GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Jets have been embarrassed 31-6 by the Cardinals on Sunday and are actually 3-7. Listed below are some ideas and observations from the sport:
1. I’ve lined many coaches and younger gamers who arrive with the Jets speaking about turning issues round and about ending the discuss of Similar Previous Jets. Then, in some unspecified time in the future, you see their look change. They appear overwhelmed, perplexed and depressing after getting overwhelmed down by the Jets’ dropping methods.
Aaron Rodgers had that look Sunday.
On the sector, he was screaming and waving his arms in frustration. Within the postgame press convention, his solutions have been quick and quiet. The swagger was gone.
Whereas I chuckled at a number of the coaches or rookies who got here in speaking about championships, I really thought Rodgers, one of many best quarterbacks ever, would possibly be capable to defeat the unhealthy vibes of the Jets. Whereas a Tremendous Bowl could be a tall order, I believed he may cause them to the playoffs.
However now Rodgers has been swallowed and eaten alive by the Similar Previous Jets. He appears nothing just like the outdated Aaron Rodgers, simply an outdated Aaron Rodgers. On Sunday, he regarded afraid to carry onto the ball and look downfield regardless of first rate move safety. His longest move was a 15-yard checkdown to Breece Corridor.
The Jets traded for his BFF Davante Adams with the concept would spark this offense, however within the first half Sunday, the 2 didn’t join as soon as. On the aim line early within the third quarter, with an opportunity to get again within the recreation, he missed Adams twice.
Throughout the Jets’ five-game dropping streak final month, Rodgers was banged up and you would clarify away his struggles with that. However he’s wholesome now. He practiced totally final week for the primary time since early within the season.
This isn’t a couple of barking knee or a hamstring grabbing. It appears like Rodgers has fallen off the cliff. Rodgers had simply 151 yards passing on Sunday regardless of 35 makes an attempt. He has by no means had that few yards with that many makes an attempt in his profession.
The Jets took a raffle with the Rodgers commerce. They knew he was about to show 40 and was coming off a down yr in 2022. The chance was comprehensible, nevertheless it was a threat. It got here with the chance that every one the decision-makers could be fired if it didn’t work. Robert Saleh is already watching Jets video games from his sofa. Joe Douglas is unlikely to return in 2025. The Jets can have a painful rebuild coming and Rodgers will value them $49 million in lifeless cash.
As for Rodgers, folks will neglect about this Jets stint as a result of that’s what it has been – completely forgettable. It will likely be a footnote in his nice profession just like the Chargers are for Johnny Unitas and the Rams are for Joe Namath.
The Rodgers experiment failed. Similar Previous Jets wins once more.
2. One other pattern with the Jets by way of the years has been younger, good gamers getting overwhelmed down by the dropping. You possibly can sense that now taking place with Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner and Breece Corridor. I’m undecided there may be something the Jets can do. You’re feeling unhealthy for these gamers. They’re gifted and possibly have gained for many of their careers rising up. However now they’re observing a 3rd straight dropping season. This yr was speculated to be totally different with a wholesome Rodgers.
You would really feel Wilson’s frustration within the postgame locker room. He has had dynamic moments this season, most notably his catch towards the Texans. However Wilson desires to win. He doesn’t have the diva tendencies of many receivers. However right here he was explaining away one other loss, one other recreation the place the Jets didn’t attain the top zone. It felt like the sport may have been ripped from 2022 or ’23.
The one distinction from these years, although, is the protection often performed nicely in 2022 and ’23. It didn’t on Sunday. Gardner was partially responsible for his massive missed deal with on third down. Gardner appears surprised by this season and you may really feel his frustration rising.
Jets followers need to hope that these younger stars don’t tire of the Jets and ask for a commerce this offseason. It will likely be tempting for a brand new normal supervisor to deal one in every of them and purchase sufficient picks to hurry up a rebuild. The Jets have been down this street so many occasions earlier than once they have dealt away gamers who regarded like they might be career-long stars for the group – Keyshawn Johnson, John Abraham, Darrelle Revis, Leonard Williams and Jamal Adams come to thoughts.
It might be unhappy to see the Jets transfer on from Gardner, Wilson or Corridor for Jets followers. Nevertheless it could be a reduction in spite of everything this dropping for the participant.
3. What has occurred to the as soon as mighty Jets protection? It isn’t a easy reply. Right here is my checklist of what I feel went unsuitable:
A) They have been sure for some regression this season. The protection has performed so nicely over the past two years. It’s laborious to take care of that stage. Even with a slight regression, the Jets have been nonetheless going to have protection.
B) Dropping Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers was enormous. These two have been productive gamers and common ones within the locker room. I had one participant inform me that he all the time knew Franklin-Myers would make the deal with if the opponent ran to his aspect. They by no means fearful about backs attending to the second stage when JFM was on the market. I do know Huff has not had yr in Philadelphia, however he was constructed for this protection. Huff was simply rising as a very good participant and the Jets let him stroll. Haason Reddick was invisible Sunday.
C) Firing Robert Saleh has clearly had an impact on this protection. I’m undecided whether it is from a schematic standpoint they usually miss his defensive thoughts, or if Jeff Ulbrich is simply overwhelmed by doing each the pinnacle coach job and defensive coordinator. No matter it’s, the protection has been a lot worse since Saleh has been gone.
4. Misplaced on this mess of a recreation Sunday was that left deal with Tyron Smith exited the sport with a neck harm and didn’t play the second half. This might result in a major change with 2024 first-round decide Olu Fashanu now enjoying left deal with. Smith has not had season, so it might not be an enormous loss. You knew Smith would get harm in some unspecified time in the future. That was a part of the logic of drafting Fashanu No. 11 total. Now, the Jets may get an prolonged have a look at Fashanu. If the Jets imagine Fashanu can shield Rodgers, they need to simply let him play the remainder of the season and let him develop. We’ve reached that a part of the season with the file the place it’s.
Revealing stat
Rodgers averaged 4.3 yards per try on Sunday, trying afraid to throw it deep. He’s averaging 6.4 yards per try this season. That’s the lowest in his profession since turning into a starter in 2008.
Stunning snap depend
Braelon Allen solely had 14 snaps in Sunday’s recreation. Breece Corridor performed 47. I don’t perceive why that hole is so broad. Allen is ready to transfer the ball by way of the center. He’s productive when he performs. The Jets want to provide him an even bigger position.
Recreation ball
The Jets missed tons of tackles however Jamien Sherwood made 17 of them. Sherwood continues to have a breakout season, enjoying rather than C.J. Mosley and was one of many solely positives from Sunday.
