The Blame Game Is Surrounding The New York Jets
By Tyson Rauch
It is no secret that it is difficult to play professional sports under the bright lights of the New York stage. Every move and every play is scrutinized with a limited tolerance level for failure, weakness, or incompetence.
The New York Jets five game losing streak has drawn the ire of both the fans and the media and rightfully so. Gang Green headed into the 2014 season full of hope and promise yet now after 6 games, and a 1-5 record, there are questions throughout the organization. It is safe to say that the blame game has started around Florham Park and it may not end anytime soon.
Rex Ryan’s seat is getting hot
You know it is bad when former New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards, who had a 39-41 record with Gang Green, is taking shots at Rex Ryan. The Jets head coach is clearly on the hot seat as his team is failing to live up to expectations whether they were realistic or not. Ryan’s game and roster management continues to get questioned while his defense has not performed up to the standards established by Rex.
There can be an argument made to fire Rex Ryan as his “player’s coach” mentality has worn out its welcome as the team lacks discipline and accountability. At the same time you can defend Rex as the overall talent on the roster is lacking and the quarterback position once again remains an unknown.
So do you fire Ryan to bring in a new voice and leader in the locker room? Is Rex more suited to coach a team full of veterans? Or is Rex Ryan just a victim of poor personnel decisions? You make the call.
Eyes on Idzik
The finger pointing is also hitting the New York Jets front office as general manager John Idzik is receiving blame for the roster that the team is putting on the field. Quarterback Geno Smith, Idzik’s second round pick in 2013, continues to struggle and has many worried about the Jets signal caller for the future. If Smith is not the franchise quarterback, then who will be?
As for the remainder of the roster, Gang Green entered the season with questions in the secondary. After 6 games those questions have multiplied with injuries to Milliner and 2014 draft pick McDougle, the release of free agent Dimitri Patterson, and the inconsistent play at the safety position.
New York’s wide receiver group entered the 2014 season with overall depth and talent concerns, and after 6 games the group is a relative unknown as they have been decimated by injuries. The NFL is a passing league and it is hard to develop a high-powered offense with a revolving door at the wide receiver position.
John Idzik took some calculated risks with his team development and right now not many seem to be panning out. And in the fact that the veteran offensive line is deteriorating and there is certainly a cause for concern. Will Idzik be able to right his ship and restock the Jets roster through the draft and free agency next year? Or is the second year general manager in over his head and it is time for Jets owner Woody Johnson to cut his losses?
Media vultures are circling
As expected the New York Jets beat writers are having a field day with their catchy headlines and negative spins on the team. Every move and word spoken is turned into a story and several mountains are being created out of mole hills. There will be a tremendous amount of pressure put on Woody Johnson to make a change, and everyone knows that the Jets owner hates negative publicity. How will Mr. Johnson handle this situation? Cave into the pressure and clean house? Or stick by his general manager and let the “rebuilding plan” continue?
At this point there are more questions than answers for Gang Green and that is a huge problem for an NFL team when it is only week seven of the season. There is one thing that is for certain and that is there seems to be plenty of blame to go around.
For more Jets news and updates, visit Jets Central.
Tyson Rauch is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
