Question Four: That’s Your Best Effort? Seriously?
If anything, last night’s loss presented more questions than answers about this team. Today we’ll be writing up a number of them, one post at a time …
This week, Coach Ryan cried due to his level of frustration/belief in his team.
The players felt terrible, Nick Mangold said he felt like he was letting down a parent. In response to that, the players rallied. They showed up on their off day (Tuesday) and it was an inspiring pat-you-on-the-back vignette as played out by the NY Post.
How serious are the Jets about doing the extra things to get a win this week? According to a team source, 41 players came to the complex to work out and study on their day off Tuesday — the largest number to come in since Mike Tannenbaum took over as GM.
Whoop-de-whooo.
So the guys rallied, took extra time, watched the film, tweeted about their dedication and focus. So, this is the more focused, more diligent, more intense Jets … and that was the result?
Were those the results of an embittered, laser-focused team up against one of their fiercest rivals? From the Braylon Edwards drop to Sanchez’s refusal to throw the ball away, to Kerry Rhodes doing his best impression of a freeway, they were flat, and the players in the locker room said that very word that’s been said many a time this season, again, after they said the same tired word last week and the week before … and the week before … and the …
Next verse, same as the first.
Is this the determination and focus that Rex promised fans this offseason? After the game, he said this was the first game that “this was the first game I felt we got our butts kicked. We really did. There is no doubt about it.”
So here’s the kicker / heretical question:
Do the players really love playing for Rex Ryan? Or do these players love playing in the Rex Ryan organization?
Do they love it because it’s less strenuous and demanding than their former coach’s was, or would they take a bullet for their coach and his system?
Up until now, I think I thought it was the former, but after that game, I’m not so sure. There’s a very big distinction, do the Jets players get that? I’m not so sure …
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Lets not overreact here. The Patriots are the better team right now ….were playing at home where they hardly ever lose and our kid QB threw 4 INT’s
It dosent hide the problems but we lost to a better team…point blank
Excellent comment AKA…
Sanchez was our only problem
When you think about it, this game was somewhat similar to the Saints game – playing against a Super Bowl contender on the road, and the magin of victory was equal to the number of points allowed off Sanchez turnovers.
Maybe, I’l be a giants fan next year
I would love to know which players didn’t show up on Tuesday.
The rookie needs to manage the game better, aside from that I wasn’t expecting the W either.
WOJF,
Good point. That could be more telling about how this locker room is feeling. Or it could be because those guys had lined up stuff to get done on their day off. Not sure, but it sure would be interesting to find out.
Jesters,
If that’s your attitude, by all means go ahead. We’ll manage without you.
Agree, I thought the team played hard, the defense especially kept them in the game.
The OC had a horrible game plan for a rookie QB, and the rookie QB could not handle it.
But they tried, if they laid down as I expected in the second half it would have been closer to my predicted 52-16 final.
They got beat by a better team and better coaching staff.
To answer this specific Q4, yes the players love playing for Rex, I am not questioning their heart.
Yeah, I mean, our defense let Welker have a career day, but with that, we had our chances. Offense did nothing in the first half except score 6 points for the other team. They had a great drive to start the 3rd quarter and then followed it up with nothing the rest of the way.
Our defense definitely kept us in the game. Regardless of the big holes given up to Welker. They forced a few timely punts and gave Sanchez good field position. You’re just not going to win with 4 interceptions.
I think Rex will need to draft more of “his” guys. Remember, the Jets deferred yeasterday to put their defense on the field to get a 3 and out. The Jets first drive stalls. In the Pats second possession, the D cause a fumble…a great start by the defense, giving the offense the ball back on the Jets 34 yard line. Then, on a third and 8 from the Jets 46, Sanchez throws a pick 6.
If I were on the defense, after getting a 3 and out and a turnover on the Pats’ first 2 drives, I would’ve lost my focus a bit. Everyone now says that the Jets came out “flat.” No, the defense came out on fire. The team became flat over another pick 6.
SD99 nailed it. The defense seemed to be looking solid, and then the wind gets taken out of their sails. Then again. And again. Aaaaaaand again.
I don’t doubt for a minute that these players love playing under Rex. I just think it’s a matter of them gaining experience in the system, Rex gaining experience at his job, and them bringing in more of “Rex’s” style players. I don’t think it has more to do with the easier workload than the way he treats them as men and built the whole “us vs. the world” mentality.
Maybe the problem is that this team is not as talented as you think?
Sure we have some nice players in revis, harris, mangold and jones but there are way too many holes on this team, that defensive line is awful. Even with Jenkins they could not get to the QB.
I have serious concerns over whether Sanchez will pan out. Even when he makes the right read, his passes are still off the mark about half the time. And when the pocket breaks down, forget it, he loses all composure.
Holding his composure when the pocket breaks down, that might be a rookie thing. But flat out missing passes when he makes the right read? I don’t know if that can be fixed.
I don’t make a living analyzing QBs, so maybe I’m off-base. I hope so.
Hey All I know is that one thing about this season is that this team is playing hard and like playing for Ryan. That is not a concern. A lot of the losses were unfortunate and stuff like that is gonna happen every now and then. Although this year more often than not. It is a part of the growing pains.
Why is everyone so absolutely certain that Sanchez will become the next great QB? What if he;’s not? SOJ?? Right now, he’s the NFL’s worst QB at least (since Oakland sat its QB down). Had the Jets brought in an experienced QB while Sanchez sat and watched we’d now be 7-3.
Any by the way, who is Sanchez’s QB tutor?
fair points… but alot of this can be attributed to losing confidence in a losing streak. they dont even seem to be the same team that dropped the games in new orleans and miami.
we’re all disappointed after raised expectations in september and i’m guessing players feel the same way.
if rex wants to get the attention of the team now or in the off-season, the one way is get a fall guy by cutting someone who is active on sundays.
and now that next year seems to be a topic, any starters besides sheppard that people dont want back?
not just the pick 6, but on the ensuing offensive drives, the offense went 3-and-out (terrible drop by edwards), 3-and-out (sack / penalty on dbrick). the offense has to pick sanchez up as well. you cant drop key 3rd downs, and you have to give the kid a shot.
bottom line – the D gave up 17 points in the fisrt half. the pats had 7 possessions – 2 of which started at midfield after turnovers!!
Brendan,
I agree with you that the team needs more experience with Ryan’s system. Don’t forget most of the guys on D were already here before Ryan got here. I think with the offseason and draft Ryan can really have a chance to get his style players he wants and weed out the crap he doesn’t want or wont work in the new system. A side note do you think the decline of Rhodes this season has something to do with not understanding the new system?
derek,
Didn’t Ellis get 2 sacks yesterday? The problem with the Jets defense is that in a 3-4, even Rex’s hybrid, the sacks should come from the WILL. The Jets don’t have a WILL, which makes their blitzes less effective. I thought the DL was pretty decent yesterday, but nobody expects just 3 down linemen to get sacks. Heck, I thought the DL was going to bend Brady into a pretzel those 2 times he tried to QB sneak at the goal line. I was hoping BB was going to do that 4 times.
Just saw replays of Sanchez interceptions. 2 were clearly his fault. 2 could be blamed on Edwards badly on one and Cotchery not as bad on the other. Unfortunately the 2 he was to blame for were biggies. They’ll fingd their way, but the whole team has to be on the same page.
Did you see all world Gonzalez on tying touchdown in Giants game. If the ball is in the area, you’ve got to go get it. Neither Edwards or Cotchery did that. The whole team not just Sanchez
Bassett,
I’m sorry, but this is a poor write up. You are basically blaming 52 players for the mistakes of 1 player (sanchez). The Jets clearly worked hard and prepared well enough for the game, it was just overshadowed by our rookie QB throwing 4 picks.
Enough Rex bashing, hes not the one telling Sanchez where to throw it.
This a QB league… and this team without Jenkins and Washington does not have the talent to overcome a rookie’s growing pains.
Jesus Revis — Kerry Rhodes was not prepared for this game.
Stop the crying and start ripping guys heads off. Rex reminds me of the dad who wants his kids to be his best friend so badly that he won’t ever punish them. This defense, which is supposed to be one of the best in the league, looked mediocre at best again yesterday. I agree a lot of blame needs to go to our young QB throwing 4 INT’s but there was not one second of the game from the opening kickoff that I felt we had a legit chance at winning that game. I was even ready to shut it off at halftime before the ST blocked that punt. We couldn’t stop the run again and Wes Welker had his way with us all day. Also, has anyone seen Bart Scott? I’m about to file a Missing Person’s Report for him.
Lets not forget as we throw flowers at the Jets defensive players feet (while killing our rookie QB) he gave them chances to win the 1st Miami game and the Jacksonville game and then spit it up.
Sanchez has lost 3 games himself but the defense other Revis does not get a pass the last few weeks. They know what they have at QB and have not stepped up and made a difference……
I am not saying they arent a good defense cause they are but they should be held accountable for not playing as well as they are ranked espeially recently
Mike D,
You can blame it on Rhodes, Rex Ryan, Shotty, who ever you want. The fact of the matter is the defense came out, got a 3 and out and a FR on their first 2 series and then Sanchez served up a pick 6. The game was over after that play and everyone knew it. I’m not bashing Sanchez at all, I understand the growing pains of a rookie, but clearly he is the one costing the Jets games.
Jesus
While I agree Sanchez played awful yesterday. there have been enough times when the defense has not stepped up and won a game when it was asked to.
They played well yesterday for the most part but with Jenkins out Maroney did what he wanted and I dont even know what happened with Wes Welker but he never got covered.
Revis, Ellis, Leonhard and maybe D Harris showed up.
Drew,
I agree with you to an extent, but even in those games Sanchez was still making a ton of mistakes and didnt necessarily play well. I know he was on fire in the second half of the Miami game, but he did nothing for us in the first half when the defense was playing lights out.
Drew,
I dont think Maroney ran all that well. I think his numbers were around 20 carries for about 70 yards, I know he had some big runs for first downs, but I dont think he was all that effective. The coverage on Welker was inexcusable, and honestly I dont even think its possible to stop him, some teams just contain him better than others.
The defense didnt get the big stops they needed in a few games, but you can just as easily say they never should have been in those positions if the offense was doing their job.
Jesus,
Listen i cant defend some of Sanchez’s games at all this year he has played well in some and awful in others….
My only point is we knew what we were getting with a rookie QB and this defense has played “well” this year not nearly what I was expecting after the first 2 games.
I can tolerate a rookie QB playing up and down not as much from our defense that was supposed to be our savior this year. They spit up the most important game of the year last week when the kid handed them a victory
Maroney had 22 carries for 77 yards (3.5 YPC) and 2 TD’s
(that last stat is what counts the most)
There have been games this year when i said okay the kid made a mistake and the defense dosent get off the field. The Jacksonvile game was a highlight of that.
Yesterdays game seemd like every other Patriot win. The offense was bad and the defense played well but could not stop a 3rd and short and K Faulk was great again and Welker…..ugh!
and I have defended Rhodes all year but the last 2 weeks have been a disaster.
When Phil Simms (who never calls anyone out)makes a comment about your game…its a problem
Drew,
I’m really not disagreeing with you all that much. I just think youre overlooking how difficult it is for a defense to perform when they are constantly put in bad situations. The Jets defense has played very well this year, most teams in the league would beg to have the Jets defense.
Jesus,
Agreed they were on the field all day. I just am still pissed about the Jacksonville game…. that game ruined me
I disagree. As heartbreaking as the Jacksonville game was, the real game that killed the Jets was the Buffalo game. It was one of the most inexcusable losses i’ve ever seen, against an asolutely dreadful team. I accepted the loss to the Saints cuz they are a better team, I accepted the first loss to the Dolphins because they simply outplayed us, I even accepted the 2nd loss to the dolphins because Ted Ginn stepped up and made big plays, but the Buffalo game, just heart wrenching.
Oh no question but our season and any hopes of a playoff run ended with our defense on the field getting carved up by D Garrard taking them 80 yards to win the game.
The Buffalo game was disgusting and probably one of the worst losses in my memory but last week was a must win and we spit it up
Yea I agree. I guess I just find it easier to accept the Jacksonville loss because atleast they are a good team, with good players. Buffalo is absolutely horrible and their talent level is as bad as any team in the league, so that loss really stands out. Plus I knew we werent going to make the playoffs before the Jacksonville game anyway, so I was ready for it.
God I hate when we lose…… it just ruins the week.
Are you looking forward to anything the rest of the year? I mean we are looking at 7 wins here
I’m looking forward to the development of Sanchez. He has A LOT to improve on.
Guys, our defense has not been as good as you are making them out. With the players and the amount of money that we spent on that side of the ball we should be a shutdown defense and we are not. It makes me sick that we are stuck with Rhodes forever, he is not even a football player, if we don’t have a cap next year then I would cut him and find a real football player………..
The worst thing that could happen now would be for us to go on a winning streak, there is no reason, we are out of the playoffs………. We need good, high picks because we don’t have many to use.
Exactly. I just hope for a 8-8 finish adn look for improvements by the team moving forward.
This season has always been about Sanchez. If he had been good enough to play like an average NFL QB, we’d be talking playoffs (and Super Bowl for next year). But, once it became obvious that he was not going to be an average NFL QB, the season turned to the maturation of Sanchez. The only thing that I want to see is Sanchez rebound and have a great game. I want just one 300 yard, 3 TD, 0 INT game. If the Jets go 5-11, but Sanchez shows that he can, in fact, be a superior NFL QB, I’ll be hopeful. If he continues to be inaccurate, show poor pocket awareness and throw unforgiveable INTs, next year could become a crisis year. If Sanchez plays like Carr or Harrington next season, then the Jets will have to re-think the position and, once again, this franchise will be searching for the “next Namath.” So, I’m rooting for signs that Sanchez is “getting it” and I don’t mean from super models.
-Sanchez vs. New Orleans Saints – 3 interceptions/1 fumble
-Sanchez vs.Buffalo Bills – 5 interceptions
-Sanchez vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2 interceptions
-Sanchez vs. New England Patriots – 4 interceptions/1 fumble.
Get the point? No team can win games with that type of QB play. No defense can sustain a high level of performance with that level of QB play. We would have a significantly different record with effecient QB play but that is not the case right now. I think the rest of the team is playing well enough to be in the playoffs but our rookie QB is holding us back. BIG TIME.
The bottom line is the Jets are a good team with a good defense and a good coach, but 9 out of 10 times, if you lose the turnover battle, then you will lose the game.
With that being said, why the Fcuk are we throwing the ball 25+ times per game? I think it might be better to just run the ball every play. That way, the other team has to score against our D.
RUN THE BALL SCHOTTY!!!!! RUN THE BALL!!!!!! We watched Pennington dink and dunk his way to the playoffs over and over again. RUN THE BALL!!!!!!!
Najy??
Sanchez gave the defense the lead with 5 mins to go and they couldnt get D Garrard and Jacksonville off the field.
Sanchez has lost a few games but he gave them the lead in the Miami and Jacksonville game and they spit it up….. Calm down just alittle
Ok so Why are we trying to blame just the offense? If you look at the season a different facet of the team has lost the game for the Jets. Ok lets look at the second Miami game. TWO RUN BACKS by Ginn…thats special teams, pin that on them. Defense? game against Jax could not stop them after the offense got them the lead. oh and by the way the defense was non existent in the first half putting the offense in a hole. Offense? well the game against the saints comes to mind. So it is not just one side of the ball every facet of the team has cost the Jets in one way or another. Just people need to relax and understand you win and lose as a team. This is first year of Rex. Patience.
AKA….Drew,
You cant look at 1 series by the defense in an entire game and blame the loss on them. All im saying is you need solid QB play to win. I dont think that is an opinion, i think thats a fact. Cant win with turnovers no matter how great of a team you have.
I understand we have a rookie QB and this play is expected from him. I am just not a fan of the idea that we are not a good team.
I think we are a good team but have been set back by bad QB play. Its as simple as that. No team in the NFL can win with that type of QB play. I dont see how you can argue with that..
Sanchez shows flashes of brilliance but he is inconsistent but that is expected because he is a rookie.
Najy,
As I said in my post it wasn’t just the last play of the game that the defense screwed up the game against Jax. Look at the first half…I ask where was the defense? Oh yah giving up 21 points and putting the offense in a hole. They came out flat. Rookie QB we need to be patient.
SAME OLD JETS and Same Old Excuses. They don’t have any leaders and leadership is what it takes to win.
Rex needs to start benching his underperformers starting with Kerry “All World” Rhodes.
Let’s be honest and admit that Rex is an awful head coach…The guy is a great defensive coordinator so he should go back to doing that…As a head coach he is in over his head….Anybody that gives a team a week off after a horrible loss (during the bye week) has to be clueless (or just lazy)…I remember reading somewhere that the Friday night before a big game this season Rex actually went to a Springsteen concert while the opposing head coach wouldn’t even give a radio interview on that Friday because he was prepaing for the game…I remember the person that wrote this thought it was cool but I was thinking that it was irresponsible…Does anyone remember this??? I’ll try to look it up when I get a chance…….Well, maybe a coordinator can get away with going to a Springsteen concert before a game but not a head coach!!!!
the proverbial, J! E! T! S! Just End The Season, we’ll get em’ next year, maybe haha
What have i learned……..
We have a rookie head coach & rookie QB.
Sanchez needs to throw the ball away and throw to a check down reciever.
Our OC needs to learn a few more vanilla plays with less pre-snap motion and safe passes to get sanchez in the grove (i.e. wr,rb, te, screens, skinny come back routes/posts, crossing patterns) Callahan needs to start getting his hands wet with these responsibilities.
Braylon will be braylon, rhodes will be rhodes and they were drafted in the 1st round/5th round respectively for a reason. Braylon is just as effective without the ball in his hands/He commands respect whether you want to admit it or not. Rhodes commands no respect and that is the reason he is being picked on.
Gholston is not all that bad as a 3-4 DE and can play the run just fine; No big plays but all in all does his job respectively. Just gets paid a lot more than he should but all in all play him @ DE and hold your point of attack.
We need another NT. 1st round. Our defense is garbage without one. And every year that passes make Jenkins older and more injury prone. Jenkins is great but organizationally its time to start looking for his replacement.
Revis is the best CB in the league. He is for real!!!!! To play the patriots year in and year out though, 3 better than average CB’s are needed.
Izzo is a waste of a special teams roster spot. Penalties can be made by anyone. But should not be made by a self proclaimed special teams extroidinare on special teams coverage.
We MISS our pro bowlers LEON, JENKINS
Fire the effing OC he is not helping Sanchez DUH!!!
As for Rhodes and Clowney and IZZO get rid of all 3 at years end.
I think it would be great to hire Callahan as the oc after this year. He is a great coordinator. If it is an uncapped year then we should trade or release Rhodes after this season and send a message that we want real football players! Unfortunately, I will follow this team until I die and we will probably never win a championship…………