SEATTLE — Jets coach Rex Ryan committed himself to being more involved with the offense this season. This week, he took that to a new level.
Ryan, a lifetime defensive coach, drew up a few plays in front of the offense.
“I had it drawn upside down for them, of course, but I did put a couple of plays in,” Ryan said. “I’m more involved. I’ve been more involved with our offense than I ever have. I feel good about it.”
Ryan felt he was out of touch with his offense last season and was caught off guard when he learned of some of the chemistry issues on the unit after the year was over.
He generally spends a day a week this year going to offensive meetings and spends more time than that talking things over with offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.
Sparano said you can expect to see those plays in the game plan this week. Ryan is his boss, after all.
“Listen, he put them in, I’m going to use them. Mama didn’t raise a fool,” Sparano said. “But Rex comes in, and I think it’s a great idea that he has, actually. He put in two offensive plays, and we actually gave the defense a few thoughts and they’re using those thoughts.”
The Jets offensive coaches shared ideas with the team’s defense and vice versa as part of the bye week self-scouting process.
* This is the first trip to Seattle for the Jets since 2008, when they suffered a memorable 13-3 loss in the snow to the Seahawks. Brett Favre threw two interceptions and coach Eric Mangini was fired a week later after the Jets missed the playoffs. The game might be best remembered for Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis throwing a huge block of snow into the stands, for which he later was fined.
The Jets’ prior trip to Seattle was a more positive experience — a 41-3 win in 1997 in Bill Parcells’ first game as their head coach.
* There are three Seahawks with strong Jets ties: head coach Pete Carroll was the Jets head coach in 1994 and the team’s defensive coordinator from 1990-93; running back Leon Washington, the Jets’ fourth-round draft pick in 2006, played four seasons for the team; and wide receiver Braylon Edwards spent two seasons with the Jets that both ended with trips to the AFC Championship Game.
… Brothers Isaiah Trufant of the Jets and Marcus Trufant of the Seahawks, both cornerbacks, will play each other for the first time in the NFL.