Judy Battista wraps up the Idzik v Rex conversation nicely here

[T0mShane]

Rex Ryan deflated after New York Jets' offense sputters in loss

Judy Battista

NFL Media reporter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- On the field after the game, Rex Ryan shook Peyton Manning's hand and said something Manning was probably uncomfortable hearing.

"It's been an honor," Ryan told Manning.

Perhaps Ryan was just verbalizing what most opponents think about Manning's career. But it sounded, unmistakably, like Ryan was saying his farewells after the Jets dropped to 1-5 with the 31-17 loss to the Broncos, not because Ryan expects Manning to be gone after this season, but because Ryan knows his own future is now much more fragile than that of a 38-year-old quarterback.

The remarkable second act of Manning's career -- the QB threw three touchdown passes Sunday and is now just two short of tying Brett Favre's all-time record -- provides more than just a one-day sting for the Jets. The team's current road to ruin was paved early on in part by its unrequited ardor for Manning when he was released by the Indianapolis Colts nearly three years ago. After Manning made it clear he would not even listen to a wooing by the Jets, the team's braintrust inexplicably felt it owed Mark Sanchez an apology, giving him a kiss-and-make-up contract extension that tied the franchise to a failing quarterback and hamstringing its chance to nimbly move on.

It can't be known if the Jets would have targeted a different quarterback in the draft or free agency last year if Sanchez were not still there, if he did not have to be there because of that contract. But after watching the Jets' offense squander a good-enough defensive performance against Manning on Sunday, it is clear the team has still not pulled itself out of the quarterbacking quagmire it has inhabited since 2011, continuing to field a defense tethered to a sputtering offense.

Geno Smith was not the only -- or even dominant -- reason the Jets lost to the Broncos. But on a day when his only turnover came on a desperate end-of-game pass, he was nowhere near good enough to elevate an offense that features no downfield threat, minimal run blocking and ham-handed receivers. His defining moment Sunday came not on the pick-six that provided Denver's final margin of victory, but on a more dispiriting three-and-out on the previous drive, when the Jets, trailing by just seven points, still had a legitimate opportunity to stun the Broncos.

The offensive deficiencies were especially glaring because the Jets' defense had been emboldened by a game plan that confused and throttled Manning (relatively speaking). Manning called some of what Ryan deployed unorthodox -- the Jets split out their outside linebackers to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, and dropped seven or eight players into coverage -- and the result was that New York held Manning's offense to just 24 points and forced eight punts. It produced what might have been the least dazzling three-touchdown day of the quarterback's illustrious career.

And evident frustration for the Jets.

With just four days until the Jets play the New England Patriots in Foxborough, the expectation was that the closer-than-expected loss would engender Up With People Rex, who would laud the effort the Jets gave in a game that everyone expected to be a blowout. Instead, it was Crestfallen Rex, who had the look and the sound of a man who knows he is just playing out the string, who knows he is hopelessly outmanned in the fights still to come. People love or loathe Ryan for his bluster, but nobody has less of a poker face than he does, and his sad-eyed countenance Sunday afternoon said everything about the Jets' current fortunes and his view of where they are heading.

"Oh man," Ryan muttered under his breath as he approached a microphone.

Then, he continued: "I thought our plan was fairly effective."

And then: "It's not as easy as one man or one position. We just have to find answers as a team. It would be a lot easier if it was just one person or one position, but we have to get better as a team."

It doesn't take much reading between the lines here. The Jets thought they had a sound game plan that was sufficient to beat the Broncos -- and they did. But there are too many personnel deficiencies to execute it. The defense held up its end of the bargain. The offense did not. In the current five-game losing streak, Smith has led 54 drives. Just eight touchdowns have resulted.

To the Jets' credit, that has not produced a locker-room split. But you don't need to hear sweat-covered bitterness to divine what has happened. The holes in the roster have been no secret, but now they are being exposed in ever more painful ways, in the routs perpetuated by good teams (San Diego) and in the achingly close losses to great ones (Denver). It wouldn't have taken much more to upset the Broncos on Sunday -- maybe just a modicum of a running game to relieve some of the pressure on Smith or someone who would could cover tight end Julius Thomas so that he is not tempted to scream "It's so easy!" after he scores his second (easy) touchdown.

It will almost certainly be another coach's problem to figure out next season, but Jets owner Woody Johnson will also have to ponder whether general manager John Idzik deserves a chance to hire his own head coach or whether the team needs a seasoned personnel man to play whack-a-mole on roster rebuilding. For a primer on how to do the job, Idzik needed only look across the field to the Broncos; John Elway first landed a quarterback, and then surrounded him with offensive weapons. Then, this past spring, Elway brought in defensive reinforcements. The Broncos now have the third-best scoring offense and the sixth-best scoring defense.

Ryan is hardly blameless in the Jets' collapse. His tunnel-vision focus on defense since the day he arrived has left the team badly out of step with the way the game is being played and -- when he wielded outsize influence during the draft with former general manager Mike Tannenbaum -- with a roster bereft of much young offensive talent. But Johnson is responsible for creating the doomed-from-the-start shotgun marriage of Idzik and Ryan, with their wildly disparate timelines. And whatever holes exist on the roster now and in the near future will be on Idzik's watch.

Make no mistake: This team is failing from the top down.

Assuming he is fired after the season, Ryan will become the hottest defensive coordinator candidate in the league. Players like Manning and Tom Brady will tell you they are sick of facing him, as ringing an endorsement as a defensive coach can hear.

No matter how many victories the Jets can muster from here on out -- and even if among them is a stunner Thursday night in Foxborough -- this is what the Jets' season has devolved into: a miserable march to the end, a protracted referendum on Smith's viability as an NFL quarterback, a televised audition for Ryan's next job opportunity.

"That is not a 1-5 defense," Manning said Sunday afternoon.

That might turn out to be Ryan's epitaph. And the first line on his resume.

[T0mShane]

For the tl;dr set, Rex is a good defensive mind who built an archaic defensive team and Idzik hasn't done much to correct that at all. The NFL national media believes Woody to be a moron and a primary reason why the Jets are bad, and the undercurrent of this article points to the fact that forcing Rex on Idzik (and vice versa) has been catastrophic. Organizational dysfunction, etc

[nj meadowlands]

"That is not a 1-5 defense," Manning said Sunday afternoon.

That might turn out to be Ryan's epitaph. And the first line on his resume

 

 

 

 

That's good writing.

[faba]

Defensive coordinator is his role in the NFL.

[slats]

It doesn't take much reading between the lines here. The Jets thought they had a sound game plan that was sufficient to beat the Broncos -- and they did. But there are too many personnel deficiencies to execute it. The defense held up its end of the bargain. The offense did not. In the current five-game losing streak, Smith has led 54 drives. Just eight touchdowns have resulted.

Yes, that does sum it up rather nicely.

[Matt39]

Wonder if Rex realizes his putrid special teams is costing him games...or if its just a not my problem type of deal.

[section314]

Fair article. How ironic would it be if Amaro keeps this up the rest of the year, and wins OROY?  Has any coach had back to back Rookies of the year and got fired? 

[T0mShane]

Yes, that does sum it up rather nicely.

And who's to blame for those "talent deficiencies"?

SPOILER ALERT: REX

Ryan is hardly blameless in the Jets' collapse. His tunnel-vision focus on defense since the day he arrived has left the team badly out of step with the way the game is being played and -- when he wielded outsize influence during the draft with former general manager Mike Tannenbaum -- with a roster bereft of much young offensive talent.

[T0mShane]

Wonder if Rex realizes his putrid special teams is costing him games...or if its just a not my problem type of deal.

Depends...do any of the defensive linemen play special teams?

[slats]

And who's to blame for those "talent deficiencies"?

SPOILER ALERT: REX

I didn't see anywhere in there where Rex had outsized influence with Idzik. The QB, WRs, CBs, getting trotted out there are pretty much on this latest GM, not the last one.

And look, I don't even think it should be an either/or debate. Rex is almost certainly gone this year. Barring a miraculous turnaround, that's a given. It's also highly unlikely that Idzik loses his job, too. But this is just another stage in the Jets never-ending death spiral. I haven't seen much of anything to give me confidence in Idzik as a GM. His second draft, with all his own scouts in place, was worse than his first. His free-agency pickups, aside from Decker, have been pretty useless. His penchant for taking chances on injury prone players tends to backfire on him.

I just hope his next coaching hire isn't a guy that Woody wants to keep around when he finally gets around to firing him.

[T0mShane]

I didn't see anywhere in there where Rex had outsized influence with Idzik. The QB, WRs, CBs, getting trotted out there are pretty much on this latest GM, not the last one.

And look, I don't even think it should be an either/or debate. Rex is almost certainly gone this year. Barring a miraculous turnaround, that's a given. It's also highly unlikely that Idzik loses his job, too. But this is just another stage in the Jets never-ending death spiral. I haven't seen much of anything to give me confidence in Idzik as a GM. His second draft, with all his own scouts in place, was worse than his first. His free-agency pickups, aside from Decker, have been pretty useless. His penchant for taking chances on injury prone players tends to backfire on him.

I just hope his next coaching hire isn't a guy that Woody wants to keep around when he finally gets around to firing him.

Idzik certainly has much to prove moving forward, but what's becoming clearer is the degree to which Rex has helped tie the noose around his own neck. Could Idzik have tried to bail him out with a few free agent acquisitions this year? Sure. But saving the coach from himself, while jeopardizing his own long-term flexibility, is in no one's best interest other than Rex's.

[slats]

Idzik certainly has much to prove moving forward, but what's becoming clearer is the degree to which Rex has helped tie the noose around his own neck. Could Idzik have tried to bail him out with a few free agent acquisitions this year? Sure. But saving the coach from himself, while jeopardizing his own long-term flexibility, is in no one's best interest other than Rex's.

Ideally, he'd've been making every effort to field a good team this year. He leaned too heavily on a poor draft class, most of which is no longer with the team, and he had too much faith in Geno. I'd love to thank him for the cap space and show him the door along with Rex.

[Ken Schroy]

Idzik certainly has much to prove moving forward, but what's becoming clearer is the degree to which Rex has helped tie the noose around his own neck. Could Idzik have tried to bail him out with a few free agent acquisitions this year? Sure. But saving the coach from himself, while jeopardizing his own long-term flexibility, is in no one's best interest other than Rex's.

 

I didn't see anywhere in there where Rex had outsized influence with Idzik. The QB, WRs, CBs, getting trotted out there are pretty much on this latest GM, not the last one.

And look, I don't even think it should be an either/or debate. Rex is almost certainly gone this year. Barring a miraculous turnaround, that's a given. It's also highly unlikely that Idzik loses his job, too. But this is just another stage in the Jets never-ending death spiral. I haven't seen much of anything to give me confidence in Idzik as a GM. His second draft, with all his own scouts in place, was worse than his first. His free-agency pickups, aside from Decker, have been pretty useless. His penchant for taking chances on injury prone players tends to backfire on him.

I just hope his next coaching hire isn't a guy that Woody wants to keep around when he finally gets around to firing him.

I agree with both of your assessments. Rex is done, barring a miracle turnaround. Idzik isn't going anywhere and then the spotlight will be totally on HIM. Rex has definitely shot himself by continually pushing for defensive players in these drafts. It is what it is.

[faba]

Idzik is on the hot seat for real next year. I would be shocked if Woody cleaned out everyone. If he can not make wise free agent deals and a successful draft he had his shot.

[T0mShane]

Ideally, he'd've been making every effort to field a good team this year. He leaned too heavily on a poor draft class, most of which is no longer with the team, and he had too much faith in Geno. I'd love to thank him for the cap space and show him the door along with Rex.

I think Idzik has had his eye on 2015 from the day he took the job and he's made his personnel moves accordingly. It's hard for many fans to reconcile Idzik's cold pragmatism and Rex's, er, unrelenting positivity, but I don't think Idzik had much of a choice. The team was always going to scuffle for these two seasons because of decisions made long before he got here.

[ucrenegade]

Defensive coordinator is his role in the NFL.

yep that is where he needs to stay any other team that hires him for a HC position is beyond stupid.

[flgreen]

Fair article. How ironic would it be if Amaro keeps this up the rest of the year, and wins OROY?  Has any coach had back to back Rookies of the year and got fired? 

 

  That happened because Denver sold out to stop the run, and did.  They had the attitude that Smith sucks, and can't throw the ball upfield with out throwing it to one of them.  MM doesn't trust Smith enough to let him throw it up field.

 

They were both right so Amaro became the go to guy short.  I guess if all other teams do the some thing and ignore the possibility that Smith can throw it upfield, Amaro might have big numbers. 

[slats]

I think Idzik has had his eye on 2015 from the day he took the job and he's made his personnel moves accordingly. It's hard for many fans to reconcile Idzik's cold pragmatism and Rex's, er, unrelenting positivity, but I don't think Idzik had much of a choice. The team was always going to scuffle for these two seasons because of decisions made long before he got here.

What moves? Or do you mean non-moves? Because outside of Richardson and Decker, I don't see a lot of players on this roster who are going to be big contributors in the 2015-2018 run to a championship. I'm a big fan of pragmatism, and live my life frugally. I have no issue with the man's alleged philosophy. It's his execution I have a problem with, or to channel my inner John McKay; that I'm in favor of.

Turnarounds happen much faster in today's NFL, and he had the resources to manufacture one this year if he wanted to and/or was capable of it. Those twelve picks we were all excited about didn't pan out all that well. All that cap room is still all that cap room - money that will have to be spent over the next two years before a new cap cycle starts.

He's not going to lose his job, but it'd be better for the team if he did, IMHO. Hand the next guy a clean slate and a sh*tload of cap space.

[Integrity28]

Jets held them to 24 points? Brilliant job?

 

Wow has the bar been set low.

[HessStation]

Idzik certainly has much to prove moving forward, but what's becoming clearer is the degree to which Rex has helped tie the noose around his own neck. Could Idzik have tried to bail him out with a few free agent acquisitions this year? Sure. But saving the coach from himself, while jeopardizing his own long-term flexibility, is in no one's best interest other than Rex's.

 

Besides the teams. *cough

 

Jets are the worst. 

[Integrity28]

Wonder if Rex realizes his putrid special teams is costing him games...or if its just a not my problem type of deal.

 

Nothing is his problem, except the "not 1-5 defense".

[Obrien2Toon]

"That is not a 1-5 defense," Manning said Sunday afternoon.

That might turn out to be Ryan's epitaph. And the first line on his resume

That's good writing.

6 straight defensive first rounders and 9 of the last 11. It shouldn't be a 1-5 defense. But it is easy to understand why the offense is so bad.

[JiFtheOracle]

Good read.  The only part that isnt accurate is what she said about the Broncos and how Elway built the team.  They had an offense in place when they picked up Manning.  Decker, Thomas, Thomas, Moreno, McGahee, Eddie Royal...these guys were all on the squad the with Tebow.  The only one who wasnt was Welker.  It wasnt till this offseason that they put a premium on defense as an all in strategy for Peyton's final few years.

 

Other than that, its spot on.  Woody is the moron who put this sh*t bag together.  As much as I've supported Rex over the years, you dont force a Head Coach on a GM.  It doesnt work.  Idzik is clearly in over his head and predicting disaster moving forward is pretty easy considering the terrible job he's done so far but this is where we are at.  Last year Rex was able to work a miracle and make the record respectable.  This year, they havent had the same fortune with a brutal first half schedule.

 

Idzik in 2 years with plenty of picks and money has formed one of, if not, the least talented rosters in the league.  And he gets to hand pick his Head Coach and set this team even further back next season.  Yay!!!

 

Go Jets! 

[#27TheDominator]

Wonder if Rex realizes his putrid special teams is costing him games...or if its just a not my problem type of deal.

 

They have been swapping guys around on specials.  They all appear to be fumblers.  Saunders, Hakim and Powell have all put it on the carpet.  They have been trying things, but like everything else they have not been working.  I think a big part of it comes with the injuries and turmoil in the lower roster.  All those back roster sign and cuts end up on specials or starters have to play.  

[dbatesman]

he wielded outsize influence during the draft with former general manager Mike Tannenbaum

[flgreen]

Jets held them to 24 points? Brilliant job?

 

Wow has the bar been set low.

When your O goes 3 and out 6 times. and you only have 12 possessions, it's a good thing holding Manning and the Bronco's to 24 points

[JiFtheOracle]

They have been swapping guys around on specials.  They all appear to be fumblers.  Saunders, Hakim and Powell have all put it on the carpet.  They have been trying things, but like everything else they have not been working.  I think a big part of it comes with the injuries and turmoil in the lower roster.  All those back roster sign and cuts end up on specials or starters have to play.  

 

Who's injured that was going to be a big part of the ST's?  This is no different than last season.  Idzik thinks you can sign street FA's mid week and ask them to play a major role in the game plan on Sunday.  It doesnt work.  There is a reason why these guys are barely in the league.

[#27TheDominator]

Who's injured that was going to be a big part of the ST's?  This is no different than last season.  Idzik thinks you can sign street FA's mid week and ask them to play a major role in the game plan on Sunday.  It doesnt work.  There is a reason why these guys are barely in the league.

 

It's not "a big part."  I didn't mean we have an excuse like the kicker being hurt.  It is a trickle down.  Bottom roster guys that usually play specials - like Lankster are cut because they actually need Philip Adams to start at CB.  The sad thing is that the specialists they held so tightly - Saunders and Hakim have been pretty much disasters. Injuries will also have an influence on who is actually active each week.  It's not a huge part, but it is something.

[Matt39]

Signing a proven kick/punt returner would have been relatively cheap...and while none of them were world-beaters at receiver...they'd be playing a major role on this offense. 

[JiFtheOracle]

It's not "a big part."  I didn't mean we have an excuse like the kicker being hurt.  It is a trickle down.  Bottom roster guys that usually play specials - like Lankster are cut because they actually need Philip Adams to start at CB.  The sad thing is that the specialists they held so tightly - Saunders and Hakim have been pretty much disasters. Injuries will also have an influence on who is actually active each week.  It's not a huge part, but it is something.

 

Its just terrible roster management.  Period.  2 straight years, they're trotting out street FA's and asking them to play a major role on Sunday.  Injuries be damned.  Why cut a guy like Jacoby Ford who can be a WR/Return Specialist only to sign a return specialist (Powell) and a WR (Graham)?  You got 2 rosters spots being taken by terrible players for something that most teams easily do with 1 roster spot.

 

Idzik sucks

 

Signing a proven kick/punt returner would have been relatively cheap...and while none of them were world-beaters at receiver...they'd be playing a major role on this offense. 

 

Or like most teams, find a #6 WR who can be your return guy.

[#27TheDominator]

Signing a proven kick/punt returner would have been relatively cheap...and while none of them were world-beaters at receiver...they'd be playing a major role on this offense. 

 

I wanted Hester.  A few points on punt returns is a few points more than this team gets now. I thought he could provide something in the screen/short passing game, though he never really did with Chicago.  He and Ginn both got in the 3 for $9M range with maybe $5M guaranteed which has to be too rich for Idzik's blood.  The guy would not pay that much to have a starting corner.

 

Its just terrible roster management.  Period.  2 straight years, they're trotting out street FA's and asking them to play a major role on Sunday.  Injuries be damned.  Why cut a guy like Jacoby Ford who can be a WR/Return Specialist only to sign a return specialist (Powell) and a WR (Graham)?  You got 2 rosters spots being taken by terrible players for something that most teams easily do with 1 roster spot.

 

Idzik sucks

 

 

Or like most teams, find a #6 WR who can be your return guy.

 

Most teams don't draft a 4th rounder who fails miserably at it either.  I do think it is odd that Powell has not seen the field at WR.  Everyone else has.  

[RutgersJetFan]

It's not rocket science. Rex should have been fired two years ago. The 2011 collapse following into 2012 season was ridiculous, no reason a guy gets to keep his job after a two year run like that. Welcome to Woodyland.

[Integrity28]

When your O goes 3 and out 6 times. and you only have 12 possessions, it's a good thing holding Manning and the Bronco's to 24 points

 

I understand all that, but the reality is, this speaks to the culture here... "oh, the defense wasn't awful, let's blame everyone but the head coach for the offense". It is disgraceful that Rex gets away with shirking 66% of his responsibilities (offense and special teams) and still gets applauded for a defense that lets up nearly 30 ******* points.

[Matt39]

I wanted Hester.  A few points on punt returns is a few points more than this team gets now. I thought he could provide something in the screen/short passing game, though he never really did with Chicago.  He and Ginn both got in the 3 for $9M range with maybe $5M guaranteed which has to be too rich for Idzik's blood.  The guy would not pay that much to have a starting corner.

 

 

Most teams don't draft a 4th rounder who fails miserably at it either.  I do think it is odd that Powell has not seen the field at WR.  Everyone else has.  

 

What sucks is both Ginn and Hester would be infinitely more valuable to this team than both Vick and CJ.

[#27TheDominator]

It's not rocket science. Rex should have been fired two years ago. The 2011 collapse following into 2012 season was ridiculous, no reason a guy gets to keep his job after a two year run like that. Welcome to Woodyland.

 

Are saying he should have been fired after 2012 or after 2011?  If you are saying 2012, okay.  If you are saying 2011, hindsight is 20-20, but that was premature.