So, where to begin with the Jets? Well lets recap last game with the Bills. It was rock bottom for the Jets. Losing to the Buffalo Bills, who are one of the worst teams in the NFL this year, is about as depressing as being the Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore. If anyone knows who this is congrats your old and thank you for remembering. But losing 41-10 to the Bills demonstrated the lowest and weakest points on the Jets, with the biggest concern falling on the WR group. Then with Bowles’ coaching as a close second, followed by O-Line, Secondary, Edge Rush, QB, RB, front seven. You can change pieces around but the fact remains, each team has one or two of these problems – not all of them. However for the Jets, they could possibly have even more.
BILLS GAME
The Bills went try on the Jets as they did with the Vikings and just like that game the Bills walked away with the win. The biggest problem on that day I would say is a QB-WR connection and WR group in itself. Coaching and everything listed above is also a factor but it started with the WR group and they were used to Sam Darnold throwing it to them every which way to Sunday meanwhile McCown can pinpoint a location and hit them right there everytime right? Well, the first part is correct Darnold is largely inaccurate but McCown was playing the father in, Like Father Like Son, that day as he managed to hit the broadside of the barn sometimes but then completely miss it. A lot of dropped passes and a lot of missing that day made McCown look like Darnold.
The other problem is that the WR group is banged up and McCown’s favorite target Robby Anderson was out with an ankle injury, the difference may have been the game or nothing at all and it is speculation at this point but the problem was the same. Each receiver that day dropped passes and everyone was at fault. Earlier in the week, Jermaine Kearse said to reporters after practice that the tempo was different it was faster, well very well of been the different tempo, it might have been too fast for them who are used to playing with a rookie at a slower pace. Whatever the case was the Jets lost big time into the bye week.
Coaching Hot Seat
Bowles is on the coaching hot seat after a major loss to the Bills. He was on the hot seat with most fans and some of the brass from losses earlier in the season but the loss to the Bills is the nail in the coffin. Jets fan clamored for the removal for Bowles weeks ago and during the Buffalo game they came out in full support for a halftime firing. The Monday after the game the Jets brass announced his job will remain until the end of the season, but quietly they have been gathering a list of coaches that could fill his spot saying they do not have anyone inside the organization they feel would be qualified for HC.
Whatever the case may be unless the Jets win out, which is highly unlikely with 2 Patriot games, Packers Texans, Bills again and Titans left to play, Bowles job is all but certain to be gone. OC Bates will most likely never hold an OC job ever again after this season and with the Seahawks years ago, DC Rodgers will be tied to the hip with Bowles following him and hoping to find another job. With draft picks signing else doing well with other teams GM Mac’s job is looking shaky but happy with blame being placed solely on Bowles and not them both.
Next Offseason
Speaking of Mac, with over 100M in cap space and with the majority of players entering their final contract year Mac has to figure out 3 things this coming offseason. Do they want to pursue Le’veon Bell? Who should they sign back to the organization? Who should they target in Free agency? With so-far busts like Spencer Long, Kevin Pierre-Paul and Trumaine Johnson should the Jets trust Mac but guys like Avery Williamson, Henry Anderson, and Isiah Crowell makes this question difficult to answer. While Mac’s draft picks been a bust, for the most part, he is shooting close to 50% in FA, Long is a bust and needs to leave meanwhile Johnson got injured so the jury is still out but looking to be a Bust.
Crowell has added an element to the Jets backfield that they haven’t had since Powell joined them years ago. With that said Bell could be a nice addition assuming he is still his Pro-Bowl caliber level running back and he hasn’t let himself go. A lot of questions around this one including money and is he worth it. Bell, if he is still great, would be worth it in the long run because of two reasons, #1 the Jets have a rookie QB and a cowbell back like Bell could be helpful in his development and should Bell fail and not be himself then the Jets can fall back on Crowell until the slump is over or spilt the reps to keep Darnold fresh and the RBs fresh. The Jets has always used a committee even with Curtis Martin so this could work. Number 2 reason, should Bell be a Pro-Bowl caliber RB still, then the Jets can lean on him more should they be in a position for a playoff berth and it eases the pressure on finding another RB in the draft or FA.
Now, this is all on if Bell is still the 1000 runner and if the Jets can get an O-Line to help him. Which is the other thing Mac needs to do this offseason is find an O-Line Brandon Shell and Brain Winters can work with, James Carpender and Kevin Beachum have served their purpose but it is time to part ways. Spencer Long is just a bust and needs to stay away from Darnold’s development, so if that means Free Agency signing or Draft pick using then the Jets must but they need a new OT, OG, and C if they want Darnold to be another franchise QB and not another butt Fumble.
