How the New York Jets Can Salvage Season, Make Most of Remaining Games
The NFL season doesn’t end after falling out of playoff contention. The New York Jets have multiple question marks to answer before the conclusion of the 2014 season.
After a 38-3 thumping on Monday Night Football courtesy of the Buffalo Bills—the Jets have five weeks to soften the harsh reality of a second losing season during Rex Ryan's tenure.
Quarterback Evaluation
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The support for Geno Smith has wavered over the course of the season. New York Daily News reporter Manish Mehta quotes Coach Ryan early in the season:
It seemed as though Ryan would stick by his developing quarterback through the struggles to figure out if Smith was the man to lead the Jets offense into the future. After a string of losses, some horrendous performances and a shoulder injury the outlook changed completely.
Prior to the Pittsburgh Steelers game, Smith practiced as he recovered from injury. Both he and Ryan had the same assessment—the shoulder was healthy enough for Smith play if needed per Mike Vurkunov of NJ.com.
"The Jets' now-backup quarterback practiced in full today as he mends a shoulder injury. He made approximately 60 throws in practice, while monitored, and then threw afterward too.
"He looks fine," Jets coach Rex Ryan said.
Smith came away with the same opinion. He said his shoulder has improved.
Smith will continue to receive treatment for the shoulder as the Jets proceed to their matchup with the Steelers, where Michael Vick will start again but Smith said he should be able to play barring a setback.
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New York was victorious against the Steelers. Following a bye week, Vick continued to start against the Buffalo Bills. Initially, Smith’s demotion seemed temporary due to injury, leaving the door open for the second-year quarterback to return to the starting lineup. However, the veteran signal-caller has given a much needed boost to the offense.
The conundrum for Ryan is saving his job while developing the future. The Jets know a 34-year old quarterback isn’t the long-term solution, but the head coach needs to win games to save his job. It’s clear players and coaches have more confidence in Vick leading the offense. Running back Chris Johnson expressed his opinion on Vick starting sooner than later via Seth Walder of the New York Daily News:
"“Yeah, I think so. I think if he was starting from day one it would be totally different,” Chris Johnson told the Daily News. “He came in and his role was to help Geno (Smith) develop and try to help him the best he can, but at the end of the day it turned out how it turned out and (we’ve) just got to live with it.”
Considering the improvement in quarterback play since Vick took over — the veteran has posted QB ratings over 100 in his two games as a starter while Smith posted a rating of 65.6 in his eight games — Rex Ryan will surely be second-guessed for the rest of the year over whether he should have brought the lefty out of the bullpen sooner.
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New York must escape the temporary fix-it period, and make a decision on a quarterback whether it’s retaining Vick or Smith, free agency or the 2015 draft.
Acclimating Percy Harvin and Chris Johnson
Whomever the quarterback next season, he’ll need weapons to succeed. The Jets have to make an immediate decision on Percy Harvin following the season. New York can release Harvin in the offseason without affecting their cap space per ESPN.com, if he isn't a suitable fit for the offense.
Harvin has only made a major contribution to one game statistically.
| Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | |
| Week 8 | 3 | 22 | 0 |
| Week 9 | 11 | 129 | 0 |
| Week 10 | 3 | 23 | 0 |
| Week 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
However, it’s worth noting Harvin impacts the offense beyond the box score. He uplifts special teams as as a solid kick returner. The explosive wide receiver also draws some of the heavy coverage away from fellow wide receiver Eric Decker. As a beneficiary, Decker can come close to the productive 1000-yard receiver he was in Denver.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg has struggled to get six-time 1,000-yard running back Chris Johnson going this season. Johnson has 400 rushing yards, and only one rushing touchdown thus far. When asked about the quarterback position, he took it upon himself to express displeasure in his role per ESPN reporter Jane McManus:
"I don't even be in the game, so I don't know," he told ESPN New York.
Coming from the Tennessee Titans, Johnson isn’t used to taking a backseat to anyone at his position. Mornhinweg must find a way to cohesively utilized both Chris Ivory and Johnson. Much of the focus has been placed on Ivory’s tenacious run-style, but Johnson offers an additional dimension out of the backfield.
Johnson was comparable to Jamaal Charles while in Tennessee. As a dual-threat running back, who can run with speed and catch—he can lineup in different positions within the offense. Thus far, Johnson has been inconsistent, and it seems Mornhinweg struggles with using his skill set.
The seventh-year ball carrier has another year left on his contract (per spotrac.com) to make an impact in New York. Unfortunately, Mornhinweg lacks the creativity in his offensive schemes to maximize Johnson’s production.
Evaluating Defensive Backs
The Jets' pass defense has been through many ups and downs dating back to the preseason. Injuries have depleted the rotation, forcing Ryan to make unorthodox decisions.
Safety Antonio Allen was converted to cornerback, and assigned the best receiver on the opposing team in several games. Marcus Williams was signed from the practice squad a month ago to fill a gap caused by an injury to Darrin Walls—who entered the season as a career backup cornerback.
Ryan’s defensive back shuffle failed to patch up a porous pass defense. The Jets entered Week 12 giving up 240 passing yards a game per ESPN.com, and were subsequently dissected by Kyle Orton for the second time this season.
Gang Green’s first-round pick also struggled this year. According to ESPN reporter Rich Cimini, Calvin Pryor has struggled in an area considered to be his strong suit coming out of Louisville.
According to Metro.us reporter Kristian Dyer, Pryor views his demotion as a learning process:
"“I admit that it isn't easy. It's not," Pryor told Metro. "You don't want to take a back seat. You want to be out there playing, working. Humbling? I don't know about that. It's part of the process though.
“It's making me better as a football player. Now I'm in the back seat, learning a lot more, things I didn't see before. I think it will make me a better individual. Once I bounce back from all of this, it will make me a better football player.
It is tough, but at the same time, when you watch, everything slows down. You can really see what's going on. With me being a rookie, being thrown into the fire, now I can sit back and see where I can make a change, where I can do it differently.”
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The toughest decision will be choosing which defensive backs get the most playing time next season. The constant mix and match combinations have allowed the coaching staff to evaluate talent at the position from top to bottom. Talented players like Jaiquawn Jarrett may see expanded roles, while Allen’s subpar performance at cornerback will likely diminish his role next season.
The coaching staff will continue to develop third-round pick Dexter McDougle out of Maryland, and Dee Milliner after recovering from season-ending injuries per the team’s official injury report.
The front office would be smart to invest in another cornerback in the early rounds of the 2015 draft— in case Milliner continues to struggle with injury or production.
Currently, defensive backs Dawan Landry, Milliner, and Pryor are likely to have significant roles next season. Jarrett continues to make a strong case for himself with five games left to play.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
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