N.Y. Jets: Year End Godspell

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

R.I.P.

GANG GASE ERA

b. January 11, 2019

d. January 3, 2021

When all is said and done, it will be almost two years to the day that the Jets made the ill-fated mistake of hiring Adam Gase.  Right or wrong, that was the general consensus unless you're Christopher Johnson, that is.

Today, WFAN's Craig Carton reported that Adam Gase will be fired after this Sunday's game against the Patriots.  The greater local New York media is yet to confirm this.  But we all know it's most likely true.  

How can it not..?

WORST HEAD COACHES

1. Rich Kotite; 4-28 (.125) 1-15 record in 1996.
2. Lou Holtz; 3-10 (.230) quit in 1976 after 13 games.
3. Adam Gase; 9-22 (.290) one game left versus Patriots.

After Sunday's game, if either of the Brothers Johnson is directly involved in hiring the next head coach, then we know we're dealing with the same old Jets.  But if Joe Douglas is given complete autonomy, and we never hear from the Johnsons, then maybe they're finally headed in a new and a better direction. 

N.Y. Jets: Way To Go, Guys!

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

"TRAP GAME ALERT!!  The Jets this season have lost by at least seventeen points on seven different occasions.  They've similarly been held to ten points or less seven times.  Adam Gase said he has failed Christopher Johnson.  Perhaps, there is still more he can do - like screwing up the Jets chances at the number one overall pick with an upset victory against the Rams!  Only then will his failure be complete" - My Pigskin Picks: Week Fifteen 

Jets       23

Rams     20

FINAL

First off, the Rams suck!  If you follow my Pigskin Picks, you know that I've been calling them a paper tiger all season.  The Jets didn't win this game; the Rams lost it - buncha scrubs.

But leave it up to the Jets to essentially ruin their shot at the number one overall pick in next year's draft.  After all their futility and hard work, now they wanna win!?  They will need an awful lot of help over the next two weeks from the Jacksonville Jaguars to regain their standing as the worst team in the NFL.  

However, this colossal screw up is not on Adam Gase - not this time.  He gets paid to coach football games and was just doing his job.  It's the general manager's job to furnish the coach with players, or not (just ask John Idzik).  That said, full blame should be placed on Joe Douglas for not telling Adam Gase to "cleverly and descretely" bench some of his starters.  Yeah, that's right.  Douglas is the phantom menace.  Don't let Frank Gore rush the ball 23 times; don't target Jamison Crowder six times.  As a general manager, all you have to say to the league and media is you're evaluating talent.  

What else is there after losing thirteen straight games ...

The one time when the Jets absolutely, positively, need a loss, they go and beat the Rams.

They were 17 1/2 point underdogs.

Ponderous!

Just like last season, this victory is too little and comes way too late.  Gang Gase started last season losing seven of their first eight games before rallying to win six of their last eight.  The Jets now improve to 8-22 under Adam Gase and may very well have jeopardized another decade of Jets football.

His failure is indeed complete.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Makes History

From the desk:  WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK FOURTEEN

Jets              3

Seahawks  40

FINAL

An after-game review is worthless at this juncture.  All you need to know is the New York Jets suffered a club record thirteenth straight loss.  

I'm sure, somewhere, Rich Kotite is laughing his ass off.  Imagine Walt Michaels' dismay who once upon a time got fired after taking his team to the AFC championship game.  Yet, "the brilliant" Adam Gase is still here.

News Flash: Christopher Johnson, in all likelihood, will fire Adam Gase at the end of the season.  

If he doesn't, Woody should beat him up immediately after touching down again on U.S. soil.  

The "Same Old Jets" applies because instead of discussing general manager Joe Douglas firing Adam Gase, we keep reading and hearing about Christopher Johnson firing Adam Gase.  On behalf of Jets fans, when is the media going to take the Johnsons to task for not instituting an intelligent chain of command?

These are the same people who remained silent and protected the Wilpons from Mets fans.  But once the deal to sell the Mets was finalized, they all broke out their bazookas and opened fire upon outgoing ownership.  The same thing goes on with the Jets.  All the pundits know the Johnson Brother's way of doing business is just stupid.  Yet, even amid this horrific 0-13 effort, they print and speak nothing of the kind.  They ask that you pay for their articles offering Christopher this and Christopher that, instead of just lambasting Christopher and his brother and imploring them to let their executive do his damn job.

But no ... let Gase stay and continue ruining Sam Darnold's career.  The man even admitted after Sunday's 40-3 thrashing that he indeed failed Christopher.

But go ahead, screw Sam, get that number one pick.  😠

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Sacks Gregg Williams After Loss to Raiders

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Week Thirteen

Raiders  31

Jets       28

FINAL

Live by the Blitz; Die by the Blitz

... but was this a case of defensive coordinator sabotage?

No one needs to hear it from me.  But truth be told, when you're leading 28-24 with 0:17 seconds left on the game clock, and the opposition has the ball on your 46-yard line, all you have to do as a defense is let them run the ball or allow them a short pass reception, then just make a tackle and it's generally game over.  Ordering an all-out blitz in that situation is very simply a fireable offense.  That's exactly what Gregg Williams does, and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr reads it perfectly.  He throws a game-winning touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III, and it's essentially game over.  On Monday, the Jets relieve Gregg Williams of his defensive coordinator responsibilities and promote Frank Bush on an interim basis.

Was Gregg Williams the only smart guy in the room?  Apparently, he was the only one to grasp the magnitude of the situation.  The Jets were on the verge of compromising their chances to land next year's first overall draft selection until Williams smartly interceded.  Or did everyone forget the Jaguars this season have only one victory with four games left to play?  The Jets have gotten this far without a single win, and Williams was not going to let them blow it in Week Thirteen.

Of course, I say this in jest.  But Williams is an experienced coordinator, albeit a highly aggressive one.  Nevertheless, I assume with great confidence that he knows better than to call for a cover-zero in that situation.  Granted, if I had to sit in meeting rooms with an utterly inferior head coach that has done everything to run this team into the ground and yet is confoundingly considered brilliant by the owner, I'd probably want out of there too.

What strikes me most curious of all is that Adam Gase did the firing.  After an 0-12 start, this man ponderously still holds sway.

• "Obviously, I wasn't happy about that call." - Adam Gase.

So, where were the head coach's superintendence and oversight?  Gase plays middleman with his offensive coordinator where no play gets called without passing through Adam Gase's headphones.  Why is he not in communication with his defensive coordinator?  And if he was and didn't like Gregg Williams' defensive selection, why didn't Gase do something about it?

• "That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game." - Adam Gase.

Trust me, they're no more heartbreaking than any of the previous twenty losses under Adam Gase's command.  But he seems to think fans were copacetic with a 7-20 record, but that this one particular loss can not and will not stand.

• "For that to happen in that situation, we just ... we can't have that happen." - Adam Gase.

It's your fault.

N.Y. Jets: Woe and Eleven

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

The Vast Emptiness of Gase Space

Three points ...

Playing on their home field, Sam Darnold back under center, with a full complement of receivers at his disposal, and the NFL's third all-time leading rusher in the backfield, all the Jets could muster against a middle of the pack Miami secondary and the league's seventh-worst run defense was three points.

In their two games this season against the Dolphins, Gang Gase has been outscored by a 44-3 margin; if you recall, Miami whitewashed the Jets in Week Six.  Over the last two seasons, the Dolphins own a decisive 91-43 point advantage.  Ryan FitzMagic was also able to gain yet another measure of revenge against his former team, dropping Gase to 1-3 against the Fish - the team that fired him.

The Jets have easily scored the least points in the NFL this season with no real hope of improvement.  They've now been limited to ten points or less six times through eleven games and held under twenty points on two other occasions. 

Denver may have injured Sam Darnold's throwing shoulder, but there is no doubt Adam Gase continues destroying Sam's young career.  Through seven starts, Darnold has exceeded 200 yards passing only twice - ironically against the Broncos and in Week One against the Bills.  Otherwise, in five other starts, Darnold is averaging a mere 159 passing yards per game.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Play Gate rages on.  Adam Gase weeks ago said all play-calling duties had been transferred to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.  If only that were so.  During Sunday's post-game presser, the media finally took Gase to task, pointing out specific instances in which Loggains was caught talking to everyone else but Gase, who himself was busy calling plays.  Gase predictably responded with stuttering half-truths, a bevy of feeble excuses, and one particularly inane explanation of his three-stage communication process.  Gase would now have us believe Loggains scripts the first three plays of any given possession and that Gase takes care of third down situations and two-minute drills.  But on closer inspection, Gase appears to be the only one holding a play-card and even admits to exercising veto rights in certain situations.d  

This begs the question: why would a team maintain an offensive coordinator deemed unqualified to call all plays?

Moreover, Dowell Loggains is also the quarterback coach.  What exactly has this man done for Sam, who is still not allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage?

Poor Sam I Am is in the hands of two people who have done absolutely nothing to advance his career.

Let's just hope he survives the final five games.

N.Y. Jets: Breaking Sam

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Johnson! - End - The - Stupidity

In Defiance of Adam Gase, Uncompliant Right Shoulder Slams Brakes on Darnold's Season

The destruction of Sam Darnold's career continues.  After sustaining the initial injury to his throwing shoulder, head demolition expert Adam Gase allowed Sam Darnold to retake the field against the Broncos.  Darnold subsequently missed games against the Cardinals and Dolphins.  Still far from feeling 100%, the team said there was minimal risk involved insofar as Sam playing forward.  But the results speak for themselves.  Sam was utterly ineffective in his return against the Bills, going just 12/23 for 120 yards with three interceptions.  The following week and still clearly hurting, Sam was an inconsequential 18/30 for 133 yards in a 35-9 blowout loss against the Chiefs.  He was ultimately held out of last week's game against the Patriots and will not start this coming week against the Chargers.  More games are likely.

Let's just say the Jets earn next year's #1 draft pick and select Trevor Lawrence.  Who in their right mind would let him play under Adam Gase?  At the moment, the answer is Christopher Johnson, that's who.  Just look how Ryan Tannehill is flourishing while playing far away from Gase as possible.  Look at Tannehill's seasons before Gase started polluting his life versus the seasons he played under Gase.  Then take a look at what he's presently doing at Tennessee.  The Bears were 6-10 when Adam Gase was their offensive coordinator.

What about all this makes Adam Gase "brilliant?"

N.Y. Jets: Throwing It All Away

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK NINE

Patriots  30

Jets        27

FINAL

WHO CALLED THAT PLAY?

Add this to Adam Gase's resume: the New York Jets are off to the worst start in their nearly sixty-year history.  With Monday night's loss against the Patriots, the Jets this season are now winless through nine games.  Although, this was their closest margin of defeat.  Gang Gase led this game for 58:03 minutes.  So, there's that.

Leading 27-20 with six minutes left in the game, the Jets have the ball at their own 18-yard line.  Joe Flacco playing for Sam Darnold, has three touchdown passes on the day.  On first and ten, Flacco throws deep intended for rookie Denzel Mims but is picked off at the Patriots 28-yard line.  New England drives and ties the game on Cam Newton's one-yard rush.  The Jets go three-and-out on their ensuing possession.  The Patriots then kick the game-winning field goal.  Game over.  Gang Gase allows ten points in the final six minutes and 13 points in the fourth quarter.  It's yet another example of Gase getting out-adjusted after halftime.  The Jets generate no sacks and touch Newton just four times all game.  

Belichick ordered a heavy run game.  The Patriots gained 159 gross yards.  Cam accounted for sixteen yards.  In place of inactive Sony Michel, Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead joined for 26 rushes for 127 yards.

• Breshad Perriman catches five passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.  Jamison Crowder also catches a touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Jets running game is nonexistent.  Frank Gore and La'Mical Perine join together for 65 yards on 18 rush attempts.  Joe Flacco otherwise handles the load until his ill-fated interception.  The play selection itself, the actual pass 55-yards downfield, and the failure to check down are the reasons for this loss.  Instead of concentrating on first downs and killing the clock, they elect to go as high risk as they can imagine.

... just stupid.

N.Y. Jets: No Pain No Gain

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Something So Wrong

Scram, Sore Arm Sam, While You Still Can

Sam if you do, and Sam if you don't.  If their latest bad idea goes according to plan, the Jets will send a compromised and theoretically expendable Sam Darnold back out onto the field to face the stumbling Patriots this coming Monday night.  This will mark the third time Joe Douglas allows Adam Gase to knowingly play their ailing quarterback.  Sam's sore arm is admittedly not up to snuff.  Yet, as if the Jets had something to play for, the show must go on.  But let us not overlook an emerging scenario wherein Sam Darnold is playing for his job.  For the Jets, the silver lining of this dismal campaign is, of course, potentially being awarded the first overall pick of next year's NFL draft.  Joe Douglas also told reporters just the other day that Adam Gase is still a part of the solution.  That's because the so-called general manager holds no real sway over Adam Gase's employment.  That's Christopher Johnson's jurisdiction.  In the meantime, Sam Darnold is pressed into showcasing himself with a hurting shoulder and an ineffectual cast of complementary players.  Perhaps it's best if you scram, Sam, while you still can.

N.Y. Jets: Sam Darnold Sacked in Return

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK SIX

Bills   18

Jets    10

FINAL

Gang Gase Showing No Improvement

There is nothing overtly embarrassing about an 18-10 loss against Buffalo.  That is, unless you're coming off six straight losses and have yet this season to win a game, and your head coach is Adam Gase, whom Christopher Johnson thinks is brilliant.   

I digress ..

Buffalo takes the season series, two games to none.  The Jets get outscored in Week One by ten points.  This time they only get outscored by eight points.  So, congratulations on avoiding another double digit loss.  

Here's another positive: LáMical Perine and Frank Gore join on 22 rushes for 100 yards, the latter accounts for 60 yards. 

However, Sam Darnold is sacked six times and hit another ten times.  In his first game back since Adam Gase let him play against the Broncos while hurt, Sam Darnold completes just 12 of 23 passes for 120 yards, with two interceptions.  In case the team is anticipating earning the first overall pick in next year's draft, QB prospect Trevor Lawrence just tested positive for COVID.

Get well!

Meanwhile, last week's score is hardly representative of the defensive effort.  Buffalo amasses 422 total yards.  Josh Allen 30 of 43 for 307 yards, and the ground game gains 123 yards (backfield accounts for 15 rushes/76 yards, Allen accounts for the rest).

If this coming Sunday Le'Veon Bell, as a member of the Chiefs, should rush for 100 yards and receive for another 70 yards, now that will be embarrassing.

N.Y. Jets: Deep Sixed at South Beach

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

Third Winningest Coach

WEEK SIX
Jets              0

Dolphins    24 

FINAL

JOHNSON & JOHNSON: The Brothers Grim

We presently live in an age of unprecedented offensive achievement.  It seems as if the NFL record books get rewritten every year.  Playing defense has evolved into a prohibitive endeavor.  Today's

quarterbacks receive more protection than ever before and passing for 30,000 yards in a career has become common.  Receivers these days can make snow angels in the hail of pass interference flags being thrown in any given game.  

Yet, the New York Jets all-time leading passer remains Joe Namath who last donned a Jets uniform in 1976.  The club's all-time receiver, Don Maynard, retired after the 1973 season.  Their all-time ground rusher, Curtis Martin, retired from the Jets fifteen years ago.  

The Jets winningest head coach till this day remains Weeb Ewbank with 71 victories.  Joe Walton is second with 53 wins and Rex Ryan is next in with 46 wins.  Outside of Bill Parcells and Al Groh (no coincidence here), every head coach in Jets history has posted a losing record - every one.  By the time 2000 rolls around, there is one common denominator as to why Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Al Groh all ran from the Jets like the joint was on fire: Woody Johnson.

Since 2001, the Jets have been through five head coaches and five general managers.  The program on average changes every four years.  Meanwhile, the team is presently in the hands of Woody's brother,  Christopher Johnson, who makes his head coach and general manager report directly to him, separate and equally, and rarely in tandem.

Because this makes sense ...

Just as letting former general manager Mike Maccagnan conduct the draft and spend free agent money, then firing him made total sense ...

The Brilliant One, Adam Gase, on Sunday loses his twelfth game by double-digits as head coach of the Jets, seven times last season and five so far this season.  In Jets history only two coaches have posted a worse winning percentage than Gase:

• Adam Gase  7-15 (.318)
• Lou Holtz  3-13 (.214)
• Rich Kotite. 1-15 (.125)

Lou Holtz was so bad that he quit.  

No such luck with Adam Gase.

On Sunday the Jets lose to the rival Dolphins by a 24-0 margin.  Ryan Fitzpatrick torches his former team for three touchdowns.  The Fish rush for 106 yards.  On offense, Joe Flacco completes less than half his passes, throws an INT and is sacked three times.  The Jets rush 21 times for 115 yards but it gets them nowhere.  Sorry, but the availability of LT Mekhl Becton is far from being the reason for their woes.  In fact, Miami was so inspired by the Jets ineptness that they inserted their rookie QB with the safety of mind that the opposition really sucks.

Gang Gase is the lone remaining team in the NFL this season without a win.  They are now 0-6 and the schedule only gets tougher from here on out. 

N.Y. Jets: One Less Bell to Answer

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

Statement from GM Joe Douglas pic.twitter.com/By9XevVXVv

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 14, 2020

The Jets get into an imaginary bidding war against absolutely no one and land their man.  After holding out a full season Le'Veon Bell leaves Pittsburgh to sign with the Jets for $52 million over four years.  A seemingly healthy Bell last year plays 15 games and rushes for a career low 789 yards (in seasons which he played at least twelve games or more).  Except for an injury compromised 2015 season, Bell rushes the ball the fewest times since his rookie season.

Why is this?

Adam Gase never wanted him and stubbornly finds little use for him.

Who can't find use for one of the premiere backs in football over the past few years?

During training camp and early this season a strained hamstring comes into question.  Adam Gase is aware Bell is hurt but plays him anyway.

On Wednesday Bell is released .. not traded .. released.

It stands to reason if the Jets can eat Le'Veon Bell's remaining money, then they should be able to dine on the remainder of Gase's contract as well.  

Right?

Who signed Le'Veon Bell?

Mike Maccagnan.

Very shortly after signing Bell, Maccagnan is fired (we believe at the insistence of Adam Gase).  In turn Gase politics for the hiring of Joe Douglas as next general manager.

The Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans have taken definitive actions insofar as rectifying their respective mess.  Here, Christopher Johnson lets Maccagnan run the draft and spend all his free agent money, then fires him.  Now with Jamaal Adams and Le'Veon Bell out of the way, Adam Gase is essentially given clearance to continue running this organization into the ground.

I'll say it again: If Joe Douglas is not allowed to fire Adam Gase then he should quit on the spot.

N.Y. Jets: Nothing But Problems

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

GANG GASE OFF TO WORSE START THAN LAST SEASON

PROBLEM: Christopher Johnson hires Adam Gase, then fires general manager Maccagnan and replaces him with Joe Douglas after Gase's recommendation.  There's no chain command.  Both men report directly to Christopher Johnson.

PROBLEM: Adam Gase said he intensified practice yet still doesn't understand why the team in underperforming.  He is now contemplating handing play calling duties to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

PROBLEM: Adam Gase let Le'Veon Bell play knowing he was hurt.  Adam Gase let Sam Darnold play knowing he was hurt.

PROBLEM: Players have been openly critical of Adam Gase since training camp. 

PROBLEM: Christopher Johnson calls Gase an offensive genius.

PROBLEM: This season's 0-5 start exceeds last year's 0-4 start.

PROBLEM: Le'Veon Bell is LIKEing tweets suggesting the Jets trade him.

PROBLEM: Adam Gase never wanted Bell in the first place and his play calling demonstrates that.

PROBLEM: Just when you thought is couldn't get worse, it does.

PROBLEM: Gase makes Todd Bowles seem like the good old days.  

PROBLEM: Any time Rich Kotite creeps back into the conversation you bet there's a problem.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Off To Second Straight 0-4 Start

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK FOUR

BRONCOS   37

JETS           28

FINAL

Air Johnson & Johnson is the Worst Product in Football

"He's a brilliant offensive mind." - Christopher Johnson on Adam Gase

Gang Gase kicks off Week Four in the NFL with a disgraceful home performance on national television against the previously winless Denver Broncos who were starting a third string quarterback.  

Now everyone knows how bad they are.

Think about this for a second.  The Jets lose to Brett Rypien .. Brett Rypien .. who connects with Tim Patrick for 100 yards and a touchdown.  Melvin Gordon rushes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.  It's only his second 100 yard rushing game in his last sixteen, but it comes against the Jets.  I can not think of a more nondescript trio in all the AFC.  Yet, the Broncos torch the Jets for 38 points.  It's the most points Gang Gase has allowed through four games.  Which is another way of saying they are getting worse, not better.

Until Sunday Kickoff the Jets presently own the distinction of allowing the most points in football.  Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams tried unleashing the dogs against the Broncos.  Three times they picked off rookie Brett Rypien.  But all they have to show is six personal fouls and their fourth straight loss to begin the season.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold's career is in the midst of being ruined with each passing game.  In the first quarter Sam was obnoxiously slammed into the ground causing injury to his shoulder.  Not one Jets team mate came rushing to their quarterback's rescue nor took linebacker A.J. Johnson to task.  The play didn't even draw a flag from the dudes in stripes.  Instead Sam's offensive line responds by allowing three sacks.  Sam is forced to put up 42 attempts, and in the absence of a qualified backfield he leads the team in rushing with 84 yards on six scrambles.  Darnold is generally outplayed by Brett Rypien three quarters against one.

Look around the league.  Second year Gardner Minshew; second year Kyler Murray; third year Josh Allen; third year Baker Mayfield; third year Lamar Jackson; and fourth year Deshaun Jackson all have better complimentary talent around them.  All the aforementioned also threw for more yards last season than Sam Darnold.

Before running out of the building like his hair was on fire Jamaal Adams said Adam Gase didn't share a connection with the rest of the team.  Adams is gone yet the Jets are off to their second straight 0-4 start for the first time in their history.

Coincidence?

N.Y. Jets: All Systems Maybe

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

THE LOSER BOWL

DENVER BRONCOS

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

FROM

WINLESS STADIUM

Jets Looking To Avoid Second Straight 0-4 Start

Can the broken Jets defeat the busted up Broncos?

Great thing about the Loser Bowl is that someone must win.  Then again, maybe not.  There is always the chance of a tie.  Just ask the Eagles.  With the way the Jets and Broncos are going nothing is out of the question.

Jamison Crowder might be back, but will he be effective?  Practice means little.  You just can not simulate real game muscle action and reaction unless someone is getting paid to oppose, stop and hit you.

If the Jets have done anything well - and that's a relative term - they've run the ball somewhat effectively.  Why not reverse roles and instead of making Darnold - still playing without a full compliment of weapons - throw 35 times and limiting the backfield to just 21 rushes, stick with the run  35 times and limit Darnold's throws.  Put the ball in Frank Gore's hands and let him run to daylight and kill the clock.  After the Bills game, the Jets improved time of possession by a full ten minutes.  Why?  Because they only rushed 14 times against Buffalo.  Correlation?  You tell me.

It's wrong to blame Sam Darnold for this team's woes.  How about you let him call a damn audible, will ya?!  This is about quarterback development, not holding him back when faced with - I don't know - eleven people getting paid to make him play badly.  Are you not teaching him how to read and react, or are you (Adam Gase) giving Darnold the old Nancy Reagan and just saying no?  

By the way, I wonder how practice went this week?

Practice?

The Broncos decimated by injuries are starting third string quarterback Brett Rypien.  This will be his first NFL start.  If defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn't devise something appropriate for the situation, well, what is there to say ...

All still falls on Adam Gase.  Should the Jets lose, how does a de facto owner suddenly gifted with incredible football executive insight and ability not reconsider his stance?  

T-minus four hours to take-off.

N.Y. Jets: Terrible Is As Terrible Does

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

The End Zone Might As Well Be Outer Space

WEEK THREE

Jets      7

Colts  36

FINAL

Three Times is Officially a Trend

Yes, that plane falling out of the sky has a Jets logo on it ..

Through three weeks the Jets are allowing more, more and more points, while scoring less, less and less.

• I - Bills 27; Jets 16
• II - 49ers 31; Jets 13 
• III - Colts 36; Jets 7

Without Le'Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman, and playing behind a compromised offensive line, Sam Darnold is progressively getting worse, worse and worse.

• I - 215 passing yards; one INT
• II - 179 passing yards; 0 INT
• III - 168 passing yards; three INT; two pick-six

 

Take away Darnold's two INT's returned for touchdowns and the Jets are still nowhere near competitive.  In that case make it a 24-9 loss.  That's still more than two touchdowns.  The defense generated no sacks and just one QB hit.  When a 40-yard kick return is your best play of the day, something is very wrong.  Said another way, just about every facet of Adam Gase's operation is failing.  Once again they're increasingly becoming an embarrassment on the field.  No hint of polish exists anywhere on this team, even when healthy.  Now, mimicking last year's undercurrent, a growing number of players are complaining practices are not effective nor intense enough.  That speaks to a broader range of staff-wide responsibilities and shortcomings beyond just the head coach.  Yet, Christopher Johnson left off saying Gase is absolutely the right guy for the job.  That leaves general manager Joe Douglas stuck in the middle, which is a condition that has hampered the Jets going back to Woody Johnson.  If this keeps up the Jets are headed towards next year's NFL draft with the number one overall pick.  Can Joe Douglas really afford to have that selection playing under Adam Gase?  At some point the general manager will need to put his foot down on the matter and override everyone, namely Christopher.  Should Joe Douglas receive any resistance he should quit on the spot.

N.Y. Jets: Coach Gase Rewards Owner's Confidence With Another Loss

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK TWO

Niners    31

Jets        13

FINAL

Adam Gase : Christopher Johnson :: Rich Kotite : Leon Hess

Back to the hangar ...

Just days after Christopher Johnson reiterates his full endorsement of Adam Gase, the Jets come apart on the tarmac.  But according to Christopher Johnson, Gase is the right man to pick up the pieces and assemble them back together again.  In any other organization an owner's reassurance so early in the season is usually a kiss of death.  But with regards to the Jets, Christopher Johnson actually believes this and thus remains the poster child for novice superintendence at the highest order.  The situation is fast approaching the Rich Kotite and Leon Hess levels of incompetence - if Gase and CJ haven't surpassed it already.

If nothing else, the Jets offense is proving consistently inept.  The Jets had eleven drive opportunities against the Bills in which they generate 254 total yards on 53 total plays.  Le'Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder were both out of Sunday's game.  Therefore, Sam Darnold's top weapons were Frank Gore and Chris Hogan.  The Jets again have eleven drive opportunities against the Niners and similarly generate 277 total yards on 62 total plays.  Through two games Jets opponents have gained 763 total yards and scored 58 points.  The Jets have managed just 531 yards and 30 points. 

What do you suppose awaits the Jets when they touch down in Indianapolis on Sunday?

As Adam Gase's play calling goes, so goes Sam Darnold.  We learned after Sunday's game that Sam was not allowed to audible out of a particular fourth down play.  That's what I call development!  Why not just duct tape the third year quarterback to a chair ...

Sam Darnold through Week Two

• vs. BUFF - 21/35 for 215 yards, one TD, one INT.
• vs. S.F. - 21/32 for 179 yards, one TD, no INT.  

At least Joe Douglas' reconstructed offensive line had a better game.  Against Buffalo the Jets rush 14 times for just 46 yards and allow three sacks.  On Sunday they rush 27 times for 97 yards and allow one sack.  Good back up effort from Frank Gore who rushed 21 times for 63 yards.  Through two games he has rushed 27 times for 87 yards.

The Jets can claim some progress.

Or not ...

New York Jets Get Buffaloed in Season Opener

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK ONE

Jets    17

Bills    27

FINAL

All Systems Fail ...

Note to Joe Douglas: once is an event; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

Adam Gase and Le'Veon Bell previously miscommunicate during camp regarding the issue of his strained hamstring.  First game of the season and they again fail to communicate.  Bell re-aggravates his hamstring in the second quarter.  A little stubbornness on his part and a lack of conviction on the coach's part wrongly keeps Le'Veon in the game and gives the Jets their first controversy of the regular season, not to mention a questionable back field heading into game two.

That's not to say Bell's presence would have made a difference.  Before exiting the game Bell rushes six times for fourteen yards and makes two receptions for 32-yards, for a grand total of eight touches and forty-six yards.  Subbing for Le'veon Bell, Frank Gore rushes six times for 24-yards.  The Jets close out the first quarter with a ten play, 75-yard drive in which they settle for three.  However, they go into halftime down nineteen points.  In the third quarter Sam Darnold connects on a short pass with Jamison Crowder who breaks away from the field for a 68-yard touchdown.  The Jets second and last sustained scoring drive comes too late, eleven plays for 86-yards, punched in from the two by Josh Adams.

Last year the Jets finish the regular season with a 7-9 record.  They get off to a 1-7 start then finish well with a 6-2 record.  However, they finished dead last in offense.  One game into 2020 and the Jets appear nowhere near improved.

Both Buffalo and the Jets have the ball for eleven drives, but the Jets only hold the ball for 18:44 minutes and 53 plays.  They generate half as many first downs as Buffalo and gain just 254 total yards versus 404 net yards for the Bills who hold the ball for 41:16 minutes and 81 plays.

Sam Darnold is 21/35 for 215-yards, with one interception and one touchdown.  Take away Crowder's catch and Darnold is 20/34 (58%) for 147-yards with an INT.

The secondary yields its first 300-yard game of the season.  On the ground the Jets hold Devin Singletary and Zack Moss to 41-yards on 18 attempts.  But they have no answer for Josh Allen who scrambles 14 times for 57-yards and a touchdown.

Last season's second half surge proved too little too late.  Just like Sunday's fourteen second-half points against Buffalo again proved too little too late.  Sam Darnold is now in year three.  He indeed has a lot to learn.  But if Sam does not demonstrate marked improvement this season what's the sense in keeping Adam Gase around?

If I'm Joe Douglas I'm already searching for his replacement.  It's the proactive thing to do.  And it would get the Jets away from this vicious cycle of hiring alternating general managers and head coaches.  Best thing Joe Douglas can do is make this team his.  No coaching changes this season, but make sure it's Adam Gase's last with the Jets before he gets him fired too.

N.Y. Jets: Adam Gase Adds Balance to the Force

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

BILAL POWELL FAN CLUB

WEEK ELEVEN

N.Y. Jets     34

D.C. Hogs  17

FINAL

Don't look now, but the Jets are winners of two in a row.

However before you go pitching a tent along the canyon of heroes, let's first give this game some context.  The Jets defeated Washington.  As badly as both teams have played this season, this particular victory was expected from the Jets.  Then again, the same was expected against the Dolphins as well.

That being said Sam Darnold needed to get some naysayers off his back, and did just that with his finest performance of the season.  Sam I am was 19/30 (63%) for 293 yards with four TD's and one INT.  He connected with his tight end Ryan Griffin five times for 109 yards and a touchdown.

The much beleaguered offensive line only yielded two sacks and finally created appreciable daylight.  As such the backfield rushed for upwards of 100 yards for the first time this season.  Le'Veon Bell gained 59 yards on 18 rushes, and Bilal Powell rushed seven times for 42 yards.  The two joined forces for 101 yards on 25 rushes.  The Jets are still nowhere near maximizing Le'Veon Bell's abilities (kind of feel sorry for the guy).  Powell has now rushed 20 times for 84 yards over the last four games.  In fact, Adam Gase called for 33 rushes and 30 pass attempts.  Finally ... a local head coach whom exhibited some balance!

Leonard Williams who?  The defense sacked Dwayne Haskins six times and hit him another ten times.  Angry Jamal Adams accounted for three sacks and four other QB hits.  Meanwhile the Jets front limited Adrian Peterson to just 25 yards on nine rushes.

All that being said outside of yet another kicking snafu, the Jets played an effective well rounded
game.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Makes Good Against Giants

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

That's One Small Step for Adam Gase;

One Huge Leap at the Giants Expense for Jetskind

With the Giants missing three starting offensive linemen, the Jets dialed up six sacks and another ten QB hits.  They also completely bottled up the Giants running game, limiting Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman to a mere three yards on 14 carries.  Meanwhile angry Jamal Adams was a one man gauntlet of green.  He had two sacks, two other QB hits, a team high nine tackles, and quite literally stripped potential victory out from the hands of Daniel Jones and the Giants with a forced fumble recovery and a touchdown.  Daniel Jones did however carve up the Jets secondary with a pair of touchdown passes each to Darius Slayton and Golden Tate.

For the beleaguered Adam Gase, Sunday's victory is a measure of redemption and at the very least a chance to exhale.  Sunday's victory also gives the Jets a break insofar as getting the local media spotlight placed back on the Giants.  After all, Gase did a better job coaching his team than Pat Shurmur did his.

Gase increased Bilal Powell's touches to seven.  Added to Le'Veon Bell's 18 rushes, that equals 25 rushing attempts.  Their 49 yards gained is a secondary issue.  It's the balance running the ball poses which will further help advance Sam Darnold's development.  Sam the Sophomore was 19/30 (63%) for 230-yards, with one touchdown via the air to Jamison Crowder, and one rushing, and no INT's.

The Giants managed just two sacks, none of which were recorded by former Jet Leonard Williams, although the new Giants defensive lineman was credited with four QB touches.

N.Y. Jets: Sifting Through The Wreckage

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK NINE

Jets           18

Dolphins  26

FINAL

The Jets did not hit rock bottom.  They crashed into it nose first.

More incredulous than the Dan Marino fake spike game; more ponderous than watching Richard Todd connect with A.J. Duhe three times in the 1982 AFC championship game; Sunday's Pop Warner performance at South Beach is easily the worst regular season loss I can recall over the last several decades of watching Jets football.

Woody and Christopher Johnson have no one to blame but themselves.  The Jets were a vibrant organization thanks in large part to the work of Bill Parcells.  One of his last acts as Jets executive was to recommend Terry Bradway as general manager.  Through his work and that of Mike Tannenbaum (also a graduate of Parcells U), the Jets remained competitive with head coaches Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan.  The second they fire Tannenbaum, effectively wiping away Bill Parcells' fingerprints, the team spirals headlong into descent.

Prelude to a disaster is a three stage process:

1. Hiring John Idzik
2. The arrival of Christopher Johnson
3. Hiring Adam Gase

Mike Maccagnan and even Joe Douglas have since been tasked with reconciling the damage wrought by Idzik.  But make no mistake, the smoldering trail of debris and wreckage left behind by Sunday's events all point to Christopher Johnson's inexplicable predilection with Adam Gase.  Johnson allowed himself to be talked into sacking his former general manager for no good reason other than to appease his new head coach.

Who does that?

If entering Sunday's contest the Dolphins were considered the worst team in football, what does that say of the Jets whom were outperformed by Miami -  if only barely - in most every aspect of the game?

Jets fans may want to involve the NTSB on this one.