| Tebow replacing Sanchez isn't one of the changes that Rex Ryan wants to make to turn the season around. (US Presswire) |
Things didn’t look any better the next day than they did immediately following the Jets' 30-9 loss to Miami on Sunday.
“We thought we were getting better as a football team and then we had a big step back,” coach Rex Ryan said.
Fans during the game were booing QB Mark Sanchez chanting for QB Tim Tebow, but his on-the-field presence was scarce. Asked if was thinking of a making a change, Ryan repeated what he has been saying since the team traded for Tebow back in March.
“I think Mark’s our guy. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I’m confident in Mark. We just have to look as a whole on what we can do. Are there things we can do to help? That’s something that we need to do. I think Mark gives us the best chance to win.
“Offensively, the problems aren’t one man,” he said. “If it was one man, that’s easy to do, but it’s not on one person.”
Ryan and his coaches always use the bye week to “self-scout” and he said they would be evaluating everything, players included, to see where and if they should make any changes.
"I want thoughts from everyone on this staff, not just a coordinator, not just whoever. I want it from everybody," Ryan said. "We need to look at things and that’s it. Is it little changes? Is it radical changes? I’m up for any suggestion.”
Ryan was originally planning to have the players work on Monday and Tuesday, but gave them the entire week off in response to the storm that was expected to hit the east coast.
With two extra days to themselves, the coaching staff will make use of that time.
“It gives the coaches more time to say, ‘Okay, this is where we’re at, this is how we can improve’, and formulate a plan and attack. I think that’s what we’re planning on doing,” Ryan said.
But, as far as personnel goes, it’s not clear where those changes might be made. Offensive line? They are already using almost everybody they have. Wide receiver? Right now, they only have four -- Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill, Chaz Schilens and Clyde Gates. Running back?
Other than Shonn Greene, they have Joe McKnight, who has a high ankle sprain and Bilal Powell who has a shoulder injury. Tight end? Dustin Keller, having returned from a hamstring injury is probably the best player they have on offense right now. Jeff Cumberland has a
dislocated hand and although they signed Hayden Smith to the active roster, he’s not ready to take on a significant role.
On defense, in the linebacking corps, they’ve already lost Josh Mauga to a torn pectoral muscle. Bart Scott has a turf toe. Rookie Demario Davis performed satisfactorily in Scott’s place, but he might not be the full-time answer yet. Marcus Dowtin is also still very
inexperienced.
Defensive line? Sione Po’uha finally made a comeback after dealing with a lower back problem since camp, but it’s not clear if he’s 100%. Mike DeVito has filled in well for him, but that has caused Quinton Coples to have to play more and even DC Mike Pettine said last week that that scenario is not idea for their rookie first-round pick. Muhammad Wilkerson is fairly solid. NT Kenrick Ellis has a knee injury, but the team hopes to get him back after the bye week.
In the secondary, Ss LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell are playing well as is CB Antonio Cromartie. CB Kyle Wilson is the one weak spot, so this is one place where they might want to look for ways to get CB Isaiah Trufant involved more. He is playing very well and is already in on certain sub packages so they might want to consider expanding his role into additional packages.
As for making trades, the Jets don't have a lot of room financially to make any big moves.
Taking all of that into account, significant personnel changes may not be possible, so the Jets may have to look at making schematic changes, but that can be dicey halfway through a season.
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