Former Jets coach Rex Ryan says team lacks passion under Robert Saleh’s leadership
Robert Saleh has gone through the ebbs and flows of a head coach early in the season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan put his foot in his mouth after making another dig at the team’s lack of success under new coach Robert Saleh: starting the season at 1-5. The Jets had a bye in Week 6.
Ryan spoke on the team’s current state under Saleh following a 54-13 loss against AFC East-rival New England Patriots coming off the bye.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets paces the side line during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
"You saw a team that knows what the hell they’re doing, the coaching staff with a rookie quarterback, the New England Patriots," Ryan stated. "[Mac Jones] looks like a seasoned pro. You look at the other side, you’ve got a horrendous coaching staff with a quarterback [Zach Wilson] that looks 100 percent lost."
Rex also added that "there’s no passion, there’s no nothing" with the team under the anticipated debut of Saleh as head coach — coming off a solid run as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson left the Week 7 matchup early with a PCL injury — prompting Jets general manager Joe Douglas to bring back a familiar vet in Joe Flacco to serve as the interim play-caller.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oct 3, 2021; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh hugs quarterback Zach Wilson before the game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. (Kevin R. Wexler-USA TODAY Sports)
Before rolling out Flacco, the Jets will be forced to stick with backup Mike White against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 — putting the coaching staff in its deepest rut all season. However, upcoming opponents such as the Colts, Dolphins, Texans and Eagles should serve as a respite from the Jets’ early-season struggles. If the Jets lose to a majority of these teams, the coaching staff could be setting itself up for a make-or-break 2022-23 season.
Several of the roster’s most significant offseason additions also haven’t lived up to their projections, either through injury or inept direction from coaching.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 26: Former NFL coach & ESPN analyst Rex Ryan of 'ESPN's Sunday's NFL Countdown' speaks onstage during the ESPN portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
The defense’s most significant signing in Cincinnati Bengals DE Carl Lawson (Achilles) was declared out for the season before playing an official snap, while former Titans wideout Corey Davis is playing closer to a WR2 instead of the lead role initially slated on offense. Davis has recorded 349 receiving yards on 24 receptions through six games.
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Against Bill Belichick’s team, Ryan has an overall record of 4-12 — going 3-9 during his time as coach of the Jets versus the Pats.