Can the Jets Back Up Their Coach’s Bark?

By: Matt

Every year one team becomes a major story in the NFL; usually this team would be the Washington Redskins and their free agent flirtation or the Oakland Raiders and their need for speed.  This year, New York’s other football team, the Jets, have quietly become that major off-season player.  Early in the off-season the Jets fired quarterback Brett Favre, removing themselves from the drama of Favre’s to join or not to join dilemma with the Minnesota Vikings.   The most notable Jet this off-season has not been the ageless quarterback, or any player in fact; the face of the Jets for 2009 has become 46-year-old rookie Head Coach Rex Ryan.  Ryan, the brains behind last years Ravens defense, replaced former rising star Eric Mangini as the Jets head coach and quickly became a favorite among both fans and media outlets when he opened his mouth and proceeded to never stop talking. 

 The rookie coach began his public career when he put the New England Patriots, the early Super Bowl favorites and dynastic ‘big-dogs,’ on alert that the Jets were going to compete.  Ryan then got into an argument with Channing Crowder, a linebacker for the division-rival Miami Dolphins.  During their war of words Ryan even stated that he felt he could win in a physical brawl with the linebacker (given his ‘advanced’ age and somewhat plump physique] this is an unlikely outcome).  Ryan’s flashy personality and willingness to be open with the media should come as a surprise to nobody, to find the roots for Ryan’s behavior one needs look no further than his father, Buddy Ryan.  The elder Ryan gained fame as the defensive mastermind of the 1985 Chicago Bears and as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles during their Gang Green era.  Buddy Ryan would often badmouth other coaches, including those on his coaching staff, and do things that other were considered improper (for example: the Bounty Bowl, punching Kevin Gilbride, and his relationships with Bears Head Coach Mike Ditka and Eagles owner Norman Brahman).  Given the controversial status of his father it would be surprising if the Jets new coach had NOT inherited some of his fathers … ‘uniqueness.’ 

 What may surprise people is that the Jets have quietly made moves that could allow them to back up their coach’s big words.  By adding former Pro-Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard, safeties Jim Leonhard and Abram Elam, and linebacker Bart Scott the Jets have created great depth for their defense and have assembled enough pieces to create some of the complicated but successful defense run by Ryan with the Ravens in years past.  The Jets defense has enough talent across the board that the general talent of the defensive group could overshadow their lack of a truly elite defensive player.  The Jets have also found a potential franchise quarterback in 4^th overall selection Mark Sanchez.  The USC quarterback comes from a system that has produced a number of NFL quarterbacks (the success of these men is more questionable) and Sanchez may be the most physically gifted of the group.  Quarterback Brett Favre achieved some success, but his league high 22 interceptions were a big negative for a Jets offense that now features running backs Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Shonn Greene.  If the Jets can find a quarterback who will make some plays and few mistakes (ironically, a fair description of a man they cut last year, Chad Pennington) than their running game could carry them to success.  The AFC is a tough conference, and the AFC East is one of the best divisions in it, but if the Jets live up to their potential then they could find a way to sneak into the playoffs and start to live up to their coach’s big promises.