will sit the first half. After all, the Jets are short of wide receivers as it is (Santonio Holmes is suspended until week 5) and a divisional game at Miami is no time to waive a white flag, especially with all this hype.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Breaking Down the Jets...Groan
Sitting on my couch, my home Revis jersey on and a cold one in my hand, only one phrase was fitting for Monday night's debacle at the Meadowlands.
Yes, is was the words of Chicago Bulls announcer Neil Funk of "NBA Hangtime" fame echoing in my head, "What a disaster," over and over and over again.
Where to begin is tough, as it always is when discussing the Jets woes, so I'll lay out the analysis in no particular order, lets start with concerns.
1) Kris Jenkins is out for the season with a tear to the same ACL that caused him to miss all but six contests last season. This is sad on a number of levels, not the least of which is that he worked hard to come back a fully recovered and potentially more effective version of himself. His hard work lasted less than one quarter, and his career may now be over. The good news is that Rex Ryan was gracious enough to tell us which leg was injured...
2) The Jets Secondary was horrible last night and horrible truly does not say enough about the play of Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson last night, each cost the Jets multiple times on horrendous penalties, seemingly all when the Jets had forced the Ravens into difficult 3rd and long situations. Unfortunately, these situations only proved difficult for the pair of corners not on Revis Island. I never thought I'd see the day when I was SCREAMING for Dwight Lowery to get into the game in place of Wilson, but the rookie was just flat out not ready. Rex says that Revis will be on Randy Moss all game against the Patriots on Sunday, I'll be interested to see how the size dependent Cromartie does against the speedy Wes Welker.
3) No question that Mark Sanchez and the offense were looking to control the ball and not cough it up to the Ravens, but it seemed like Sanchez was using his progressions as a formality to go through before hitting the check down. I'll be the first to tell you that he has to be careful with the football, but less than 80 passing yards against a team with a depleted secondary? Yikes. Also, Shonn Greene anyone?
It's very difficult to be anything but Mr. negativity, but there were a few positives to be had. Lets give out the game balls.
1) Shaun Ellis, I assume is the longest tenured Jet and maybe one of the most underrated defensive ends EVER. Here's a guy who rarely if ever has a full practice because of his knee, but yet on the first defensive snap of the season turns the corner for a sack and forced fumble. When Jenkins went out, all Shaun did was what he always does, stuff the run.
2) Sione Pouha is another run stuffer who gets no glory. He stepped in for Jenkins after last year's injury and took over without missing a beat. He won a starting job this year and if he continues to play the way he has, don't be surprised if he makes a pro bowl this season.
3) Brad Smith....I had to pick someone on offense, he was the least terrible. Runner up is Ladanian Tomlinson who also wasn't terrible.
This Sunday is going to be a tough one for the Jets. They host the Patriots who romped the Bengals last week. I wasn't too high on Cincinnati to start with, so we'll see. It's not a must win for the Jets, but it would help them a TON. A lot of people look at the season in quarters, the 0-1 Jets have the Patriots followed by road games against the Dolphins and Bills, both of which the Jets should win if they hope to win a division this season. They've already lost one home game, you don't want to start 0-2 before you even hit the road. If they beat the Patriots, they have a good shot at starting 3-1, doesn't that sound nice?
* Notes*
--While Darrelle Revis was his normal self against the Ravens, there were some apparent negatives from him missing camp. Being talked about is Rex admitting he didn't have Revis on Anquan Boldin to try and spell him some extra running, not being talked about is the affect the holdout had on Kyle Wilson. Nick Mangold said he DIDN'T hold out in part to help with the mentoring of Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse, Wilson didn't have the luxury of Revis, instead he had Antonio Cromartie as a mentor, I won't go further on that point. Also, people take for granted that Wilson was a starter lined up on one side of the field during preseason and training camp, he's now being asked to play in the slot, sometimes an easier task sometimes not, particularly for a rookie who hasn't done it at this level.
--I personally don't think the Jets have the cash to do it, but expect rumors about acquiring Albert Haynesworth to begin shortly, especially if the defensive line has issues on Sunday. On the issue of the D-line, I think Vernon Gholston is going to see plenty of time against the Patriots, if that doesn't work, when Calvin Pace comes back the Jets might try to pair him with Jason Taylor on the outside and move Bryan Thomas to defensive end, a position he played during the Mangini era.
Yes, is was the words of Chicago Bulls announcer Neil Funk of "NBA Hangtime" fame echoing in my head, "What a disaster," over and over and over again.
Where to begin is tough, as it always is when discussing the Jets woes, so I'll lay out the analysis in no particular order, lets start with concerns.
1) Kris Jenkins is out for the season with a tear to the same ACL that caused him to miss all but six contests last season. This is sad on a number of levels, not the least of which is that he worked hard to come back a fully recovered and potentially more effective version of himself. His hard work lasted less than one quarter, and his career may now be over. The good news is that Rex Ryan was gracious enough to tell us which leg was injured...
2) The Jets Secondary was horrible last night and horrible truly does not say enough about the play of Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson last night, each cost the Jets multiple times on horrendous penalties, seemingly all when the Jets had forced the Ravens into difficult 3rd and long situations. Unfortunately, these situations only proved difficult for the pair of corners not on Revis Island. I never thought I'd see the day when I was SCREAMING for Dwight Lowery to get into the game in place of Wilson, but the rookie was just flat out not ready. Rex says that Revis will be on Randy Moss all game against the Patriots on Sunday, I'll be interested to see how the size dependent Cromartie does against the speedy Wes Welker.
3) No question that Mark Sanchez and the offense were looking to control the ball and not cough it up to the Ravens, but it seemed like Sanchez was using his progressions as a formality to go through before hitting the check down. I'll be the first to tell you that he has to be careful with the football, but less than 80 passing yards against a team with a depleted secondary? Yikes. Also, Shonn Greene anyone?
It's very difficult to be anything but Mr. negativity, but there were a few positives to be had. Lets give out the game balls.
1) Shaun Ellis, I assume is the longest tenured Jet and maybe one of the most underrated defensive ends EVER. Here's a guy who rarely if ever has a full practice because of his knee, but yet on the first defensive snap of the season turns the corner for a sack and forced fumble. When Jenkins went out, all Shaun did was what he always does, stuff the run.
2) Sione Pouha is another run stuffer who gets no glory. He stepped in for Jenkins after last year's injury and took over without missing a beat. He won a starting job this year and if he continues to play the way he has, don't be surprised if he makes a pro bowl this season.
3) Brad Smith....I had to pick someone on offense, he was the least terrible. Runner up is Ladanian Tomlinson who also wasn't terrible.
This Sunday is going to be a tough one for the Jets. They host the Patriots who romped the Bengals last week. I wasn't too high on Cincinnati to start with, so we'll see. It's not a must win for the Jets, but it would help them a TON. A lot of people look at the season in quarters, the 0-1 Jets have the Patriots followed by road games against the Dolphins and Bills, both of which the Jets should win if they hope to win a division this season. They've already lost one home game, you don't want to start 0-2 before you even hit the road. If they beat the Patriots, they have a good shot at starting 3-1, doesn't that sound nice?
* Notes*
--While Darrelle Revis was his normal self against the Ravens, there were some apparent negatives from him missing camp. Being talked about is Rex admitting he didn't have Revis on Anquan Boldin to try and spell him some extra running, not being talked about is the affect the holdout had on Kyle Wilson. Nick Mangold said he DIDN'T hold out in part to help with the mentoring of Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse, Wilson didn't have the luxury of Revis, instead he had Antonio Cromartie as a mentor, I won't go further on that point. Also, people take for granted that Wilson was a starter lined up on one side of the field during preseason and training camp, he's now being asked to play in the slot, sometimes an easier task sometimes not, particularly for a rookie who hasn't done it at this level.
--I personally don't think the Jets have the cash to do it, but expect rumors about acquiring Albert Haynesworth to begin shortly, especially if the defensive line has issues on Sunday. On the issue of the D-line, I think Vernon Gholston is going to see plenty of time against the Patriots, if that doesn't work, when Calvin Pace comes back the Jets might try to pair him with Jason Taylor on the outside and move Bryan Thomas to defensive end, a position he played during the Mangini era.
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