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I’m really big on word choice.
Maybe to a fault.
On Monday, Jets GM Joe Douglas was asked about the job Robert Saleh has done as Jets coach.
“I love Robert (Saleh) and his staff, they do a phenomenal job.”
While it’s important to support your coach publicly, some might argue that “phenomenal” might be a little strong.
Saleh has compiled an 18-33 record over his three years as head coach.
Some might argue that isn’t “phenomenal.”
Maybe just temper the word a little bit, and use a word like “solid.”
I’m not even sure that Saleh would say he’s done a “phenomenal job.”
This staff has a lot of work to do. They need to create a more disciplined and focused team.
That 12-penalty game in Cleveland is a perfect example.
They also need to up X’s and O’s in some contests. In some games, they were clearly outcoached, like in Miami’s 30-0 shutout late in the year, where the Dolphins offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel and defensive play-caller Vic Fangio, won the chess game.
Same in Cleveland.
To the staff’s credit, they were very good against Philadelphia and Houston.
So “phenomenal” might be overstating things a little.
But with that being said, I’m not into firing people.
I was watching Pete Carroll’s press conference in Seattle after it was announced they he was out as Seahawks coach.
And he got really emotional when talking about how hard it is on assistants when a head coach is fired. He started crying talking about their families and the impact of these moves on them, and it’s not all fun games like it is to some fans, who rejoice when coaches are fired.
A lot of Jets fans want Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett fired.
And you can understand the fans’ frustration with Hackett after witnessing the substandard product the Jets produced on offense this year.
Garrett Wilson seems to share the fans’ frustration.
“What happened this season can’t happen again,” Wilson said. “It’s got to be better. We’ve got to make adjustments in the game. We’ve got to do things to counter what we’re getting and be able to put points on the board, because in the two years I’ve been here, honestly, it’s been tough.
“When I watch it on the sideline and it doesn’t look that hard for the other team. We’ve got to figure something out to get it rolling, no matter who’s slinging it.”
That last line is important – “no matter who’s slinging it.”
Yes, they lost a future Hall of Fame QB early in Week 1, but the offense should not have been as bad as it was, even without Rodgers.
They seemed predictable, and not great at adjusting. I actually asked Wilson, after Miami beat the Jets on Black Friday, what he thought of all the motion Miami uses. Watching Miami, they just seemed to be a lot more innovative, a lot of better at using motion to get the opponent out of opposition – make them go for “eye candy” that misdirection creates. The Jets seemed stagnant in comparison.
But with all that being said, there is no need to make an offensive coordinator change for a simple reason that I’ve written before.
When Rodgers is under center, he’s essentially the co-offensive coordinator, because he calls so many audibles based on the defensive look. He’s a maestro at the line.
Perhaps Hackett isn’t great at elevating the play of pedestrian quarterbacks with his play-caller, but with Rodgers, that isn’t necessary.
But the bottom line is Saleh, Hackett and the rest of the coaches, nobody was “phenomenal” and that shouldn’t be considered a cheap shot. Just reality, and most of them would probably agree in a results-based business.
January 11, 2024
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