Ignorance. Not lack of chemistry, or bad play calling, or awful play from their QB, or the special teams turnovers, or their big time defense allowing three 99 yard go-ahead drives since mid-Novemeber. What killed the Jets season was ignorance. And that baffles me. How could Rex be so damn ignorant and not recognize that his offense was killing his Super Bowl dreams week after week? How could he keep thinking to himself that these problems were small and could be cured with another deep playoff run when these problems were keeping him out of the playoffs? How could Rex be so stupid when the Jets were 5-5 in mid-November and just one more putrid offensive performance away from ending his season? We got three of those. How could Rex allow his ground and pound offense turn into the Mark Sanchez turnover show? Why did the Jets never find a way to get Santonio Holmes going all season? Why did Rex allow the special teams unit to continue fumbling week after week? With all of these questions where do we start with the answers? Lets start with Rex getting the job three years ago based off his leadership abilities and defensive acumen, and persuaded into keeping offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer from the Mangini regime. The message from his bosses were clear. Run the defense and trust our guy Schottey with the offense. So Rex went about his business building his defense and allowed Schottenheimer full control of the offense. Halfway through his first season and with his offense killing his season, Rex stepped in and mandated a more conservative approach. Results were pretty good as the Jets finished 30 minutes from the Super Bowl. If he was willing to do that in 2009, why not again in 2011? Ignorance. Rex was too ignorant to realize how deep the problems were. Turnovers weren't killing them like they were in 2009. They were still happening, but the inability to move the ball and score was the real issue. Rex must have thought that the Jets would magically gel. Like a functional drunk who gets through his day, the Jets offense mustered enough points in wins over the Bills (twice), Dolphins,Chargers, and Redskins. The joy of victory must have given Rex a misguided belief that nothing was wrong. Well its time for Rex to look in the mirror. And when he does lets hope that his extra 50 lbs. aren't the only thing he sees in his reflection. Lets hope that he sees a Head Coach who needs to grab total control of his team, not just his over-rated defense.
OTHER THOUGHTS: Don't be surprised to see the Jets go after Colts QB Peyton Manning this off-season. Its a perfect fit. After firing GM Bill Polian we expect the Colts to trade Manning and go with Andrew Luck. Think about it. Polian is already gone, Caldwell is next. Polian was meeting with Manning when he was summoned to Irsay's office. To us that is a sign of out with old, in with the new. Also leaving Indianapolis are un-restricted free agents Wayne, Saturday, Mathis. Think Peyton Manning wants to return from his injury with a new coach, offensive coordinator, general manager, center, and wide receivers to rebuild? Not a chance. He will want out and the Colts will want to trade him. Why would the Colts want to trade Manning and not keep him to groom Andrew Luck? Few reasons. First Manning will want out and make a big stink about wanting no part of a rebuilding project. Luck doesn't want to sit behind Manning for a few years either and his agent will let that be known, although that is no big deal. Bottom line is that it makes no sense to keep Manning. Here is why. Say you keep him and he plays great next year--his value wouldn't be much higher because he would still be a year older and we all expect him to be great if healthy. You don't get much more in trade value and since he played well it would be very difficult to trade him and justify it to your fans. If healthy Manning will want to play for a few more years. Think that would make Andrew Luck happy? The other side of the coin is Manning either not being healthy or not playing well and both hurt his trade value. Trading him now makes the most sense and the that seems to be the way the tea leaves read. Manning would want to play in NY because he knows he would have enough offensive talent around him --D'Brick, Mangold, Moore, Holmes, Greene, Keller, maybe Plax or Edwards -- and he would finally have a defense he could trust. Manning's family would be happy to see him join brother Eli in New York, as would Peyton's greedy agent. Manning is not afraid of playing in same division as Brady --might even enjoy it. Rex has always said that Manning is the game's greatest QB and we agree with him.
ROSTER MOVES: The Jets cant continue paying Bart Scott $8 million to play 2 downs and not make any big plays. They also need to find more athletic safeties. Mulligan is probably already looking to become an insurance agent so that is good news. Wayne Hunter may not be the answer at RT.
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