Will the true Jets please arise?
Week 1 gave Gang Inexperienced followers loads of optimism following a 34-32 loss to the Steelers.
In Aaron Glenn’s first sport as Gang Inexperienced’s head coach, the Jets appeared ready after getting back from a nine-point deficit earlier than dropping due to a Chris Boswell 60-yard discipline objective. In only one week, all these good vibes have been washed away.
The Jets have been steamrolled by the Payments in Week 2, 30-10, in a sport that wasn’t shut as the ultimate rating indicated. Buffalo obtained out to a 20-3 lead at halftime and put the sport in cruise management through the second half.
It left many, together with Glenn himself, looking for solutions.
“I want to win football games, but I also understand how this league is,” Glenn stated on Monday. “I’ve been round this league for a very long time and simply all through the course of my years as a coach, and as a participant, I’ve seen how the ebbs and flows of this league are going to go.
In New Orleans, we have been 7-9, alright, we come again the following yr, we begin 0-2, after which we end 12-4, so my confidence just isn’t going to be shaken in any respect. Identical factor somebody simply talked about Detroit, 3-13-1, the next yr we begin 1-6, after which we go on a profitable spree and we find yourself being 9-8 battling for the playoffs that final sport. So, it may be finished fellas. I’ve been there, I do know it could actually, however once more my focus proper now’s actually stacking these bricks day-by-day.”
When Glenn turned the Jets coach in January, many assumed it wouldn’t be a fast repair. Gang Inexperienced was coming off a 5-12 season with a brand new workers and a brand new quarterback beneath heart in Justin Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract.
However the Jets didn’t simply lose on Sunday, they have been outclassed in all aspects of the sport. They made loads of the identical errors that plagued them from the Robert Saleh groups of the earlier three seasons, which have been dangerous offense, penalties, and psychological errors.
A Micheal Clemons roughing the passer penalty on third and 19 was a backbreaker for the Jets protection on the Payments’ first drive. To not point out, additionally they gave up a 40-yard run to Josh Allen earlier than that, and Michael Carter II was additionally flagged for holding, which tacked on a further 5 yards.
Then to make issues even worse, Fields had one of many worst quarterback performances I’ve witnessed in particular person earlier than he suffered a concussion within the fourth quarter. He accomplished simply 3-of-11 passes for 27 yards and registered a 1.1 complete QBR. Fields additionally fumbled on a scramble, which finally helped arrange a Matt Prater discipline objective.
As well as, the Jets’ run protection allowed 224 yards on the bottom, which is probably the most the crew has allowed since 2021.
Glenn additionally possible made teaching errors he wish to have again. There have been instances when the Jets have been conservative, which you’ll be able to’t be in the event you’re going to defeat a crew just like the Payments, who’ve received the AFC East 5 years in a row.
On 4th and three on the Payments’ 32-yard line down 20-0 within the second quarter, Glenn determined to kick the sector objective as a substitute of going for it. At that juncture, why not simply go for it, as a result of discipline targets aren’t going to beat a crew as expert as Buffalo? The Ravens put up 40 factors towards the Payments in Week 1 and nonetheless got here out on the dropping finish.
There was additionally a 4th and 1 play on the Jets’ 28 down 23-3, however Glenn determined to punt as a substitute of going for it. Buffalo turned that right into a 12-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in an Elijah Moore four-yard landing on an end-around.
“We’re still in the game, we’re still in the game, and I didn’t want to give those guys a short field because obviously our defense we were struggling a little bit,” Glenn stated. “You already know, so I felt that if we will punt this ball and we will create some discipline place, we will attempt to cease them after which be capable to rating.
“We still have a chance, and I think it was said yesterday that with the score we were out of it. I totally disagree with that. It was 23-3 with six minutes left in the third quarter, you know, we have a ton of time to get our offense back in check and be able to go and get this game back to where we want it to be.”
Altering the tradition of a company doesn’t occur in a single day. The Jets introduced Glenn right here as a result of he’s a pacesetter of males and has been half of some turnarounds at different locations.
With the Lions, Glenn, who was the crew’s defensive coordinator, together with head coach Dan Campbell, went from 3-13-1 their first season in 2021 to having the NFC’s finest document final season at 15-2.
The Jets’ upcoming schedule doesn’t do them any favors. They’ll play on the Buccaneers on Sunday after which have a street Monday night time sport towards the Dolphins in a stadium they haven’t received in since Rex Ryan’s last sport as Jets coach in 2014.
Glenn knew turning across the Jets wouldn’t be a simple process. However their turnaround might take even longer than he envisioned.
