NFL Panic Meter: 5 Teams Looking For The Reset Button
By Keith Myers
New York Jets
Current Record: 1-7 The isn’t much panic in New York, just a general acceptance that this season has been an bad as almost everyone thought it could be. The New York Jets are, once again, a complete mess. This has been a trend for a few seasons now, and even a new general manager hasn’t helped. The on-field product is poor, and there doesn’t seem to be any reason for hope that it’ll get better either during this season or the next. The Jets haven’t had a winning record since the 2010 season, and they’re still clearly getting worse rather than better. Head Coach Rex Ryan, known as a great defensive mind, has seen his defense give up more points in each successive year since he took over as coach. The Jets have now benched quarterback Geno Smith for Mike Vick. Vick has a lower completion percentage, a higher turnover rate, and a lower passer rating than Smith does. While Smith clearly hasn’t been good, Vick has been worse. This is a move that appears to have been made entirely due to media and fan pressure, which is never a good thing for NFL team. There are two distinct problems in New York. The roster talent is poor, and Ryan’s message appears to be getting lost in the locker room. While everyone, from players to upper management, seems to like Ryan, it’s clear that a new leader would be good for the team.
John Idzik says they “won’t judge job status in-season.” Confirms Rex won’t be fired until after the 2014 product is finished.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 27, 2014
The roster talent issue falls squarely on the shoulders of general manager John Idzik’s shoulders. There are some major holes on that roster, and the losses are piling up because of them.
John Idzik said he's gone through introspection: "My performance to date is unsatisfactory, it's been a direct reflection of our record."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 27, 2014
Idzik does deserve some credit though. He took over a team that was way over the salary cap. He managed to get the Jets from being in one of the worst cap situations to being in one of the league’s best in just two seasons. That shouldn’t be undersold.
Of course, that was what Idzik did before coming to New York. Idzik was the “cap guy” for the Seattle Seahawks, and helped them assemble their Super Bowl winning roster. It is clear that he is one of the best cap managers in the league.
What Idzik isn’t is a “personnel guy.” While Seattle got Idzik involved in some scouting and personnel decisions to help him get a GM job, that isn’t his background. Idzik’s lack of scouting experience has shown in some of his personnel moves in New York.
The Jets clearly need a savvy personnel guru at the helm of the franchise. They need someone who can find late round gems that can help the team win games, to scan the waiver wire for castoffs from other teams that will fix in better with New York’s system, and to lure in free agents that can help fill in holes in the roster. It is difficult to make a case that Idzik is that guy.