With the Jets’ offense struggling and their rookie quarterback slumping, Gang Green has more to worry about than just their opponents on Sundays. They have to block out calls for Geno Smith’s job outside of the locker room, and beware of finger-pointing inside it, if they have any hopes of righting their season.
“We’ve got to stay together. People are going to try to break the team apart, try to point the finger,’’ Muhammad Wilkerson said. “We’ve got to stay the course and win these five games.’’
The Jets find themselves 5-6 with their playoff hopes on life support coming into Sunday’s game against Miami. Their stout defense has been undermined often by a subpar offense, but the defense has been careful to try to avoid the inter-unit infighting that cropped up last year and the previous season.
Rex Ryan said having outside voices chipping away at morale — or the defense growing frustrated with the offense — has to be guarded against at all cost.
“As far as the outside forces influencing our team, absolutely,’’ said Ryan. “My team is close; this team is close. And there’s always going to be ups and downs with each unit, whether its special teams, offense, defense or whatever.
“There’s going to be some times when the defense has to carry the load until the offense gets righted, and vice versa. And I know the way the game is played, I know sometimes there’s outside influences [that] can try to chip away at your team, at the foundation of your team, and I certainly don’t need that.’’
The message from in the locker room after Smith’s two-interception game in Sunday’s 19-3 loss at Baltimore was so similar from player to player, it seemed more rehearsed than a basic play in training camp.
“We’ve all got to do our part. It’s not just one guy out there. We all have to do our part. We’ve all got to be on the same page, we all have to be doing the right thing,’’ said center Nick Mangold, who has shepherded young quarterbacks before and says a huge key is keeping Smith from listening to the clamor for his job.
“You try to keep his head where it needs to be,” Mangold said. “You can’t listen to the outside forces, and so far I think he’s done a good job of that. But continue to impress upon him that we have to do our part, all 11 guys. It’s not just him.’’
Smith — who leads the NFL in turnovers and interceptions — said he’s done just that.
“Yeah, I completely shut it out,’’ said Smith. “One, you have to. And two, I always will because I know what it takes to win and what it takes to be a good quarterback, and it doesn’t have anything to do with anything outside of this building. It takes preparation and hard work so that’s something I’ll continue to do.
“[I’m] just sticking to what I know, which is to always believe in myself, my teammates and my coaches. We’re surrounded by a bunch of great coaches here which remain to keep our confidence high even in tough times. We’re a team and we stick together.’’