New York Jets: Bold Predictions for 2012 If Gang Green Doesn't Make the Playoffs

It's Week 11 of the NFL season and the New York Jets find themselves at a disappointing 5-4.

Just when it seemed the Jets' season might have been turning the corner after two good wins in a row, Rex Ryan's squad threw up a stinker against their division rival, the New England Patriots.

Inconsistency has plagued the Jets all year long and they are underachieving as a result.

The playoffs are no certainty at this point in a competitive AFC in 2011.

So what would happen if the Jets didn't make the playoffs? Here are some bold predictions if that happens.

Brian Schottenheimer Will Be Fired

After Eric Mangini got fired, Brian Schottenheimer was able to keep his job as offensive coordinator. Pretty rare considering when head coaches are fired, normally their staff goes with them.

That wasn't the case in Schottenheimer's instance. But that may be different if the Jets don't make the playoffs.

The Jets offense has been bad this season. Passing the ball, the Jets are ranked 20th while their running game, normally the staple of their offense, is a pitiful 24th. In total yards, the Jets are 23rd in the league.

Furthermore, Mark Sanchez hasn't become the franchise-leading quarterback the Jets had hoped for so far this season.

All of these things should come down on the Jets offensive coordinator and when combined altogether, it should mean the Jets will look for a new man to take over Schotty's job in 2012.

Rex Ryan on the Hot Seat

I feel if the Jets regress and don't make the playoffs this year, Ryan's job should be vacated at the end of the season.

But that won't happen, as Ryan has gotten his team to the AFC Championship game the past two seasons.

I say he should be fired because of his ridiculous behavior, including cursing at fans and his many failed predictions and cocky attitude that has gotten the Jets nowhere.

It's also tough to keep a coach whose team gets worse after two good playoff runs.

Not to mention, Ryan is supposed to be a defensive specialist but his defense has gotten progressively worse since his first season with the team.

Make no mistake about it, Ryan will be on the hot seat if the Jets don't make the playoffs.

The 2012 season will be Super Bowl or bust for him and if he can't reach the promise land, the Jets will be looking for a new coach after the 2012 season.

Revamped Rushing Attack

The Jets' running game was thought to be the best thing about their offense, but as it turns out in 2011, it's their weakness.

The Jets are averaging less than 100 yards per game this season, good for 24th in the league.

Since Shonn Greene has become the No. 1 back, he hasn't lived up to the expectations bestowed upon him when he got the starting job. Along with LaDanian Tomlinson, the combo has been disappointing in their tenure with the Jets.

To add insult to injury, Mark Sanchez hasn't been able to step up and fill in the void left by a bad rushing attack. That has helped the Jets have a disappointing season offensively.

The production of their running game is a shell of itself since the departure of Thomas Jones, and their continuous failures may lead to New York looking elsewhere for a running game.

Mark Sanchez on the Hot Seat

In his third season with the Jets, Mark Sanchez was expected to take the reins and be a better, more reliable quarterback.

But that hasn't happened.

His touchdown totals may ultimately be up from last season, but Sanchez is still averaging about one interception per game.

He certainly isn't the type of quarterback who can put a team on his back and win games, a quality that is important if you're a true franchise quarterback. With a terrible rushing attack, Sanchez isn't doing more to combat that issue. Instead of stepping up, he's playing the same way he has in year's past.

After a total failure of a season, the Jets will quietly begin looking for a replacement for Sanchez. The former first-round pick won't be replaced immediately, but the Jets won't think twice about grooming a possible "successor."

Sanchez is still under contract through the 2013 season, but no contract in the NFL is ever guaranteed. Besides, that will leave New York a few years to begin looking for someone else to take the job.

Especially if Peyton Manning is available.

Jets Will Let Their Play Do the Talking

With all the predictions and cocky attitudes the Jets are often putting out there to the media, that whole approach will change after this season.

Gone are the days when Rex Ryan will be flapping his gums about how great his team is and how they are Super Bowl bound.

The Jets head coach should change the way he does things considering it hasn’t brought him anything but negative attention.

That means no cursing at fans, walking out to press conferences in ridiculous wigs or making foot fetish videos with your wife.

Just winning and nothing else.

For once, Rex and the Jets will let their team’s good play do the talking and leave all that other nonsense behind. It’s a shame it will have taken a bust of a season for him to go that route, but it will happen nonetheless.