No extra mulligans.
No extra excuses.
Zach Wilson was a bust?
No extra Zach Wilson.
It’s, as a minimum, Playoffs-or-Bust for Robert Saleh.
Right here’s how Saleh retains his job:
Win the division — which the Jets haven’t gained since 2002 — and win a playoff sport after 13 seasons lacking the postseason.
Coaching camp opened with an offshore betting web site itemizing Saleh as the primary head coach more likely to be fired, forward of Mike McCarthy.
“We at all times really feel strain to win … now, later, it doesn’t matter,” Saleh was saying on Friday.
Besides it does matter. It issues now. Not later.
“So far as outdoors noise and creating the expectations or ultimatums and all that stuff, it doesn’t matter, that’s an finish consequence that we’ve no management over, however what we’ve management over and the best expectation is to be at our greatest on daily basis,” Saleh added.
The most important Saleh’s eggs have been positioned in Wilson’s basket for the primary three years of his teaching profession, and in order that ugly 18-33 report is the albatross round his neck now.
Woody Johnson couldn’t in good conscience fireplace Saleh after final season partially as a result of Rodgers was all in favor of enjoying for him, partially as a result of who else apart from solely Andy Reid or Kyle Shanahan may have discovered a method to win with Wilson?
However you solely get just one mulligan, in case you are fortunate to get one in any respect.
There are worse quarterbacks than Aaron Rodgers for a head coach to financial institution his future on than a future first-ballot Corridor of Famer, however he has no alternative however to maintain his fingers crossed that his future first-ballot Corridor of Fame quarterback’s 40-year-old Achilles can face up to the trials of a season when the long run first-ballot Corridor of Fame’s 39-year-old Achilles lasted simply 4 performs.
Saleh referenced his first two seasons as defensive coordinator when the 49ers have been 6-10 and 4-12 earlier than a 13-3 season and NFC Championship.
“I feel all of us felt like final yr was going to form of be that for us,” Saleh stated. “Final yr actually felt like we have been on the point of take that third-year leap, just like what Detroit skilled this yr. And clearly it didn’t work out the best way we wished to, however … this yr’s going to be enjoyable.”
For his sake, hopefully he is aware of one thing we don’t.
“I’ll at all times look inner first to see the areas the place I can get higher — my messaging, my wording, the scheduling, our instructing strategies, every part,” Saleh stated. “Like this offseason, and I do it each offseason, however creating extra eventualities for sport administration stuff. Taking a deep dive with scheduling, wanting on the method we work out guys, simply persevering with to have a look at ourselves as people to assist our crew be the very best it may be.”
Third-year security Tony Adams revealed that Saleh has, on the proprietor’s urging, certainly concerned himself within the offense, though nobody will ever confuse him with Reid or Shanahan.
It’s previous time for Saleh to indicate on sport day that he’s the pinnacle coach and never merely a glorified defensive coordinator.
“Coach Saleh’s anyone you need to play for,” Adams stated.
“He’s a gamers coach … the blokes love carry round him. You possibly can inform he actually cares about his gamers, so that you go on the market and play onerous for him. One thing I actually respect about Coach Saleh, you by no means see him trash anyone. For him to go up there and take bullets for his guys? All of us gotta go to struggle for him. I lay all of it on the road for him every Sunday.”
The offensive line has been bolstered.
Breece Corridor and Garrett Wilson, particularly if receiver Mike Williams can keep on the sector, needs to be difference-makers.
The protection — as soon as defensive finish Haason Reddick ends his contract deadlock — might be No. 1.
The kicking sport is in good ft.
Invoice Belichick is gone from the division, and the Payments and Dolphins shouldn’t scare the Jets.
“The small issues are going to take you to the final sport of the season — the Tremendous Bowl,” Solomon Thomas stated. “He’s been there earlier than, he is aware of what it takes.”
Extra importantly, Rodgers is aware of what it takes to win the Tremendous Bowl. “I discuss to my buddies again residence on a regular basis, it’s like enjoying with like an MJ or Kobe,” Thomas stated.
If Aaron Rodgers can’t save him, Robert Saleh can be driving camels in Egypt subsequent yr at the moment.
