Rex Ryan
In the current National Football League it is tough for a head coach to maintain his job when he fails to lead his team to the postseason in three consecutive years. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has been unable to lead his team to the postseason since 2010, but he is still walking the sidelines at MetLife Stadium. The Jets 1-3 start to this season has not put a ton of trust in their fan base as most people that back Gang Green are clamoring for a change. Geno Smith is in his second season as the Jets starting quarterback. As a rookie in 2013, Smith threw 21 interceptions, but there was optimism that he would improve this season. Through four games this season Smith has already thrown 5 interceptions. And after Smith threw an interception and lost a fumble this past Sunday in the Jets 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, the boo birds were out in force at East Rutherford, New Jersey. For Ryan it is simple; he must bench Smith in favor of Jets backup quarterback Michael Vick.
When Ryan joined the Jets in 2009, he drafted quarterback Mark Sanchez and he made him believe that he was better than what he actually was. In Sanchez’s first two seasons, the Jets had one of the top defenses and rushing attacks in the National Football League which resulted in the team reaching the AFC Championship Game. After 2010, the talent around Sanchez dipped which resulted in a decline in his stats and the team’s overall record. Sanchez fell so far out of favor with Ryan that he and the Jets general manager John Idzik drafted Smith last year. But when Sanchez was injured in the 2013 preseason after Ryan foolishly elected to put him back into a game with a backup offensive line, it thrust Smith into a starting spot as a rookie. It was a baptism by fire for Smith, but Ryan cannot afford to see the growing pains of his young quarterback if he wishes to remain employed by the Jets.
Michael Vick
This past off-season the Jets signed Vick as a backup and to mentor Smith. But Smith needs to watch from the sidelines right now. In 11 previous NFL seasons Vick led both the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs. Vick is 34-years old, but he still has a quick release and he is also one of the fastest quarterbacks in pro football. Vick is injury prone as only made all 16 starts in a season once, but the Jets offense needs a jolt and he is worth the risk.
Geno Smith
Since his collegiate days at West Virginia, the pro game has never slowed down for Smith. It also doesn’t help Smith that he primarily played in the spread offense in college while he is taking the majority of his snaps in the NFL under center which does take an adjustment period. It is easier said than done, but Smith let his emotions get the best of him this past Sunday when he shouted an obscenity towards a fan which opened him up to more criticism from the New York media. I am in no way shape or form siding with the fan on the issue, but Smith is in a no-win situation when he trades barbs with fans. Publicly the Jet players along with Ryan will support Smith, but they must wonder if Vick gives this team a better shot to win right now.
With the Jets struggling to start the season it doesn’t help their case that their next three games find them on the road to meet the San Diego Chargers, home for the Denver Broncos, and on the road once again versus the New England Patriots. All three teams entered this season as favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and a 2-5 or 1-6 overall record by the Jets in a few weeks could be damming for Ryan. Ryan is hanging on by a thread due to the fact the Jets owner Woody Johnson has a soft spot in his heart for the head coach that helps him win the back pages of the New York tabloids. Last year winning the last two games of the season allowed the Jets to finish the season with a record of 8-8 which somehow helped Ryan keep his job. This time around Ryan doesn’t need to be creative to keep his job for he simply just needs to sack Smith in favor of Vick.
Source: Pro-football-reference.com
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