Woody Johnson will sit in his proprietor’s suite at MetLife Stadium on Monday evening when his Jets play the Payments and hope the magic button he pressed this week produces, effectively, some magic.
Jeff Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator Johnson promoted when he fired Robert Saleh on Tuesday, will stand on the sideline as an NFL head coach for the primary time, hoping he could make a distinction for the 2-3 Jets as they play for first place within the AFC East.
Todd Downing, the quarterbacks coach who was elevated to play-caller, will sit within the coach’s field on press degree calling performs for the primary time, hoping to supply touchdowns for an offense that hasn’t produced sufficient of them.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers might be on the sphere, taking within the performs Downing calls, hoping the brand new synergy provides the wayward offense new life.
Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator and BFOAR (greatest pal of Aaron Rodgers) who had his play-calling duties stripped away and given to Downing, might be at MetLife Stadium with a task but to be recognized.
Saleh, presumably, might be sitting at dwelling, with out a crew to educate for the primary time in three-plus years, both watching his former crew or not, however understanding in his coronary heart that it’s a gifted crew nonetheless with an opportunity to make some noise this season.
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It’s been a turbulent week across the Jets, and plenty of questions nonetheless persist, starting with how the crew will reply and react to the interior unrest when it lastly will get onto the sphere Sunday evening.
Often, when head coaches are fired — significantly in mid-season — the groups are in a state chaos and/or a free fall within the standings.
Sure, the Jets enter this recreation having misplaced in every of the previous weeks, however they’re hardly a crew in chaos.
A win over the 3-2 Payments on Monday evening and the Jets are in first place within the AFC East, tied with the Payments at 3-3 — and with the early head-to-head tiebreaker edge.
How will the gamers react to the sudden change and the feelings of Saleh being fired?
“The message is taking part in the best way that we wish to play, not as a result of our coach acquired fired, not as a result of we’re taking part in for the No. 1 spot [in the division], not as a result of it’s the Payments, not as a result of division recreation, however as a result of that’s what we’re alleged to do,’’ Jets linebacker and captain C.J. Mosley instructed The Put up on Saturday. “Yeah, it’s been an extended week. However as soon as we acquired on the soccer discipline, it felt like every part was simply sort of again to regular.’’
There’s been a buzz phrase that’s come up quite a few occasions this week since Saleh’s firing: “Lock arms.’’
“Yeah, it’s been a whole lot of change, however on the finish of the day, we’re the identical crew,’’ proper sort out Morgan Moses instructed The Put up. “[Ulbrich] has acquired the identical individuals within the locker room — nice human beings. And if something, that is going to convey us nearer.
“We’ve acquired a whole lot of veteran guys have been by means of quite a few conditions over the portion of their careers, and I believe we’ve achieved job permitting the youthful guys to have the ability to lean on us for solutions and management.
“That’s what the crew is about. We function as a crew, as a unit, as a household. That has allowed us to come back nearer and actually lock arms.’’
Ulbrich, who was introduced in by Saleh and stays very near him, on Saturday described the wild swings of feelings for him this week.
“It’s positively been difficult, thrilling, heavy on the guts at occasions for certain simply due to the entire state of affairs and my reference to Robert — professionally, personally, the entire thing, what he means to me,’’ he mentioned.
Ulbrich, a former participant, praised his gamers for the way they’ve dealt with the tumultuous week.
“I’m so grateful for this group of gamers and coaches that we have now on this constructing as a result of they’ve been so supportive, and the best way they’ve all rallied and ready, actually excited in regards to the work we’ve put on this week,’’ he mentioned. “We’ve got a course of in place right here. We’ve tried to enhance it as a lot as we will on this specific week, and in the end we’re going to belief that course of, earn the fitting on Monday evening … to play free and free and let it rip, earn the fitting to have a good time this recreation along with your brothers.
“In the end as coaches, that is our alternative to get out of [the players’] approach and provide the keys to the automotive.’’
The hope of Johnson, as he sits in his suite Monday evening after what some consider to be a rash determination to fireplace his head coach simply 5 video games into the season, is that the automotive doesn’t spin out right into a guardrail and careen down a cliff.
