Woody Johnson was not shy final week together with his phrases.
The Jets proprietor stopped on the pink carpet on the NFL Honors final Thursday to speak to me and one other New York reporter. Johnson clearly had some issues he needed to say.
In addition to taking a shot at Zach Wilson, Johnson additionally put everybody on discover that this season must be completely different.
Whereas he didn’t say the Jets need to make the playoffs for coach Robert Saleh and normal supervisor Joe Douglas to maintain their jobs, he made it clear he is able to make adjustments if 2024 finally ends up being a disappointment.
“The discussions I’ve had within the final couple of months, they’ve seen me about as mad as I will be, with what was occurring with the offense significantly,” Johnson mentioned. “We’ve bought all this expertise and we’ve bought to deploy expertise correctly. I feel all of them bought the message. That is it. That is the time to go. We’ve bought to provide this 12 months. We have now to provide this 12 months.”
Meaning 2024 goes to a make-or-break season for Douglas and Saleh. Johnson has been affected person with each by means of their time with the Jets. It’s honest to need outcomes this season.
There may be stress on everybody with the Jets this 12 months to finish a playoff drought that’s now sufficiently old to be an adolescent, however I feel there’s a sliding scale.
Right here is who I feel is beneath probably the most scrutiny within the months forward:
1. Joe Douglas
The GM took over in June 2019. He inherited a nasty roster, however he has had 4 drafts and 4 offseasons to repair it, and although it’s significantly better, there are nonetheless obtrusive holes.
The largest is on the offensive line. Douglas has used first-round picks twice on offensive linemen (Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker) and spent large cash on one other (Laken Tomlinson), however the line stays one of many greatest weaknesses on the group.
Douglas has to get it proper this offseason. He can’t afford any misses like he’s had in free company or the draft. He wants to repair the offensive line and usher in a No. 2 extensive receiver. He can’t have one other Allen Lazard mistake.
Within the draft, he not solely must hit on the No. 10 general decide, he wants to seek out some hidden gems on Day 3, one thing he has not performed an awesome job of doing in his first 4 drafts.
2. Robert Saleh
Fan sentiment positive has turned on Saleh to the purpose the place it’s troublesome to seek out many Jets followers who nonetheless imagine within the coach.
I’m undecided why it has gone up to now south so rapidly. Saleh was coping with a really troublesome scenario final 12 months when he misplaced his beginning quarterback 4 performs into the season. Any group would have struggled to cope with that. Nonetheless, the Jets received seven video games, and Saleh saved the locker room from splintering.
However Saleh received’t get any factors in 2024 for something exterior of profitable video games. He is aware of that. He’s 18-33 in three seasons because the Jets coach. That may be a horrible document any approach you slice it. He must put collectively a 10-win season that ends with a playoff berth to see 2025. Something in need of that and I feel Johnson might be trying to make a change.
Nonetheless, the negativity about Saleh has gone overboard just lately. He is an effective chief and he deserves credit score for constructing a top-five protection. He wants his quarterback to remain upright this season, which brings us to …
3. Aaron Rodgers
In contrast to the primary two guys, nobody is considering firing Rodgers. However there’s a great quantity of stress on the quarterback to ship for the Jets. He was seen as a franchise savior when he came to visit in commerce final April. Then, he bought damage in Week 1 and the season fell aside. I’m positive Rodgers feels some guilt for that occuring.
Getting into 12 months 2 with the Jets, the frequent chorus is all the things might be higher with Rodgers at quarterback. That’s stress, even for a four-time MVP. Rodgers nonetheless can sling the soccer. Everybody who noticed him on the finish of the season when he was training can attest to that.
However will the Jets be capable of shield him? Will they provide him a powerful supporting forged? At age 40, will age begin to catch as much as him? Will the Achilles harm hinder him in any respect?
These are all enormous questions, and Rodgers goes to need to reply them.
4. Nathaniel Hackett
The offensive coordinator had a dismal first season with the Jets, however he additionally had the excuse of shedding Rodgers and having to regulate the offense with out him. However that course of took too lengthy, and his play-calling was powerful to look at.
I don’t suppose there may be as a lot stress on Hackett, although, as a result of his destiny is tied to the three males above him. If Douglas, Saleh and Rodgers fail, there might be nothing Hackett can do to save lots of his job. If Hackett does effectively, Rodgers will get the credit score, however his offensive coordinator will get to return again in 2025.
No Jets offensive coordinator has made it to a 3rd season since Brian Schottenheimer was the OC from 2006-11. Will Hackett break that development?
5. Backup QB to be named later
OK, so this one is a little bit of a attain, however I can’t assist pondering that whoever the Jets signal to again up Rodgers goes to have some stress on him. The story of the 2023 season was the Jets didn’t do a ok job at backup quarterback. Wilson took a shot from Johnson final week.
Clearly, the Jets are going to spend large cash on a veteran backup this time round. It may be Jacoby Brissett or Ryan Tannehill or Gardner Minshew.
If that quarterback has to play instead of Rodgers, there are going to be expectations for them to ship wins or they may hear “we must always have caught with Zach Wilson.”
Fortunately ever after
After all the Tremendous Bowl ended with Mecole Hardman catching the game-winning landing. It all the time comes again to the Jets.
Hardman was one of many strangest tales I can keep in mind whereas protecting the Jets. They had been actually excited once they signed him as a free agent. Then they didn’t play him.
There weren’t tales of him being a nasty teammate or a nasty participant, only a dangerous match. That’s what you saved listening to from individuals.
The Jets did the precise factor once they traded him in October. He bought to finish his season with a Tremendous Bowl ring and can now without end be a part of NFL lore.
That was one unusual season.
Stat’s so
Watching the Tremendous Bowl made me marvel who has probably the most passing yards within the playoffs for the Jets. I believed I’d do a prime 10 checklist, however there are solely 9 gamers who’ve accomplished a go within the playoffs for the franchise.
So listed here are the highest 9 by passing yards within the playoffs:
1. Chad Pennington: 1,166 yards (5 video games, 2002-06)2. Mark Sanchez: 1,155 yards (6 video games, 2009-10)3. Richard Todd: 1,026 yards (4 video games, 1981-82)4. Vinny Testaverde: 908 yards (4 video games, 1998-2002)5. Joe Namath: 641 yards (3 video games, 1968-69)6. Ken O’Brien: 504 yards (3 video games, 1985-91)7. Pat Ryan: 340 yards (6 video games, 1981-86)8. Brad Smith: 45 yards (6 video games, 2006-10)9. Freeman McNeil: 14 yards (8 video games, 1981-91)
Supply: Stathead
