Jets head coach Aaron Glenn unloaded after the Jets’ 27-21 Monday night loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Three turnovers and 13 penalties were two reasons, but there was a larger storyline: the Jets were outplayed and outcoached, playing sloppy, undisciplined, and unprepared football.
The Jets may be the NFL’s worst team, equivalent to the Pittsburgh Pirates of MLB.
The first-year head coach is discovering what his predecessors learned about being the “HC of the NYJ.” It’s easier said than done to change the culture. Future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick knew how hard it was; he quit after one day on the job in 2000.
Monday night’s game was a disaster from the start. Braelon Allen fumbled the ball on his way to the end zone, costing the team a touchdown. Then, the Dolphins made the visitors pay when tight end Darren Waller beat Sauce Gardner for a touchdown, giving them a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. This play came on 4th and goal.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel did not hesitate to go for it because he knew the Jets’ defense was such a sieve. Oh, and Waller was coming off retirement after receiving a 4-yard touchdown pass from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Then Justin Fields got sacked on 4th and 5 at the Dolphins’ 36, and the Dolphins got a takeaway after Jaelan Phillips recovered the fumble and ran to the Jets’ 43.
Remarkably, the Jets were still in the game after trailing 10-3 to the Dolphins at halftime. Glenn sounded encouraged after telling ESPN’s Katie George that the Jets have the ball to start the third quarter. But then Isaiah Williams fumbled a kickoff return to start the second half.
So much for momentum.
Later, De’Von Achane broke through four Jets tackles to score a touchdown, giving the Dolphins a 24-10 lead in the third quarter. That might as well have been the dagger. At best, it was discouraging.
This was a game the Jets were supposed to get right. The Dolphins entered the game winless at 0-3, with their head coach’s job security hanging in the balance. Miami was a beatable team. That’s why Monday night was so discouraging. If the Jets can’t beat the Dolphins and can’t play football properly, what makes anyone think they can win against the beatable teams coming up on the schedule?
Glenn has his work cut out for him. He is not getting through to his players, and while he can blame the roster all he wants, he is being paid to coach them up. And if the problem is talent, the upgrade possibility is dicey with Darren Mougey as general manager. His draft picks have yet to make an impact, and wasn’t able to find a wide receiver to play alongside Garrett Wilson.
So, how bad is it? It’s dark right now, worse than even when the hopeless Rich Kotite coached the team.
The young players are getting worse.
The offense is nothing.
There’s no defense in this defense.
Glenn is in danger of losing his players. If that’s hyperbolic, this is not: so far, they haven’t bought what he’s selling.
The big question is a Jets fan’s nightmare: Has this team hit rock bottom yet?
