It took until the fourth preseason game for the formerly
high-flying New York Jets to get their first offensive touchdown.
They scored on a six-yard play action pass from third-string
quarterback Greg McElroy, as Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow watched
from the sidelines.
The outcome was the same as the previous three games, however:
the Jets lost, suffering a 28-10 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Preseason is meaningless in terms of the standings, of course, but
the overall offensive sluggishness had to be disconcerting to the
front office.
While Sanchez and Tebow get most of the attention — the NFL
loves a good quarterback controversy and Tebow is now the league’s
most famous backup — head coach Rex Ryan may be the one on the hot
seat. Ryan arrived in New York promising not to kiss AFC East rival
Bill Belichick’s rings. He hasn’t earned any new rings himself,
despite annual promises to win the Super Bowl.
Ryan hasn’t guaranteed any trips to the big game so far this
year, and he belatedly acknowledged that his loquaciousness was at
times a liability to the team. But Ryan hasn’t completely changed
his big-talking ways, most recently
asserting that Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill — the
Jets’ second round draft pick — wasn’t his choice.
“Well, nothing told me he would [contribute],” Ryan told
Sports Illustrated. “Nothing.” Hill is a player the Jets
will need to step up in a big way if they are to challenge the New
England Patriots in the division and return to the playoffs. Ryan
subsequently praised Hill in the same interview, saying, “But now
that we have him, of course, I want to claim him.”
But if he really wanted to help the young player’s development,
perhaps he should shut up.
The Jets went 8-8 and missed the playoffs last year after
exhibiting some of the tendencies on display in the preseason: an
inability to move the ball on offense and a defense that is great
in coverage but sometimes lackluster at rushing the passer.
Sanchez has struggled at quarterback, thriving on slants and
bootlegs but otherwise developing a limited repertoire. As the
Jets’ “ground and pound” running game has declined, so has his
effectiveness. Sanchez is good in play action, but it is hard to
make those plays without a credible running game. He tends to throw
interceptions at inconvenient times.
Since last season, Sanchez’s problems have only multiplied. John
Elway couldn’t have played behind such a porous offensive line,
although things might improve since the Jets shipped disastrous
right tackle Wayne Hunter to St. Louis. The quality of receiver has
declined, with only the temperamental Santonio Holmes a true number
one.
Tebow was brought in as a gadget player and change-of-pace
wildcat quarterback, though that hasn’t quelled speculation he is
gunning for Sanchez’s job. But Tebow didn’t look any better than
Sanchez in preseason, remaining a far more effective runner than
passer.
None of these problems are exactly surprises, which is why Ryan
seems to be in a precarious position. If the Jets at least return
to the playoffs, last season will appear to be a fluke. Ryan will
have gotten his team into the postseason three out of four years at
the helm, including two consecutive appearances in the AFC
Championship.
If the Jets miss the playoffs again, however, questions will
arise. The team legitimately looked like a Super Bowl contender in
2010, coming back from some humiliating late-season losses to post
an 11-5 record and come within a score of beating the Pittsburgh
Steelers in the AFC Championship.
The Jets bounced back from a devastating 45-3 pasting at the
hands of the Patriots in the regular season to beat them 28-21 in
the Divisional Round. The Jets’ defense was stout and Sanchez
played some of his best football that year in the playoffs.
But if the Indianapolis Colts hadn’t pulled Peyton Manning and
the starters during a late-season meeting with the Jets in 2009,
the New York football squad probably would have gone 8-8 and missed
the playoffs like they did in 2011. Sanchez played well in the
playoffs, but his 9-7 Jets certainly backed in.
No playoff berth for the Jets this year and suddenly 2010 looks
like the fluke, not last season. Ryan will once again have allowed
his mouth to write him a check that his posterior couldn’t
cash.
The Jets have the chance to right the ship. It starts with
better pass protection for Sanchez. Perhaps Tebow can enliven the
running game and force opposing defensive coordinators to chew up
valuable time preparing for big plays that may or may not be
called. Former North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, the
Jets’ top draft pick, could emerge as a leading pass rusher.
After all, the Jets will be playing for their reputation. And
Ryan might be coaching for his job.
