N.Y. Jets: Robert Saleh Era Cleared For Take-Off

From the desk: WALT WICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK ONE

Jets

vs.

PANTHERS

The Zach Wilson/Robert Saleh Era Begins

The Jets enter the season as the youngest team in the league.  To that, I say you cannot be disappointed with what you do not expect.  The hope is Joe Douglas finally gets the Jets flying in the right direction.  Otherwise, I really don't know what more to say.  Gang Green has much work to do.  

Zach Wilson was selected second overall in the draft.  He'll be receiving play calls from first-time offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and both will answer to new head coach Robert Saleh, who answers to Joe Douglas.  The Jets might very well have finally put the right pieces in place.  But that remains to be seen.

That being said, I do anticipate the Jets performing exponentially better this season than during any time under former head coach Adam Gase.  The difference will be stark.  Adam Gase was more prohibitive in Sam Darnold's development than anything else.  In his third season in the league, Darnold still wasn't allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage.  The fact Gase is gone already makes the Jets a far better team.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold, in the first game of the season, gets to play against the team that ruined the first three seasons of his career.  His ordeal in New York will serve him well.  As they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  Darnold finally gets to line up with real players and work for real coaches on a real team that plays in their own stadium.

The Jets will obviously implement a run-oriented offense.  It's up to Zach Wilson to learn and grow into a complementary component.  On Sunday, I expect Sam Darnold to carve up the Jets' defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.  Gang Green does not yet have the requisite pass rush to influence the outcome of a game.

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: Ten Shades of Gase

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK TEN

Jets           28

Chargers  34

FINAL

Ten is the magic number.  

The Jets are now 0-10, which assures them of a tenth straight season without a playoff appearance.  That's not all Adam Gase's fault, but this season is certainly the punctuation mark denoting the end of a decade of futility.

However, things are looking up.  They've only lost their last two games by a total of nine points.  In fact, coming off their performance against the Patriots, I picked the Jets to cover the spread against the Chargers ... and they did!

So, there's that.

The Chargers fumbled on their second possession of the game, recovered by the Jets on their own four-yard line.  On the Jets first play from scrimmage, Joe Flacco ponderously throws a pass to the right flat that gets intercepted for a pick-six.  Add in two missed extra-points by Sam Ficken, and therein lies your margin of defeat and your tenth loss of the season.

On the prospect of finishing the season and his career for that matter with an 0-16 record, Frank Gore says, "I can't go out like that."

By the way, Frank Gore is the third leading rusher in NFL history.  

Just saying ...

GOOD NEWS: After battling injury earlier this season, second-round selection Denzel Mims is starting to demonstrate his worth.  Mekhi Becton, the eleventh overall selection of the draft, is also proving himself to be a major player of impact on the line.  There's no doubt at this point that Joe Douglas has his sights fixed on next year's number one draft pick.

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: 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: 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.

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: 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.

N.Y. Jets: Sam Darnold Feeling Green in the Gills

From the desk of: WALK MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK ONE YIELDS MORE BAD NEWS

Week one is proving more problematic than original estimates.

Receiver Quincy Enunwa's situation is a serious matter.  Quincy's season is tentatively over after sustaining a second neck injury.  He is targeted three times with one reception on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.  Suddenly the rest of his career is potentially in question.  The Jets 2014 fifth round draft pick plays 12 games in his rookie season.  As a sophomore in 2016 he appears in all 16 games amassing 857 yards receiving.  However Enunwa misses all of 2017 due to bulging discs in his neck.  He returns in 2018 to post 38 receptions and 449 yards through eleven games of limited play.

Enunwa's condition quite obviously leaves the Jets precariously thin at receiver entering week two, and beyond.  That means it's time new general manager Joe Douglas start earning his keep.

Compounding Jets problems is quarterback Sam Darnold reportedly contracting mononulceosis.  They can expect to lose Sam's services not only this week, but potentially for several more weeks to come.  Recovery from what is more commonly known as the "kissing disease" is known to extend several weeks.  I guess a sophomore is as a sophomore does, problem is this isn't high school or college, dude. But while I speak in jest, this is indeed a concerning ailment.  As luck would have it, the Jets will benefit from a very timely, albeit oddly scheduled week four bye.

The Trevor Siemian Era Begins, Now!

As they say: one player's mono is another man's opportunity.  After 26 games as a member of the Denver Broncos, Trevor Siemian will make his first ever start as quarterback of the New York Jets.  He is being handed the reins of a team under pressure to win first its first game of the season under a new head coach (and his personally appointed general manager), while minus the services of a primary receiver, and having to overcome last week's poor performance by the offensive line whom yielded four sacks and nine QB hits.

No red shirt can save him now!

Good luck with that.