The question whether Rex Ryan should return as Jets head coach in 2014 is about to become the biggest story of the next month. One of the arguments for keeping Ryan is he had no control over the personnel he was given, and how could he be expected to win with this group of offensive players.
But this is totally flawed. Ryan has had a huge say in personnel during his time here. One of the biggest criticisms of former general manager Mike Tannenbaum was he gave Ryan too much say in picking the players. Things don’t appear to have changed under John Idzik either. The Jets selected two defensive players in the first round of April’s draft, and they signed a washed-up Ed Reed three weeks ago because Ryan loves the guy.
One of the reasons the Jets don’t have that many good offensive players is because Ryan has ignored that side of the ball as he built up his defense. No one can deny the Jets now have one of the best defensive lines in football. First-round picks three years in a row on Muhammad Wilkerson, Quinton Coples and Sheldon Richardson will do that. If they were not dominant, something would be wrong.
But Ryan is like the guy who keeps fixing up his pool while the foundation of his house is crumbling. The Jets have not used a first-round pick on an offensive player since Mark Sanchez in 2009.
Anyone who questions Ryan’s influence in the draft room should read the new book “Collision Low Crossers” by Nicholas Dawidoff, who spent a year with the Jets and had tremendous access. In 2011, the Jets were preparing to make their final pick of the draft. The scouts wanted linebacker Nick Bellore. Ryan, Tannenbaum and top advisor Terry Bradway left the room. When they returned, Tannenbaum announced they were drafting wide receiver Scotty McKnight, who the scouts did not have a draftable grade on but was Sanchez’s childhood friend. Ryan had promised Sanchez he would take him and wanted to keep his word, infuriating the scouts.
You can blame Tannenbaum and Idzik for giving Ryan too much power, but don’t excuse Ryan for what this offense has become.
Jets signed KR Darius Raynaud and put Josh Cribbs on IR with a shoulder injury.