CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Jets haven't had a winning season in two years, are working on their third offensive coordinator in three years, their second defensive coordinator in two and are under the direction of a new GM.
Put it together, and what do you have? A must-win season for coach Rex Ryan, who has two years left on his contract.
Ryan lost 13 of his last 19 starts, and that must end. Otherwise, his tenure with the Jets does, which means nobody at this camp -- including quarterback Mark Sanchez -- should feel a sense of urgency more than the head coach.
Instead, he feels ... well, let him tell you.
"I feel so energized by this season," Ryan said Tuesday. "There's no question you learn from what happened, but I don't have a mirror right here. I'm tired of looking back. The way we're going right now is full speed ahead. That's the way it is.
"What happened in the past I'm trying to learn from, but I'm definitely not spending two seconds thinking about it. I had all that time to reflect, and I don't need to do it. How am I going to dwell on it? I'm moving forward."
One problem: His team isn't deep in talent. The popular perception is that Ryan must win to save his job, especially with a new general manager on board, but he could use more players. Still, Ryan remains upbeat, asking for no sympathy.
"I know how fortunate I am," he said. "If anything, it should be, 'Man, you got that job?' And I'm like, 'You're darned right. And I'm going to show you why I got that job.' That's my mentality."
2. When GM John Idzik earlier in camp said he would have "a big role" in the choice of the team's starting quarterback, it seemed to send a message -- and the message was that his authority extends far beyond that of most GMs.
No so fast, said Ryan, whose job could depend on that decision.
"In the past I took every arrow, every bullet, every arrow," he said. "Now, it's so funny, we're just like this (he clasps his hands). I don't think he wants me taking the arrows, to be honest with you. I think he wants it to be organizationally, and not on my shoulders. So it's almost a sense of protection.
"John wants this to work. We are on the same page. There is no question. We say it's an organizational decision, but that's the way it's always been. It's been more than just one person saying we're going to do this. Before if things didn't work ... like if I was calling the defense ... it was me. Then, if it worked, it had nothing to do with me. That's the way it always is. That's what I get paid for. I think our situation is closer than people know."
3. In his 11th season, linebacker Calvin Pace figures to start slowing down. Instead, he has the arrow pointing in the other direction, making a spate of plays early in camp. "I thought in 2009 he was spectacular," said Ryan, "and I think he might be better now. He is having a monster camp. And of all the guys, someone says, 'Who are you surprised with?' And I say, 'I'm surprised with Calvin Pace.' "
4. There's no word when/if wide receiver Santonio Holmes returns from a Lisfranc injury that sidelined him last season. He's running and Ryan doesn't seem all that concerned about his conditioning, but there is no timetable for his return. "Santonio is in the right frame of mind," said offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. "We'll see. It's too early to tell. But I would like to have him for a period of time because of the precision we will need in the passing game."
5. There's already talk of inserting rookie cornerback Dee Milliner into the starting lineup, though Ryan insists he has "three starting cornerbacks." Nevertheless, he won't rule out the possibility of moving Kyle Wilson to safety, saying "it certainly is a consideration."
6. Veteran kicker Billy Cundiff is here to challenge Nick Folk, and though Cundiff has a strong leg for kickoffs he's not expected to push the incumbent.
7. People can't stop praising running back Bilal Powell, and one reason is that, according to Mornhinweg, Powell is having "a terrific training camp." That's part of it. But another is that neither Chris Ivory nor Joe McKnight is practicing, both sidelined by injuries. That has Mornhinweg mildly concerned. "We certainly don't want to overwork Bilal," he said. If and when all are back, Sanchez thinks the Jets will be more than adequate at the position. "I think our running game is going to surprise people," he said.
8. Mornhinweg conceded what has been apparent this week -- namely, that rookie quarterback Geno Smith "has dipped just a little bit" since a fast start, including two interceptions in Red Zone offense Monday. "He's got to recover," said Mornhinweg. "We'll see how he rebounds ... He's got to power through it. It's just that simple."
9. Antonio Cromartie is not only the best defensive back on this team; he's one of the best players, period. Nevertheless, the Jets won't rule him out as an emergency kick returner -- using him only if they absolutely, positively need to. But that won't happen this summer. "You're not goint to see 'Cro' return kicks in the preseason," said Ryan.
10. The offensive line could be an area of strength, with Willie Colon and Brian Winters additions to a group that already includes Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Austin Howard. Winters, who was an all-conference tackle in college, moves to guard, but it's his attitude -- and that of guys like Colon and Stephen Peterman -- the Jets like. "I brought in a great offensive coordinator," Ryan said of Mornhinweg, "but it doesn’t mean I'm not involved in the offense. My mentality is going to be involved in the offense. When you look at the guys we brought in to this organization -- Willie Colon, Brian Waters and Peterman -- there's a certain mentality we're bringing in. We want those bad asses."
