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Early third quarter against Miami last Sunday, there was a two-play sequence that this epitomizes Jets offense this year, and I said it to somebody at the time.
3-3-NYJ 32 (7:25) (Shotgun) T.Siemian pass short right to A.Lazard pushed ob at NYJ 43 for 11 yards (E.Apple).
1-10-NYJ 43 (6:49) PENALTY on NYJ-J.Hanson, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at NYJ 43 – No Play.
Good play, bad play, good play, bad play.
That is the pattern we have seen all season, and that is a big reason the Jets have had such a hard time sustaining drives.
These two plays were not of much significance in the grand scheme of the game, but it just hit me at the time, that this is the sloppiness that has reared it’s ugly head week in and week out for the Jets offense, and why so many drives end up stuck in the mud.
Aaron Rodgers or no Aaron Rodgers, the Jets offense needs to be a lot more consistent and a lot less mistake prone than we have seen throughout the 2023 season . . .
Obviously people made too big of a deal about Nick Bawden release to clear space for Aaron Rodgers, attacking Rodgers for taking up a roster spot, and blaming him for the fullback’s release.
It turned out to be much ado about nothing because Bawden is back.
Once again, the corporate media just loves using Rodgers as a pinata. They just don’t like him.
Jets fans should ignore the corporate media attacks on Rodgers, and thank their lucky stars he’s in the building.
He is the one who can lead them out of their current morass, which includes 13 straight years out of the playoffs, and his role in this goes deeper than him playing the QB position on a high level.
He’s the only one who has the guts to go public that they need to fix their culture, and he’s not just going to be just a QB moving forward, but a cultural consultant for Woody Johnson and company.
Whether you agree with his worldview or not, he’s not afraid to ruffle feathers with strong opinions, and that quote that he had on ESPN a few weeks ago, was pretty darn powerful about what happened after he got hurt in Week 1
“And without me here, It becomes natural for things to fall to what they have been before,” Rodgers said.
What a gutsy quote. People might call it egotistical. Perhaps on some level it is, but to me, he was speaking the truth.
Not starting Trevor Siemian until now, when the veteran has been on the roster since September, and sticking with Zach Wilson, was “2 plus 2 equals five” logic, and goes back to an era of suspect decision-making, perhaps driven by public relations, and propping up a high draft pick to save face.
I’m not putting Siemian in Canton, but he did go 13-11 as a starter in Denver, and is the consummate game manager, and you put him out there the last couple of months, I’m telling you, they at least around .500 and still in the wildcard race.
“I’m going to tell you right now, if they play Trevor Siemian, they’re winning that game (against the Las Vegas Raiders). I’m just telling you right now, Trevor Siemian is a professional quarterback,” said Mark Schlereth, a former NFL offensive lineman. “He’s going to put you in the right play. He’s going to make the right check. He’s not going to make bonehead decisions and if the guy is open he’s going to hit him. With that defense and just a game manager at the quarterback position that’s not doing stupid things, you’re going to win games. I truly believe that Trevor Siemian would have given them a chance to win the last couple of games.
“Why they continue to lean into Zach Wilson I have no idea.”Â
Neither do a lot of people.
But with Siemian under center, and the Jets’ playing three winnable games to end the season, don’t be shocked if the Jets win a game or two.
But obviously that would be too little to late.
So the Jets can’t listen to the corporate media who continue to attack Rodgers’ input. The Jets need to listen to him more, not less.
December 22, 2023
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