SNY analyst and former Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko talked with the Post’s Justin Terranova about Mark Sanchez’s regression, Rex Ryan’s personality and the need for someone to “smack somebody around” in the Jets locker room.
Q: What do you see that concerns you about the Jets?
A: Mark Sanchez has taken two steps backwards, so let’s wait for him to take that step forward again. On defense, nobody has run the ball on Rex up to now. The outside play of the linebackers has been a little suspect at keeping the edge and containment of the runners. One of the glaring things the past two years, is the safety position. The way Rex (Ryan) likes to get after you, and he doesn’t have the four-man pass rush to do it, he brings extra people. And when you bring extra people you put the burden on the safeties and linebackers to cover. So, either he has to change his way of thinking and play a little bit of a softer defense, or it’s a personnel thing.
Q: Does Ryan have the personality where he can back off?
A: I don’t know because Rex’s whole bravado is a tough one, and he likes to keep that attitude with his defense. I don’t know if he can actually change his mentality. But I’ve said it before, Rex is a great coach, and he’s trying to figure it out himself a little bit. I’m sure he’ll change it up and make it work eventually.
Q: Do you think going back to the ground-and-pound ultimately will be the answer?
A: Now with Nick Mangold back in there they have that ability. I think Shonn Greene has to step up. Against the Ravens he was a little bit shy, against the Patriots someone got in his ear a little bit. He ran the football harder, and if he can step up and be that 25-, 30-carry guy that pounds for yards like Maurice Jones-Drew I believe it’s a step in the right direction.
Q: Do you think this team is lacking a leader?
A: Somebody has to control that in the locker room, somebody has to step up and be a leader, and smack somebody around if they have to do that. The coaches are who they are, the gameplan is what it is and they just have to go out there and execute. That’s something they have to accomplish as a team together. I think Damien Woody was a big one to lose. That’s something someone has to step up and do. It’s not the guy that screams and yells, it’s the guy that puts forth the effort and people will listen to.
Q: The Jets have lost two straight to the Dolphins at home. Any chance that becomes three in a row?
A: Nothing is easy in the NFL, but the Dolphins are the worst team in football, they have a quarterback issue now, and if the Jets can’t roll over this team big time I have no idea how they are going to do it.