Jets Fans Already At Point Where A Giants-Like Loss Would Measure Progress

At least the Giants play close games.

At this point, Jets fans would take an inconceivable loss. We’re still waiting for a second-half possession where the Jets are within a one-score deficit.

Ironically, as Gang Green was starting its third consecutive noncompetitive effort out of the box, a 26-0 shellacking in Denver on Sunday, HBO aired the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode that decried the “f&$@ing Jets.” In that coincided time slot, the Jets fell behind, 10-0, thanks to a slew of follies that included:

1) Lining up offsides

2) Dropping two passes that would have resulted in first downs

3) Getting nailed for a delay-of-game to negate a 56-yard Matt Ammendola field goal.

As if that “Curb” plotline wasn’t morbid enough, the Jets keep killing their fan base. It’s been the same thing every season for the last decade—deficient in the talent department and poorly-coached. Hope? Any sliver is immediately quashed.

Don’t tell me to be patient. I had very low standards for this team coming into the season—and the Jets haven’t come close to measuring up to them.

In a league whose history is rife with rags-to-riches stories, General Manager Joe Douglas has had the opportunity to put his imprint on New York’s roster over the last two offseasons, yet the team is still an utter embarrassment. They’re 0-3 for a third straight year, the first time that’s ever happened in this woebegone franchise’s history.

Of Douglas’ first draft class in 2020, the only player who dressed on Sunday was fifth-round cornerback Bryce Hall. Even 2021 second-round pick Zach Wilson, the quarterback prize for going 2-14 last season, is on track to becoming damaged goods by the end of his rookie season because Douglas hasn’t surrounded him with an offensive line that can protect him or receivers who can both get open and catch the ball. Wilson was sacked another five times on a Sunday to bring his running-for-his life total to 15 in the three games this season. Officially, he’s been hit 26 times, many of them brutally, including the one as he released an intercepted pass in the last meaningless minute of the game.

So necessary. It's like the Jets are setting Wilson up to fail. Included in the substandard supporting cast department, they even neglected to staff the backup role with an experienced vet who could help Wilson navigate troubled waters on the sidelines.

And then there’s offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. I know it’s early, but I’m ready to call it: He’s not the guy.  

LaFleur has been trying to run the same system that the 49ers used when he was their passing-game coordinator, only without, you know, the quality personnel. If it looks like he’s in over his head, it might be because he is.

LaFleur hasn’t called plays since he was at Davidson College, an FCS school, in 2013. He’s constantly putting Wilson in tough third-down situations early in games with first-down runs until the team is forced into comeback mode, and then the defenses can tee off even more on the pass rush.

LaFleur went to an empty backfield on two short-yardage situations on Sunday, which is precisely the times when you want defenses guessing run versus pass. Both Wilson throws fell incomplete to end Jets possessions.

The bottom line is that this offense looks even worse than the Adam Gase versions of the last two seasons. I didn’t think that was possible. Unfortunately, this season’s results (6.6 points and 250 yards per game) can’t even be explained away with the excuses Gase always made.

The bicycle death of well-regarded passing game coordinator Greg Knapp (as a former Broncos assistant, he was given a video tribute on Sunday) just before training camp was tragic, but the Matt Cavanaugh hiring was heralded as an adequate replacement.

After the last two defeats, Head Coach Robert Saleh mentioned the well-executed practices his players went through during the week leading up to the games. No one wants to hear that. Until the work pays off on Sundays, this team will continue to be a laughingstock.

Tell us what’s got to change, because the fan base is tired of hearing such unaccountable drivel. Apparently, season ticketholders are already inundating the administration staff at Florham Park with angry phone calls, and we’re only three games in.

Look, with so many young players, this Jets season was always going to be measured by the progress it makes over its course.  Show us a path towards competitiveness. That’s the least this organization can do.

Losing on walk-off field goals like the Giants, I’d even consider that to be incremental progress. As former Jets linebacker and SNY postgame host Bart Scott once said (without the exclamation), “Can’t wait.”