The Jets might have finally found the perfect team.
Not on the field, where the Jets are a surprising and improved 3-2, but on the sidelines. Though coach Rex Ryan has reaped the praise for his team’s surprising start in his make-or-break year, it’s due in part because the offense is not pulling down a still stellar defense.
“Marty Mornhinweg has brought stability and direction to the offense,” said former Steelers coach and CBS analyst Bill Cowher, who will be working in the booth for the first time on Sunday when the Jets play host to Pittsburgh at MetLife Stadium.
“He’s given Rex a chance on defense, where his expertise is,” he said. “I look at this team and [I am] watching a rookie quarterback turning into a starter before your eyes. This is a really big game for them. There are benchmark games where it proves you turned a corner and that’s one of these games.”
Mornhinweg and his West Coast offense is being piloted by the improving Geno Smith, who has shown a mix of potential and youth with 11 turnovers mixed in with seven touchdowns for the NFL’s 13th-rated offense.
Not spectacular, but a vast improvement over a group that regressed from 25th to 30th in switching from Brian Schottenheimer to Tony Sparano the past two seasons.
“It’s very important because it eliminates one area where you have to be hands on,” Cowher said.
“Again, the other part is Mike Pettine going to Buffalo and Rex deciding to step in and make some of the calls and sometimes that’s a great release for a coach. It’s something he’s always done. He’s very comfortable with that. … The stability in an organization starts with stability in coaching, and I think they have that right now.”
Ryan’s job was in jeopardy after the team went from back-to-back AFC title games to 8-8 to 6-10 and the team firing general manager Mike Tannenbaum in the offseason and replacing him with John Idzik. But now there is at least the potential of the Jets signing Ryan to an extension, and — even more shocking — a chance for this team to be tied for first place in the AFC East after six games if it beats the winless Steelers and the Patriots fall to the unbeaten Saints on Sunday.
“When you start winning games, you start getting confident and playing better than you really are and that can take you a long way,” Cowher said.
“What the Jets have is a running game and a defensive front that can match up with anybody in the NFL. I really like the guys they have with Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson.
“Who would have thought Pittsburgh would be coming in here looking for their first win and the Jets, if they win this game, potentially playing for first place a week later against the Patriots?”