Photo credit: US Presswire
So, in case you hadn’t heard, the Jets lost 28-7 to the Seattle Seahawks today. While this loss doesn’t mathematically eliminate the Jets from the playoffs, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this is not a playoff team. Agreed? Okay, moving on.
People are mad and they have a right to be. This loss, like so many Jets games this season, was a huge disappointment.
But I will be honest with you: I saw this coming. Not trying to be all “I told you so,” but the epic fail that has been this season started in free agency when the Jets decided not to do a damn thing outside of add two strong safeties to improve a team that was riddled with many glaring needs.
I am not in the mood to break down what happened in this game, mostly because I feel like a broken record. (Also Eric will be bringing you a proper recap tomorrow, so look out for it). Here are a few observations on today’s game and the current state of the Jets:
*It’s time to stop making excuses for Mark Sanchez. He has not played well this season and he did not play well today – He had a 22.0 QB rating in the first half! That’s awful.
I know , I know. The O line was bad, the ‘Hawks pass rush was in his face, receivers dropped balls and the play calling was pretty bizarre. But I am done making excuses. He looks ridiculously lost out there and the sack fumble in the fourth quarter was just the end for me. I think he could actually have a future somewhere else, but not here — Not with this team, this coaching staff, this front office and this media market.
And before you bring Tebow into this, I am going to stop you, because this has nothing to do with Tebow. In fact, if anyone other than Tebow was the backup, I think the Jets would have thrown that backup quarterback into the game. But the Jets are so terrified of the media storm that will result in throwing Tebow into the game like a NORMAL backup, that they won’t do it. And they are hurting the team because of it.
And because I know you are probably wanting to bring it up, yes the “two quarterback system” messes with the offensive rhythm and hurts Sanchez. Yes. But guess what else? Sanchez played like this last year and Tebow wasn’t around. So there.
Most people think if you take Sanchez out of the game, it’s over for him in this town. I’m have been one those people. But I no longer care. You’ve gotta see what else you’ve got at the position so you know whether or not to move forward as an organization.
On the bright side, at least Sanchez took some responsibility for his poor performance, so there is that.
*Speaking of Tebow, I think we should give him a round of applause for at least executing something this team has struggled with for years: screen passes.
Also, Isn’t 4th and 1 the appropriate time to run a trick play? Where was Tebow when you need him?
*Dustin Keller wants to get paid. Hey, how about not acting like a total bonehead in a huge game? That might help. Guys, Keller has talent, but he can’t keep doing this. You want to get paid like a top tight end in this league? Then play like one.
*Jeremy Kerley has been very productive on offense this year (he lead the team in receiving today) but his special team boo boos are starting to pile up rather quickly. Kind of concerning.
*I got into a little bit of an argument with someone on Twitter discussing Kyle Wilson. I have been highly critical of Wilson – as have many other bloggers – and I feel my criticism is justified. Wilson hasn’t exactly played up to the expectations of a first round pick. He is constantly getting beat and to make matters worse, he wags his finger and begs for calls after it happens.
I was informed that it wasn’t fair to judge Wilson’s performance at corner because it is not his natural position (he typically plays nickel), but that’s the way this league works. When opportunity knocks, you have to step up and Wilson has not. (He and Lankster allowed 38- and 31-yard TD passes today). Also, I got news for you: He isn’t that great of a nickelback either.
Stop me when I am making something up.
*Wilkerson and Coples played pretty well in this game all things considered, and even with Aaron Maybin inactive (Have we seen the end of Maybin in a Jets uniform??), the Jets actually managed to put together something that kinda sorta resembled a pass rush.
Speaking of Coples…I like Coples’ talent, and I think he will be a nice part of this defensive for years to come, but it’s time for real talk. How sick does it make you to see guys like Bruce Irvin, Courtney Upshaw, and Chandler Jones rush the passer with so much success? We had an obvious need at the position and Rex and co. draft another defensive lineman. Simply unreal. Oh, and don’t get too excited about the possibility of the Jets having a high draft pick this year? They will probably draft another defensive lineman.
*Someone please tell Rex no one cares how great of a practice the Jets have. We also don’t care that you were “prepared” for this game. You got your A**es kicked even with your game plan and your practice. I’m beginning to think “we had a good practice” is code for, “we are going to get absolutely destroyed on Sunday.”
Please feel free to share your thoughts on what you saw and what you think about the team going forward.
Loading ...
I liked the end of the prior comment…”Hey, we survived Kotite.” Eagles fans, you DO remember how bad these things can get, right???
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kristine,
Great piece. I’m too sick to comment. I’m pasting a note that I sent to a good friend and fellow Jets fan BEFORE the game yesterday. I think it’s appropriate. I apologize for the length but I can’t be clever today – I feel abandoned and it’s only a game.
__________________
Hey Brother, I left the Miami debacle at halftime as well. I was Tweeting through the first half and finally sent a message to Kristine Reese of Aerysports.com and part-time for the Ledger site — anyway even she was giving long thought to changing channels and she is a die-hard like you and I.
Anyway, I’m baffled. I knew they had problems and I kept taking out my portable soap-box to spout to anyone who would listen. I won’t bore you with another rant – you know where I believe the problem is and it’s not likely to change so long as Tannenbaum remains in the front office.
He’s not stupid; he’s worse: he believes that he’s a football man in all respects and he brings a negotiator’s mentality to every aspect of his responsibilities. It can’t work that way. The tensile strength of the player-personnel is abominable. Someone goes down in one position and the impact is catastrophic across the whole.
Tannenbaum nickel and dimes in the mistaken belief that he’s the head of a marquee organization — the Jets are not marquee. He’s allowing talent to escape to organizations with smarter football leadership in free agency and drafts.
The right tackle position was a lynchpin issue last November and every one of us knew it; Tanny decided that he would ride it out. He insisted that players within the organization would develop quickly enough to step up, but these guys are not backed deeply enough to escape pressure that growth demands.
The Pats are far from the great team that they were, but they have built an organization that allows young stupidity to transform to skill. The noise that Rex is allowed to maintain keeps a spotlight on guys who need the shadows to become the talent they will become.
No one is going to want to play here if this continues. The problems are systemic. The presser announcements have become comical. Cromartie and Coples are shooting their mouths off this week again about “Rattling” the Sehawks offense and Rex is joining in. I say there is poor ownership and GM leadership and a coach who just lacks the breadth of thought to grasp the complexities of his situation and he’s burning energies on public image that aren’t going into knowing what he needs to know.
I’m developing a sense that Woody may not have a heart-felt desire for Jets’ victories — I look at the owners in Pittsburgh and certainly in Baltimore and The Giants and New England and it’s clear that these people know what works over time and it has largely to do with concern for the state of the game and with relative silence about field operations and player selections. They seem to know that you best stay off the field and best stay out of the Coach’s agenda or you will constantly knock on the door of greatness and you will never get inside.
With all of it, I love the Jets — really do, I love them. It excites me to see them play – up to a point – but we are thin and we aren’t going to get thicker until we grow from within and I don’t think you grow from within until you accept that the less noise you make the more you’re able to change, adapt, and experiment.
I’m going to one more game — The Cardinals. I plan to watch or listen to all the others but I’m not hopeful
I’m seeing more and more blogs and columns calling on Tannenbaum to face his failures. We’ll see.
Sanchez is a wreck and it’s partly his limits and partly his managers’ inability to support him as he needs to be. I agree with you: I think we can stick a fork in him – he’s done.
You and I are too old to go looking for a new team — I’m happy even with this mess. Hey, we survived Kotite.
Go Jets.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thank you so much for the awesome comments. You always tell it like it is and I love it. I think we share frustration with your fellow Jets fan here and I sadly think that until Tannenbaum is gone, “same old Jets” will be a phrase we use often. Sadly. I dont think Woody realizes it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0