The beauty of this blog is The Boss always has a song that perfectly describes the mess these two teams are. This week, especially in the Jets case, was evidence of “the price you pay”for being run by incompetent people. There are moments in your life as a fan where you can’t believe the people in power don’t see the things you do. Where the decisions being made are just utterly baffling. We’re in one of those right now and it’s infuriating considering how anticipated this season was. Time for another autopsy folks, spoiler alert, it isn’t going to be pretty.
Jets
We have talked repeatedly since Aaron Rodgers went down, about how the Jets have to play to win games. I’ll repeat it for the thousandth time since they evidently don’t listen. Limit mistakes, avoid dumb penalties and turnovers, capitalize on short fields. In the last two games, Gang Green has done anything but play that way. Monday night’s effort made the Giant game look like a Picasso.
The early punt return touchdown simply can’t happen when your offense can’t score. The fumbles and drive killing penalties that followed it took away any chance at momentum. Even the Jets inability to do the basics, like falling on a loose ball rather than trying to pick it up (looking at you Michael Clemons), proved costly.
Of course to get momentum you need a quarterback that can actually run an offense, and Zach Wilson is far from that. Prior to the bye week he had shown some signs of life. While he still wasn’t setting the world on fire, Wilson at least was moving the offense and giving them a chance to score. But the last two weeks have been ugly as he looks completely lost under center again.
Number two evidently can’t count past two when it comes to his internal clock feeling the blitz or the number of defenders on the line of scrimmage. It’s stunning he hasn’t learned more of this by now but then you remember who he’s been coached by which accounts for some of the reasons why he is a mess.
Which brings us to this coaching staff. I have been adamant all year that this staff left a lot to be desired, and we’re seeing it play out. Sure Saleh can coach the hell out of a defense, and he should be damn proud of that unit. But this teams constant poor starts to games and their undisciplined style of play is on him! They look completely unprepared week to week, something that is inexcusable from a coach who is in year three.
He is only outdone by the clown who calls this offense Nathanial Hackett. Hackett once again called another brain dead game where the Jets refused to commit to the run game. Yes, the offensive line is tough to run behind, but running the ball is a mindset. With Wilson under center Breece Hall is this offenses best weapon, you have to commit to using him! Maybe they should listen to Troy Aikman, who rightfully took this offense to task on the Monday Night broadcast. There is no defending this group anymore, players and coaches alike are all accountable for this mess!
We can sit here and blame this teams downfall on losing Rodgers for the season, but as Aikman pointed out last night, I’m not sure he could save this team. This team has a nice young nucleus of talent, but on the whole it is poorly put together on the offensive side of the ball. The weapons, aside from Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, are subpar.
Allen Lazard can’t catch a cold and the tight ends lack explosiveness. I understand the offensive line is banged up and they are playing backups like Billy Turner, but I’m not sure Turner is fit to play for a high school right now. This all leads us to examine the work of general manager Joe Douglas. Douglas has done a fine job at the draft, but I think he’s underwhelmed when it comes to addressing this team’s deficiencies, especially in the last several months.
After seeing Zach Wilson play last year, Douglas and this front office felt it was time to double down on him. They kept him around and punted reliable backup QB Mike White off to Miami. Wilson struggled in camp and the preseason and they still didn’t feel the need to address the backup position. Once Rodgers went down they ignored veteran options for several weeks, likely costing them at least one win, and until signing Trevor Siemian when they were already 1-3. Of course they won’t dress Siemian for a game “out of respect to Zach’s confidence” as if Wilson is playing with so much under center.
They could have been even addressed the quarterback position at the deadline with Josh Dobbs and Jacoby Brissett available for late round picks. But Douglas stuck his head in the sand again and went with Wilson. He could have addressed the offensive line with guard Ezra Cleveland who was dealt to the Browns. But once again he chose the in house option of Billy Turner who was beaten for several sacks. Instead of a logical addition Douglas tried to acquire DaVante Adams and Mike Evans…as if Zach Wilson could get either of them the ball.
Rodgers injury, much like Aaron Judges injury did for the Yankees, simply laid bare all the issues the Jets organization has. Woody Johnson has empowered these people to run the team and they are failing in real time. Even if this team makes the playoffs, something that feels increasingly unlikely, no one in the front office or on the sideline should be retained. If he refuses to be proactive and make these changes, the Jets risk wasting this talented core the way the Yankees did.
One last thing on Jets leadership. In Robert Saleh’s Tuesday appearance on The Michael Kay Show, he seemed to be admitting that playing Zach Wilson isn’t his call. If Douglas and or Woody Johnson are forcing Saleh to play an inferior quarterback then I’m frankly at a loss for words. This organization is doomed and this team will have a hard time moving forward if power struggle ensues. Check out the clip below.
The Jets are off to Vegas next for an absolutely must win game. Another loss could send this season off the rails.
Giants
Where to begin with the Giants. They frankly aren’t worth the outrage anymore. This season is finished. The only thing matters is what kind of draft pick they will get and which college quarterback they like more. This group no longer looks interested in competing, something that could have major repercussions.
To lose so soundly to a Raiders team that has been in complete chaos is a damning sign of where this team is at. Credit to Vegas and new coach Antonio Pierce. He rallied this team from a negative situation under its previous head coach and got them to perform. Ironically the silver and black made their alumni in attendance proud while being coached by Giants alumni.
Rookie QB Aiden O’Connell had a rocking chair game under center as the Giants “vaunted” pass rush barely got to him. For the first time all year Josh Jacobs, DaVante Adams and Jakobi Meyers all enjoy nice games. While Giants offense made Maxx Crosby and the Raiders defense look like Ted Hendricks and Jack Tatum were out there. All of this largely took place before Daniel Jones got hurt.
Unfortunately number eight’s nightmare season only got worse when his knee gave out in the second quarter. His worst fears were realized Tuesday when the injury was confirmed to be a torn ACL, ending Jones season. Jones seemingly rushed himself back to play in this one, perhaps leading to the injury. Regardless the offense was turned over to Tommy DeVito for the second straight week, who was at least allowed to throw the ball this time, going 15-20 for a touchdown and two INT’s.
DeVito will likely remain the starter with Tyrod Taylor and Daniel Jones both out. While it’s a nice story to see the local hero get his moment under center, he’s in for a rough go of things. He’ll get his first start against an angry Cowboys team this week, whose defense will tee off on the young signal caller.
As mentioned earlier it feels like this team has quit. You don’t throw the “q word” around lightly in sports because it’s often unfair to say, but the effort we saw Sunday was indicative of exactly that. This team no longer looks interested in competing in any game they have left.
If Brian Dabol and this staff have indeed lost the locker room it calls everything about this regime into question. While it feels extreme to think about cleaning house again, I’m not sure this group can be brought back. I feel preseason expectations got out of hand in the New York media, but this teams play has been completely unacceptable from start to finish this year. There is a lot more to fix than we thought and it doesn’t feel like this staff and front office is capable of putting things right.
It’s time to tank and scoreboard watch the other teams in contention for the top pick. This upcoming draft represents another chance for this historic franchise to break the toxic cycle it’s been in for years. Unfortunately there isn’t much left to say about Big Blue this season.
I’ll be back with thoughts on the Yankees and Mets this week as they have finally re-appeared in the headlines. We’ll also have more hockey content coming as the NHL season is heating up. Follow me on Twitter @YNWA9623 and subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner of your screen and entering your email!
The Broadway Breakdown 
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