Before the rational among us declare there's no need to dial one of those therapist hotlines, or despair openly after two preseason games, or surface missives about countless New York Jet seasons that have exploded in flames over the many disconcerting years, let's review the facts.
The Jets have yet to score a touchdown this preseason, and really haven't come close. They've been outscored 43-9 in two games. Offensive lineman Wayne Hunter continued to look like the flag man at the airport waving taxiing planes toward their gate. And neither quarterback has accomplished anything to dismiss the notion the Jets are somewhat less than threatening when they have the ball.
What has happened to this team? It was a scant two years ago they were just short of dominant. They intimidated teams on both sides of the ball, while the offensive line punished their counterparts across the line of scrimmage. All the discussion centered on the next step. You know, the one that arrives after the AFC Championship Game the Jets lost two years in a row. Now, they are straddling the line between simply ineffective and humorously bad.
While, yes, the preseason means nothing, you cannot ignore the results when they are as awful as the last couple of weeks. No team unveils their offensive plans in the preseason, yet plenty have utilized basic schemes to score points. Is it possible the Jet management is this thick?
The world, inside and outside of Jet fandom was appalled at the ghastly play of Wayne Hunter last year. Certainly, there wasn't a fan who perceived another opportunity was warranted. He was universally taunted. Yet, Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan decided very early in the off-season to bring him back. Were they simply stubbornly reinforcing their position as decision-makers? Are they that arrogant? Goodness, Hunter was as atrocious against the New York Giants as a player can be and still be employed the next day.
Also, and not coincidentally, Tony Sparano was hired practically on the same day Brian Schottenheimer was mercifully released - mercifully for Brian, not the Jets. Someone tell Rex Ryan everyone knows what the "wildcat" is. Saving that "surprise" for the opener against the Buffalo Bills might result in the same embarrassment we're all experiencing now.
Glenn Vallach has been a football fan for most of his lifetime, but never played organized pigskin unless you consider the thousands of youth hours running slant routes on city streets with a friend serving as Joe Willie. Don Maynard was his idol, an adulation he took seriously, complete with a number 13 stitched to his sweatshirt. He remains a New York Jet fan through so much disappointment and embarrassment over the years. Coach Rex Ryan has rekindled a dormant fire, but sometimes he feels as if he doesn't understand the likely end result of all his efforts. It has been 42 years, after all.
Sources:
- Yahoo! Sports New York Jets page
- Yahoo! Sports New York Giants page
- Yahoo! Sports Wayne Hunter page
- Yahoo! Sports Mark Sanchez page
- Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press, Jets still looking for TD after 2 preseason games
