You can’t blame anyone around the Jets if they are feeling a little déjà vu this week.
A year ago, the Jets suffered a humiliating Week 4 loss in Baltimore in which quarterback Mark Sanchez was awful, the offense looked inept and they dropped to 2-2 with a tough game coming the following week.
Sound familiar?
It’s basically the same script Jets fans saw Sunday in the embarrassing 34-0 loss to the 49ers. The score was not as lopsided (34-17) that night in Baltimore, but the feelings were similar — an elite team exposed the Jets as pretenders.
Following that game in Baltimore, the rift in the locker room became evident. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes criticized Sanchez and the offensive line. Derrick Mason spoke about “cracks” on the team, and 10 days later he was no longer on the team.
The dysfunction that defined the 2011 season really started that night. It was that dysfunction which coach Rex Ryan spent the entire offseason trying to fix. All spring and summer the talk around the Jets was how they had solved the chemistry issues. Now, we find out how far they’ve come.
The Jets are a team in crisis. They have not played well in three straight games. There are calls for Tim Tebow to replace Sanchez at quarterback, and they are without Darrelle Revis, and possibly Holmes, for the rest of the season.
A bad loss on Monday night against the Texans and the season is going to feel like it’s over. It’s up to Ryan to prevent the finger pointing of a year ago.
“As a football team, I think we’re past that,” Ryan said. “I think this team is close. We all know that, like pointing fingers, we have to get better collectively. We understand that, but all of us need to really look at it. Start with [ourselves], ‘How am I going to get better? What do I need to do?’ ”
Linebacker Bart Scott spoke to his teammates after Sunday’s loss and told them they lost as a team and needed to stick together. In the aftermath, no one made any inflammatory comments or put the blame on Sanchez or anyone else.
Ironically, the fact seemingly all facets of the team are struggling right now might be what prevents the locker room from falling apart. Last year, the defense played well in Baltimore but the team never had a chance because of Sanchez and the offense’s lack of production. On Sunday, the defense did not play that much better than the offense, allowing 245 yards rushing.
Ryan likes to talk about “team wins.” Well, this was a team loss.
“I think at some point every team, I believe, is going to kind of go through this,” Scott told reporters. “Nothing really goes smoothly. Some teams are fortunate enough to go through a season with everything going their way. Right now, [we’re] dealing with a lot of injuries and things like that. I think we have to rally. We have to figure out what we want to do, and understand that we can’t let this thing get away from us.”
The delicate psyche of the locker room must also factor into how Ryan manages his quarterback situation. For all of Sanchez’s faults, most of his teammates believe he can succeed if given protection and good receivers. If Ryan pulled the plug on Sanchez right now, he would lose his locker room.
If things deteriorate further and Ryan feels Tebow would solve the problems, he better make sure he has the backing from his team.
At the moment, the Jets’ biggest problems are on the field, not off of it. Ryan and his coaches spent extra hours over the last two days trying to solve them. At the same time, he needs to remember the lessons of last year and not let this moment of crisis tear his team apart.
Jets or Mitt should be toss-up
JETS owner Woody Johnson should have known better than to say getting Mitt Romney elected as President would mean more to him than a winning season from his football team.
I’m sure Johnson did not realize what he was saying on Bloomberg TV would be insulting to his season-ticket holders and the people who work for the Jets. Johnson has a habit of misspeaking in these interviews on business channels (You never can have enough Tim Tebow!).
Johnson, one of Romney’s chief fundraisers, should have said that is like choosing your favorite child. Instead, he told fans who are paying thousands of dollars to watch his team, that 7-9 is fine with him as long as he can watch the Super Bowl at the White House. Terrible message, Woody.
Not gonna find No. 1 WR now
The second Santonio Holmes was carted off the field Sunday, the cries started, “Sign Plax, T.O or Ochocinco.” It has been a common refrain among Jets fans unhappy with the team’s receiving corps, even before Holmes was injured.
But signing Plaxico Burress, Terrell Owens or Chad Johnson would not solve the Jets’ problems. They needed a No. 2 receiver entering the season. Now, they need a No. 1. None of those guys fit that role. It’s like everyone is stuck in 2006. Why not sign Isaac Bruce, Hines Ward or Keyshawn Johnson, too?
Look at Randy Moss in San Francisco. He is barely a factor for that team. The Jets need an impact receiver. Those are hard to find in October.
FB Hilliard added; WR Turner cut
The Jets signed fullback Lex Hilliard yesterday and waived wide receiver Patrick Turner.
Hilliard was drafted in 2008 by the Dolphins, when Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano was the head coach. Hilliard most recently played for the Patriots.
The Hilliard signing could be a sign that starting fullback John Conner, who suffered a hamstring injury Sunday, could be out for a while.
The move leaves the Jets with just three healthy receivers — Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley and Clyde Gates.