The last time Rex Ryan set foot on the sod of LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., he was shaking his head and muttering to himself. The Jets had just lost 14-10 to the Titans in humiliating fashion on national TV and Ryan had a look of disbelief and disgust on his face as he walked to the locker room, avoiding Mark Sanchez along the way.
Nine months later, the Jets return to the site where their 2012 season died, a loss that had franchise-altering ramifications. The defeat eliminated any sliver of hope the Jets had of making the playoffs and ostensibly ended their season, even though they had two games to play.
As owner Woody Johnson made his way out of the stadium that night, the look on his face was one of a man ready to make changes. That is just what he did.
Two weeks after that Monday night game, Johnson fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum. A week after that, offensive coordinator Tony Sparano was history. Sanchez’s fate did not even take that long to be laid out. Ryan found Sanchez, who committed five turnovers that night, in a corner of the funeral-quiet locker room that night and told him he was making a change at quarterback. Sanchez would make one more start, but he would never be the Jets’ true starting quarterback again.
As the Jets return to the Music City on Sunday they have a new GM, a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterback and newfound hope. The Jets have spent the first three games of this season effectively erasing the terrible taste left in everyone’s mouth after that Tennessee game.
It is only fitting the Jets return to the scene of their most humiliating moment of 2012 as they try to establish credibility in 2013.
Forget the buttfumble. Sanchez fumbling away a bad snap on the Jets’ final chance after the Titans gave them the ball at the Tennessee 25 with less than a minute left had a more lasting and meaningful impact than Sanchez’s blooper against New England. Not since Dan Marino’s fake spike in 1994, which started the collapse that led to Pete Carroll’s firing and Leon Hess’ pursuit of Rich Kotite, had the Jets undergone a loss that led to more change.
Now, the Jets get to find out how much better they are than that night when the defense was sniping at the offense, Tim Tebow saw his last meaningful action as a Jet and Mike Tirico capped the night with a great call on ESPN after Nick Mangold’s low snap got away from Sanchez: “That’s the way this game should end. That’s the way this Jets season should end. Ugly. And a loss.”
New GM John Idzik, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterback Geno Smith have had some positive returns in the first three weeks and some questionable ones. Anyone who tells you they know what the Jets are after three games is lying. This team could be 3-0 or 0-3 with a few bounces of the ball a different way.
But they are 2-1 and fans have a reason to be cautiously optimistic. The defense has been terrific. Smith has had flashes of potential that give the Jets hope and Mornhinweg has shown a creativity that has been lacking in the Jets’ offensive meeting room for years.
We’ll know more about the Jets after this six-game stretch, which begins with the road trip to Tennessee to face the Titans, who are also 2-1. Win a road game and the Jets’ standing rises. Beat the Falcons on the road next week and now we’re talking about the playoffs being a realistic goal. After that, games with the Steelers, Patriots, Bengals and Saints look more winnable than they did a month ago.
If the Jets want to show everyone they are for real, it begins in Nashville. Nine months ago, any thoughts of the Jets as a playoff team died there. Maybe they can resurrect them there on Sunday.
Harrison making a splash
The Jets’ breakout player in the first three games of 2013 has been nose tackle Damon Harrison.
Harrison was not even projected to start this year, but made the jump in training camp when Kenrick Ellis went down with an injured back. Ellis should look up who Wally Pipp was.
No one on the Jets has made a bigger splash than Harrison this season. He is dominating the line of scrimmage and has given the Jets a push up the middle they have not seen since Sione Po’uha was healthy. Harrison caused a fumble on Sunday that was negated by a penalty and blew by Bills center Eric Wood several times.
Former general manager Mike Tannenbaum and the college scouting department deserve a lot of credit for finding Harrison at tiny William Penn University. The Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent and he was one of the final players to make the team in 2012. Last season basically served as “redshirt” year for Harrison as he only played in five games. It was clear in training camp Harrison was ready to make a leap this season, but even his biggest supporters have to be surprised at how big the leap has been so far.
Harrison is surrounded by first-round picks on the defensive line, but he is more than holding his own with them.