Rex Ryan safer than John Idzik?
The New York Jets were supposed to be a laughingstock last season, but they somehow managed to go 8-8 despite starting a turnover-prone rookie QB with no weapons around him and fielding an incredibly burn-prone secondary. Neither of those two larger issues have changed this season despite better weapons, and regression was always to be expected after last season’s rosy finish. The Jets 1-4 record right now is much more indicative of their talent level and the fact that this team has too little talented to be anything more than a rebuilding squad.
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All of the false preseason expectations combined with the team’s poor record and Geno Smith drama have led both head coach Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik to hit the hot seat. Conventional wisdom states that Ryan’s seat is hotter, but the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport implies that this isn’t the case. Per Rapoport, Ryan is “safer” than he once thought, but Idzik’s future is totally up in the air.
It actually makes sense for Ryan to be in a better position than Idzik, because, after all, it is Idzik who is largely responsible for supplying the Jets and his head coach, whom he doesn’t even seem to listen to, with adequate talent. He couldn’t even fill a basic need by signing a legit shutdown corner, adding Dimitri Patterson instead. That said, adding Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could have been risky, as his track record with long-term deals isn’t the best. Idzik has largely nailed his draft picks…except for quarterback Geno Smith, who was either a bad choice or hasn’t shown enough development under offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who is the one responsible for developing QBs.
Idzik’s lack of success in free agency and Geno’s lack of success will haunt him, but the Jets have to fire Ryan if they fire Idzik, simply because they can’t leave themselves in an awkward situation where Ryan is forced to work under a GM who doesn’t like him (again). Ryan is a great coach, but I guess the Jets firing him would be a liberation of sorts, allowing Ryan to join a team where he’ll actually receive competent support.